Iran is offering foreign governments the option to purchase advanced weapons systemsincluding ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and military vesselsusing cryptocurrency, in a bid to bypass Western financial restrictions, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets. Irans Ministry of Defense Export Operations Center, known as Mindex, has declared its readiness to discuss military contracts that allow payments in digital currencies, as well as through barter arrangements and the Iranian rial. Advertising materials and payment terms reviewed by the newspaper appear to confirm this approach. Emerging over the past year, the offer is believed to be one of the first known cases in which a state has openly declared its willingness to accept cryptocurrency as payment for the export of strategic military equipment. Mindex, the state body responsible for Irans overseas defense sales, claims to cooperate with 35 countries. It promotes a weapons catalogue that includes Emad ballistic missiles, Shahed drones, Shahid Soleimaniclass military vessels, and short-range air defense systems. Farmers across the UK are being forced to make big decisions sooner than planned as 2026 shapes up to be a defining year for investment, succession and long-term resilience. NatWests UK Agriculture 2026 Outlook warns that the sector is moving into a decisive phase, where choices around technology, talent and supply chain relationships will increasingly determine which businesses thrive and which fall behind. After years of volatility, from extreme weather to rising costs, the report suggests agriculture is no longer simply absorbing shocks but confronting structural change at pace. Technology is at the heart of that shift. Artificial intelligence, robotics and digital traceability are no longer theoretical concepts but practical tools already reshaping how some farms operate, influencing everything from input decisions to regulatory compliance. However, adoption remains uneven. While early movers are embedding data into daily management, others remain cautious, weighing cost, risk and return. The gap between the two is becoming more pronounced, with the focus now on how quickly farms can adapt rather than whether change is necessary at all. Pressure is also intensifying around skills, people and succession. A new generation is entering farming with different expectations of work, leadership and business performance, often bringing sharper commercial instincts and a willingness to challenge established norms. Yet attracting and retaining skilled staff remains a persistent challenge, particularly as wage costs rise and rural living creates barriers to recruitment. NatWests outlook suggests farms that fail to prioritise people risk constraining productivity and delaying succession at a time when both are critical. Supply chains are undergoing a parallel transformation. Transparency, traceability and sustainability are no longer optional extras but baseline requirements set by retailers and processors. Data is becoming as valuable as physical produce, and farms that are most resilient are those treating supply chains as partnerships rather than transactional relationships. Longer-term contracts and shared risk are increasingly seen as vital tools for managing volatility and protecting margins. Sustainability and regenerative farming are moving from aspiration to action, though progress remains cautious. There is broad recognition of the need to improve soils, biodiversity and carbon outcomes, but policy and financial uncertainty continue to slow large-scale change. Many farmers are testing new approaches incrementally, balancing environmental ambition with commercial reality. Alongside these changes, significant headwinds persist. Inheritance tax reform is accelerating conversations around succession and capital planning, often earlier than families had expected. Two difficult weather years have left many arable businesses under cashflow pressure, while climate risk is now viewed as a permanent feature of farming rather than an intermittent threat. Against this backdrop, the demand for clarity and consistency from government is growing louder. Despite the challenges, NatWests outlook identifies a cautious sense of opportunity. The businesses pulling ahead are not always the biggest, but those that adapt quickly, collaborate effectively and maintain a tight grip on their finances. They view technology as a practical tool, invest deliberately in people and build supply chain relationships that extend beyond price alone. Ian Burrow, head of agriculture at NatWest Group, said the sectors direction of travel was clear. Agriculture is at a crossroads. The choices we make now embracing technology, investing in talent, and working together will define the sector for years to come. As 2026 unfolds, productivity, resilience and sustainability are no longer long-term ambitions but immediate tests of business strategy. For UK agriculture, the challenge is not to abandon tradition, but to act decisively, using confidence, collaboration and informed investment to shape a more resilient future. Sayani Gupta calls herself a self-righteous person with principles. Someone who has not learnt to compromise her values no matter how tempting the opportunity might be. And the same principles reflect in her body of work, be it Margherita with a Straw, Dear Men or the most recent, Delhi Crime Season 3. When director Tanuj Chopra reached out to her for the Emmy-winning show, she didnt just accept a part. She stepped into a character she helped shape from the ground up. She plays Kusum, a woman who is unsettling yet vulnerable. Disturbing, yet deeply human. The show focuses on human traffickers and Kusum, who was once trafficked, has now joined hands with her culprits to ensure her survival. In a freewheeling conversation with us, Sayani opens up about shaping Kusum, navigating a complicated industry, her own survival instincts and what responsibility means to her as an artiste. Excerpts: How did Delhi Crime 3 happen? Director Tanuj Chopra and I met in 2014 during Margarita With a Straw. We had not really kept in touch, but he was following my work. When they were talking about Delhi Crime season 3s casting, they thought of me. They were not quite sure if Ill do it, so they didnt come to me initially. But then in some team conversation, I came up again and finally Tanuj reached out to me. He said that hed love for me to be part of this. I read the script and episodes at the time and what excited me about my character Kusum was that Ive never done anything like that ever in my life. I sat down with Tanuj and wrote the dialogues and we both shaped the character. It was nothing like what youve seen on screen at the initial script stage. We had so much layering to do with Kusum. She was unpredictable, scary yet so vulnerable. You would feel disgusted by her but also feel that you understand where shes coming from. It is not a black and white character. She had great survival instincts. How much of that survival instinct do you have in you? Im quite brave. Ive always had to fend for myself. Ive not really had any kind of support when I decided to become an actor. I created a path for myself and made the most of what I had. Let me add that Ive never ever looked at myself as a victim. I dont have any son stories to share. I dont complain. Ill do everything with humour and joy and Im quite unfazed. But you cant survive as an actor if you dont have hustle. Im also stupid or lets say naive in some ways because Im not politically correct in many places. Im quite self-righteous, which might come across as boring. But I like to be like that. When you work based on real life events, like Delhi Crime, does it change your perspective and affect you on a human level? You choose certain paths because they already bother you at a human level or its something that you strongly want to talk about. Its something that has affected you. When you get involved in something like this, through your research, you get to know about certain truths that you didnt know about earlier. So, it cuts both ways. I dont think it changes you as a human being, it just gives you a stronger point of view. Does it make you more aware? Sometimes it does. When I did Dear Men, a film based on human trafficking, I didnt even know many things about what was happening around us in this capacity. A lot of things shock you and if youre willing to go to that depth, then definitely you get to know a lot about whats happening. Which is often extremely disturbing and eye-opening. You cant really do something like this and be like, I dont really care and go about your life afterwards. It does affect you, disturb you. You cant unsee those truths. In a country where womens safety is a major concern, how responsible should filmmakers and actors be when portraying violence against women? Such topics need everyone involved to be totally responsible everyday theyre on the sets because these are sensitive issues. Having said that, its not really necessary for us to talk about our political ideologies through our work. But Ive always believed that filmmaking and film as a medium is one of the most powerful mediums for change, discourse and dialogue. Even if you change one persons perspective, its a lot. And I dont ever take that power lightly. Hence, its our responsibility to be aware of whats being said and to see that its executed with a certain degree of sensitivity. If you see my body of work, everything speaks about something or the other. And it doesnt have to be a morcha. In fact, when youre trying to put something across, it cant be a morcha or a protest march. It has to be done in an evocative manner. Whether its humour or its done in-depth and done with clarity and intent. Responsibility lies in what kind of stories we choose to tell and how we tell them. My body of work will always reflect my politics, the kind of world I want to see and conversations that are important and relevant. Having lived in multiple cities, which felt the safest and what would you change about them? Mumbai is definitely the safest. The only thing I would change about it is the infrastructure and roads. And please stop cutting trees. We dont think about the long term effects at all when we deplete our tree cover. Has being politically incorrect ever worked against you? Its never easy to survive if you are someone with principles in our day and age. Theres a saying, everyone has a price. But I completely disagree. I was brought up in a middle-class, academic household where nobody had money, they only had principles. Thats my foundation. Ive realised that no matter how big the opportunity or the money is, they are important but not at the cost of your principles. I say no to a lot of stuff that comes my way because of that. But of course, there is always a price, even to saying no. Do you have people around you telling you what to do and what not to do? Earlier people would say that I should post a certain kind of thing on social media but I never paid it any heed. Even in terms of choice of work, a lot of my friends have told me categorically not to be so choosy. But I choose to follow my heart, my instincts in everything. Whats the dream role for you? There are two things I want to do. A romantic-tragedy like Shah Rukh Khans Veer Zaara. I would love to do something which is deliciously romantic and tragic at the same time, with great songs. Dil Se is my favorite movie. I want to do a film where I get to be in songs. Another genre I would like to do is out-and-out action, something like a Kill Bill. How was the experience of working with SRK in Fan? I was very happy. I had a great part and we had a great time shooting for it. They asked me to do Jawan as well but unfortunately my dates could not align. Im hoping I get to work with him again. Also Read: Vidya Balan, Mahesh Bhatt, Sayani Gupta, Rituparna Sengupta watch Begum Jaan Amitabh Bachchan paid a heartfelt tribute to his Sholay co-star late Dharmendra during a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati. It featured the cast and crew of Ikkis, which is the late actors final film before his passing in November. He was 89. In Ikkis, Dharmendra essays the role of the father of Arun Khetarpal, Indias youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. The war hero, who lost his life during the 1971 India-Pakistan conflict at just 21, is portrayed in the film by Bachchans grandson, Agastya Nanda. Speaking on the show, Bachchan described Ikkis as a parting gift that Dharmendra left behind for cinema lovers. He reflected on the veteran actors lifelong devotion to his craft. He noted that true artists continue creating until their final moments. Bachchan referred to Dharmendra not merely as an individual but as an emotion, one that lives on as both a memory and a blessing. Director Sriram Raghavan, who had previously collaborated with Dharmendra in the 2007 film Johnny Gaddar, said working with him on Ikkis held special significance. He expressed gratitude that Dharmendras final onscreen appearance was in a film he directed, adding that the actor delivered an exceptional performance. Jaideep Ahlawat, who plays a Pakistani army officer in the film and shares several scenes with Dharmendra, also spoke about the experience. He said that despite Dharmendras towering stature in cinema, his presence on set felt warm and familial rather than intimidating. Bachchan also revisited a lighter moment from the sets of Sholay. He shared a humorous anecdote from the films shooting in Bengaluru. He recalled Dharmendras wrestling strength. He hilariously revealed that the pain visible in his death scene was genuine because Dharmendra had held him tightly during the shot. Raghavan revealed that he was initially looking to cast a younger actor for Ikkis when producer Dinesh Vijan suggested Agastya Nanda. He noted that the newcomer reminded him of Bachchans appearance in Saat Hindustani. Agastya, meanwhile, said the film gave him a chance to see a more playful side of his grandfather, who is otherwise quite serious at home. He added that both Bachchan and Raghavan advised him to remain committed to meaningful work and stay focused on the craft. Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan Jokingly Asks Agastya Nanda Whos His Favourite Grandparent Kriti Sanon is stepping into 2026 on a high note as she is riding on the success of her 2025 release Tere Ishk Mein. She is now looking ahead to a major career milestone. This milestone is her 20th Hindi film, Cocktail 2. The actor made her Bollywood debut with Heropanti in 2014. She admitted she hadnt even realised the significance of the moment until it was pointed out to her. Is it? I always miss out on such milestones, Kriti laughed, adding that she prefers to stay focused on the work rather than numbers. Fresh off the appreciation and box-office success of Tere Ishk Mein, she opened up to Hindustan Times about the pressures of matching her last film. Kriti said she feels no pressure to replicate or surpass her last films performance. Emphasising the same, she went on to add, No, I dont take that pressure. Every film is so different, you cannot expect everything to pull the same kind of audience. While Tere Ishk Mein was a passionate love story that sparked conversations around toxic relationships, Cocktail 2 marks a complete tonal shift for the actor. Co-starring Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, the film is being positioned as a modern romantic comedy. This story will cater to a very different audience base. Cocktail 2 has a very different audience from Tere Ishk Mein, Kriti said, underlining why comparisons between films rarely make sense. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aanand L Rai (@aanandlrai) For the actor, the only constant is honesty towards her craft. All you can do is work hard and give every film your best. Everything beyond that is not in our hands, she noted, adding that multiple external factors influence a films box-office fate. Kriti also stressed that she doesnt burden her filmmakers with expectations, choosing instead to enjoy the creative process. As she marks nearly 12 years in Hindi cinema, Kriti Sanon appears grounded, reflective and optimistic. With Cocktail 2 set to be her 20th film, she is less focused on milestones and more excited about exploring new stories. This is a mindset that continues to shape her evolving journey in Bollywood. Also Read: PHOTOS: Kriti Sanon Celebrates Christmas With Nupur Sanon, Stebin Ben and Family The Oh My God universe appears to be expanding in a big way. If the latest reports are anything to go by, fans are in for a casting surprise. According to industry buzz, Rani Mukerji is set to join Akshay Kumar in OMG 3. If this ends up materialising on the big screen, this will mark the first time the two 90s icons will share screen space. A source close to the development told Pinkvilla that the third instalment of the popular franchise is being mounted as a major cinematic event. This is easily one of the biggest castings in recent years. Oh My God is among Akshay Kumars most loved franchises. The source went on to add that, Its only getting bigger with Rani Mukerji joining the film. The makers believe that her presence will add immense gravitas and freshness to the narrative. Akshay Kumar will reportedly reunite with director Amit Rai. He was the one who helmed OMG 2 to both critical and commercial success. The first OMG explored blind faith and religious drama. On the other hand, OMG 2 tackled the importance of sex education. The third instalment is said to push boundaries even further with a socially relevant, thought-provoking storyline. The film is currently in the pre-production stage and is expected to go on floors by mid-2026. Rani Mukerjis films like Mardaani 2, Hichki and most recently Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway have all been social commentaries. This momentum of the National Award-winning actress is expected to benefit the franchise. Insiders suggest that Akshay was clear about scaling up the third instalment in every aspect. The story is bigger, more relevant, and emotionally hard-hitting. Akshay wanted OMG 3 to outdo the previous films, and Rani coming on board has only elevated the project, the source concluded. The Oh My God franchise has carved a unique space in Hindi cinema by blending striking social commentary with mainstream appeal. The first film featured Paresh Rawal as an atheist who sues God, with Akshay Kumars portrayal of Lord Krishna becoming iconic. OMG 2, starring Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam, addressed sex education, with Akshay appearing as a divine messenger, and went on to become a major hit. As per reports, Joseph was hired by Smith in November 2024 to perform at a San Diego show. He was also invited to be a part of Smith's tour. As per court documents reviewed by Variety, Joseph's lawsuit stated that Will kept making comments suggesting a personal bond as they spent more time together. One of those comments included, "You and I have such a special connection that I don't have with anyone else." Actor-rapper Will Smith has been accused of serious misconduct after violinist Brian King Joseph filed a civil lawsuit on December 31, 2025, in a Los Angeles court, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Joseph, who performed with Smith during his Based on a True Story 2025 tour, has also named Treyball Studios Management in his lawsuit. The complaint centres on an incident that allegedly took place during the first leg of the tour in March last year. Hotel accommodations were arranged for the touring group, during which Joseph claimed that his bag containing his room key went missing for several hours before being returned by management. He alleged that members of the management team were the "only individuals with access to [his] room." Joseph further alleged that upon returning to his room, he noticed signs of unauthorised entry and found several items left behind, including wipes, a bottle of HIV medication with another person's name, and a handwritten note that read, Brian, I'll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F." According to the lawsuit, Joseph interpreted the note as a warning that an unknown individual intended to return to his room to engage in sexual activity with him. He claimed that he immediately contacted hotel security and informed Smiths representatives, and later reported the matter to a non-emergency police line. The filing further alleges that a few days after the incident, a member of the management team accused Joseph of fabricating the claims. He was subsequently informed that his services were no longer required on the tour. Joseph claims that his termination resulted in severe emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and financial losses. The lawsuit accuses Smith of "predatory behaviour" and alleges that he engaged in "grooming and priming" Joseph for further sexual exploitation. Will Smith's representatives have not yet issued a public statement responding to the allegations. Also Read: Jaden Smiths Behaviour in Paris Worries Friends Amidst Drug Concerns 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. HONG KONG, Jan 2, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Ev Dynamics (Holdings) Limited (the 'Company', stock code: 476.HK, together with its subsidiaries, the 'Group') is pleased to announce that Zhongtong Kinetic Energy (Hangzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. ('Zhongtong Kinetic Energy' or the 'Company'), the Group's China operating headquarters platform, has entered into a Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement with Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy Co., Ltd.('Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy'), a subsidiary of SANY Group recently. Leveraging their respective complementary strengths and resources in their respective fields, both parties will establish a long-term strategic partnership to jointly develop and build an efficient, green and intelligent new energy bulk logistics transportation system. Following consultations, the cooperation will be carried out on a deep and long-term basis across multiple dimensions, including business resource sharing, new energy vehicle procurement, joint operations management, construction and investment in charging and battery swapping infrastructure, and intelligent vehicle management and operations systems.According to the framework agreement, the two parties will, within their respective business domains - such as demand for new energy transport vehicles, operation of new energy transportation equipment, and investment and construction of battery swapping infrastructure - achieve information exchange and resource sharing, jointly explore market opportunities, share tendering information, and give priority to selecting each other as joint investors or subcontractors. The specific allocation of rights, responsibilities and benefits shall be agreed separately.The two parties will also cooperate in new energy vehicle procurement and joint operations management. For example, Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy will ensure the provision of market-competitive pricing structures and technical assurance solutions, while Zhongtong Kinetic Energy, under the same conditions, will give priority to procuring new energy transportation vehicles (such as electric heavy trucks and construction machinery) from SANY Group, the parent company of Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy. Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy will provide Zhongtong Kinetic Energy with end-to-end technical support for the relevant vehicle equipment, covering the entire process from model selection and configuration, delivery and acceptance, to maintenance and upgrades, and will share SANY Group's after-sales service network resources in Northwest China. Zhongtong Kinetic Energy commits to giving priority to Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy as a joint operations partner, under which Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy will carry out professionalised operational management of the vehicle equipment. In addition, the two parties will jointly assess the charging and battery swapping station construction requirements in Hami, Xinjiang and surrounding areas, and Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy will open its existing charging and battery swapping resources to provide energy replenishment services for the Company's project equipment.Mr. Zeng Yan, Chief Executive Officer of the Group, said: 'We are very pleased to establish this strategic partnership with Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy, a subsidiary of SANY Group. This cooperation represents strong recognition of our business upgrade and of the Group's ongoing efforts to build and deliver a comprehensive green mobility ecosystem that integrates vehicle procurement, operations management, charging and battery swapping services, and route-based carbon emission management. As we precisely position ourselves within the national strategic logistics corridor of 'Xinjiang Coal Outbound Transport', the Group's electric heavy truck solutions, as a disruptive innovation tailored to this specific scenario, are transforming our previous one-off vehicle sales model into a recurring revenue structure centred on 'vehicle operations and energy services'. We believe that this cooperation will further support the Group's future expansion in Xinjiang-related regions by deepening the deployment of the 'Transport as a Service' (TaaS) model'a green transportation service model charged by mileage or ton-kilometer, under which customers can enjoy zero-emission transportation without bearing high upfront vehicle purchase costs or technological risks'thereby unlocking sustainable logistics solution opportunities.'He added: 'In addition, the Group has previously entered into three legally binding long-term operational agreements with subsidiaries of a state-owned enterprise for the supply and operation of electric vehicles for coal transportation. We believe that this strategic cooperation with Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy will further strengthen the foundation for us to provide greener and more efficient bulk logistics transportation systems to existing customers and other potential customers going forward.'About Sany Group and Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy Co., LtdSany Group is a global leading manufacturer of construction machinery, with business segments covering concrete machinery, excavation machinery, hoisting machinery, road construction machinery, piling machinery, wind power equipment, port machinery, petroleum equipment, coal mining equipment and others. Its listed subsidiaries includes Sany Heavy Industry (600031.SH), Sany International (00631.HK), and Sany Renewable Energy (688349.SH).Xinjiang Huiyi New Energy Co., Ltd. is a controlling subsidiary of Sany Group, focusing on the operation of new energy commercial vehicles and charging - swapping stations. The company is located in Naomahu Town, Yiwu County, Hami City, Xinjiang. It is the first large-scale logistics enterprise in Hami City that integrates new energy electric tractors with intelligent, unmanned charging and battery-swapping stations.About Ev Dynamics (Holdings) LimitedGuided by its mission to 'revolutionise transportation', Ev Dynamics is evolving from a pioneer in the global new energy commercial vehicle market into an integrated solution provider of 'new energy transport vehicles + energy infrastructure'. The Group has supported electrification across multiple countries and cities worldwide. In addition to the development and production of electric vehicles, including electric buses and purpose-built electric vehicles, the Group has expanded into integrated e-Mobility Solutions, offering in the PRC a comprehensive ecosystem that combines vehicle supply, operations, and value-added services such as charging infrastructure deployment.For more information, please visit: https://evdynamics.com/zh-hant/Media EnquiriesLBS Communications Consulting LimitedJoanne Chan (852) 3679 3671 jchan@lbs-comm.comJason Ho jho@lbs-comm.comSource: Ev Dynamics (Holdings) LimitedCopyright 2026 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. CHENGDU, China, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2026 Dujiangyan Village Candy Fair kicked off on New Year's Eve in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province, home to the world's oldest functioning irrigation system. The event began with a lantern show themed around the region's millennia-old water conservancy wisdom. Giant lantern installations inspired by the story of Li Bing, the ancient Sichuan governor who oversaw the construction of the Dujiangyan irrigation system, along with other large-scale displays based on local legends and historical tales, created an immersive nighttime experience. Following the lantern show, a themed bazaar will run through Jan 3 in Guanxian Ancient Town. It will showcase the city's signature beverages, teas, liquors, and local delicacies, as well as five geographical indication products such as kiwifruit and Chuanxiong (Sichuan lovage rhizome), exquisite intangible cultural heritage creations, and specialty goods from other parts of Sichuan. The ancient town will also host an urban orienteering event with two themed routes: Ancient Weir Tour and Guanxian Flavor Trail. Participants can check in via a mini-program to collect stamps and enjoy special offers from partnered merchants. A series of cultural and tourism activities-including intangible cultural heritage demonstrations, NPC parades, interactive performances, and an exhibition of specialty products from Dujiangyan's international sister cities - will further enrich visitor experience and boost holiday consumption. During the New Year holiday from Jan 1 to 3, the Sustaining Water Forever Culture and Creation Industrial Park in Dujiangyan is hosting an immersive, ancient-style interactive experience event. Visitors can take photos with performers in hanfu (traditional Chinese attire) and animal-head costumes during a parade, or follow designated routes to complete check-in tasks and earn "silver notes" through quizzes, talent shows, and challenges. These notes can be exchanged for gifts or used in lucky draws. A special guest is the anime-style fursuit IP "Nine-Tails Lingjiu". Previously, several scenic spots were accused of copying its unique design. The original character appeared at Lingran Workshop in the industrial park and joined the parade to showcase the charm of authentic creative design. Starting in January, the industrial park will gather a collection of intangible cultural heritage items and cultural and creative products centered on water conservancy for exhibitions, sales, and interactive experiences. In addition, an online mall for the village candy fair was launched. Digital avatars rooted in Dujiangyan's local culture serve as exclusive ambassadors to promote activities and introduce products. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2853598/11.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2853599/22.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/village-candy-fair-kicks-off-in-dujiangyan-sichuan-302651605.html Mexico City, Mexico--(Newsfile Corp. - January 1, 2026) - Artbank, Bankaool's art-driven platform dedicated to supporting emerging talent and enriching public spaces through creativity, is proud to unveil the completed Bien Mexas mural series featuring five artists and five murals. The collection of murals showcases how Mexican artists are transforming walls across Mexico City with art that celebrates the roots, colors, flavors, and traditions that make Mexicans feel proud of their cultural heritage year-round. Artbank by Bankaool Brings "Bien Mexa" Pride to the Streets of Mexico City and Chihuahua To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/279128_67e9053ce49b68fd_002full.jpg The recently completed five-artist, five-mural Bien Mexa campaign represents Bankaool's ongoing commitment to support emerging Mexican artists and celebrate the cultural heritage that defines Mexican identity. Since their unveiling, the vibrant murals have generated significant social media engagement from locals and tourists alike. Thousands of people have shared their comments on these striking visual statements of national pride, highlighting the perfect blend of Mexican food, music, folk art, and life into the murals. According to Moises Chaves, President of Bankaool, the murals have become instant hits with the public as people spare their time to stop and appreciate the artistry. "We are pleased to launch yet another art project that turns artistry into a living network that brings artists, spaces, and the public together." The recently completed series features five exceptionally talented artists whose distinct styles and perspectives come together to celebrate creativity, resilience, and identity with murals that move to the rhythm of Mexico. Mar Maremoto, a visual artist from Mexico City, known for neon palettes, energetic strokes, and compositions that merge graffiti, pop culture, and Mexican humor, is the first artist featured in the Bien Mexas campaign. Her mural installation at Colima 85 in Colonial Roma captures the essence of the capital, including nopales, tacos, and metro cars. The second artist, Alejandra Ballesteros, brings her hyper-colorful, playful, character-filled style to life at Liverpool 179 in Colonia Juarez. Her mural, which is focused on lucha libre, depicts a vibrant female wrestler to symbolize strength, resilience, and Mexican pride through every detail. At Durango 148 in Colonia Roma Norte, stands a mural that continues the lucha libre motif. The mural by Jimena Estibaliz incorporates her signature blend of feminine figures, natural symbolism, vivid colors, and humanoid motifs. It features a striking jaguar-headed figure, a wrestler, and a woman, highlighting identity, collective strength, and feminine energy. Smithe's contribution delivers a monumental mural that evokes Dia de Muertos. The urban muralist, whose graphic style merges contemporary visual language with Mexican symbolism, features symbolic figures, skulls, and urban strokes that bridge tradition and modernity while celebrating the deeply Mexican duality of life and death. Artbank By Bankaool Brings "Bien Mexa" Pride to the Streets of Mexico City and Chihuahua To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/279128_67e9053ce49b68fd_003full.jpg The Bien Mexa campaign reached far beyond Mexico City into Chihuahua. Artist Maga Rey, known for infusing mysticism, bold colors, and cultural symbols into her work, created two murals in the state capital. The two pieces, located at Club Deportivo Britania, feature 100% Chihuahuan elements, including desert plants, a raramuri woman, a cowboy representing rural life, a space honoring Dia de Muertos, and the world-renowned ceramics of the Mata Ortiz community. With this Bien Mexa spirit-infused collection of murals across Mexico City and Chihuahua, Artbank, and by extension Bankaool, is expanding support for emerging artists and bringing world-class public art to communities throughout Mexico and global audiences via social media. The just completed Bien Mexa campaign solidifies Artbank's role as an incubator of Mexican art and a catalyst for cultural development across the country. "By showcasing emerging artists and transforming public spaces into art pieces, we are fostering pride in our shared heritage and providing a platform for creative voices to be heard," added Moises Chaves. "We are incredibly proud of the artists that took part in the Bien Mexa campaign and their amazing work." For more information or to view the mural collections, visit Artbank and follow the art platform on Instagram. About Bankaool: Bankaool is a digital bank in Mexico, recognized as the first bank of Chihuahuan origin with over 48 years of experience in the financial sector. Bankaool has revolutionized access to banking services while maintaining a deep commitment to the development of Mexican communities and culture. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279128 Source: Plentisoft BELGRADE, Serbia, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- With the recently concluded COP30 setting a higher global standard for climate action, Power Construction Corporation of China ("POWERCHINA" or "the Company") is reaffirming its long-term commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) development in Serbia, home to its Eurasia Regional Headquarters (RHQ). "Our commitment to Serbia's dynamic growth underscores the tangible impact that strong ESG practices can deliver," said Mr. Yang Bo, the Chief Representative of POWERCHINA to Serbia. "Now more than ever, the world needs infrastructure that is sustainable, efficient, and inclusive. We will continue investing in initiatives that drive that sustainable development together with our partners, which will in turn empower communities and move the world towards a friendlier future." POWERCHINA's Eurasia RHQ oversees operations across 63 countries and regions. Approximately 85 percent of its workforce in the region consists of local and third-country professionals. Through the many projects it has undertaken in Serbia, POWERCHINA has helped to create more than 1,500 jobs, bolstering the local economy. Since POWERCHINA entered the Serbian market in 2012, it has been transforming critical infrastructure in Serbia. The construction of the Belgrade Bypass Section B Project stands as one such highlight. As the project's primary contractor, POWERCHINA also upgraded the drainage and water supply systems in the road's surrounding residential areas, expediting the construction process while improving the quality of life for residents. Additionally, POWERCHINA is helping to connect communities by signing the contracts for the construction of Belgrade Metro Line 1, a critical long-term transportation. This collaboration between POWERCHINA and Serbia in building the Belgrade Metro system since 2019 is making the long wait for Belgrade City to an end with easing chronic congestion and pollution in the city of 1.7 million people. Furthermore, POWERCHINA assisted in the construction of the Gornji Milanovac Bypass. The road officially opened for service in early October 2024, providing a dedicated route for commercial traffic. To deepen social and cultural engagement-an initiative central to POWERCHINA's mission-the Company began the construction of the Serbian National Stadium on May 1, 2024, a state-of-the-art facility that will support Serbia's vibrant sporting scene for fans and athletes. In addition, POWERCHINA is empowering young people in Serbia by organizing in initiatives such as the "China-Serbia Youth Friendship Dialogue," helping youth from both countries to discover opportunities for growth while strengthening bilateral relations. POWERCHINA's infrastructure projects also play a pivotal cultural role; for its contributions to the Gornji Milanovac Bypass project, POWERCHINA was awarded the Takovo Uprising Gold Medal, an honor established by the municipality of Gornji Milanovac in recognition of outstanding benefits to the local community. Environmental protection remains pivotal to POWERCHINA's Eurasia strategy. In 2024, POWERCHINA collectively used over 900,000 tons of low-carbon concrete in the region. Globally, POWERCHINA contributes to the goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Outside Serbia, POWERCHINA continues to expand their global portfolio of renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure. Most recently, it signed a general contracting agreement with Spain's Viroque Energy for the Arreaz Photovoltaic Power Station in Cadiz, a 44-MW project expected to deliver 95,000 MWh of clean electricity annually. Across its operations, POWERCHINA remains committed to the business philosophy of "Integrity, Commitment, Win-Win" cooperation. The Company is committed to delivering high-impact social projects aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. About POWERCHINA Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) is an integrated construction group that provides investment and financing, planning design, engineering construction, equipment manufacturing, and operation management for clean and low-carbon energy, water resources, environmental construction, and infrastructure. Centered on hydroelectricity and electric power, POWERCHINA has established its presence in diversified market segments, with integrated business development ranging from water environment management, smart cities, rail transit projects, and municipal engineering to residential buildings. Visit en.powerchina.cn to learn more. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2851766/image_1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/powerchina-deepens-esg-commitments-in-serbia-through-sustainable-infrastructure-projects-and-community-engagement-302651079.html PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As 2025 comes to a close, KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency platform built on trust, launches its annual user report campaign, "Unlocking My KuCoin Journey 2025". Far from a traditional year-end recap, the experience reframes a year of trading activity into something more enduring: a structured, professional understanding of how users trade, decide, and grow over time. Built around the theme of "Mastery and Vision," the 2025 report encourages users to reflect and prepare. Through personalized visual insights, traders can better understand their trading patterns, identify performance trends, and refine strategies for the year ahead. Highlights include transparent analyses of trading efficiency and fee savings, performance tracking of early-stage and newly listed assets, and insights into peak trading periods and behavioral discipline. This personalized experience reflects KuCoin's broader commitment to trust and resilience in 2025. In 2025, the platform introduced its refreshed brand identity, "Trust First. Trade Next.", alongside Global Brand Ambassador Adam Scott, and strengthened its global presence through key compliance advancements across Europe and Australia. "Unlocking My KuCoin Journey" connects these platform-level achievements with individual trading journeys, illustrating how KuCoin's infrastructure and ecosystem supported users' most defining moments throughout the year. The credibility of this experience is underpinned by KuCoin's continued investment in trust and resilience. Alongside the $2 billion Trust Project, KuCoin has strengthened its security and governance framework, becoming the only major crypto exchange to hold all four internationally recognised certifications: ISO 27001, ISO 27701, SOC 2 Type II, and CCSS. Together, these achievements reinforce the platform's long-term focus on security, transparency, operational integrity, and sustainable ecosystem growth. The "Unlocking My KuCoin Journey" is now available to all active users. Join the community in celebrating a year of milestones. Users can access their personalized report through the KuCoin App and share key moments from their trading journey here. About KuCoin Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform trusted by over 40 million users across 200+ countries and regions. The platform delivers innovative and compliant digital-asset services, offering access to 1,000+ listed tokens, spot and futures trading, institutional wealth management, and a Web3 wallet. Recognized by Forbes and Hurun, KuCoin holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022 certifications, underscoring its commitment to top-tier security. With AUSTRAC registration in Australia and a MiCA license in Austria, KuCoin continues expanding its regulated footprint under CEO BC Wong, building a reliable and trusted digital-asset ecosystem. Learn more: https://www.kucoin.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2853117/image_5002362_11420414.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2785613/KuCoin_new_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/a-year-with-kucoin-unlocking-traders-unique-journey-of-trust-redefining-what-traders-gain-from-a-year-of-participation-302651612.html Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States. VANCOUVER, BC AND BREDA, THE NETHERLANDS / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Organto Foods Inc. (TSX-V:OGO)(OTCQX:OGOFF)(FSE:OGF0), ("Organto" or the "Company") today announced that it intends to implement an early exercise incentive program (the "Incentive Program") relating to an aggregate of 8,000,000 warrants (the "Warrants"), subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The Warrants were issued on September 10, 2025, in connection with the completion of a non-brokered private placement of units (the "Private Placement"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") at an exercise price of C$0.75 until March 10, 2027, subject to acceleration in accordance with its terms. Under the proposed Incentive Program and subject to TSXV approval, holders of Warrants who voluntarily exercise their Warrants during a 30-day period (the "Incentive Period") commencing on the date on which TSXV conditional approval is obtained in respect of the Incentive Program] and expiring at [4:30 pm (Vancouver time)] on the date that is 30 days thereafter] (the "Incentive Program Expiry Time"), will be entitled to receive one additional common share purchase warrant for every three (3) Warrants exercised (the "Incentive Warrants"). Each Incentive Warrant would entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of C$1.00 for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance. The Incentive Warrants will not be subject to acceleration. The Incentive Program is intended to encourage the early exercise of the Warrants during the Incentive Period. Any Warrants that are not exercised prior to the Incentive Program Expiry Time will continue to be exercisable on their original terms until their original expiry date. If all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to the Private Placement are exercised prior to the Incentive Program Expiry Time, a maximum of up to 2,666,666 Incentive Warrants could be issued pursuant to the Incentive Program for gross proceeds of up to $6,000,000. No fractional Incentive Warrants will be issued, and any fractional entitlements will be rounded down to the nearest whole number in the event of that the number of Warrants exercised by a holder is not a multiple of three. Any Common Shares issued upon exercise of Warrants will be subject to the original statutory hold period applicable to such Warrants and the Common Shares issuable thereunder, and any Incentive Warrants issued pursuant to the Incentive Program (including any Common Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise thereof), will be subject to applicable statutory hold periods under Canadian securities laws. No insiders of the Company are expected to participate in the Incentive Program. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. persons ("U.S. Persons"), as such term is defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. The Incentive Program, including the issuance of the Incentive Warrants, remains subject to acceptance by the TSXV. There is no assurance that the Incentive Program will be implemented as proposed or at all. Issuance of Shares As announced in the Company's July 18, 2025, news release, the Company recently issued 1,475,385 shares in December 2025 to management and employees to settle $575,400 of bonuses granted in 2024. In November and December 2025, 90,000 shares were issued upon the conversion of restricted share units, and 50,000 shares were issued upon the exercise of stock options. On Behalf of the Board Steve Bromley Co-Chair and CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulatory Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this new release. Investor & Media Contact: John Rathwell SVP, Corporate Development john.rathwell@organto.com www.organto.com About Organto Foods Organto Foods Inc. (TSX-V:OGO | OTCQX:OGOFF | FSE:OGF0) is a Canadian-headquartered company supplying certified organic and fairtrade produce to leading international retailers. Organto manages global sourcing, logistics and distribution through an integrated, capital-efficient model that connects growers and consumers with transparency, sustainability and operational excellence. Forward Looking Statements This news release may include certain forward-looking information and statements, as defined by law including without limitation Canadian securities laws and the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("forward-looking statements"). In particular, and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements respecting Organto's plans to provide an early Warrant exercise incentive program to holders of Warrants; management's beliefs, assumptions and expectations; and general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including without limitation assumptions about the following: that TSXV acceptance of the proposed Incentive Program will be obtained in a timely manner subject only to standard conditions; all conditions precedent to the issuance of the Incentive Warrants will be satisfied in a timely manner and on acceptable terms. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and Organto undertakes no obligation to update any of the foregoing except as required by law. SOURCE: Organto Foods, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/organto-foods-inc.-announces-proposed-early-warrant-exercise-incentive-1122991 U.S. Oil & Gas Plc - Company Update PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, January 02 January 2 2026. U.S. Oil & Gas Plc. ("US Oil" or the "Company") Company Update Company Update U.S. Oil & Gas Plc ("USOIL" or the "Company"), the oil and gas exploration company with assets in Nevada, makes the following announcement. The Company confirms that it remains in discussions with a Swiss-based consortium regarding potential funding for its ongoing activities. As part of this process, the consortium has, as of 1 January 2026, advanced a total of $153,416.56 (130,295.61) to the Company by way of a stabilisation loan to support essential operational requirements, including regulatory compliance and other obligations. The loan accrues interest at 2% per annum and is repayable in December 2030. As security for the loan, the Company has agreed to ring-fence 651,295 ordinary shares held in treasury. Operational activities have experienced delays pending the conclusion of these discussions. Further announcements will be made as and when appropriate. End FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The statements in this communication reflect the current thinking of the Board and the Company's present plans. The Company reserves the right to alter plans in the light of developing knowledge and circumstances. Shareholders' attention is drawn to the note below concerning Forward-looking Statements. This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information". Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: business plans and strategies of US Oil and Gas; operating or technical difficulties in connection with drilling or development activities; availability and costs associated with inputs and labour; drilling and exploration costs; the speculative nature of oil exploration and development; diminishing quantities or quality of reserves; synergies and financial impact of completed acquisitions; the benefits of the acquisitions and the development potential of properties of US Oil and Gas; the future price of oil; supply and demand for oil; the estimation of reserves; the realization of reserve estimates; costs of production and projections of costs; success of exploration activities; capital expenditure programs and the timing and method of financing thereof; the ability of US Oil and Gas to achieve drilling success consistent with management's expectations; net present values of future net revenues from reserves; expected levels of royalty rates, operating costs, general and administrative costs, costs of services and other costs and expenses; expectations regarding the ability to raise capital and to add to reserves through acquisitions, assessments of the value of acquisitions and exploration and development programs; geological, technical, drilling and processing problems; treatment under governmental regulatory regimes and tax laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT Neither this announcement nor the information contained herein constitutes an offer or solicitation by U.S. Oil and Gas Plc for the purchase or sale of any securities nor does it constitute a solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction where solicitation would be unlawful. For further information contact: Brian McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer +353 (1) 631 9414 About U.S. Oil & Gas: U.S. Oil & Gas plc is an oil and gas exploration company with a strategy to identify and acquire oil and gas assets in the early phase of the upstream life-cycle and mature them. The Company's main asset is in Nye County, Nevada where it holds the entire share capital of US-based company, Major Oil International LLC ("Major Oil"). Major Oil has acquired rights to exploration and development acreage in Hot Creek Valley, Nye County, adjacent to the oil and gas rich Railroad Valley area of Nevada, both of which are part of the Sevier Thrust of central Nevada and western Utah, USA. For further information please refer to our website at: www.usoilandgas.us ### Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 2, 2026) - METALSOURCE MINING INC. (CSE: MSM) (the "Company" or "Metalsource") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated December 24, 2025, it closed the non-brokered private placement for total gross proceeds of $1,020,000 (the "Offering") on December 31, 2025. The Company has allotted and issued 3,400,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.30 per Unit. Each unit consists of one common share of the Company (the "Shares") and one-half of one transferable share purchase warrant (each whole, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.40 for a period of two (2) years from the closing date. The Units issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four-month and one day hold period from the date of issuance under applicable Canadian securities laws. No finders fees were paid in connection with the Offering. Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned by him, acquired 3,400,000 Units pursuant to the Offering for total consideration of $1,020,000. Prior to the Offering, Mr. Sprott beneficially owned or controlled 7,500,000 Shares and 3,750,000 Warrants, representing approximately 12.7% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and 17.9% of the outstanding Shares on a partially-diluted basis assuming exercise of such Warrants. As a result of the Offering, Mr. Sprott now beneficially owns or controls 10,900,000 Shares and 5,450,000 Warrants, representing approximately 17.5% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and 24.1% of the outstanding Shares on a partially-diluted basis assuming exercise of such Warrants. 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. A copy of the early warning report with respect to the foregoing will appear on Metalsource Mining's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and may also be obtained by calling Mr. Sprott's office at (416) 945-3294 (2176423 Ontario Ltd., 7 King Street East, Suite 1106, Toronto Ontario M5C 3C5). The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to advance exploration at the Silver Hill and Byrd-Pilot projects in North Carolina, with a primary focus on expanding Silver Hill's silver potential, to continue work on the Company's Aruba manganese project in Botswana, and for general working capital. About Metalsource Mining Inc. The Company is engaged in acquisition, exploration and development of mineral property assets. The Company's objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct its exploration program on the Aruba Property. The Aruba Property is located in the Kalahari Desert region of Botswana, covering 4,663 square kilometers in an area prospective for platinum group metals, gold, silver, and manganese mineralization. For more information, please refer to SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), under the Company's profile. Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279371 Source: Metalsource Mining Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 2, 2026) - METALSOURCE MINING INC. (CSE: MSM) (the "Company" or "Metalsource") announces that the Company has granted an aggregate of 3,000,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company. The Options are exercisable at $0.63 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant. All Options are subject to a hold period of four months and one day. The Options have been granted under and are governed by the terms of the Company's Stock Option Plan. About Metalsource Mining Inc. The Company is engaged in acquisition, exploration and development of mineral property assets. The Company's objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct its exploration program on the Aruba Property. The Aruba Property is located in the Kalahari Desert region of Botswana, covering 4,663 square kilometers in an area prospective for platinum group metals, gold, silver, and manganese mineralization. For more information, please refer to SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), under the Company's profile. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279384 Source: Metalsource Mining Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 2, 2026) - Tsodilo Resources Limited (TSXV: TSD) (OTCQB: TSDRF) (FSE: TZO) ("Tsodilo" or the "Company") reports that in terms of the Stock Option Plan of the Company and a policy adopted by the board of directors in September 2002, 500,000 stock options were granted to officers, senior employees, and advisors to be effective on January 5, 2026, at CDN $0.15 per common share. These options are valid for five years and vest in four equal installments on January 5, 2026, July 5, 2026, January 5, 2027, and July 5, 2027. About Tsodilo Resources Limited Tsodilo Resources Limited is an international mineral resource exploration company engaged in the search for economic metal deposits at its Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Limited ("Gcwihaba") projects in Botswana. The Company has a 100% stake in its Gcwihaba project area consisting of five metal (base, precious, platinum group, and rare earth) prospecting licenses all located in the North-West district of Botswana. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements pertaining to the use of proceeds, the impact of strategic partnerships and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward- looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, changes in equity markets, changes in general economic conditions, market volatility, political developments in Botswana and surrounding countries, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, exploration and development risks, the uncertainties involved in interpreting exploration results and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration business. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, uncertainties relating to availability and cost of funds, timing and content of work programs, results of exploration activities, interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, risks relating to variations in the diamond grade and kimberlite lithologies; variations in rates of recovery and breakage; estimates of grade and quality of diamonds, variations in diamond valuations and future diamond prices; the state of world diamond markets, reliability of mineral property titles, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required project approvals, operational and infrastructure risk and other risks involved in the diamond exploration and development business. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("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 news release. This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279380 Source: Tsodilo Resources Limited Over the course of nearly eight decades, Bohra Bros has produced 156 feature films, along with multiple television shows and regional cinema projects, consistently championing bold, out-of-the-box storytelling Founded in 1947, Bohra Bros stands among Indias oldest and most respected film production houses, with an extraordinary legacy spanning 79 years of uninterrupted contribution to Indian cinema. The company was founded by the visionary filmmaker Shri Shree Ram Bohra, one of the most influential leaders the Indian film industry has ever seen. A towering figure of his time, he served as President of IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers Association) for an unprecedented 13 consecutive years, shaping policy, ethics, and the future of Indian filmmaking. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Over the course of nearly eight decades, Bohra Bros has produced 156 feature films, along with multiple television shows and regional cinema projects, consistently championing bold, out-of-the-box storytelling. The companys early films were Lachak & Al Hilal- which became iconic for its legendary qawwali Humein Toh Loot Liya Milke Husn Walon Ne a song that remains etched in Indias cultural memory As the company moved into mainstream Hindi cinema, it delivered large-scale mass entertainers including Aurat, Kali Raat, Mard, Kaalia, and Ganga Ki Kasam , cementing its reputation as a powerful commercial studio. Parallelly, Bohra Bros became a major force in regional cinema, producing several Silver Jubilee successes in Gujarati such as Son Kansari, Patali Parmar, Koi Nu Mindhal Koi Na Hathe, Vifreli Vaghan, Ver Ni Aag, and Chhail Chabeelo Gujarati ; in Rajasthani cinema with films like Baba Ramdev and Maa Mane Kyun Parnai. This phase is defined by films like Gangs of Wasseypur Part 1 & Part 2 , which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Directors Fortnight (2012) and went on to attain enduring cult status worldwide and is till date celebrated for its uncompromising narrative structure, the film is widely regarded as one of the most influential Indian films of the 21st century and remains a landmark in contemporary world cinema. This commitment to courageous, socially conscious storytelling continued with the National Award winning films like - Shahid (directed by Hansal Mehta and starring Rajkummar Rao) & Chittagong. Games View All Further reinforcing this creative direction were films such as Shaitan, Not a Love Story, Michael, Malegaon Ka Superman ( won multiple awards ) , Vakratunda Mahakaya ( Marathi language film) noted for their unconventional narrative forms, Trishna - International Film with Freida Pinto & director Michael Winterbottom and one of the most widely debated political films The Accidental Prime Minister (2019) of its times. The company has also presented films like Tanu Weds Manu & Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Personal Note from Sunil Bohra What we are today is the result of generations of a gladiator spirit. It was never easy to survive and lead for so many decades. At times the fight was lonelybut we fought. And till my last breath, I will continue making films, series, and television for Bohra Bros. This is not just workit is my commitment. The veteran Hollywood star has been accused of predatory behavior and deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation. Hollywood star Will Smith is in the headlines again but this time for all the wrong reasons. As per a report, the actor is being sued by a violinist Brian King Joseph. Who is Brian King Joseph? Joseph, a Washington, D.C. native, competed on Americas Got Talent season 13 in 2018, placing as a top-three finalist. In December 2024, the musician posted a video of him playing violin onstage to Instagram, indicating in his caption that it was the first night of his touring with Smith. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What happened with the violinist? Joseph is suing Will Smith and his company, Treyball Studios Management. The allegations are of sexual assault by Will Smith followed by his wrongful termination after an incident in March in Las Vegas on the rappers Based on a True Story 2025 tour. The veteran Hollywood star has been accused of predatory behavior and deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation. As per a report by USA Today, Joseph filed a civil complaint at a Los Angeles court on December 31 and alleged that he found sexual messages and a bottle of beer when he entered his room after the tour. There were HIV medications too with someone elses name written on them. There was a note which read, Brian, Ill be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F. The hotel management and the tour management accused him of lying when he reported the incident. Josephs suit further mentioned how Smith was grooming him for further sexual exploitation ever since they met in November 2024. Smith once told the violinist, You and I have such a special connection, that I dont have with anyone else. Games View All Smith is yet to comment on the matter. The film based on the life of Arun Khetarpal was keenly anticipated for its narrative and also because it was the last release of the late Dharmendra Sriram Raghavans war-drama Ikkis has opened well at the box-office despite the wave of Dhurandhar thats still breaking records. The film based on the life of Arun Khetarpal was keenly anticipated for its narrative and also because it was the last release of the late Dharmendra. _Ikkis_ has opened at Rs 7 crore on day one and all eyes are now on the weekend. Its the first film of 2026 and already one of the most critically acclaimed ones. Ranveer Singhs spy drama on the other hand collected Rs 17 crore on December 5. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What Ikkis is all about This is a film based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, a fierce role that was earlier being played by Varun Dhawan. But it seems it was newbie Agastya Nanda who was destined to essay this soldier. Those who have watched the film will know that though it revolves around Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (Agastya Nanda), but it is much more than just him. Meet the reel characters of _Ikkis_ who essay real-life characters: Dharmendra: The late actor plays the role of Brigadier ML Khetarpal (Retd.), Arun Khetarpals father. This shall be the superstars last and posthumous release. Jaideep Ahlawat: Ahlawat has been given the role of Brigadier Khwaja Mohammed Naseer, Pakistan Army Officer. Rahul Dev as Lieutenant Colonel (Later Lieutenant General) Hanut Singh, MVC, commanding officer of Second Lt. Arun Khetarpal. And veteran actress Suhasini Mulay will be playing the role of Nandas mother. This is a story of courage, conviction, and the fire of youth the kind that changes the course of history and reminds us what true bravery looks like. Through Aruns journey, _Ikkis_ explores questions of morality, mortality, patriotism, and the power of young blood that rises when the nation calls. Games View All As Agastya Nanda steps into the role of a 21-year-old who became immortal, Ikkis marks the return of Sriram Raghavan to the big screen with a moving tribute to a real hero. Continuing Maddock Films tradition of bringing the most powerful stories to life, this film is not just a war drama. It is a mirror to the spirit of youth. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Actor Tommy Lee Jones married thrice. On March 19, 2001, he married his third wife, Dawn Laurel. Victoria was the daughter of Tommy and Kimberlea Cloughley, who was the actors second wife In a shocking development, Men In Black actor Tommy Lee Joness daughter Victoria was found death in a hotel room. She was only 34 when she breathed her last. As per a report by TMZ, Victoria was found dead at Fairmont San Francisco early on Thursday morning. The officials investigating the case are yet to reveal the cause of death. Victoria first appeared in Men In Black 2 in 2002 and in the 2005 film The Three Burials of Melaquiades Estrada, which was helmed by her father. She was also part of one episode of One Tree Hill in 2003. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Actor Tommy Lee Jones married thrice. On March 19, 2001, he married his third wife, Dawn Laurel. Victoria was the daughter of Tommy and Kimberlea Cloughley, who was the actors second wife. The incident occurred on the Nieuw Statendam cruise ship, which was sailing off the coast of Cuba. The womans identity, including her name and nationality, has not yet been made public. The search for the passenger was called off after a 15-hour search that spanned over 1,700 square kilometres Search for missing 77-year-old woman who went overboard cruise ship called of. Holland America's Nieuw Statendam: Image:X/@MatthewCruises A 77-year-old woman is missing after falling overboard on a cruise ship on New Years Day. The incident occurred on the Nieuw Statendam cruise ship, which was sailing off the coast of Cuba. The United States Coast Guard has confirmed that the search for the passenger, who remains unnamed, has now been called off. But what happened? What do we know? Lets take a closer look. What happened? First, lets take a brief look at the ship. The Nieuw Statendam cruise ship is owned by the Holland America Line. It is a Pinnacle Class ship that has been in service since 2018. Nieuw Statendam travels to the Bahamas as well as Mexico, as per The New York Times. It is 975 feet long and nearly 115 feet wide. The ship can carry 2,692 guests, according to Holland America Line. The Nieuw Statendam had set sail from Floridas Fort Lauderdale for a week-long cruise in the eastern Caribbean on Saturday (December 27). It was due back on Saturday (December 3). The incident occurred when the Nieuw Statendam was in the Caribbean, around 64 kilometres off the coast of Sabana, Cuba. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to a report by The Independent, the womans identity, including her name and nationality, has not yet been made public. What caused the victim to fall into the water, and the circumstances surrounding it, remain unclear. The search The cruise line said that the ships captain and crew had initiated search and rescue procedures immediately after the incident came to light and that they were working with the US Coast Guard. The Coast Guard then deployed the cutter USCGC William Trump and helicopters from the air station in Floridas Clearwater to aid in the rescue. The search, which lasted for over 15 hours, covered more than 1,700 square kilometres. The search for the woman was suspended at sundown. As a result of the search, the ship cancelled its scheduled stopover in Floridas Key West today (January 2). Firm issues statement Holland America Line has issued a statement expressing condolences following the incident. The Independent quoted the firm as saying, We are deeply saddened to confirm that while sailing in waters north of Cuba, a guest on Nieuw Statendam went overboard earlier today. The company said its team is providing assistance to the victims family. Our family assistance team is supporting the guests family, and our thoughts are with the guests loved ones during this difficult time, the firm added. #UPDATE #Final The @USCG suspended its searches for a missing 77-year-old woman who went overboard the cruise ship, Nieuw Statendam, Thurs., pending the development of new information. Cruise ship personnel and #USCG crews searched for approx. 8 hours over 690 square miles. U.S. Coast Guard Southeast (@USCGSoutheast) January 1, 2026 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Holland America Line is a well-known cruise operator that is headquartered in the Netherlands. It is a division of Carnival Corporation & plc. Launched as the newest addition to Holland America Lines fleet, Nieuw Statendam carries forward the legacy of five earlier vessels that bore the name Statendam, reflecting the companys long maritime heritage. Designed with a focus on luxury and comfort, the ship features modern amenities, expansive public spaces and state-of-the-art facilities. It is capable of accommodating thousands of passengers on itineraries across the Caribbean, Europe and other global destinations. Such incidents occur more frequently than guests imagine. As per Business Insider, at least 10 people fell off cruise ships in 2023, of whom only two survived. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, in 2019 at least 25 people on cruise ships fell overboard. Of these, 17 died. With inputs from agencies India has cleared the 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab river, months after placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. Planned as an extension of an existing NHPC project in Jammu and Kashmir, the move has prompted Islamabad to accuse New Delhi of treaty violations and weaponising water A vehicle crosses a bridge over the river Chenab at Doda district, about 200 km (124 miles) northwest from the northern Indian city of Jammu, October 3, 2005. Representational Image/Reuters India has decided to advance the Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab river. Cleared by a key expert panel under the Union Environment Ministry in December, the project has become a flashpoint in India-Pakistan relations following New Delhis decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance early last year. While Indian authorities describe the project as a technically compliant, run-of-the-river scheme aimed at strengthening energy security, Pakistan has responded with strong protests, accusing India of violating international agreements and destabilising the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the centre of the controversy is the Chenab river, one of the three western rivers whose waters were allocated to Pakistan under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. With that treaty suspended in the aftermath of the April Pahalgam terror attack, India has moved to expedite a series of long-pending hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir, of which Dulhasti Stage-II is among the most prominent. What the environmental clearance enables The 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II Hydroelectric Power Project received its environmental clearance from the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on hydel projects under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change during the panels 45th meeting in December 2025. The decision was recorded in official minutes dated December 19, paving the way for the project developer to proceed with construction-related tenders. The project is estimated to cost more than Rs. 3,200 crore, with some documents placing the figure at Rs. 3,277.45 crore. Once tenders are floated and awarded, construction activity is expected to begin in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, where the existing Dulhasti power station is already operational. In its assessment, the EAC acknowledged that the waters of the Chenab basin are shared by India and Pakistan under the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and noted that the design parameters of the project were drawn up in line with the treatys provisions. However, the panel also explicitly recorded that the Indus Water Treaty stands suspended effective from 23rd April, 2025. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With the treaty no longer operational, New Delhi is not bound by earlier procedural obligations such as prior notification to Pakistan or the routine sharing of technical data related to river flows and new hydropower projects. Why the Dulhasti project matters The Dulhasti Stage-II project is not a standalone initiative. It is planned as an extension of the existing Dulhasti Stage-I Hydroelectric Power Project, a 390 MW run-of-the-river scheme commissioned in 2007 and operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC). Stage-I has been generating more than 2,000 million units of electricity annually and forms a key part of the northern power grid, supplying peaking power to beneficiary states and regions including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Delhi, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The original Dulhasti project was conceived in 1985, with construction beginning the same year. Its journey to completion was marked by repeated delays and escalating costs. Initially estimated at Rs. 1.6 billion, the projects cost rose successively to Rs. 4.5 billion, Rs. 8 billion, Rs. 11 billion, Rs. 16 billion, and eventually Rs. 24 billion by the time it became operational on April 7, 2007. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The dam itself stands 70 metres high and stretches 186 metres in length, built in a rugged Himalayan terrain far from major urban centres. The project diverts water from the Chenab river through a 9.5-kilometre-long headrace tunnel to the power station before discharging it back into the river. It is equipped with low-level gated spillways that allow for the flushing of silt, a crucial feature given the heavy sediment load typical of Himalayan rivers. Dulhasti Stage-II is designed to leverage this existing infrastructure. Rather than constructing an entirely new dam, the new stage will draw water from the Stage-I power station through a separate tunnel measuring 3,685 metres in length and 8.5 metres in diameter. This tunnel will lead to a horseshoe-shaped pondage specifically created for Stage-II operations. The project includes a surge shaft, a pressure shaft, and an underground powerhouse equipped with two generating units of 130 MW each, resulting in a total installed capacity of 260 MW for Stage-II. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How the Dulhasti Stage-II project will proceed The Dulhasti Stage-II project is located in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, an area that has already seen significant hydropower development along the Chenab river. According to information submitted to the Expert Appraisal Committee, the total land requirement for the project is 60.3 hectares. Of this, approximately 8.26 to 8.27 hectares of private land will be acquired from residents of two villages Benzwar (also referred to as Banzwar) and Palmar. Official documents indicate that land acquisition will affect around 62 families, reported The Indian Express. A public hearing for the project was conducted on August 22, 2025, in Banzwar village, where the underground powerhouse is proposed to be located. The clearance granted by the EAC is subject to a set of general and project-specific conditions. Among these is the requirement to develop a river conservation strategy aimed at mitigating the impacts of altered hydrological regimes resulting from the combined operation of Dulhasti Stage-II and other upstream and downstream projects, including the Pakal Dul dam. How India is actively prioritising the Indus basin The timing of the clearance is closely linked to Indias broader strategy in the Indus river basin following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Under the treaty, Pakistan exercised control over the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers, while India retained rights over the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although the treaty permitted India to undertake non-consumptive uses of the western rivers such as run-of-the-river hydropower projects it also imposed strict design constraints and procedural requirements. With the treaty now in abeyance, the Centre has moved to accelerate several long-pending projects that were earlier slowed by diplomatic, technical, or legal challenges. These include major hydropower projects such as Sawalkote, Ratle, Bursar, Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru, and Kirthai-I and II. The Sawalkote Hydroelectric Power Project, with a planned capacity of 1,856 MW, has been designated a project of national importance and is located on the Chenab river itself. In July 2025, NHPC invited international tenders for Sawalkote, signalling the scale of Indias renewed push in the region. Dulhasti Stage-II is therefore part of a wider effort to maximise hydropower generation in Jammu and Kashmir, assert greater control over river resources, and strengthen energy security at a time when water has become an increasingly strategic asset. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Pakistan responded to the Dulhasti Stage-II clearance Pakistani officials and political leaders have accused India of violating the Indus Waters Treaty and using water as a strategic weapon. Former federal minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman has been among the most vocal critics. Reacting to Indias move, she described it as a serious weaponisation of the waters of the Chenab River. This flagrantly transgresses the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, the X page of the Office of Sherry Rahman said. In another statement posted on the same platform, her office said, Indias approval of the Dullhasti project on the Chenab River is a clear and grave violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. Any unilateral action on disputed rivers directly undermines Pakistans recognised water rights and poses serious threats to regional peace and stability. Rehman herself posted on X, In flagrant violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), India has just given approval to the Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab River in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K). She added, As per the IWT, which cannot be unilaterally revoked, as recent UN rapporteurs have confirmed, Pakistan has control over the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers, while the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers fall under Indias control. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Referring to Indias broader hydropower push, Rehman said, Following the illegal suspension of the treaty, India has decided to fast-track several disputed hydroelectric projects in the Indus Basin. These projects include Sawalkot, Ratle, Bursar, Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru, and Kirthai-1 and 2. Dulhasti Stage-II is considered part of this strategy. She cautioned, This weaponisation of water is neither sane nor acceptable in a region on the frontlines of climate change and environmental stress. It will inflame tensions in a bilateral relationship already bristling with hostility and distrust. Pakistani media outlets, including Geo TV, echoed this criticism, describing the clearance as a flagrant violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. How Pakistan is alleging water flow manipulation In recent weeks, Islamabad has alleged that it is witnessing declining and erratic inflows from rivers such as the Chenab, Jhelum, and Neelum. Pakistani authorities have claimed that abrupt holding and release of water upstream has led to sharp drops in inflows, threatening agriculture during the critical Rabi sowing season. These allegations have been framed as a direct threat to Pakistans food security and rural livelihoods. Following Indias suspension of the IWT, Pakistan warned that any attempt to stop or significantly alter river flows would be viewed as an act of war. Islamabad later urged New Delhi to restore the treaty and proposed dialogue to renegotiate its terms. It has also written to the United Nations Security Council, accusing India of weaponising water resources. There has been no immediate formal response from Pakistans Foreign Office specifically on the Dulhasti Stage-II clearance. What next for Indus basin-based hydropower projects The Chenab river basin is already one of the most heavily developed hydropower regions in the western Himalayas. Environmentalists have raised concerns about the cumulative impact of multiple dams and run-of-the-river schemes on a single river system, particularly in the context of climate change. Water bodies across the Himalayan region are experiencing rapid changes due to shifting precipitation patterns, glacial retreat, and rising temperatures. The Chenab itself originates from the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers in Himachal Pradeshs Lahaul and Spiti region before flowing through Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan. The EACs clearance conditions, including the requirement for a river conservation strategy, reflect official recognition of these concerns, even as India presses ahead with infrastructure development. With inputs from agencies Japanese emperor Naruhito will address the country and also hold a public New Year event at the Imperial Palace. Heres what else to expect from the world of new today Japan's Emperor Naruhito will address the country to deliver his New Year message. File image/Reuters Its a brand new year and theres a lot that is expected to happen today. So, whats going to make headlines today? Heres a look. Japanese Emperor Naruhito to address the country Japanese emperor Naruhito will address the country today to deliver New Year greetings. The emperor, together with other members of the imperial family, will also hold a public New Year greeting event at the Imperial Palace today. Prince Hisahito, the emperors nephew who completed his coming-of-age rites in September last year, will attend for the first time. Earlier, the emperor in a message emphasised the importance of peace as he voiced his wish for people of the world to move forward with hope in the coming year. New Year, New York, New Mayor Zohran Mamdani has taken take office in New York City and January 2 will mark his first full day as mayor. After the clocks struck midnight, bringing in 2026, Mamdani took his oath of office at an abandoned subway stop to begin managing the United States largest city. He is New Yorks first Muslim mayor. it remains to be seen if Mamdani virtually unknown a year ago can deliver on his ambitious agenda, which envisions rent freezes, universal childcare and free public buses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How US President Donald Trump behaves could be a decisive factor. The Republican, himself a New Yorker, has repeatedly criticised Mamdani, but the pair held surprisingly cordial talks at the White House in November. We will have to wait and watch to see how it goes. But for now, we shall keep an eye on Mamdani. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI File PM Modi to chair review of coal and mines ministries Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a quarterly sectoral review of the Ministries of Coal and Mines on January 2 and January 3, respectively, government sources said. For the coal ministry, key focus areas will include increasing coal production, improving efficiency at existing and upcoming mines, and the rehabilitation of closed mines. Indias coal output is projected to rise by nearly 50 per cent from around one billion metric tonnes currently to 1.5 billion metric tonnes by 2030. Coal demand to meet thermal power requirements is expected to grow by about 17 per cent over the same period. While reviewing the Ministry of Mines, discussions will centre on prioritising mineral extraction and separation through smelters to augment domestic availability. The government is also expected to take stock of progress under the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), including developments against long-term targets. Power cuts in Bengaluru Residents across parts of Bengaluru in Karnataka will face a planned power outage today, as the citys electricity supply company carries out essential maintenance and upgrade works. The shutdown will affect multiple neighbourhoods for several hours during the day. Officials said such shutdowns are necessary to ensure long-term reliability of power supply and to prevent unexpected breakdowns in the future. The scheduled outage is expected to last from 10 am to 5 pm, depending on the completion of maintenance work. Home Minister Amit Shah to visit Andamans Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands to chair a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee. He will be received by Lt Governor Admiral D K Joshi (retired) at the airport. On January 3, Shah will interact with the Parliamentary Consultative Committee in Wandoor, and later he will attend an event on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Dr B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) auditorium in Dollygunj, said an official. Shah will depart from the archipelago on January 4. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Zohran Mamdani, New York Citys new mayor, has faced criticism in India from some quarters over his handwritten note to activist Umar Khalid, who has been in jail for over five years in the 2020 Delhi riots case. The letter, shared by Khalids partner on X, mentions bitterness and the importance of not letting it consume the person. This came after Khalids father met Mamdani in the US last month NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been criticised for his letter to Umar Khalid. Reuters Indian-origin Zohran Mamdani, who recently became New York Citys mayor, has once again grabbed attention in the South Asian country. But it is not just his inauguration on Thursday (January 1) that is making headlines in India. Mamdanis note to jailed activist Umar Khalid has caused a controversy. The former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student has been in prison for over five years in connection with the February 2020 Delhi riots. Lets take a closer look. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD NYC Mayor Mamdanis letter to Khalid Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City (NYC), has written a letter to Umar Khalid, expressing solidarity. The undated letter, shared on X by Khalids partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri, read: Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often and the importance of not letting it consume ones self. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you. The handwritten note came to light after Mamdani was sworn in as NYCs first Muslim and South Asian mayor. Khalids father, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, told Times of India (TOI) that his family met Mamdani last December during a visit to the United States to meet the jailed activists sister. Ilyas had sought time from Mamdani to congratulate him on his electoral victory, leading to about half an hour meeting with the US politician and his wife, Rama Duwaji. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He gave us time exclusively and we discussed many things, including Umars incarceration. We hoped he would fulfil the promises he has made for the people of New York, he said.We also spoke about what has been happening to my son and the developments around his case. Mamdani said he follows it and has read Umars letters from jail, he added. Umar Khalid has been in jail for more than five years. File Photo/PTI According to Lahiri, Khalids parents, Sahiba Khanam and Ilyas, had travelled to the US to visit their daughter ahead of a family wedding. They met Mamdani and a few others in the US and spent quite some time with him. Thats when he wrote this note, she was quoted as saying by Indian Express. At an event in New York in 2023, Mamdani had read out parts of a letter written by Khalid about not becoming bitter about his situation. US lawmakers call for Khalids release A group of American lawmakers has written to the Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, calling for bail for Khalid and a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law. These eight US lawmakers expressed our continued concern regarding the prolonged pre-trial detention of individuals charged in connection with the February 2020 violence in Delhi, including Khalid. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US and India share a long standing strategic partnership that has historically been rooted in democratic values, constitutional governance and strong people-to-people ties, the letter said. The letter further read that as the worlds largest democracies, both nations have an interest in protecting and upholding freedom, the rule of law, human rights and pluralism. It is in this spirit that the lawmakers said they were raising their concerns in connection with Khalids detention. He [Khalid] has been detained without bail for five years for charges levied under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which independent human rights experts have warned may contravene international standards of equality before the law, due process and proportionality, the letter said. The American lawmakers said that they understand that the matter is under consideration before Indias Supreme Court and welcomed reports of Khalid receiving temporary bail to attend his sisters wedding. They urged that Khalid be granted bail and released for the duration of the courts proceedings. With respect for Indias democratic institutions and its role as a key partner of the US, we request that your Government share the steps being taken to ensure that the judicial proceedings against Khalid and those of his co-accused who remain in detention comport with international standards, the lawmakers said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier this month, I met with the parents of Umar Khalid, who has been jailed in India for over 5 years without trial. @RepRaskin & I are leading our colleagues to urge that he be granted bail & a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law. pic.twitter.com/tBIbG1aOwc Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) December 30, 2025 The letter was signed by US Representatives Jim McGovern, Jamie Raskin, Chris Van Hollen, Peter Welch, Pramila Jayapal, Janice Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib and Lloyd Doggett. Khalids father told TOI that he had also met Democrat Jamie Raskin. He raised concerns over Umars arrest and extended support, he said. I told him the matter is currently before Supreme Court and the family is positive about a favourable outcome. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Row over US politicians remarks on Khalid BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari has hit out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over the US lawmakers letter on Khalid. He pointed to a picture of Janice Schakowsky with Gandhi during his US visit in September 2024 to allege the Congress leaders anti-India stance. Every time an anti-India narrative is peddled abroad one name recurs in the background those who want to weaken India, defame its elected government, and dilute its anti-terror laws converge around him, Bhandari wrote on X. HOW THE RAHUL GANDHI - ANTI INDIA LOBBY WORKS? 2024: Jan Schakowsky meets Rahul Gandhi in the United States along with Anti India Ilhan Omar. January 2025: She reintroduces the Combating International Islamophobia Act, explicitly naming India and alleging crackdowns on pic.twitter.com/1ly4te2Bds Pradeep Bhandari( ) (@pradip103) January 2, 2026 Mamdani is also facing flak in India over his letter to Khalid from some quarters. Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesperson Vinod Bansal told ANI that it was suprising that the 34-year-old was lecturing India about fair trials. It would be understandable if he spoke out against the racism prevalent in America. Why does he remain silent when our temples are attacked there? Why doesnt he speak up when Hindus are persecuted in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan? Mamdani claims to be of Indian origin, but his statements clearly reveal his true origins Did he want to save Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, kind of people, just because they are Muslims? New York mayor shouldnt think like this #WATCH | Delhi: On New York mayor Zohran Mamdani penning a note for Umar Khalid, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal says, "It's quite surprising that he has only recently become the mayor of New York, and yet he's lecturing India about fair trials. It would be understandable if he pic.twitter.com/O0ADcSxhcd ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2026 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Former diplomat KP Fabian defended Mamdani over his concern for Khalid. What is happening in Bangladesh, a Hindu being attacked, is internal to Bangladesh. But we are concerned. So, your very assumption that certain things are internal, therefore, foreigners cannot take any interest, is wrong because we are practising differently Why cant he (Zohran Mamdani) be interested? Since India is the largest democracy, what happens in India is of interest to the rest of the world, he told the news agency. Whats the latest in Khalids case? Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020 following the February riots in Delhi that left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured. He and several others were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly being the masterminds of the deadly violence in North East Delhi. Khalid has remained in jail since. The Delhi Police claim the riots were part of a larger conspiracy to defame the Narendra Modi government. It also said that the violence was planned by those who organised the protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act. Last month, Khalid was granted an interim bail from December 16 to December 29 to attend his sisters wedding. Earlier in December, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on bail pleas of Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others in the UAPA case. With inputs from agencies People around the world will witness one of the first supermoons of 2026 when the Wolf Supermoon rises in the skies. But why is this celestial event named after wolves? The Cold Moon, the last supermoon of 2025, illuminates the sky as a ship passes by in Chile. File image/Reuters Skygazers around the world are in for a treat on January 3 (Saturday) as the the full wolf moon is set to grace the skies. This celestial event will offer people around the world a chance to see a brighter and larger Moon than usual. According to astronomers, the wolf moon will be a stunning sight for anyone drawn to the Moons simple beauty and the night skys sense of mystery, with the Moon at its closest approach to Earth. Sadly, this will be the last supermoon visible till November this year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Steeped in cultural meaning and astrological lore, the January Supermoon promises to be the highlight of the year. So, what makes it so special, and when is the best time to see it? Heres what we know What occurs during a supermoon? The term supermoon is used when the Moon is both full and at perigee, the nearest point in its orbit around Earth. Since the Moons path around Earth is not a perfect circle, it moves closer to and farther from our planet at different times. The Moons perigee places it about 226,000 miles (363,300 kilometres) away from Earth. During the January 3 event, the Moon will be roughly 3,56,500 kilometres away. Due to this, the lunar disc appears up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than when it is at its furthest point, known as apogee. A couple and their daughter use a telescope to observe the last supermoon of 2025, known as the Cold Moon in Spain. File image/Reuters As the supermoon rises or sets, its colour deepens to orange, while high above it looks bright white. The shift happens because low-angle moonlight travels through more atmosphere, filtering out blue wavelengths. Skywatchers generally witness three or four supermoons a year, but it is unusual to have four supermoons a year. Interestingly, these appear like clockwork and one after another, and roughly 29.5 days apart. The last supermoon appeared on December 4, 2025, as the Cold Moon. Why will this be called the Wolf Supermoon? This celestial event is named the Wolf Supermoon because wolves were typically thought to be more active, and howling, in January. According to the Old Farmers Almanac, Januarys wolf moon is named for the increased howling of wolves during this time of year. Noah Petro, chief of Nasas Planetary, Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, was quoted telling CNN, We describe names to full moons based on what is happening around that time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ancient communities made the conscious choice to label the full moons based on their immediate survival needs. They served as practical markers of seasonal change, with names linked to notable events like the Hunter, Harvest and Flower Moons. According to the Old Farmers Almanac, some other Native American names for this full moon include the Cold Moon, the Frost Exploding Moon, the Freeze-Up Moon, the Severe Moon, the Hard Moon, the Center Moon, and the Canada Goose Moon. In Europe, its often called the Moon After Yule, after the ancient festival that stretches from the winter solstice on December 21 through January 1. When will the supermoon be visible? The Wolf Supermoon will reach its peak brightness at around 5 am EST on January 3. The supermoon will be visible in India as well and the best time to observe it will be at 5:45 pm, local time, when it will be at its peak. If skies remain clear, the Moon will be visible throughout the night from January 2 to January 3. The Cold Moon lights up the night sky in Mexico City, Mexico. File image/Reuters For the best view, experts suggest catching the Moon at moonrise or moonset, near sunset or sunrise. Nasa says it often looks bigger near the horizon because of the moon illusion, even though its size stays the same. This will be the first of three supermoons in 2026, with the largest and closest supermoon likely to take place on December 24. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies The writings of Nostradamus are again under the lens as we begin a new year. From stanzas hinting at political upheaval and prolonged wars to symbolic warnings about naval conflict and authoritarianism, interpreters are revisiting Les Propheties to understand why these centuries-old verses continue to resonate today A 16th-century edition of predictions by Nostradamus, the first book to be digitised by Google from a collection of 500,000 at the Municipal Library of Lyon, is displayed by a librarian in this January 15, 2010 picture. File Image/Reuters Year 2026 has begun. And the writings of Michel de Nostredame better known to history as Nostradamus are once again being revisited by readers seeking meaning in uncertainty. The 16th-century French astrologer and physician has long occupied a unique place in popular culture, credited by supporters with anticipating some of the most consequential moments of modern history, even as critics argue that his verses are too ambiguous to be predictive. Nostradamus work has resurfaced at a time when global instability is hard to ignore. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, renewed concerns over pandemics, rivalries in Asia and Europe, and climate-related disasters have all contributed to renewed public interest in historical prophecies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Nostradamus never wrote explicitly about the year 2026, contemporary interpreters have focused on specific numbered quatrains particularly those marked 26 to argue that they symbolically correspond to events expected during this year. Who was Nostradamus? Born in 1503, Michel de Nostredame lived through an era marked by plague, religious upheaval and political violence. Trained as a physician, he treated victims of epidemic disease at a time when medical knowledge was limited. His life was deeply shaped by personal loss, including the deaths of his wife and young children, reportedly from illness presumed to be plague. According to historical assessments, this trauma played a major role in shaping the bleak tone that permeates much of his work. Nostradamus is best remembered for Les Propheties, first published in 1555. The book consists of 942 short, poetic quatrains written in a mix of French, Latin and Provencal. These verses describe wars, assassinations, natural disasters, social unrest and disease using symbolic language rather than clear chronology. While many of the interpretations attributed to Nostradamus emerged centuries after his death, his name has become synonymous with long-range prophecy. Supporters have credited him with predicting Adolf Hitlers rise to power, the Great Fire of London, the September 11 attacks, the Covid-19 pandemic, and even the deaths of major global figures such as Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Francis. Others also link his writings to Japans powerful earthquake on New Years Day 2024. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Critics, however, argue that these associations are the result of retroactive interpretation rather than precise foresight. Nonetheless, during moments of global crisis, Nostradamus verses often return to public discourse. Did Nostradamus predictions for 2025 come true? Before examining claims linked to 2026, followers of Nostradamus have assessed how interpretations connected to 2025 unfolded. Among the predictions attributed to that year were the end of the Russia-Ukraine war, a catastrophic asteroid collision with Earth, major environmental upheaval in South America, and the emergence of what some described as an aquatic empire. In reality, the conflict in Ukraine has continued. While reports suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been considering peace initiatives involving the United States, no ceasefire has been achieved so far. On the asteroid front, Nasa data indicates that by December 2025, 191 near-Earth objects had passed relatively close to the planet without causing global destruction. Environmental developments in the Amazon region partially aligned with interpretations of Nostradamus warnings. After a prolonged drought, intense rainfall in February and March led to destructive flooding along the Ene River, severely impacting Indigenous Ashaninka communities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While no literal aquatic empire has emerged, some commentators have drawn parallels with the rise of artificial intelligence infrastructure, particularly data centres that rely heavily on water for cooling and humidification, raising environmental concerns. So, what has Nostradamus supposedly predicted for 2026? The thunderbolt prophecy One of the most frequently cited quatrains linked to 2026 appears in Century I, verse 26: The great man will be struck down in the day by a thunderbolt. Interpreters have long debated the meaning of this line, with many suggesting it refers to the sudden downfall of a powerful individual. Rather than reading the verse literally, analysts often view the thunderbolt as a metaphor for abrupt political disruption. This has led to interpretations involving the assassination of a prominent male figure or a coup capable of destabilising an established political order. The lack of specific names or locations has allowed the verse to be applied broadly across different geopolitical contexts. Nostradamus original texts do not offer timelines or identities, and the association with 2026 arises solely from the quatrains numbering. Ticino and the symbolism of overflowing blood Another verse often associated with 2026 appears in Quatrain II:26: Because of the favour that the city will show, the Ticino will overflow with blood. Ticino is an Italian-speaking canton located in southern Switzerland, known for its alpine landscapes, lakes and long-standing neutrality. The mention of Ticino has drawn particular attention because Switzerland has historically remained outside major European conflicts. Analysts suggest that the reference may symbolise the spread of instability into regions traditionally considered insulated from war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Some interpretations focus on military casualties, epidemic outbreaks or political consequences rather than literal violence. An alternative reading has also emerged in recent years. As of 2025, Ticino introduced expanded options for preserving umbilical cord blood stem cells, both for private family use and for solidarity donation. In this context, some commentators argue that blood need not signify death, but rather biomedical developments. Seven months of war Another verse frequently linked to 2026 warns of prolonged conflict: Seven months great war, people dead through evil / Rouen, Evreux the King will not fail. The explicit reference to a defined duration has made this one of the most cited quatrains among Nostradamus followers. Rouen and Evreux are cities in France, leading some analysts to associate the verse with European conflict. Others argue that these place names reflect Nostradamus own historical context and should be interpreted symbolically rather than literally. The mention of leadership that will not fail has been read as an allusion to rulers or heads of state refusing to compromise, prolonging conflict despite mounting casualties. Given the current geopolitical climate, with Europe already impacted by the war in Ukraine, the verse has been interpreted as a warning about escalation rather than a forecast of a new, distinct war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Naval conflict and the seven ships In Quatrain VII:26, he writes, Foists and galleys around seven ships, a mortal war will be let loose. Foists were lightweight sailing vessels, while galleys were oar-powered warships, terms rooted in the maritime realities of the 16th century. Modern interpreters often associate this verse with naval conflict, particularly in regions marked by territorial disputes. Attention has focused on the South China Sea, where China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines maintain overlapping claims. These seven entities are frequently cited as the possible modern equivalent of the seven ships described in the quatrain. Chinas expansive claims and ongoing tensions in the region have kept the South China Sea at the centre of global strategic concerns. While Nostradamus could not have envisioned modern naval technology, proponents argue that the imagery of clustered vessels engaged in deadly conflict aligns with contemporary maritime standoffs. The swarm of bees Among the more enigmatic verses linked to 2026 is the line: The great swarm of bees will arise by night the ambush This imagery has generated a wide range of interpretations, particularly in the digital age. Some analysts connect the bees to collective political movements rather than literal insects. According to a report in New York Post, the colour black commonly associated with swarming insects as well as fascist movements has led to interpretations suggesting the rise or consolidation of totalitarian regimes. Others view the verse as a metaphor for coordinated attacks, potentially referencing cyber warfare, drone technology or biological threats. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The phrase by night the ambush has been widely interpreted as indicating surprise or stealth, reinforcing concerns about unconventional or asymmetric threats that may be difficult to anticipate or counter. A man of light Despite his reputation as a harbinger of doom, Nostradamus writings are not entirely devoid of hope. Some interpreters note that sequences associated with 2026 conclude with the emergence of a figure described as a man of light, believed to guide humanity through turmoil toward recovery. For believers, this suggests that Nostradamus viewed destruction and renewal as intertwined processes, with periods of crisis giving way to transformation. This interpretation has provided reassurance to readers who see his work not merely as a catalogue of disasters, but as a broader reflection on historical cycles. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Zohran Mamdani became New York Citys first Muslim mayor on January 1, 2026, taking his oath on three Qurans across two ceremonies. One manuscript dates to the late 18th or early 19th century and is held by the New York Public Librarys Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. With this, Mamdani highlighted his identity as the citys first Muslim, South Asian and African-born mayor This photo provided by The New York Public Library shows the Schomburg Quran on December 16, 2025 in New York City, US. File Image/AP When Zohran Mamdani formally assumed office as New York Citys mayor just after midnight on January 1, 2026, the ceremony was unlike any the city had seen before. Conducted inside a long-disused subway station beneath City Hall, the swearing-in saw Mamdani take his oath with his hand placed on the Quran, Islams holiest text. In doing so, he became the first mayor in New York Citys history to use the Quran during an inauguration ceremony. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At 34, Mamdani represents a demographic profile previously unseen in New York Citys highest office. He is the citys first Muslim mayor, its first South Asian mayor, and its first African-born mayor. Born in Uganda, Mamdanis personal story of migration resonated with millions of New Yorkers. As a millennial Democrat, Mamdani entered the race with a political style that differed sharply from many of his predecessors. His campaign focused heavily on affordability addressing issues such as housing costs, child care and public transportation while also being marked by an unusually visible embrace of religious identity for a major municipal candidate. Throughout the campaign, Mamdani made frequent appearances at mosques across all five boroughs, helping him build a coalition that included large numbers of Muslim and South Asian voters, many of whom were participating in citywide electoral politics for the first time. How Mamdani used the Quran for his oath While the use of religious texts during oath-taking ceremonies is customary in the United States, it is not mandated by law. Elected officials are required to swear to uphold the Constitution, but they are not obligated to use any book or religious object while doing so. Historically, most New York City mayors have chosen to place their hand on a Bible, often one with personal or historical significance. Mamdanis choice to use the Quran therefore represented a departure from tradition, but not from legal norms. It placed him within a smaller but growing group of American elected officials who have used Islamic scripture during ceremonial oaths. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Director Mira Nair (R) and her son Zohran Mamdani (L) poses during the Los Angeles premiere of Queen of Katwe, in Hollywood, California, September 20, 2016. File Image/Reuters The midnight ceremony beneath City Hall was followed later on January 1 by a public swearing-in at City Hall itself. Across these two events, Mamdani used three distinct Qurans, each selected for specific personal and historical reasons. What the three Qurans represent For the initial swearing-in shortly after midnight, Mamdani used two Qurans. One was a family heirloom that had belonged to his grandfather. The second was a small, historic manuscript dating to the late 18th or early 19th century, drawn from the collections of the New York Public Librarys Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. For the subsequent public ceremony at City Hall later in the day, Mamdani planned to use two family-owned Qurans one that belonged to his grandfather and another that belonged to his grandmother. Mamdanis campaign did not provide further details about these heirlooms. What we know about the Quran from the Schomburg Center The historic Quran from the Schomburg Center has been notable not for ornamentation, but for its simplicity. Unlike lavish manuscripts produced for royal courts or wealthy patrons, this copy was created for regular use. Bound in deep red with a modest floral medallion, the text is written in black and red ink using a straightforward, legible script. This photo provided by The New York Public Library shows the Schomburg Quran on December 16, 2025 in New York City, US. File Image/AP Its design has led scholars to conclude that it was intended for ordinary readers rather than ceremonial display. Because the manuscript is neither signed nor dated, experts have relied on its binding style and script to estimate its origins. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Based on these features, it is believed to have been produced during the Ottoman period in a region encompassing present-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan. Hiba Abid, the New York Public Librarys curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, emphasised that these qualities are central to the manuscripts meaning. The importance of this Quran lies not in luxury, but in accessibility, she told the New York Times. What we know about Arturo Schomburg The Qurans journey to Mamdanis inauguration begins with Arturo Schomburg, a Black Puerto Rican writer, historian and collector whose work played a foundational role in documenting the global history of people of African descent. Though Schomburg was not Muslim, he acquired the Quran as part of a wide-ranging archive intended to reflect the full spectrum of Black cultural, artistic and religious life. Schomburgs motivation was shaped in part by an experience from his youth. As a child, a teacher told him that Black people had no significant history or notable figures. That remark became a catalyst for his lifelong effort to assemble evidence to the contrary. His collection eventually grew to more than 4,000 books, manuscripts and artifacts. In 1926, Schomburg sold this collection to the New York Public Library, laying the groundwork for what would become the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He died in 1938, but his archive continues to serve as one of the worlds most important repositories of Black history. While it is unclear exactly how Schomburg came into possession of the Quran, scholars believe it reflected his interest in the historical relationship between Islam and Black communities in both Africa and the United States. Its inclusion in his collection signalled an understanding of Islam as an integral part of global Black history. How the Schomburg Quran connects to Mamdani For Abid, the selection of the Schomburg Quran carried layered symbolism that extended beyond religion alone. Mamdanis personal background as a South Asian New Yorker born in Uganda mirrored the manuscripts transregional origins and Schomburgs Afro-Latino legacy. Its a highly symbolic choice because were about to have a Muslim mayor swearing in using the Quran, but also a mayor who was born on the African continent, in Uganda, Abid said. It really brings together here elements of faith, identity and New York history, she added. Abid assisted Mamdanis wife, Rama Duwaji, and senior adviser Zara Rahim in selecting the Quran for the inauguration. Duwaji herself brings transnational identity to the moment, being American-Syrian. Where the Schomburg Quran can be accessed Following the inauguration, the Schomburg Quran is set to be placed on public display at the New York Public Library for the first time. The exhibition coincides with a yearlong celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the Schomburg Center. It is scheduled to open shortly after Mamdanis swearing-in. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Abid expressed hope that the attention surrounding the inauguration whether supportive or critical would encourage New Yorkers to engage more deeply with the librarys archival holdings. These collections document a wide range of Islamic life in the city, including early 20th-century Armenian and Arabic music recorded in New York, as well as firsthand accounts of Islamophobia following the September 11 attacks. This manuscript was meant to be used by ordinary readers when it was produced, Abid said. Today it lives in a public library where anyone can encounter it. How Mamdanis oath invited backlash as well as support Mamdanis campaign and election unfolded amid heightened national attention, much of it focused on his identity as a Muslim democratic socialist. In a speech delivered days before the election, Mamdani addressed the hostility directly, framing it as a challenge he was unwilling to meet with silence. I will not change who I am, how I eat, or the faith that Im proud to call my own, he said. I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville reacted to news of Mamdanis oath by posting on social media, The enemy is inside the gates. Criticism also emerged from outside the United States. Dutch politician Geert Wilders weighed in with his own post, stating, Invalid oath. No Quran. USA is not Islamic. Yet. Wake up America. Such reactions echoed earlier controversies involving Muslim elected officials. In 2006, Keith Ellison faced condemnation from conservative commentators after choosing to use a Quran for his ceremonial swearing-in as the first Muslim member of Congress. Mamdanis opponents have not limited their criticism to religious symbolism. His policy platform which included proposals such as citywide rent freezes, free child care and free public transportation has drawn pushback from figures across the political spectrum. Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York criticised Mamdanis economic agenda during an appearance on Fox Business. Its not going to work. It has never worked anywhere. Its been tried. And theres a reason why so many folks from around the globe have fled communism and socialism to come to the United States in search of opportunity and a better life, primarily economic opportunity through our capitalist markets, Lawler said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite such opposition, Mamdani maintained his focus on governing priorities as he approached inauguration day. Thank you to every New Yorker who believed in this fight for working people, he wrote in a post on X hours before being sworn in. Mamdanis swearing-in was conducted by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who had backed his campaign for months. Sanders framed Mamdanis victory as part of a broader challenge to entrenched political power. Zohran and his supporters showed the world that when working people stand together, we can defeat the Democratic and Republican establishments, Trump and the Oligarchs, Sanders wrote on X. Best of luck to the new mayor. What next Mamdani now joins a small but growing group of prominent US officials who have used the Quran during oath ceremonies. In addition to Keith Ellison, this group includes US Rep. Ilhan Omar, who also placed her hand on the Quran when she was sworn into Congress. At the municipal level, New York City Council member Shahana Hanif used a family Quran during her 2022 swearing-in ceremony. Reflecting on Mamdanis decision, Hanif pointed to the broader implications for Muslim participation in city politics. Lets be honest, Muslims have not been in electoral life for decades like other ethnic groups and communities, she said. I think the Quran represents this example of extending solidarity to the Muslim community in New York City and, really, abroad. For Mamdanis advisers, the decision to use the Quran was as much about correcting historical absence as it was about personal faith. In a statement, senior adviser Zara Rahim described the moment as long overdue. This moment will mark a turning point in the civic history of New York City, and it belongs to every New Yorker whose lives shaped this city quietly, without ever being reflected back to them, she said. With inputs from agencies Yemens fragile calm is under strain as Saudi airstrikes, advances by UAE-backed separatists, and rising friction between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi disrupt the balance in the south and east. The seizure of oil-rich provinces and key infrastructure risks instability across the Gulf and Red Sea region Southern Yemen soldiers of Southern Transitional Council (STC) at a check point, in Aden, Yemen, December 31, 2025. File Image/AP A series of Saudi airstrikes, territorial seizures by United Arab Emirates-backed separatists, and growing diplomatic friction between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have destabilised southern and eastern Yemen, raising concerns of wider regional conflicts across the Gulf and Red Sea corridors. The latest escalation has unfolded in a country that sits astride one of the worlds most important maritime trade routes and has already endured more than a decade of conflict. Developments in recent weeks have fractured the already fragile alliance opposing Yemens Iran-aligned Houthi movement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Saudi airstrikes marked a big shift on the ground On December 30, 2025, Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on the port city of Mukalla in eastern Yemen. The attack targeted what Riyadh described as a weapons shipment originating from the United Arab Emirates and destined for separatist forces operating in the south. Mukalla, located along the Gulf of Aden, is a vital coastal city positioned near major international shipping lanes, amplifying concerns about the broader implications of military escalation in the area. Shortly after the strike, the UAE announced it would withdraw its forces from Yemen, a move that added further uncertainty to an already volatile situation. The attack and subsequent developments highlighted the extent to which divisions among Yemens anti-Houthi partners have widened, despite years of coordination against a common adversary. At the heart of the latest crisis is the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a powerful separatist movement backed by Abu Dhabi. Over the course of December, STC forces seized effective control over large parts of Yemens eastern provinces of Hadramout and Mahra, including key oil facilities and infrastructure. These advances significantly altered the territorial balance in southern Yemen and disrupted the political arrangement that had existed among factions aligned against the Houthis. Who controls what in Yemens fractured conflict The Iran-aligned Houthi movement controls much of the countrys northern and most populous areas, including the capital, Sanaa. In contrast, the south has been dominated by a loose coalition of forces backing the internationally recognised government, supported primarily by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The STC occupies a unique position within this landscape. Established in April 2017, the council serves as an umbrella organisation for groups advocating the restoration of South Yemen as an independent state, as it existed between 1967 and 1990. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Over time, it has emerged as the most influential force in southern Yemen, benefitting from extensive military and financial backing from the UAE. The council is chaired by Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who also serves as vice president of Yemens Presidential Leadership Council the ruling body of the internationally recognised government. Despite this formal role within the state structure, the STC has long insisted that any final political settlement must guarantee southern Yemen the right to self-determination. By the end of December, STC-aligned forces and other UAE-backed groups controlled most of southern Yemen, including strategically significant port cities, islands, and border crossings. These gains have strengthened the councils leverage ahead of any future negotiations to resolve the wider conflict. Hadramout and Mahra: oil and borders The provinces at the centre of the current escalation Hadramout and Mahra are among Yemens most strategically and economically important regions. Hadramout is Yemens largest province by area, stretching from the Gulf of Aden in the south to the Saudi border in the north. Rich in oil resources, it serves as a crucial source of fuel for southern Yemen and hosts PetroMasila, the countrys largest oil company. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In late November, the Saudi-backed Hadramout Tribal Alliance, a local coalition of tribes, seized control of the PetroMasila facility. The move was intended to pressure the internationally recognised government into agreeing to greater revenue-sharing and improved public services for Hadramouts residents. STC forces subsequently moved into the province, clashing briefly with government troops and tribal allies before taking control of PetroMasila and other major installations. The STC appears to have used the earlier seizure as justification to wrest control of the province and expand its territorial footprint. From Hadramout, STC units advanced eastward into Mahra, a sparsely populated province bordering Oman. There, they took over a key border crossing between the two countries, extending their influence along Yemens eastern frontier. In parallel developments further west, STC-aligned forces seized the presidential palace in Aden, which functions as the seat of Yemens Presidential Leadership Council. How Saudi has responsed to STC A Yemeni government official told AP that the pullout was part of a Saudi repositioning strategy, speaking on condition of anonymity. As STC forces tightened their grip on Hadramout and Mahra, Saudi Arabia escalated militarily. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Saudi aircraft struck targets in Hadramout in what analysts described as a warning aimed at halting the separatists advance and compelling them to withdraw from the two governorates. On January 2, Saudi warplanes reportedly struck STC-backed forces again in southern Yemen. The strikes coincided with a Saudi-led operation attempting to take over STC camps in Hadramout, which borders the kingdom. The confrontation involved the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, a unit aligned with the coalition fighting the Houthis. These forces attempted to advance toward separatist camps, but STC fighters refused to withdraw. Ahmed bin Breik, the STC deputy and former governor of Hadramout, said in a statement that the refusal to pull back led to the Saudi airstrikes. How Saudis have defended their move Saudi officials have insisted their actions are aimed at restoring order and preventing further destabilisation. Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout appointed by the internationally recognised government to command Saudi-led forces in the province, sought to downplay the confrontation. This operation is not a declaration of war and does not seek escalation, al-Khanbashi said in a speech aired on state media. This is a responsible pre-emptive measure to remove weapons and prevent chaos and the camps from being used to undermine the security in Hadramout. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Saudi Arabia has demanded that STC forces withdraw from Hadramout and Mahra and relinquish their weapons and camps as part of broader de-escalation efforts. The STC has so far refused to comply with these demands. Diplomatic attempts to mediate the standoff have also faltered. Saudi Arabias ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, accused the STC leadership of obstructing dialogue. In a post on X, al-Jaber said the kingdom had made all efforts with STC for weeks to stop the escalation and persuade the separatists to leave Hadramout and Mahra. He added that Saudi Arabia faced continued intransigence and rejection from Aidarous al-Zubaidi. Al-Jaber also accused the STC of blocking a Saudi mediation delegation from landing in Aden, despite prior coordination with some STC leaders to seek a resolution serving everyone and the public interest. Yemens transport ministry, which is aligned with the STC, said Saudi Arabia imposed new requirements mandating inspections in Jeddah for flights travelling to and from Aden International Airport. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The ministry expressed shock and condemned the reported decision. A spokesperson told AP that all flights between Aden and the UAE were suspended until Saudi Arabia reverses the measures. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the reported requirements. How the conflict orignated Yemens current turmoil cannot be separated from the broader conflict that erupted in 2014. That year, the Houthis advanced from their northern stronghold in Saada, seized Sanaa, and forced the internationally recognised government into exile. Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened militarily in 2015 in an effort to restore the government. The war that followed devastated Yemens economy, displaced millions, and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. Despite the devastation, violence had gradually declined since 2022, as the Houthis reached an understanding with Saudi Arabia that halted cross-border attacks in exchange for a pause in Saudi-led airstrikes on Houthi-held territories. The resulting stalemate reduced large-scale fighting but failed to resolve Yemens underlying political fractures. The STCs recent actions have now disrupted the internal balance among anti-Houthi forces, threatening to unravel the limited calm that had prevailed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Watch: With inputs from AP Senior Maoist military commander Barse Deva alias Sainath has surrendered before the Telangana police, delivering a major setback to the banned CPI (Maoist). Deva was a close associate of slain Maoist leader Madvi Hidma. Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol during a combing operation to flush out Maoists from their strongholds, near the jungles of Betla, about 210 kilometers northeast of Ranchi, India, on March 17, 2010. (Representational Photo, Credit: Sasanka Sen/AP) Senior Maoist military commander Barse Deva alias Sainath surrendered before Telangana Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy on Friday, Hindustan Times reported, citing officials familiar with the development. Deva, who carried a cumulative reward of 25.47 lakh, is currently in Telangana police custody and will be produced before the media on Saturday, a senior police officer said to HT on condition of anonymity. Surrender along with cadres Report says that Deva, along with a group of Maoist cadres, crossed into Telangana from Chhattisgarh on Thursday evening and was brought to Hyderabad on Friday. Around 15 to 17 cadres are reported to have surrendered along with him. Key role in Maoist military structure The 45-year-old was the in-charge of Battalion Number 1, considered the last core fighting unit of the Maoist organisation. He has held the rank of Area Zonal Committee Member (AZCM) since 2021. Battalion Number 1 has long been regarded as central to the Maoists armed strength. Close associate of Madvi Hidma Deva was a close associate of senior Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was killed in an encounter in the Maredumilli forests of Andhra Pradesh on November 18. Following Hidmas death, Deva emerged as a key figure overseeing armed operations as chief of the Maoists military wing, the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Involvement in major attacks Both Deva and Hidma hailed from Puvarti village in Sukma district, an area that remained under Maoist control for nearly four decades until a security camp was set up in February 2024. The duo was involved in planning and executing several major attacks, including the May 25, 2013 Darbha Ghati ambush that killed 27 people and the April 2021 Sukma-Bijapur ambush in which 22 security personnel were killed. Weapons, logistics and surrender recovery Officials said Deva played a critical role over the years in weapons procurement, logistics, and the planning and coordination of armed squads, particularly in the forested regions of south Bastar, including Sukma and adjoining districts. A mounted Light Machine Gun (LMG) was recovered from him at the time of surrender, and members of his military operations team also laid down arms. Blow to Maoist leadership At the time of his surrender, Deva was considered part of the Maoist organisations top strategic trio, along with party chief Tippiri Tirupati alias Devji and Telangana state committee secretary Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar. Senior officials described him as one of the most influential Maoist leaders after Hidmas death. PLGA weakened by sustained operations Intelligence inputs suggest that Battalion Number 1 once had a strength of around 130 armed cadres, but sustained counter-insurgency operations had significantly weakened the unit. Officials said Devas surrender has dealt a major blow to the Maoists operational structure, with the possibility that remaining members of the battalion may also approach authorities in the coming days. Decline of Maoist armed wing The PLGA, long regarded as the military backbone of the Maoist Central Military Commission, is now believed to be on the verge of collapse. With Hidmas killing and Devas surrender, the outfits ability to carry out organised armed operations is considered to have been severely curtailed. The PLGA was formed on December 2, 1999, as the Peoples Guerrilla Army (PGA) and was renamed after the merger of CPI (Peoples War) with the Maoist Communist Centre of India in September 2004. At its peak, it operated multiple battalions and platoons with an estimated strength of 10,000 to 12,000 armed cadres. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As aurora visibility improves, Northern Lights travel is set to emerge as a major trend for 2026. Scientific forecasts point to stronger displays and rising demand across top Arctic destinations. For travellers chasing the aurora borealis, timing matters. According to space scientists, this year may offer some of the strongest Northern Lights displays in over a decade. Solar activity follows an 11-year cycle, moving between periods of relative calm and intense eruptions. The sun is now approaching a solar maximum, expected to peak around 2025, with elevated activity continuing into 2026. This surge directly affects how often and how vividly the Northern lights appear across the Arctic region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The activity of the sun controls the activity of the northern lights, explains Pal Brekke, Head of Space Research at the Norwegian Space Agency. Right now, the sun is approaching a new solar maximum when there is much more activity than usual. There are 11 years between such peaks, and we expect to reach a new peak in 2026." One reason recent displays have been particularly striking is a phenomenon scientists call cannibal solar storms. When one solar storm catches up with another, the storms merge into a more powerful gas cloud, carrying an intensified magnetic field. When this field collides with Earths magnetosphere, it triggers dramatic auroral activity. Sometimes producing rare colours such as pink and red alongside the usual green. The conditions are expected to remain favourable through 2026, making this window especially attractive for Northern Lights tourism. The aurora borealis is visible across Northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland between September and April, when skies are dark and clear. Statistically, activity peaks during the shoulder months of September, October, March and April. This is when solar interactions are strong and weather conditions can be more forgiving. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Norway, destinations such as Troms, the Lofoten Islands and Narvik sit directly beneath the auroral oval, the zone where sightings are most frequent. Sweden's Abisko National Park is known for its unqiue microclimate that often delivers clearer skies, while Finnish lapland offers wide open landscapes ideal for aurora photography. Icelands northern regions and remote fjords also remain popular for their accessibility and dramatic backdrops. As scientific forecasts point to stronger displays, travel demand is already responding. Tour operators across the Nordic region report earlier bookings for 2026, particularly for experiences that combine mobility with expert guidance. One such experience is the Northern Lights train from Narvik which takes travellers through Arctic landscapes towards towards the Swedish border in search of clear skies. The moving route increases the chances of sightings while offering a slow travel alternative to road based aurora chases. A 24-hour Northern Lights cruise offers an immersive Arctic experience, typically departing from places like Troms, Norway. It provides continuous searching, away from city lights, with options including cabins, meals, warm suits, and expert guides for better aurora viewing in the dark. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With solar activity aligning with rising interest in experiential travel, 2026 is emerging as a key year for aurora seekers. For travellers, willing to plan ahead, the coming season promises not just beautiful photographs but a rare alignment of science, nature and timing. Bangladesh also has two 'chickens necks' along its border with India, the loss of which would account for nearly 34.2 percent (50,715 sq km) of the countrys total territory. Image: X/@himantabiswa Bangladeshi National Citizen Partys leader Hasnat Abdullah has rhetorically threatened to cut off Indias north-eastern states by targeting Indias chicken neck, ie, the Siliguri Corridor, while downplaying Indias contribution in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The Siliguri Corridor is the narrow land strip linking Indias northeast to the mainland. For decades, the Siliguri Corridor was treated as a geographical vulnerability to be appropriately managed by India. A controversial but amateur Greater Bangladesh map circulating on social media implies Bangladesh cutting off Indias northeast and annexing it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has flagged concerns over shifting demographic trends in the state, claiming that the share of Bangladesh-origin Muslim residents could reach 40 per cent very soon. Bangladeshi migrant labour continues to cross over to India (Assam and West Bengal) with the support and connivance of militant groups and even local politicians for vote-bank reasons. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted by Islamist radicals on August 5, 2024, and the US-aligned Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser, was asked to form the interim government. To assuage the anti-India hardliners, the interim government started making overtures to Pakistan, and there were high-level visits of Pakistani military and government leaders. Growing anti-India sentiment, prolonged political instability in Bangladesh, and the erosion of assumptions that once kept Indias eastern flank relatively stable are now visible. The strategic community in India has started debating possible vulnerabilities. The Chicken Neck is one such politico-geographical feature. There are similar very vulnerable strips of Bangladeshi territory that can easily be cut off by the mighty Indian Armed Forces. Though dismissed in Bangladesh as fringe online propaganda, these vulnerabilities on either side need to be understood along with the implications and the security calculus. Siliguri Corridor: Indias Chicken Neck The Siliguri Corridor, often dubbed the Chickens Neck, is a stretch of land around the city of Siliguri in West Bengal. It is the sole terrestrial connection between Indias mainland and its eight north-eastern states, serving as a logistical lifeline for nearly 50 million people and crucial military movements. Bordered by Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, it lies close to Tibets Chumbi Valley to its northeast. The city of Siliguri is the central transfer point connecting Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Northeast India, and mainland India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The partition of India in 1947 led to the creation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The Kingdom of Sikkim formerly lay on the northern side of the corridor until its union with India in 1975 via a publicly held referendum. From Sikkim, India consolidated its control of the Chumbi Valley, along with Bhutan. The dimensions of the corridor are around 170 by 60 km, with the narrowest section being 2022 km, an area of approximately 10,200 sq km. Bangladeshis also refer to another Chickens Neck, the Tripura Corridor. It would require nearly 95 kilometres of Bangladeshi military thrust to cut it off from India. Vulnerability Mitigation for Connectivity The vulnerability for India stems from the fact that if this corridor is cut off by Bangladesh or other countries inimical to India, it would cut off Indias north-east from the mainland. It is important for India to have a friendly government in Bangladesh. After East Pakistan became an independent country (Bangladesh) with the support of India, there have been both friendly and not-so-friendly governments. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To mitigate the vulnerability, India has undertaken several initiatives, including enhancing security deployment as well as undertaking infrastructure development. To ensure seamless connectivity and military mobilisation, India has prioritised developing high-capacity infrastructure in and around the corridor, notably under the Bharatmala Pariyojana projects. As part of the corridor enhancement, major broad-gauge railway lines and highways have been upgraded to increase freight capacity and reduce transit time. Alternative connectivity solutions to reduce reliance on the single-access corridor include the proposed HiliMahendraganj Corridor and the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Corridor through Myanmar. Consideration of subterranean infrastructure (tunnels) within the corridor to enhance security and reduce exposure to external threats has been under consideration. The projects include the construction of many Border Roads and upgrades of Advance Landing Grounds (ALGs). North-eastern India connectivity and Look-East transnational connectivity projects, including through Bimstec and BBIN, aim to create multiple alternatives to the Siliguri Corridor, including through Bangladesh and the sea. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As of 2024, to reduce dependence on the Siliguri Corridor, India is planning to build railway lines through Jogbani in Bihar, which would enter Biratnagar in Nepal and then connect with New Mal Junction in West Bengal. India was also developing railway lines through Bangladesh, which include constructing new railway tracks and the gauge conversion of existing railway tracks, in order to reduce dependence on the Siliguri Corridor. As of now, there is no free-trade agreement between Bangladesh and India. The Tetulia Corridor, an alternative to the Siliguri Corridor, is proposed under Article VIII of the IndiaBangladesh Trade Agreement 1980, which states that The two governments agree to make mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways, railways and roadways for commerce between the two countries and for passage of goods between two places in one country through the territory of the other. However, the opening of the Tetulia Corridor, a proposed strategic passage through Bangladesh that would connect Chopra (North Dinajpur) to Maynaguri (Jalpaiguri) in Indias West Bengal, is still being discussed politically. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vulnerability Mitigation through Security The threat of a possible Chinese advance is still considered by Indian planners. A Chinese military advance of less than 130 km would cut off Bhutan, part of West Bengal, and all of North-East India. The threat of such a situation first arose during the ChinaIndia war of 1962. The security threat to this corridor was heightened again during the 1967 Nathu La and Cho La clashes, and the 2017 Doklam incident. The Indian security establishment has catered for such eventualities. The Siliguri Corridor is the Indian Armys strongest defensive line. The corridor has in the past also faced threats from militant groups, known to have used the corridor, including the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). India has several forces stationed on the borders. The Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) man the border with China; Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is deployed along the border with Nepal and Bhutan; and the Border Security Force (BSF) for Bangladesh. The strip is also patrolled by the Indian Army, the Assam Rifles, and state police forces, including the West Bengal Police. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The corridor and the surrounding region are secured by multiple military formations, primarily the Indian Armys Trishakti Corps (33 Corps), which guards the corridor and Sikkim. In a significant move to reinforce the eastern frontier, late in 2025, India established three new military garrisons: the Lachit Borphukan station near Dhubri in Assam, and forward bases at Kishanganj (Bihar) and Chopra (West Bengal), to boost surveillance, readiness, and coordination with the BSF. Advanced air assets already stationed in the area include a Rafale Squadron (at Hashimara), air defence systems such as the S-400, and the offensive capability of the BrahMos missile regiment, among many others. India has already fenced nearly 80 per cent along the 4,100 km IndiaBangladesh border. The remaining 900 km is unfenced due to difficult terrain (rivers, marshlands, steep areas) and land acquisition issues. There are disputes with Bangladesh over implementation, smart technology, and its impact on locals, despite joint efforts for security. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangladeshs Chickens Necks Bangladesh also has two chickens necks along its border with India. Cutting off these two would mean nearly 34.2 per cent (50,715 sq km) of Bangladeshs total territory. These stretches are narrower and more vulnerable than Indias Siliguri Corridor or Tripura Corridor. The threatened stretches contribute nearly 40 per cent to Bangladeshs economy and 80 per cent of Bangladeshs total export-import trade through Chittagong Port. In response to rhetoric from certain Bangladeshi political figures and hardliners highlighting Indias Chickens Neck vulnerability, Indian leaders have pointed out the much more vulnerable Bangladeshi corridors. The corridors are the North Bangladesh Corridor (Rangpur Division) and Chittagong Corridor (a slender strip, around 28 kilometres at its narrowest, connecting the port city of Chittagong, the economic capital, with the political capital of Dhaka). This diplomatic and strategic counter-narrative serves as a warning that any hostile action aimed at the Siliguri Corridor could result in severe repercussions for Bangladeshs own territorial integrity and economic connectivity. Rangpur chickens neck is contiguous to Indias Siliguri Corridor. The Indian Army would have to cover just 80 km to isolate a huge parcel of land from the rest of Bangladesh. This 16,185 sq. km area constitutes 10.9 per cent of Bangladeshs total area. The area contributes significantly to Bangladeshs economy, especially rice, jute, agriculture, food security, and transport. This area is surrounded by India on almost 320330 degrees. Chittagong chickens neck, the south-eastern part of Bangladeshs Chittagong Division, is contiguous to Northeast India and requires just a 28 km ground offensive to cut off 34,530 sq. km area (23.3 per cent of Bangladesh). Cutting off the Port of Chittagong cuts off 80 per cent of foreign trade. The remaining 20 per cent of trade to Nepal and Bhutan is through India. This area also contributes significantly to Bangladeshs tourism. The Feni River and its several tributaries, which run along the narrowest section, completely isolate it from the rest of Bangladesh at multiple places, making it more vulnerable. A World Bank assessment makes it imperative for Bangladesh to remain in close collaboration with India. The area is largely surrounded by India. The tract is insurgency-ridden and includes many Rohingya Muslim refugees who are waging a separatist insurgency against Myanmar. Sizeable Indian Military in the East India has the worlds second-largest, and fourth most powerful, military. The Indian Army Eastern Command (EC), headquartered in Kolkata, is responsible for Indias north-eastern borders with China and Bangladesh, covering states like West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and the Arunachal Pradesh frontier. It comprises several corps (IV Corps in Tezpur, XXXIII Corps in Siliguri, III Corps in Dimapur, XVII Corps in Panagarh) and divisions. It not only secures the eastern border, handles counter-insurgency, but also supports local populations. India recently established three new military garrisons in the region. Pakistans Lt Gen AAK Niazi presented the Instrument of Surrender to Lt Gen JS Aurora, the head of the EC, on 16 December 1971, in Dhaka. The Indian Air Forces (IAF) Eastern Air Command (EAC) has its headquarters at Shillong in Meghalaya, and its responsibility covers 11 states. It has many full-scale airbases. The main fighters are the SU-30MKI and Dassault Rafale. There are large numbers of transport aircraft and helicopters. The IAF has many Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) which have been recently modernised. Complete air superiority, the Megna River heli-crossing, and the Tangail airdrop were highlights of the 1971 war. The Indian Navys Eastern Naval Command (ENC), headquartered in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (Vizag), is responsible for securing Indias eastern seaboard and operations in the Bay of Bengal and parts of the Indian Ocean. The ENC has many battleships, a submarine base, and an aircraft carrier. The Indian Navy can blockade Bangladesh if contingency demands. India also has the Andaman and Nicobar Command at Port Blair, crucial for securing Indias maritime interests in the strategic Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Bangladesh Military The Bangladesh Armed Forces have 204,000 active military personnel vis-a-vis Indias 1.42 million. The country has a history of military coups. On 15 August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated by a few military officers. Major General Ziaur Rahman was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed himself as the Chief of Army Staff and Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator. Later, in 1977, under a public referendum, he became president. On 30 May 1981, President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated at the Chattogram Circuit House in a military coup. Less than a year later, the then Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, on 24 March 1982, took power in a silent coup at dawn, suspended the constitution, imposed martial law, and remained in power through flawed elections and corruption until 6 December 1990. Standoffs have occasionally occurred at the BangladeshMyanmar border, mainly when Myanmar attempted to force Rohingyas into Bangladesh. Bangladeshs armed forces primarily source military equipment from China and Russia, with China being the largest supplier of tanks, missiles, and vehicles. More recently, Bangladesh has increasingly sourced from Western/Nato countries like Turkey, Italy, France, the UK, the US, and Serbia. Bangladesh is showing strong interest in Chinese-made J-10C and JF-17 Thunder fighter jets. The Bangladesh Army will soon be divided into three corps: Central, Eastern, and Western. The air force is being divided into two separate commands: Southern and Northern. A riverine brigade is being formed. The air force currently has only 8 MiG-29 and 36 Chinese F-7 fighters. Wider Regional Lens China & Pakistan India is conscious of Chinas expanding economic footprint, infrastructure investments, and political outreach in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh military is significantly equipped with Chinese hardware. China has built a submarine base for Bangladesh. A Chinese threat with the connivance of Bangladesh could put significant pressure on the Siliguri Corridor. India has thus strengthened its military presence in the area to increase deterrence. Pakistan always tries to go fishing in muddy waters. Pakistan is in a political and economic mess, still recovering from the drubbing it received during Op Sindoor. They are still busy balancing great friend China and the once-great friend US. The Indian military is too strong for Pakistan. At best, Pakistan will support a government that is less friendly to India and may promote or support hardliners. A three-nation connivance with a nuclear power seems unlikely. To Summarise Indias concerns have deepened since Bangladeshs 2024 political upheaval, which unsettled a long period of relatively cooperative ties. The rise of radical nationalists, attacks against Hindu minorities, and increasingly open hostility toward Indian interests have raised alarm in New Delhis security establishment. Chief Minister Sarma has repeatedly cautioned that the evolving situation poses serious risks for India, particularly the north-eastern states, which he described as highly vulnerable due to geography and demographic pressures. Notwithstanding corruption and other criminal charges, during her 15-year tenure, Hasina helped dismantle anti-India insurgent networks, curbed militancy, and advanced connectivity projects, including allowing India access to the Bay of Bengal, while bolstering security along the 4,000-kilometre border. Hasinas ongoing refuge in India has deepened the existing distrust. She faces trial in absentia for crimes against humanity linked to 2024s deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters. Bangladesh could see domestic unrest, information warfare, and great-power rivalry at play. As Bangladesh navigates an uncertain political transition, the Indian security establishment and intelligence community have to monitor and tacitly act to ensure no negative fallout from the political transition. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of former Bangladeshi president Ziaur Rahman and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has urged people to maintain peace, presenting a vision of an inclusive society, saying the country belongs to people of all faiths, including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. The interim government in Dhaka, established after Hasina fled to India, is no longer as friendly towards New Delhi. Amid ongoing tensions with Dhaka, Bangladeshs newfound love with Pakistan is of concern. New Delhi sees the rapprochement as a security threat. Indias military has reinforced its eastern frontier and created new garrisons. The Indian Air Force staged one of its largest-ever air shows in the north-east on November 9, followed a few days later by a large-scale air force exercise across the north-east that ran until November 20. This all coincided with a visit by Pakistans navy chief to Dhaka, and a Pakistani warship anchored off Bangladesh for the first time since the war of independence in 1971. History has its moments. There is no need to rush. Muhammad Yunus is obviously being influenced by external forces. Yunus had, most undiplomatically, described Indias north-eastern states as landlocked and called Bangladesh the only gateway to the ocean for the region. Indias official position has been that of a calm, friendly approach, tacitly reminding the Bangladesh administration of its economic and security vulnerabilities. Indian officials see minority insecurity as an indicator of deeper instability that could have cross-border ramifications. With national elections in Bangladesh due next February, India is waiting out the interim government, signalling it will engage only with an elected administration. Bangladeshs economy is significantly reliant on India for essential imports like cotton, machinery, petroleum, and power, while India serves as a major market for Bangladeshi garments and jute, creating substantial bilateral trade. India dominates exports, especially in textiles and energy, making Bangladesh dependent on India for crucial inputs and connectivity, which impacts its industrial growth and daily needs despite efforts for diversification. Hindu bashing has to be exposed. The Indian intelligence establishment has to be on overdrive. Bangladeshi infiltration has to be stopped. The Indian military has overwhelming superiority to dominate or cut off Bangladesh from all sides. As India plays mature diplomacy, subtle signals are being sent. (The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) The coming months are critical for India to recalibrate its Bangladesh policy, emphasising engagement with moderate political actors and addressing security concerns to avert a deeper strategic setback The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu had said, There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent. In a recent discussion about whether the evolving situation in Bangladesh poses dangers for India and whether India should attempt a strategic reset, one learnt expert stated rather contemptuously: A third-rate power like Bangladesh poses a security threat of no consequence to us. A single hypersonic missile hitting Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and another hitting the main port terminal of Chittagong are all that will be needed to bring Bangladesh to its knees. It is Bangladesh that should seek a reset of relations, not us. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thus, it is not uncommon how many peopleeven the most learnt onesforget Lao Tzus wise words. No doubt, India is much, much more powerful militarily than Bangladesh. However, military strength is not the only factor that shapes the state of play in relations between nations. The fact that India faces a delicate and evolving chapter in its relationship with Bangladesh is a reality underscored in the recently presented report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, led by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Titled Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship, the report says, quoting an expert who deposed before the committee on June 27, 2025: India faces its greatest strategic challenge in Bangladesh since the Liberation War of 1971. The challenge in 1971 was existential, a humanitarian crisis, and the birth of a new nation. Today, the threat is subtler but probably graver, more serious: a generational discontinuity, a shift of political order, and a potential strategic realignment away from India. The report also says that The collapse of the Awami League dominance, the surge of youth-led nationalism, the re-entry of Islamists, and intensifying Chinese and Pakistani influence collectively marked a turning point, and adds, If India fails to recalibrate at this moment, it risks losing strategic space in Dhaka not to war, but to irrelevance. The report identifies key challenges in India-Bangladesh relations today: illegal immigration, radicalisation and extremism, regional security, and hostile rhetoric against Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity. Undoubtedly, the situation in Bangladesh after the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 poses significant and complex challenges for India. The Awami League government had fostered strong pro-India relations and security cooperation, but the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus as the chief adviser has provided fertile ground for the resurgence of radical Islamist groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and Ansar al-Islam, with alleged links to Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). There have been attacks on Indian diplomatic missions which have led to the temporary suspension of visa services. Thus, the relations between India and Bangladesh have reached their lowest point in decades. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The continued presence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India is an important factor behind the current diplomatic friction. Strong anti-India sentiment in some sections in Bangladesh is currently driven by the perception that New Delhi is propping up Sheikh Hasina by providing her a safe haven in a guarded home in Delhi. On November 17, 2025, a Bangladeshi tribunal sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity related to the 2024 student-led uprising. Bangladeshs interim administration, led by Muhammad Yunus, has formally requested her extradition multiple times, including a fresh diplomatic note in November 2025. The interim administration has described Indias sheltering of Hasina as unfriendly behaviour and a travesty of justice. India maintains she arrived under certain circumstances for safety and has only noted the verdict without committing to extradition. India will not, and should not, extradite her to Bangladesh. The relations between India and Bangladesh have reached their lowest point in decades. There have been attacks on Indian diplomatic missions which have led to the temporary suspension of visa services. There have also been numerous reports of violence and threats against Hindu and other minority communities in Bangladesh, which has become a major point of diplomatic friction and a source of internal pressure on the Indian government to ensure their safety. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India shares a long, porous 4,096 km border with Bangladesh. Sustained violence against Hindu minorities (over 2,200 reported cases by late 2025) risks a mass refugee influx of illegal migrants into neighbouring Indian states like West Bengal and Assam, straining resources and potentially causing communal polarisation within India. Instability in Bangladesh also poses a direct threat to Indias strategic Chickens Neck (Siliguri Corridor), the narrow 22 km land link connecting mainland India to its northeastern states. There is potential for hostile elements in Bangladesh to use proxies to disrupt critical infrastructure like bridges, rail lines, or pipelines within the corridor. Any disruption or security threat in this region could cripple economic activity and compromise national security along the sensitive border with China. Naturally, Chinas upgrading of the Lalmonirhat airfield, located near this strategic corridor, has intensified Indian security concerns. Previously suppressed Indian insurgent groups in the Northeast (such as the ULFA) may find renewed sanctuary in Bangladesh. A less cooperative government in Dhaka may not take action against such Indian insurgent groups, allowing them to re-establish camps and plan attacks from Bangladeshi soil, as was the case in the past. There could be a revival of safe havens and the resurgence of insurgency and terrorism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Instability in Bangladesh also has an impact on Indias Act East policy and will lead to the disruption of strategic connectivity. Bangladesh serves as a strategic gateway for Indias landlocked Northeast, and the current political flux (as of late 2025) has created several roadblocks. It threatens $8 billion worth of Indian-funded connectivity projects such as the Akhaura-Agartala line and the Khulna-Mongla Port rail line, which are vital for the economic development of the Northeast and Indias trade links with Southeast Asia. There is also the danger of radicalisation spillover. The rise of Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, and Ansar al-Islam creates a direct threat of cross-border radicalisation, particularly affecting the social fabric of West Bengal. Intelligence reports suggest Pakistans ISI is leveraging the current situation to re-establish networks in Bangladesh to target India through arms smuggling and cross-border terrorism. There are also important geopolitical and diplomatic risks. The growing influence of China in Indias neighbourhood is a significant concern. China is actively seeking to expand its footprint in Bangladesh through lucrative infrastructure and defence deals. Leveraging Bangladeshs economic instability, China is expanding its influence through infrastructure and military cooperation, potentially including naval access at Chittagong or Mongla. As Bangladesh shifts away from its India-first stance, Indias strategic space in the Bay of Bengal will diminish, complicating its efforts to counter Chinese influence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There are also signs of Pakistan-Bangladesh realignment. Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister visited Dhaka in August 2025, the first such visit in 13 years, resulting in the signing of six agreements. Visa restrictions have been eased and direct flights reinstated to foster goodwill and cultural exchanges. Direct trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh has resumed for the first time in over five decades. Reports indicate a significant growth in bilateral trade since the government change in August 2024, contrasting with a decline in trade with India during the same period. Both nations are reportedly in discussions with China to form a potential new South Asian regional bloc to replace the dormant Saarc. Reports suggest the revival of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operational presence in Bangladesh, with intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover, a development that has raised security concerns in India. There has also been a surge in military delegation exchanges. Top military officials from Bangladesh, including Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, have met with Pakistans top military leadership to discuss enhancing defence cooperation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangladeshs Navy also participated in the Pakistan-hosted multinational naval exercise Aman-2025 for the first time in decades. Discussions are reportedly underway for a potential bilateral defence agreement, military contracts and strategic coordination. Bangladesh is exploring the potential acquisition of Pakistans JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, which would integrate Dhaka into a broader Pakistan-China technological defence ecosystem. Against this background, the upcoming national elections in Bangladesh, scheduled for February 12, 2026, present a critical opportunity for a reset in India-Bangladesh ties. The elections allow India to move away from its one-party reliance on the Awami League and build ties across the political spectrum. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), currently the frontrunner, has expressed a desire to strengthen ties with New Delhi and presented itself as a pragmatic, secular alternative. Senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Quazi Moniruzzaman, have publicly expressed a desire for a friendly and strong relationship with India, framing it in terms of mutual need and respect for sovereignty. The BNP is also attempting to shed its former image as a centre-right, Islamist-aligned party. It has officially split with its long-time ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, to position itself as a moderate, liberal, and secular-leaning force. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The BNPs acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile and is positioned as a leading candidate for the prime ministership. His return has introduced a potential, though complex, pathway for improving ties with India. Rahman has shifted away from a pro-Pakistan or anti-India stance, adopting a Not Dilli, not Pindi (Rawalpindi), Bangladesh before everything approach. This strategy of maintaining equal distance from both neighbours is viewed as an improvement over the perceived pro-Pakistan tilt of the current interim administration. Summing up, India-Bangladesh relations are currently at a tense, critical juncture. India faces major strategic challenges in Bangladesh due to the rise of Islamist groups and increasing anti-India sentiment. The relationship is navigating a complex phase, moving from a strong strategic partnership under Hasina to one requiring careful management of new political realities. Indias approach should focus on strategic restraint, diversified diplomatic engagement, and the consistent pursuit of mutually beneficial outcomes. The coming months are critical for India to recalibrate its Bangladesh policy, focusing on engagement with moderate elements and addressing security concerns to prevent a deeper strategic loss. (The writer is a retired Indian diplomat and had previously served as Ambassador in Kuwait and Morocco and as Consul General in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) Resource rich Greenland is geographically part of North America, just off Canadas coast, with its nearest European neighbour, Iceland, about 200 miles across the Denmark Straitmaking it indispensable for the US For America, Greenland is another Alaska. Image: The US Consulate in Nuuk, Greenland. (Reuters) Those who believe US President Donald Trump is trying to annex Greenland, a self-governing, autonomous, overseas territory of the Kingdom of Denmark in the Arctic region, should think again. Its realpolitik in an era of geodynamics. The fact is that the US has since 1867 been trying to acquire Greenland from Denmark. Soon after the Second World War, in 1946, it also offered Denmark $100 million in gold. Its interest in Greenland stems from the islands highly strategic Arctic location, its untapped rich mineral resources, and potential new shipping routes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Americas latest move, President Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland: Jeff understands how essential is Greenland to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Countrys interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our allies, and indeed the World, he wrote on X on December 22. Few took Trump seriouslysome even mockedwhen, soon after returning to the White House on January 20, 2025, for a second term, Trump raised the Greenland issue, along with those like the Panama Canal, etc. But America has always been serious about Greenland, more so with its fast-changing dynamics with Russia, China, and Europe. 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 on December 23. Jeffrey Martin Landry, politician, attorney, and army veteran, wrote in a post, on X: Its an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US. The White House said Landry will serve in a voluntary capacity, tasked with advancing US interests in Greenland and engaging with stakeholders on the Arctic islands future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Greenland: Alaska II In 1867, the US bought Alaska from Tsarist Russia for $7.2 million to end Moscows presence in North America and secure its access to the Pacific Ocean. Alaska, the vast, remote territory, is rich with minerals like gold. Finding it hard to defend it from rival naval power Great Britain, Russia sold it to America. Later, Hollywood made several films on this frozen treasure, including Charlie Chaplins iconic, The Gold Rush (1925). In 1867 itself, the US even tried to acquire Icelandit may well be included in Americas acquisition menu, again! For the US, Alaska meant strategic positioning in the Pacific, expanding Americas territory, and countering British power. The discovery of gold during the late 1890s validated the purchase, bringing prospectors and industries like salmon fishing. The frozen territory was previously known as Russian America (1784-1867), the Department of Alaska (1867-1884), the District of Alaska (1884-1912) and the Territory of Alaska (1912-1958), before it finally became the 49th state of the USA (1959). Recently, it hit world headlines when Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held summit talks on August 15, 2025, in Alaska on the Ukraine issue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For America, Greenland, the planets largest non-continent island, is another Alaska. If the US acquires it, by coercion or cooperation, it would add to the US a territory 25 per cent larger than Alaska. Greenland, a former Danish colony with a population of only 56,000, has the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement but remains heavily reliant on fishing and Danish subsidies. Apparently, Landry has been tasked to use this 2009 loophole to make it part of the US. In March 2025, Greenlanders sought independence from Denmark but opposed becoming part of the USA. Interestingly, the US had purchased even Louisiana, which Landry heads now, from France in 1803 for $15 million. The move doubled the size of the US. Greenland is said to hold significant untapped reserves of oil, natural gas, and rare earth minerals critical to advanced manufacturing and defence technologies. As governor, Landry has overseen the extraction of hydrocarbons in Louisiana, exported even to India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Danish territory since 1721, Greenlands 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. The US has maintained a military presence at the Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) since 1943; the European Space Agency (ESA) also planned a new base in 2025. Renewed US attempts for acquisition of the island this year have prompted strong pushback from Denmark and the EU. In May 2025, Trump said that he could not rule out a US annexation of the island. Predictably, Greenlandic and Danish authorities opposed the move and asserted their right to self-determination: Greenland is not for sale. After Trump appointed Landry, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. Denmark has been trying to repair strained ties with Greenland and ease tensions with the Trump administration by investing in Arctic defence to address US criticisms about inadequate security. Trump called repeatedly during his presidential transition in 2024 and the early months of his second term for US jurisdiction over Greenland and has not ruled out military force to take control of the island. In March, Vice President JD Vance even visited a remote US military base in Greenland and accused Denmark of underinvesting there. Denmark is also a Nato ally of the United States. In August, Danish officials summoned a top US diplomat in Copenhagen following a report that at least three people with connections to President Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sensing the approaching danger and mounting interest from US investors in the Danish territory, Greenlands Parliament, in November, limited foreigners right to own property on the vast Arctic island. The new legislation means only people and companies from Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark will be allowed to buy property and land-use rights in Greenland. Recently, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service said in an annual report that the US is using its economic power to assert its will and threaten military force against friend and foe alike. The European Union (EU) is acutely embarrassed with this US move. Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for the EUs Executive Commission, underlined the blocs position that preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union. The Endgame Its only a matter of time. Not if but when. On December 27, Landry said he plans to discuss quality of life with the people of Greenland. What are they looking for? What opportunities have they not gotten? Why havent they gotten the protection that they actually deserve? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There is a great opportunity for Greenland to be invited to join the United States. He noted that, with Greenland about an hour away, the US is the fastest security route for its people. Look, the United States has always been a welcoming party. We dont go in there trying to conquer anybody and take over anybodys country. We say, listen, we represent liberty. We represent economic strength. We represent protection, Landry said. According to media reports, political analyst Robert Collins from Dillard University said, President Trump has already stated that he wants the island to become a US territory. So that being said, we know that thats the Presidents endgame. Although tensions between the two allies are rising, he said, conflict is unlikely to escalate since Denmark is a Nato ally. The US could invade the island and simply station troops there and say, Well, its ours now, but thats probably not realistic because that would be politically unpopular even among Trump supporters and Republicans in Congress, and so I dont really think thats going to happen, Collins said. Threatened by Russia amid the Ukraine war, Europe is unlikely to burn its fingers in Greenland, see the collapse of an already fragile Nato, and find an enemy in America that Christopher Columbus accidentally discovered in 1498, one which the continent colonised thereafter and exited completely from the Americas after the Monroe Doctrine (1823). Greenland is geographically part of North America, just off Canadas coast (only 16 miles away at its closest). Its nearest European neighbour, Iceland, is about 200 miles across the Denmark Strait. Proximity decides who will own Greenland! Period. (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.) Amid growing signs of physical and mental decline, US President Donald Trump has insisted his health remains perfect despite admitting he takes a high dose of aspirin, suffers frequent bruising, exercises little, sleeps poorly, and eats fatty and salty food. US President Donald Trump was photographed sleeping at several moments during a televised event in which the administration announced lower prices for weight loss drugs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients on November 6, 2025, at the White House. (Photo: AP) Amid growing signs of physical and mental decline, US President Donald Trump has insistent he remains in perfect health. In recent months, Trump has slept through telegraphed events at the White House, such as briefings and public remarks during Cabinet meetings. He has also been seen frequently with makeup to cover bruises and has frequently suffered bleeding even from high-fives. To add to such evidence of poor health, Trump admitted in an interview with Wall Street Journal that he has a very poor lifestyle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump said he takes aspirin four times the dose recommended by his aides and doctors. He said he barely exercises, gets little sleep, and eats fatty and salty foods. But he said he is in good health because of good genetics he inherited from his parents. Trump also downplayed having MRI he had earlier this year and said it was instead a CT scan to rule out any cardiovascular issues. Concerns about Trumps physical and mental ability to govern have consistently mounted as his rambling speeches and remarks have been worsening lately. While his rhetoric has always been laden with profanities and insults, it has been becoming vitriolic by the day where he has been frequently attacking journalists, critics, and opponents. His public remarks about womens bodies have drawn criticism, such as the times he has spoken about Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. But Trump has remained dismissive of both the concerns about his health and professional advice. In retrospect, its too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition. I would have been a lot better off if they didnt, because the fact that I took it said, Oh gee, is something wrong? Well, nothings wrong, Trump said about the CT scan. As for the swelling in his ankles from chronic venous insufficiency, he wore compression socks for a while but ditched them because he did not like them. Im a little superstitious Trump said he is a little superstitious and relies on his own beliefs instead of medical advice. Justifying taking four times the recommended aspirin, Trump said it was good for his heart. They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I dont want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense? said Trump. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, several of Trumps conditions are symptoms of higher than recommended aspirin consumption. Trump consumes four times the recommended aspirin daily and that has been linked to gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhagic stroke, tinnitus, rapid breathing, and confusion. The Journal reported people close to Trump as saying that he has been having difficulty listening to people around him and following conversations. And he has frequently suffered bleeding lately. In one instance, his hand began bleeding when Attorney General Pam Bondi high-fived him. On other occasions, there has been speculation about Trump having a stroke because of his visuals suggesting signs of one. But Trump and his doctor, Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, ruled out all concerns. Barbabella told Journal that the CT scan was done to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues and revealed no abnormalities. A month before the highly anticipated general elections in Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman said the party wants to continue working with the BNP in the national interest A month before the highly anticipated general elections in Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman said the party wants to continue working with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the national interest. According to Bangladeshi news outlet BD News, the Jamaat leader noted that he was seeking talks with former PM late Khaleda Zia's party after the elections but before the formation of the next government. The remarks came while he was speaking at the BNPs Gulshan office on Thursday evening during a condolence visit following the funeral of chairperson Zia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During his visit, Shafiqur also met Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and other senior party leaders. After the meeting, the Jamaat chief shared his take on the election and referendum, urging a smooth, fair, and credible electoral process. Jamaat attempts to appease BNP by toying with the past During the Thursday meeting, Rahman recalled Jamaats long-term alliance with BNP. We have worked together in the past in the interest of our beloved country, and, God willing, we will continue to work together in the future for the countrys sake, he said. Later, while speaking to the reporters, Shafiqur said leaders of both parties expressed the same aspirations. For the sake of national stability over the next five years and to restore a healthy political environment, we should consider whether we can collectively think through constructive options, he said. He also noted that the Islamist party is planning to hold a meeting with the BNP before the parties form a government in Bangladesh after two years of turbulence. He said that the talks are needed to make decisions for the country. While speaking to the media, Rahman also formally offered condolences over Zias demise, BD News reported. The Jamaat supremo recounted Khaledas struggle to restore democracy in Bangladesh. Her send-off (Wednesday) was marked by historic honour. People bade her a tearful farewell. This was her due recognition. Her contributions to the nation have been acknowledged by Allah, and seeing this, we too are inspired," he said. If we can contribute to the country in the same way, perhaps one day the people will honour us with a similar farewell. Such respect is rare, and being bid goodbye with tears is a profound mark of recognition," the Jamaat chief concluded. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Canadas transport regulator has flagged a serious safety concern after an Air India pilot failed two breathalyser tests at Vancouver International Airport, prompting authorities to ask the airline to launch an investigation. Canadas transport regulator has flagged a serious safety concern after an Air India pilot failed two breathalyser tests at Vancouver International Airport, prompting authorities to ask the airline to launch an investigation. The incident led to a last-minute delay of a VancouverDelhi flight and the offloading of the pilot found unfit for duty. PTI Canadas transport regulator has asked Air India to launch an investigation after a pilot reported for duty under the influence of alcohol and failed two consecutive breathalyser tests at Vancouver International Airport, raising serious safety concerns. The incident occurred on December 23 and led to a last-minute delay of Flight AI186, which was scheduled to operate from Vancouver to Delhi via Vienna. Transport Canada flagged the issue following a complaint by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which alleged that an Air India captain was unfit to fly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Air India said one of the cockpit crew members was offloaded prior to departure after Canadian authorities raised concerns about the pilots fitness for duty. The crew member was taken for further inquiry, and an alternate pilot was rostered to operate the flight, resulting in the delay. The airline said it regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers and was fully cooperating with local authorities. In a letter dated December 24, 2025, Transport Canada informed senior Air India officials that two breathalyser tests conducted by the RCMP confirmed the pilot was under the influence of alcohol and unfit for duty. The regulator said the incident violated Canadian Aviation Regulations, including CARs 602.02 and 602.03, as well as conditions outlined in Air Indias Foreign Air Operator Certificate. It is likely that enforcement action will be pursued by the RCMP and by TCCA, the letter said, adding that Air India has been asked to take corrective steps and submit a detailed response by January 26. Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, that the pilot was asked to leave the aircraft following the tests conducted by Canadian police. Transport Canada described the incident as a serious matter and indicated that enforcement action is likely. Air India confirmed that the pilot has been taken off flying duties during the enquiry. The airline reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards violations of rules and regulations and said any confirmed breach would attract strict disciplinary action in line with company policy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Chinese navy has commissioned a new upgraded missile destroyer as its expanding its fleet at a breakneck speed to catch up with the US naval strength. This is an AI generated image. Chinas navy has inducted a new upgraded missile destroyer as it rapidly expands its fleet in an effort to close the gap with US naval power. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has commissioned a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer named Loudi, equipped with enhanced radar, weapons and network systems, according to reports in official media on Friday. Zhang Shengwei, a crew member aboard Loudi, told the state-run Global Times that the warship is built on a new system design and architecture, significantly improving its combat performance in areas such as air defence, maritime attack and task force command. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added that the destroyer is capable of carrying out long-range assault and strike operations against targets, while also providing defensive protection to allied vessels during missions. Observers say the new ships addition highlights the feverish pitch at which the Chinese navy is expanding its fleet, adding a ship a month. According to a recent BBC report, the Chinese navy has emerged as the worlds largest, operating 234 warships compared to the US Navys 219 ships. Between 2019 and 2023, Chinas four largest shipyards Dalian, Guangzhou, Jiangnan and Hudong-Zhonghua produced 39 warships with a combined displacement of 550,000 tonnes, according to a study by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). With the addition of Loudi, the Chinese navy has added 11 combat vessels, including the aircraft carrier Fujian, in 2025. In addition to building its own fleet, China is supplying modern naval ships and submarines to its all-weather ally Pakistan. Last month, China launched a fourth Hangor-class submarine, named Ghazi, for Pakistan. It is the second Pakistani submarine to be named after Ghazi. The first one was blown up near the Visakhapatnam port during the 1971 war with India. Pakistan has signed an agreement with China for the acquisition of eight Hangor-class submarines. The first three were launched earlier. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies The move comes as Beijing struggles to boost birth rates in the worlds second-largest economy. Chinas population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, and experts have cautioned that the downturn will continue The new Value Added Tax (VAT) on condoms and other forms of contraceptives came into effect in China on January 1, as the country faces a population crunch. The measure has removed contraceptive drugs and devices from a three-decade-old tax exemption. Condoms and contraceptive medicines will now incur a VAT of 13 per cent, the standard rate for most consumer goods. The move comes as Beijing struggles to boost birth rates in the worlds second-largest economy. Chinas population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, and experts have cautioned that the downturn will continue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Would taxing condoms help? Chinas plummeting birth rate has made its leadership anxious, with the government now shifting from its stringent one-child policy to a suite of carrots to induce people to have more children. Raising taxes on condoms is largely a symbolic gesture. A standard pack typically sells for 40 to 60 yuan ($5.70$8.50), while a months supply of the contraceptive pill, available over the counter, costs between 50 and 130 yuan. Yun Zhou, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Michigan, said the new tax was unlikely to change peoples choices, but it sent a signal from the government about what desirable family behaviour should be. She added that if contraception became harder to access, the brunt of the negative effects will be borne by women, particularly by disadvantaged women. What are some other measures taken? China exempted childcare subsidies from personal income tax and rolled out an annual childcare subsidy last year, following a series of fertility-friendly measures in 2024, such as urging colleges and universities to provide love education to portray marriage, love, fertility and family in a positive light. Top leaders again pledged last month at the annual Central Economic Work Conference to promote positive marriage and childbearing attitudes to stabilise birth rates. Chinas birth rates have been falling for decades as a result of the one-child policy China implemented from 1980 to 2015, and rapid urbanisation. The high cost of childcare and education as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy have also discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family. Chinese war games around Taiwan unnecessarily spiked tensions in the region, the US State Department said Thursday, calling on Beijing to cease its military pressure. This handout photo taken December 29, 2025 and released on December 30 by the Taiwan Coast Guard shows a Lienchiang-class vessel of the Taiwanese coast guard (R) responding to a China Coast Guard ship (L) in waters northwest of Huayu Island. AFP Chinese war games around Taiwan unnecessarily spiked tensions in the region, the US State Department said Thursday, calling on Beijing to cease its military pressure. Chinas military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily. We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. Beijing launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets, navy ships and coastguard vessels on Monday and Tuesday this week to encircle Taiwans main island, saying the drills simulated a blockade of main Taiwanese ports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Taipei condemned the exercises as highly provocative. China claims that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it. The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion, Pigott said. US President Donald Trump said Monday he was not concerned about Chinas live-fire drills, appearing to brush aside the possibility of counterpart Xi Jinping ordering an invasion. I have a great relationship with President Xi. And he hasnt told me anything about it. I certainly have seen it, Trump told reporters when asked about the exercises. I dont believe hes going to be doing it, Trump said in apparent reference to an invasion. Theyve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area. Now people take it a little bit differently. Beijings show of force came after the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan. The United States has been committed for decades to ensuring Taiwans self-defense, while staying ambiguous on whether the US military itself would intervene in an invasion. Chinas latest military exercise was the sixth major round of maneuvers since 2022 when a visit to Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi enraged Beijing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Authorities in DRC have described the new wave of attacks as a clear act of aggression against national sovereignty and a serious and repeated violation of international law Rwanda-backed M23 fighters withdraw from their positions in the town of Kibumba, Democratic Republic of Congo, on December 23, 2022. (Representational Photo, Credit: Moses Sawasawa/AP) The Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed that the attacks by the M23 militia, backed by Rwanda, have killed more than 1,500 civilians since December last year. Authorities in DRC have described the new wave of attacks as a clear act of aggression against national sovereignty and a serious and repeated violation of international law. Last month, the M23 rebels said that they had taken control of the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Congo after launching a fresh offensive despite the US-brokered peace deal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A US-mediated peace agreement was signed last month by the presidents of the Congolese and Rwandan governments in Washington. The accord didnt include the rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and agreed earlier this year to a ceasefire that both sides accuse the other of violating. However, it obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups and work to end hostilities. Congo, the United States, and UN experts accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which had only a few hundred members in 2021 but has since expanded significantly. The United Nations now estimates the group has about 6,500 fighters. Rwanda rejects the accusation of backing M23, though it acknowledged last year that it has deployed troops and missile systems in eastern Congo, saying the move is necessary to protect its national security. UN experts estimate that as many as 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are currently operating inside Congo. The eastern Congo, a mineral-rich region near the Rwandan border, is home to more than 100 armed groups competing for control, with the M23 being the most prominent. The ongoing violence has fueled one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises, displacing more than 7 million people, according to officials. The UN Security Council has condemned Rwandas support for M23 and urged it to withdraw its forces and stop supporting the M23 armed group. In December, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution and extended the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO, for an additional year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The decision came despite Rwandas repeated denials of involvement in the conflict, which has intensified as a United Statesbrokered peace agreement has begun to unravel, even as mounting evidence points to Rwandan involvement. Russias war in Ukraine has shifted into a grinding battle of attrition with Moscow making its largest territorial gains since 2022 as diplomacy lags and Ukrainian forces face mounting pressure on multiple fronts. In this handout photograph taken and released by the press service of the 65th Mechanized Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces on January 1, 2026, Ukrainian recruits take part in a basic military training at an undisclosed location in Zaporizhzhia region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.- AFP Russias slow gains across Ukrainian territory in 2025 mark its biggest territorial advance since the war erupted in 2022 as the conflict settles into a prolonged battle of attrition. According to an AFP analysis of battlefield data, Russian forces captured more land last year than in the previous two years combined, pressing their advantage against Ukrainian troops stretched thin by manpower shortages and equipment gaps. Based on data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project, Russia seized more than 5,600 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in 2025 about 0.94% of the countrys landmass. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While far below the dramatic territorial grab of over 60,000 square kilometres in 2022, the advances highlight Moscows ability to turn sustained pressure into incremental gains as the war enters its fourth year. These gains include areas independently assessed as being under Russian control, as well as territory claimed by Moscow, a distinction that highlights how battlefield momentum, rather than dramatic breakthroughs has become the primary measure of progress. A war of attrition replaces early-war shock tactics Unlike the early stages of the invasion, when Russia sought rapid territorial expansion through overwhelming force, 2025 saw Moscow lean heavily on attritional tactics. Russian forces combined heavy artillery bombardment, drone warfare, and relentless infantry assaults to wear down Ukrainian defences across multiple sectors. The data shows that Russias biggest territorial advance came in November, when it captured 701 square kilometres, pointing to intensified offensive operations late in the year. By contrast, December recorded just 244 square kilometres of gains, the smallest monthly increase since March, suggesting both battlefield fatigue and operational limits. Throughout the year, Ukraine faced sustained pressure not just from the front lines but also from deep-strike bombardment targeting infrastructure and supply lines. Western analysts have noted that while Russias advances were often marginal in tactical terms, they proved cumulatively significant over time, allowing Moscow to nibble away at Ukrainian-held territory without committing to large-scale manoeuvre warfare. This grinding approach aligns with assessments that Russia has restructured its war effort to prioritise endurance both militarily and politically betting that Ukraines resources and Western support would be harder to sustain over a prolonged conflict. Ukraine squeezed by manpower gaps and firepower imbalance For Kyiv, 2025 proved to be one of its most difficult years since the invasion began. Ukrainian forces, widely described as outmanned and outgunned, struggled to hold defensive lines as Russia exploited numerical superiority and a steady flow of munitions. Military analysts say Ukraines losses of territory were often the result of prolonged pressure rather than sudden defeats. Russian troops advanced metre by metre in contested zones, forcing Ukrainian units to withdraw to preserve manpower. In several areas, Ukrainian commanders opted for tactical retreats rather than risk encirclement, a sign of how battlefield calculations have shifted in favour of damage limitation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the same time, Kyiv has accused Moscow of deliberately escalating military operations to undermine diplomatic initiatives, arguing that Russia sees battlefield gains as leverage rather than a path to compromise. Ukrainian officials insist the Kremlin is not seriously interested in peace and is instead using negotiations as cover to consolidate territorial control. Diplomacy lags behind battlefield momentum Russias advances have unfolded against a backdrop of renewed diplomatic manoeuvring, including attempts by US President Donald Trump to position himself as a peacemaker. Trump has engaged both Moscow and Kyiv in talks aimed at ending the war, but has so far failed to extract meaningful concessions from the Kremlin. Russia continues to occupy just under a fifth of Ukraine, and has demanded that Kyiv withdraw from parts of the eastern Donbas region as a condition for peace, a position Ukraine has repeatedly rejected. The gap between diplomatic efforts and battlefield realities has only widened as Russias slow territorial gains reinforce its negotiating posture. Analysts note that while Russia is no longer capable of rapid, large-scale advances, its ability to sustain pressure gives it a strategic edge in a long war. For Ukraine, the challenge lies not only in halting further losses, but in convincing Western allies that sustained support remains crucial despite the absence of dramatic battlefield shifts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the conflict moves deeper into attrition, Russias gains in 2025 suggest that control of time rather than territory alone may now be the decisive factor shaping the wars next phase. The location of the provocation may be a religious building or other object of high symbolic significance both in (Russia) and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Ukraines intelligence service said in a statement Ukrainian servicemen of the 48th artillery brigade fire a 2s22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. AP Ukraines foreign intelligence service said on Friday it believes the Kremlin is preparing a false flag attack inside Russia or in Ukrainian territories under Russian occupation, warning the move could be aimed at derailing US-mediated peace talks led by President Donald Trump, according to a Politico report. Kyiv has already accused Moscow of fabricating claims about a Ukrainian drone attack on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the allegation was intended to undermine the peace process. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukrainian officials now warn that Russia may escalate further by staging a high-casualty incident ahead of Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7. According to the intelligence service, the warning is based on signs that the Kremlin is intensifying preparations for a large-scale disinformation campaign. We predict with high probability a transition from manipulative influence to the (Russian Federation) special services armed provocation, resulting in significant human casualties, Politico quoted the intelligence service as saying in a statement. The location of the provocation may be a religious building or other object of high symbolic significance both in (Russia) and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the statement added. The intelligence service said the Kremlin planned to blame the attacks on Ukraine by using Western-made drones transported from the front line to the location of the staged incident. Such operations are consistent with modus operandi of Russian special services, the Ukrainian agency said. Putins regime has repeatedly used this tactic within the (Russian Federation), and now this same model is being exported abroad, as indirectly confirmed by public statements from senior Russian officials, the service added. Analysts have often cited the 1999 apartment bombings in the Russian cities of Moscow, Buynaksk and Volgodonsk as an example of this approach. The attacks killed more than 300 people and injured over 1,000. The bombings were officially blamed on Chechen militants and were used to justify the launch of a new war in Chechnya, while also boosting Putins popularity ahead of elections. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies India and Bangladesh on Thursday commenced talks on renewing the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which is set to expire in December this year, 30 years after it was signed. India and Bangladesh on Thursday commenced talks on renewing the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which is set to expire in December this year, 30 years after it was signed. In light of this, officials told The Times of India that both nations started measuring water levels in the Ganga and Padma rivers. The officials noted that the measurements will be taken every 10 days till May 31. CWC deputy director Saurabh Kumar and CWC assistant director Sunny Arora are in Bangladesh, while a four-member Bangladeshi team is in India, the officials told TOI. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, senior Bangladesh water resource ministry official Shibber Hossain said special attention was being given to the Indian teams security since anti-India sentiments have been brewing in a turbulent Bangladesh. According to The Dhaka Tribune, water measurement began at a point 3,500 feet upstream of the Hardinge Bridge on the Padma River in Bangladesh and also at the Farakka point on the Ganga River in India. About the treaty The treaty was signed by India and Bangladesh in 1996, opening a new gateway for fruitful bilateral cooperation between the two nations. It is pertinent to note that both countries share 54 transboundary rivers that drain through Bangladesh, of which the Ganges is highly seasonal. In 1975, India constructed a Barrage across the Ganges at Farakka for diverting the flow of water to the Hooghly River and to ensure the flushing of the Calcutta Por, thus affecting Bangladeshs share of the Ganges waters. While the need for the cooperative development of the water resources of the Ganges was expressed by India in 1953, all bilateral meetings on the matter till 1970 remained inconclusive. Following the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971, the prospects of cooperative development greatly improved. A decision was then taken to establish the Indo-Bangladesh Joint River Commission (JRC) to undertake joint action on water sharing of the two rivers. This marks the biggest protests Iran has seen since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, which sparked widespread outrage in the country in 2022 Shopkeepers and traders take to the streets in Tehran, protesting worsening economic conditions and the sharp decline of Irans embattled currency. (AFP) Iranian authorities have reported seven deaths across the countrys rural provinces as protests over economic downfall turned violent over the week. While the demonstrations have been largely quelled in the Iranian capital of Tehran by the government, they have spread across the countrys rural areas. The fatalities, two on Wednesday and five on Thursday, occurred in four cities, largely home to Irans Lur ethnic group. This marks the biggest protests Iran has seen since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, which sparked widespread outrage in the country in 2022. However, the demonstrations have yet to be countrywide and have not been as intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was detained over not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Protests in Iran The most intense violence appeared to strike Azna, a city in Irans Lorestan province, some 300 kilometres (185 miles) southwest of Tehran. There, online videos purported to show objects in the street ablaze and gunfire echoing as people shouted: Shameless! Shameless! In Lordegan, a city in Irans Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, online videos showed demonstrators gathered on a street, with the sound of gunfire in the background. The footage matched known features of Lordegan, some 470 kilometres (290 miles) south of Tehran. The Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Centre for Human Rights in Iran said two people had been killed there, identifying the dead as demonstrators. It also shared a still image of what appeared to be an Iranian police officer, wearing body armour and wielding a shotgun. Intimidation and arrests Responding to the recent violent clashes, the US State Department expressed concern about reports that protesters were facing intimidation, violence, and arrests and called on the authorities to end the crackdown. First the bazaars. Then the students. Now the whole country. Iranians are united. Different lives, one demand: respect our voices and our rights, the State Department said in a post on its Farsi account on X. Irans civilian government under reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has been trying to signal it wants to negotiate with protesters. However, Pezeshkian has acknowledged there is not much he can do as Irans rial currency has rapidly depreciated, with $1 now costing some 1.4 million rials. Meanwhile, state television separately reported on the arrests of seven people, including five it described as monarchists and two others it said had linked to European-based groups. State TV also said another operation saw security forces confiscate 100 smuggled pistols, without elaborating. With inputs from agencies Jaishankar on Friday asserted that India has every right to defend itself against bad neighbours that sponsor terrorism, saying good neighbourly relations cannot exist alongside continued acts of terror. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets BNP leader Tarique Rahman in Dhaka to convey Prime Minister Modis condolences on the passing of former Bangladeshi premier Khaleda Zia. Taking a clear swipe at Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday delivered a strong warning against terrorism, asserting that India has every right to defend itself against bad neighbours that sponsor terror while simultaneously seeking cooperation from New Delhi. He said good neighbourly relations cannot coexist with continued acts of terrorism. No acceptance of external pressure Speaking at an event at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Jaishankar said India would exercise its right to protect its security and national interests and would not accept external prescriptions on how it should respond to terrorism. VIDEO | Chennai: EAM S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar), speaking at an IIT Madras event, says, I was in Bangladesh just two days ago to represent India at the funeral of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. But more broadly, our approach to the neighbourhood is guided by common pic.twitter.com/8GgEmG1rOz Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 2, 2026 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But when it comes to bad neighbours who persist with terrorism, India has every right to defend its people and will do whatever is necessary. You cannot request us to share our water with you and also spread terrorism in our country, he said. Decisions on response will be taken by India The External Affairs Minister underlined that India alone would decide how it responds to terrorism. How we exercise that right is up to us. Nobody can tell us what we should or should not do. We will do whatever we have to do to defend ourselves, he added. Elaborating on Indias neighbourhood policy, Jaishankar said New Delhis approach is guided by common sense, drawing a clear distinction between cooperative and hostile neighbours. Referring to Indias western neighbour, he said some countries deliberately, persistently and unrepentantly use terrorism as a state policy, and India has the right to defend its people against such threats. Terrorism erodes regional cooperation Jaishankar also linked terrorism to the breakdown of regional cooperation, particularly in water-sharing arrangements. Many years ago, we agreed to a water-sharing arrangement, but if you have decades of terrorism, there is no good neighbourliness. If there is no good neighbourliness, you dont get the benefits of that good neighbourliness, he said. You cant say, Please share water with me, but I will continue terrorism with you. Thats not reconcilable, he added. Support for friendly neighbours Contrasting this with Indias approach towards friendly neighbours, Jaishankar highlighted New Delhis consistent support during times of crisis, including vaccine supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, fuel and food assistance during the Ukraine conflict, and $4 billion in support to Sri Lanka during its financial crisis. He said Indias growth benefits the entire region, a fact recognised by most neighbouring countries. Jaishankar also spoke about Indias broader worldview, referring to the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He said India has never viewed the world as a hostile environment but instead focuses on solving problems by leveraging its strengths, competitiveness and partnerships. Ju Ae has been making increasingly prominent appearances in state media over the past three years, fuelling speculation by analysts and South Koreas intelligence agency that she may be in line to be the countrys fourth-generation leader North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns daughter, Ju Ae, who is likely being prepared as his successor, accompanied her parents on her first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum to pay respects to former leaders, state media photos published on Friday showed. Ju Ae has been making increasingly prominent appearances in state media over the past three years, fuelling speculation by analysts and South Koreas intelligence agency that she may be in line to be the countrys fourth-generation leader. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cheong Seong-chang, vice president at the Sejong Institute think tank, viewed Ju Aes first presence at the Kumsusan palace as her fathers calculated move ahead of the upcoming ruling party Congress at which her succession might be formalised. Kim was also accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and senior officials on the visit on January 1, with Ju Ae between her parents in the main hall of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, state news agency KCNA photographs showed. Hong Min, an expert on North Korea at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said North Korea had been portraying an image of Kims stable family by showing the wife and the daughter along with Kim on major events. Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to have been born in the early 2010s, attended this years New Year celebrations, according to state media on Thursday. In September, she travelled to Beijing with her father on her first public overseas outing. Kim visits Kumsusan to honour his grandfather and state founder, Kim Il Sung, and father Kim Jong Il on key dates and anniversaries in a gesture affirming the dynastic heritage of the nuclear-armed country. North Korea has never confirmed Ju Aes age. South Koreas Unification Ministry spokesperson declined to comment on Ju Aes appearance. An official told reporters the governments view is it is too early to say she is a successor, given her age and she does not hold an official position. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hong said potential roles of Kims other children have left room for caution in drawing conclusions about Ju Aes succession. Its practically impossible to publicly designate Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to have just turned 13, as the successor when shes not even old enough to join the (Workers) Party, Hong said. Tehran issues a stark warning after Trump says the US is locked and loaded to protect protesters amid escalating unrest in Iran Hours after President Donald Trump issued a warning that the US would intervene to protect protesters in Iran, a senior Iranian official on Friday cautioned that the Islamic Republic could retaliate against American bases and troops in the region. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was responding to Trumps post on Truth Social, in which the former president said his administration is locked and loaded and ready to go to protect peaceful protesters if Iran targets them with violence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, the disrespectful President of America should also know that with this official admission, all American centers and forces across the entire region will be legitimate targets for us in response to any potential adventurism, Ghalibaf posted Friday on social platform X. Iranians have always been united and determined to act in the face of an aggressor enemy, he added. At least seven people have died in nearly a week of protests in Iran, initially triggered by the collapse of the rial but increasingly featuring anti-government slogans, The Associated Press reported. In 2019, former President Trump imposed sanctions on Iranian officials in response to the regimes violent crackdown on protesters, part of a maximum pressure campaign aimed at limiting Irans ability to fund its nuclear program. The recent exchange of threats between Trump and Tehran represents a renewed escalation following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June. Iran retaliated by launching an attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts American troops. No casualties were reported, though some damage occurred. Trump has claimed the strikes obliterated Irans nuclear capabilities but warned Monday that Tehran appears to be rebuilding. We cant let them build up because if they build up, there cant be peace in the Middle East," he was quoted as saying. Consequences will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time. He also expressed openness to renewed talks with Iran during a meeting last week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago. Netanyahu reportedly discussed the possibility of another round of strikes on Iran, Axios reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ali Larijani, secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, accused Trump and Israel of exploiting the protests to justify new attacks. In a statement on X, he said: With statements from Israeli officials and (Trump), what was happening behind the scenes has become clear. We distinguish between the position of the protesting merchants and the actions of the sabotage elements, and Trump must realise that U.S. intervention in this internal matter will lead to destabilizing the entire region and destroying American interests. The American people must know that Trump is the one who started this adventure, and they should pay attention to the safety of their soldiers, Larijani added. With inputs from agencies Trump, earlier this week, announced that the military launched a land attack on a docking facility in Venezuela targeting drug boats, a claim that has neither been confirmed nor denied by Caracas Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has expressed willingness to open dialogue with the US as he appeared to dodge a question on Washingtons recent military action on a dock. Wherever they want and whenever they want, Maduro said of the idea of dialogue with the United States on drug trafficking, oil and migration in an interview on state TV. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, earlier this week, announced that the military launched a land attack on a docking facility in Venezuela targeting drug boats, a claim that has neither been confirmed nor denied by Caracas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Asked point-blank if he confirmed or denied the attack, Maduro said, This could be something we talk about in a few days. The attack would amount to the first known land strike of the US military campaign against drug trafficking from Latin America. US attack on a dock Trump on Monday said the United States hit and destroyed a docking area for alleged Venezuelan drug boats. Trump would not say if it was a military or CIA operation or where the strike occurred, noting only that it was along the shore. There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs, he told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. So we hit all the boats and now we hit the area, its the implementation area, thats where they implement. And that is no longer around. Colombian President Gustavo Petro fueled rumours about the location of the attack, saying Trump bombed a factory in Maracaibo, where they mix coca paste to make cocaine. That led some to speculate on social media that a fire at wholesale chemical distributor Primazols warehouses in Maracaibo may have been related to the attack. Primazol chief Carlos Eduardo Siu denied those rumours, saying, President Petro, not here we neither package nor manufacture any kind of narcotics. Refresh for update. An Islamabad anti-terrorism court on Friday sentenced seven individuals, including journalists, a YouTuber and a former army officer, to two life terms each in cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots that erupted after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, says report. Amid rising political unrest following the elevation of Army Chief Asim Munir, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday sentenced YouTuber Adil Raja, journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan, Sabir Shakir and Shaheen Sehbai, anchorperson Haider Raza Mehdi, analyst Moeed Pirzada and former army official Akbar Hussain to two life sentences each in cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots, Dawn reported. The unrest erupted after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan and led to widespread vandalism of government and military installations across Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the report, the prosecution accused the convicted individuals of digital terrorism against state institutions, alleging they used online platforms to incite, facilitate and amplify attacks during the May 9 violence. Trials conducted in absentia ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the reserved verdicts after the completion of trials conducted in absentia, following a request by the prosecution under relevant provisions of anti-terrorism laws. As per court orders, cases against Raja, Khan, Sehbai and Mehdi were registered at Islamabads Ramna police station, while cases against Shakir, Hussain and Pirzada were lodged at the Aabpara police station. Details of sentences and fines The court awarded rigorous life imprisonment on two counts waging or attempting to wage war against Pakistan and criminal conspiracy and imposed fines of Rs500,000 for each offence. The convicts were also sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs200,000 under Section 121-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which relates to conspiracy to commit offences punishable under Section 121. In addition, another 10-year rigorous imprisonment term and a Rs200,000 fine were imposed under Section 131 of the PPC for abetting mutiny. The court further handed down three separate five-year rigorous imprisonment terms under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, along with fines of Rs200,000 for each offence. The court said failure to pay any fine would result in an additional six months of imprisonment. All sentences will run concurrently, and the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure allowing time spent in detention to be counted was extended to the convicts. Each order stated that the convicts have the right to file an appeal before the Islamabad High Court within seven days. Police have been authorised to arrest the individuals upon availability and commit them to jail to serve their sentences. During the trials, the prosecution presented 24 witnesses. Public prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani represented the state, while Advocate Gulfam Ashraf Goraiya appeared as defence counsel after being appointed by the court. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pending detailed judgement A detailed written judgement outlining the evidentiary basis and legal reasoning behind the convictions is yet to be issued. Rights groups raise concerns The cases were registered in 2023. Shakir, Pirzada and Hussain were booked on charges of sedition and terrorism, while Sehbai, Khan, Raja and Mehdi were charged with abetting mutiny and inciting attacks on military installations. In June 2023, rights groups Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders raised concerns over the cases, warning that the use of anti-terror and sedition laws against journalists and commentators amounted to a crackdown on freedom of expression. A video posted on the Russian Defence Ministrys Telegram channel showed Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of Russias Armed Forces, handing to the US attache what he described as the controlling mechanism of a drone found among downed fragments A Russian service member stands next to the remains of a drone, which, according to the Russian Defence Ministry, was downed during the repelling of an alleged Ukrainian attack on the Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod Region, in an unknown location in Russia, in this still image from a video released on December 31, 2025. Reuters File Russia has provided supposed evidence containing part of a Ukrainian drone that was allegedly used to hit Russian President Vladimir Putins residence earlier this week. The handover involved a senior Russian official and a US military attache. Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting Putins residence in Russias northern Novgorod region with 91 long-range attack drones, effectively changing the terms of the ongoing negotiations to end the war between the two countries. What evidence has been submitted? A video posted on the Russian Defence Ministrys Telegram channel showed Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of Russias Armed Forces, handing to the US attache what he described as the controlling mechanism of a drone found among downed fragments. The decryption of the content of the memory of the navigation controller of the drones carried out by specialists of Russias special services confirms without question that the target of the attack was the complex of buildings of the Russian presidents residence in Novgorod region, Kostyukov said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We presume that this measure will do away with any questions and allow for the truth to be established. The Ministry had earlier posted a statement on Telegram saying its findings would be turned over to the United States. Was Putins residence targeted? Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal has cited senior US security officials as saying that there was no targeted attack on Putins residence. US President Donald Trump initially expressed sympathy for the Russian charge, telling reporters on Monday that Putin had informed him of the alleged incident and that he was very angry about it. By Wednesday, Trump appeared more sceptical, sharing on social media a New York Post editorial accusing Russia of blocking peace in Ukraine. Ukraine has denied carrying out such an attack and described the accusation as part of a Russian disinformation campaign meant to drive a wedge between Kyiv and Washington after a weekend meeting between Trump and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. With inputs from agencies Saudi Arabia has struck a camp of Southern Transitional Council (STC) and killed at least seven people and injured more than 20 in Yemens Hadramawt province, an official of the separatist group has said. Saudi Arabia on Friday struck a camp of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and killed at least seven people and injured more than 20 in Yemens Hadramawt province, an official of the separatist group told AFP. In the latest escalation of Yemens spiralling crisis, Saudi Arabia carried out seven airstrikes on the STC camp in the Al-Khasah area of Hadramawt, according to Mohammed Abdulmalik, the head of the STC in Wadi Hadramaut and Hadramawt Desert. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Separately, STC deputy leader Ahmed bin Breik said the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces (NSS) advanced towards the groups camps, but the separatists refused to withdraw, apparently prompting the airstrikes, according to AP. On its part, the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government described the strikes as a peaceful and pre-emptive measure. Salem al-Khanbashi, who was appointed on Friday by Yemens internationally recognised government to command the Saudi-led forces in the governorate, described the current operation as peaceful, according to AP. This operation is not a declaration of war and does not seek escalation. This is a responsible pre-emptive measure to remove weapons and prevent chaos and the camps from being used to undermine security in Hadramawt, said al-Khanbashi. Saudi-Yemen face-off in Yemen The separatist STC is backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its campaign against the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government. Last month, the STC launched an offensive in southern Yemen, moving into Hadramawt and Mahra governorates and seizing an oil-rich region from Saudi-backed forces. The development heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE and exposed their diverging objectives in Yemen. Following the STCs offensive, Saudi Arabia has conducted three rounds of strikes against the group. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has demanded the STC withdraw from these two governorates, but the separatists have so far refused both withdrawal and disarmament. Airstrikes in Yemen kill 20 as Saudi-led coalition targets UAE-backed separatists, exposing deepening rifts within the anti-Houthi alliance and raising risks of a wider escalation amid competing territorial claims in the countrys south. This image grab from an AFPTV footage shows Smoke billowing after airstrikes that killed 20 people in Yemen as a Saudi-led coalition hit back against a sweeping advance by the UAE-backed Southern Transition Council (STC) that threatens to spiral into a major confrontation.- AFP Airstrikes killed 20 people in Yemen on Friday as a Saudi-led coalition attacked UAE-backed separatists who have seized huge swathes of territory. The deaths are the first from coalition fire since the secessionist STC seized swathes of Hadramawt and Mahra provinces last month. Following the strikes, a military spokesman for the STC said it was in a decisive and existential war with Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, characterising it as a fight against radical Islamism, a long time preoccupation of the UAE. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This war is decisive and existential, Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Al-Naqib said in a statement, after the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes and Saudi-backed forces began a counter-campaign following territorial sweeping advances by the separatists. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE rose after the STC moved last month into Yemens governorates of Hadramout and Mahra and seized an oil-rich region. The move pushed out forces affiliated with the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, a group aligned with the coalition in fighting the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Meanwhile, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen accused the head of the STC of blocking a Saudi mediation delegation from landing in the southern city of Aden. Strikes on Hamdrmout The STC deputy and former Hamdrmout governor, Ahmed bin Breik, said in a statement that the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces advanced toward the camps but the separatists refused to withdraw, apparently leading to the airstrikes. Mohamed al-Nakib, spokesperson for the STC-backed Southern Shield Forces, also known as Dera Al-Janoub, said Saudi airstrikes caused fatalities, without providing details. Al-Nakib also accused Saudi Arabia in a video on X of using Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda militias in a large-scale attack " early Friday that he claimed sepratists were able to repel. He likened the latest developments to Yemens 1994 civil war, except that this time it is under the cover of Saudi aviation operations. Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout who was chosen Friday by Yemens internationally recognized government to command the Saudi-led forces in the governorate, refuted STC claims, calling them ridiculous and showing intentions of escalation instead of a peaceful handover, according Okaz newspaper, which is aligned with the Saudi government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier on Friday, al-khanbashi called the current operation of retrieving seized areas peaceful. This operation is not a declaration of war and does not seek escalation, al-Khanbashi said in a speech aired on state media. This is a responsible pre-emptive measure to remove weapons and prevent chaos and the camps from being used to undermine the security in Hadramout, he added. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen demands the withdrawal of STC forces from the two governorates as part of de-escalation efforts. The STC has so far refused to hand over its weapons and camps. The coalitions spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said Friday on X that Saudi naval forces were deployed across the Arabian Sea to carry out inspections and combat smuggling. Escalating tensions In his post on X, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, said the kingdom had tried all efforts with STC for weeks to stop the escalation and to urge the separatists to leave Hadramout and Mahra, only to be faced with continued intransigence and rejection from Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the STC head. Al-Jaber said the latest development was not permitting the Saudi delegations jet to land in Aden, despite having agreed on its arrival with some STC leaders to find a solution that serves everyone and the public interest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yemens transport ministry, aligned with STC, said Saudi Arabia imposed on Thursday requirements mandating that flights to and from Aden International Airport undergo inspection in Jeddah. The ministry expressed shock and denounced the decision. There was no confirmation from Saudi authorities. A spokesperson with the transport ministry told the AP late Thursday that all flights from and to the UAE were suspended until Saudi Arabia reverses these reported measures. Yemen has been engulfed in a civil war for more than a decade, with the Houthis controlling much of the northern regions, while a Saudi-UAE-backed coalition supports the internationally recognised government in the south. However, the UAE also helps the southern separatists who call for South Yemen to secede once again from Yemen. Those aligned with the council have increasingly flown the flag of South Yemen, which was a separate country from 1967-1990. With inputs from agencies The criticism centered on Mamdanis revocation of several executive orders from his predecessor, Eric Adams, including policies seen as supportive of Israel Israels foreign ministry on Friday accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of antisemitism, heightening tensions with the progressive leader just hours after he officially took office. The criticism centered on Mamdanis revocation of several executive orders from his predecessor, Eric Adams, including policies seen as supportive of Israel. Under Adams, the city had barred officials from pursuing punitive economic measures such as boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against Israel. His administration had also adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, which it said recognised demonising Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On his very first day as New York City Mayor Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel. This isnt leadership. Its antisemitic gasoline on an open fire, Politico quoted Israels foreign ministry as saying in a post. Mamdani took office just after midnight on New Years Eve, launching a term Democrats hope will energise the party ahead of the 2026 midterms. The 34-year-old democratic socialist campaigned on an ambitious agenda, including universal free childcare and free buses, funded in part by higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Fridays rebuke from Israel adds an international layer to an already heated domestic controversy. On Thursday, Jewish civil rights groups criticised the removal of posts on combating antisemitism from the official @NYCMayor X account shortly after Mamdani assumed office, warning it could send the wrong signal at a sensitive time. Mamdani has denied allegations of antisemitism, saying his criticism of Israel is rooted in human rights concerns. He has pledged to protect New Yorks Jewish community while remaining outspoken on Middle East policy. At his swearing-in, he highlighted the citys diversity, joking: Where else could a Muslim kid like me grow up eating bagels and lox every Sunday? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mamdani supports bond disinvestment to pressure Israel and does not believe Israel should exist as a Jewish state, positions that have long drawn Israeli scrutiny. After his November election win, Israels Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel called the outcome deeply concerning, citing Mamdanis past activism. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu criticised Mamdanis Jewish supporters, claiming they had raised their hands in support of antisemitism in the heart of America. With inputs from agencies Swiss authorities are probing a devastating New Years Eve fire at a ski resort in Crans-Montana that killed at least 40 people and left more than 110 injured, with investigators saying the blaze was likely triggered by sparklers placed on champagne bottles. Journalists gather in front of the street where a fire ripped through a crowded bar during New Year's Eve celebrations in the Alpine ski resort town of Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026. AFP Swiss authorities are investigating a deadly New Years Eve fire at a resort in Crans-Montana that killed at least 40 people and injured more than 110, with officials saying the blaze was probably caused by sparklers placed on champagne bottles. According to Beatrice Pilloud, the Attorney General of the Valais region, preliminary findings suggest that sparkling candles or flares were placed on top of champagne bottles and brought too close to the ceiling, allowing the fire to spread rapidly. Everything leads us to think that the fire began very quickly as a result of this, Pilloud said. Investigators are analysing videos from the scene and questioning multiple witnesses to establish the exact sequence of events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The fire spread with alarming speed, injuring 113 people, while six victims are still in the process of being formally identified. Police commander Frederic Gisler said that among the injured were 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, 11 Italian, and several people of other nationalities. The nationalities of 14 injured individuals are yet to be confirmed, and the figures may change as investigations continue. Authorities said identifying the 40 people who lost their lives remains their top priority. Gisler described the process as complex and time-consuming, involving coordination with several countries and specialist teams, but assured that sufficient resources are in place to complete the task. Swiss officials have received assistance from neighbouring countries, particularly France and Italy. Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais region, thanked French authorities for swiftly transferring injured victims to hospitals in France equipped to treat severe burns. Italy has also extended support, with Italian officials travelling to Switzerland to assist the families of Italian victims. Around 50 injured people have already been transferred, or are in the process of being transferred, to specialised burn centres across Europe. Police commander Pierre-Antoine Lengen stressed that extreme care is being taken during the identification process to avoid any errors. A solemn ceremony will be held in Crans-Montana on Friday, January 9, to honour the victims. Authorities have also announced that an online book of condolences will be opened on Saturday, January 3, allowing people to express their support and sympathy for those affected by the tragedy. Following the tragic blast at a New Years Eve party at a bar in Switzerland that killed 40, the European nation is holding five days of mourning to honour the victims. Following the tragic blast at a New Years Eve party at a that killed 40, the European nation is holding five days of mourning to honour the victims. The unprecedented fire tore through a New Years Eve party in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana that also wounded 115 people. Switzerlands President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the most traumatic events in the countrys history. It was a drama of an unknown scale, he said, paying tribute to the many young lives that were lost and interrupted. Switzerland owed it to those young people, who had their projects, hopes and dreams cut short, to ensure such a tragedy never happened again, added the president. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Eyewitnesses soon told local reporters that the fire broke out at around 1:30 am (local time) in the towns Le Constellation bar after sparklers or flares were put into champagne bottles. Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV that a bartender carried a female staff member who was holding one of the bottles. The flames eventually set fire to the ceiling, and within seconds the blaze spread, engulfing a crowded basement packed with revellers. Many of the victims of the tragic incident were teenagers. One of the women told the French outlet that the crowd surged as people desperately tried to escape up a narrow staircase. On New Years Day, hundreds gathered in silence in the cold to lay flowers and light candles in honour of the victims of the incident. Many at the nighttime vigil knew people who remained unaccounted for or were badly injured. Investigation underway Multiple videos circulating online showed the blaze taking hold immediately above the bar. Some also showed grim scenes of orange flames billowing from a ground-floor lounge and several people lying motionless on the street. Meanwhile, the canton prosecutor for Valais, Beatrice Pilloud, said she could not comment on reports that lighted candles had caused the inferno. An investigation is taking place. It will identify the exact circumstances of what happened, she said, confirming that the basement steps were very narrow. She maintained that it was too early to draw any conclusions about emergency exits. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Frederic Gisler, the cantons police commander, said his officers arrived at the scene at 1.32 am (local time), just two minutes after they received an emergency call. While speaking to the reporters, he described the situation as unprecedented". A red alert was issued, with multiple firefighting teams, 42 ambulances and 13 helicopters sent to the area. Their first mission was to provide care to the victims and direct them to the various hospitals. The firefighters at the same time secured the site, he said. The injured were then dispatched to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich. Parmelin speaking on his first day in the job as Switzerlands new head of state said some of those who survived were severely injured. The hard task Apart from investigating what went down at the bar, the investigators now also have the grisly task of identifying the victims and taking DNA samples from their families. Some of those caught up in the fire were visiting the ski resort from neighbouring countries. Shortly after the news started to circulate, Italys Foreign Ministry said that 16 of its nationals were missing and 12 were among the injured. Meanwhile, France said that eight of its citizens were missing and it could not rule out that French nationals were among the dead. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Le Constellation opened in 2015 and could accommodate up to 300 people inside, with another 40 on a heated terrace, BFMTV reported. The bars Facebook and Instagram pages appear to have been deleted and are unavailable. Locals said that the venue was a popular destination for younger people, including the children, who would often drink there from as young as 14 years old. Trump on Friday sought to dismiss questions about his fitness for office, saying he is in perfect health and has passed a cognitive test for the third time, a day after renewed scrutiny over his well-being. US President Donald Trump on Friday asserted that he is in perfect health, saying he has passed a cognitive test for the third consecutive time, a claim he made a day after fresh scrutiny over his fitness for office. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said White House doctors had declared him to be in perfect health and that he had aced his cognitive examination by answering 100 percent of the questions correctly. He added that no other President or Vice President had been willing to take such a test. Trump also argued that anyone running for President or Vice President should be required to undergo a strong, meaningful and proven cognitive examination, saying the country cannot be run by stupid or incompetent people. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The comments followed an interview published by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, in which Trump, 79, addressed questions about his health. He attributed large bruises visible on his hand to aspirin use and denied reports that he had fallen asleep during televised meetings. Trump also revised an earlier statement about undergoing an MRI scan in October, saying it had instead been a quicker CT scan. Since his return to office in January, Trumps health has drawn attention, particularly after photographs showing dark bruises on his right hand circulated. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had earlier dismissed concerns, citing frequent handshaking or his daily aspirin intake. Trump later confirmed that he takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, four times the standard low-dose amount, despite doctors advising him to cut back. He said the habit is driven partly by superstition, explaining that he believes aspirin helps thin his blood and that he does not want to risk thick blood affecting his heart. Trump has long sought to project vigour through frequent media interactions, constant social media activity and imagery portraying him as energetic and strong. However, the first year of his second term has prompted growing questions, with observers noting persistent bruising on his hand, occasional swelling in his ankles and moments when he appeared to struggle to keep his eyes open during public meetings. Addressing such claims, Trump told the Journal that he was not dozing off but simply relaxing. Ill just close. Its very relaxing to me, he said, adding that photographs often capture him mid-blink. In his Truth Social post, Trump reiterated his call for mandatory cognitive testing for top candidates, a remark widely seen as a swipe at his predecessor Joe Biden, who exited the 2024 presidential race after concerns over his age intensified following a poor debate performance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has beaten intelligence czar Tulsi Gabbard and former Governor Nikki Haley to emerge as the Republicans top pick to be the first woman American president, a survey has found. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives at Charleston International Airport, in North Charleston, South Carolina, US, on November 6, 2025. (Photo: Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has emerged as the Republicans top choice to become the first woman American president, according to a survey. Noem beat intelligence czar Tulsi Gabbard and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to become the favourite of President Donald Trumps Maga supporters, as per the survey conducted by JL Partners and reported by The Telegraph. As Homeland Security Secretary, Noem has overseen Trumps hardline crackdown on immigrants. Her leadership of the crackdown, coupled with her Mar-a-Lago glamour and made-for-television style of working, has earned her the nickname Ice Barbie a nod to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Overall, however, Vice President JD Vance remains the Republicans favourite to succeed Trump in 2029, the survey found. Among Democrats, the survey found that former Vice President Kamala Harris continues to be the favourite to become the first woman president. Kristi Noem has made a mark with Republicans With her execution of Trumps immigration agenda central to the far-right platform that won him the 2024 election and her TV-friendly style, Noem has made a mark with Republicans, according to James Johnson, co-founder of JL Partners. It is quite a high bar for voters to mention a politician organically, and Kristi Noem appears to have made a mark with Republican voters: the prominence of ICE, the success of the administration on immigration, and her TV-friendly image are all factors, said Johnson. Since her first day in office, Noem has grabbed headlines and remained unfazed by criticism whether over the brutality of federal agencies working under her or the purchase of luxury aeroplanes for her travel using government funds. In the reality-show-style presidency that Trump has perfected, Noem has donned a leather jacket aboard a C-130 military surveillance plane, paired bright lipstick with Coast Guard fatigues, and posed for photographs in front of half-naked inmates in El Salvador. But what this means for 2028 is too early to say, according to Johnson. JD Vance retains a rock-solid grip on the primary, but it certainly shows that Noems brand is flying right now, Johnson added. A separatist group in Yemen backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed on Thursday to the deployment of forces that are aligned with Saudi Arabia to the southern region it captured last month Damaged military vehicles, reportedly sent by the United Arab Emirates to support Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatist forces, following an air strike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in the port of Mukalla, southern Yemen, on December 30, 2025. (Reuters) A separatist group in Yemen backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed on Thursday to the deployment of forces that are aligned with Saudi Arabia to the southern region it captured last month. Back in 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE entered the Yemen war to defeat the Iran-backed Houthis that had been dominating the country. Their motive was to take down the Houthis and restore an internationally recognised government. However, things went downhill over their disagreement on Yemens future. While Saudi Arabia supported the central government, the UAE is helping to build the separatist group in the south. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a statement on Thursday, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatist group said it would continue to operate in Hadramout and alMahra provinces, which they seized in December last year. However, they announced that they had agreed to the deployment of Saudi-backed National Shield government forces to those areas. Today, we launched an operation to integrate the southern National Shield forces so that they can assume the responsibilities and missions that fall to our armed forces, the STC announced. The group maintained that they want to protect the progress made against the Houthis last month when the STC forces took control of those regions. Why the region is crucial It is pertinent to note that Hadramout borders Saudi Arabia and is home to Yemens largest oil fields and the Dhabba oil terminal on the Arabian Sea. Meanwhile, Al-Mahra has crucial routes for new oil pipelines that will allow Saudi oil exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. For years, the Strait has been a major chokepoint for global oil trade, which both Iran and Houthis have threatened to blockade in the past. The Saudi government has repeatedly urged the STC to withdraw from the two territories, particularly areas along its southern border, to protect its national security. Tensions between the two Gulf nations further escalated on Tuesday after the Saudiled coalition in Yemen struck what it said was a shipment of Emirati weapons bound for separatist forces at the port of Mukalla, which sits in Hadramout. Meanwhile, the UAE has rejected the allegation and called for STC fighters to pull back from the territory they recently seized. The UAEs Defence Ministry later said it would withdraw its last remaining troops in Yemen. It is pertinent to note that most UAE troops left the war-ravaged country in 2019. However, the tensions remain ripe in the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Ukrainian leader also said the Coalition of the Willing plans to hold its first leaders meeting of the year in France, as European countries look to strengthen Ukraines defences against Russian attacks and coordinate strategy for ongoing peace talks This handout photograph taken on December 23, 2025 and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Office on December 24, 2025 shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference with journalists in Kyiv.- AFP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said that Kyiv will be holding several high-level meetings in the coming week as both countries engage in crossfire. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said that his Defence Minister Rustem Umerov is in close contact with key partners, including the US and Europe, to line up meetings. The agenda of these meetings will include discussing the situation on the ground, bolstering support and coordinating strategy in ongoing peace efforts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russia and Ukraine accused each other of targeting civilians over the New Year, with Moscow reporting a deadly strike on a hotel in territory it occupies in southern Ukraine while Kyiv said there had been another broad attack on its power supplies. When will the meetings be held? The first meeting is set for Saturday, with Ukraines national security advisers and cabinet officials expected to take part. European representatives will attend in person, while US officials are expected to join via video link. Zelenskyy wrote, On 3 January, a meeting of national security advisors will take place in Ukraine. This is the first such meeting in Ukraine and it is focused on peace. European representatives will attend, and we expect the American team to join online. Fifteen countries have confirmed their participation, along with representatives of European institutions and NATO, he added. This meeting will be followed by another local meeting with high-level defence and military officials to be held in Kyiv, where officials will discuss security guarantees. Next, on 5 January, there will be a meeting of the military chiefs of general staff. The main issue is security guarantees for Ukraine, Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian leader also said the Coalition of the Willing plans to hold its first leaders meeting of the year in France, as European countries look to strengthen Ukraines defences against Russian attacks and coordinate strategy for ongoing peace talks. Politics over attack on Putins residence Russia has provided supposed evidence containing part of a Ukrainian drone that was allegedly used to hit Russian President Vladimir Putins residence earlier this week. The handover involved a senior Russian official and a US military attache. Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting Putins residence in Russias northern Novgorod region with 91 long-range attack drones, effectively changing the terms of the ongoing negotiations to end the war between the two countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A video posted on the Russian Defence Ministrys Telegram channel showed Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of Russias Armed Forces, handing to the US attache what he described as the controlling mechanism of a drone found among downed fragments. The decryption of the content of the memory of the navigation controller of the drones carried out by specialists of Russias special services confirms without question that the target of the attack was the complex of buildings of the Russian presidents residence in Novgorod region, Kostyukov said. On Thursday, the new mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, pledged to usher in a new era for the USs largest city as he delivered his first address after assuming office Zohran Mamdani reacts after being sworn in as mayor of New York inside the the Old City Hall subway station, on, January 1 in New York. AP On Thursday, the new mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, pledged to usher in a new era for the USs largest city as he delivered his first address after assuming office. The 34-year-old democratic socialist became the first Muslim, first of South Asian descent, and the first to be born in Africa, mayor of the city. He was also the first to be sworn in using the Qur'an. In his first address to the city, Mamdani said that a moment like this comes rarely and rarer still is it that the people themselves whose hands are upon the levers of change. I will do no such thing, he said. The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations. Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try," he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The NYC mayor did not shy away from sharing his socialist perspective. I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist. I will not abandon my principles for fear of being called radical, he said to loud cheers from the gathered crowd. He ended his address by saying, The work has only just begun," which was followed by a loud cheer from the gathering. It is pertinent to note that the address was the second of the two-part ceremony after he was sworn in at midnight on Thursday. Mamdani chose a disused subway station where he was flanked by the New York attorney general, Letitia James, and his wife, Rama Duwaji, a 28-year-old animator and illustrator. Mamdanis win becomes a win for socialist democrats in America On the steps of the city hall in bitterly cold January, the newly elected NYC mayor was introduced by the Bronx Democrat congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist ally who is edging toward a run for the White House in 2028. We have chosen courage over fear. We have chosen prosperity for the many over spoils for the few, Ocasio-Cortez said in her remarks. We have chosen to make a new future for all of us, we have chosen a mayor who is relentlessly dedicated to making life not just possible but aspirational for working people we have chosen that over the distractions of bigotry and the barbarism of extreme inequality. Meanwhile, Mamdani was formally sworn in by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who has been touted as one of the key leaders to promote Democratic Socialism in the United States. In his address to the crowd, Sanders said that Mamdani was taking power at a time when we are seeing too much hatred, too much division, and too much injustice and called for a government that works for all, not just the wealthy and the few. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added that the newly appointed NYC mayor had taken on the Democrat and Republican establishments, the president of the United States and some enormously wealthy oligarchs, and you defeated them in the biggest political upset in modern American history. Meanwhile, before ending his term on Monday, former NYC Mayor Eric Adams outlined his administrations anti-crime efforts, which he credited for historically low numbers of homicides and shootings. There were 301 homicides in the city in 2025, 79 fewer than in 2024. Adams noted that the New York police department had taken 25,000 illegal guns off city streets over the past four years, and drive-by shootings had declined by 55 per cent. Mamdani and his wife, Duwaji, will now give up their one-bedroom, rent-stabilised apartment in Astoria, Queens, to take up residence in the stately mayoral residence of Gracie Mansion, built in 1799, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Interestingly, last month, Adams warned Mamdani that the mansion is haunted. Its a friendly ghost, as long as youre doing right by the city, he said. If you dont become right by the city, he turns into a poltergeist. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro has extended an olive branch to US President Donald Trump, proposing serious talks on combating drug trafficking and offering U.S. companies ready access to Venezuelan oil. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has struck a conciliatory note towards US President Donald Trump, calling for meaningful dialogue on countering drug trafficking and offering American firms unrestricted access to Venezuelas oil sector. Maduro described Venezuela as a brother nation to the United States and portrayed his government as friendly towards Washington. He recalled a phone conversation with Trump in November, saying the US leader had recognised his authority by addressing him as Mr. President. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The remarks were made during an interview recorded on New Years Eve and broadcast on Venezuelan state television on the evening of New Years Day. During the programme, Maduro and the interviewer are shown walking through a heavily secured area of Caracas. In another segment, Maduro is seen driving a car with the journalist seated beside him and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the back. Commentators viewed the scenes as an effort to project self-assurance at a time when concerns of possible US military action persist, particularly as the president has recently reduced his public appearances. Maduros comments signal a change in tone towards Washington following a major US military buildup in the southern Caribbean. Trump has previously labelled Maduro an illegitimate leader, accused him of presiding over a narco-state, and threatened to remove him from office. Maduro has vehemently denied links to crime and says that the U.S. is seeking to oust him to take control of Venezuelas vast oil reserves and rare earth mineral deposits. At an event shortly before Christmas, Maduro urged Trump to focus on domestic challenges, saying: Honestly, if I speak with him again, I will tell him that each one should attend to their internal affairs. In the latest remarks, Maduro told his interviewer: To the people of the United States I say what I have always said, Venezuela is a brother country a friendly government. We must start to speak seriously, with the facts in hand. The U.S. government knows that, because we have said it a lot to their interlocutors, that if they want to speak seriously about the agreement to battle drug trafficking, we are ready to do that. If they want Venezuelas oil, Venezuela is ready to accept U.S. investments like those of Chevron, when, where and how they want to make them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies India, where arranged marriages are in decline, has become one of the fastest-growing Asian markets. Match Group recently launched its invitation-only The League app in Mumbai and Delhi, targeting affluent professionals Online dating companies are increasingly turning to Asia as user growth slows in North America and Europe, where swipe fatigue has set in and customer engagement is weakening. Executives say Western markets have become harder to crack, while adoption across Asia is rising, helped by growing numbers of women joining dating apps as social stigma fades. Its become more troublesome to flirt and date in the workplace and harder for people to connect with people when they are spending all their time at work, said Malgosia Green, Asia chief executive of Match Group, which owns Tinder, Hinge and OKCupid. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unlike in the west, the majority of Asian daters are [highly] intentional and marriage orientated. Western slowdown pushes regional pivot The strategic shift comes as the worlds largest dating platforms struggle to retain users in mature markets. Tinders active user base fell 10 per cent to 51 million in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to Sensor Tower. Bumbles active users declined 5 per cent to 20.8 million over the same timeframe. Asia, however, has emerged as a rare bright spot. User numbers are expanding rapidly in several countries, even though revenues and profits are growing more slowly. Three Asian countries ranked among the top five global markets for dating app downloads in 2025: India, which far outpaced others with 205 million downloads, China and Indonesia. Yet when measured by revenue, only Japan appears in the top five, ranking second behind the US with $2.3bn in the first 11 months of 2025. The head of French dating app Happn, which was acquired by a Chinese social networking company in 2025 and is now targeting Asian markets, said the industry needed to reinvent itself to remain appealing. Cultural norms reshape dating platforms Shn Juay, worldwide chief executive of US-founded Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB), said the increase in dating app usage across Asia reflected shifting attitudes among women. Women are no longer relying on family and friends to introduce them to their future partners, they dont want to leave it to chance, said Juay, who has worked in the dating industry for more than a decade. They want to take control through these digital platforms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Juay said dating companies expanding in Asia needed to tailor their services to local customs, which often differ sharply from Western norms. Asian daters tend to be very goal oriented, she said. They are often focused on finding a long-term partner, not just casual hookups. In Singapore and Hong Kong, CMBs interface prioritises personal information such as education and profession, while its Australian version places greater emphasis on photographs. Asian users, Juay said, were more likely to engage with profiles that were fully completed. When singles evaluate each other, they assess how much effort they have put into their dating profile, she said. If you leave gaps it is seen as disrespectful. In Japan, the most popular dating app is Pairs, a homegrown platform acquired by Match Group a decade ago. The Japanese government has encouraged dating app use as part of efforts to boost fertility, with Tokyo launching its own app in 2024. They become almost like infrastructure for society, said Green. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In South Korea, Pairs requires employer verification for male users, with the feature optional for women. India, where arranged marriages are in decline, has become one of the fastest-growing Asian markets. Match Group recently launched its invitation-only The League app in Mumbai and Delhi, targeting affluent professionals. While domestic apps dominate downloads, western platforms, including Bumble, Tinder, Hinge, Pure and Grindr, generate the most revenue. Juay said the change initially led to a drop in user numbers after its July rollout, but was beginning to recover, ultimately creating a safer platform. People tend to be a lot more respectful and kinder when they know that we hold their national identification number and can hand it over to the police, she said. The loss of reading habits among children does not just signal cultural decline but also poses a national security threat, leaving them more vulnerable to disinformation campaigns by adversarial states, British Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has warned. A decline in reading habits among children does not merely mean cultural erosion, but it also amounts to a national security threat, British Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has warned. In an article for The Daily Telegraph, Phillipson said the fall in reading habits leaves children more susceptible to disinformation campaigns by adversarial states such as Russia. The warning has come after the National Literacy Trust found that just 33 per cent of British children over eight enjoy reading in their free time down from 51 per cent in 2005. To revive reading habits, the British government has declared 2026 the National Year of Reading. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Referring to a recent warning by British spy chief Blaise Metreweli, Phillipson said fostering reading habits is essential to prevent a generation growing up on disinformation. As part of the National Year of Reading, the government has planned events throughout the year in a concerted campaign to reverse the decline. We need a generation of readers Phillipson stressed that reading habits are not simply about being nice. She warned that declining literacy and dwindling comprehension could even affect Britains national security. Referring to MI6 chief Metrewelis warning in December, Phillipson said disinformation campaigns exploiting poor reading skills have emerged as a dark new frontier in warfare. She added that declining reading habits mean children cannot distinguish propagandistic outlets masquerading as legitimate news organisations. As weve heard in recent months, and in December from the new head of MI6, the threat from Russia and other foreign state actors is growing. And a dark new frontier is the disinformation spreading across social media and the wider internet. These threats are more sophisticated than ever, with higher production values designed to appear like legitimate news sources, said Phillipson. The solution lies in raising a generation of readers who become critical thinkers capable of distinguishing disinformation from genuine news, according to Phillipson. To respond, we need a generation of critical thinkers. We need a generation of problem solvers, equipped to dissect what lands in front of them, to value the truth and to reject the easy temptations of the online world. In short, we need a generation of readers, said Phillipson. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The National Literacy Trust survey revealed that enjoyment levels dropped for all children and young people regardless of their background in 2025. The problem was more pronounced among boys as only 25 per cent enjoy reading compared to 33 per cent overall. Yemens UAE-backed separatists on Friday declared the start of a two-year transitional process aimed at establishing an independent state, following their seizure of large swathes of the countrys south This image grab from an AFPTV footage shows Smoke billowing after airstrikes that killed seven people in Yemen as a Saudi-led coalition hit back against a sweeping advance by the UAE-backed Southern Transition Council (STC) that threatens to spiral into a major confrontation. AFP Yemens UAE-backed separatists on Friday declared the start of a two-year transitional process aimed at establishing an independent state, following their seizure of large swathes of the countrys south. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) said the transition would involve dialogue and a referendum on independence, even as its forces came under attack in deadly airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition earlier in the day. We announce the commencement of a transitional phase lasting two years, and the Council calls on the international community to sponsor dialogue between the concerned parties in the South and the North, AFP quoted STC president Aidaros Alzubidi as saying in a televised address. However, he warned the group would declare independence immediately if there was no dialogue or if southern Yemen again came under attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This constitutional declaration shall be considered immediately and directly effective before that date if the call is not heeded or if the people of the South, their land, or their forces are subjected to any military attacks, Alzubidi said. SCT forces seized large swathes of Yemens south, run by a fractious government with competing agendas, in a lightning and largely unopposed offensive last month. Iran-backed Houthi rebels forced the government out of the countrys north in 2014, prompting a vain military intervention by the Saudi-led coalition. With inputs from agencies Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Kyrylo Budanov, the famed head of military intelligence agency GUR, as his chief of staff. The appointment has come weeks after the resignation of longtime chief of staff Andrii Yermak amid corruption allegations. Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Ukrainian military intelligence agency GUR, meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine in a photo published on January 2, 2026. (Photo: X/Volodymyr Zelenskyy) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday appointed Kyrylo Budanov, the famed head of the military intelligence agency GUR, as his new chief of staff. The appointment comes weeks after Andrii Yermak, who had served as Zelenskyys chief of staff since 2020, resigned in disgrace after being implicated in a spiralling corruption scandal. Yermak was often described as the most powerful person in Ukraine after Zelenskyy. In a statement on X, Zelenskyy said he was appointing Budanov to the role because the country would benefit from his experience as a spy chief. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, the development of the Defence and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track of negotiations, and the Office of the President will primarily serve the fulfilment of these tasks of our state. Kyrylo has specialised experience in these areas and sufficient strength to deliver results, said Zelenskyy. Budanov has served as GURs head since 2020. Under his leadership, the agency has evolved from a low-profile organisation into one of the most successful elements of Ukraines military and intelligence apparatus in the war with Russia. Analysts have credited him with revitalising the agency. I had a meeting with Kyrylo Budanov and offered him the role of the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track of pic.twitter.com/SCs6Oj2Rb7 Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) January 2, 2026 In a separate statement, Budanov confirmed that he had accepted Zelenskyys offer to become chief of staff. I continue to serve Ukraine. I consider the position of Head of the Office of the President as another milestone of responsibility to the country. For me, it is an honour and a responsibility at a historic time for Ukraine, to focus on critically important issues of the strategic security of our state, said Budanov. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Under Budanovs leadership, GUR has mounted an intensive drone campaign deep inside Russia, striking critical facilities ranging from weapons sites to military production plants and energy infrastructure such as oil refineries. It was not immediately clear who would replace Budanov as GURs chief or whether he would simultaneously hold both posts. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. Investigation Related to Vessel Fitburg Continues Police of Finland Publication date 1.1.2026 14.58 The police have continued the investigation into the incident in the Gulf of Finland in cooperation with other authorities. The vessel Fitburg, suspected of being involved in the cable damage incident in the Gulf of Finland, was escorted by authorities to Kantvik harbour on 31 December at approximately 17:00. Responsibility for the criminal investigation has been transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation, and at this stage, the incident is being investigated on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. - Investigative actions have been carried out on the vessel, including the collection of material, and analysis has begun. The examination of the anchor on the ship has also started, and any potential damages are being investigated. Crew member questioning was initiated immediately on Wednesday evening, and formal interviews will begin today, Thursday, says the Tactical Leader, Senior Detective Inspector Risto Lohi of the National Bureau of Investigation. The police have arrested two individuals and two other persons have been subjected to a travel ban. At this stage of the investigation, it is not possible to provide further details regarding their nationalities or their ranks. The police continue to take necessary investigative measures on board the vessel. The investigative actions on the vessel have proceeded smoothly in close cooperation with the crew on board. The authorities have also initiated a subsea crime scene investigation in the area surrounding the damaged cable. The Border Guard and the Defence Forces are providing support to the police investigation. No-Fly Zone Is in Place in the Area A temporary no-fly zone has been put in place over Kantvik harbour. The current no-fly zones should always be checked on the website www.Flyk.com. The authorities have temporarily restricted access to the area for outsiders in order to secure the enforcement of official measures, until the necessary actions have been completed. Port State Control Inspection of the Vessel by Traficom Underway The Port State Control inspection of the vessel, initiated by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom on Wednesday, is continuing today, Thursday. The inspection will ensure that the vessel meets the requirements of the relevant international conventions. - The vessel's inspection is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the police investigation, and the inspection has progressed in good cooperation with the crew. We are satisfied with the progress of the inspection, says Sanna Sonninen, Director of Maritime Affairs at Traficom. Traficom will provide information on the results of the inspection later, once the inspection has been completed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More Than Four Kilometers of Underground Tunnel Routes Dismantled and Dozens of Terrorists Eliminated: Activity of the IDF Northern Gaza Brigade Israel Defense Forces December 25, 2025 25.12.25 IDF IDF soldiers have been operating in recent months along the Yellow Line in the northern Gaza Strip to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, both above and below ground, in the areas of Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya, and to remove any immediate threat to the troops and to the State of Israel. Troops from the Northern Gaza Brigade, in cooperation with the Yahalom Unit, dismantled more than four kilometers of underground tunnel routes that were used by the Hamas terrorist organization for terrorist activity against the IDF. The troops located approximately 10 mortar shells that had been concealed inside a children's blanket in a residence in the Beit Hanoun area. Additionally, during their activity, the troops eliminated dozens of terrorists who crossed the Yellow Line and posed an immediate threat. IDF troops under the Southern Command continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip in order to protect the security of the State of Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Chief of the General Staff Conducted a Situational Assessment in the Central Command Israel Defense Forces December 27, 2025 27.12.25 IDF The Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, conducted a situational assessment today (Saturday) in the Menashe Brigade, following the terrorist attack that occurred yesterday (Friday). The assessment was held together with the Commander of the Central Command, MG Avi Bluth; the Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, BG Kobi Heller; the Head of the Civil Administration, BG Hisham Ibrahim; the Commander of the Menashe Brigade, COL M; and additional commanders from the security bodies. The Chief of the General Staff emphasized the severity of yesterday's terrorist attack and instructed to reinforce forces deployment in the Central Command, alongside continuing operational activity, including encirclement measures, a closure, and a pursuit of accomplices and terrorist operatives in the Kabatiya area. In addition, he instructed to complete the sealing of the terrorist's residence and to proceed with finalizing the processes required for its demolition. The Chief of the General Staff further instructed to improve intelligence gathering capabilities in the area, both for monitoring purposes and operational response. He emphasized the need to operate to strengthen coordination among all security bodies and to jointly address all aspects of infiltrators, in the same manner that terrorism is addressed. From the remarks of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir: "We have just experienced a severe terrorist attack in which two civilians were killed. The IDF shares in the families' grief and stands alongside them in this difficult time. This terrorist attack underscores the responsibility of the IDF to learn, draw lessons, and strengthen the defense of Israel's civilians, in Judea and Samaria and across all arenas. This period is characterized by lone attackers and individuals staying illegally in the area. Enforcement against those who transport and employ them must be strengthened and improved. At the same time, we must continue to enhance our capabilities to identify and thwart these attackers. Even now, IDF forces are operating with determination to counter terrorism. Our primary objective is clear to continue preventing and stopping terrorism before it materializes." The Chief of the General Staff reiterated the importance of cooperation among all security organizations, noting that only multi-organizational and multi-layered activity will significantly reduce the phenomenon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza war death toll reaches 71,271 IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 1, 2026 Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip has announced that the number of martyrs from the Israeli regime's assault on Gaza since October 7, 2023, has risen to 71,271. The Ministry of Health stated in a press release that the number of wounded has also increased to 171,233, according to a report published by Anadolu news agency on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Israeli regime continues to violate the ceasefire agreement established on October 10, 2025, targeting Palestinians with bombings and gunfire. According to the released statement, since October 11, 2025, the Israeli regime has killed 416 Palestinians and injured another 1,153 in the course of these violations. Supported by the United States, the assault on Gaza has not only led to the genocide of Palestinians but also caused widespread destruction, resulting in the annihilation of 90 percent of Gaza's infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated the cost of reconstruction at around 70 billion dollars. 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Abbas says building independent Palestinian state "inevitable reality" People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 14:42, January 01, 2026 RAMALLAH, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is "an inevitable reality," affirming that Palestinians are moving steadily toward freedom and independence. In a statement carried by Palestinian news agency WAFA, Abbas stressed the realization of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside the return of refugees in line with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. He said Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are "steadfastly confronting the most brutal war of genocide and ethnic cleansing in modern history," accusing Israel of disregarding international law, international legitimacy, and ceasefire agreements. Abbas stressed that the Palestinian people would not surrender, leave their homeland, or accept annexation and displacement plans. Calling for national unity, he urged Palestinians to unite under the Palestine Liberation Organization, calling it the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. There would be no Palestinian state in Gaza alone and no Palestinian state without Gaza, he said. Gaza would "return to the fold of national legitimacy," and be rebuilt as a central part of the Palestinian national project, he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen military chief vows support will continue until Palestine liberated Iran Press TV Thursday, 01 January 2026 5:16 PM Yemen's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Yusuf Hassan al-Madani has reaffirmed his country's unwavering support for the Palestinian resistance and hailed martyred Hamas commanders for confronting Israeli occupying forces at the battlefronts. In a recent message to Hamas, al-Madani vowed to stand with resistance factions until Palestine is fully liberated and the last occupying soldier is expelled from the occupied lands. "We stand with you in every option you choose and in every arena you enter, until God grants clear victory, full independence is achieved, and the last Zionist soldier is expelled from the pure soil of Palestine." Al-Madani praised the martyred resistance commanders for their lives dedicated to "confronting oppressors and fighting criminals across all battlefields." The Yemeni military official highlighted the Palestinian people's ability to nurture countless leaders like these martyrs, ensuring "the flag of resistance will never fall." The message was issued after al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, confirmed that its longtime spokesman, Abu Obeida, was assassinated in an Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip. Among other high-profile figures the resistance group confirmed killed were Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas's leader in Gaza; Muhammad Shabana, the former commander of the Rafah Brigade in the al-Qassam Brigades, better known by his nom de guerre Abu Anas; and Hakem al-Issa, the former chief of staff of the "combat and administrative support division" in the Qassam Brigades. Yemen's chief of the general staff further emphasized that the martyred commanders' noble stances "humiliated the Zionist regime, shattered its arrogance, and painted the most glorious images of sacrifice and devotion." The Yemeni military leader described "the downfall of the Zionist enemy as an undeniable truth, doubted only by the cowardly and those deviating from the right path." Addressing the resistance, al-Madani stressed that they should be reassured that, "no matter how much the Zionist enemy persists in tyranny, how greatly it exalts itself on earth, or how much it resorts to brutality and oppression, it iswithout doubtheading toward its inevitable demise and disgraceful end." He said the treacherous Zionist enemy, notorious for breaking covenants and agreements, has proven that its resort to cowardly assassinations during periods of truce and ceasefire is nothing but clear evidence of its baseness and an explicit admission of its inability to confront resistance forces in the field, where its weapons have shattered against the rock of your unparalleled legendary steadfastness. In a separate message, Mohammad Ali al-Houthi, a member of Yemen's Supreme Political Council, hailed the martyred Hamas commanders for rendering sacrifices at the battlefronts. "These Hamas commanders were martyred on the front lines while confronting the Zionist killing machine and terrorism," Houthi said. He further strongly denounced Israel's decision to recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, saying Yemen "firmly opposes any desperate attempt to divide Muslim territory." Somaliland, which is a breakaway from Somalia, is being considered for the forced relocation of Palestinians by the Zionist regime. It has maintained self-rule since the 1991 civil war, but has yet to get any international recognition. Somaliland is located along the Gulf of Aden and is home to the deep-water strategic port of Berbera. The Israeli regime reportedly plans to build a military base in Somaliland, which would enable it to gain control over the Gulf of Aden, where it can launch attacks on the Ansarullah-led government in Yemen. Yemen's Ansarallah resistance movement, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, warned in a speech that any potential Israeli presence in Somaliland will be considered a "military target" for the Yemeni Armed Forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN chief condemns Israel for blocking water, power to Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza Iran Press TV Thursday, 01 January 2026 10:58 AM United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has sharply condemned Israel's decision to block electricity and water to facilities of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, warning that the move violates international law and threatens essential services for millions of Palestinians. Guterres on Wednesday denounced Israel's move to ban electricity and water to facilities used by UNRWA, saying it would "further impede" the agency's ability to function. "The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations remains applicable to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), its property and assets, and to its officials and other personnel. Property used by UNRWA is inviolable," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary general, said while describing UNRWA as an "integral" part of the world body. He emphasized that UNRWA remains legally protected despite Israeli actions. Israel has banned UNRWA from operating in the occupied territories after accusing some of its staff of being involved in the Al-Aqsa Flood operation in October 2023. Despite repeated requests from UNRWA for the Israeli regime to provide evidence supporting its allegations, the agency has received no response. UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini also condemned the decision, describing it as part of a systematic campaign to discredit the agency and undermine its role in assisting Palestinian refugees. He linked the utilities ban to a broader political effort to obstruct UNRWA's humanitarian mission, which provides education, health care, and aid to millions of Palestinians across the besieged Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The escalation follows a 2024 Israeli parliamentary law banning UNRWA from operating in the occupied Palestinian territories and prohibiting Israeli officials from having contact with the agency. The law effectively ends the UNRWA operations in the occupied West Bank and Gaza because the Israeli regime controls access to both regions. Relations between Israel and UNRWA, long tense, have deteriorated sharply since the war in Gaza, with Israel repeatedly calling for the agency to be dismantled and its responsibilities transferred elsewhere within the UN system. The move against UNRWA comes alongside Israel's suspension of dozens of international non-governmental organizations operating in Gaza, citing new and restrictive vetting requirements. In response, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom warned in a joint statement that such measures would severely limit access to essential services, including health care. They also noted that one in three health facilities in Gaza would be forced to shut down if international NGO operations were halted. The UN agency has faced deepening financial turmoil since Israel launched a defamation campaign against it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel launches airstrikes, artillery fire across Gaza on first day of 2026 Iran Press TV Thursday, 01 January 2026 10:54 AM The Israeli military has carried out attacks on the Gaza Strip on the first day of 2026 in yet another violation of the ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the regime's two-year-long genocide in the besieged territory. The Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire took place on Thursday across Gaza, where heavy winter rains have in recent weeks flooded tents sheltering displaced Palestinians and claimed the lives of children affected by hypothermia. Latest reports said Israeli fighter jets targeted eastern Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip while the occupation forces fired artillery simultaneously. In the same area, the reports added, loud explosions were heard amid sporadic gunfire from Israeli military vehicles. Similar Israeli attacks were also reported in Gaza City's Zeitoun and Shujaiya neighborhoods, as well as eastern sections of the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. On October 10, a US-backed ceasefire deal took effect between Israel and Hamas aimed at bringing an end to the Tel Aviv regime's genocidal war on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023. Since then, at least 415 Palestinians have been killed, and 1,152 others injured as Tel Aviv continues airstrikes on the territory. Under the fragile truce deal, Israel is obliged to allow "full aid" to be immediately sent into Gaza. Earlier this week, however, the criminal regime banned 37 international humanitarian agencies from operating in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The foreign ministers of 10 countries, including Canada, the UK, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, expressed "serious concerns" about a "renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation" in Gaza. In a statement, they warned of the "catastrophic" situation in the blockaded Palestinian territory, saying that "1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support. More than half of health facilities are only partially functional and face shortages of essential medical equipment and supplies. The total collapse of sanitation infrastructure has left 740,000 people vulnerable to toxic flooding." In its war on Gaza, Israel has killed at least 71,269 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 171,232 others. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel killed 7,488 Palestinian students, educational staff during 2025: Ministry Iran Press TV Thursday, 01 January 2026 10:12 AM The Israeli military killed at least 7,488 students and educational staff at schools and universities across the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, and injured 10,557 others in 2025, according to Palestinian authorities. The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education said in a statement on Wednesday that most of the fatalities were recorded in the Gaza Strip, whilst Israeli troops killed 38 students in the West Bank amid continued violence against Palestinians that has escalated dramatically since the start of the genocidal war on Gaza. It also documented the deaths of 415 teachers and administrative staff, and injuries to 912 others across both territories. The ministry further noted that more than 48 educators were abducted in the West Bank as well. The statement emphasized that Israeli strikes targeted several higher education institutions, including Birzeit University, al-Quds University, al-Khalil University, and Palestine Polytechnic University, besides a number of Tahadi schools - named after the Arabic word for "challenge" - such as Shalal al-Auja, Khallet Amira, Bedouin al-Kaabneh, Khallet al-Dabe, and Yanoun. The Israeli military has killed at least 71,269 Palestinians, the majority being women and children, and wounded another 171,232 individuals in Gaza since October 2023. The regime has also killed at least 415 people in Gaza since a fragile ceasefire came into effect on October 10, 2025. Defying the agreement, Israel has restricted the entry of the stipulated amounts of aid trucks. This has exacerbated what the Health Ministry has labeled a dire and persistent health crisis amid a medicine shortage. Palestinians in the West Bank are facing intensified Israeli military onslaught and increasing acts of violence by settlers since the devastating war in Gaza. At least 1,102 Palestinians have since been killed in the West Bank, and nearly 11,000 others have been injured in attacks by the military and Israeli settlers in the occupied territory. Around 21,000 people have also been abducted by the occupying regime's forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Condemnations pour in after Israel bans aid groups from Gaza Iran Press TV Thursday, 01 January 2026 8:23 AM An inhumane Israeli decision to ban dozens of international humanitarian agencies from operating in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank has sparked a wave of condemnations worldwide. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and the UN rights chief issued denunciations after the Tel Aviv regime announced that 37 aid groups will have their licenses suspended on January 1, with their operations to end within 60 days. The regime of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuwho is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Gaza alleged that the organizations, including some of the world's best-known charities, have failed to meet new registration requirements. In a statement released on Wednesday, the OIC's General Secretariat said the banned NGOs play a "vital and indispensable" role in alleviating Palestinians' suffering caused by Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. The arbitrary Israeli measure "would seriously exacerbate the catastrophic humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli restrictions that prevent sufficient quantities of humanitarian and medical aid from reaching the Strip," it added. The illegal Israeli move constitutes a flagrant violation of the principles of international humanitarian law and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which obliges the occupying entity to facilitate the work of aid organizations. The OIC's General Secretariat also called on the international community to put pressure on Israeli authorities to ensure that humanitarian workers operate freely across Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Among the organizations banned are Save the Children, Oxfam, Caritas, Action Aid, the International Rescue Committee, World Vision, the Danish and Norwegian Refugee Councils, and Doctors Without Borders, which also goes by its French acronym, MSF. MSF warned the move would have a "catastrophic effect" on healthcare, noting that its teams support nearly one-fifth of hospital beds in Gaza. In 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from operating in the occupied territories, claiming that some of its staff members were involved in al-Aqsa Flood Operation. Additionally, on Wednesday, CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties organization, condemned Israel's ban on MSF and other aid organizations as "an unprecedented and evil act of cruelty." The usurping regime is "completely out of control because it has not faced any real consequences for committing a genocide with American taxpayer dollars. It's time for Congress to listen to the American people, not AIPAC," it noted, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called the Israeli decision "outrageous," warning that it will "make an already intolerable situation even worse for the people of Gaza." He further called on all states to take urgent steps and insist that Israel allows aid to get into Gaza unhindered. Israel waged its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the Hamas resistance group carried out its historic al-Aqsa Flood Operation in retaliation for Israel's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian nation. Israel, however, failed to achieve its declared objectives despite killing at least 71,269 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 171,232 others. The criminal regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas, which took effect on October 10, 2025. Since then, Israel has, however, violated the truce with near-daily attacks on Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Navy Rescues Three Filipino Fishermen in the South China Sea Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet NEWS | Jan. 1, 2026 By U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs SOUTH CHINA SEA -- On January 1, 2026, at approximately 12:45 p.m., the crew aboard the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) rescued three fishermen in distress aboard a fishing vessel while transiting the South China Sea. Upon spotting the distressed vessel, watch standers immediately notified the bridge, and the ship launched a rigid-hulled inflatable boat to recover the fishermen. The three individuals, later identified as citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, were brought aboard Cesar Chavez and evaluated by the ship's medical staff. All three were found to be in good health. Philippine authorities were immediately notified. The fishermen reported that their vessel's engine flooded on December 28 due to heavy seas, leaving them adrift. They had departed port on December 27 and survived on rationed food and water before being located by Cesar Chavez. The United States coordinated with Philippine government officials to return the fishermen safely to the Republic of the Philippines. Professional and vigilant watch standing procedures enabled the crew to locate and recover the distressed fishermen quickly and safely. Cesar Chavez conducts routine logistics and resupply missions in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UAE Starts to Pull Troops From Yemen Sputnik News 20260101 The UAE Defense Ministry announced the voluntary drawdown of its military presence in Yemen, amid deteriorating relations with Saudi Arabia following Riyadh's declaration that it is deeply disappointed by the UAE's support for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and views such actions as a threat to its national security. The United Arab Emirates has begun withdrawing its forces from the Yemeni provinces of Hadhramaut and Shabwah, the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported, citing Hadhramaut governor Salem Ahmed al-Khanbashi. Al-Khanbashi noted that the UAE's military presence in Yemen had always been limited in scope, consisting primarily of training and advisory support to STC forces. In December 2025, the STC extended its control over the eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and Mahra. Mass demonstrations in support of an independent South Yemen erupted across STC-held areas, reflecting broad popular backing. In response, Saudi Arabia called for an immediate de-escalation and demanded the withdrawal of all STC units from these regions. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Military Strikes Sink 3 Drug Trafficking Vessels - Command Sputnik News 20260101 The US military carried out new strikes against three vessels allegedly carrying drugs, as a result of which three "narco-terrorists" were killed, the US Southern Command said. "On Dec. 30, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy. These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes," the command said in a statement on Wednesday. The command added that three "narco-terrorists" aboard the first vessel were killed in the first strike. "The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels," the statement read. On December 17, 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. Since early September, Trump has authorized a number of strikes targeting alleged drug trafficking vessels off Venezuela's coasts. In November, Trump expressed the opinion that President Nicolas Maduro's days as Venezuela's leader were numbered, while saying 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 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 01 January 2026 - Day 1408 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 ar e 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 since the beginning of the day, there have been 97 combat clashes. The Russian enemy launched the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements one missile strike with the use of one missile and 30 air strikes with the use of 92 controlled air bombs. Recorded 4,158 strikes with kamikaze drones, the enemy carried out 2,674 shelling. In the North Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the Russian enemy launched one air strike, dropped one controlled air bomb, and also carried out 69 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the South Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled three attacks in the areas of settlements Vovchansk and Staritsa. In the Kupiansky direction, the Russian enemy's offensive actions were not recorded. In the Lyman direction, Russian forces carried out 15 attacks, trying to advance in the areas of settlements Novovodiyane, Mirne, Kolodiazi, Zarichne, Novoegorivka, Novoselivka and Yampil. There are currently two combat clashes in progress. In the Slovenian direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled two Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Siversk and Sacko and Vancetti. In the Kramators komu direction since the beginning of the day, the Russian enemy did not carry out offensive actions. The Russian enemy tried 14 times to infiltrate Ukrainian defense in the Konstantinovsky direction in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultiny, Pleshiyivka, Rusynoy Yara, Yablunivka, Scherbinivka and in the direction of the settlement of Torske. During the day in the Pokrovsk direction, the Russian aggressor carried out 23 assault and offensive actions in the areas of settlements Nove Shakhove, Rodinske, Chervony Lyman, Pokrovsk, Kotline, Udaachne, Molodetske and towards Novopavlivka. Currently, the fight is being sharpened in one location. According to preliminary calculations, in this direction Ukrainian soldiers zneszkodili 58 invaders, 46 of them - irrevocably. Destroyed 35 unmanned aircraft, nine units of automotive equipment, two artillery systems, three antennas for control of BPLA, terrestrial robotic complex. In addition, Ukrainian fighters struck two units of automotive equipment, a ground robotic complex, a jet installation of a salp fire and seven shelters for the Russian enemy's personnel. In the Oleksandrivsky direction, Ukrainian defenders stopped ten Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Zeleny Gai, Oleksandrograd, Vorone, Verbove, Cherry and Rybne, two more clashes are currently ongoing. 14 combat clashes were recorded in the Gulyaipil direction, the Russian enemy is trying to advance in the areas of the settlements of Solodke, Gulyaipole and towards the Green. In the Orihiv direction, Russian forces twice attacked the positions of Ukrainian units towards Primorsky, one fight is still ongoing. Ukrainian units repelled two Russian attacks in the direction of Antonivsky Bridge in the Pridniprovsky direction. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. The Sever Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on the formations of two mechanised brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and one territorial defence brigade close to Kondratovka, Khrapovshchina, Novaya Sech, Khoten, and Ryzhevka (Sumy region). In Kharkov direction, units of two motorised infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been hit close to Volchansky Khutora and Liman (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 190 troops, 11 motor vehicles, an electronic warfare station, and two materiel depots. The Zapad Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, two assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two national guard brigades near Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, Podoly, Glushkovka (Kharkov region), Drobyshevo, Krasny Liman and Ilyichevka (Donetsk People's Republic). In Kupyansk direction, units of the 6th Army repelled two attacks of the 92nd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Nechvolodovka and Blagodatovka in order to break into the city of Kupyansk (Kharkov region). Up to 15 militants and two pickup trucks were neutralised. Up to 210 troops, one tank, one U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicle, 16 motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns of the enemy have been neutralised in the Zapad Group's area of responsibility. Four AFU ammunition depots were destroyed. The Yug Group's elements took more advantageous lines and positions. Two mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, and one marine brigade were hit near Zakotnoye, Bondarnoye, Kramatorsk, Konstantinovka, Reznikovka, Nikolayevka, and Berestok (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy has lost more than 190 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured vehicle, ten motor vehicles, and four artillery guns. An electronic warfare station and two material depots of the enemy were neutralised. The Tsentr Group's units improved the situation along the front line. They inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one assault brigade, two air assault detachments, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, three national guard brigades, and the Azov special operations brigade near Volnoye, Novokrivorozhye, Sergeyevka, Krasnoyarskoye, Kutuzovka, Shevchenko, Novy Donbass, Toretskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Gavrilovka, and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region). The enemy losses amounted to up to 470 troops, one armoured personnel carrier, one armoured fighting vehicle, eight motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-fire station. The Vostok Group's units continued to advance to the depths of the enemy's defence. Russian troops inflicted fire damage on manpower and military hardware of one mechanised brigade, one assault brigade, and three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Dorozhnyanka, Verkhnyaya Tersa, Zaliznichnoye, Ternovatoye (Zaporozhye region), and Bratskoye and Velikomikhailovka (Dnepropetrovsk region). The AFU losses amounted to over 220 troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, one armoured fighting vehicle, and six motor vehicles. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of one mechanised brigade of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade near Belogorye, Orekhov (Zaporozhye region), Antonovka, Yantarnoye, and Sadovoye (Kherson region). Up to 55 Ukrainian troops, 15 motor vehicles, two artillery guns, one Israeli-made RADA radar station, and three electronic warfare radio stations were neutralised. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, missile troops, and artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have inflicted damage on energy facilities used for Ukrainian defence industry; ammunition depots, long-range unmanned aerial vehicles assembly workshops, temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed groups, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries in 154 areas. Russian Aerospace Forces shot down one Su-27 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force. Air defence systems shot down a guided aerial bomb and 250 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 670 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 106,444 unmanned aerial vehicles, 641 anti-aircraft missile systems, 26,826 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,634 MLRS combat vehicles, 32,303 field artillery guns and mortars, and 50,530 units of support military vehicles. 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Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Press conference - The Entrance Transcript Thursday 1 January 2026 The Entrance Prime Minister Anthony Albanese The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Prime Minister of Australia The Hon Emma McBride MP Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Dr Gordon Reid MP Member for Robertson EMMA MCBRIDE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION: Thank you everybody for coming here today to The Entrance on the Central Coast of New South Wales. I'm delighted to welcome back the Prime Minister and my good friend and colleague, Dr Gordon Reid, who's joining us after doing a shift in the local ED yesterday. Today is a really significant day when we, what comes into effect, one of our major election commitments. And as a local MP and as a pharmacist myself, I know the difference that cheaper medicines will make to so many people and families across our community. So today, the 1st of January, PBS prescriptions will cost no more than $25, a cut of more than 20 per cent which will save Australians an estimated $200 million on the cost of medicines. I know as a pharmacist, I've been in a situation where people are forced to decide between getting a script filled, or not, delaying or avoiding filling prescriptions. We know that that's happened too often. Women are more often likely to delay or avoid filling a script than men, often on behalf of their family. I've been in a pharmacy where someone's come in from doing the groceries. They've got the shopping trolley full. They've got a bunch of prescriptions in their hand, and they've said to me, 'can I get one antibiotic mixture and share it between my children?' And it was a different antibiotic mixture. So, we know this big difference that this will make to children and families right across the country. And I want to thank the Prime Minister for his leadership, for making sure that PBS medicines are affordable. And a big part of that as well, will be freezing the cost of concession scripts. Concession scripts have been frozen for five years till 2030, so no concession card holder will pay more than $7.70 for their medicines. The Prime Minister knows the difference that that will make, particularly to older Australians and people who are struggling. This is good for your health and good for your hip pocket. Before I hand over to the Prime Minister and then Dr Gordon Reid, I also want to briefly touch on the next phase of our big changes in mental health. As a clinician who worked in mental health in patient units, I saw too many people in distress end up in crisis because they couldn't get support in the community. Today, Medicare Mental Health Check In goes live, and I encourage all Australians to jump online and to see the new services that they can register for that will be available for them, without needing a diagnosis, without needing a referral, and for free. It's estimated that this will be able to benefit more than 150,000 Australians in its first year, as we continue to roll out our free mental health services under Medicare, putting mental health at the heart of Medicare and services in the centre of communities, I might now hand over to the Prime Minister and then to my colleague, Dr Gordon Reid. Thank you, PM, for being here today. ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you so much, Emma, and it's fantastic to be back here on the Coast with Emma McBride and Dr Gordon Reid. And when I thought about the timing and the place where we would launch, of course, our latest commitment to Medicare and to healthcare, there is nowhere better than the Central Coast where we have literally someone who has worked for such a long period of time as a pharmacist, and Dr Gordon Reid, who just yesterday, was back in ED at the local hospital here providing that support. Since then, of course, both of them have also gone on to represent this fantastic local community. And I do want to thank Annie for having us here at her pharmacy, and Trent from the Pharmacy Guild as well, from New South Wales, who's done such a fantastic job. Now, I launched this commitment at the Pharmacy Guild's National Conference. I was the first Prime Minister to address the Pharmacy Guild National Conference, and there, we committed to reducing the price of medicines to just $25 that are on the PBS. That makes an enormous difference for Australians. It will save them around about $200 million each and every year, bringing the price down to the same price that it was in 2004. Now there's an old saying, 'nothing goes down in price, things only go up.' And guess what? It's not right when it comes to my government's commitment to addressing cost of living. So, $25 is the maximum price for a PBS script. And for concession card holders, we've frozen it at just $7.70 until the end of this decade. This is just part of what we are doing to make a difference on cost of living. In addition to that, today is the day that 1800MEDICARE starts. So, that people can, from their phone or from their laptop or tablet, can get in touch with Medicare and a support, speak to a GP or a qualified practitioner and get advice on the phone, not for emergencies, but to get that bit of advice for themselves or their children that they need, 24 hours a day, making an enormous difference, calling 1800 633 422, and getting that access 24 hours a day. These two commitments were at the heart of the commitment that we made to strengthen Medicare, along with the tripling of the bulk billing incentive that has seen literally millions of additional visits to the GP for free. And in addition to that, the opening of Urgent Care Clinics, the additional 50 that we committed to and that we have delivered, now, delivering up to 137 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, taking pressure off emergency departments in hospitals right around Australia. These commitments all kick in now on the 1st of January, today. Later today as well, or in just a few days' time, our Three Day Guarantee for childcare kicks in from the 5th of January. That again, is a commitment that we made in the lead up to the May election. And we have been ticking off one by one the commitments, making sure that we deliver on what Australians voted for on the 3rd of May last year. So, as we enter 2026, each of those commitments getting ticked off one by one, whether it's 1800MEDICARE, Three Days Guarantee of childcare subsidy or, of course, the $25 scripts for medicines as well, making an enormous difference. And in July of this year, our second round of tax cuts will kick in, our third round of tax cuts will kick in in July next year. My government has been determined to deliver on cost of living, making a difference to people as they go forward. And the election of Emma and Gordon are very much a part of that team, and both of them play such a valuable role in representing this fantastic local community in Canberra. I'll call upon Dr Gordon Reid, and then we'll take some questions. DR GORDON REID, MEMBER FOR ROBERTSON: Well, thank you, Prime Minister, for being here today on this great day for all Australians, making scripts and making medications cheaper for families right across the Central Coast. Hearing that medicines are the same price as they were in 2004 - I was in Year Six in 2004 - so it's making me feel quite young today, which is excellent, with a baby on the way. But I do want to, I do want to thank the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, and I thank Trent Playford for all of his advocacy here on the Central Coast. And I'm so proud to be part of an Albanese Labor Government that's not only making medications cheaper but is improving access to healthcare for all Australians. One of the reasons that I put my hand up in 2021 to run for Parliament was to improve healthcare access for people here on the Central Coast, and also to make medications affordable. There were times in the emergency department that I saw people, as Emma has said, go without the medications that they need for their chronic illnesses, those chronic illnesses then exacerbating to become acute illnesses that mean they need to see me in the middle of the night. And now the second time that this has occurred, I've actually seen patients in the emergency department being able to afford the medications that they need to make sure that they live long, healthy and productive lives. So again, happy to see this happen, also happy to see the third Medicare Urgent Care Clinic being open here on the central coast at Erina. Remember, if you're too sick for the GP, not sick enough for the emergency department, before the election of the Albanese Labor Government, you didn't have anywhere to go. Now you've got somewhere to go for those urgent, but not emergent conditions. Thank you very much. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, what are the names and qualifications of the quote actual experts who advised you to do a Richardson Review instead of a Royal Commission? PRIME MINISTER: Well, Dennis Richardson is one. And I've spoken about the people who advise the government. They're the heads of all of the authorities. JOURNALIST: Any specific names? PRIME MINISTER: They're the heads of all the authorities, which is very publicly known. JOURNALIST: Does that mean you've been advised against holding a Royal Commission by the heads of ASIO, the AFP and ASIS? PRIME MINISTER: I mean, we take advice from all of our agencies and all of the experts. JOURNALIST: The Human Rights Commissioner has yesterday, come out in favour of a Royal Commission. Will there be any repercussions for her as a public servant for having made that statement? And does her opinion sway your decision-making in any way? PRIME MINISTER: No. People are entitled to their opinion. What we have is a four part plan. The first is, of course, to deal with the perpetrators. One of those is dead, the other has been charged and needs to go through the legal system. The second issue is the New South Wales Royal Commission that will look at the events, including look at the police actions. The Commonwealth will participate fully in that. The third is the Richardson Review. Dennis Richardson a former Head of the Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs, a former Ambassador to the United States of America, a former head of our intelligence agencies. The most qualified person you could possibly have to look at intelligence issues, to look at security issues on a national basis to get to the heart of the matter. He's already started work. He has a team up and running who will examine all of these issues. And the fourth, of course, is Jillian Segal's Report, the Envoy on Antisemitism. We have done a range of measures already as a result of that work, including, of course, her appointment as something that had never been done before. We've introduced hate laws. We've outlawed Nazi symbols. We've outlawed doxing, something that the Coalition voted against. We know that there's more to do, and we're taking that up. We have a one year review, for example, by David Gonski of education on the basis of, after the advice of the Antisemitism Envoy. We also have, of course, a review of universities that will produce a report card. That work's being done by Professor Craven as well, someone who is very well qualified to do that. We will, of course, further strengthen hate laws as well, something that was never done by former governments as well. We'll continue to do all of that work. JOURNALIST: Do you think that there needs to be a platform for some of these opinions and antisemitism to be scrutinised at a national level? Because if we only have a New South Wales Royal Commission, these views will not be able to be scrutinised at a federal level. PRIME MINISTER: I think it is hard to argue that there have not been platforms and will continue to be, of course, including the work that will be done on legislation in the Parliament. What we need to do is to respond to this issue with unity and with urgency, not with division and delay. That is something that my government is determined to do. JOURNALIST: If a Richardson review, the New South Wales Royal Commission, or any current national security experts are advising you, recommend a Commonwealth Royal Commission, will you change your mind? Or are you ruling one out all together? PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've made our position clear, and I just went through the four stages, the four elements that we're doing. JOURNALIST: Did your government know about the Chinese beef import changes? And have you had any has your government had any communication with your Chinese counterparts on it? PRIME MINISTER: We are communicating with our counterparts. This is something that wasn't Australia being singled out. This is a general condition that China has put. We are advocating, as we always do, for Australian industry. JOURNALIST: What sort of an impact you expecting it's going to have on industry? PRIME MINISTER: Well, we, of course, this is an announcement that is across the board, so it doesn't impact our - Australia isn't being singled out here. Australian beef is, in my view, proudly, as the Australian Prime Minister, the best in the world. We compete in the world very well, and our products are in great demand right around the world. We expect that will continue to be so. The Australian beef industry has never been stronger than it is today as we enter 2026. JOURNALIST: Julie Inman Grant has been threatened by US Congress in part over the application of the social media ban and asking X to pursue terror videos. Do you think it's appropriate for a foreign government to be behaving toward an Australia official in that way? And what advice is your government giving her? What communications are you having with the US Government about this kind of behaviour? PRIME MINISTER: Well, we support the work that the eSafety Commissioner has done. Julie Inman Grant was appointed by the former government, has the support of the current government, has the support, I believe, overwhelmingly, of the Australian people. We introduced on the 10th of December the social media ban. The numbers of accounts that have been closed as a direct result show that it is working. We're continuing to monitor and work through that. The eSafety Commissioner is at the centre of that, and I note that just today, there is now an announcement about the French Government looking at a social media ban as well. This is an area in which Australia has proudly led the world. We expected and are receiving some pushback from the tech companies as a result of that, but we are proud. This is doing the right thing. We know that social media is doing social harm to young people in particular, and we know that social media companies have a social responsibility. This legislation is ensuring that that's being fulfilled, and we back the eSafety Commissioner. JOURNALIST: But the pushback isn't just coming from the tech companies. It's also coming from US Congress. Has your Government made any representations to US Congressmen, to the US Government about the way they're treating an Australian official? PRIME MINISTER: Well, we back the eSafety Commissioner and we engage with governments in the usual diplomatic way, rather than at press conferences. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Has Photo Session with Families of Commanding Officers of Overseas Operations Units Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on Jan. 1 met with families of commanding officers of the overseas operations units who participated in the New Year celebrations for 2026. The families of commanding officers of the overseas operations units, who came to see Kim Jong Un whom they had longed for even in their dreams, extended their greetings of best wishes to him repeatedly showing special love and affection with parental care of being more concerned of children further apart. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said that he thinks much more of the commanding officers and combatants of the overseas operations units who would place their minds on this celebration venue, praying for the eternal prosperity of the country and happiness of their families at battlefields of alien land, at this meaningful moment when the whole country greets the hopeful new year after seeing the old year out with precious memories and pride. He said that the commanding officers of the overseas operations units would greet the new year in the overseas operational area, yearning for their beloved families even at this moment, and will redouble their strength and courage while missing even in their dreams their families who are eagerly waiting for them to return home in good health. He said that the news and photo that he met their families would make the commanding officers very pleased on the battlefields and proposed to wish for the beloved people to return home safe after discharging their mission. Then he had a meaningful photo taken with all the families of commanding officers of the overseas operations units. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exchange of lists of prisoners between India and Pakistan India - Ministry of External Affairs January 01, 2026 Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels, simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civil prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody. 2. India has shared lists with details of 391 civil prisoners and 33 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists with details of 58 civil prisoners and 199 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or believed-to-be-Indian. 3. The Government of India has called for early release and repatriation of civil prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan's custody. Pakistan has also been urged to expedite the release and repatriation of 167 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners, who have completed their sentence. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 35 civil prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan's custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far. Government of India has asked the Government of Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civil prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India. 4. As a result of the sustained efforts by the Government of India, 2,661 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civil prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. This includes 500 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date. New Delhi January 01, 2026 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment on the latest threats of military strikes against Iran 30 December 2025 21:15 2216-30-12-2025 The aggressive statements about the possibility of further military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including its nuclear energy infrastructure, that were made on December 29 during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States, are a matter of justified and serious concern. While the anti-Iran ideological push behind such rhetoric is not new, the international community has repeatedly and unequivocally rejected these ambitions. They are contrary to international law, violate the UN Charter, and recklessly push the Middle East toward a grave catastrophe with potential radiological and humanitarian consequences. Particularly objectionable are attempts to present the use of military force, including the bombing of nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, as a legitimate means of resolving issues surrounding Iran's nuclear programme. This irresponsible approach undermines the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, whose cornerstone is the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). It is noteworthy that these threats are being made by a state outside the NPT, against a country that is a full party to the Treaty and consistently reaffirms its commitment to the Treaty's obligations. We call on these irresponsible "hotheads" to recognise the full peril of their destructive path, to cease escalating tensions around Iran and its nuclear programme, and to avoid repeating their fatal errors of June 2025, which severely undermined IAEA verification activities in Iran. Experience demonstrates that confrontation only sows tragedy and creates real, not imaginary, threats to international peace and security, driving the parties further from a viable resolution they seek. We remain convinced that the only viable course is diplomacy and negotiation. This process must aim to develop long-term, sustainable solutions to Iran's peaceful nuclear energy issue, grounded in international law and with due consideration for Tehran's legitimate interests. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran warns IAEA of US threats against its nuclear facilities IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 1, 2026 London, IRNA -- Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations office in Geneva has warned the UN nuclear watchdog that any renewed military aggression against the country's nuclear facilities would have "severe consequences" for "the global non-proliferation regime." In a letter addressed to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Wednesday, the mission cautioned that normalizing such threats undermines the agency's credibility and erodes international confidence in its verification work, it said on the social media platform X. The letter was issued in response to US President Donald Trump's threat of military strikes against Iran's nuclear and military sites. "Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we're going to have to knock them down," Trump said on Monday while standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iran has accused the IAEA of complicity in the US-Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities in June, citing the agency's "politically motivated" report that preceded the aggression and its failure to condemn the strike afterward. "Such reckless acts must be condemned, and their instigators held fully accountable," the Iranian mission stressed in its letter. 4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran foils one of largest cyberattacks targeting communications infrastructure: Minister Iran Press TV Thursday, 01 January 2026 2:57 PM Iran's telecoms minister says the country has successfully repelled one of the most extensive cyberattacks ever launched against its communications infrastructure, stressing that the assault was neutralized through coordinated domestic and international defenses. Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sattar Hashemi said that the country came under a massive cyberattack targeting its communications infrastructure late last week, describing it as one of the largest and most widespread in recent years. "On Sunday afternoon, the country witnessed one of the biggest and most extensive cyberattacks against its communications infrastructure. The attacks were launched from more than 120,000 different sources across the world and specifically targeted one of the country's telecommunications service providers," he said. Hashemi said the attack was fully repelled due to preventive measures already in place. "With the arrangements that had been made, the attack was completely thwarted and neutralized," he stressed. The minister noted that Iran manages cyber threats on two fronts from both outside and inside the country. "At the external level, part of the attacks is controlled using the capacity of international internet service providers and equipment installed outside the country. However, a large portion of these attacks passes through that layer and is managed domestically, relying on the capabilities of locally produced products and the capacity of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Company," Hashemi added. The minister emphasized that the scale and intensity of the latest assault could have caused serious disruption. "This attack, in terms of its scope and severity, is among the most significant cyberattacks in recent times and could have created major challenges for the country. "But thanks to vigilance, proper planning, and the round-the-clock efforts of communications experts, it was contained without leading to a crisis," Hashemi stressed. Addressing recent reports of slower internet speeds, the minister said the cyberattacks had temporarily affected bandwidth availability. "The coincidence of these large-scale cyberattacks led to part of the country's bandwidth being occupied, which can temporarily cause a drop in speed or disruptions in service quality," he said. However, "improving the quality of communications services through serious and fundamental infrastructure projects remains firmly on the agenda of the Ministry of Communications", he added. On Monday, Behzad Akbari, head of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Company, also said that Iran's network had confronted an unprecedented distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. "Last night, the infrastructure network identified and countered the largest DDoS attack in recent years in terms of packets per second, targeting one of the country's operators," he said in a post on social media. He added that "the attack exceeded 720 million packets per second, of which 502 million packets per second were mitigated by the infrastructure company's own systems, with the remainder countered outside the country." Akbari further noted that the attack, carried out from 125,000 distributed sources around the world, ranked among the world's 12 largest cyberattacks in terms of packets per second. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Official: Iran's nuclear industry advances despite sanctions, assassinations, bombing Iran Press TV Thursday, 01 January 2026 2:51 PM Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says the country's nuclear industry has not only withstood decades of sanctions, industrial sabotage, assassinations of scientists, and even direct attacks on nuclear facilities, but has also continued to advance and now plays a leading role in improving public health. Speaking on Thursday at the inauguration of outpatient and inpatient units of a clinic at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Mohammad Eslami emphasized that the AEOI's highest capacities are now dedicated to health, treatment, and medical services. "The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has placed its highest level of capability and capacity at the service of the country's health and medical sectors," he said. Eslami underlined that nuclear medicine is fundamentally based on uranium enrichment, explaining that without enrichment it would not be possible to produce fuel, conduct irradiation, or perform isotopic separation despite explicit statements by Iran's adversaries that Iran should not have the right to enrichment. The United States has repeatedly stated that Iran must not be allowed to enrich uranium on its own soil, even as Iran insists that its enrichment activities are intended solely for peaceful purposes. Eslami added that years of sanctions, psychological operations, misuse of international institutions, and intense pressure to halt Iran's progress are well documented. According to the nuclear chief, dominant powers employed all available tools to prevent the formation of Iran's nuclear industryone of the country's most advanced and power-generating sectorsand pursued the same approach in other high-tech fields such as information technology and biotechnology. Eslami said restrictions on these technologies were imposed not for ideological reasons, but because of Iran's sensitive geopolitical position, valuable resources, talented human capital, and mobilizing ideology. "Their official documents explicitly state that this nation must not be equipped with advanced technologies, because then it would not be controllable," he said. Referring to statements by Israeli officials, Eslami said the regime's prime minister has repeatedly admitted that, despite using all available tools, they have failed to stop Iran. Eslami noted that industrial sabotage against Iran's nuclear program began more than 25 years ago, including sophisticated tampering with imported components, which Iranian experts were able to detect using intelligent control systems. He said adversaries later turned to espionage, infiltration, assassinations of scientists, and ultimately missile and air attacks on nuclear facilities. "Even after using the world's most powerful bombs and 22 years of military preparation, they failed to halt this industry, which remains active and leading," he noted. On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. More than a week later, the United States 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). On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the aggression. Eslami also referred to the new US National Security Strategy, which highlights nuclear technology, artificial intelligence, and quantum science as key pillars of American progress, including the deployment of small modular nuclear reactors at military bases. "If these technologies are essential for the United States, they cannot be considered illegitimate for Iran," he said. He added that the document also signals a retreat from reliance on international organizations, reflecting a weakening of the international systemone reason, he said, attacks on Iran's registered nuclear facilities go uncondemned. Elsewhere in his remarks, Eslami announced the inauguration of one of the country's largest plasmapheresis centers in Isfahan, launched in cooperation with the Plasma Technology Development Company and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. He said plasma technology has applications in health, industry, the environment, and agriculture, and that Isfahan has the potential to become a national leader in this field. "These capacities belong to the Iranian people," Eslami said. "Relying on indigenous knowledge and the determination of our youth, the country's path of progress will continue with strength." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's engineering feat beneath Persian Gulf for gas supply Iran Press TV Thursday, 01 January 2026 12:07 PM In the middle of the Persian Gulf, Iran has completed a project that carries more economic weight than its size might suggest. A gas pipeline now runs unseen beneath the seabed, linking Bandar Abbas to Qeshm Island through Laft and Gorzin. It is three kilometers long, 30 inches wide, and buried deep enough to avoid the busy traffic above it. While the engineering method used to build it was complex, the economic meaning of the project is easier to understand: Iran has found a cheaper, more reliable way to move energy to one of its most important economic zones. The project, executed with horizontal directional drilling (HDD) over roughly three kilometers up to 30 meters of water depth, is an engineering milestone. It demonstrates that complex subsea work no longer automatically requires foreign contractors or imported turnkey solutions. Avoiding external dependency reduces foreign currency outflows and shortens procurement cycles. For years, supplying gas to Qeshm Island has been a challenge. The island sits in a strategic location, close to major shipping routes and trade hubs, and has been positioned as a center for industry, power generation and tourism. But energy supply did not always match these ambitions. Alternative methods of supplying fuel were costly, less stable and limited in capacity. This limited the pace of industrial growth and raised operating costs for existing businesses. A permanent gas pipeline changes that equation. The decision to run the pipeline under the seabed, rather than on or above it, was driven by both practical and economic concerns. The waters between Bandar Abbas and Qeshm are shallow but extremely busy. Laying a pipeline on the seabed or trenching it in the traditional way would have disrupted shipping and raised environmental risks. Delays, fines and redesigns often follow such disruptions, pushing project costs higher than planned. By drilling under the seabed instead, Iran avoided many of these risks before they turned into expenses. From an economic point of view, this matters because infrastructure costs do not end when construction finishes. Maintenance, repairs, insurance and operational disruptions all add up over decades. A well-protected pipeline has lower long-term costs and fewer surprise expenses. For gas transmission, where margins can be thin, these savings make a real difference. The pipeline is also important because of what it enables on Qeshm Island. Gas is not just another fuel; it is the foundation for power generation, industrial production and downstream processing. There is also a broader financial angle. Iran's energy sector operates under restrictions that limit access to foreign technology, finance and contractors. In this environment, every project completed with domestic resources reduces pressure on foreign currency reserves. Using local expertise and equipment keeps more value inside the economy and shortens supply chains. This pipeline shows that even challenging projects no longer automatically require outside help. This has implications beyond a single island. Building confidence in domestic execution allows planners to move forward with other projects that might otherwise be delayed or scaled down. The project also fits into a larger effort to reduce waste and inefficiency in Iran's oil and gas operations. One of the biggest hidden costs in the sector is time lost to delays, mistakes and unplanned stops. These "non-productive times" do not show up on balance sheets as a single line item, but they quietly increase the cost of every well and every pipeline. Reducing them is one of the fastest ways to improve returns without increasing output. Completing a sensitive subsea project without major setbacks suggests better planning and coordination. Risks were identified early, alternative routes were prepared, and environmental limits were respected. This approach reduces the chance of sudden cost increases that can undermine the economic logic of a project. In global energy markets, many large infrastructure projects fail not because they are technically impossible, but because they become financially unmanageable after repeated delays. Environmental considerations also have economic value, even if they are not always measured in cash terms. Avoiding damage to the seabed and marine life reduces the risk of legal action, cleanup costs and reputational harm. In busy waterways like the Persian Gulf, this is not a minor advantage. Another important aspect is learning. Each successful project builds experience that can be reused. Skills developed during this pipeline construction can lower costs and risks in future crossings, whether for gas, oil or other utilities. The subsea pipeline project is cited as an outcome of closer cooperation between operating companies, universities and research centers. If this model is applied more widely, Iran can gradually close the productivity gap with global peers without relying on imported expertise. In simple terms, the Bandar Abbas-Laft-Gorzin pipeline is a piece of economic groundwork. By reducing costs, lowering risks and strengthening energy supply, it supports growth in a region that depends on reliable fuel. For an energy sector under pressure, that kind of progress can matter as much as any new discovery. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Chief of the General Staff at the Intelligence Directorate's Research Department Conference Israel Defense Forces December 25, 2025 25.12.25 IDF The Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, participated yesterday (Wednesday) in the annual conference of the Intelligence Directorate's Research Department, held under the theme of "Looking Ahead." Additional attendants of the conference were the Head of the Intelligence Directorate, MG Shlomi Binder; the Commander of the Research Department, BG Ofir Mizrahi-Rozen; and the department's commanders in both mandatory and reserve service. From the remarks of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir: "We have operated over the past two years across all arenas, and we are now in a vital transitional period and at a systemic turning point. The mission has not yet ended; all arenas remain active, and many challenges still lie ahead in order to defend the State of Israel and its citizens. Our duty is to move forward toward growth, renewal, and hope. The Research Department is a vital body for the State of Israel's national security and for the IDF's activity. On October 7th, the department failed and did not fulfill its responsibility. Since then, you have achieved significant accomplishments across all arenas, but the inquiries make clear that a continued process of learning and significant steps of correction are required. Change is necessary and has already begun under the leadership of the commanders in the directorate - changes addressing the intelligence ethos, the operational approach, the inter-rank discourse, and training. Professionalism, critical thinking, and a diversity of opinion must be a central pillar among the Intelligence Directorate personnel. The commander is the expert on the enemy and is required to provide direction, to challenge, and to enhance. You, intelligence officers, carry the professional responsibility to challenge intelligence norms. In the reality of a multi-front war, the Intelligence Directorate must continue to keep track of changes and provide sufficient warnings in accordance with its paramount mission. It is our responsibility to prevent incidents similar to October 7th in the future. We have conducted extensive inquiries, and we are engaged in embedding the lessons across all IDF bodies. This is a long, multi-layered process, with an emphasis on changing organizational ethos in the various units. Your activity delivers many achievements for the security of the state, the protection of our citizens, and our ability to prevent and cut short emerging threats. Many challenges still lie ahead - I trust you". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Annual Exchange of Lists of Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan and India exchanged the lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities, today. The exchange took place pursuant to the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India. Accordingly, the list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Simultaneously, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs handed over the list of India's nuclear installations and facilities to a representative of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. The Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India, provides that both countries shall inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities, falling within its definition, on 1st January of each calendar year. The Agreement was signed on 31 December 1988, and entered into force on 27 January 1991. Both countries are exchanging the lists since 1st January 1992. Islamabad January 1,2026 01/2026 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exchange of List of Prisoners between India and Pakistan Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Government of Pakistan today handed over a list of 257 Indian prisoners (58 civil+ 199 fishermen) in Pakistan to the High Commission of India in Islamabad. This step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody twice a year, on 1" January and 1" July, respectively. The Indian Government will also share the list of Pakistani prisoners with Pakistan High Commisson in New Delhi. Islamabad January 1,2026 02/2026 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of the Press Briefing by the Spokesperson on Thursday, 01st January 2026 Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assalam o Alaikum, Good afternoon, NAYA SAAL MUBARAK Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Let me give a roundup of the diplomatic activities that took place this week. Today, on 1st January, as per our bilateral agreements, Pakistan and India exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody. Accordingly, the Government of Pakistan today handed over a list of 257 Indian prisoners (58 civil+ 199 fishermen) in Pakistan to the High Commission of India in Islamabad. This step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody twice a year, on 1" January and 1" July, respectively. The Indian Government, I understand, is also sharing the list of Pakistani prisoners with Pakistan High Commisson in New Delhi. Also, on 1 January, Pakistan and India exchange the lists of their respective nuclear installations pursuant to the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India. Signed on 31 December 1988, the Agreement, inter alia, provides that both countries shall inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities, falling within its definition, on 1st January of each calendar year. Accordingly, the list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. The Indian Government, I understand, is also sharing the list of Indian nuclear installations with Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi today. Last evening, we issued press release expressing deep concern over resurgence of violence in Yemen. Pakistan reiterates its support for the unity and territorial integrity of Yemen, as well as all efforts aimed at establishing lasting peace and stability in the country. In this regard, Pakistan strongly opposes unilateral steps by any Yemeni party that may further escalate the situation, undermine peace efforts, and threaten the peace and stability of Yemen as well as that of the region. Pakistan welcomes regional efforts for de-escalating the situation and maintaining peace and stability in Yemen. Pakistan expresses complete solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reaffirms its commitment to security of the Kingdom. Pakistan maintains its firm support for the resolution of Yemen issue through dialogue and diplomacy and hopes that Yemen's people and regional powers work together towards inclusive and enduring settlement of the issue, safeguarding regional stability. Last evening, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening of the long-standing fraternal bonds between both countries that had attained new heights during recent months. The two leaders also discussed and exchanged views on the regional situation and current developments. The Prime Minister emphasized upon the need to maintain unity and harmony among the ranks of the Ummah, in the midst of various current challenges. While expressing Pakistan's complete solidarity with the Kingdom, the Prime Minister said that it was imperative to maintain regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was very positive on expanding cooperation with Pakistan in all areas of mutual interest. He also expressed his desire to undertake an official visit to Pakistan in the coming year. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar also held a telephone conversation Saudi Foreign Minister H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Both leaders exchanged views on the current regional situation and recent developments. The DPM/FM conveyed Season's Greetings and best wishes for the New Year, which were warmly reciprocated by Prince Faisal. The DPM/FM expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations. Prince Faisal reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening and enhancing bilateral ties. The top leadership of Pakistan and United Arab Emirates were also in close contact this week. As you are aware, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi undertook an official visit to Pakistan, at the invitation of our Prime Minister. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers and senior officials. The two leaders met in Islamabad and later in Rahim Yar Khan. During these meetings, views were exchanged on bilateral cooperation and a variety of subjects. The meeting capped off a year of extensive leadership-level engagements between Pakistan and the UAE. The visit of His Highness reflects the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries shared commitment of both sides to further enhancing collaboration in key areas, including trade, investment, energy, development and regional stability. Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq visited Dhaka, Bangladesh, yesterday, to attend the State Funeral of Former Prime Minster of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia. Our Speaker National Assembly visited the residence of the late former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, where he met her son, Mr. Tariq Rehman, and her daughter. He expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia and conveyed condolences on behalf the people and leadership of Pakistan. He noted that services of the late Prime Minister for the progress, prosperity, and welfare of the brotherly people of Bangladesh would always be remembered with respect. He also paid homage for her contributions to strengthening the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. This visit reflects the honour and deep respect accorded to Late Begum Khalida Zia by the Prime Minister, the Government, the Parliament, and the people of Pakistan, who regarded her as a sincere friend of Pakistan. While in Dhaka, the Speaker National Assembly also met Bangladesh's National Security Advisor Mr. Khalil ur Rehman, Advisor on Law and Justice, Mr. Asif Nazrul and Acting Chairman of BNP, Mr. Tarique Rahman. Pakistan strongly condemns any attempts to undermine the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia, and rejects, in this regard, the announcement made by Israel recognizing the independence of the so-called Somaliland region of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Pakistan reiterates its complete support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, as well as for all efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the country. Pakistan also reiterates its unequivocal rejection of any steps aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land under any circumstances, and reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their just struggle for self-determination and for a sovereign, independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Our Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar joined the Foreign Ministers of Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, The Gambia, Egypt, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, the State of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkiye, Yemen, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in issuing a joint statement underscored the following: Unequivocal rejection of Israel's recognition of the "Somaliland" region of the Federal Republic of Somalia Condemnation in the strongest terms of such recognition, which constitutes a grave violation of the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. Full support of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Recognition of parts of states constitutes a serious precedent and threatens international peace and security, and violates the cardinal principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. Full rejection of any potential link between such measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land, which is unequivocally rejected in any form as a matter of principle. Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar received a call from HH Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz governor of Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. HH Prince Fahd conveyed season's greetings and best wishes for New Year. DPM/FM reciprocated the Prince's warm sentiments. Two dignitaries expressed desire to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, received a call from Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov. FM Bakhtiyor further confirmed the visit of President of Uzbekistan in February 2026. Views were exchanged on regional and international developments and on ways to enhance bilateral relations further by deepening cooperation. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister received a call from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, H.E. Abdisalam Abdi Ali. The DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan's full support for Somalia's sovereignty & territorial integrity and condemned any actions aimed at undermining it. The Somali Foreign Minister thanked the DPM/FM for standing by Somalia and for Pakistan's continued and sustained support. He also sought Pakistan's assistance in raising Somalia's concerns at the UNSC. The DPM/FM affirmed Pakistan's full support for Somalia at the UN and other multilateral fora. Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of Egypt Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in bilateral relations. They shared views on regional and global developments especially Somalia and Yemen. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting regional peace, stability and development. We also announced last evening that Pakistan and China will hold the 7th round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue, scheduled to be held in Beijing on 4 January 2026. This Dialogue takes place at the level of Foreign Ministers. Our DPM/FM will be visiting China, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Mr. Wang Yi. The Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue is the highest consultative mechanism between Pakistan and China, providing a structured platform to review the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest. Since the closure of the border, our Embassy and Consulates have constantly been in touch with the Pakistani nationals in Afghanistan, including students, who sought assistance for their repatriation. Our Missions are also in contact with the Afghan authorities regarding their safety and wellbeing, and are coordinating with our relevant authorities to ensure their safe return. As of now, 15 students and 291 individuals, who were in contact with our Embassy, have safely returned to Pakistan, for which our Embassy undertook requisite coordination with local authorities and offered necessary assistance. (Note: A total of 1,199 Pakistanis approached our Embassy in Kabul seeking assistance for their return. These include 549 students and 402 individuals, including those with families. Out of these, 15 students and 291 individuals have already returned to Pakistan by air) Thank you * (Yang Kai, Xinhua News Agency): Recently, the United States announced a plan to sell advanced weapons was 11.1 billion US dollars to China's Taiwan region, which has severely violated the One China principle and the three China US joint communiques seriously undermine China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, severely jeopardized peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and sent a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence. The Chinese side has immediately lodged a strong protest and the stern representations with the US side and taken firm countermeasures. So, what's your comment on that? Spokesperson: Pakistan and China are iron-clad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners. We have consistently supported China on all matters of its core interests, including Taiwan. We will continue to adhere to the One-China principle and regard Taiwan as an inalienable part of China. We urge relevant countries to abide by their historical commitments, take steps to foster peace, security and development in the Taiwan Strait and the broader region and refrain from measures that may aggravate tensions or undermine peace and stability in the region. (Namrah Sohail, PTV): Sir, India has granted approval for Dulhasti Stage-II Hydro Power Project on Chenab River in IIOJK, which is a clear violation of Indus Water Treaty. So, what do you have to say about this matter? Spokesperson: We have seen the media reports regarding Indian plans to construct Dulhasti State-II Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River. These reports raise serious concerns as no prior information or notification was shared with Pakistan with regard to this project as mandated under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960. Such acts of commission and omission yet again exemplify a complete disregard of international law. The Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW) has sought clarification from his counterpart in India regarding the nature, scope and technical details of the reported project; and whether it constitutes a new run-of-river project, an alteration or additional work on an existing Plant that may result in 'material change', or involves any form of storage work that would affect downstream water flows. Under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), India cannot misuse its restricted allowance for unilaterally building hydroelectric projects on western rivers. Any such project on the western rivers is subject to strict design and operational controls as well as information-sharing requirements. In the absence of formal communication from the Indian side, Pakistan is unable to assess the project's conformity with Treaty provisions. We therefore call upon India to urgently return to treaty compliance and respond to the queries raised by our Indus Waters Commissioner in his latest as well as earlier communications. Pakistan reiterates that the Indus Waters Treaty remains a binding international agreement. The decisions by the Court of Arbitration in June and August 2025 have unequivocally endorsed the IWT's validity. No unilateral decision or defiance can alter this reality. Let me reaffirm that Pakistan remains committed to peaceful resolution of disputes and issues with India, but will never compromise on the existential water rights of its people. (Mateen Haider, GTV): Mr. Spokesperson, two questions while you shared that Pakistani Parliament Speaker Ayaz Sadiq was in Dhaka and he met many top Bangladeshi current interim leaders, including National Security Advisor and also the interim Chief Advisor. At the same time, newspapers across South Asia flashed a photograph of Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar shaking hand with Speaker of National Assembly, and it was a smiling face. How do you read between the lines? And what does this indicate whether India by shaking hand with the Pakistani parliament speaker is willing to talk, and willing to negotiate things. How do you read this? And second you spoke about prisoners list, but the condition of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails is deteriorating. They are not given proper treatment. Those who are sick, ill, they are not looked after, and those who have completed sentence, they are not being repatriated back to Pakistan. Your comments? Spokesperson: Firstly, on the Dhaka exchange - yes, I also saw the pictures on the media. I understand that the Honorable Speaker has also given a television interview giving further details. I would not like to add or delete any word from what the Honourable Speaker said in his interview. As regards condition of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails, this is a matter that is constantly raised at the level of the High Commissions and External Affairs Ministry in Delhi. I believe that the recent exchange of list of prisoners would add impetus towards facilitating their repatriation to Pakistan. In this process, obviously their conditions also come under discussion. We constantly seek improvement in conditions of our prisoners in the custody in India. (Zafar Mehmood Malik, Mainichi Japanese): Mr. Spokesperson, the list of prisoners that Pakistan has handed over to India would certainly include Kulbhushan's name as well. What is Kulbhushan's current status at this time? Would you shed some light on it? Spokesperson: Well, the status is that he has committed heinous crimes against the people of Pakistan. He is in our custody for those crimes. The judicial processes and the rule of law in Pakistan will take its course on the matter. (Sardar Shaukat Mahmood, Islamabad Today): Sir, my question is that Pakistan has always maintained its principled stand on the UN resolution regarding the issue of Kashmir, its dispute, and the right of self-determination. When Pakistan gained victory after Marka e Haq, and also gained diplomatic achievements, President Trump offered mediation. As in you have been delivering Pakistan's principle stand and its statement in every turn on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but what steps have been taken by Pakistan to take advantage of this opportunity? Is there any result-oriented progress regarding this issue because Kashmiri people are striving and Indian atrocities are continuing inside Kashmir. Spokesperson: The month of January revives, and brings back the memories of all the deliberation that took place on Jammu and Kashmir in the United Nations. As you know, the first UN Security Council resolution on Jammu and Kashmir was adopted on 5th of January 1948. And within one month, I think at least three or four Security Council resolutions were adopted. So, Pakistan's position on Jammu and Kashmir remains anchored in those UN Security Council Resolutions, which are also the bedrock of international laws and pronunciation on Jammu and Kashmir. This is an issue which is to be settled in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir, to be ascertained through an impartial plebiscite. So, this position is firm and is anchored in the UN and international legality. As regards measures taken by India, as you are aware, the United Nations and the international human rights machinery and those forums that monitor peace and security dimensions of regional disputes - they remain cognizant of this dispute. The Indian atrocities in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have continued. The UN Human Rights machinery has pronounced upon it, particularly with regards to the illegal detention of a number of Kashmiri human rights activists and civil society organizations, namely Khurram Parvez, Asiya Andrabi, Dr. Qasim Fakhtu and all these individuals who have been languishing in Indian jails without recourse to justice. The second aspect is the demographic changes that have been brought after the legal actions of August 2019. The UN Human Rights machinery has pronounced itself on this deeply divisive issue. Pakistan will continue to raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at relevant international fora. At the same time, we'll continue our principal moral, political, diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir towards their realization of their right to self-determination to be ascertained through a UN administered plebiscite, as enshrined in over a dozen UN Security Council resolutions. (Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News): You just said, in response to the previous question, that Pakistan still wants settlement of disputes with India with dialogue and peaceful resolution. President Zardari also maintained on 27th December that we could have targeted more Indian planes, but we restrained. With given this policy of Pakistan for peace, dialogue and dispute resolution, whether Pakistan would respond to the initiative taken by the Indian External Affairs Minister, Doctor SJ Shankar, yesterday, because, as honorable speaker of Pakistan, told the TV channel which you just quoted that Jaishankar knew the TV cameras or the cameras were with him, and there will be a picture released. How will Pakistan respond to this initiative by India? My second question related to it that we heard last week, in a very surprising move, that the honorable Foreign Minister of China, His Excellency, Wang Yi, talked about certain mediation by China, vis a vis India and Pakistan conflicts, as we know, Wang Yi, the very senior member of the ruling cabinet over there and China is a factor of stability in this region. What kind of mediation or diplomacy is being undertaken or was undertaken by China? Spokesperson: Firstly, on this picture and the handshake in Dhaka - as I said the Honourable Speaker has given a very detailed account of it, and I would not want to add a word or subtract a word out of what the Speaker said. I do not think that he used the word initiative in the sense that you are referring to. As regards the Foreign Minister Wang Yi's statement - the leadership of China I understand, was in constant touch with the leadership of Pakistan, and had made certain contacts with the Indian leadership as well in those three, four days in May, 6 to 10th and maybe prior to that and after that. So, I think those contacts, characterized by a very positive diplomatic exchange, contributed in bringing down temperatures and bringing peace and security in the region. So, I'm sure that the Chinese characterization of mediation is correct. This is also the reading and assessment of Pakistan and as regards what kind of diplomacy was undertaken by China. It was diplomacy for peace. It was diplomacy for prosperity, for security, and this has been a hallmark of a number of international efforts that went into resolving that conflict in those three four fateful days. So, we support the position taken by China on this matter as described by the Foreign Minister of China. (Muhammad Saleh Zafir, The News): Sir, in your opening statement you referred to the unfortunate clashes or tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Prime Minister of Pakistan is in constant touch with the leaders of the two countries. Is Pakistan playing any mediatory role to resolve this dispute between two brotherly countries? Spokesperson: You know this discord is on the situation about Yemen. So that is why our press release was also geared towards the situation in Yemen. To that extent, we have been advocating peace, diplomacy and diplomatic solutions to reach the solution. So, this is part of our exchanges that is taking place between our leaderships and the leadership in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. The second side of it is the multilateral platforms. Pakistan is a member of the UN Security Council. Yemen is an issue which is discussed there, is considered in frequent at UN Security Council meetings. Pakistan takes part in those deliberations, and we have been part of the numerous outcomes from the Security Council platform. The third side is the OIC, which is again a very important platform. You may know that Pakistan is member of the OIC Contact Group on Yemen. So, in that capacity, we are playing a role of advocacy for peace, dialogue, role for diplomacy including peaceful settlement for a Yemeni-led, Yemeni-owned political process. So, this is in that spirit that we take our role as a mediatory and a facilitator for bringing peace and prosperity for Yemen and for the brotherly people of Yemen. (Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): Sir, on the occasion of New Year Day, what message will you convey to the world particularly to Afghan Interim government and Indian government? Spokesperson: I refer you to the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister in his briefing on Saturday said that Pakistan will pursue peace, diplomacy and dialogue in next year based on respecting sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs with the aim of settlement of disputes. This is the message from Pakistan across the globe and to our neighboring countries. We will continue to advocate for peaceful approaches, and efforts towards easing of tensions, bringing peace, progress of our people. (Tahir Khan, NNI): Sir, you mentioned Ishaq Dar's press conference related to Afghanistan. He welcomed Scholars resolution and Hussain Haqqani's statement. Did Afghan government contacted you because UN convey has arrived on Pak-Afghan border at Torkham, but the border is still closed from Afghan side? Secondly, Ishaq Dar confirmed talks held in Riyadh. At what stage is Pak - Afghan relations which was in Riyadh? Did someone from Foreign Office participate in it? How we will see Pak - Afghan relations this year? Spokesperson: The resolution adopted by Afghan Ulema in Afghanistan and the statement by the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, were positive developments. Indeed, we had welcomed it. We look forward to these positive overtures being backed by a firm commitment that Afghan soil will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan. We still wait such an expression of firm commitment. You referred to Riyadh, but in Istanbul, and before that, in Doha, we had sought written assurances. Those assurances are still awaited and the closure of border gates is linked with that. Secondly, you acknowledged that humanitarian convoy from Pakistan have been cleared. They have passed through our side of the border gates at Torkham, but the other side, the Afghan side, is not opening the gates. So, I think this is the kind of attitude from Afghanistan that needs to be improved if the relationship has to improve. A country in need of a humanitarian assistant is not willing to receive humanitarian assistance - this is quite unprecedented that a country in need of humanitarian supplies is blocking the humanitarian supplies. This is unfortunate. This humanitarian convoy was cleared with a very strong personal efforts made by our Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister. He actually advocated for it and then worked for such convoy to pass, and yet it's been blocked by Afghanistan. Take that this in the whole picture: where does Pakistan stand and where Afghanistan stands. For Pakistan, what is the ask from Afghanistan? The ask from Afghanistan is that you please do not allow terrorist operating from your soil to attack Pakistan. These terrorists are not Pakistani individuals. Our military leadership guarding our frontiers, have very clearly stated that around 70% or more, of these attacks are carried out by Afghan nationals. So, it is the duty of the Afghan government, the Kabul administration, to ensure that these attacks from Afghanistan do not take place. So Pakistan is only asking Afghanistan to uphold their responsibility as a nation state under international law. We are not asking for moon. We are asking for legal compliance of their responsibility under international law. So, I think the question needs to be asked from the Kabul administration as to what steps they have taken to fulfill those responsibilities. (Abdullah Momand, Dawn News): Thank you Spokesperson. First, the Norwegian ambassador was demarched and later on the UK High Commissioner by Pakistan's Foreign Office. But there was a hush, hush silence on your behalf, and when the other department shared the media notes in the Foreign Office issued their press releases. So my question is, demarching these Ambassador are purely your initiative, or someone is breathing on your neck to do so? In the past, a former Prime Minister and his Foreign Minister were trialed for leaking the documents. I know that Foreign Offices business is very sensitive. These documents are not that much sensitive, but still, have you raised this issue with the relevant department that why they are interfering in your premises? And second one state that have you inquired who is leaking these documents to other departments? Thank you, Spokesperson: Abdullah, I can assure you that nobody is breathing on our necks. Our necks are totally in a very comfortable position. Foreign Office is doing its job with the full commitment, as is our duty, and we are having good night's sleeps. So I rest assure you. You raised two issues, which are two very different issues. The first issue of the Norwegian ambassador was regarding his court appearance, to which I have replied extensively. That issue is settled. The second issue is of a totally different nature, and this is about something that happened on the British soil, I don't think that you can raise these two questions under one theme. Secondly, I'm not aware of any leaked document either of the two meetings. I did not issue a press statement on the UK demarche because I had confirmed the reports in the media. In fact, I had briefed some of the colleagues from media in my private conversation with the full authority to quote me. I was quoted. There's no institutional gaps as you mentioned. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is discharging its duties with full freedom, as is enshrined in our constitution and our government rules of business. So I think you should revise your comment on who is breathing on our necks. (Asghar Ali Mubarak, The Daily Mail International): Did India buckle under international pressure as indicated by sudden Indian External Affaris' meeting with Speaker of National Assembly and it is giving such gestures and try to display that it want to normalize relations? Spokesperson: About your question on pressures and handshakes, as I said, this was a handshake, and I have expressed myself on it. The Speaker National Assembly, has also given its detail. I would not want to add anything on that. What you are saying, is your words and your interpretation of the event. (Allah Noor Wazir, Mashriq TV): Does Pakistan want Regime change in Afghanistan? If a country ask for regime change in Afghanistan, will Pakistan comply? After increased terrorist attacks in KPK in the last two to three months, did the closure of Pak - Afghan border achieve concrete results? 2 to 3 Pakistani women belonging to Faisalabad were arrested in Saudi Arabia on the charges of Narcotics. Did their families contact Pakistani or Saudi government? Spokesperson: On first part of your question about change of any government in Afghanistan - we respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. It is for the Afghan people to pick and choose whichever government they want, and we are ready to work with the present dispensation, the current Kabul regime. It is not correct for us to use the word of a regime change for a neighboring country. Terrorism in KPK, yes, it's an issue which is very close to our heart because our own people, our brothers and sisters, are suffering from terrorism. This is a fight that we have to undertake. We are implementing counterterrorism measures, forcefully and forcefully, forthrightly. Measures such as the closure of border, must have contributed positively. This is a matter of speculation as to what would be the amount of terrorist attacks emanating from Afghanistan with the open borders, and what is the amount with closed borders. Irrespective of that, we have to protect our people. The blood of Pakistani is sacred and is more precious than anything else. You mentioned about the incident of arrest of women in KSA. I'll have to check with our embassy in Riyadh. I can check and I can get back to you. (Zeeshan Yousafzai, Dunya TV): There are reports that on 16th December, 2025 in Qatar, in the presence of US Central Command, there was a meeting in which Pakistan participated. Do you confirm this meeting regarding Gaza Peace Plan? Who represented Pakistan? Secondly, yesterday Foreign Office issued a press release on Yemen issue. It mentioned about Saudi defence and commitment towards it. But there was no mention of UAE. On Press release issued 23 December, it mentioned both Saudi Arabia and UAE. Is this a policy shift? What will be your course of action? Spokesperson: First of all, on CENTCOM, I am not aware of it and it is not my mandate to confirm or deny what transpires as part of the military exchanges between the military leadership and the US military leadership. I refer you to ISPR. As regards our Press Releases of 23rd December and yesterday, let me tell you Pakistan's position on the matter is anchored in the issue of Yemen. This is to bring peace, stability, progress in the country and a viable political process resulting in lasting settlement of all problems that are besieging various Yemeni parties. So our statements are reflective of that position, I think our relations with our two brotherly countries of UAE and Saudi Arabia are have their own strengths, have their own political, economic and trade content. Yemen situation is related to the issue of Yemen. So you should not intermix the situations that exist in Yemen with whatever is exchanging taking place between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia or between Pakistan and UAE. We have excellent relations with both the brotherly countries, and we would continue to further improve these relations. (Zeeshan Syed, Neo TV): Thank you, Mr. Spokesperson. Iranian President says that his country is total at war with US, Israel and Europe. It comes from after the Netanyahu visit to US. So when Pakistan fully supported Iran in Iran - Israel conflict, now we have historic relationship with the US, so what will be stance of Pakistan? Spokesperson: First of all, our position on issues relating to Iran has been very principled. First issue is what transpired between Iran and its JCPOA partners on the nuclear issue. So this is one issue. The second issue is the attacks launched by Israel on Iran, to which we firmly supported Iran and its right to self-defense. I have not seen the statement of the Iranian President that you are referring to I am not aware of the context that in which it was made. So I will not comment on it. (Anwer Abbas, 24 News HD): Sir, Pakistan is going to chair United Nations Human Rights Council today as a result of voting held on 14 October 2025. What are your comments? Secondly, Pakistan is also going to be member of Digital Corporation Organization. When it is going to resume its duty as its member? DPM/FM Ishaq Dar announce it on the forum of DFTI on 29-30th April, 2025. Lastly, DPM Ishaq Dar announced in his press conference that it will implement Libyan arms deal under any circumstances. Will we have the same stance when it comes of Iran - Pakistan Pipeline deal? Spokesperson: First of all, Human Rights Council - yes, we are returning to the Human Rights Council, for sixth term, or since the inception of Human Rights Council. Pakistan brings a lot of international credibility with the membership of the Human Rights Council. We uphold the principles of international human rights law. Pakistan is also the coordinator for OIC on Human Rights Council. So, our membership helps us to take active part in the deliberations and the outcomes of the Human Rights Council. We would actively participate in those discussions and bring their outcomes as close to the tenants of international human rights laws as possible. Human Rights Council has also been pronouncing on issues like Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine. These issues recur in the Human Rights Council. These issues would remain a priority for Pakistan at this forum. About this digital cooperation. I'll have to check the name and get back to you. And about IP gas pipeline. Yes, I think Pakistan remains committed to this pipeline, and we look forward to progress on this issue. (Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): Keeping in view the hand shake between Indian External Minister and National Assembly speaker, do you think there is thinking among some part of Indian leadership that believes in dialogue and negotiations with Pakistan? Spokesperson: I have already answered this question. There was a context behind it and the Honourable Speaker has already justified his position. This matter is as it is. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: December 31, 2025 23:00 On December 31, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Cho Hyun at the latter's request. Wang Yi said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-ROK relations have emerged from the depths and returned to the right track, showing a steady and positive development trend. Noting that China attaches great importance to and welcomes ROK President Lee Jae Myung's visit to China, Wang Yi expressed the belief that with the joint efforts of both sides, the visit will promote new progress in the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership. Wang Yi stated that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Facing attempts by certain political forces in Japan to reverse the course of history and whitewash the crimes of aggression and colonialism, Wang Yi expressed the belief that the ROK side will uphold a responsible attitude towards history and the people, adopt the correct stance, and safeguard international justice, including adhering to the one-China principle on the Taiwan question. Cho Hyun said that President Lee Jae Myung attaches great importance to cooperation with China, and is firmly committed to developing the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership. The ROK is willing to work closely with China to ensure a smooth and successful visit of President Lee Jae Myung to China. The ROK respects the one-China principle and this stance remains unchanged. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lai calls on opposition to focus on budget reviews, not impeachment attempts ROC Central News Agency 01/01/2026 07:00 PM Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te () said Thursday that the opposition parties' move to impeach him was "impossible to clear the legislative floor" and therefore a "waste of time," urging them instead to focus on reviewing budgets. Lai was responding to a reporter's request for comment following his New Year's Day address on the opposition's impeachment plan. The Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which together hold a legislative majority, passed a motion on Dec. 26 to initiate impeachment proceedings against Lai, citing his failure to promulgate a legislative amendment that would have increased the share of public revenues allocated to local governments. It marked the first time in contemporary Taiwanese history that a president has failed to promulgate a law passed by the Legislature. However, Lai said Thursday that the impeachment vote, which would require the approval of two-thirds of all lawmakers to advance to the Constitutional Court for deliberation, would amount to nothing but a "waste of time." "You know very well that you don't have a two-thirds majority, and yet you tendered the motion anyway," Lai said at the Presidential Office. "You should be spending that precious time reviewing the general budget, the special defense budget, and bills that would drive the country's economic growth," he said, adding that he hoped opposition parties would clearly explain to the public why they were pursuing impeachment instead. The KMT and TPP together control 60 of the Legislature's 113 seats. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holds 51 seats, with the remaining two held by KMT-leaning independent lawmakers, making a two-thirds majority highly unlikely. The opposition caucuses have stalled the review of the 2026 general budget proposal submitted by the Cabinet last August, marking the first time a general budget has failed to undergo committee review at the start of a new fiscal year. In response, KMT spokesperson Niu Hsu-ting () said that while Lai has called for reconciliation, he has failed to address demands raised by opposition parties. Although the DPP claims to be strengthening national defense, it has consistently refused to allocate funds for pay raises for military personnel, Niu said in a statement, referring to a legal amendment passed by the opposition in June. With those demands unmet, Niu questioned how the budget review process could proceed smoothly. In a separate statement, the TPP criticized the Lai administration for failing to carry out what it described as the most basic task of earmarking funds in accordance with the law. Amid delays in the delivery of weapons ordered from the United States, the party said, Lai expects the opposition to back an "opaque" NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.82 billion) special defense spending plan without clearly specifying what items it would fund. (By Sean Lin) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KMT leader urges reconciliation to break constitutional deadlock ROC Central News Agency 01/01/2026 03:23 PM Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun () on Thursday called for political reconciliation in Taiwan, saying cooperation was needed to enable the Legislature to "function normally." "I hope that in the future the ruling and opposition parties can work together, put aside past prejudices, and actively pursue reconciliation for the sake of the country and the people," Cheng said. The leader of Taiwan's main opposition party made the remarks while attending a New Year's Day flag-raising ceremony at her party's central headquarters in Taipei. In her address, Cheng said the goal was to "break the current constitutional deadlock and jointly promote important policies that benefit the country and the people." The constitutional deadlock alluded to refers to continuing disagreement between the Democratic Progressive Party-led (DPP) Executive Yuan and opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan over the scope of legislative authority in budgetary and other matters. Cheng, who became KMT leader in November, also said she hoped reconciliation could extend beyond Taiwan. "I also hope for reconciliation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and even more so for reconciliation between the United States and China, and for the whole world to reconcile," she said. Responding to a New Year's address by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General-Secretary Xi Jinping (), Cheng said the meaning of the "1992 consensus" that Xi spoke of in reference to Taiwan was "not open to doubt." "The 1992 consensus means that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and this is beyond doubt," she said. "[I] respect that the other side has its own expectations, policies and positions," she said, adding that Taiwan and its outlying islands "also have their own way of life and systems." "I hope that through dialogue and exchanges, we can resolve differences and understand each other," she said. Earlier in the day, Cheng also attended a New Year's Day flag-raising ceremony at the Office of the President, saying she was "very happy and very excited" to take part. She said she briefly greeted Premier Cho Jung-tai () and met legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu () at the event, but did not meet President Lai Ching-te () in person. (By Wang Cheng-chung and James Thompson) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2026.01.01 Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Dec. 31 (Wed.) to 6 a.m. Jan. 1 (Thu.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 3 sorties of PLA aircraft, 17 PLAN ships and 8 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 3 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 3.PRC balloon activities: 2 PRC balloons were detected during this timeframe. 1150101_PLA_1 activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1150101_PLA_2 activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1150101_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Embassy in New Zealand rejects MFAT statement on PLA exercises around Taiwan island Global Times By Global Times Published: Jan 02, 2026 10:55 AM In response to a statement posted by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) on its social media account claiming "concern" over the recent military exercises around Taiwan island, a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand said on Thursday that the relevant post released by New Zealand's MFAT confuses right and wrong, and China firmly opposes it. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China and brooks no interference from any external forces, said the spokesperson. At present, the Taiwan authorities are obstinately pursuing "independence" by colluding with foreign forces in a vain attempt to split China, and external forces are conniving at and supporting such acts. These are the biggest threat and the fundamental destabilizing factor to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, said the spokesperson. The one-China principle is a prevailing international consensus and basic norm in international relations. It is also the political foundation of China-New Zealand relations. We urge the New Zealand side to earnestly abide by its one-China commitment, be cautious in words and deeds, and upholdrather than undermine or erodethe political foundation for the steady development of bilateral relations, said the spokesperson. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Anti-Shahed drones to be supplied to the military through DOT-Chain Defence Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 31 December, 2025, 3:09 PM EET The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine's Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) continues to expand the range of equipment available through DOT-Chain Defence. Going forward, brigades will be able to select and receive systems for countering enemy Shahed UAVs. These drones are currently available under the "Army of Drones Bonus" program. "Warriors will be able to independently select and quickly receive assets to counter enemy Shahed drones. We continue to expand digital tools that provide the Ukrainian military with the necessary speed and flexibility in ensuring all essential supplies," said Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. Drone contracting priorities were determined based on surveys of military personnel about their needs and evaluations of the effectiveness of specific systems. "We are changing the logic of the supply process, focusing not only on delivering equipment to the military but also on their feedback and expertise. The DPA team conducted surveys among service members to identify the interceptor drone models they use and consider most effective. We therefore prioritize contracting with the manufacturers of these systems," said Arsen Zhumadilov, Director of the DPA. This marks the second type of interceptor drones that will be supplied to the military through DOT-Chain Defence. In the autumn, the DPA added tactical-level interceptor drones to the weapons marketplace, which help counter enemy reconnaissance and strike UAVs on the frontline. Overall, as part of supplying the military through its IT system, the DPA has signed contracts with six manufacturers of this type of UAV. As of the end of December, the military had received nearly 5,000 interceptor drones through DOT-Chain Defence. Reference information: The "Army of Drones Bonus" is an incentive program for equipping the Defence Forces. It is based on the integration of the DELTA, DOT-Chain Defence, and Brave1 Market IT systems. It functions as follows: Service members earn points for destroying and damaging enemy targets, and exchange them for the drones and equipment they need to accomplish combat missions through Brave1 Market, following authorization in DELTA. The supply process is managed by the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) through the DOT-Chain Defence digital system. Within it, contracts with manufacturers are concluded, and the direct delivery of drones and other equipment to military units is coordinated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC): a review of its first year Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 31 December, 2025, 10:59 AM EET The NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC) was established and launched on 17 February 2025. It became the first joint civilian-military organisation within NATO dedicated to the systematic analysis of the russia-Ukraine war and the implementation of changes in strategic planning, defence policy, military training, and combined operations. JATEC brings together representatives of Ukraine and NATO member states working within a unified environment, drawing on real combat experience and evolving threats. At the Centre, participants hold equal status for the first time, with the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Through JATEC's activities, innovative solutions essential for the modern battlefield are jointly developed, alongside the adaptation of NATO defence planning processes to the conditions of high-intensity conflict. Below are the Centre's six main achievements in its first year. Innovation and the development of combat capabilities Under JATEC's 2025 Programme of Work, the 15th, 16th, and 17th NATO Innovation Challenges were held in cooperation with Allied Command Transformation (ACT), ensuring, for the first time in the history of Ukraine-NATO relations, a full end-to-end support cycle for innovative technological solutionsfrom conceptualisation and combat use to the formulation of technical recommendations. The NATO Innovation Challenges focused on identifying solutions to counter guided aerial bombs (GABs) and fibre-optic-controlled FPV drones, as well as on providing medical care and evacuating casualties under fire. Alongside this, work is ongoing to launch the JATEC Innovation Hub, which is intended to consolidate all of the Centre's technological efforts and serve as a bridge between Ukrainian stakeholders (the Ministry of Defence, Brave1, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine) and NATO structures (DIANA, the Science and Technology Organization (STO), and NATO innovation institutions). In the area of countering aerial threats, three innovative solutions have been identified: an AI-based solution for guiding UAVs against aerial targets developed by Alta Ares, an interceptor drone from Tytan, and the "drone wall" concept proposed by Atreyd. Alta Ares has confirmed successful combat engagements against "Shahed", "Gerbera", and "SuperCam" UAVs. To counter fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones, three promising solutions have been selected: a cost-effective three-dimensional radar developed by KMB Telematics Inc. (Canada), an autonomous AI-enabled counter-drone turret by Sentradel (United States), and an automated turret developed by DONS (Ukraine). For solutions to counter guided aerial bombs (GABs) and FPV drones, a series of field trials was conducted in Ukraine, France, and Poland. Ukraine's participation in NATO collective defence exercises JATEC launched an initiative to integrate Ukrainian expertise into the planning, conduct, and evaluation of NATO collective defence exercises. For the first time, the North Atlantic Council approved the participation of Ukrainian representatives in the LOYAL DOLOS 25 command-post exercise conducted under NATO Article 5 and aimed at preparing corps-level headquarters. In addition, a Ukrainian representative took part in the NATO Military Training and Exercise Programme Planning Board for the first time. For the first time in NATO history, the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine led the planning, coordination, and command and control of OPFOR forces during the REPMUS / Dynamic Messenger 25 exercises in Portugal. The exercises incorporated modern maritime warfare trends and multi-platform coordination; Ukraine's DELTA military situational awareness system functioned as the primary command-and-control instrument for the combined command of participating nations. Analytics and digitalisation Throughout 2025, digitalisation efforts focused on achieving an advantage in the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) algorithms. In 2025, AI/ML models were delivered to the Defence Forces of Ukraine for testing on real-world data, including assessments of fire-control loop effectiveness, target identification accuracy, large-scale data analysis, and threat forecasting for critical infrastructure. Medical support and care Over the past year, four expert meetings were held focusing on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), mental health, and the management of massive haemorrhage. Based on their outcomes, recommendations were developed for Ukraine and NATO to strengthen these areas. A dedicated expert meeting on casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) focused on identifying the key threats associated with the evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield in modern warfare. This meeting laid the foundation for organising the 17th NATO Innovation Challenge - 'The Pressing Challenge: Medical Care in a Transparent & Contested Battlespace.' In the medical domain, three innovative solutions were selected: a portable continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) system for battlefield and austere medical care, developed by Qidni Labs Inc.; MiniFuser - a compact, simple, and non-electric infuser for critical medications, developed by MonuMedical LLC; and LPI/LPD Medical C2 and Touch-to-Triage vital sign transfer, developed by Ixana. Engagement of Ukrainian companies As part of the implementation of its Programme of Work, JATEC for the first time engaged Ukrainian companies in joint research, analytical work, and innovation activities with NATO. As a result, for the first time in history, NATO's Allied Command Transformation (ACT) contracted Ukrainian companies to conduct research in the interests of Ukraine and NATO. Interoperability The Ukraine-NATO Interoperability Roadmap serves as a mechanism for military integration and a political instrument that strengthens multidomain cooperation with NATO. In 2025, JATEC developed and coordinated implementation support plans for four priority interoperability requirements: the study and incorporation of lessons learned, reserve force development, medical support, and professional military education and training. JATEC's participation in coordination activities related to the implementation of the Interoperability Roadmap strengthened inter-institutional cooperation and helped complete a range of tasks linked to these requirements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President received a report on a terrorist attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson Region The President had a telephone conversation with Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo, who reported on a terrorist attack by the Kiev regime. January 1, 2026 21:15 The governor also briefed the President on the investigation into the attack, stating that additional information and the names of the victims will be made public as the investigative team continues its work and the bodies are identified. On the night of January 1, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a drone strike targeting a cafe and a hotel in Khorly on the Black Sea coast, where civilians were celebrating the New Year. According to preliminary estimates, 24 people were killed, with 29 more injured, including several minors. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In New Year address, Putin assures victory in Ukraine, praises Russian forces Iran Press TV Thursday, 01 January 2026 9:12 AM Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed Moscow's determination to achieve victory in Ukraine, praising Russian forces and stressing national unity in a New Year's address delivered amid ongoing international efforts to end the conflict. In his annual televised speech on Wednesday, Putin hailed Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine as heroes and assured them of broad public support across the Russian Federation. "Millions of people across Russia I assure you are with you on this New Year's Eve. They are thinking of you, empathizing with you, hoping for you. I wish all our soldiers and commanders a happy coming New Year! We believe in you and our victory!" the Russian leader stressed. Framing the war as part of a wider existential struggle imposed by the West, Putin said Russia's shared sense of destiny and unity would continue to guarantee the sovereignty and security of the nation. "The strength of our unity determines the sovereignty and security of the Fatherland, its development, and its future," added the Russian president, whose forces are advancing slowly but steadily in Ukraine. Putin's address came as US President Donald Trump is attempting to broker a ceasefire to the nearly four-year conflict, the deadliest in Europe since World War II, despite the two sides maintaining sharply different negotiating positions. Putin also highlighted steady progress on the battlefield, noting that Russian forces are advancing gradually but consistently. The speech coincided with the release of video footage by Russian authorities showing what they described as a downed drone, which Moscow said was evidence of a failed Ukrainian attempt to attack a presidential residence, an allegation rejected by Kiev. While Russia remains committed to US-mediated peace talks, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has indicated that the country's negotiating position would be reassessed in light of Ukraine's actions, confirming that targets for retaliatory strikes have been identified. The drone incident follows a controversial Christmas address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which he made a veiled reference to wishing harm upon Putin, a remark condemned by the Kremlin as unhinged. In a separate video statement on Wednesday, Russia's top general said troops were continuing to establish buffer zones in Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv regions, adding that Russian forces had advanced faster in December than in any other month of 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry statement on the terrorist attack by the Kiev regime targeting civilians in the Kherson Region of the Russian Federation 1 January 2026 17:38 1-01-01-2026 In the early hours of January 1, 2026, the criminal neo-Nazi Kiev regime carried out a targeted attack using armed UAVs which took aim at a cafe and a hotel in Khorly, Kherson Region. Local residents were celebrating the New Year's Eve there with their families. While the exact number of those who were killed and injured in these strikes and during the fire that they caused has yet to be established, it is already clear that several dozen civilians suffered in this attack, of whom 24 people died, including one minor. Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal file on terrorist charges. Everyone who took part in this monstrous and bloody crime will be identified and would not be able to evade justice. By perpetrating this barbarous atrocity, the Kiev regime has once again demonstrated its human-hating neo-Nazi nature. The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked civilians with their drones hot on the heels of Zelensky perorations, as repeated during his New Year speech, on Kiev's commitment to peace. We have long grown accustomed to this cynical posture, which transcends all possible boundaries and demonstrates that he has totally lost his moral bearings. The Kiev usurper decided to target helpless civilians in his impotent range, against the backdrop of the successful advancement of the Russian Armed Forces and the losses suffered by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as the failed attempt by the Ukrainian terrorists to carry out a strike against the President of the Russian Federation's state residence in the Novgorod Region in the early hours of December 29, 2025. He is ready to kill women and children and to perpetrate crimes similar to what happened at the Trade Union House in Odessa for the sake of holding on to power and in an effort to intimidate people from the regions which have recently reunified with Russia by linking their destinies to it forever by holding referendums. As for the attempts by the Kiev regime to target the Presidential residence in the Novgorod Region, these was a special technical review of a block from the navigation system of one of the Ukrainian drones which were downed in the Novgorod Region's air space in the early hours of December 29, 2025. Members of the Russian special services have succeeded in extracting the file with the mission description, and these materials will be forwarded to the United States using the appropriate channels. Every day, the Russian Defence Ministry's air defence systems deflect drone attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against the regions of Russia, including its capital - there were about 10 attacks of this kind today. These attempts are designed to distract people in order to leave the frontline failures of the Ukrainian Armed Forces unnoticed. The Kiev regime has been trying, in vain, to prove its viability using terrorist attacks. It is just as obvious that Office of the President of Ukraine on Bankovaya Street has been intentionally seeking to derail any attempts to find peaceful solutions. This latest criminal strike against civilians in Khorly is a bloody atrocity by the Kiev clique. Western leaders who continue sponsoring the bankrupt regime with money and weapons bear full responsibility for this crime. The Foreign Ministry firmly condemns all the terrorist attacks by the Kiev regime. We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends on the victims and wish the injured speedy recovery. The Foreign Ministry calls on the governments of the responsible sovereign countries and the relevant international structures to publicly express their resolute condemnation of the bloody terrorist attack by the Kiev regime in the Kherson Region. Ignoring this tragedy would amount to only one thing - openly encouraging neo-Banderite terrorist crimes and acting as accomplices, which will be interpreted in legal terms with the corresponding legal consequences. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Russian Defence Ministry 01 January 2026 06:57 Russian special services' officers carried out a special technical examination of a navigation unit of one of the Ukrainian UAVs shot down on the night of 29 December 2025 over Novgorod region. The experts managed to extract a file containing a flight plan from the navigation unit. Decoding of the UAV route data shows that the Ukrainian drone attack on 29 December 2025 targeted one of the facilities of the Russian President's residence in Novgorod region. These data will be submitted to the American party through established channels. Department of Information and Media Affairs of Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia to Give US Decrypted Data From Ukrainian Drone That Flew Towards Putin's Residence Sputnik News 20260101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian intelligence services have extracted the flight mission file from one of the drones that attacked President Vladimir Putin's residence and will hand it over to their US colleagues, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "Russian special services' officers carried out a special technical examination of a navigation unit of one of the Ukrainian UAVs shot down on the night of 29 December 2025 over Novgorod region. The experts managed to extract a file containing a flight plan from the navigation unit," the statement read. The decrypted data from the file showed that one of the facilities of the Russian presidential residence had been the final destination of the drone, the ministry said. "These data will be submitted to the American party through established channels," the ministry added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Strike on Cafe in Kherson Region Targeted Civilians - Russian Foreign Ministry Sputnik News 20260101 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian attack in the Kherson Region was pre-planned, with drones deliberately striking a gathering of civilians, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo said that three Ukrainian drones struck a cafe and hotel in the Kherson Region, where civilians were celebrating New Year's Eve, with preliminary data showing that 24 people were killed and over 50 injured. "In the first hour of the new 2026, the Kiev regime committed another terrorist act against the peaceful population of Russian regions," the ministry said. As a result of the attack, new 2026 year became a tragedy for more than 70 civilians, the ministry added. "There is no doubt that the attack was planned in advance, with drones deliberately targeting a civilian gathering during New Year celebrations," the statement read. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Blames Everyone Who Sponsors 'Terrorist Bastards' in Ukraine - MFA Spox on Attack in Kherson Sputnik News 20260101 Three Ukrainian drones attacked a hotel and cafe in the Kherson region, with one drone carrying an incendiary device. Regional governor Vladimir Saldo stated the strike intentionally targeted civilians leaving 24 dead, 29 injured, including 5 children. "This morning, alongside their croissants and poached eggs, the presidents and prime ministers of the collective West should have reports on their breakfast tables detailing how billions of their taxpayers' money have been spent, how many New Year's gifts purchased with those funds were used to kill civilians, and how they have been complicit in the destruction of children," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "We accuse all those who sponsor terrorist bastards in Ukraine! We accuse them of murdering children and destroying civilians! We accuse them of corrupting Ukrainian statehood, which has turned into a killing machine!" she stressed. The Ukrainian strike on a cafe in the Kherson region must receive the harshest legal and political condemnation from all countries for which the norms of international humanitarian law still mean something, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large on the Kiev Regime's War Crimes Rodion Miroshnik said. "This inhumane act must receive the harshest legal and political assessment from all countries for which the very concept of international humanitarian law norms still remains more than empty words," Miroshnik said on Telegram. Russian diplomats will raise this issue at all key international platforms, he said, adding that the killing of dozens of civilians by the Ukrainian armed forces "cannot go unpunished." Russia expects clear condemnation from the world community and state leaders over the Ukrainian attack on a cafe in the Kherson Region, Russian upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko said. "We expect clear condemnation from the world community and state leaders," Matvienko said on Telegram. There are no excuses for the cynicism and beastly cruelty of the Ukrainian top officials deciding to kill civilians on a festive New Year's night, the speaker said. "We are dealing with absolute moral ugliness. With creatures organically devoid of connection to the inner moral law with which the Lord endowed a man. And therefore, they have no moral right to represent power in a normal society or claim popular support. They should certainly have no political future," she said. The Ukrainian armed forces knew that there were peaceful vacationers, families with children in the cafe, however carried out a deliberate strike, she added. Russia will do everything necessary to support those affected by the strike, she said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Conducts Deadly Strike on Civilians in Kherson Region Sputnik News 20260101 Three drones struck a cafe and hotel in the Kherson Region, with preliminary data showing 24 people killed and over 50 injured. "Tonight, the enemy carried out a targeted drone strike on a place where civilians were celebrating New Year. Three drones hit a cafe and hotel on the Black Sea coast in Khorly. Preliminary data: over 50 injured, 24 killed. We clarify the numbers. Many were burned alive. A child was killed," Governor Vladimir Saldo said. The strike occurred almost at the stroke of midnight, he said, adding that the the fire has been extinguished, and medics fight for the lives of the injured. "The particular cynicism lies in the fact that the strike was carried out after a reconnaissance drone had completed its workalmost in time with the chiming of the clock. Due to an extremely powerful fire, it was not possible to save more people. The fire was only extinguished toward morning," the governor stressed. "In the night strike by Ukrainian UAVs on a hotel in the Kherson Region, 24 people were killed, 29 injured, including five children," the regional branch of the Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) said. "They are not just war criminals, they are sadists, worthy of their spiritual fathers the Gestapo," said Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Sputnik's parent media group Rossiya Segodnya. Simonyan emphasized that none of them will escape punishment. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine bolsters air defense with two more Patriot systems: five key advantages of these air defense systems Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 1 January, 2026, 10:30 AM EET Two more Patriot air defense systems have been deployed to protect Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. As Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal reported earlier, this outcome was made possible by recent agreements with the German government. Patriot is a U.S.-manufactured surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. It is one of the world's most advanced air and missile defense systems. It is designed to defeat aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Patriot can defeat high-speed and challenging targets, providing layered air and missile defense for strategic facilities and major cities. The Ministry of Defence outlines the key advantages of the Patriot system. Versatility. The system is capable of defeating diverse aerodynamic and ballistic threats, including hypersonic targets. Patriot missiles have been employed to intercept hypersonic weapons such as the 'Zircon' and 'Kinzhal,' which are reported to reach speeds of up to 11,000 km/h and 16,000 km/h, respectively. High effectiveness. Patriot's high-precision radar employs technologies that enable it to detect and track multiple targets simultaneously. Patriot missilesparticularly the PAC-3 MSEuse hit-to-kill intercept technology, which is critical for defending against ballistic missile threats. Multitasking. One Patriot battery can detect up to 100 aerial targets and maintain tracks on up to eight simultaneously. Automation. The ability to operate in automatic mode enables Patriot to respond instantly to threats, which is critical for intercepting hypersonic missiles. Range and altitude. Patriot systems engage aerial targets at altitudes of up to 24 km and at ranges of up to 160 km, covering large territories. Currently, Patriot systems are protecting Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, mitigating the impact of enemy cruise and ballistic missile strikes on energy and civilian targets. To recap, on 17 December, Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Denys Shmyhal, reported on the signing of several new key agreements with German partners totaling over 1.2 billion. Of particular significance are the agreements reached between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Friedrich Merz, under which Germany committed to allocating 11.5 billion in support for Ukraine in the coming year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We Are Working Very Hard to Resume Prisoner Exchanges in the New Year - Address by the President President of Ukraine 1 January 2026 - 18:55 Dear Ukrainians! Once again, Happy New Year to everyone. We are starting this year with diplomacy, and we are continuing dialogue with our partners. This is the most important thing - that support for us, for Ukraine, is in place and sufficient. Everything rests on this - above all, our warriors on the frontline, all our defenders, our industry, our weapons production, everyone who helps us, all our international support. We must search for air defense every single day. Ukraine needs air defense missiles every day. The same goes for funding for weapons, for drones for our army, for UGVs, for equipment - for everything that is necessary. Everything is being pursued as actively as possible. And likewise - for the sake of keeping negotiations moving - in all aspects, on every track. Today, Rustem Umerov is holding meetings in Turkiye - with the Foreign Minister of Turkiye and, next, with the intelligence services. We are working very hard to resume prisoner exchanges in the new year - this is precisely the key topic in our talks with Turkiye. We need this facilitation to bring our Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Last year, the swaps were active, but toward the end of the year they slowed down, unfortunately. Now they must be resumed. Rustem is also in contact with the American team and our partners in Europe every single day - yesterday and today. We are preparing formats and important meetings. On January 3, a meeting of national security advisors will take place in Ukraine. This is the first such meeting in Ukraine focused on peace. European representatives will attend, and we expect the American team to join online. Fifteen countries have confirmed their participation, along with representatives of European institutions and NATO. Next, on January 5, there will be a meeting of the military - chiefs of general staff. The main issue is security guarantees for Ukraine. Politically, almost everything is ready, and it is important to work through every detail of how the guarantees will function in the air, on land, and at sea - if we succeed in ending the war. And this is the key goal for all normal people. On January 6, a meeting at the leaders' level will take place - European leaders and the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing. We are preparing now to ensure that the meeting is productive, that support increases, and that there is greater political confidence both in the security guarantees and in the peace agreement. I thank everyone who is helping us. I have just spoken with the President of Cyprus - my first call of the year. As of January 1, Cyprus has assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union, and it is important for us that Ukraine be among the priorities of the Cypriot presidency for the next six months. Ukraine's membership in the European Union is also a security guarantee, and we are working toward membership as well. I informed him about our conversation with the United States and about the overall diplomatic situation. I thank Cyprus for its support. Thank you, Mr. President, Nikos, for all the important words about Ukrainians, about Ukraine, and about our strength. Of course, I thank everyone who, since the night and from the early morning today, has been working on recovery after Russian strikes. Even on New Year's night, the Russians could not help themselves. That's who they are. But we are defending ourselves and restoring what was damaged. That's who Ukrainians are. And tomorrow will be an important day of domestic policy for Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine Held His First Phone Call of the Year with the President of Cyprus, Which Is Chairing the Council of the European Union in the First Half of the Year President of Ukraine 1 January 2026 - 18:52 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held his first phone call of the year with President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides. The Head of State congratulated Nikos Christodoulides on the beginning of Cyprus's presidency of the Council of the European Union. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine counts on strong decisions that will strengthen both our country and all of Europe over the next six months. It is important that Ukraine be among the key priorities during the Cypriot presidency. The President noted that Ukraine's membership in the European Union is one of the security guarantees for our country, and that Ukraine, for its part, is always doing everything necessary. The Head of State shared the latest details of contacts with American partners and informed about the overall diplomatic situation. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the work to achieve peace is effectively ongoing around the clock. The President thanked Cyprus and the entire Cypriot people for their support and expressed special gratitude to Nikos Christodoulides for his warm words about Ukrainians and Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Next article: 'Thank you for your service to the nation' - Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) writes Featured 25 per cent University Fees hike? What was the plan all along? - Kristy Sakyi writes Kristy Sakyi Opinion Jan - 02 - 2026 , 10:32 3 minutes read They promised us a lifeline. In black and white, in their 2024 manifesto, they offered a covenant to Ghanaian youth: a No-Fees Stress policy. Free tertiary education for first-year students and persons with disabilities. Academic fees, they said, would be fully covered by state funds. As a student of International Relations, I recognise a diplomatic pledge when I see one. As a youth activist, I learned a harder lesson: to recognize a political bait-and-switch. Today, that covenant is in ashes. The University of Ghana has announced an academic fee increase of over 25%. Lets be clear: this is not an isolated university decision made in a vacuum. This is the direct and shameful consequence of a government reneging on its core promise, leaving students to bear the brunt of a fiscal shell game. We were sold an illusion. The grand free first year was quietly, technocratically, downgraded to a 20% refundable arrangement. A discount, not a grant. A loan dressed in manifesto finery. And now, in our second year, the hammer falls. The question every student is asking is chillingly simple: What was the plan all along? The answer seems painfully obvious: Entice us with irresistible slogans. Get us through the gate, committed to our programmes and our dreams. Then, once we are locked in, a captive market, slam us with outrageous hikes to claw back the money. This is not a policy failure. This is calculated exploitation. It is a betrayal that treats the aspirations of Ghanaian youth as a line item on a balance sheet. This government has chosen to balance its books on the backs of students. It is a short-sighted and cruel strategy. They seem to have forgotten that we are not mere statistics or revenue streams. We are future engineers, doctors, teachers, and leaders. The message they are sending is corrosive: students are no longer citizens to be invested in; we are human ATMs to be drained. As a student of global affairs, I see how other nations invest feverishly in their youth, understanding that educated populations are the bedrock of sovereignty and economic power. Here, our own government constructs barriers. They dangle the carrot of opportunity, only to replace it with the stick of debilitating debt. This fee hike is more than a financial burden; it is a psychological breach. It tells every young Ghanaian that political promises are written in disappearing ink. We call on the government to look beyond the next fiscal quarter and into the eyes of a generation it is disillusioning. Reverse this punitive hike. Honor the spirit, not just the eviscerated letter, of your No-Fees Stress pledge. Provide a sustainable, transparent funding plan for public tertiary education. Our future is not a negotiating chip. Our education is not a scam. We are watching, we are organising, and we will remember. The cost of this deception will be far greater than any fee they can impose. The writer Kristy Sakyi is an International Relations enthusiast and an advocate for youth development and educational equity. 25 per cent University Fees hike? What was the plan all along? - Kristy Sakyi writes Next article: 25 per cent University Fees hike? What was the plan all along? - Kristy Sakyi writes Featured One year of President John Dramani Mahama: Leadership that rebuilt trust - Dr. Callistus Mahama writes Callistus Mahama, Ph.D Opinion Jan - 02 - 2026 , 10:50 6 minutes read On 7 January 2025, President John Dramani Mahama was sworn into office following a decisive mandate from the Ghanaian people in the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. One year on, the question is no longer whether the government has settled into office, but whether it has meaningfully reset the tone, direction, and credibility of governance in Ghana. From the vantage point of the Presidencyhaving worked closely with President Mahama since 2017, first as Office Administrator and now as Secretary to the President, and having engaged deeply with the National Democratic Congress from the national level down to constituenciesI have observed this first year not as a spectator, but as a participant in the daily discipline of leadership. What has emerged over the past twelve months is a governing style that privileges seriousness over spectacle, substance over slogans, and trust over theatrics. Independent public opinion data now lends empirical weight to this lived experience. According to the December 2025 National Tracking Poll, 66 per cent of Ghanaians believe the country is headed in the right direction, with this positive assessment recorded across all regions. Only 24 per cent think otherwise, while 10 per cent expressed no opinion. In a politically diverse society, such convergence is neither incidental nor routine. A government that chose repair before applause An unglamorous but necessary priority has defined the first year of President Mahamas administration: stabilisation. In contrast to past approaches that relied heavily on optimistic rhetoric, this government confronted economic reality early and honestly. Debt restructuring was completed not as a public relations exercise, but as a prerequisite for national recovery. Fiscal discipline was re-established as policy, not posture. This shift mattered. It signalled to citizens, investors, development partners, and civil society that Ghana was ready to replace denial with data, and spin with realism. The government's credibility has rested not on promises of instant relief, but on transparent communication about constraints, trade-offs, and timelines. Public sentiment reflects this realism. The poll shows that 66 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the 2026 Budget, while 56 per cent report that their standard of living has improved compared to a year earlier. Even more telling, 70 per cent are optimistic that their living conditions will improve in the coming year. Confidence, once badly eroded, is being rebuilt through candour. Leadership performance and national confidence Approval of the Presidents performance remains strong and geographically broad-based. The poll records a 67 per cent job approval rating, unchanged from the previous quarter, with majorities approving in all regions, including traditionally opposition-aligned areas. Among floating voters, approval stands at 69 per cent, underscoring confidence across partisan lines. This is not the result of dramatic gestures or headline-driven governance. Instead, it reflects consistency in leadership, clarity of intent, and visible seriousness in delivery during the administrations first year. Speeches as Instruments of Governance, Not Performance One underappreciated feature of this first year has been the role of presidential communication. The many speeches deliveredState addresses, policy launches, international forums, regional engagementswere not ceremonial fillers. They were instruments of governance. Across these interventions ran consistent threads: accountability, institutional reform, social equity, economic sovereignty, and national cohesion. The President did not speak differently to different audiences; what he said at home aligned with what he said abroad. What he told Parliament resonated with what he told civil society. This coherence reinforced trust. Citizens could trace policy intent from words to action. In an era where political speech often aims to impress, President Mahamas speeches aimed to explain, persuade, and, when necessary, caution. That restraint has proven to be a strength. Governance, integrity, and the fight against corruption On governance and accountability, public opinion points to a gradual restoration of confidence. Fifty-six per cent of respondents believe corruption has improved, while 60 per cent say the government is doing enough to fight corruption, an improvement over the previous quarter These perceptions matter. They suggest that institutional reforms, respect for oversight bodies, and a renewed emphasis on accountability are being noticed by citizensnot through slogans, but through observable shifts in practice. Environmental protection and the galamsey question The poll also challenges prevailing narratives on illegal mining. Contrary to claims of deterioration, only 37 per cent of respondents believe galamsey has worsened, while 47 per cent disagree. Furthermore, 56 per cent believe the government is doing enough to combat the menace, including in mining-affected regions. This indicates public recognition of a more structured, enforcement-driven, and coordinated approach to environmental protection. International experience applied, not advertised President Mahamas extensive international experienceacquired through years of diplomatic engagement and multilateral leadershiphas quietly shaped governance decisions in this first year. Rather than importing fashionable reforms wholesale, the administration has adapted best practices to local realities. Engagements with international financial institutions and development partners have been marked by firmness without hostility, cooperation without dependency. Ghana has re-entered the global arena as a serious interlocutor, not a supplicantearning respect through clarity and consistency. Civil society, democratic dialogue, and constitutional renewal Perhaps one of the most telling shifts has been the governments relationship with civil society. Critics have not been dismissed; they have been engaged. Oversight institutions have been allowed to function. Public losses have been acknowledged, not obscured. This openness extends to constitutional reform. The poll shows majority support for key proposals, including: Election of MMDCEs (63%) Separation of ministerial and parliamentary roles (58%) Extension of the presidential term to five years (57%) Reduction of the presidential age threshold (56%) Abolition of the death penalty (59%) Restriction of political campaigns to 120 days (57%) These figures suggest a public appetite for profound democratic renewal and institutional strengthening. A generational mandate The demographic signal is equally striking. Gen Z and Millennial voters now constitute nearly 78 per cent of the electorate, with 64 per cent expressing a preference for younger leadership. This reinforces the importance of forward-looking policies anchored in opportunity, inclusion, and long-term national transformation. Goodwill earned, not inherited One year on, the goodwill enjoyed by President Mahamas government is not partisan, accidental, or manufactured. It has been earned through transparency, accountability, consistency, and seriousness of purpose. The work ahead remains demanding. Structural reform is never completed in a single year. But the foundation laid over the past twelve months suggests a presidency focused not on managing news cycles, but on rebuilding the state. History will ultimately judge this administration on outcomes. Yet even at this early stage, one conclusion is clear: Ghana is once again being governed with intent, integrity, and a steady hand Featured 'Thank you for your service to the nation' - Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) writes Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Opinion Jan - 02 - 2026 , 10:20 5 minutes read On the last day of his Kokrokoo programme on Peace FM on Tuesday, 23 December 2025, ace broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi (KSK) thanked the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) with the following words. Thank you for your service to the nation. He added, it is because of you that we can sleep in peace at night. Having acknowledged his bias for GAF on account of being a soldier-pikin/barracks brat, he also acknowledged the important roles of the Ghana Police and other Security services, thanking each of them. Put another way, he thanked us for our service for God and country! This acknowledgement of GAF, though not the first time by Kwami, touched a raw nerve. It reminded me of our mutual friend, former Chair of the National Media Commission, who departed to eternity in May 2025, Nana Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, whose beef with the military was that we do not tell our own story. Consequently, we allow people who are either totally ignorant or, at best, have very little knowledge about the military, propagate ignorance/falsehood confidently/emotionally about the military, based on the misconduct of a few young soldiers exhibiting youthful exuberance in town. Some even argue vehemently that Ghana does not need the military as the Police is adequate for our security! Nana constantly reminded me of Chinua Achebes quote: Until the lions have their own historian, the tales of hunting will always favour the hunter! Others In other jurisdictions I have operated in, the military is a highly respected organisation, probably because citizens are more educated and more patriotic, and understand the dangerous role of the soldier. As a former Commanding Officer (CO) of mine once aptly put it in the 1980s, it is the only organisation where one leaves home vertically (alive) in the morning, and returns horizontally (dead) in the evening. This is based on the oath we swear to go wherever directed by the Commander-in-Chief by land, air, or sea, even at the peril of our lives, for the good of the nation. Indeed, as Ghanas Lt Gen Erskine, the first Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and the first African to command a UN Force, constantly told us in our operational area in Lebanon that the military represents the sovereignty of a nation, and is the last bastion of defence. Once the military is destroyed internally, the nation is destroyed, as the Lebanon example showed us. I guess Gen Erskine wept in his grave when he saw the villagers of Ahafo-Hwediem humiliate members of NAIMOS. Elsewhere, the reprisal would have been swift and a permanent deterrent. In 2017, when then Capt Mahama was murdered by villagers of Denkyira-Obuasi, a colleague of the country I was then working in asked, Dan, is that wicked village still on the map of Ghana? He then showed me a map of his country of villages which had been un-existed for killing soldiers! The question was, if you kill your own soldiers, who will defend you in the event of a war with a neighbouring country? US Example An early observation I made in the US traveling by air was that, at every airport, boarding before any flight started with First Class and the Military passengers, serving and retired. On my first experience, I introduced myself as a General from Ghana, and not the US. I was pleasantly surprised when I was very courteously told, Thank you, Sir, for your service to your nation and the world! In my own country, I had never been complimented that way in the over 30 years of service I had at the time, 2003. Is it the Biblical case of a prophet not being appreciated in his own country? At the time I joined the military in the early 1970s, the Denkyira-Obuasi/Ahafo-Hwediem-style attack on the military was unthinkable and suicidal. Is it the GenZ-syndrome where young adults always complain their parents never understand them and therefore must have their own way, or that we, their parents, have failed them? Discussion Ghana has been touted as a beacon of democracy in Africa, but the idea of human rights appears, in the view of many, to have been overemphasised at the expense of good behavior and sometimes common sense. Whatever it is, a country cannot survive on disrespect, uncouthness, rudeness, with no ethical considerations, operating like money is the sole determinant of what is proper for the general public good, rather than ethics as espoused by the C17th Political Philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, for a decent society. As 2025 ends, in addition to the issues mentioned above, including Ahafo-Hwediem villagers attacking/removing the ignition of a NAIMOS vehicle, galamsey appears to be in full swing despite the repeal of LI 2462 with certain areas deep in the forest reserves described as no-go-areas for the Police! The Pra, Ankobra, Birim, and Offin rivers are now all muddy sludges full of cyanide, arsenic, lead, and mercury (CALM), ironically, meandering their way to the sea. For the few who have questioned galamsey as an existential threat to Ghana based on their reduction of galamsey discussions to just an academic exercise, one hopes time has educated/or will educate them as we struggle with water/hard metals in our food chain, and the horrendous medical problems resulting. More importantly, one hopes galamsey is not a lost cause/case as many unfortunately describe it. The old saying desperate situations demand desperate remedies is still valid. To veteran broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi, thank you for thanking the Ghana Armed Forces and other security services for service to the nation. To all readers who encourage me to continue writing as my widows mite to national development, thank you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (2026!) God bless us all! Leadership, lead by Example/integrity! Fellow Ghanaians, WAKE UP! The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya and Council Chairman, Family Health University, Accra Venezuela president Maduro captured and flown out of country after US strikes, says Trump Previous article: Venezuela president Maduro captured and flown out of country after US strikes, says Trump Featured Condom tax and cheaper childcare: China's plan to boost birth rates BBC International News Jan - 02 - 2026 , 11:54 5 minutes read People in China will pay a 13% sales tax on contraceptives from 1 January, while childcare services will be exempt, as the world's second-largest economy tries to boost birth rates. An overhaul of the tax system announced late last year removes many exemptions that were in place since 1994, when China was still enforcing its decades-long one-child rule. It also exempts marriage-related services and elderly care from value added tax (VAT) - part of a broader effort that includes extending parental leave and issuing cash handouts. Faced with an ageing population and sluggish economy, Beijing has been trying hard to encourage more young Chinese people to marry, and couples to have children. Official figures show that China's population has shrunk three years in a row, with just 9.54 million babies born in 2024. That is around half of the number of births recorded a decade ago, when China started to ease its rules on how many children people could have. Still, the tax on contraceptives, including condoms, birth control pills and devices, has sparked concern about unwanted pregnancies and HIV rates, as well as ridicule. Some people point out that it would take a lot more than pricey condoms to persuade them to have children. As one retailer urged shoppers to stock up ahead of the price hike, a social media user joked: "I'll buy a lifetime's worth of condoms now." People can tell the difference between the price of a condom and that of raising a child, wrote another. China is one of the most expensive countries in which to raise a child, according to a 2024 report by the YuWa Population Research Institute in Beijing. Costs are pushed up by school fees in a highly competitive academic environment, and the challenge women have juggling work and parenting, the study said. The economic slowdown, partly brought on by a property crisis that has hit savings, has left families, and especially young people, feeling uncertain or less confident about their future. "I have one child, and I don't want any more," says 36-year-old Daniel Luo, who lives in the eastern province of Henan. "It's like when subway fares increase. When they go up by a yuan or two, people who take the subway don't change their habits. You still have to take the subway, right?" He says he is not concerned by the price hike. "A box of condoms might cost an extra five yuan, maybe 10, at most 20. Over a year, that's just a few hundred yuan, completely affordable." But cost might be a problem for others, and that's what worries Rosy Zhao, who lives in the city of Xi'an in central China. She says making contraception, which is a necessity, more expensive could mean students or those struggling financially "take a risk". That would be the policy's "most dangerous potential outcome", she added. Observers appear divided on the aim of the tax overhaul. The idea that a tax hike on condoms will impact birth rates is "overthinking it", says demographer Yi Fuxian from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He believes Beijing is keen to collect taxes "wherever it can" as it battles a housing market slump and growing national debt. At nearly $1tn (742bn), China's VAT revenue made up close to 40% of the country's tax collection last year. The move to tax condoms is "symbolic" and reflects Beijing's attempts to encourage people to lift China's "strikingly low" fertility numbers, said Henrietta Levin from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. What is also hampering efforts, she adds, is that a lot of the policies and subsidies will have to be implemented by indebted provincial governments - and it's unclear if they can spare sufficient resources. China's approach to urging people to have children also risks backfiring if people feel the government is being "too intrusive" about what is deeply personal choice, she said. Recently there have been media reports that women in some provinces have received calls from local officials asking about their menstrual cycles and plans to have children. The local health bureau in Yunnan province said such data was needed to identify expectant mothers. But this has not helped the government's image, Ms Levin said. "The [Communist] party can't help but insert itself into every decision that it cares about. So it ends up being its own worst enemy in some ways." Observers and women themselves say the country's male-dominated leadership fails to understand the social changes underpinning these broader shifts, which are not exclusive to China. Countries in the West and even those in the region, such as South Korea and Japan, have been struggling to lift birth rates as their population ages. Part of the reason is the burden of childcare, which disproportionately falls on women, research shows. But there are also other shifts, such as a decline in marriage and even dating. China's measures miss the real problem: the way young people interact today, which increasingly avoids genuine human connections, Mr Luo from Henan said. He points to rising sales of sex toys in China, which he believes is a sign that "people are just satisfying themselves" because "interacting with another person has become more of a burden". Being online is easier and more comforting, he says, as "the pressure is real". "Young people today deal with way more stress from society than people did 20 years ago. Sure, materially they're better off, but the expectations placed on them are much higher. Everyone's just exhausted." Featured Police arrest three over series of robberies in Greater Accra Jemima Okang Addae Jan - 02 - 2026 , 09:30 1 minute read The Ghana Police Service, through the Special Support Unit, has arrested three suspects in connection with a string of robbery incidents reported in Afienya, Atadeka, Apollonia, and surrounding communities in the Greater Accra Region. The suspects, identified as Seth Noi Tetteh, also known as Wonder, Selasie Emmanuel, and Sulemana Osman, were arrested on December 24 and December 26, 2025, following intelligence gathered by the Police. Preliminary investigations revealed that suspect Seth Noi Tetteh was initially arrested at the Atadeka Police Station for his alleged involvement in multiple robbery cases within the area. During interrogation, he admitted participating in several robberies across Afienya, Atadeka, Apollonia, Spintex Road, Airport Residential Area, Community 18, Ashaiman, Mataheko, and Oyibi. He further disclosed that he operated with accomplices. Based on this information, police intelligence led a team to Kasoa Ofankor on December 26, 2025, where suspects Selasie Emmanuel and Sulemana Osman were arrested at their hideout. A search conducted at the residence resulted in the retrieval of one pump-action gun, one BB cartridge, one Bruni pistol, and three rounds of ammunition, all of which have been secured as exhibits to aid ongoing investigations. The three suspects are currently in police custody assisting investigations, as police intensify efforts to dismantle the robbery network and apprehend any remaining accomplices. Court remands Ebo Noah in police custody, orders psychological assessment for claiming God instructed him to build arks to save humanity from catastrophic global flood Previous article: Court remands Ebo Noah in police custody, orders psychological assessment for claiming God instructed him to build arks to save humanity from catastrophic global flood Featured Unusual rains delay harmattan: Ghana braces for milder dry season GraphicOnline Jan - 02 - 2026 , 11:30 2 minutes read The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has issued a public weather advisory for the 2025/2026 Harmattan season, warning of an unusually delayed and generally weak dry period, with occasional severe dust episodes expected in the north and lingering rainfall in the south. In its advisory dated 30 December 2025, the Agency noted that the Harmattan season has been characterised by an unusual delay, with many parts of southern Ghana still experiencing rainfall as of late December, a phenomenon described as statistically rare for this time of year. Even northern regions, which typically face peak dryness by now, have recorded occasional rainfall. GMet attributed the delay to significant fluctuations in the position of the Inter-Tropical Boundary (ITB), which has remained further north than usual, coupled with warm Sea Surface Temperatures in the Gulf of Guinea. This has allowed moisture to persist over the country, causing these rains, the advisory stated. Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2026, the Agency forecasts a transition into a generally weak Harmattan season, though the public is urged to remain alert for occasional episodes of severe conditions. Northern Ghana is expected to become significantly dry and dusty, with visibility levels relatively lower than those in the south. Meanwhile, forest regions and parts of the coast may continue to experience localised rainfall due to ongoing ITB fluctuations and warm ocean temperatures. The advisory highlighted regional impacts, noting that while northern sectors may face occasionally intense dust plumes, coastal and middle belts are likely to experience a mild or weak dry season. Higher humidity levels and fewer hazy days than usual are anticipated in the south, though occasional dust incursions may still occur. GMet has advised the public to increase daily water intake, wear protective nose masks during dense dust haze, and exercise extreme caution on roads, especially during early mornings and late nights. Motorists are encouraged to use fog lights or headlamps when visibility is reduced. The Agency also warned against open-air burning and recommended wearing light clothing during the day while keeping warmer garments handy for cooler nights, particularly in the north. The Ghana Meteorological Agency confirmed it will continue to monitor these atmospheric changes closely and issue updates when significant changes are expected. The advisory was issued by the GMet Public Relations Unit on 31 December 2025. Featured Court remands Ebo Noah in police custody, orders psychological assessment for claiming God instructed him to build arks to save humanity from catastrophic global flood Enoch Darfah Frimpong Jan - 02 - 2026 , 12:35 3 minutes read Evans Eshun, commonly known on social media as Ebo Noah, spent months stirring anxiety with a claim of a vision involving a global flood on Christmas Day. The Ghanaian self-proclaimed prophet and social media personality gained global notoriety in 2025 for claiming that God had instructed him to build a modern-day ark to save humanity from a catastrophic global flood, which he predicted would begin on December 25, 2025. On New Year's Eve, the police picked him up for a breach of the Public Order Act in Ghana. Graphic Online gathers that the preliminary police investigation indicates that he works as a security man at a private school in Madina, in Accra, and was neither a pastor nor a preacher. According to the police, the photo he showed on social media of a boat was a small boat belonging to someone, which he went to stand by to take a photo, and then enhanced the photo for it to look like a giant boat. He reportedly did not build any boat, and so the boat he showed on social media did not belong to him, but was somebody else's boat. He has also told the police that he completed Accra Polytechnic [now Accra Technical University], where he studied for an HND in Purchasing and Supply. He had reportedly told the police he was just creating content for social media. On Friday, January 2, 2026, he was arraigned on charges of false communication with the intent to put the public into fear and panic, The court has since remanded him into police custody for two weeks. The court also directed that he should be psychologically assessed before the next adjourned date of January 16, 2026 Related: RODNEYS POTPOURRI: Ebo Noahs Christmas present Ebo Noah had claimed that his "divine vision" was a biblical-style deluge. He showed photos and videos of himself on social media with several large wooden boats (arks) in Ghana, often documenting the process on TikTok and YouTube. When no flood occurred on Christmas Day 2025, he released videos claiming his intense fasting and prayers had convinced God to "postpone" the disaster to allow more people time to repent. On social media, some critics have accused him of being a scammer after a video surfaced showing him driving a luxury Mercedes-Benz, which some claimed he used donations intended for the ark project to purchase. On December 31, 2025, the Ghana Police Service arrested him for allegedly causing public fear and panic in breach of the Public Order Act. Some people reportedly abandoned their homes to travel to his site in anticipation of the flood. A video showing someone who had reportedly travelled from Liberia to Elmina in the Central Region of Ghana to join the ark was shared on social media. Featured I'll fight for creation of new constituency out of Chiana/Paga Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga Gilbert Azeem Tiroog Politics Jan - 02 - 2026 , 17:23 3 minutes read The Majority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has pledged support to champion calls for the creation of a new constituency out of Chiana/Paga in the Upper East Region. The Chiana/Paga seat is located within the Kassena/Nankana District of Upper East Region, and as of 2024, it had a total registered voter population of 54,916, according to the Electoral Commission's figures. Without considering land size, Sekyere Afram Plains in the Ashanti Region is the constituency with the lowest registered voter population of 22,814. Dome-Kwabenya leads the pack of constituencies with the highest voter population, with the highest of 182,644 registered voters, followed by Ashaiman with 174,633 registered voters, Awutu Senya East with 173,995 registered voters, and Amasaman with 170,371 registered voters among others such as Kwabre East, Ledzokuku, Anyaa Sowutuom, Oforikrom, Trobu, and Kpone Katamanso. According to Mahama Ayariga, the demand for a new constituency out of Chiana/Paga was legitimate and long overdue. Mr Ayariga acknowledged that the call for a new constituency and district had been ongoing for nearly 12 years, noting that successive election periods had seen promises made but not fulfilled. Each time elections come, disputes arise, and we try to resolve them by promising that in the next election, a new constituency will be created. Unfortunately, term after term, we have not been able to live up to that promise, he said. Addressing chiefs, opinion leaders, and residents during the 10th anniversary celebration of the enskinment of the Sirigu Naba, Azukodaana, at the inaugural Azuko Festival at Sirigu in the Kasena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, the Majority Leader assured the people of his solidarity with their demand. I sympathise with you, I agree with you, I support you, and I will join you to fight for that cause, he said. Mr Ayariga paid tribute to the Paramount Chief of Sirigu, Naba Atogumdeya Roland Akwara III, describing his reign as one marked by peacebuilding, unity, and relentless efforts at community development. He said the testimonies from earlier speakers and his people were evidence of the chiefs commitment to bringing his people together and improving livelihoods in the area. He said the government remained firmly committed to rural development, particularly through agriculture, which he described as the backbone of rural economies. He outlined initiatives in crop production, livestock development, and large-scale commercial agriculture, explaining that these efforts were aimed at job creation, economic growth, and reducing Ghanas heavy reliance on food imports. According to him, expanding commercial agriculture would not only boost productivity but also ease pressure on the local currency. Renewed calls The renewed call for the creation of a new constituency dominated the event, as the Paramount Chief of Sirigu and the Member of Parliament for Chiana/Paga, Nikyema Billa Alamzy, both reiterated concerns about the vast size of the constituency. Our constituency is too large to effectively serve the people, the chief stated. We need a separate constituency to ensure proper representation and to address our needs more efficiently, Mr Alamzy said. He explained that the geographical size and population of Chiana/Paga made it difficult for a single MP to effectively attend to development demands across all communities. Honor enjoyed a great 2025! It's been hard to find any losers in the maker's lineup, thanks to thoughtful upgrades and great deals throughout the year. Let's look at how it did. Winner: Honor Pad X9a and MagicPad 3 Honor made a few solid tablets in 2025, but the affordable Pad X9a and flagship MagicPad 3 were able to stamp their authority on markets such as Malaysia, where Honor was the number one tablet maker! Honor made both tablets competitive starting from the specs page, and then bolstered their sales with regular promos. Winner: Honor 400 and 400 Pro The Honor 400 and 400 Pro were fan favorites from the start. Both feature durable yet elegant designs (the Pro is IP69), a big 200MP 1/1.4-inch main camera, and big batteries with fast charging. Honor 400 5G Now, as has become the case this year, there was some disparity between battery sizes. In the case of the Honor 400 and 400 Pro, Chinese models got a whopper of a cell at 7,200mAh. The rest of the world's countries (excluding Europe) got a smaller 6,000mAh pack. However, European markets got the short end of the stick with only 5,300mAh of the original 7,200mAh. So Europe is a loser in this situation, but the Honor 400 series was a definite win for Honor. Honor 400 Pro 5G These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. 512GB 12GB RAM 547.00 342.00 Show all prices Winner: Honor 500 and 500 Pro The Honor 500 series, launched in China, aims to build on the success of its predecessor. The Honor 500 and Honor 500 Pro kept the formula intact - a 200MP main camera, potent Snapdragon chipsets, and even bigger batteries! The pair now pack 8,000mAh units with 80W charging! And, they look svelte even if more than a little reminiscent of an iPhone Air. We just have to wait and see whether these phones make it to the global stage with all their milliamps intact. Winner: Honor Magic V5 Honor's book-style foldable Magic V series has been a hit since day one, but truly hit its stride with last year's Magic V3. It had great cameras, a lovely profile, and was the first truly hardy foldable from the company. This year's Magic V5 is the evolution of that all-around complete foldable. It looks great, it's only 222 grams, and just under 9 millimeters when folded shut, making it feel normal when posing as a regular bar phone. However, Honor managed to fit a 5,820mAh battery inside, along with a better all-around camera system, which is everything Magic V3 users wanted. Well, that and the faster charging Honor also delivered. The seven years of promised software support were a nice touch, too. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. 512GB 16GB RAM 1,380.00 1,399.99 Show all prices Loser: Honor Magic V Flip 2 Honor's second clamshell foldable, the Magic V Flip 2 had it all - a pretty design, outstanding screens, a big 5,500mAh battery with fast charging, and great cameras with solid image quality. But the phone remained a China-exclusive and had a then older chipset. This combined to hold the Magic V Flip 2's potential back in the face of competent rivals such as the readily available GalaxyZ Flip 7 and Motorola Razr 60 Ultra. Winner: Honor Magic8 Lite The Honor Magic8 Lite is going to become a popular midrange phone in early 2026 for several reasons. It improved on just about every aspect of its already great predecessor, the Magic7 Lite, with a bigger battery, newer SoC, and all-encompassing durability to the high standard of IP68/IP69K. Winner. Winner: Honor Magic8 Pro The Honor Magic8 Pro arrived in October on Honor's home floor of China, but will make a global appearance in early 2026. Still, it slots into our winners for 2025. We have the phone at the office and have had the chance to play around with it. It's a solid flagship with impressive camera specs, a huge battery, and the latest chipset. But even more important, it's probably the sleekest flagship cameraphone we've had in the office this year. It's lighter and narrower than popular rivals, and it has a noticeably smaller camera island, despite packing the all-important 200MP telephoto camera. Motorola is getting ready to unveil its next top of the line smartphone, the Signature. The company has been teasing an announcement taking place on January 6, and this might be when the Signature finally becomes official. We saw the phone in leaked renders last month, and now we get a new promo shot, but this one comes with a twist: a stylus is shown in front of the phone, as you can see. This heavily implies that the Signature will have stylus support, and that's not surprising. In early December a rumor told us that the upcoming Motorola Edge 70 Ultra would support a stylus, and the Signature is that device under a new, fresher name. The leaked image above just confirms this previously rumored information. The Motorola Signature is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC, paired with up to 16GB of RAM. It will have a 6.7-inch OLED screen with "1.5K" resolution, and should launch running Android 16 from day one. Source The OnePlus Nord 5 was released in July, so you wouldn't necessarily expect its successor to show up anytime soon, but you might be wrong in making that assumption. That's because the Nord 6 has already been certified for sale by SIRIM in Malaysia, the GCF, and TDRA in the UAE. These certifications are a normal step in the development process, but usually occur within a few weeks, or a couple or so months, before a phone is actually unveiled. That makes us think the Nord 6 might arrive earlier in the year than its predecessor. Unfortunately, no specs for the Nord 6 have been leaked so far. It is, however, intriguing that OnePlus is launching a new line of smartphones in China in a few days, called Turbo, and it's starting with the Turbo 6 and Turbo 6V. We're not sure what happened to the first five, and we're wondering whether we should assume that the Nord 6 will be based on one of these. Probably not, but there's a thought. Anyway, the Nord 6 has the model number CPH2795 according to TDRA. OnePlus Nord 5 5G Via I Tituhon 2026, which translates to the beginning 2026, will kick off a year of art exhibits at Guam Museums Cafe Gallery. For this show, multiple artists featured during 2025 will be returning to showcase their work and celebrate the new year. An opening event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3. The exhibit runs until Feb. 10. Individuals can also visit the exhibit during Guam Museums operating hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, or from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, contact Dawn Reyes at dawnleesreyes@gmail.com or (671)-727-7665, or Alyanna Barrera at alymbarrera@gmail.com or (671)-486-0250. When criminal perpetrators are sentenced and released from prison, their victims should not have to scramble, reopen trauma, or race the calendar just to keep an existing no-contact order in place, Sen. William Parkinson said in introducing Bill 250-38. Parkinsons Victim Protection Continuity Act of 2025 would add a new section to Guam law to strengthen victim safety at two critical stages. The bill seeks to automatically extend protective orders when an inmate is sentenced and when an inmate is released from prison. There should be no opening for intimidation or retaliation, Parkinson said in a statement. In cases involving abuse, harassment, stalking, sexual offenses, or threats of violence, the court is explicitly authorized to issue a protective order at the time of sentencing, even if the victim has not filed a separate civil petition. If an existing protective order would expire while a respondent is incarcerated, it is automatically extended to remain in effect after release. The court may issue a new protective order upon release based on the original offense or any credible threat to the petitioner or the petitioners family, under the bill. Based on the bill, the clerk of the Superior Court must update expiration dates and notify the Guam Police Department, Department of Corrections, and the petitioner, and violations are enforceable through criminal contempt and supervision consequences, including parole or probation action. Protective orders are most effective when they are clear, current, and enforceable, Parkinson said. He said protective orders are a frontline public safety tool that tells an offender, in clear terms, Do not contact, do not approach, do not intimidate, and gives law enforcement a concrete basis to intervene. This bill is about continuity. A victim should not lose protection simply because a clock ran out while an offender was behind bars, Parkinson added. National data underscores what victims, advocates, and law enforcement already know: reentry is a high risk period, and repeat behavior is common in many offense categories, the senator said. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that about 68% of people released from prison were rearrested within three years. For victims of stalking and interpersonal violence, the risk can be particularly persistent. The U.S. Department of Justices Report to Congress on Stalking documents common stalking behaviors that involve surveillance, unwanted approaches, and harassment that can extend to friends and family, illustrating why victims often need enforceable, ongoing boundaries. Parkinson encourages the public, victim advocacy organizations, law enforcement partners, and stakeholders across the justice system to participate in the legislative process as the bill proceeds. Haiti - 222nd anniversary of Independence : Vibrant speech by the Ambassador of Haiti to the Dominican Rep. On Thursday, January 1st, 2026, on the occasion of the 222nd anniversary of Haiti's independence (January 1st, 1804), the Haitian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Emmanuel Fritz Longchamp, delivered a powerful message of reflection for the new year, which we are publishing for the benefit of our many readers and which we invite you to read and share. Message from Ambassador Emmanuel Fritz Longchamp : "Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear compatriots, On this day of remembrance and reflection, we commemorate an event that transcends the scope of a simple national date. January 1st, 1804, marks a major turning point in world history. Two hundred and twenty-two years later, Haitian independence remains at once a glorious legacy, a moral imperative, and an ongoing political challenge. At first glance, we must revisit the long historical journey that led to 1804. As early as 1791, the slaves of Saint-Domingue, torn from Africa and denied their humanity, launched an unprecedented struggle against one of the most violent systems in history. This revolution was not merely military; it was anthropological, philosophical, and political. It posed a fundamental question : can a human being be considered property ? On January 1st, 1804, in Gonaives, Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaimed Haiti's independence and affirmed, in words of exceptional force, the definitive break with the colonial and slave-owning order, declaring : 'If there could be a lukewarm heart among us, let it depart and tremble at the oath that must unite us. Let's swear to the entire world, to posterity, to ourselves, to renounce France forever and to die rather than live under its domination; to fight to our last breath for the independence of our country.' This proclamation was not a mere legal act: it constituted a true declaration of dignity. Dessalines affirmed that, henceforth, on this land, no one would be a slave, no one would be inferior by nature, and that the freedom won by blood would be defended at all costs. This date also marks what can be called the revolution in the way of working. For the first time in the modern world, an economic system founded on slavery was abolished and replaced, at least in principle, by a relationship to work that respected human dignity. Former slaves then became aware that slavery was not merely a social condition, but a denial of humanity itself. This realization constitutes one of the most profound legacies of the Haitian Revolution to the universal concept of human rights. '1er janvye 1804 pa selman yon evenman istorik ; se yon zak politik revolisyone ki kraze fondasyon panse enperyalis yo sou dominasyon ak sou pretandi enferyorite moun nwa. Ayiti leve kanpe kom manman libete, epi libete rete kondisyon fondamantal pou lavi ak diyite pep yo.' However, commemorating 222 years of independence also requires a clear-eyed and critical look at our own trajectory. For Haitis history since 1804 is not solely one of heroic resistance; it is also one of internal betrayals, political dictatorships, and the domination of elites who, all too often, have governed against the will of the masses in social, economic, and political matters. These practices have led, over the decades, to a gradual erosion of institutions, culminating in the unprecedented institutional collapse that Haiti is experiencing today. The collapse of the Haitian state is not an accident of history : it is the product of chronic misgovernance, systematic social exclusion, and a profound rupture between the state and society. It is in this context that we must understand the mass migration of Haitians, particularly to the Dominican Republic. This migration is neither a choice of comfort nor a cultural inevitability: it is a survival strategy. It acts as a safety valve for a people deprived of prospects in their own country; above all, it reveals the collective failure to make independence a lived reality. Faced with this situation, the fundamental question remains: what is the central issue today for the stabilization and rebuilding of the Haitian State ? The answer, in my view, lies in a return to a socio-political agenda based on human life itself, what contemporary thought calls biopolitics : a policy that places security, dignity, health, education, and the value of life at the heart of public action. This orientation deeply resonates with Dessalin's consciousness, not in its radicalism, but in its vision of Haiti as a space where genuine freedom must be paramount. Given this reality, the time for sterile divisions and narrow calculations is over. History calls us to a collective awakening. Meeting the challenges faced by Haiti today demand that we come together, beyond particular interests, political divisions, and social affiliations. It is about rebuilding the State around what is essential: human life, dignity, security, and the future of our children. Faithful to the spirit of 1804, we must transform inherited independence into a lived independence, by reconstructing a national project founded on responsibility, solidarity, and respect for every citizen. Haiti can only survive by becoming a place where living is not an act of constant resistance. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau reminded us : 'Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.' Haitis historical mission is precisely to break these chains, not only in its founding texts, but in the concrete reality of every citizen. On this 222nd anniversary, let us pay tribute to the heroes of 1804, not by mythologizing them, but by responsibly embracing their legacy. Independence is not a static achievement; it is an ongoing political project. It is to this level of awareness that we must, even today, elevate our collective action. On this day commemorating National Independence Day and at the dawn of the new year 2026, it is my particular pleasure to extend my warmest greetings to the Presidential Advisors and members of the Government of the Republic of Haiti, to the diplomatic and administrative staff of the Embassy, to the Consular Posts of the Diplomatic Mission in the Dominican Republic, and to the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Haiti accredited throughout the world. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Haitian people, whose resilience, courage, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of freedom and sovereignty form the bedrock of our nation. May 2026 bring peace, stability, and renewal to the Republic of Haiti. God bless Haiti ! Thank you." Emmanuel Fritz Longchamp HL/ HaitiLibre IT admins are not getting any rest between the years. On Christmas, a highly critical security vulnerability in MongoDB nicknamed MongoBleed became known, through which attackers from the network can obtain access credentials without prior authentication, reminiscent of the CitrixBleed disaster at the end of 2023. Tens of thousands of systems worldwide are currently still vulnerable and Germany lands in an unenviable third place with more than 11,500 vulnerable instances. Continue after ad This is reported by IT security researchers from Resecurity in a blog post. After proof-of-concept code for exploiting the vulnerability CVE-2025-14847 (CVSS 8.7, risk "high") became publicly available, mass attacks are to be expected. All the more serious is that Resecurity, using the Shodan database, found almost 90,000 instances worldwide when searching for MongoDB instances reporting with vulnerable versions. The most vulnerable systems are in China, with Shodan finding 16,576 there on Tuesday of this week. The USA follows in second place with 14,486 vulnerable instances, and Germany is already in third place with 11,547 attackable and network-accessible MongoDB servers. Further down the list is Hong Kong, where still 5,521 vulnerable MongoDBs can be found. German Provider Leads Worldwide Germany is particularly striking in its distribution by providers. Hetzner Online GmbH ranks first worldwide, hosting 6,828 vulnerable MongoDB servers. Only then follows Alibaba Cloud (Aliyun) with 6,226 attackable instances. Other well-known providers like Google land in fifth place with 3,364 exposed, vulnerable MongoDB servers. Resecurity mentions one limitation: to be vulnerable, zlib compression must be enabled which, however, according to IT security researchers, is often the default configuration. Admins should update vulnerable instances to a secure software version at the latest now; MongoDB is available in versions 8.2.3, 8.0.17, 7.0.28, 6.0.27, 5.0.32, and 4.4.30 and newer. Older versions have reached end-of-life and will no longer receive patches. Those who cannot update immediately should, according to Resecurity, temporarily disable zlib compression as a countermeasure or switch to an alternative compression, and restrict access to the MongoDB network port (default 27017) using firewalls or VPNs, for example. (dmk) 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. Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, will attend a meeting in Paris on 6 January with leaders from countries supporting Ukraine, the Finnish Presidents Office confirmed on Tuesday. The event is hosted by Emmanuel Macron, President of France. The meeting will bring together members of the so-called coalition of the willing, a group of nations actively backing Ukraine against Russias full-scale invasion. The fire broke out at Le Constellation, a two-storey venue in the Alpine resort town, just after midnight. Videos published online show bright flares rising from bottles held by staff or guests, moments before flames reached the ceiling. Forty people died and 119 others were injured in a fire at a nightclub in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Years Eve. Investigators say sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited ceiling materials, causing the fire to spread rapidly. Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais cantons attorney general, said on Friday that the blaze appears to have started from sparkling candles or sparklers that were put on bottles of champagne that were moved too close to the ceiling. The blaze began very quickly, she said during a press conference. There are several videos that have been analysed and a number of witnesses interviewed. Authorities confirmed that 113 of the 119 injured have been formally identified. The deceased include citizens from multiple countries, with many nationalities still being verified. According to the BBC, the victims include 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, 11 Italian, four Serbian citizens, and individuals from Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, and Portugal. Six of the injured remain unidentified. The blaze led to severe burns and injuries for many of the survivors. At least 80 of those injured are in critical condition, according to Frederic Gisler, Valais police chief. Victims are receiving care at hospitals across Switzerland and other European countries, including specialist burns units. The fire started in the lower-level nightclub and spread quickly through the building. The investigation is focusing on the materials used in the venues construction, including the ceilings acoustic insulation. Officials are examining whether the materials complied with fire safety standards. The Swiss federal prosecutor's office has not yet filed criminal charges. Pilloud confirmed that the French owners of the nightclub have not been placed under formal restrictions, stating, No criminal liability has been determined. Some survivors struggled to escape the building. Thick smoke and low visibility contributed to confusion, with many unable to find emergency exits. Le Constellation, which advertised champagne bottle service with sparklers, was inspected recently, officials said. No issues were found at the time. But the investigation will examine whether regulations were followed during recent renovations and events. The nightclubs promotional videos showed sparklers used during bottle service. According to Swiss prosecutors, the items used were standard birthday candles available in shops. The incident took place at one of Switzerlands busiest winter resorts. Crans-Montana had seen its population double during the holiday period. The local hospital was already operating at full capacity when the fire occurred. HT Preemie, doing well, claims first baby title at Mission Jonah Thomas Roberts was born on New Years Day. Mission Hospital proudly welcomed its first baby of the new year when Jonah Thomas Roberts was born at 3:46 a.m. in the early hours of New Years Day. Related Stories Though Jonah arrived earlier than expected, he is doing well and receiving expert care in Mission Hospitals Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Jonah was born to parents Shannon Jeffords and Travis Roberts of Marshall, North Carolina. He weighed 4 pounds, 10 ounces at birth and was originally due on Feb. 10. Jonah is Shannons second child; she is also mom to 5-year-old Aria. This is Traviss first baby. Shannon went into labor on Tuesday evening at 9:02 p.m. After her water broke, she was transported via EMS to Mission Hospital, where the care team safely delivered what would be the first baby of the year. Jonah was quickly admitted to the Mission NICU following delivery. According to his nurse, Bailey, Jonah is doing well and progressing exactly as expected for his gestational age. This was not Shannons first experience with Mission Hospital during this pregnancy. On Nov. 22, she arrived at Mission dilated to one centimeter, and the medical team was able to intervene and successfully prolong her pregnancy, giving Jonah valuable extra time to grow. Shannon expressed deep gratitude for the care she received from the Mission Hospital team. Thank you for being so patient and caring, Shannon said. They made my birth experience stress-free. While having a newborn in the NICU can be overwhelming, Shannon says she feels reassured by the expertise of Jonahs care team. Im terrified, but I know he is with a team that knows how to take care of him, she said. As a mom, you dont think anybody can take better care of your baby than you can, but in this case, I know hes in the best hands. Jonahs name holds special meaning for the family. Jonah Thomas was named in honor of both of Traviss grandfathers, known affectionately as his Papaws. Mission Hospital is honored to begin 2026 by celebrating the arrival of Jonah Thomas Roberts and wishes the family continued strength and joy as he grows stronger each day. Rotary Club accepting scholarship nominations The Rotary Club of Hendersonville is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Four-Way Test Scholarships, which honor high school seniors in Henderson County who exemplify the ethical principles used by Rotarians worldwide to guide their decisions and actions. Related Stories Nominations should highlight how the student demonstrates leadership, service, character and a commitment to ethical behavior in school and community life," Rotary President John Connet said. "Rotarys scholarship opportunity is open to all Henderson County high school seniors, including students from public, private and homeschool programs. Scholarship recipients must initially be nominated, then complete an application process before their selection by a Rotary committee. Scholarship awards are $8,000 per student over the course of four years; the number of scholarships offered each year varies. Nominations are accepted through Jan. 31. Nominations may be submitted here. FBI thwarts ISIS follower's planned New Year's Day attack An 18-year-old Mint Hill man who allegedly planned to use knives and hammers to carry out a deadly New Years Eve attack at a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in support of ISIS has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced on Friday. Related Stories The criminal complaint was filed on New Years Eve and unsealed after the accused, Christian Sturdivant, appeared in federal court in Charlotte on Friday. James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, joined Ferguson in making the announcement. According to allegations in the arrest affidavit, on Dec. 18, the FBI in Charlotte received information that an individual later identified as Sturdivant was making multiple social media posts in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. In early December, Sturdivant posted an image depicting two miniature figurines of Jesus with the on-screen text that read, May Allah curse the cross worshipers. The post was allegedly consistent with ISISs rhetoric calling for the extermination of all non-believers, including Christians, Jews and Muslims who do not agree with ISISs extreme ideology. The criminal complaint alleges that on or about Dec. 12, Sturdivant began communicating with an online covert employee, or OC, whom Sturdivant thought was an ISIS member. Sturdivant told the OC, I will do jihad soon, and proclaimed he was a soldier of the state, meaning ISIS. Two days later, Sturdivant allegedly sent an online message to the OC with an image of two hammers and a knife. This is significant because an article in the 2016 issue of ISISs propaganda magazine promoted the use of knives to conduct terror attacks in western countries. The same article inspired actual attacks in other countries. Later, Sturdivant told the OC that he planned to attack a specific grocery store in North Carolina. Sturdivant also told the OC about his plans to purchase a firearm to use along with the knives during the attack, according to the arrest affidavit. In addition, on Dec. 19, Sturdivant allegedly sent the OC a voice recording of himself pledging Bayat, a loyalty oath to ISIS. On Dec. 29, law officers conducted a search warrant at Sturdivants residence, where they discovered handwritten documents, one of which was titled New Years Attack 2026. The document listed items such as a vest, mask, tactical gloves and two knives allegedly to be used in the attack. It also described a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible, with the total number of victims to be as high as 20 to 21. The note also included a section labeled as martyrdom op, that described a plan to attack police responding to the site of the attack so Sturdivant would die a martyr. The complaint alleges that Sturdivant lived with a relative, who secured knives and hammers away so Sturdivant could not use them for harm. Yet, law officers seized from Sturdivants bedroom a blue hammer, a wooden handled hammer, and two butcher knives which were hidden underneath the defendants bed. These items appear to be the same as the ones depicted in the online message Sturdivant previously sent to the OC. Officers also seized from Sturdivants bedroom a list of targets, as well as tactical gloves and a vest, acquired as part of the defendants planned attack. If convicted, Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Years Eve, Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law. The accused allegedly wanted to be a soldier for ISIS and made plans to commit a violent attack on New Years Eve in support of that terrorist group, but the FBI and our partners put a stop to that, FBI Director Kash Patel said. It is essential to work closely with our law enforcement partners and to quickly share information about potential threats, as demonstrated in this case. The message from the FBI is clearanyone who supports ISIS or other terrorist groups cannot hide and will be held accountable in our justice system. Americans deserve to celebrate New Years Eve without worrying about their personal safety, Ferguson said. That is why we worked non-stop to thwart this alleged violent terrorist attack. I am proud of the work done here and thankful for the time spent by law enforcement away from their families during the holidays to ensure public safety. Christian Sturdivant allegedly swore allegiance to an international terrorist organization and plotted deadly attacks in its name, said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. But the New York City Police Department has a long reach, and our undercover cybersecurity investigators once again identified threats of extremist behavior and thwarted them before they could be carried out. Public safety knows no borders, and we will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorneys Office to pursue and hold accountable anyone who seeks to spread fear and violence. Now more than ever, partnerships between law enforcement agencies are paramount, Mint Hill Police Chief Joseph Hatley said. This disruption is a testament to all involved, working as one to thwart an attack and hold accountable anyone planning such a horrific act of violence against our community. A MAN who worked to promote accessibility to the outdoors was awarded a British Empire Medal in the Kings New Years Honours List. Thomas Bindoff, 82, from Watlington, was the founder and chief executive of Centrewire, where he designed gates to give access to rights of way. Later, he established a national training centre at the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve, where he was a volunteer, which focused on outdoor accessibility. Mr Bindoff said he was absolutely amazed when he received his letter from the Cabinet Office. I thought it must be a scam, he said. Ive got the letter sitting on my mantelpiece now. Im delighted and the reason Im delighted is that designing the gates was one part of my life but, since 2006, Ive been a volunteer at Aston Rowant Nature Reserve. As a result, Ive been able to establish a national centre for training for all of the structures for access to the countryside and weve done lots of training. Ive done all of that as a volunteer with Natural England. The COAT centre, which was established in 2018, is an acronym for Centre for Outdoor Accessibility Training. It provides training for local authorities and government bodies throughout the country who manage or advise on public access to the outdoors. It offers classroom lessons on legislation principles and standards, as well as practical outdoor training in a field of gates using all-terrain mobility equipment. Mr Bindoff said: Its very well-known that access to the countryside is absolutely vital and is so good for health and wellbeing. During the period that Ive been doing that for more than 30 years the evidence of that has got stronger and stronger. Mr Bindoff, who grew up in South London, lives with his wife Gill and has three grown-up children. He has been a keen walker since he was a child and was taken on countryside walks in Surrey In 1990 he established Centrewire, an idea which came from wanting to create a solution for navigating outdoor rights of way which was more accessible than stiles. He said: I had been a very keen walker and climber all my life and I realised that stiles, which were easy for me, were very difficult for quite a lot of people. Its a very obvious thing but it took me a little while to work out they were a really big barrier in people accessing the countryside. Loads of people cant manage stiles. The business supplied specialist gates to local authorities all over the country as well as public bodies such as the Forestry Commission, the Wildlife Trusts and Natural England. It also trained officers from authorities in outdoor accessibility structures. His first gate was designed within a year and was installed on the Watlington Ridgeway, which is part of the National Trail. Mr Bindoff developed and researched the gate designs while running his previous enterprise manufacturing and supplying wire. He was completely self-taught and developed designs from observing people using rights of way. He ran the business out of a barn next to his former farmhouse in Lewknor. Mr Bindoff sold the business to its manufacturer IAE in 2006, which is based in Stoke-on-Trent. He was also a technical advisor to a British Standards Institution committee on structures in the countryside three times, starting in 1996. Meanwhile, Anna Horwood, Emeritus Professor of Orthoptics, who specialises in childrens vision at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, was made an MBE. Ms Horwood, who has been with the trust for 44 years, was awarded in recognition of her services to orthoptics and research in visual development. (JNS) I looked at then-Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) like he had a screw loose. We were on a congressional delegation in Israel in 2011, and he kept asking to see Israels Iron Dome missile-defense system. At the time, Iron Dome was new, highly classified and very much not on our itinerary. Each time he raised the question, I wondered how on earth I could possibly make that happen. But Lamborn, bless him, did not let it go. A few days later, our delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his briefing, the prime minister spoke briefly about Iron Dome as part of the U.... (JNS) House lawmakers responded to the attack on a Chanukah celebration in Sydney with new proposals to combat antisemitism in the United States and a measure condemning the shooting. On Wednesday, the chair and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee introduced a bipartisan resolution calling on the Australian government to protect its Jewish community and affirming the support of the House to combat antisemitism domestically. As a Christian, I stand in solidarity with Australias Jewish community and the families of those who lost their lives at a time meant for celebration,... (JNS) - Many American Jews assume that it's easy to be Jewish in Israel given the ubiquity of Hebrew and history in the Jewish state, where one needn't pay tens of thousands of dollars annually for day school or thousands for synagogue membership to raise children who are knowledgeable about Judaism. But senior Israeli educators told JNS that is not the case. Several Israeli education officials, who spent a week visiting New York schools and synagogues, told JNS that Israeli students aren't taught what it means to be part of the Jewish people or to appreciate Jewish diversity and pluralism. An... (JNS) - U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Thursday that disarming Hamas is "absolutely going to happen" and that he expects to see other countries in the region join the Abraham Accords next year. He spoke as U.S. President's Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan is expected to move to its second stage next month following the president's anticipated meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida after Christmas. "The challenge of getting Hamas disarmed is not a goal that has been abandoned," Huckabee told JNS in an exclusive interview in his Jerusalem embassy office... (JNS) Israel arrested a Russian citizen working in the country who allegedly photographed infrastructure and ships at ports under the direction of Iranian intelligence, security officials said on Friday Vitaly Zvyagnitsev, 30, was detained in early December after allegedly carrying out surveillance tasks for an Iranian handler who identified himself as Roman, said the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Erez Unit of the Defense Ministrys security directorate, known by its Hebrew acronym MALMAB. The suspect continued the missions despite knowing they served hostile purposes, in excha... (JNS) An Israeli official on Friday participated in a meeting in Naqoura, Lebanon, aimed at ensuring the disarmament of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group, the Prime Ministers Office in Jerusalem confirmed. During the meeting, ways to promote economic projects were discussed in order to underscore the mutual interest in removing the Hezbollah threat and ensuring sustainable security for residents on both sides of the border, according to the statement. The meeting is a continuation of the security dialogue aimed at ensuring the disarmament of Hezbollah by the Lebanese army, it ad... (JNS) As the Trump administration intensifies pressure to transition to Phase 2 of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, potentially as early as January, observers in Israel see no sign of Hamas disarming as the terror organization reestablishes its fundamentalist, murderous regime over the 47 percent of Gaza that it controls. Despite multiple reports of international stabilization force preparations and Palestinian technocratic governments, the reality inside the Gaza Strip could not be more starkly different. Hamas is actively rebuilding its regime of terror, refusing disarmament, and testing th... (JNS) - An Israeli was found dead with signs of hypothermia, and two children sustained minor injuries from a falling tree, on Thursday, the second day of winter storm Byron. Emergency teams were also called to flooding incidents in the Judean Foothills (the Shfela), the Magen David Adom medical response group said. MDA says its first responders were deployed to several sites where cars became trapped in rising waters and were working alongside rescue teams, with medics on standby amid fears of further casualties. Temperatures dropped below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) across the... (JNS) Police opened an investigation on Friday after security camera footage showed a woman in Muslim religious garb blowing out Chanukah menorah candles at a Tel Aviv shopping mall. If the woman is identified, police are expected to charge her under Article 170 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes the desecration or damage of places of worship or sacred objects with the intent or awareness. The offense carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison. In video taken at the Weizmann City Mall, an indoor mall located next to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital), the woman in... (Israel Hayom via JNS) The Sydney Chanukah attack was exceptional in its scope, weaponry and planning, but it represents the peak of an antisemitic terror wave that has struck Australia, some with proven foreign involvement. Initial findings point to an ISIS connection, not Iran, which has been proven responsible for torching synagogues and Jewish businesses in the country. The distinction between streams of radical Islam does not diminish the threat: The Iranian model is sometimes replicated in other influence networks, both state and non-state, and in any case, it lays the fertilizer for... (JNS) The signing of the massive natural gas deal with Egypt goes far beyond its $34 billion price tag. One of the main reasons for the agreements delay was Egypts problematic approach to Israel on political and security issues. According to information gathered in recent years, Egypt has deployed forces in Sinai far beyond what is permitted under the security annex of the 1979 peace treaty. It has also built tunnels deep in the peninsula for storing weapons and has suspiciously extended runways at airfields. The understandings between Israel and Egypt on the gas deal do not include an Egy... Israel to open embassy in Fiji in 2026 By JNS Staff (JNS) Israel will open an embassy in the South Pacific island nation of Fiji next year, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Thursday, saying he informed Fijis Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of the move during a phone call. Fiji is one of Israels most consistent supporters, also in the UN arena. In our call today, the PM again said: We will always be with you, Saar wrote on X following the call. Saar said that opening the embassy will deepen relations between the countries, help cultivate their longstandin... (JNS) There were many positive takeaways from the American Zionist Movement biennial meeting earlier this month in New York. Opportunities for face-to-face meetings with fellow slate members, allies, and perhaps, most importantly, those with whom one disagrees on political and religious issues, proved to be invaluable moments of getting to know one another without the pressure of WZO elections in the backdrop. The ability to build personal connections helps the AZM function with a wide consensus on most issues in non-election years. And given the rise in anti-Zionism and its obvious spillove... (JNS) Jews worldwide and their supporters on the last day of the Chanukah holiday are still reeling with pain and horror from the terrorist attack on Bondi Beach during the first night of Chanukah. In Australia on Dec. 14, two Muslim father-and-son terrorists shouting Allahu Akbar! shot dead 15 people, including two rabbis, a couple soon to celebrate their 35th anniversary, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor and a 10-year-old girl. The Muslim terrorists wounded another 42 innocent Jews, many seriously, including human-rights attorney Arsen Ostrovsky, who is a friend of mine. Twenty-five injur... Scroll through X long enough, and youll see it: Muslim preachers denouncing America as corrupt, portraying liberal democracy as a fraud, and most alarming arguing that Sharia law should replace the U.S. Constitution. Some clips are foreign. Some are domestic. Some are deceptively edited. But enough are real, and enough are applauded, that dismissing the phenomenon as rage bait is no longer responsible. Lets begin with a principle that should unite Americans across party and faith: Religious freedom is not the same thing as permission to dismantle the constitutional order. The First Ame... (JNS) In the mid-1800s, a rabbi was in the midst of making Kiddush on a bitterly cold winter Friday night in Poland, and stopped. Suddenly, he could not continue. His disciples around the table exchanged looks of concern. What was happening to their rabbi? What could make him so upset that he forgot the familiar words of Kiddush and could not go on? The rabbi then blurted out, Is there no fairness in this world? Is there no judge?! He threw down his Kiddush cupwine spilling everywhereand stormed up to the attic in his home, remaining in a state of seclusion for the next 19 years. Thus be... (JNS) How many wake-up calls does anyone need? The cliche that the Bondi Beach Chanukah massacre was just that is singularly inappropriate. Australia and the West have had one wake-up call after another. Since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Australian synagogues have been firebombed; as elsewhere, anti-Israel marches have regularly chanted for the mass murder of Jews; and on campus, Jewish students and academics have been harassed and intimidated. The significance of all this has been ignored by Western governments, which have stuck their heads ever more deeply into the san... Anthony Heads partner Sarah Fisher has died. Anthony Heads partner Sarah Fisher dead at 61 The 61-year-old animal rights campaigner passed away with very little warning, according to her and 71-year-old Anthonys devastated daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head. The said in a tribute, posted on the social media pages for Tilley Farm, Sarahs sanctuary for rescued horses, ponies and donkeys.: We are so sorry to have to share the news that our extraordinary, kind and talented mother, Sarah, passed away recently. It is immensely shocking to us all and came with very little warning. No words could ever express all that she encompassed, or begin to describe the crater her absence has left. 'We know how profoundly she has impacted the lives of so many, and we couldn't be more proud of the legacy she is leaving behind. We only wish she'd had more time to share her knowledge and brilliance with us, and the world. Our grief knows no bounds, nor did the reaches of her incredibly unique and irreplaceable spirit. The Battersea Cats and Dogs Home in London which Sarah had worked with over the years paid tribute in a statement, saying: 'We're truly sorry to lose our beloved friend and Ambassador Sarah Fisher and send our deepest sympathies to Sarah's partner Anthony, her daughters, and her family and friends. Sarah, alongside her partner Anthony Head, gave so much to our charity, fostering dogs, using her canine expertise to train our staff and volunteers, and contributing in so many ways to make a real difference in animal welfare. She will be dearly missed by all of us at Battersea. Sarah was also patron of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary in Somerset. Their founder Pauline Leeson said in a statement: Sarah was an advocate for all animals and was always a voice for those dear souls who have no voice. She will be a huge loss to the animal kingdom she worked so tirelessly for, helping so very many animals of all species to find their way to cope and be happy in this changing world. We at Holly Hedge are so proud to have known Sarah. Her memory will live on in all the good work and positive change she has made to their lives. Our hearts go out to Anthony, Emily, Daisy and family. Schengen Agreement: Transforming European Travel and Tourism since 1995 - Image Credit ITB Berlin The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985 and implemented in 1995, revolutionized travel in Europe by abolishing border controls among participating countries, significantly impacting tourism and cross-border mobility. The agreement has facilitated spontaneous travel and cultural exchange, enhancing the tourism industry by simplifying travel logistics for millions, including non-EU visitors with the Schengen visa. The Schengen Agreement, a pivotal development in European travel history, marked its 60th anniversary with reflections on its profound impact on tourism and cross-border mobility. Signed on June 14, 1985, in the small Luxembourg town of Schengen, the agreement laid the groundwork for the abolition of border controls among member countries, which came into effect in 1995. This move has since transformed travel within Europe, making it more accessible and spontaneous for millions of people. Martina Kneip, director of the Schengen Museum in Luxembourg, highlights the agreement's significance in fostering a borderless Europe. She notes that the Schengen area, comprising most EU member states and four non-EU countries, has made travel easier and less complicated. The introduction of the Schengen visa further simplified travel for non-EU visitors, allowing them to access 29 countries with a single visa. The agreement's impact on tourism is substantial. It has enabled short, spontaneous cross-border trips, enhancing cultural exchange and economic interactions. For residents of border regions, like those in Luxembourg, crossing into neighboring countries for work or leisure has become routine, underscoring the everyday benefits of open borders. However, the temporary reintroduction of border controls during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the value of the Schengen Agreement. This period highlighted the importance of maintaining open borders for both personal freedom and economic vitality. Kneip notes that this experience has renewed interest in the Schengen Museum, as people reflect on the significance of European cooperation and the freedom of movement it provides. Looking ahead, Kneip hopes the Schengen area's achievements will be preserved and further developed, despite challenges from nationalist movements in some countries. The spirit of Schengen, she believes, is essential for an open and united Europe, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange across borders. By Ian Temple of Soundfly Weekly The artist must give warning, his struggle must make a noise, it must be a signal. Our screams of anguish and anger will contort our faces and bodies, our shouts will be to hell with death, our actions will make a noise that will shake the heavens and hell. Of this stuff our art will be Rafael Montanez Ortiz This week, I ended up down the weirdest rabbit hole. Who needs AMSR when you can watch people smash, burn, and even shoot pianos on YouTube all day? These videos are wild. Theres this one where someone lights a broken piano on fire. I cant help but find its smoking husk incredibly alluring I want to play it. I can imagine my fingers skittering across the keys while clouds of smoke pour out of its frame above them, the wood warping and strings snapping as I play. Or this one where the staff of a piano restoration company engages in a savage group ritual, laughing, cheering, and dancing while sacrificing a piano that desperately clings to life beneath their blows. Its like something from Lord of the Flies. The tone of the soundboard being hit by a sledgehammer is especially haunting. Or, you can watch the band TOOL shoot a piano with a shotgun and then beat it with sledgehammers during the recording session for their song Disgustipated. You might now be asking: Whyyyyy? Dear god, why? Those poor little instruments, the complex culmination of a rich, centuries-old tradition of instrument engineering, the potential furnace for a thousand beautiful tunes. To be fair, sometimes things dont work anymore, and need to be trashed. Most of these videos are because the pianos are unusable and need to go. Its easier to move a piano thats in pieces. I also got a wonderful email from a Hollywood sound designer-turned-professor last week who once recorded a spinet piano being dropped 30 feet from a forklift to serve as the explosion sounds in the 1997 film Starship Troopers. The samples themselves are stunning full of interesting pitch bends and possible laser noises. I can see why they chose them. So thats a decent reason to destroy a piano. But is there more to it than that? And why was I watching them? Destruction has not traditionally been a word that resonates with me. I tend to get more excited by birth, by design and creation, by the idea of imagining something new into existence than the idea of destroying something already there. I suppose I did creatively destroy my ear drums playing music too loud in high school, but thats the extent of my relationship. I recently came across the destructivist artist Rafael Montanez Ortiz. Ortiz is an avant-garde artist who has worked in a variety of media film, sculpture, painting, etc. Hes most known though for his performance pieces, especially the piano destruction events he hosted and led throughout the 70s and 80s where hed often invite the audience to destroy a piano with him on stage. Weirdly, theyd often tune the piano first. He participated in the 1966 Destruction of Art Symposium in London alongside Yoko Ono, Gustav Metzger, and others, and wrote a manifesto called The Destructivist Manifesto in 1962 (I started annotating it here to help myself better understand it. Youre welcome to contribute by adding your own comments). Ortizs work goes against all my instincts, which made me curious: Can destruction be creatively fertile? How and why? What am I missing? A destroyed piano by Rafael Montanez Ortiz at the Museum of Contemporary Art in LA, as viewed by my friends 2 year old. For Ortiz, destroying things serves a number of purposes, as far as I understand it. Its a critique of materialism. Its a reflection on the fragility of life. And building on the work of the Dadaist movement of the late 1910s and 1920s, its an exploration of our deeply irrational side as humans, the side that society often tries to suppress. Dadaism was a reaction to how societys supposed progress its rationality, its technology, and its morality led to the industrial slaughter of World War I. Instead, the Dadaists embraced non-conformity, irrationality, and a hefty dose of nonsensical whimsy as a critique of society. Ortiz is doing something similar by allowing space for our unconscious destructive urges to flourish. If we dont exercise our destructive side somewhere, then well do it in the real world, to disastrous consequences. The act of artistic destruction can allow a safe space for us to exercise our inner conflicts. That certainly resonates with the joy some of the people in the videos above seem to be experiencing as they bash in pianos. Their laughter is one of childish misbehavior, a giggle that theyre doing something they know theyre not meant to. I can see elements of that same spirit in the way The Whos Keith Moon used to blow up his drums or Nirvanas Kurt Cobain used to smash his guitars. Its mischievous. Its defiant. Its childish. It goes against all the expectations and norms of polite society. And maybe also fun. But there can also be beauty in destruction. While Dadaists maybe didnt prioritize beauty, I find Ortizs destroyed pianos aesthetically stunning, chance patterns and shapes created from a mindless act. Creating something new by destroying it allows in chance and serendipity as a co-creator. The pieces lie where they fall. The artist does not have ultimate control over the final outcome. The composer William Basinski explored this in incredible depth in his Disintegration Loops a collection of musical ideas captured as the tape on which theyre played slowly deteriorates through multiple extended repetitions. You can quite literally hear the destruction, the pops and cracks, the changing frequencies of the sound, but it takes on an eery beauty the soundtrack to the birth and death of a musical idea. (Coincidentally, Basinski finished work on the Disintegration Loops in New York City on the morning of Sept 11, 2001, a day thats become synonymous in modern history with wanton destruction. Obviously, no beauty there, only tragedy and horror, although as a New Yorker, I would be so bold as to say that there have been many acts of creative beauty that have arisen out of the way our city has recovered since then). The collaboration between the act of destroying something and creating something new also calls to mind improvising, where youre spinning up something new in the knowledge that its not planned, that it wont stay the same, and that you may not be able to do it again. You put it out there only for it to disappear right away. The act of improvising when youre really in the zone can feel mindlessly freeing in the same way destroying something might. My kids joyfully stomp on sand castles. I play a series of barely connected phrases and unplanned notes. Same thing. Finally, I think of the way destruction can be a creative force in your day. Destruction is the ultimate solution to the calcified pathways that build up around us. Have you ever had one of those days where your to-do list is so long that you just throw it away and go for a long walk outside instead? In some ways, thats the ultimate act of administrative destruction, and so important from time to time. How else will you create the space for new ideas and processes to emerge? So this week, I challenge you to think about destruction as a creative force. You dont have to smash up a piano or anything, but what inspiration can you find in acts of destruction? Can you destroy a melody? Or a song youve already written? Or your routine if its not inspiring you? How does the process of destroying it lead to new possibilities? If you do something specific, reply and let me know. Id love to hear about it. At the end of all this, I still think of myself more as a creator than a destroyer. Im trying to build a family, a home, a community, a music school, a full and rich life around me. I love making stuff. But its a fantastic reminder that theres a huge risk in holding too tightly to acts of creation and all the build up and calcification and expectations that go along with it. Maybe to stay creatively inspired and mentally sane, we all need to just break some shit from time to time and see what happens. Ian Temple is the Founder and CEO of Soundfly. Follow his Substack, Soundfly Weekly, or join the growing community of musicians and educators on Soundfly for free today. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who is likely being prepared as his successor, accompanied her parents on her first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum to pay respects to former leaders, state media photos published on Friday showed. Ju Ae has been making increasingly prominent appearances in state media over the past three years, fuelling speculation by analysts and South Korea's intelligence agency that she may be in line to be the country's fourth-generation leader. open image in gallery ( KCNA ) Cheong Seong-chang, vice president at the Sejong Institute think tank, viewed Ju Ae's first presence at the Kumsusan palace as her father's calculated move ahead of the upcoming ruling party Congress at which her succession might be formalised. Kim was also accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and senior officials on the visit on 1 January, with Ju Ae between her parents in the main hall of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, state news agency KCNA photographs showed. Hong Min, an expert on North Korea at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said North Korea had been portraying an image of Kim's "stable family" by showing the wife and the daughter along with Kim on major events. open image in gallery North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae stand on a balcony facing the beach during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, in North Korea, 24 June 2025 ( KCNA ) Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to have been born in the early 2010s, attended this year's New Year celebrations, according to state media on Thursday. In September, she travelled to Beijing with her father on her first public overseas outing. Kim visits Kumsusan to honour his grandfather and state founder, Kim Il Sung, and father Kim Jong Il on key dates and anniversaries in a gesture affirming the dynastic heritage of the nuclear-armed country. North Korea has never confirmed Ju Ae's age. open image in gallery File. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae attend a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, in North Korea, 24 June 2025 ( KCNA ) South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesperson declined to comment on Ju Ae's appearance. An official told reporters the government's view is it is too early to say she is a successor, given her age and she does not hold an official position. Hong said potential roles of Kim's other children have left room for caution in drawing conclusions about Ju Ae's succession. "It's practically impossible to publicly designate Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to have just turned 13, as the successor when she's not even old enough to join the (Workers') Party," Hong said. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Thai fortune teller has been arrested for allegedly stealing a teens phone after telling her she would face bad luck and lose a valuable possession on New Years Day. The suspect, identified as a 38-year-old man, was outside a temple in Pattaya when the teen sought his fortune-telling services on 1 January around 6am local time, according to local reports. The man warned her that she was on the brink of misfortune and would lose something valuable, urging her to give him some money to avert bad luck. However, the 19-year-old, identified only as Pim, refused to give the man the money. Shortly after leaving the session, Ms Pim realised her iPhone 13Pro was missing. She recalled that she had placed the phone beside her during the fortune-telling session and returned to the spot. When confronted, the fortune teller insisted the loss proved the accuracy of his prediction, even going so far as to describe what the thief supposedly looked like. The teen grew suspicious and immediately sought help from members of the public, the Khaosod newspaper reported. Police were called after the phone was allegedly discovered in the fortune-tellers bag, hidden inside a box meant for face masks. He reportedly admitted the theft to the police and pleaded with Ms Pim not to press charges, claiming he was a first-time offender and needed money for the new year. The police took him into custody at Pattaya City Police Station, seizing the stolen phone along with his fortune-telling equipment. The phone was returned to Ms Pim. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Driving through the desert-like landscapes of the Afar, northern Ethiopia, traditional Afari tukuls oval-shaped, flexible shelters made out of twigs and covered with mats or animal skins are regularly seen scattered along the roadside. These tent-like structures are specifically designed for their mobility, and they speak to how the livestock-raising community of Afar has traditionally trekked across the region, looking for pasture for their herds of camels and sheep, transporting the materials they need for their homes as they go. Afar is considered the cradle of humanity, given that it is where the mother of humanity, known as Lucy, was discovered in 1974, and some of the oldest known stone tools have been discovered in the region. When Lucy walked the valleys of Afar three million years ago, the landscapes were lush green and rich with biodiversity. The climate has been through many shifts since then, and is currently rapidly going through another. The human-driven climate crisis is pushing up the average temperature, disrupting weather patterns, and making the already arid environment ever more inhospitable for its inhabitants. Climate change is a huge issue here in Afar, driving two extremes: drought when there is not enough rain, and flooding, which erodes the soil and degrades the performance of land, says Habtamu Ebrie, who leads the work by the UNs World Food Programme (WFP) on livelihoods and resilience in Afar. Both rainy seasons of 2025, he adds, have followed a worrying pattern of arriving too late and then falling too hard and fast causing floods. Extreme weather is nothing new to the pastoralist communities of Afar. But droughts that used to happen every 10 years are now happening every year, says Ebrie, and they are devastating the herds of animals that essentially represent all of the material wealth that communities hold. Intensified rainstorms are also bringing devastating windstorms with them, destroying structures and killing animals. open image in gallery The traditional, tent-like Afari tukuls reflect how the pastoralist community has traditionally trekked across the region ( WFP/Michael Tewelde ) Evidence on the ground suggests that the climate is becoming too extreme for communities that rely solely on rearing animals, and families that have followed a nomadic way of life for generations are changing their livelihoods to adapt to their new reality. Said Muhaba is a resident of the Amibara district of Afar. His herd consists of 10 camels, 10 cattle, and 20 goats. It has been 15 years now since the father of six, fed up with losing his animals to drought, decided to settle down and begin farming. Our life in Afar has always been more about raising animals but now, due to the frequent droughts and weather patterns, we are turning to farming activities, he explains, speaking in Amharic via a translator. We have changed from pastoralists to agro-pastoralists. Said currently farms tomatoes, having previously grown both onions and cotton. He also grows fodder for his animals rather than moving to find pasture so that he can continue to feed them even in times of drought. Here in Afar, we share a strong connection with our animals. They are a source of meat and milk, and a source of income, Said says. We used to travel huge distances with our camels in particular. But previously, whenever natural calamities occurred, we would lose everything. Now, with both animals and crops, we feel more confident about the future, he adds. open image in gallery It has been fifteen years since Said decided to settle down and begin farming ( WFP/Michael Tewelde ) According to the chairman of Saids kebele which is the smallest level of local government in Ethiopian districts the shift from pastoralism to agro-pastoralism is happening more and more, with a number of families now farming on the land alongside Said. A couple of hours drive from Said, in the Gewane district of Afar, is 35-year-old Amina. She has been through similar experiences to Said as she has tried to adapt to the changing climate. Previously, we were completely dependent on animals, and we were purely pastoralists, the mother of four says. Back then, we could always find good pasture. The milk from a single cow was able to feed the entire family. open image in gallery Said continues to hold a herd of 10 camels, 10 cattle and 20 goats, but also now grows tomatoes ( WFP/Michael Tewelde ) In recent years, however, conditions for raising herds of animals have declined significantly: The drought comes much more often, and we kept losing our livestock, she says. Everything has become much more unpredictable; we therefore had to change what we are doing. Nowadays, Amina farms one hectare of maize alongside her work tending to five goats and 10 sheep. Rather than living a mobile existence, travelling around searching for pasture, Amina now also grows fodder. Farmings own climate challenges Beyond the changing climate, a key threat to the pastoralist lifestyle in Afar has been the reallocation of land rights from traditional nomadic peoples to the national parks in Afar, as well as to the sugar cane industry, according to Ian Scoones, a professor of resource politics at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in Brighton. This land grab has forced pastoralists off the wetland areas that they traditionally inhabited, says Scoones, and made them more vulnerable to climate change. open image in gallery The drought comes much more often, and we kept losing our livestock, said farmer Amina ( WFP/Michael Tewelde ) Another expert in pastoralist behaviour, Hussein Tadicha Wario at the Centre for Research and Development in Drylands (CRDD) in Marsabit in northern Kenya, says that its important not to slip into a reductive old narrative that argues that pastoralists must settle. Pastoralism is culturally important for many of these communities in Ethiopia, and arguably better adapted to the climate of dryland areas like Afar than farming activities, says Wario, who adds that the change between pastoralism and agro-pastoralism is not always in one direction. The reverse also happens: in areas where irrigation systems have been established after disasters like conflict and drought, some communities have resumed pastoralism after gaining enough income to purchase livestock from crop proceeds, he says. There are also downsides to farming in arid regions, he continues, including the fact that when pastoralists settle to farm, often the health of livestock can decline, and malnutrition can become more common. Stories from Afar suggest that the shift to farming by no means automatically makes communities resilient to climate shocks. Father of four Saidou, who lives in the Gewane district of Afar with 15 goats, eight sheep and two camels, describes how, during times of drought, low water levels in the Awash River make it difficult to irrigate his hectare-wide plot of land. In the past, we have been able to harvest two crops per year, but more recently, we have only managed one, he explains. For Saidou, it is clear that both livelihoods can be seriously threatened by climate-driven weather events. By spreading his work across both areas, he is more resilient to different kinds of shocks. open image in gallery Saidou lives in the Gewane district of Afar with 15 goats, eight sheep and two camels ( WFP/Michael Tewelde ) Since settling down to grow crops 15 years ago, Saids farming activities have also increasingly come under threat from extreme weather events. Last year, we were hit by a flood, which extensively damaged our cotton crop, and it was extremely difficult to start back up again, he says. We never know these days if the rainy season is going to be helpful, or if it is going to destroy everything. Said restarted farming with help from the World Food Programme (WFP), which provides climate-resilient seeds, including for onions and tomatoes. Previous floods had also silted up the irrigation canals that Said and his neighbours use for their farms, but WFP has recently restored them to function. open image in gallery Humanitarian organisations like the World Food Programme have played a crucial role in helping inhabitants of Afar adapt to climate change ( WFP/Michael Tewelde ) Humanitarian organisations like WFP have played a crucial role in helping inhabitants of Afar adapt to climate change but cuts from countries around the world, led by Donald Trump in the US, are threatening this work. The WFP in Afar, for example, has reduced its team from 87 to 46 people this year, and across the country the groups activities are being scaled back including the reduction of rations it provides to residents of refugee camps to less than 1,000 calories per day. Cuts represent an immense setback for resilience programmes in the country, according to CRDDs Wario. IDSs Scoones believes that the collapse in external funding in the Horn of Africa is a wake-up call for those involved in dryland development in pastoral areas. Having been buffeted by climate shocks in his pastoral and farming activities in recent years, farmer Said is now facing the risk of cuts to aid-supported services upon which he and so many others in the region rely. As a result, he says that he now has a clear ambition driving him forward: to earn enough money to send his children to a good school, so that they do not have to be beholden to the same climate-dependent lifestyle that he has been. When I see my children now, to be honest, I dont want them to live through the same life that I have passed through, he says. I want them to be good students and to lead a better life. This article was produced as part of The IndependentsRethinking Global Aid project Sign up to our free money newsletter for investment analysis and expert advice to help you build wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice As well as economic growth and taxes, cash ISA cuts were one of the main topics of conversation following the Budget, after Rachel Reeves and the government unveiled plans to encourage people to invest. Its undeniable that, over the long term, investing money is a better option than merely cash saving. But in Britain, at least, investment hasnt been part of recent culture or education. That appears to be changing, with the conversation around investment going on all year a positive move, even if it only helps people realise there is another option. That shift is likely to continue into the new year as a multi-organisation advertising campaign gets underway and ISA season rolls around hopefully encouraging some to take their first steps into a long-term journey. None of this comes as a surprise to the companies that are our access points to investing: they have been steadily growing in activity all year, and in 2026, you the potential customer are likely to take centre stage. Here, The Independent looks at the changing face of UK investing and how different platforms are trying to win your custom. Legacy vs Challenger There are a multitude of investment platforms, as they are known, to choose from. Very broadly, you can split them into established financial powerhouses and newer, tech-led challengers. Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell, interactive investor, Fidelity - they come into the former category. Your own high street banks do too, most offering investing products alongside your normal accounts. They are trusted because theyve been doing the job for years, providing easy access and a pain-free route from your current account to ISA and beyond. open image in gallery The Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange ( Getty/iStock ) But, also because theyve been doing it for years, some did the big bank thing: got stuck in their ways and didnt move with the times, allowing newcomers to sneak onto the scene. Get a free fractional share worth up to 100. Capital at risk. Terms and conditions apply. Go to website ADVERTISEMENT Get a free fractional share worth up to 100. Capital at risk. Terms and conditions apply. Go to website ADVERTISEMENT Youll have seen or heard their names, watched the adverts, possibly even downloaded the apps: Freetrade, eToro, Trading 212, Revolut, Robinhood, Chip and more. They all vary, yet share traits: theyll tend to come with tech-style names, bright colours, low fees, more options or bold adverts. Which suits you best depends on how you plan to manage your portfolio, how frequently youll buy or sell and perhaps how much you want to pay on an ongoing basis, but cumulatively theyve changed the landscape of investing in the UK. Of course, the established names have fought back: launching spin-off firms to attract younger customers or bringing everything back in-house to offer professional services, rebranding and re-energising and perhaps even re-realising that British adults long-term plans are the next must-win battleground to play on. The choice is there now must come the encouragement for more people to choose and use them. UK investing culture Speak to those working in or around finance about the push to encourage more retail investors (thats what the everyday public is referred to as) and one answer comes back over and over: more education and awareness is needed. But at least something is being done at least the conversation has been restarted. Investing is something thats being spoken about a lot now, but five years ago it wasnt the case, Jordan Sinclair, president of Robinhood UK, told The Independent. In Norway or Sweden, they have a great culture of saving regularly, and they have tax wrappers which look a lot like our ISA. But whats probably missing versus Sweden is how do you educate people on how to use that? How to think about their money, where to invest it. Some of our research shows that the average amount people believed you needed to start [investing] was over 2,200. Just to start. When you look at some [legacy providers], and they have a minimum amount 500, account fees, 11.95 for the first trade... you cant blame people for saying Ill just leave it in my cash account. We see an opportunity to level the playing field, catch up to some of those countries - and well do it in our own way, maybe with still a slight bias towards cash savings but some of the money will be working much harder for customers. open image in gallery Jordan Sinclair, Robinhood UK president ( RobinHood ) In the US, people are far more used to investing as a concept and as a future method of wealth. Statistics are varied because resources invariably classify investing differently, but Brits are generally seen to be behind the curve against European nations like Germany or parts of Scandinavia. Improved financial education in schools coming into the curriculum might bear fruit in a decade, but theres a big chunk of the population who could be doing more with their money now, if they knew how. Where I think theres room for collaboration is on initiatives to make sure the regulator hears what firms need, and the Treasury is supported, Sinclair said. Revisiting risk warnings, educating customers rather than scaring them away. Its hard to undo whats been done, but this is about thinking for the next generation, educating todays under-55s: what about your pension? What do you need for long-term savings? Its not just thinking of today. You add up all these initiatives and the retail investment awareness campaign, all this momentum [thats what makes long-term change]. While those saving money might be thinking about this year or next, investing has a much longer timeframe. For companies that operate in that space, the thinking can be even longer term - decades or more, as many of those banks and investment platforms have been around for. We think about whats now and whats next at the same time, what customers want and how we deliver something better, Mr Sinclair explained. Being in that growth mode is different to being at a [big bank] when you probably try to move one place in the rankings table. The big safeguarding concern For Robinhood specifically, whats next will be an ISA, launching before the end of the tax year in April. That will be a draw for new clients, as new features or services always are, and its a product most people already understand. But when it comes to investing, education and trying to encourage people to start a new financial journey, theres a wider concern which is especially important on newer tech-led, all-encompassing platforms. That is: how do you effectively gateway or barricade people who are new to the entire investing arena, away from products which are inherently not suited to them? open image in gallery AIpremium ( Getty Images ) Most people, even if they dont invest now, will still have a broad concept of what you mean if you say the stock market. Yet those same people slowly and purposely learning about funds or dividends or any other run-of-the-mill term which could genuinely better their financial positions over the long term are often only one missed finger-click away on their phones (or menu tab on their computers) from much more complex and risky options. Cryptocurrencies are an obvious one. But there are also frequently options for futures trading, commodities, FX trading, CFDs, leveraged options, and even copycat trading to mimic other investors decisions. There is a strong argument to suggest many of these shouldnt be accessible by novices until they have either shown competency in standard investing, for want of a better term, or have completed courses to display a thorough understanding of what they are used for and why the risks are far higher. But the rise of so-called everything apps appears unstoppable, and finance-led firms are part of this. Choice is great, of course, and many people may prefer to have all their money matters under one roof, so to speak. But it also represents a challenge to not allow companies commercial interests to outweigh responsibility towards clients. The battle for your custom, your money and your attention will only ramp up into 2026. A requirement, then, must be on those platforms to ensure they educate as well as entice, and provide reliable knowledge as well as potential wealth. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Brightons Palace Pier has been put up for sale by its owners of more than a decade following concerns of a decline in tourism for the coastal city. The 126-year-old Grade II* Listed pier will be put on the market by the Brighton Pier Group for an undisclosed price. The company says the decision was made to ensure shareholders see the best value for money. Anne Ackord, the group's CEO, said: The proposed sale of the pier forms part of our strategy to divest our leisure assets and return capital to shareholders. Brighton Palace Pier is a profitable, standalone business with significant potential to build on its already strong popularity. This is more than just the sale of an asset: it is an opportunity to become part of the next chapter in a remarkable story and shape the future of this national treasure. open image in gallery Brightons Palace Pier has been put up for sale by its owners ( Getty/iStock ) The move comes after years of trading difficulties for the pier in previous years, which the Brighton Pier Group has partly attributed to a decline in tourism to Brighton and poor summer weather. Any prospective buyer would want to be in situ by the summer, Ms Ackord said, meaning the new owners would be in operation before the piers busy summer trading period. The CEO added that anyone interesting it would need many millions although the group has not publicly shared the exact price. Knight Frank has been appointed to oversee the sale of the 1,722ft structure. The estate agents partner and head of specialist leisure, John Rushby, said: Brighton and Hove continues to grow in popularity as one of the UKs leading destinations. Positioned at the heart of the city, Brighton Palace Pier stands out as one of the countrys most significant heritage landmarks, offering a rare opportunity for a new owner to build on its strong foundations and further enhance its position as a premier leisure and hospitality destination. The Brighton Palace Pier first opened in May 1899, and the Brighton Pier Group bought the structure in 2016 for 18m. The company previously said that 2023 and 2024 had been difficult years for the pier, pointing to a decline in tourism to Brighton. Ms Ackord said in March there had been a very difficult trading situation over the last few years, wherein costs have risen overall by about 50 per cent. In 2024, the piers sales dropped by four per cent compared to the year before. The group introduced a 1 admission fee for non-residents in 2024, doubling this to 2 in March, which it reports partially alleviated the declining revenue. However, it warned in November that it was considering selling the historic structure, and has now opted to do so. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice remain in place for parts of the UK, with the north of Scotland braced for further travel disruption. Further snow showers could cause more delays on roads and on public transport throughout Sunday and into Monday. While more serious amber weather warnings for the north of Scotland expired on Saturday at noon, a yellow warning is still in place until midday on Monday. open image in gallery ( Met Office ) Separate warnings for snow and ice are in place for Wales, Greater Manchester and South West England, while much of the east coast of England is covered by a yellow warning for ice. The wintry weather led to ScotRail announcing several train cancellations on Saturday in the north of Scotland. Roads in the north-east of Scotland were also shut, with severe delays reported on the A90 between Brechin and Stonehaven because of snow drifts. Police strongly advised people in Orkney against travelling due to the conditions on the roads. Roads around Badenoch and Strathspey in the Highlands were badly affected, with police advising against all but essential travel. The Met Office warned that heavy snow showers could see some rural communities cut off, as well as a risk of power cuts in some areas. Arctic air plunged much of the UK into sub-zero temperatures in the first days of January, with nearly -6C being recorded at Loch Ness on Friday night. open image in gallery Parts of the UK will remain under snow and ice warnings until noon on Monday (Jacob King/PA) The Met Office said: Snow showers are expected to continue through the weekend, being brought well inland by strong northerly winds. Winds should ease somewhat into Sunday, with showers by then most prevalent around coasts. Snow showers should finally begin to ease during Monday morning. With temperatures inland likely remaining below freezing through the weekend, thaw of lying snow is not expected. On Saturday afternoon, Network Rail Scotland said that some lines in northern Scotland were seeing snow accumulations of around 20cm. LNER said there was major disruption to their services north of Dundee, which was expected to continue into Sunday afternoon. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Anti-immigration protesters in Britain are increasingly seizing on womens issues in an opportunistic bid to make their fringe views more palatable to the general public, experts have warned. Chants of protect our girls and save our kids now feature prominently at anti-migration marches and demonstrations, leading womens rights groups to raise concerns over the weaponisation of violence against women and girls to promote anti-migrant agendas. With the rise of this rhetoric has come the birth of two distinct women-led and-oriented factions within the movement over the past year the Pink Ladies and the Womens Safety Initiative (WSI). These groups reject they are part of the far-right, with signs bearing slogans such as Im not far right, Im worried about my kids and protecting women and children isn't far right a common sight at demonstrations. However, experts say that these groups whether knowingly or unknowingly are adopting the same language now being deployed by the far-right in a bid to add a veneer of respectability to its ideology. open image in gallery This year has seen a notable surge in the use of language focused on women ( Getty ) Experts say these narratives appeal specifically to women opportunistically, exploiting genuine fears around real issues, and make the far-right appear more palatable. Both mean the far-right can appeal to a broader audience and increase the acceptability of their ideas within the mainstream. Last year marked a key development within the far-right, where women are increasingly organising more formally within the movement and becoming more visible and vocal on a street level, which are all serving as effective promotion and recruitment tools, expert say. Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), which was one of more than 100 womens rights organisations that wrote to prime minister Keir Starmer in August to raise these concerns, told The Independent: These narratives are promoted by those who exploit genuine public concerns about sexual violence to intentionally fuel racism in our communities. We know that violence against women and girls is perpetrated by men of all backgrounds, and that the vast majority of rapes are perpetrated by someone known to the victim. In part due to its cynical co-option of violence against women and girls, we are increasingly seeing women, particularly white women, publicly involved in these groups. As society grapples with serious, longstanding failures to address male violence against women and girls, years of austerity and widening inequalities, these groups are opportunistically drawing in new supporters en masse. A researcher at Hope not Hate, an anti-racist and anti-fascist organisation, said rhetoric around a foreign sexual threat to women and girls has existed within the far-right for years, but has dominated this summers protests. This narrative has been supercharged by issues such as grooming gangs, which critics say far-right figure Tommy Robinson uses to push his anti-migrant agenda, as well as cases of asylum seekers being arrested for sexual crimes, according to a spokesperson for the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). Rallies outside asylum hotels this summer broke out following the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl by asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu, who was living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, where the first demonstration happened. open image in gallery The Bell Hotel attracted protests in the summer over the housing of asylum seekers ( PA ) The paedophilic threat, which is the false claim that all asylum seekers are a threat to children, also engaged many women in their roles as mothers and grandmothers in this summers protests, the Hope not Hate researcher said, with chants of stop the boats heard before protect our kids minutes later. Both narratives serve to escalate anti-migration into a public safety issue, which is an argument that is harder to counter, the researcher said. It also makes the far-right appear more publicly palatable, they added: [The men are] no longer presenting themselves as thuggish far-right members but also protectors of the community. Lois Shearing, author of Pink Pilled, an investigation into how women are recruited by the far-right online, said this can provide the far-right with a powerful veneer of respectability. The ISD spokesperson warned: The safety of women and girls is a key narrative being used by the far-right, which is significantly easier to promote than more extreme anti-migrant hate. As such, there is a danger that women and girls are used cynically as a wedge to promote these beliefs. This is often couched in wider anti-migrant discourse around crime and descriptions of mass migration as an invasion. The rhetoric is used to argue that as migrants (typically with the subtext of migrants from non-white or Muslim countries) as a whole are a threat to (white) women and girls, the safest action is mass deportations. The women-focused factions that have sprung up this year are portrayed in this cleaner-looking way, and they deny being far-right, said the Hope not Hate researcher, with family-oriented events, girl power messaging, songs and pink as the colour of choice. That all serves to appear in contrast to the violence of the far-right riots fuelled by the Southport stabbings last year, which led to mass arrests for violence, they said. The Pink Ladies began as a trend to wear pink at marches, before figures such as Epping Forest Reform UK vice-chair Orla Minihane started organising the group during the Epping protests, according to the researcher. The group held one of their larger stand-alone demonstrations in Chelmsford last month, a pink protest, with right-wing commentator Mike Graham telling the crowd: I am saying [asylum seekers] are all f***ing rapists. Because its the only language they understand. We dont want them here. The WSI, established earlier this year by Jess Gill, is smaller, with a more serious tone that could be described as politically focused. But the group uses similar rhetoric, holding up signs reading mass immigration equals mass risk for women or secure borders means safer for women. open image in gallery Police clashed with far-right protesters during riots across the UK last summer ( Getty ) The Pink Ladies and WSI are new in that they are more formal and individualised, and also in their high levels of organisation and mainstream street mobilisation, according to the Hope not Hate researcher, who warned that with mobilisation comes recruitment. Shearing agreed, adding that a broader contingency of women is being appealed to. Although there is no data to confirm if women are now making up higher proportions of the far-right, Shearing said that because numbers are growing within the movement overall, this means there are increasingly more women involved. They warned that among the most concerning developments they have noticed in 2025 is the creeping normalisation of extremist anti-immigrant beliefs. The momentum weve seen around hotels and marches will die down, they said. But I worry about how long its going to take us to undo how acceptable these views have become in mainstream politics. A spokesperson for the WSI said: These so-called experts should be less concerned about WSI standing up for women and representing the public and more concerned about the brutal murders of Emily Jones and Rhiannon Skye White at the hands of migrants, [or] the race-based grooming of... British girls by predominantly Pakistani men. They added: We are representing the stories of the thousands of women and girls across the country who have joined and spoke to WSI. The Independent has contacted the Pink Ladies for comment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice British voters want to be part of the European Union more than their French and Italian counterparts, a new poll reveals. The YouGov survey, carried out in six European countries, shows 50 per cent of voters in the UK would vote to be an EU member if there was a referendum now, compared to 45 per cent and 46 per cent in France and Italy. The numbers were higher in Germany (62 per cent) Denmark (75 per cent) and Spain (66 per cent). It also found that in Britain, just 31 per cent of people said they would vote to be outside the EU far fewer than the 52 per cent who backed Brexit nearly a decade ago. In France, that figure was 30 per cent, Italy 28 per cent, Germany 20 per cent, Denmark 14 per cent and Spain 13 per cent. The findings will put pressure on Keir Starmer days after No 10 said he would stick to his EU red lines, despite an interview in which Wes Streeting appeared to back a customs union with the bloc. In what was seen as a direct challenge to Sir Keir, his health secretary said a deeper trading relationship with Europe would boost UK economic growth. open image in gallery The poll shows more voters in Britain want to be part of the EU than in France or Italy ( REUTERS ) The Labour leader has pledged a reset of UK-EU relations but has rejected calls to rejoin the group or become part of its single market or customs union. Despite Sir Keirs stance, Labour ministers have begun to talk up the economic costs of Brexit more. open image in gallery The poll also found that Sir Keir was one of the most unpopular leaders across the six countries (PA) ( PA Wire ) Last month, it was reported that Baroness Shafik, Sir Keirs chief economic adviser, privately recommended rejoining the customs union in the run-up to Novembers Budget, arguing it would cut costs for businesses and increase exports. The deputy prime minister, David Lammy, also suggested that rejoining the union could increase economic growth, although he stressed it was not government policy. It comes after an analysis seen by The Independent revealed that Brexit is costing the UK up to 90bn a year in lost tax revenues. Lib Dem Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton said: "The British people are tired of the economic self-harm imposed by the Conservatives broken Brexit deal. The government must stop burying their heads in the sand and listen to the clear majority of voters who are crying out for closer relations with our neighbours. Dr Mike Galsworthy, chair of the pro-EU campaign group European Movement UK, said the new figures showed that the majority of the UK public now knows that Brexit has damaged the UK, and continues to make almost every one of us poorer, and that rebuilding the relationship that we smashed up with the EU doesnt mean a Brexit betrayal it just means closer trading and better business, to immediately kick-start our struggling economy, and bring all of us some much-needed financial relief. He added: The question is, how many times will polling show our politicians that the public is sick of this failed Brexit experiment, and take real steps to grow our economy, rather than tinkering with trade deals that are the equivalent of losing 50 whilst finding 50p? The tide has turned, and our politicians need to catch up with public opinion. The poll also found that Sir Keir was one of the most unpopular leaders across the six countries, beaten only by the French president Emmanuel Macron. Just 17 per cent of Britons had a favourable opinion of their leader. In France, that figure was 16 per cent, compared to 25 per cent for Friedrich Merz in Germany, 35 per cent for Giorgia Meloni in Italy, 30 per cent for Pedro Sanchez in Spain and 34 per cent for Mette Frederiksen in Denmark. The Cabinet Office has been approached for comment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Independent readers have been criticising Labours handling of Welsh communities particularly in former mining areas and voicing deep scepticism over Reform UKs promises. Their reactions follow an exclusive report by Holly Evans, who spoke to locals inside the impoverished communities abandoning Labour and turning to Nigel Farages Reform ahead of Mays Senedd elections, where a two-horse race between Reform and Plaid Cymru appears to be shaping up. Many felt let down by Labour, arguing that the governmemt has failed to restore investment in the regions industrial wealth, neglected infrastructure, and allowed towns and high streets to descend further into decay. Commenters pointed to lingering effects of Brexit, and a lack of opportunity for young people as key reasons for local disenchantment. Many warned that Reform was far from the solution it claimed to be, describing the party as inexperienced and opportunistic, and criticising Farage for backing policies that would damage public services, workers rights and the NHS. Others said Plaid Cymrus success in Caerphilly showed immigration was not the issue, but long-standing neglect and broken promises were pushing voters towards alternatives. Heres what you had to say: A further slide to the right This article perfectly captures the utter despair in Wales valleys ghost towns, shuttered shops, skyrocketing unemployment, and a total lack of hope after decades of neglect. It's no wonder Labour's century-long grip is slipping; they've failed spectacularly, just like the Conservatives before them, delivering nothing but scandals, penny-pinching and empty promises. Without a doubt, Reform UK will win the next Senedd election theyre the only game in town, tapping into the raw anger over immigration, crumbling high streets and zero opportunities for the youth. But lets be real: Farage has already been compromised by the establishment, and he wont deliver even half of whats truly needed to turn this around. That will just pave the way for an even further right-wing party to rise up and fill the void in the election after, finally giving these communities the radical change they deserve. Thomas A false solution I can understand the frustration of the people of Wales with Labour, but they are woefully mistaken if they think that Reform is the solution. Reform has no experience, and indeed very little expertise. Over the last few months we have seen sections of Reforms Contract dilute into aspirations as the partys leadership came face to face with reality. Voting Reform to power would be as grave a mistake, perhaps worse than voting Labour in. Maybe it is the lesser of the evils that Reform get voted in in May 2026. Then, by the time we come to the general election in 2029, Reform would have exposed themselves completely and the electorate can choose wisely as to who occupies No.10. Krispad No vision Tragic that people have become so desperate that they will even consider voting Reform. Devolution has been a disaster for Wales. In 25 years of largely unhindered power, Labour has achieved nothing. It has been horrendous. Plaid Cymru is currently the only opposition to Reform, and even they have yet to outline any sort of vision to offer people hope. It's not helped by the fact that PC's leader who is hardly a visionary is surrounded by a team of the below average. Nevertheless, PC is still the only show in town. UK Labour should have spotted the problems with the lack of talent in Welsh Labour decades ago, so they must also accept blame for Reform's rise. TWBall Dying communities I know the South Wales valleys well. I have a pet theory about areas like this all over the UK, and perhaps other run-down European communities. One looks at places like this and naturally asks, what do they do for a living? But OAPs and unemployed people live in these places, so its not important that there is no employment beyond the odd food shop, takeaway and pub, as they are self-sufficient on pensions and benefits. They are unable and unwilling to relocate. As the elderly die off, the communities will become smaller and smaller. Its a sad situation, but I don't see a solution. It is a waste of time and money to try to regenerate them they have simply outlived their usefulness. Mr Doggybones Can you blame them? Can't blame those communities who haven't had their lives improved and are seeking other alternatives, even if those alternatives won't solve their communities. In other words, it is up to Labour to improve their lives. As always, these matters are complex because some of these communities had regular jobs whilst industry was nearby, but that was a reliance that hasn't been replaced. Not easy to do, but without providing that level of support required to bring in new industry or investment in the high street, the ability to turn things around is very challenging. Add to that austerity, Brexit and Covid, and things are tough for these communities. It takes time, it takes investment, it takes clever thinking to get things going again. Meanwhile, into this discontent step the populists, who will do nothing for these towns. Ohreally Too early to blame Labour Its too early to blame Labour. It does appear their policies aren't working, but they are still having to overturn the harm and lack of investment from 14 years of Tory rule. Id give Labour another couple of years and see if their tax rises and boosts for the poorest and the public sector do improve things. I fear, however, tax rises are dampening consumer spending and business confidence, worsening unemployment and actually making things worse. Also, the decline of our town centres seems to have been completely ignored by the political class, but its important, especially to the millions of people who live in these communities away from the big cities and completely rely on these shops and businesses. Politicians need to do much more. ChrisMatthews Desperation helps the extremes The right and left wing always do well in areas which are run down. Hitler was partly successful due to the German economy suffering from the Versailles Treaty, which left many living in poverty. Parties like Reform and the Greens have no real policies, but this does not mean they won't do well in elections, as people are desperate for a solution that the left and right wing promise but never deliver. thinkandthought The real choice in Wales Plaid did win the Caerphilly by-election, beating Reform and Labour, so immigration obviously isn't an issue, because Plaid is the most pro-immigration party in the country. The real choice in Wales is between those who want to destroy the LabourTory system and those who want to abandon Westminster altogether through independence. People are just tired of broken promises, mismanagement and lack of investment. Industrial regions like South Wales produced massive wealth for the country, but the profits were constantly siphoned off with nothing to reinvest. You only have to look at countries like Germany, Japan and China to see what couldve been if the money was reinvested. Allowing our industrial base to die was criminal, and Labour is just as guilty as the Tories. Ajames No interest in governing for the people They never learn, do they? Wales lost 680 million in EU funding streams at the end of 2020. Wales was always a prominent supporter of Brexit and, with that, Farage. If Farage should win this years elections in Wales, those now claiming they plan to vote for him you can hardly claim he runs a party would do well to see how those areas with Reform councillors are doing. They have no experience and it seems in some cases no interest in governing for the people. Ambigirls Spectacular incompetence So 15 years of austerity under the economically inept and cruel Tories gives way to further austerity as the Labour Party continue austerity to protect the big businesses and wealthy individuals who fund them. Meanwhile, Reform attracts all the worst of the same people who were responsible for austerity and the mess the country is in into their ranks. Reform did extremely well in the last local elections and had a great opportunity to demonstrate what life would be like under them in power. What we see, without exception, is people who have not the first clue what they are doing, wasted money and incompetence at a spectacular if not unexpected level. Quite frankly, anyone who votes for Reform totally deserves everything that they will deliver. Markoscar Populism thrives on fear, not solutions History shows us that when populist movements rise, they often do so by pointing the finger at a group they label as the problem. The names change but the pattern is always the same. Today, figures like Nigel Farage in the UK and Donald Trump in the USA use the same tools with new technology. The message is kept simple: they are taking what is yours, and only a strong leader can defend you. The details dont matter; often, there are no policies at all. What matters is emotion, fear, and anger packaged into a chant or a meme. If history shows one thing, it is that populist anger burns hot but rarely governs well. Redlorries Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity. Want to share your views? Simply register your details below. Once registered, you can comment on the days top stories for a chance to be featured. Alternatively, click log in or register in the top right corner to sign in or sign up Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment, click here The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice As artificial intelligence becomes more ingrained in our daily lives, schools are increasingly concerned about students harnessing AI to help cut corners in their work. Nearly half of (43 percent) U.S. teachers with classes from sixth to twelfth grade said they used AI detection tools in the 2024/2025 academic year, according to a recent poll by the Center for Democracy and Technology. However, while accusations of cheating with AI can lead to docked grades, probation, or even expulsion, they can also have a serious impact on the students themselves, experts say. Especially when they are wrong. One of the most common feelings that students describe to me is anxiety and stress from even going through the process, even if theyre saying I'm innocent, Lucie Vagnerova, a New York-based education consultant with over 10 years of experience, tells The Independent. A lot of them tell me they are not sleeping well a lot of them have to seek out counseling, and the misconduct process at U.S. colleges and universities often takes at least several weeks, if not months, sometimes, so this is really like a long-range situation, really deeply affecting their mental health. open image in gallery More than one in four teachers with classes from sixth to twelfth grade said they used AI detection tools while marking in the 2024/2025 academic year, according to a recent poll ( PA Archive ) Marley Stevens, a student from the University of North Georgia, lost her scholarship after being flagged for using AI on a paper in October 2023, according to USA Today. She had used Grammarly, an online spell-checker recommended by the university, but was still awarded a zero. Stevens was put on academic probation and subjected to a six-month misconduct and appeals process. Despite her protestations, the mark on her paper impacted her GPA, resulting in the loss of the scholarship. I couldn't sleep or focus on anything, she told the outlet at the time. I felt helpless. Experiences such as these ultimately erode trust in the educational process and ultimately the core relationship between students and their teachers, says Vagnerova. To me, that's a huge problem, she tells The Independent. Institutions are investing in all this surveillance, and they are not investing in instructors ability to build deep relationships with students and build that trust and that vulnerability. Ailsa Ostovitz, a 17-year-old high-schooler from the Washington D.C. area, claimed she has been falsely accused of using AI on three separate assignments in two different classes during this academic year alone. "It's mentally exhausting because it's like I know this is my work," Ostovitz told NPR, "I know that this is my brain putting words and concepts onto paper for other people to comprehend." Research has also found that such detection systems are, in the best-case scenarios, limited, and in the worst-case, totally unreliable. Detection tools for AI-generated text do fail, they are neither accurate nor reliable, a study by members of the European Network for Academic Integrity found, noting that all the tools they evaluated all scored below 80 percent. open image in gallery As artificial intelligence becomes more and more a part of daily lives, schools are increasingly concerned by students using it to help with their work, or even write assignments entirely. ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) In general, they have been found to diagnose human-written documents as AI-generated (false positives) and often diagnose AI-generated texts as human-written (false negatives). The study found there were serious limitations of even state-of-the-art AI-generated text detection tools and their unsuitability for use as evidence of academic misconduct and that it was also too easy to game the systems. Therefore, our conclusion is that the systems we tested should not be used in academic settings, the authors wrote. Despite this, school districts are still looking to embrace AI technology, though often with strict guidelines on its use. A bulletin put out by the Los Angeles Unified School District said the district was committed to utilizing AI technologies in an ethical, transparent, and responsible manner, while recognizing the importance of protecting student and employee privacy and ensuring that the use of these technologies is consistent with ethical and equitable considerations. In September, New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos announced a four-part framework to ensure responsible engagement with Artificial Intelligence tools in the classroom. This framework, included preparing students for AI-powered lives and careers, teaching students and staff to use AI responsibly, mitigating bias and ensuring cultural responsiveness when using AI, and leveraging AI to advance operational and instructional efficiencies. Ironically, while warning students of the dangers of trusting AI without question, many educators may take the judgment of a detection system at face value. If institutions are going to continue using such systems, greater literacy on AI is needed, Vagnerova says. open image in gallery Accusations of cheating prompted by such technology can lead to repercussions such as docked grades, but can also have deeper and more serious effects on the students especially when they are wrong. Many experience negative effects on their mental health as a result I think a lot of people would imagine that the solution is more accurate surveillance, she tells The Independent. To me, that's sort of the opposite. I think there is a role for AI detection in the education space, but it's a much, much smaller role than it has now. Ultimately, I think institutions and governments need to invest in compensating educators so that they have the space to create assessments that evaluate student growth meaningfully. The ENAI study authors agree. Our findings strongly suggest that the easy solution for detection of AI-generated text does not (and maybe even could not) exist, the authors wrote. Therefore, rather than focusing on detection strategies, educators continue to need to focus on preventive measures and continue to rethink academic assessment strategies. Written assessment should focus on the process of development of student skills rather than the final product. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The prime minister of Denmark has issued a defiant rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump in her annual New Year's speech, insisting that it will "stand firm" against his plans to take over Greenland. In a televised message Thursday evening, Mette Frederiksen, of the ruling Social Democrats party, said she was rapidly beefing up the Scandinavian kingdom's military force and strengthening security in the Arctic. Her theme was echoed by King Frederik X's annual New Year's Eve address, who highlighted new military training programs and praised Greenlanders' "strength and pride" in a "turbulent time". It comes after Trump renewed his campaign to annex the autonomous Danish territory by appointing a new special envoy with the declared intention of "mak[ing] Greenland a part of the U.S." "Never before have we increased our military strength so significantly, so quickly," Frederiksen told viewers, according to the Danish daily newspaper Berlingske. open image in gallery Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has issued a defiant rebuke to President Donald Trumps Greenland plans in her annual New Year's speech ( Danish Statsministeriet via YouTube ) "In the past year, we have had to pay attention to a lot. Threats. Pressure. Derogatory language. From our closest ally for a lifetime. "About wanting to take over another country, another people. As if it it was something you could buy and own ... "We are not the one's seeking conflict. But let no one be in any doubt: No matter what happens, we will stand firm on what is right and wrong." Since returning to office in 2025 Trump has stepped up his demands for Greenland to become part of the U.S., at times even suggesting he may mount a military invasion to make it happen. Last week he sparked fresh outrage from Danish leaders by naming Louisiana's Republican Governor Jeff Landry as the U.S. special envoy to the territory, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but largely self-governing. "We need it for national protection," Trump insisted during a press conference on December 23. "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." Polls have found that Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose becoming part of the U.S. In early December, Denmark's intelligence service branded the U.S. as a potential threat to its national security for the first time in history, citing its willingness to use economic and military power to "enforce its will... even against allies." King Frederik's speech did not mention Trump specifically, but warned that geopolitics is becoming more dangerous amid the ripple effects of the war in Ukraine and Russian covert operations against its European allies. "Our greatest strength is to stand united in the Kingdom of Denmark, in Europe and in NATO," he said, citing a new Arctic training program in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland as an example of Denmark's "stronger defense." open image in gallery King Frederik X, shown here inspecting troops in Copenhagen, visited Greenland in May 2025 amid rising tensions with the U.S. ( Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images ) The U.S. consulate in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, is continuing to recruit unpaid interns to help push forward Trump's annexation plans potentially at the expense of local taxpayers. In a job listing spotted by the European news site Euractiv, and first posted in 2023, the Consulate advertises four to six month internships giving ambitious students the chance to help "communicate U.S. foreign policy priorities to Greenlandic audiences." Unpaid internships are reportedly the norm in Denmark, with applicants often supported by generous student subsidies while they work and learn. The Consulate's listing says it's open to such students, meaning Greenlandic and Danish taxpayers would likely foot the interns' living expenses. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man seeking asylum in the U.S. claims he was denied over $1,000 of winnings at a Chicago casino because of his immigration status. The man, who asked to remain anonymous, told CBS that he had won the jackpot on a slot machine at Ballys temporary casino in the River North area of the city, the payout for which usually takes just minutes. "I've been a regular since they opened, and I've won 11 jackpots, I believe, in the past and never had any problems," he said. The mans lucky play occurred over a week ago on December 20, he has yet to receive his money, and said no explanation has been provided. He said that he presented the casino with his ID, which is a limited-term REAL ID that is issued to immigrants in his situation. In Illinois, such identification can be obtained by those seeking asylum with proper documentation. The IDs are valid for the duration of the individuals authorized stay in the U.S. A man seeking asylum in the U.S. claims he was denied over $1,000 of winnings at a Chicago casino because of his immigration status ( Getty Images ) "This time, however, they decided to not pay off, because of my limited-term ID, and I've always had that kind of ID," the man told CBS, adding that he stood to collect $1,250. "It would mean a lot especially now for the holidays," he said. Since then the man has continued to argue with Ballys over his winnings. "Knowing that our state and our city is, like, protecting all these immigrants and stuff, and then they're just like ... it felt discriminatory, that's all," he added. The Independent has reached out to Ballys casino for comment. It comes after the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Monday against Illinois Governor JB Pritzker over new state laws aimed at protecting immigrants at courthouses, hospitals and day cares. Pritzker signed a set of laws earlier this month that bans civil arrests at and around courthouses statewide and require hospitals, day care centers and public universities to have procedures for handling civil immigration operations and protecting personal information. The laws, which took effect immediately, also provide legal steps for people whose constitutional rights were violated during the federal enforcement action in the Chicago area, including $10,000 in damages for someone unlawfully arrested while attempting to attend a court proceeding. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has extended an olive branch to U.S. President Donald Trump, proposing "serious talks" on combating drug trafficking and offering American companies ready access to the nation's oil. Mr Maduro described Venezuela as a "brother country" to the United States and a friendly government. He recalled that during their last conversation in November, Donald Trump had acknowledged his authority by addressing him as "Mr. President." These remarks were made during an interview filmed on New Year's Eve and subsequently broadcast on Venezuelan state television on New Year's Day. In the broadcast, Maduro and his interviewer walk through a militarized zone of the capital Caracas. Later, Maduro takes the wheel of a car with the journalist in the passenger seat and the president's wife, Cilia Flores, in the back - a gesture commentators interpreted as an attempt to project confidence amid fears of a U.S. strike, despite Maduro's scaling back of public appearances in recent weeks. The comments represent a shift in Maduro's tone towards the United States since the latter launched a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean. Trump has accused the "illegitimate" Maduro of running a narco-state and threatened to remove him from power. Maduro has vehemently denied links to crime and says that the U.S. is seeking to oust him to take control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves and rare earth mineral deposits. At an event shortly before Christmas, Maduro urged Trump to focus on domestic challenges, saying: "Honestly, if I speak with him again, I will tell him that each one should attend to their internal affairs." In the latest remarks, Maduro told his interviewer: "To the people of the United States I say what I have always said, Venezuela is a brother country... a friendly government. "We must start to speak seriously, with the facts in hand. The U.S. government knows that, because we have said it a lot to their interlocutors, that if they want to speak seriously about the agreement to battle drug trafficking, we are ready to do that. If they want Venezuela's oil, Venezuela is ready to accept U.S. investments like those of Chevron, when, where and how they want to make them." The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A 6.5-magnitude earthquake shook southern Mexico on Friday, not far from the popular tourist destination of Acapulco, during a press conference being held by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The seismic event occurred at 7:58 a.m. local time at a shallow depth of 6.21 miles, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences, which can increase the potential for noticeable surface shaking. The president was holding her first 2026 tourism press conference at the National Palace when the earthquake struck, and sirens were audible over the live broadcast. A livestreamof her remarks captured the rumblings as Sheinbaum calmly motioned for everyone in the room to evacuate. The press conference resumed minutes later. open image in gallery Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum calmly motioned for press conference attendees to evacuate the room as an earthquake struck Friday morning ( YouTube/@ClaudiaSheinbaumP ) open image in gallery Tourists shown outside of their hotel in Mexico City after the earthquake struck in the early hours ( AFP/Getty ) Sheinbaum said she spoke with Guerreros governor and confirmed that no serious damage occurred there or in Mexico City. Residents of Guerrero and surrounding areas reported feeling the tremor, as seen in videos shared on X. Ceiling panels fell from Parking Lot A at Hospital la Raza in Mexico City, according to a local news outlet. Mexico City resident Karen Gomez told AFP that the early-morning quake awakened her. I woke up in terror. My cellphone alert said it was a powerful earthquake. Another woman, 57-year-old Norma Ortega, who lives on the 10th floor of an apartment block said: I got a terrible fright. open image in gallery A tourist speaks on their phone after being evacuated from a hotel during a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico on January 2, 2026. A 6.5-magnitude earthquake shook Mexico City ( AFP/Getty ) open image in gallery Sheinbaum's press conference resumed minutes after she and reporters evacuated due to the earthquake ( YouTube/@ClaudiaSheinbaumP ) The earthquakes epicenter was 9 miles from San Marcos, in southern Guerrero, about 143 miles from Mexico City, prompting the hospital and residents to evacuate. Mexico City, built on soft lakebed soil, is especially vulnerable to earthquakes from Guerrero, including the 8.1-magnitude quake on September 19, 1985, that killed over 10,000, injured 30,000, and left up to 250,000 homeless, according to History.com. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A solo female hiker has died after a suspected mountain lion attack, the first to happen in Colorado since 1999. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Public Information Officer Kara Van Hoose confirmed that at about 12.15 pm on Thursday, hikers on the Crosier Mountain trail in Larimer County observed a mountain lion near a woman lying on the ground about 100 yards away. As [the hikers] started to get closer, they started to scare the lion from the area by throwing rocks at the animal, and it eventually went away, but they found an adult woman lying on the trail, Van Hoose said at a press conference. One of the witnesses is a physician and did not find a pulse. We are investigating this as a suspected fatal mountain lion attack. A solo female hiker has died after a suspected mountain lion attack ( U.S. National Park Service ) Van Hoose added that mountain lion attacks in Colorado are sporadic. There have been 28 attacks recorded on humans since 1990, the last fatal attack was in 1999. After the womans body was found, Van Hoose said an extensive search for the mountain lion was launched. One mountain lion was shot on scene by officers, later tracked and euthanised, a second lion was located in the area and also euthanised by officers, she said. In accordance with CPW policies, any wildlife involved in a human attack must be euthanised to ensure public safety. This is an area where mountain lions are really common, along with a lot of other wildlife like bears and moose. Van Hoose confirmed the woman was hiking alone, and the coroner will release a report confirming the cause of the attack at a later date. The euthanised lions will also be tested for human DNA. In a separate media release, CPW advised hikers to remain vigilant for wildlife in the area. Along the Front Range and in Larimer County, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts should expect to encounter wildlife. Mountain lions are more visible in winter as they follow deer and elk to lower elevations, the release said. If lions are spotted, make noise to scare them from the area, hold objects overhead to appear bigger and start backing away from the animal. Pets should be kept on-leash and not interact with wildlife. The last suspected mountain lion attack was when three-year-old Jaryd Atadero went missing on October 2, 1999. The boy was walking with a Christian social group on Big South Trail, a part of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado. The cause of his death remained a mystery until his remains were found in 2003 by a group of hikers. Justin Smith was a sergeant with the Larimer County Sheriff's Office who told Denver 7 ABC the boy likely died from a mountain lion attack. "The way they were found was consistent with... this is something that would have been an abduction by a cat. So there's just, there's nothing that indicated anything else over the years," Smith said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Venezuela is open to negotiating an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking, the South American countrys President Nicolas Maduro said in a pretaped interview aired Thursday on state television, but he declined to comment on a CIA-led strike last week at a Venezuelan docking area that the Trump administration believed was used by cartels. Maduro, in an interview with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet, reiterated that the U.S. wants to force a government change in Venezuela and gain access to its vast oil reserves through the monthslong pressure campaign that began with a massive military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August. What are they seeking? It is clear that they seek to impose themselves through threats, intimidation and force, Maduro said, later adding that it is time for both nations to start talking seriously, with data in hand. The U.S. government knows, because weve told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, were ready, he said. If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for U.S. investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it. Chevron Corp. is the only major oil company exporting Venezuelan crude to the U.S. Venezuela has the worlds largest proven oil reserves. The interview was taped on New Years Eve, the same day the U.S. military announced strikes against five alleged drug-smuggling boats. The latest attacks bring the total number of known boat strikes to 35 and the number of people killed to at least 115, according to numbers announced by the Trump administration. Venezuelans are among the victims. President Donald Trump has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and asserted that the U.S. is engaged in an armed conflict with drug cartels. The strikes began off Venezuelas Caribbean coast and later expanded to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the CIA was behind a drone strike last week at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels, according to two people familiar with details of the operation who requested anonymity to discuss the classified matter. It was the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the boat strikes began, a significant escalation in the administrations pressure campaign on Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the U.S. Asked about the operation on Venezuelan soil, Maduro said he could talk about it in a few days. ___ Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report from Washington. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice More than 170,000 Porsches are being recalled after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found the rearview camera image may not display when the car is in reverse. Currently, owners of 2019-2025 Cayenne, Cayenne E-Hybrid, 2020-2025 911, Taycan, 2024-2025 Panamera, and 2025 Panamera E-Hybrid models should bring their vehicles to a dealership. In total, 173,538 Porsches are being recalled, making it one of the largest single-safety recalls issued by the luxury car company. More than 170,000 Porsches have been recalled ( AFP via Getty Images ) The last major recall involved 22,858 cars in 2022 after Porsche Cars North America was found to be missing headlight adjustment screw covers. The latest recall was because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found the Porsches failed to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards requirements for rear visibility. Dealers will update the driver assistance software free of charge, according to the regulator. Porsche is not the only company with rearview camera issues. The regulator issued recalls earlier this year for Hyundai Motor America, Ford Motor, Toyota Motor, and Chrysler vehicles related to similar camera issues that may fail to display, increasing the risk of a crash. The NHTSA report estimated about 1 per cent of Porsches vehicles were affected by the recall. Letters informing owners of the recall are expected to be mailed by February 16, 2026, according to USA Today. For more information, owners can contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. The recall number is ASB2. In November 2025, Ford issued another recall after it pulled more than 200,000 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles due to an instrument panel defect that increased the risk of a crash. Federal auto safety regulators said the instrument panel may not display at startup, leaving the driver without critical safety information. The recall included 128,607 Ford Bronco Sports, model years 2025-2026, and 101,002 Ford Broncos, also model years 2025-2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A daring wallaby that escaped from a New Jersey animal sanctuary and went on the run has been returned home safely after being found outside a local Walmart. The audacious marsupial, named Rex, escaped from a barn at the Lots of Love Farm in Williamstown Monday night after a gate was left unlatched. Officers from the Monroe Township Police Department assisted in the search, with members of the public advised to be on the look out. A detailed description of Rex was provided to the officers, though poor weather conditions prevented the use of a drone to boost efforts to find him. open image in gallery A wallaby that escaped from a New Jersey animal sanctuary and went on the run has been returned home after being found outside a local Walmart ( Lots of Love Farm ) A sighting of Rex was reported at around 9:05 p.m. Tuesday when he narrowly avoided being hit by a vehicle. He was later spotted one mile from the sanctuary in the parking lot of a Walmart by a mother and daughter, who called the sanctuary, and he was successfully recaptured. Well, if this didnt become the best night ever! Lots of Love Farm wrote, in a post celebrating Rexs safe return Tuesday night. With the help of some really cool kids and a really cool dad we caught Rex at the Walmart! He is home safe and sound! Thank you everyone, youre all amazing. He must really like Walmart. In a separate post the MTPD acknowledged that their efforts had been bested by citizen sleuths. open image in gallery The audacious marsupial, named Rex, escaped from a barn at the Lots of Love Farm in Williamstown Monday night after a gate was left unlatched ( Lots of Love Farm ) Native to Australia, wallabies are a mid-size member of the kangaroo family. Thanks to our local media, our officers are nationally recognized horse wranglers but unfortunately, we havent quite earned the title of Wallaby Whisperers, the police department wrote. We tried to assist last evening but were of little help... Rex is quick! In a New Years Eve post, Lots of Love Farm said that it had decided to give Rex a rest for a couple of days, but said he would be returning to public view from Friday. A welcome home part for Rex is also scheduled for this coming weekend. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A search was carried out for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard on a cruise ship in the Caribbean Sea on New Years Day. The ship Nieuw Statendam, which is operated by the Holland America Line, was about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, when the woman fell into the sea, the U.S. Coast Guard announced on Thursday. A search was initiated by the crew of the vessel William Trump and an MH-60 helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater. The captain and crew initiated search and rescue procedures and are searching the area working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard which has deployed a cutter and helicopter to assist, Holland America Line said in a statement, according to ABC News. In an update at about 5:30 p.m. E.T., the Coast Guard announced that it had suspended the search pending the development of new information, adding that the search lasted about eight hours and spanned more than 690 square miles. open image in gallery A search was carried out for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard on a Holland America cruise ship in the Caribbean, the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday. ( ANP/AFP via Getty Images ) The cruise ship left Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 27 for what was supposed to be a weeklong Caribbean tour. But, because of the incident, the ships planned travel to Key West, Florida, was called off. "We are deeply saddened to confirm that while sailing in waters north of Cuba, a guest on Nieuw Statendam went overboard earlier today," Holland American Line said in a statement. "Our family assistance team is supporting the guest's family, and our thoughts are with the guest's loved ones during this difficult time." The identity of the woman who went overboard has not been made public. Its not clear what caused her to fall into the water. Measuring nearly 1,000 feet from bow to stern, Nieuw Statendam is a Pinnacle Class ship that can carry 2,692 guests, according to Holland America Line, which is a subsidiary of the Carnival Corporation. open image in gallery The woman went overboard about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Overboard incidents on cruise ships are rare, though most instances are fatal, according to The New York Times. In 2019, 25 people fell overboard on cruise ships, 17 of whom died, according to a report from the Cruise Lines International Association. In 2023, at least 10 people fell off cruise ships, only two of whom survived, according to Business Insider. Spokespeople for the Coast Guard and Holland America Line did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Independent. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tony Dokoupil has promised that his upcoming tenure at CBS Evening News will be independent from the programs corporate owner, pledging transparency and integrity to his viewers in order to earn back public trust in the media. As long as I sit in this chair: you come first. Not advertisers. Not politicians. Not corporate interests. And, yes, that does include the corporate owners of CBS. I report for you, Dokoupil said in a video message Thursday. The veteran reporter, who previously worked at NBC and MSNBC, will officially take the helm of the show next Monday, January 5. He follows in the footsteps of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, who both recently announced their departures after less than a year in the role. A lot has changed since the first person sat in the Evening News chair. For me, the biggest difference is this: people don't trust us like they used to. And it's not just us. It's all legacy media, Dokoupil said. open image in gallery Tony Dokoupil has promised that his new CBS Evening News show will be independent from its corporate owner, pledging transparency and integrity to his viewers in order to earn back public trust in the media ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) On too many stories the press missed the story. Because we've taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you. Dokoupils appointment as CBS Evening News anchor was confirmed last month as part of a swath of network changes under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. Weiss has already faced controversy and criticism from within her own staff. Last week Weiss reportedly pulled a segment from 60 Minutes which focused on the Trump administrations deportation of migrants to a brutal maximum security prison in El Salvador. Sharyn Alfonsi, the correspondent behind the piece, described the decision to spike the segment as political. open image in gallery Dokoupils appointment as CBS Evening News anchor was confirmed last month as part of a swath of new network changes under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who has already faced controversy ( Getty ) In his message, Dokoupil pledged to block any corporate intrusion in his reporting. I became a journalist to talk to people. I love talking to people about what works in this country, what doesn't, and not only what should change, but the good ideas that never should, he said. I think telling the truth is one of them. Hold me to it. His optimism was not shared by all, including former Fox News and NBC host Megyn Kelly, who declared on X: Nothing will happen at CBS. Nothing. Legacy media is dead and evening news has been totally irrelevant for a long time. CBS has not had evening viewers in any competitive way in more than a decade. Its not reversible, Kelly wrote. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice When future historians look back and try to understand just how bizarre politics were in 2025, a useful period to revisit would be early July. Thats when Elon Musk, shortly after his acrimonious split with the White House and accusations Trump was in the Epstein files, watched as his Grok AI anti-woke chatbot began calling itself MechaHitler and praising the genocidal leader. While xAI quickly moved to take down the comments and ban hate speech posts, the offensive flare-up on a flagship product from one of the countrys richest and most politically connected figures captured the fast-moving, and often disorienting, ways politics and AI collided in 2025. Top to bottom, AI impacted everything about national politics this year, from the presidents high-stakes trade negotiations with China, to the granular ways Americans communicated and sussed out fact versus fiction. An (AI) picture is worth 1,000 words open image in gallery Donald Trump was 2025s most prominent, and maybe most eager, adopter of AI in politics, regularly using fake images to troll opponents and tout the administrations deportation crackdowns ( @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social ) No one in politics was more eager to embrace AI than Donald Trump, who built on early experiments during the 2024 campaign and proceeded to turn AI into his in-house propaganda factory, churning out countless, often outrageous, digital images to promote his policies and mock his enemies. Accounts tied to the president, immigration agencies, and other top government figures now put out near daily AI-generated images and videos, though perhaps none were as striking as a September post, in which Trump made an Apocalypse Now-style image of himself as a general declaring war on Chicago, as the White House targeted the city for its next immigration crackdown. Chicago is about to find out why its called the Department of WAR, the Truth Social post read, a striking message of aggression from a U.S. leader against an American city. Mike Ananny, an associate professor of communications and journalism at the University of Southern California, said such images being shared at the highest level suggest a new political paradigm is underway. Being caught using doctored or fake images used to be considered shameful and verboten. Not so anymore. Theres no sense of, Oh no, we were caught using a synthetically generated image, he told The Independent. All gloves are off. People dont seem to care. Republicans werent the only ones hopping on the trend. open image in gallery California Gov. Gavin Newsom has answered Trump with AI propaganda of his own, including a December post showing Trump administration officials in handcuffs ( @GavinNewsom/x ) California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as part of his recent turn towards Trump-style online trolling tactics, now fires back at the MAGA crowd with near-daily AI images of his own, including a recent December post for cuffing season showing Trump, White House Deputy chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in handcuffs, set to a song from a 2022 Saturday Night Live sketch. The same AI-fuelled dynamic played out in high-profile local races, including the harshly fought New York City mayoral race. There, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's campaign briefly released and then deleted an AI video featuring fake testimonials from criminals for Zohran Mamdani, his opponent, prompting criticisms that the former governor was using racist stereotypes. (The campaign later said the video was mistakenly posted by a junior staffer.) Trump and the art of the AI deal From the very first moments of the Trump administration, which began with major tech companies involved in AI lavishing donations on the presidents inauguration, artificial intelligence has been a core part of the White House agenda at home and abroad. Domestically, AI drove huge parts of the Trump economic strategy. open image in gallery Tech billionaires and firms heavily invested in AI have been major donors to the Trump campaign, inauguration, and White House ballroom project, and they have enjoyed an administration thats seeking to head off regulation that might slow AI development and data center construction ( Getty ) To continue the boom in AI investment, the White House has pushed to waive landmark environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act to speed up data-center construction, while Trump, in December, signed an executive order seeking to block states from implementing their own patchwork of AI regulations. The administration has also touted the Stargate project, a project from OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank to direct hundreds of billions of dollars in domestic AI investment. In Washington, Musk, at least before his break with Trump, was reportedly using AI to skim government contracts and cut regulations as part of his unprecedented, slash-and-burn DOGE effort to eliminate government spending. Meanwhile, in the first three quarters of 2025, lobbying firms raked in nearly $100m working on AI-related issues, according to an estimate from Bloomberg Government, while millions more have been spent on in-house efforts from top Big Tech firms. Even though Silicon Valley has leaned liberal in past decades, and the Trump movement had long criticized tech companies for alleged censorship, the simultaneous beginnings of the AI era and the Trump II presidency seemed to mark a political detente between Big Tech and MAGA. open image in gallery Increased access to the White House helped AI CEOs convince the Trump administration not to send agents into San Francisco for the kind of immigration crackdown thats hit so many other Democrat-led cities this year ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Top AI firms are among the major donors to the presidents $400m White House ballroom project, and the president said in October a call from Jensen Huang, CEO of the major AI chipmaker Nvidia, was part of what convinced him not to send a massed force of agents into San Francisco for the kind of immigration crackdown that has besieged so many other Democrat-led cities across the country over the last year. Overseas, major U.S. tech and AI companies had a way of being involved in key diplomatic moves, whether it was U.S. firms committing billions in investment and hardware as part of the September U.S.-UK tech prosperity deal, or the Trump administration using access to top U.S. AI chips as a bargaining tool, allowing sales of lesser Nvidia chips to adversaries like China so long as the U.S. got a 25 percent cut, while permitting top-of-the-line gear to go to friendlier countries like the UAE, where the Trump family has major business interests. Fake calls, glowfakes, and a shredding fabric of reality Even as AI rapidly speeds up productivity in fields ranging from coding to medical discovery, the technology has quickly injected even further doubt into an already fractured political moment where Americans (including the president) regularly dismiss facts as fake news and believe demonstrably false information. Beyond just the MechaHitler incident, Grok has appeared multiple times to align with the right-wing politics of its creator, despite Musks insistence that the AI chatbot is meant to be truth-seeking and outside political pressures. open image in gallery Elon Musk-related AI efforts have been all over national politics this year, from AI-powered spending cuts as part of his DOGE program with the Trump administration, to Musks Grok chatbot mimicking its creators right-wing cultural politics ( Getty ) In May, Grok began repeatedly invoking a non-existent white genocide in Musks native South Africa, telling users it was instructed by my creators to accept the genocide as real and racially motivated. (The company blamed the responses on someone making an unauthorized modification to Grok code.) In June, Musk promised to modify Grok because it was parroting legacy media by pointing to accurate data showing right-wing political violence was more prevalent than left-wing attacks in recent decades. AI has also blurred reality by giving tricksters and U.S. adversaries alike easy access to sophisticated impersonation tools. In July, an impostor reportedly used a fake AI voice to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and contact top U.S. officials and foreign ministers. open image in gallery AI trickers allegedly used software to impersonate Secretary of Marco Rubio in an apparent attempt to access sensitive information ( AP ) Authorities believe the impostor was seeking to trick officials with the goal of gaining access to information or accounts, a diplomatic cable, obtained by The Washington Post, stated. Daniel S. Schiff, co-director of Purdue Universitys Governance and Responsible AI Lab, has worked with a team of researchers to catalogue a variety of different ways AI deepfakes are being used in political persuasion, from fanfakes, unrealistic positive AI tributes to political figures, to darkfakes, highly realistic and negative portrayals. An analysis from the 2024 election showed that fanfakes were, in fact, the most popular kind. Schiff told The Independent there were countless ways AI could positively improve political information, such as making historical facts and political data easier to search and analyze, but the industry and public attention have been far more focused on rapidly using the latest tools. Hundreds of billions are being invested into innovation and a very tiny portion of that is being invested into safety and responsible approaches, he said. AI battle lines are being drawn for 2026 open image in gallery AI companies are pouring money into PACs ahead of the 2026 midterms, while political commentators suggest either party could benefit by answering Americans widespread AI skepticism ( AFP via Getty Images ) Given the deep skepticism many Americans feel towards AI, artificial intelligence looks set to be a key political issue in 2026, just like it was in 2025. Silicon Valley firms have poured more than $100 million into a network of political action committees and groups to defend the industry amid midterm season, while political commentators argue that either party could benefit by answering Americans concerns about this new technology. One major question, going into 2026, is which party will speak for the Americans who abhor the incursions of A.I. into their lives and want to see its reach restricted. Another is whether widespread public hostility to this technology even matters given all the money behind it, Michelle Goldberg wrote in a recent New York Times op-ed. Well soon start to find out not just how much A.I. is going to remake our democracy, but also to what degree we still have one. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Mali and Burkina Faso said late Tuesday they would ban U.S. citizens from entering their countries in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trumps decision to ban Malian and Burkinabe citizens from entering the United States. The announcements, made in separate statements by the foreign ministers of the two West African countries, marked the latest twist in the frosty relationship between West African military governments and the U.S. On Dec. 16, Trump expanded earlier travel restrictions to 20 more countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which are run by juntas and have formed a breakaway association from the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States. In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation informs the national and international community that, with immediate effect, the Government of the Republic of Mali will apply the same conditions and requirements to US nationals as those imposed on Malian citizens, the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Another statement signed by Burkina Fasos Minister of Foreign Affairs Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore cited similar reasons for the ban on American nationals entering Burkina Faso. The White House noted persistent attacks by armed groups as one of the reasons for the travel ban. Mali and Burkina Faso have struggled to contain armed groups that have spread rapidly in both countries. The juntas vowed to fight the armed groups after deposing civilian governments over the insecurity that has roiled much of the region. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Eight Jeffrey Epstein survivors are calling for the impeachment of Donald Trump, as well as demanding an investigation into Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI boss Kash Patel, over the governments handling of the Epstein files release. Since the Epstein files were released on 19 December, survivors of the convicted pedophile have been critical of the heavy redactions of the documents. One of the survivors, Haley Robson, has spoken out publicly in an exclusive interview to reporter Sabah Choudhry from Channel 5 News in the UK. She called Trumps actions illegal after some files were still withheld despite the December 19th deadline, demanding the full release of the documents. Robson said: Its important we push for impeachment of President Trump after 20-plus years of trying to find a resolution with our abuser and enablers. open image in gallery An email discussing Jeffrey Epstein's private jet flight records mentioned Donald Trump in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C, US on December 23, 2025 ( DOJ ) Robson said she was a Trump voter and supporter of the GOP, but has now since retracted her support - I retract all support for Donald Trump, the Attorney General, and the head of the FBI that were involved in breaking the law that this administration put into law, which is releasing all the Epstein files. I would like to see No. 47 impeached. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump promised to release the files. Still, he has since done a U-turn, claiming that the documents are a distraction from his own partys achievements. Trump said, What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican party has, Trump said in December. Robson added, Trump campaigned with promises of transparency, specifically regarding the Epstein files. I believed in that and in him. He lied to us. I watched Pam Bondi and Patels congressional hearing on TVThey both lied and said there was no credible evidence. Its simply false. All the survivors including our attorneys have given loads of important supporting evidence and proof. In addition, Pam Bondi said she had them on her desk, another lie. Not one of them can be trusted. open image in gallery 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 ( DOJ ) Accountability is holding the head of our FBI and our attorney general in contempt and leading an open investigation into both, Robson also said. She reiterated: Theres no room in society for the destruction of humanity through sexual violence. Our mothers our sisters, our children are off limits. They are our future, without children, theres no future. Another anonymous survivor told 5 News: Its truly disheartening to see Kash Patel and Pam Bondi fall short in their roles at the Department of Justice. As public servants, theyre supposed to protect and serve the people, but their failureslike fabricating documents and mishandling sensitive informationhave let us all down. Its important to remember that survivors are the true heroes in this fight for justice. We, the survivors, deserve transparency and honesty, not misleading actions. Its a heavy disappointment that these officials have let us down, and its clear that for trust to be restored, they need to step aside. The American people deserve leaders who truly prioritize justice and transparency. This comes after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Trump have been called into question over their connection to Epstein. open image in gallery Composite of handout emails dated 04/04/11 issued by US Congress Oversight Committee of emails between (then) Prince Andrew, Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. The emails are part of thousands of documents from Epstein's estate were published on Wednesday November 12, 2025 ( US Congress Oversight Committee ) An email appearing to be from the former prince to Ghislaine Maxwell asked if shed found him new "inappropriate friends. Flight records also show President Trump was a frequent flyer on Epsteins private plane. Both men strongly deny any wrongdoing. The White House, the Attorney General, and the FBI have all been approached for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A top political fact-checking has dubbed 2025 the Year of the Lies, due to the sheer volume of mistruths and false information that has been spread by politicians. Since 2009, PolitiFact has published its annual Lie of the Year, taken from its own analysis as well as submissions from the general public. We've been doing this for a long time, and the volume and severity of the inaccurate claims was just overwhelming, and we felt that it was insufficient to name just one our lie of the year, said Katie Sanders, editor-in-chief of PolitiFact. We wanted to catch people's attention and take stock of the times we're in, and so we thought renaming it and giving it a different purpose might do that. open image in gallery A top political fact-checking has dubbed 2025 the Year of the Lies, due to the sheer volume of mistruths and false information that has been spread by politicians ( AP ) PolitiFacts Lie of the Year, has previously been published to highlight a statement or collection of statements that is worthy of note for a consequential undermining of reality. This year, singling out one specific statement has not been possible, Sanders said. Though Sanders highlighted several statements from the Trump administration, including his claims about the dangers of pregnant women taking Tylenol and the crackdown on violent criminals, as being worthy of note, she added that PolitiFact examines alleged lies from both sides of the political aisle. In 2025, options for the top lie include Trumps baseless justifications for deadly boat strikes off Venezuelas coast, but also Democratic Governor JB Pritzkers assessment of food stamp "SNAP machines. open image in gallery One top contender for Lie of the Year was Democratic Governor JB Pritzkers assessment of food stamp SNAP machines ( Getty Images ) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus claim of "no starvation" in Gaza was also considered to be one of the years biggest and most blatant lies. Yes, we're spotlighting several statements from the Trump administration, but the lows of the year for political rhetoric and influential speech are not the White House's alone, Sanders told PBS. We're contending with a really fraught online information environment where AI slop is abundant, misleading out of context, narratives abound, and you just can't believe what you see, and we worry that people are too numb to the drumbeat of misinformation. open image in gallery Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus claim of no starvation in Gaza was also considered to be one of the years biggest and most blatant lies, according to PolitiFact ( Getty ) That is very dangerous, frankly, for us to be in and so I hope that our Year of the Lies catches people's attention and reminds them why it's important to improve media literacy and pause before taking everything at face value. PolitiFact highlighted three examples of instances where lies have had serious implications for real people, including a soybean farmer affected by tariff uncertainty, a pediatrician who was forced to quit her job, and two Salvadorian brothers seeking asylum who were branded the worst of the worst and deported. In 2024, Trump and his running mate JD Vances claim that Haitian migrants were eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio, took the title of Lie of the Year, though the president now has four such titles as well as three supporting roles. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice As the Trump administrations deadline to get approval for its $400 million White House ballroom looms, insiders have revealed how the president plans to navigate the project through a lengthy review process. The ballroom needs to be approved by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts before construction can get underway. However, its reported that Donald Trump thinks he can clinch this by early March. Construction on the ballroom would begin just weeks later. The White House is reportedly making plans to accelerate the process even further. Trump officials told The Washington Post that former Trump appointees could be invited to rejoin the CFA after their four-year terms were cut short by the Biden administration. open image in gallery Donald Trump was slammed for tearing down the East Wing of the White House to make way for his ballroom ( Getty Images ) Members of Trumps inner circle also told the publication that loyalists to the president could also be parachuted into top jobs despite having little arts expertise, in order to expedite the process. The commission is also set to review other projects in Washington D.C., including Trumps huge ceremonial arc. A meeting with administration officials and members of the NCPC and the CFA was already held on December 19. Formal applications were submitted a week later, a White House official confirmed to CBS. The next step for the Trump administration is a public informational meeting with the NCPC, scheduled for January 8. A CFA meeting has been scheduled for a week later. According to CBS, the final step will include a presentation to the CFA on February 19. The final NCPC meeting will follow on March 5. In the meantime, the National Park Service said in a court filing last month that construction on the ballroom will not begin until April 2026, at the earliest, according to E&E News. open image in gallery He has bragged that everyone loves the project, which will cost $400 million ( JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images ) Trump has been locked in a court battle over his ballroom for several weeks, after the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit against his administration in December. The trust suggested that Trump failed to complete the legally required reviews for the project and had yet to receive congressional approval for his plans. No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever not President Trump, not President Joe Biden, and not anyone else, the Trusts complaint read. The cost of Trumps ballroom has ballooned to $400 million, double the $200 million price tag he floated. The ballroom will be funded with private investment, with Amazon, Apple, and Google all pouring money into the project. Although construction has not yet begun on either his ceremonial arch or his ballroom, Trump says that the public loves both projects. It hasnt started yet. It starts sometime in the next two months. Itll be great. Everyone loves it, Trump told Politico. They love the ballroom too. But they love the Triumphal Arch. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Iran threatened American interests across the Middle East on Friday after Donald Trump warned that the US army is locked and loaded if Tehran kills protesters. As the country is rocked by the most significant demonstrations since 2022, Trump said the US military would come to the rescue of Iranian protesters if they are violently killed. At least seven people have been killed so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, sparked in part by the collapse of Iran's currency. Protestors have been heard calling for the overthrow of supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue, Trump warned. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP he added. It was not clear from his comments what assistance the US would offer the protesters. open image in gallery Donald Trump has threatened Iran with war over fresh protests in the Middle Eastern country ( AP ) Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the Ayatollah, said Irans national security was a red line, not material for adventurist tweets. Any intervening hand nearing Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response, he said in a post on X. Shortly after, Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker who serves as the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, claimed without evidence that Israel and the US were stoking the demonstrations. Trump should know that intervention by the US in the domestic problem corresponds (to) chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the US interests," he wrote on X, which the Iranian government blocks. The people of the US should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers. open image in gallery Protestors have blocked the roads in Irans major cities as tensions continue to build ( Fars News Agency ) The protests in Iran have primarily centred on the countrys economic hardships, many of which have persisted since the U.S. first imposed tariffs on the countrys government in 2018. The last widespread protests in Iran took place in 2022 following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman accused by morality police of not wearing her veil properly. Her death triggered protests that spread across the country and rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Irans four-decade-old Islamic theocracy. Social media video obtained by the BBC showed cars being set ablaze and roads blocked in the capital Tehran, as well as Azna and Kouhdasht. However, one of Trumps former loyalists has slammed the president for wanting to get involved in unrest overseas. open image in gallery An overturned car and multiple fires burn as protesters chant outside a police station ( Social media ) Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ended 2025 with a furious post on X, in which she claimed that Americans were planning a tax revolt over Trumps involvement in foreign wars. Trump spent the weekend with Zelensky and Netanyahu, Pentagon fails audit again, meanwhile Americans are planning a tax revolt because they dont know what else to do to get their elected officials to stop their money from being given to thieves, foreigners, and foreign wars, she wrote. Greene previously criticized Trump for authorizing a strike on three nuclear facilities in Iran in June 2025. Nicknamed Operation Midnight Hammer, the strike saw fourteen bunker buster bombs being unloaded on the facilities in a bid to prevent Iran from allegedly developing a nuclear weapon. The bombing was the only direct US involvement in Israels war with Iran, which also ended in June. open image in gallery Some of the protestors have been heard calling for the overthrowing of Ayatollah Khamenei ( Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader ) As tensions soar with Iran just days into 2026, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer warned that the US needs to exercise extreme caution if further strikes go ahead. Well, it depends on what the target is, he told The Chris Salcedo Show on Thursday. There are a number of things that are going on right now that we could be helpful with. One of those things, obviously, is the unrest in the street, he added. We want to make it very clear, were against the mullahs and theocracy, not the people of Iran. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trumps administration has dramatically reduced proposed tariffs on Italian pasta companies, marking the latest reversal in the presidents sweeping tariff regime. In September, the Department of Commerce announced that 13 Italian pasta makers would face a tariff rate of 92 percent on top of the 15 percent rate placed on all products from the European Union, according to a January 1 news release from the Italian Foreign Ministry. The department accused the brands of unfair trade practices specifically dumping products into the U.S. at below market rates. In particular, U.S. officials accused two companies, La Molisana and Garofalo, of failing to cooperate with their pricing investigation. The companies contested these allegations, and the Italian government supported their arguments in a memo filed through its embassy in Washington, D.C. After a review, the Commerce Department slashed the proposed tariffs for La Molisana to 2 percent, while the rate for Garofalo was set to 14 percent. The other 11 pasta makers will now face a rate of 9 percent. open image in gallery The U.S. has dramatically lowered proposed tariffs on several Italian pasta makers, Italys foreign ministry announced on Thursday ( AFP via Getty Images ) The recalculation of the duties is a sign that U.S. authorities recognize our companies constructive willingness to cooperate, the foreign ministry said, according to Reuters. The Commerce departments full review is expected to be released in March. Italys pasta exports were worth roughly $4.7 billion in 2024, with sales to the U.S. accounting for about $800 million of that total, according to Italys National Institute of Statistics. The Trump administrations proposed tariffs were a source of embarrassment for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who believed her close relationship with Trump would spare Italian companies from high rates, according to Reuters. open image in gallery The pasta tariffs proved awkward for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who trusted her strong alliance with President Donald Trump would protect Italian companies from steep levies, according to Reuters ( Getty Images ) The sharp cut in duties for pasta makers is just the latest in a string of tariff rollbacks and delays by the Trump administration a pattern critics have derided using the phrase Trump Always Chickens Out, or TACO. On New Years Eve, the White House announced that rate increases scheduled to impact furniture, vanities and kitchen cabinets would be delayed by one year. In November, Trump signed an executive order removing tariffs from more than 200 agricultural staples, including beef, coffee, orange juice and bananas. And earlier this year, the administration announced a 90-day pause on its so-called reciprocal tariffs which were set to impact dozens of countries, including Canada and Mexico. The White House has maintained that the series of rollbacks does not mean the presidents tariff strategy is failing. This is nothing new," National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CNBC in November when he was asked whether the U-turns represent an acknowledgement that the administrations policies have led to higher costs. A day earlier, Hassett told ABC News that price increases seen in some sectors weren't solely attributable to tariffs. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. Polls show that many Americans are feeling constrained by prices. More than one-third of Trumps own voters believe the cost of living in the U.S. is the worst theyve ever seen, according to a Politico survey conducted in November. In September, the consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.3 percent month-over-month and by 3 percent year-over-year, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Gas and food prices also crept up, though the results were better than economists expected, according to CNN. The latest rollback also comes as the Supreme Court is considering whether to strike down Trumps claim of emergency powers to levy tariffs by executive fiat. In November, Trump warned the court of serving hostile foreign interests ahead of its ruling. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Australian authorities are trying to confirm reports that a national was reportedly killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia. The man, identified in social media posts as Russell Allan Wilson, was killed on 12 December in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, according to local media reports. In an Instagram post on 19 December, a man identifying himself as a US army veteran said Wilson had been killed during combat and had chosen to remain in Ukraine despite the risks. He chose to stay when it would have been easier to leave, the post said. He stood his ground in a place where freedom is paid for in blood. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is aware of reports that an Australian has died in Ukraine and is seeking confirmation from local authorities, a department spokesperson said on Thursday. The department is responsible for Australias foreign policy and international relations, development aid, consular services, overseas trade, and investment. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) quoted a friend of Wilson as saying he was killed during his final mission. Other posts said Wilson was originally from Gosford on the New South Wales Central Coast and had also lived in Brisbane before travelling to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion. These details have not been independently confirmed. The Australian governments travel advice is do not travel to Ukraine, a DFAT spokesperson said, adding that officials were providing consular assistance to the mans family. At least eight Australians are believed to have died while fighting in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Another Australian, former Melbourne teacher Oscar Jenkins, is believed to be the only Australian captured as a prisoner of war by Russian forces. Jenkins was initially reported killed, but Australias foreign minister, Penny Wong, later said Russia had confirmed he was alive. Ms Wong said Jenkins had been subjected to what she described as a sham trial and was now imprisoned. Australian Ukrainian groups have urged the federal government to push for his inclusion in any future prisoner exchanges, warning he risks being forgotten as the war continues. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The French government has defended its decision to grant citizenship to Hollywood actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. Officials said that the couple were naturalised because they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to Frances international influence and cultural outreach. The naturalisations, which also include their twins Ella and Alexander, were announced last weekend in the Journal Officiel, the official gazette for French decrees. However, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, expressed misgivings on Wednesday. She suggested that some French compatriots might believe the star couple received special treatment, given the actors own admission that his French is horrible, horrible. Speaking to France Info, she said: The message being sent is not good. She added: There is an issue of fairness that, in my eyes, is absolutely essential. open image in gallery George and Amal Clooney have been granted French citizenship ( Invision/AP ) The couple purchased an estate in France in 2021 and Clooney has said that it is their primary residence. It wasnt clear whether the 64-year-old actor retained his American citizenship. His 47-year-old wife was born in Lebanon, raised in the UK, and naturalised by France under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin. The 8-year-old twins were born in London. The Foreign Ministry said the Clooneys were eligible for citizenship under a French law that allows for the naturalisation of foreign nationals who contribute to France's international influence and economic well-being. It argued that France's cinema industry will benefit from the actor's clout as a global movie star and said that as a lawyer, Amal Clooney regularly works with academic institutions and international organisations in France. open image in gallery George and Amal Clooney have strong ties to France, the countrys government says ( Invision/AP ) They maintain strong personal, professional and family ties with our country," the ministry said. Like many French citizens, we are delighted to welcome Georges and Amal Clooney into the national community," it concluded, giving the actor's first name a French twist by adding the s at the end. The decision was also defended by Vedrenne's superior at the Interior Ministry, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who said he signed the naturalisation decree. It's a big chance for our country, he said. In recent media interviews when he was promoting Jay Kelly, Clooney said that he is trying to teach himself French using a language-learning app. He said that his wife and children speak the language perfectly. They speak French in front of me so that they can say terrible things about me to my face and I dont know, he joked, speaking to French broadcaster Canal+. French media have reported that the Clooneys live part-time in their luxury 18th-century villa outside the town of Brignoles in southern France, where they can keep a lower profile and their children are protected from unauthorised photographs by French privacy laws. In an interview with Esquire in October, Clooney said: I was worried about raising our kids in LA, in the culture of Hollywood. I dont want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I dont want them being compared to somebody elses famous kids," he said. Growing up away from the spotlight in France, they have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Moscow says the death toll from a Ukrainian drone strike in a Russian-occupied village in Ukraines Kherson region has risen to 27 but Kyiv denied attacking civilian targets. Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswoman of Russia's main criminal investigation agency, the Investigative Committee, said a drone strike on a cafe and hotel in the village of Khorly, where at least 100 civilians were celebrating New Year's Eve overnight into Thursday, killed 27 people, including two children, and 31 in hospital. A criminal probe on the charges of carrying out an act of terrorism has been opened, Petrenko said. Kyiv denied attacking civilians. Spokesman of Ukraines General Staff, Dmytro Lykhovii, told Ukraine's public broadcaster Suspilne that Ukrainian forces adhere to the norms of international humanitarian law and "carry out strikes exclusively against Russian military targets, facilities of the Russian fuel and energy sector, and other lawful targets. Lykhovii said an explicit list of targets that the Ukrainian army struck on New Years Eve did not include strikes on occupied parts of the Kherson region. He also noted that Russia has repeatedly used disinformation and false statements to disrupt the ongoing peace negotiations. The Associated Press could not independently verify claims made about the attack. Russia's accusations against Ukraine come amid a US-led diplomatic push to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine. Earlier this week, Moscow alleged that Kyiv launched a long-range drone attack against a residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in northwestern Russia overnight from Sunday to Monday. Kyiv has called the allegations of an attack on Putins residence a ruse to derail ongoing peace negotiations, which have ramped up in recent weeks on both sides of the Atlantic. In his New Years address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a peace deal was 90% ready but warned that the remaining 10%, believed to include key sticking points such as territory, would determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia conducted what local authorities called one of the most massive drone attacks at Zaporizhzhia overnight. At least nine Russian drones struck the city, damaging dozens of residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure, head of the regional administration, Ivan Fedorov, wrote on Telegram on Friday. There were no casualties, the official said. Overall, Russia fired 116 long-range drones at Ukraine last night, according to Ukraines Air Force, which said that 86 drones were intercepted, while 27 more have reached their targets. The Russian Defense Ministry reported Friday that its air defenses intercepted 64 Ukrainian drones overnight over multiple Russian regions. Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia's Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine, on Friday also accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out a missile strike on the city of Belgorod. Two women were hospitalized with injuries, Gladkov said. The strike shattered windows in multiple residential buildings and damaged an unspecified commercial facility and a number of cars, according to the official. Close Trump expresses hope on 'good news' from peace talks between Ukraine and Russia On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of exploiting a US proposal to briefly halt strikes in Ukraine to stockpile missiles, rather than support diplomacy. Russia has resumed its attacks following a brief pause over the weekend requested by Donald Trump On Tuesday, it carried out its largest attack of the year so far, firing 450 drones and 71 missiles at Ukraine. It was a deliberate attack against energy infrastructure, involving a record number of ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian president said. In fact, the Russian army exploited the US proposal to briefly halt strikes not to support diplomacy, but to stockpile missiles and wait until the coldest days of the year, when temperatures across large parts of Ukraine drop below -20C (-4F). As of Tuesday morning, emergency power cuts were in effect in the Ukrainian capital after Russian forces again targeted power plants and energy infrastructure. It comes after Ukraine and its western allies agreed that Russian violations of a future ceasefire agreement would be met with a military response by Europe before any involvement by the US, according to a report in the Financial Times. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The recent fire at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, which tragically left dozens presumed dead and around 100 injured on New Year's Day, casts a stark light on the devastating potential of such incidents. This latest tragedy adds to a grim history of nightclub, bar, and music venue fires that have claimed numerous lives across the globe. Among the most significant such disasters are: March 2025: A fire and subsequent stampede at the crowded Pulse club in Kocani, North Macedonia, resulted in 63 fatalities, predominantly young revellers, and over 200 injuries. The inferno was sparked by a pyrotechnic flame that rapidly engulfed the club's roof. April 2024: In Istanbul, Turkey, a blaze at the Masquerade nightclub claimed the lives of 29 individuals, trapping workers and employees during renovations. The venue was situated on the ground and basement floors of a 16-storey residential building. October 2023: A fire originating in a nightclub in Murcia, southeastern Spain, and spreading to two adjacent clubs, led to the deaths of 13 people. January 2022: In Sorong, Indonesias West Papua province, 19 people died when a nightclub burned down following an altercation between two groups inside the premises. January 2022: Explosions triggered by a blaze at Livs Nightclub Yaouba in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital, killed 17 people. Authorities suggested fireworks ignited the roof, with the fire then spreading to areas storing cooking gas. These catastrophic events underscore the persistent dangers associated with crowded venues ( Reuters ) December 2016: Thirty-six individuals perished in a fire at a warehouse in Oakland, California, known as the "Ghost Ship." This space, illegally converted into a residence and event venue for artists, caught fire during an electronic music and dance party. The blaze spread so rapidly that victims on the unlawfully constructed second floor became trapped. October 2015: A fire ignited by a rock bands pyrotechnics display at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, Romania, killed 64 people and injured approximately 190. January 2013: More than 200 people died in a fire at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, southern Brazil. Investigators determined that soundproofing foam on the ceiling caught fire, releasing toxic gases that quickly overwhelmed attendees at a university party. December 2009: Some 152 people lost their lives when a blaze erupted at the Lame Horse nightclub in Perm, Russia. The fire began when an indoor fireworks display ignited a plastic ceiling adorned with branches. January 2009: An indoor fireworks display following a New Years countdown sparked a fire at the Santika club in Bangkok, Thailand, killing 67 and injuring many more. Victims succumbed to burns, smoke inhalation, and crush injuries. September 2008: Forty-four people died at the overcrowded King of Dancers nightclub in Shenzhen, China, after a fireworks show ignited the ceiling, causing a stampede. December 2004: In Buenos Aires, Argentina, 194 people were killed at the packed Cromagnon Republic club when a flare ignited ceiling foam. Club owner Omar Chaban received a 20-year prison sentence for causing the deadly fire and for bribery, while others received lighter penalties. February 2003: A fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, in the United States, claimed 100 lives and injured over 200. Fireworks used by the band set fire to flammable foam inside the club. January 2001: A fire at a cafe in the Dutch town of Volendam, where New Year celebrations were underway, killed 14 people and injured more than 200. December 2000: A welding accident was blamed for a fire that killed 309 people at a disco in the central Chinese city of Luoyang. October 1998: An arson attack on an overcrowded youth disco in Goteborg, Sweden, resulted in 63 deaths and around 200 injuries. Four individuals were later convicted for starting the fire. March 1996: A fire at the Ozone Disco Pub in Quezon City, Philippines, killed 162 people, many of whom were students celebrating the end of the academic year. March 1990: An arson attack at the Happy Land nightclub in the Bronx, New York City, killed 87 people. The fire began when a man, angered by his girlfriend, poured gasoline on the clubs sole exit and set it alight, then jammed the metal front gate, trapping people inside. December 1983: A fire at the Alcala dance hall in Madrid, Spain, left 78 people dead and over 20 injured. May 1977: A fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky, killed 165 people and injured more than 200. November 1942: The deadliest nightclub fire in US history claimed 492 lives at Bostons Cocoanut Grove club. This tragedy at what was once a prominent Boston nightspot led to new regulations for sprinkler systems and accessible exits. April 1940: A fire ignited the decorative Spanish moss adorning the ceiling of the Rhythm Night Club in Natchez, Mississippi, killing 209 people. The clubs windows had been boarded up, preventing escape. These catastrophic events underscore the persistent dangers associated with crowded venues, often exacerbated by pyrotechnics, flammable materials, inadequate exits, or deliberate acts. Each incident serves as a grim reminder of the critical need for stringent safety regulations and their rigorous enforcement to prevent future tragedies. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Beijing has warned the United Nations that the rapid expansion of Elon Musks Starlink satellite constellations in low-Earth orbit pose pronounced safety and security concerns globally. With the rapid expansion of commercial space activities, the unchecked proliferation of commercial satellite constellations by a certain country, in the absence of effective regulation, has given rise to pronounced safety and security challenges, a Chinese representative said at an informal UN Security Council event. The Beijing representative cited several incidents, including near collisions between Starlink satellites and the Chinese space station in 2021. Referring to SpaceXs Starlink satellites, the representative said that such constellations crowd frequency-orbit resources [data shared by all satellites in orbit for communication] and significantly increase the risk of collisions, SCMP first reported. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rises after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base carrying 28 Starlink internet satellites ( Getty Images ) Several recent studies have warned that as the number of satellites in orbit increase rapidly in the era of mega-constellations like SpaceX Starlink probes, there is rapidly increasing chances of satellite collisions. Currently, as many as 8,500 of the 12,955 active satellites in low-Earth orbit, with just over 66 per cent part of these probes part of SpaceXs Starlink constellation. SpaceX chief Elon Musk has said the Starlink constellation could eventually have over 42,000 satellites, with the company currently having permission to launch 12,000. Each of these satellites is designed for a five-year lifespan before it is deliberately burned up in the Earths atmosphere. Meanwhile, Chinese projects, including the Quianfan broadband network, plans to launch their own internet satellite megaconstellations rivalling SpaceX. The Shanghai state-backed project aims to mass produce and launch over 15,000 satellites by 2030 to provide global broadband coverage. With the low-Earth orbit increasingly getting crowded since 2018, the Chinese representative called for countries to better enforce regulations on their commercial space activities. The diplomat said a Starlink satellite in 2021 conducted dangerous close approaches to Chinas space station ... posing grave threats to the safety of Chinese astronauts. For spacecraft operated by developing countries that lack orbit-control capability, space situational awareness, or sufficient reaction time, this undoubtedly constitutes a major risk, the unnamed representative said in a statement. SpaceX has not immediately responded to The Independents request for comment. Beijing also warned that commercial satellites are increasingly being used for reconnaissance and battlefield communications, which aggravated the risk of an arms race in outer space. The diplomat called on the US in a veiled reference to strengthen regulation and oversight of its commercial space activities, and respond to the concerns of the international community. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Flight attendants often post on social media to warn passengers against drinking the onboard coffee, claiming its made with water that isnt clean enough. A recent study supports their stance and identifies the U.S. airlines most likely to carry potentially unsafe water: passengers on American Airlines,JetBlue, and multiple regional airlines should be most wary, according to the research. The study was conducted by the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity, which analyzed results from 35,674 water tests. These tests were conducted by the airlines over a three-year period October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2025 and were officially reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the carriers. The samples were collected from various aircraft points, such as galley faucets and bathroom sinks, and tested for coliforms, red-flag microbes that can indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms, and E. coli. This bacterium indicates fecal contamination and can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, pneumonia, and other illnesses. open image in gallery A recent study has picked out the US airlines most likely to carry potentially unsafe water: passengers using American Airlines and JetBlue, and multiple regional airlines, should be most wary ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) The researchers developed a scorecard for 10 major and 11 regional airlines based on factors including contamination levels, the number of violations per aircraft, and how often each carrier disinfected and flushed its aircraft water tanks. In total, 949 samples (2.66 percent) tested positive for coliforms, and 32 (0.09 percent) tested positive for E. coli. Among major airlines, American had the lowest score 1.75 out of five, or a grade D. JetBlue, which also ranked lowest in a 2019 water safety study, scored 1.8 but was still graded a D. Spirit was also graded D, but managed 2.05 out of five, while United, Hawaiian, and Southwest all received C grades. Allegiant Air and Alaska both received Bs, while Delta and Frontier topped the table with A grades and scores of five out of five and 4.8, respectively. The regional ranking was topped by GoJet, which scored 3.85 (grade B). Six carriers were graded DSkyWest Airlines, Envoy Air, PSA Airlines, Air Wisconsin, Republic Airways, and CommuteAir, and Mesa Airlines an F, with a score of just 1.35 out of five. Charles Platkin, PhD, director of the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity, remarked: Nearly all regional airlines need to improve their onboard water safety, with the exception of GoJet Airlines. open image in gallery American Airlines had the worst score for water safety 1.75 out of five, or a grade D ( American Airlines ) Water used in galleys and bathroom sinks is drawn from a water tank on the plane, which airlines are required to disinfect and flush four times per year. Still, the study noted that aircraft water systems can experience periods of stagnation between flights and temperature variations during ascent and descent. No matter how careful an airline is, contamination can still occur from airport hoses and tanks. Whats more, the number of bacteria breaches might be even higher, as researchers discovered a large number of incomplete EPA violation records, where the end date of the investigation was missing. These statistics were therefore not counted. With this in mind, Platkin recommends avoiding drinking water on board and even water from bathroom taps. He said: Never drink any water onboard that isnt in a sealed bottle and do not drink coffee or tea onboard. [In addition] do not wash your hands in the bathroom use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 per cent alcohol instead. American Airlines said in a statement: American's potable water program is fully in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR). A recent EPA audit showed there were no significant findings with our program, and we have not received any violations for any potable water cabinets or trucks that we use. "Our team is closely reviewing the Center for Food as Medicine & Longevitys analysis including its methodology and whether it was peer reviewed to determine any potential changes that would further enhance the safety and well-being of our customers and team." The Independent has reached out to JetBlue for comment. Airline water safety scores Major airlines Delta Air Lines: 5.00 (Grade A) Frontier Airlines: 4.80 (Grade A) Alaska Airlines: 3.85 (Grade B) Allegiant Air: 3.65 (Grade B) Southwest Airlines: 3.30 (Grade C) Hawaiian Airlines: 3.15 (Grade C) United Airlines: 2.70 (Grade C) Spirit Airlines: 2.05 (Grade D) JetBlue: 1.80 (Grade D) American Airlines: 1.75 (Grade D) Regional airlines From original sci-fi efforts to franchise instalments and conclusions, theres plenty of movie magic to look out for Tom Rhys Harries plays the eponymous Clayface in one of this years offerings from DC. Photo: Getty Sam Rockwell, who is the lead actor in the new film from Gore Verbinski. Photo: Getty We must savour these moments, when we dont know for certain how unhinged Emerald Fennells Wuthering Heights will be, or if the talking-sheep-solve-Hugh-Jackmans-murder movie (released May 8) is a once-in-a-generation classic or an absolute dumpster fire. Thats the joy of looking over a calendar of new films at this time of year its all so mysterious; so exciting; so encouraging of absolutely wild declarations. What we know for certain is that 2026 looks pretty great, with a slate full of provocative dramas, ambitious blockbusters, intriguing comedies and an inexplicable amount of Anne Hathaway. Seriously. Shes in four of the movies weve selected below, plus an elaborate pop-star psychodrama with Michaela Coel and, potentially, a Ron Howard film. Anyway, here are the 20 films were most excited for in 2026. Send Help Rachel McAdams leaves her house maybe once every two years, so Send Help is cause for celebration. Sam Raimis latest thriller seems like a juicy star vehicle for the Mean Girls actor, who plays a put-upon secretary to an abusive tech CEO (Dylan OBrien). The pair are stranded on a desert island following a plane crash, with McAdamss character seemingly taking advantage of the flip in power. Im the captain now, is the gist here. We are seated. (February 6) Charli xcx is involved with the soundtrack for Wuthering Heights. Photo: Getty Wuthering Heights It felt as if everyone had an opinion about this even before we saw its first trailer. Such is the power of the Saltburn filmmaker and master discourse-spinner Fennell. Margot Robbie is Catherine. Jacob Elordi is Heathcliff. Charli xcx is doing the soundtrack. You can practically hear the outrage already. But whats with those mysterious quote marks around the title? Could it be that Fennell has taken quite extreme liberties with her adaptation of Emily Brontes novel? And that we shouldnt get too angry about a movie that, per an early test screening report, features stylised depravity and clinical masturbation? This will inevitably break our collective brains this Valentines Day, but hopefully in a good way. (February 13) Good Luck, Have Fun, Dont Die Theres a new Gore Verbinski film coming out in 2026, and you should be more excited about that than you probably are. The filmmaker has nimbly dabbled in various genres over the last 30 years and is returning in 2026 with his first film since the admirable, if overcooked, A Cure for Wellness 10 years ago. Hes adding gonzo time-loop sci-fi to his repertoire with Good Luck, Have Fun, Dont Die, which follows a man from the future (Sam Rockwell) who travels back in time to recruit an army to prevent the development of a rogue AI. (February 20) Sam Rockwell, who is the lead actor in the new film from Gore Verbinski. Photo: Getty Sirat From the moment an elaborate set of speakers is shown being set up in the Moroccan desert, ahead of an illegal rave attracting hundreds of euphoria-hunting revellers, youll be hooked on the tone of Sirat one of perceived safety that can be superseded by horror at the flick of an amp switch. The story follows Luis (Sergi Lopez), who goes deep into the desert in search of his daughter, last seen at one of these raves. As the search intensifies, so too does the terrain around him, resulting in a slow-burn descent into hell that caused some of the biggest gasps at last years Cannes Film Festival. (February 27) The Drama Its still a little unclear how A24 will promote their black comedy The Drama, which revolves around Robert Pattinson discovering a maddeningly TMI secret about his new bride Zendaya on the eve of their wedding. If the rumours swirling around online are to be believed, said secret is legitimately very, very dark and very, very funny, so itd make sense for them to keep it under lock and key until the last minute. (April 3) The Devil Wears Prada 2 This film is a terrifying prospect, frankly. The original is a bona fide modern classic thats never quite fallen out of memory despite being released 20 years ago. Meryl Street and Kenneth Branagh film a scene from The Devil Wears Prada 2. Photo: Getty The stakes are incredibly high for the sequel, which sees Meryl Streep once again strap on her ice-white swoop of a wig to boss people about and tell them they look like crap. Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are all back, joined by newcomers including Lucy Liu and Kenneth Branagh. We are excited. Tentatively. (May 1) Disclosure Day Disclosure Day feels like Steven Spielbergs most conventionally Spielbergian blockbuster in maybe 20 years, its first trailer grand in scale and filled with striking images of end-of-the-world dread. We still know little about the plot, but it seems to be an ensemble piece about an alien invasion, with Blunt playing a TV reporter, and man of the moment Josh OConnor playing a conspiracy-brained UFO hunter. (June 12) Toy Story 5 Youre reading that correctly. Theres another Toy Story film arriving next year. This one will see Woody, Buzz et al fall from favour with new owner Bonnie thanks to the presence of her new favourite plaything: a frog-like tablet named Lilypad. The thought of another sequel might make your eyes roll, but this particular plot the extinction of physical toys in favour of digital distraction sounds like a bold new creative direction for the franchise. And if anyone can mine that for existential laughs, its Pixar. (June 19) Matt Damon as Odysseus in Christopher Nolans The Odyssey The Odyssey Youd think that Christopher Nolan might have wanted a rest after finally winning an Oscar on the heels of making absolute bangers for more than two decades. Instead, he only went bigger. Nolans Oppenheimer follow-up is his take on Homers Greek epic, and is led by Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Pattinson, Hathaway and a plethora of other stars, all of whom were clearly champing at the bit to work with the maestro. Intrigued to see how Nolan a fan of practical effects over CGI pulls off his version of a Trojan horse and the one-eyed cyclops? We are too. (July 17) Flowervale Street Were gonna call it now: Flowervale Street will be a disaster or a future cult classic. The evidence suggests the latter. First up, the plot is tantalisingly mysterious strange events pit a suburban couple (Hathaway and Ewan McGregor) on a perilous journey that potentially involves dinosaurs and secondly, its directed by David Robert Mitchell, whose last offering, Under the Silver Lake, was a down-the-rabbit-hole masterclass that didnt get enough love. This cryptic new one sounds like more of the same. It also lists JJ Abrams as producer, which means youre either striking this one from your memory or scribbling down the release date in permanent marker. (August 14) Clayface After the release last year of the decidedly not-appalling Superman, hopes are high for the DC stable, with James Gunn now in charge of it all. Theres Supergirl on June 26, of course, but were a little more hyped by Clayface a few months later. Tom Rhys Harries plays the eponymous Clayface in one of this years offerings from DC. Photo: Getty The Batman villain a struggling actor able to transform his appearance at will has never been depicted in live action before, and director James Watkins (of Eden Lake and Speak No Evil fame) has form with gnarly horror-thrillers. Throw in the left-of-centre casting of Tom Rhys Harries in the lead role and the presence of Naomi Ackie, coming off a sensational year via Sorry, Baby and Mickey 17, and this seems genuinely intriguing. (September 11) Whalefall Whats a cinema year without mindless action? Next years schedule is bursting with it. The one were most excited for, though, is Whalefall, and you will be too after reading the plot: a scuba diver searching for the remains of his father gets swallowed alive by a whale and attempts to escape. Need we say more? (October 16) Focker-In-Law Like that long-lost cousin you forgot about, the Focker family is back. The franchise was rightly put to bed after Little Fockers, but this new Meet the Parents sequel could well restore some of the originals magic. The main cast is back, including Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller. Ariana Grande, fresh from Wicked, is on hand to lure in a younger generation. Colour us cautiously optimistic that the film will be more fock yes than fock off. (November 25) Robert Downey Jr is revealed as Marvel villain Doctor Doom at Comic-Con 2024. Photo: Getty Avengers: Doomsday Next Christmas, the usual Avengers characters (Thor, the Captains America) return to cinemas, joined by the new Fantastic Four and the OG stars of X-Men (Ian McKellen, James Marsden, et al). At the centre of it all is Robert Downey Jr, who wont be playing the heroic Iron Man, but the films primary antagonist, Doctor Doom a casting stunt thatll either excite you or make you groan. (December 18) Dune: Part Three Sandworming its way into cinemas on the same day as the above is Denis Villeneuves third Dune film. It closes out the trilogy with a gloomy chapter set years after Dune: Part Two. If you want to find out what happens in the film, read Frank Herberts Dune: Messiah. For everyone else, all you need to know is that Timothee Chalamets Paul Atreides will be back, his flowing locks wont, and Pattinson has joined the cast as a shapeshifting villain with the catchy moniker Face Dancer Scytale. (December 18) The Adventures of Cliff Booth Does the world need a new film centred on Brad Pitts character from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood? Absolutely not. Will we be waiting with bated breath to watch it? We certainly will. Heightening excitement levels for the Netflix release is the small detail that Quentin Tarantino, whos written the prequel, has handed the project off to none other than David Fincher. The film is expected to show the stuntmans time in a POW camp during the World War II. It will also be the most expensive film of Tarantino and Finchers vast catalogues. (TBC) Rooney (left) and Kate Mara. Photo: Getty Bucking Fastard Weve been due a Rooney Mara comeback for a few years now, and we may get it with this movie from Werner Herzog, in which she plays opposite her sister, Kate. The film is reportedly inspired by real-life twins Freda and Greta Chaplin, who became tabloid catnip in the 1980s when a man they were both romantically involved with took out a restraining order against them. (TBC) I Love Boosters Boots Rileys Sorry to Bother You was one of 2018s strongest films a bold, off-kilter sci-fi story that marked the arrival of a real visionary. So theres a lot riding on I Love Boosters, Rileys star-studded follow-up, which revolves around a ragtag team of shoplifters who assemble to rob a fashion designer. Demi Moore is the designer, while Ackie, Keke Palmer and Taylour Paige are among the shoplifters. The first stills released from the film tease bold colours and outrageous costumes, though we shouldnt have expected anything less. (TBC) Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma This may not arrive in Irish cinemas until 2027, but wed be insane not to mention it all the same. It revolves around the psychosexual mania that occurs when a young filmmaker recruits an actor to reprise her star-making final girl role in a slasher franchise reboot. That the women are played by Hacks breakout Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson is just the icing on the cake. (TBC) Colleen Hoover, author of the novel Verity. Photo: Getty Verity In this Colleen Hoover adaptation, Dakota Johnson plays a struggling novelist ghost-writing the latest book from a literary titan (Hathaway) whos been confined to a wheelchair following a mysterious accident. Her husband, snaking around their property with squinty, handsome eyes, is played by Josh Hartnett. This trio will inevitably become embroiled in some sort of sexy-but-strictly-PG Christian-tinged power struggle, as is the Hoover way. (TBC) Brian King Joseph (33), who rose to prominence on America's Got Talent, was hired for Smith's concert tour Brian King Joseph is suing Will Smith for sexual harassment and wrongful termination (Getty) Will Smith is being sued by a violinist who has accused the rapper and actor of sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Musician Brian King Joseph named Smith (57), and Treybull Studios Management as defendants in the lawsuit filed on December 30, according to US media. Smiths lawyer has denied the claims, telling the Daily Beast: Mr Josephs allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless. They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light. Smiths lawyer and representatives have been contacted for comment. Variety reports that in the suit, Joseph (33), accuses Smith of predatory behaviour while he was a part of the band on Smiths Based on a True Story tour last year. Joseph claims that Smith had been grooming and priming him for further sexual exploitation after they first met in November 2024, when Smith hired him to perform at a show in San Diego. Brian King Joseph is suing Will Smith for sexual harassment and wrongful termination (Getty) He was subsequently invited to join Smiths 2025 tour and play on his first album in 20 years, Based on a True Story, which was released in March. Joseph alleges that Smith told him they had such a special connection that I dont have with anyone else. The musician, who was a former contestant on Americas Got Talent in 2018, joined the first leg of Smiths tour in March 2025 for a show in Las Vegas, where hotel rooms had been booked for the band and crew. Joseph claims he returned to his room to find that someone had unlawfully entered the suite, in which he allegedly discovered a beer bottle, wipes, a bottle of HIV medication in someone elses name, a red backpack, an earring and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to another person. He alleges there was also a note that said: Brian, Ill be back no later [sic] 5.30, just us Stone F. Joseph says he believed this was a message that an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts with him. After reporting the incident to hotel security and Smiths tour management, he claims he was accused of lying and shamed for what happened. He claims to have been fired days after the incident, when he was told the tour was moving in a different direction. However, another violinist was apparently then booked to replace him. The lawsuit claims that he suffered from PTSD and financial loss as a result of the termination. He is suing for retaliation, wrongful termination and sexual harassment, and asks that damages be determined by a jury. The Department of Agriculture in the North is exploring whether financial support can be made available to farmers affected by bluetongue controls The Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland is exploring whether financial support can be made available to farmers affected by bluetongue controls The Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland has eased bluetongue-related restrictions on animal movements and is exploring whether financial support can be made available to farmers affected by the controls. The move follows confirmed bluetongue cases on four farms in Co Down in November and December. All animals, except those that have tested positive for the virus, can now move under a general licence both within and out the temporary control zone (TCZ), unless they fall into certain high-risk categories, under new rules introduced on Friday, December 19. The DAERA confirmed that high-risk animals include heifers aged 18 months and older, bulls aged 14 months and older, and rams. Animals within these high-risk categories will be permitted to move under a specific licence but are subject to certain additional requirements. All heifers and cows 18 months and older will be required to have negative tests for the virus, or they can move if they have proof that they are fully vaccinated for bluetongue or are veterinary certified as not in-calf. Bulls 14 months and older will require a negative test for the virus to move under licence, as will breeding rams The Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland is exploring whether financial support can be made available to farmers affected by bluetongue controls Today's News in 90 Seconds , Friday Januaray 2, 2026. For movements out of the TCZ, all heifers less than 18 months, all castrated males, and bulls less than 14 months can move under a general licence without testing, vaccination, or pregnancy determination. All sheep except for breeding males will be allowed to move under licence with no testing necessary. Movements of cattle and sheep from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland are still not permitted, apart from for direct slaughter. These movements must be pre-notified to the Department of Agriculture, accompanied by veterinary health certification, and movements must be direct and non-stop to the slaughter plant, a spokesperson said. The spokesperson said: As a result of the recent bluetongue outbreaks in Co Down, Northern Ireland has lost its bluetongue-free status. For that reason, the certification conditions for the movement of cattle and sheep (and other bluetongue-susceptible species) for breeding and production from Northern Ireland to Ireland cannot be met. The Department confirmed that the movement of germinal products such as semen from Northern Ireland to Ireland may continue where the animal health certification conditions can be met. They said vaccination against bluetongue serotype 3 will be permitted in Ireland, to enable farmers to respond to the risk to the health of their livestock following the outbreaks in Northern Ireland. Exclusive | Gerry Adams was senior member of IRA Army Council who could end violence, British foreign secretary told US in declassified file Claim emerges months after former Sinn Fein president said on oath in a Dublin court that he had never been in the IRA Gerry Adams has always denied ever being in the IRA. Photo: PA Sam McBride Thu 1 Jan 2026 at 11:00 Less than a year after Gerry Adams swore on oath in an Irish courtroom that he was never a member of the IRA, a declassified British government file shows he was described as a senior member of the IRAs Army Council in the early 1990s. Record 5,321 homeless children now living in emergency accommodation The latest figures come ahead of a weekend cold snap with temperatures set to plummet to 4C Stock photo Cillian Sherlock Press Association Fri 2 Jan 2026 at 15:47 There was a record number of people accessing emergency homeless accommodation at the end of November, with the latest figures published ahead of the weekend cold snap. live | The rain has nowhere to go more flooding fears amid worst case scenario as eight counties under weather warning with rivers at risk Irish News live | The rain has nowhere to go more flooding fears amid worst case scenario as eight counties under weather warning with rivers at risk Over the holiday season, I had the privilege of sharing some time with a sprightly woman in her 90s who told me that over the years she had financed the sending of eight cows and three water pumps to rural communities in Africa, instead of giving more unneeded gifts to her grandchildren. With a handful of deranged men leading the world and planning to spend trillions on warships, nuclear submarines, fighter aircraft and other instruments of pointless war and mass destruction, how wonderful to know that there are women and other ordinary people resolute in pursuing progressive causes to lift humanity out of poverty. These are people who actually live by the principles of their personal philosophies and religious convictions. Perhaps a change will grow from such fertile grassroots and give us much-needed hope in 2026. Tomas Finn, Ballinasloe, Co Galway Im no Santa, but I can see myself playing a small role in a classic Christmas film Like many people over the last couple of weeks, I watched far too many Christmas films, mostly in the interests of peace and goodwill. Somewhere around the third one, a terrible realisation dawned on me: I now know exactly where I went wrong in life. What I should have done, clearly, was leave home years ago and then return at Christmas, having made a great success of myself in some unspecified line of work. On my return, I would meet a former girlfriend, still living locally, still lovely and not a day older. I, of course, would arrive back with a full head of hair, a decent coat, a stylish scarf and the quiet confidence of a man who has done very well for himself, but doesnt like to talk about it. There would then be a small falling-out nothing major, just a bit of misunderstanding followed by long walks, meaningful looks and finally the realisation that we had loved each other all along. Snow might fall. A local shopkeeper would smile approvingly. The real blessing, when I think about it, is that when I was knocking about years ago, there were no mobile phones to use just as you were about to seal a reconciliation with a kiss. For that alone, I am grateful. So while its probably too late for the hair, the scarf and the mysterious success, if any film producer is stuck for a bald, ageing, slightly rotund Irish actor, I remain available. Just to be clear, I am not referring to Santa Claus. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh US stance on Australian social media ban for teens tells us all we need to know Australia has introduced a ban on most social media for under-16s, a ban that most of them are working to bypass, often successfully. The move was designed to protect younger children from the many evils that they shouldnt face, but it seems now to be mislabelled as censorship by the US Congress. Julie Inman Grant, the Australian safety commissioner tasked with implementing the ban, was recently the subject of a request to appear before Congress as she was apparently trying to design and implement a global censorship regime. Is it not the case that this ban will take eyes away from these sites (possibly never to return) and thus ensure that so many ads will be unseen? The main social media companies often seem to be intangible, located somewhere but uncontactable, able to instantly block someone they dislike but unable to stop bullying or block the most offensive material. Something needs to be fixed. It is likely that we will see this issue become far more complex, with censorship/protection for specific age groups challenged by those affected and those who have lost their audience. Freedom from censorship should be fought for, but it shouldnt involve innocent children or their innocence. Rather than condemning the ban that protects children, the US Congress and countries around the world should consider its implementation as soon as possible. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne With France set to follow Australias example, lets make Ireland join the list I note France plans to follow the Australian ban on social media, in this case going for a year younger. A draft French law proposes introducing the measure by next September. I applaud France for having the courage in taking this measure. It has always been my contention that social media is injurious to a childs mental health. It especially affects their formative and most vulnerable years. We need to do the same in Ireland. John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Child protection needs to be acted on before these situations deteriorate Your article on Tusla (Former Labour leader Pat Rabbitte steps down as chair of Tusla, Irish Independent, December 31) highlights how child protection failures tend to be judged only when extreme cases come to light. Serious harm rarely appears without warning; more often it develops quietly in ordinary institutions such as families and schools, through patterns that are minimised, normalised or never escalated. By the time a case reaches Tusla, opportunities for early intervention may already have passed. Reviews frequently conclude that tragedies could not have been anticipated from the information available at the time. That may be accurate, while still sidestepping a harder question: how easily concerns can be raised, heard and acted upon before a situation deteriorates. If child protection is discussed only after catastrophe, we will keep missing what is visible long before it becomes headline news. Donal Mannion, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork Its London calling to wish every Irish Independent reader a happy new year A very happy new year to all Irish Independent letters readers from this English contributor in London. I look forward to reading every letter each day. Dominic Shelmerdine, London Going by a crowded M50, were getting nowhere by increasing toll charges Toll charges are set to increase again. In the case of Dublins M50, which appears to be at a standstill most of the time, are the increases simply parking charges? Peter Declan OHalloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan Its a Wonderful Life is firmly back on its shelf/watchlist and now talk turns to this years new Oscar hopefuls Many film franchises go stale after 10 years but the same cant be said for The Cinemile (Apple, Pocket Casts, Spotify), the film review podcast hosted by Cork-based married couple Dave Corkery and Cathy Cullen. The Irish pair launched the show in London in 2016 with a deceptively simple premise: recording their post-film analysis on the walk home after a night out at the cinema. And apart from a few broadcasts from hotel rooms, one on an Aer Lingus flight and their latest episode Best (And Worst) Movies 2025 was filmed in Lemon7 Studios for YouTube the charming couple have largely remained true to their inspired idea. Theyre great company as they slag off the likes of Avatar: Fire and Ash (I slept for about 40 minutes, admits Cathy, adding: Sadly I woke up and realised I had two hours left...) and recount a bizarre experience seeing Wicked: For Good, in which the (unnamed) cinema accidentally piped the Indiana Jones soundtrack over the opening scenes. And when it did get going, Dave quickly wanted the film to end. Touche. Also getting their oar in on the Wicked saga are Brad Harris, Will Lindus and Jim Puliafico, co-hosts of the Movie Bears Podcast (Apple, Pocket Casts, Spotify), who each week are joined by husky, hairy, huggable homos (and admirers/friends) to review films either current or classic. Its a natty twist on the average film review which tend to be written by straight guys, and although their output is pretty sporadic, its a light-hearted and fun show by three film enthusiasts rather than insider moles. Hopefully by the time you read this theyll have compiled a round-up of their most anticipated flicks for 2026. Karina Longworths long-running You Must Remember This has classic cinema down pat but theres still plenty of room for Steve Cubine and Nan McNamaras From Beneath the Hollywood Sign (Apple, Pocket Casts, Spotify) which premiered in 2023. Its a pleasure trove of golden-age insights including the making of iconic pictures, the history of the Hollywood sign, acting dynasties, how recreational drug use was popularised during Prohibition (and later became medicalised), and the movers and shakers who shaped Tinseltown such as Hitchcocks collaborators and the original gossip girls, columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons. That Cubine is a film producer/writer and McNamara a writer-actor lends an extra layer of industry insight, if through a contemporary lens. Archaeologists have unearthed the worlds earliest intentional cremation of an adult human known till date in Malawi, a discovery that raises new questions about early funeral rituals. Tucked at the base of a granite hill rising several hundred feet from the surroundings is the Hora 1 archaeological site in Malawi, known for decades. Here, scientists unearthed prehistoric ash about the size of a queen bed containing the fragmented remains of a woman just under five feet tall, guarded from the elements for thousands of years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With finding this particular funeral pyre, I think we just got lucky because its in a shelter and the rain doesnt fall directly on it and theres good preservation of bones, archaeologist Jessica Thompson from Yale University tells The Independent. The prehistoric ash itself was found cemented, she says. It wasnt rain, but the soil moisture hardened the ash and made it hard to excavate, but it was also helpful since termites tend to burrow through bones, but at this site the cemented layer prevented that, Dr Thompson says. You can see here that the mites try to go in, and then theyre like no! and they dont go through the cemented layer, she says, adding that it was a very interesting, fortunate set of preservation. Hora Mountain from afar (Jacob Davis) Until now, the oldest known deliberate cremations, which have been confirmed by the presence of a pyre, have dated back to roughly 3,300 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In comparison, the cremation at the Hora 1 archaeological site in Malawi was a meticulously planned event performed 9,500 years ago by African hunter-gatherers, researchers say. This is a very unusual funeral treatment. From this time period, we dont find a lot of burned bodies so its pretty shocking, anthropologist Jessica Cerezo-Roman tells The Independent. Also why this person? Was she significant in life or in death? We dont know that yet, said Dr Cerezo-Roman, another author of the study from the University of Oklahoma. Reconstructed events of pyre (Patrick Fahy) Studying funeral rituals of prehistoric societies offers several insights about the way people treated each other during their lifetimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who the person is and how they were treated when they lived influences how they are treated in their funerals, Dr Cerezo-Roman says. At the Malawi site, scientists found that the small adult females remains bear marks of manipulation, indicating her body was carefully cremated prior to decomposition, probably within a few days of her death. Hora site from air (Jacob Davis) The findings confirm that these ancient African hunter-gatherers undertook elaborate, communal mortuary practices. These practices emphasise complex mortuary and ritual activities with origins predating the advent of food production, and challenge traditional assumptions about community-scale cooperation and memory-making in tropical hunter-gatherer societies, write researchers in the study published in the journal Science Advances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These hands-on manipulations, cutting flesh from the bones and removing the skull, sound very gruesome, but there are many reasons people may have done this associated with remembrance, social memory, and ancestral veneration, explains Dr Cerezo-Roman. Hora 1 site under excavation (Jessica Thompson) Although burned human remains have been found previously dating to as early as about 40,000 years at Lake Mungo in Australia, intentionally built pyres using combustible fuel appear in archaeological record only until about 30,000 years later. The practice of cremation is more common among food-producing societies, which possess more complex technology and engage in more elaborate mortuary rituals. However, the practice is very rare among ancient and modern hunter-gatherers, partly because pyres require a huge amount of labor, time, and fuel to transform a body into fragmented bone and ash, Dr Cerezo-Roman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building the pyre found at the Hora 1 site would have required gathering at least 30 kg of deadwood and grass, pointing toward a significant communal effort, according to the study, which suggests the blaze likely reached temperatures greater than 500C. Researchers recover remains (Grace Veatch) The finding sparks a re-think of how archaeologists view group labour and ritual in ancient hunter-gatherer communities. It also raises several questions about the sudden change in mortuary practices by hunter-gatherers in Malawi 9,500 years ago, who had typically been burying the dead. Researchers found that the hunter-gather society revisited the location afterwards and built more large fires, indicating they maintained a longer tradition based on their shared memory of the womans cremation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Why was this one woman cremated when the other burials at the site were not treated that way? asks Dr Thompson. There must have been something specific about her that warranted special treatment, she says. How do we avoid lower back pain? Why do we need to lift weights as we age? And what is tech-neck? In this episode from the vault, Jenny Branigan, chartered Physio and territory manager of parkrun Ireland joins me on this weeks episode of The Real Health podcast. I asked the physio how to maintain lean muscle mass. The mobility expert explained: In your mid to late thirties, that's when lean muscle mass starts to reduce. So, a lot of people think about it later, they think about it near retirement. But you have to think about it much earlier because you need to counteract that, and that's the biggest message, I think. We want people to be lifting weights much earlier than they are. During the conversation we spoke about how important increased movement is, as we age. The physio pointed out: The World Health Organization Guidelines for Physical Activity recommend 150 minutes of moderate activity per week (cardiovascular activity), and two strengthening sessions. But from 65 onwards they recommend three and that's because of the lean muscle mass piece." You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. Trucker and spy Dave Rupert being interview by the BBC (Pic: BBC) Dave Rupert is at least six and half foot tall, he was a middle-aged trucker from Chicago and had no Irish links. Incredibly, Rupert was also recruited as an FBI spy at the very heart of dissident republicanism. He was a tourist who enjoyed a pint and through a series of chance events went from a trusted republican insider to an agent working for the feds. Eventually, he even infiltrated the Real IRA, building a close relationship with its leader, Mickey McKevitt, before up becoming a key witness against him in court. His evidence was key to Mickey McKevitts convictions in directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation in 2003. So how did an American man with no background in republicanism end up getting recruited by the FBI, living a double life as part of the Real IRA Army council, and why did Mickey McKevitt believe him? This podcast is brought to you by our sister show The BelTel, as Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Abdon Pallasch, a journalist formerly with the Chicago Sun-Times, who made a podcast series about Dave Rupert, The Rebel Kind. Why more long-haul travellers chose Cork Airport this Christmas Airport bosses say expanding hub connections and major redevelopment are transforming travel to and from Leeside Cork Airport is set to pass its all-time annual passenger number record for 2025 Kevin Galvin Fri 2 Jan 2026 at 07:20 After the excitement of Christmas arrivals, Cork Airport now has the unenviable task of hosting teary goodbyes and dragged-out walks to security, as thousands head back home after the short holiday period. Templeglantine's Paul Scanlon has just been announced as a newly elected Down Syndrome International Ambassador representing Ireland. He is pictured here taking part in his Kookability course in the MTU in Tralee. Both Down Syndrome Kerry of which Paul is an active member and Pauls mom, Betty, told The Kerryman that they simply could not be prouder of Pauls amazing achievement. Following the previous ambassadors term of office coming to an end, Paul was one of nine candidates who put themselves forward for the role, each sending in a video outlining why they should be chosen. Pauls video was then voted as the winner by all of the branches in Down Syndrome Ireland. The role falls under the Ambassador initiative run by Down Syndrome International (DSI) As part of this DSI work with a committee made up of people with Down syndrome known as Ambassadors who represent the member organisation in their country. DSI hold monthly online meetings and the Ambassadors work on lots of projects with the DSI staff team. The Ambassadors help DSI to create information and resources and give feedback on work DSI have done. The Ambassador group helps DSI understand how to include people with Down syndrome in society better. Pauls ascension to the role is another feather in the cap for the young man who already works front of house one day a week in Lizzys Little Kitchen in Listowel, spends the summer working and mentoring at Deenagh Lodge in Killarney, and as if this wasnt enough, is an active participant in the acclaimed Kookability course being run in the MTU in Tralee. Siobhan Walsh, the Operations Manager at Down Syndrome Kerry (DSK), said this week that Paul has already spoken to her about some of the issues he wants to highlight as part of his new role. "We're absolutely delighted for him. There's no better person to be chosen than Paul. He's a massive advocate for all things Down syndrome, and he's a force to be reckoned with. He's just such a bundle of fun and a driving force in so many things, she said. "Some of the issues that he has highlighted to me as being on his agenda include transport, housing, independent living, transferable skills, and social enterprise. A lot of the engagement with the role will be done online, and this will entail looking at worldwide issues relating to Down Syndrome and representation of Down Syndrome in the community, she continued. Equally, if not more proud, of Pauls achievement was his mom, Betty, who joked that despite his newfound responsibilities, he would still find the time to make sure he gets to watch his soaps in the evening! "We're all delighted, everyone is delighted for him. He's gotten more messages and congratulations than I've ever seen. It's just been such a fantastic response. I didn't know that people followed Down Syndrome Kerry as closely as they do. We really couldn't believe the response, she said. "He's a very, very happy person. He's very content and friends with everybody. He loves music too, and he's a brilliant dancer. He comes home in the evenings. He'll eat his dinner, tidy up with me, do his jobs and then he'll watch his soaps in the evening. He loves his soaps. He watches them all, and he'd be onto his friends on the phone afterwards then, she continued. Templeglantine and the wider Kerry community will no doubt be cheering him on every step of the way. The body of missing man Jeremiah Downing has been discovered on his farm just outside the Kerry village of Sneem. More than 100 people took part in the extensive search for Mr Downing after he was reported missing on New Year's Day. Search teams includes friends and family from the village along with people from nearby Kenmare, Castlecove and Caherdaniel. About 60 locals were assisted by Iveragh Coastguard and Kerry Civil Defence, who had more than 20 volunteers out searching the region this morning. Gardai were also been drafted in to help in the search as they sought assistance from the public on the whereabouts of the 72-year old local man, who lived in the village but farmed just outside it. Jeremiah Downing. Today's News in 90 Seconds , Friday Januaray 2, 2026. Drones were used to assist volunteers in somewhat difficult terrain with no proper paths. His body was located on his farm at Drimnabeg, just at the edge of the village. This is difficult terrain and there were fears that he may have fallen while checking his animals. His family said he he suffered a medical incident in recent weeks. Some of the search party members also focused on the approach roads to Sneem village, particularly the Castlecove road, because Mr Downing would frequent Castlecove often travelling on the Local Link service. Gardai also asked local drivers for dashcam footage and requested that farmers checked their sheds. Mr Dowling was reportedly last seen on the N70 road between Castlecove and Sneem about 5pm on New Years Eve. Local TD Michael Healy-Rae expressed his sympathy to the family. He praised the volunteers who searched the area diligently in the hope of finding Mr Downing and helped locate his body. Local Fianna Fail councillor Norma Moriarty said it was a sad start to the year and her thoughts and sympathies were with his family. She also praised the co-ordinated search that helped bring the tragedy to a conclusion. Housing supply is slowly increasing, but average prices across Connacht and Ulster remain 67pc higher than pre-Covid levels The latest Daft.ie report shows house prices in Mayo rose in the final quarter of 2025. Photo: Stock Image. The average price of a three-bedroom semi-detached home in County Mayo has risen to 256,000, representing an increase of 13.1pc over the past year. Mayo recorded the sixth-highest increase nationwide for this type of property. Monaghan saw the sharpest growth, with prices up 22.2pc, followed by Leitrim at 17.3pc and Galway County at 15.9pc. Across Connacht and Ulster, excluding Galway, the average price of a three-bedroom semi-detached home in the final quarter of 2025 stood at 246,000. These figures come from Daft.ies Q4 2025 House Price Report, which has shown a continued price increase across the country. Nationally, the median price of a newly built home in the year to December reached 375,000, up 10pc on the previous year. In contrast, new-build homes in Mayo remain comparatively more affordable, with the median price standing at 220,000. Across Connacht and Ulster, list prices are now 67pc higher than pre-Covid levels and just 4pc below the peak recorded during the Celtic Tiger era. In the region, excluding Galway, list prices rose by an average of 11.6pc in 2025, almost double the rate of increase recorded in 2024. While housing availability has increased slightly, supply remains severely constrained when compared with pre-pandemic levels. On December 1, there were 2,340 second-hand homes for sale across Connacht and Ulster, excluding Galway City, an increase of 6pc on the previous year. However, this figure represents just 35pc of the 2015 to 2019 average, when more than 6,600 homes would typically have been on the market at the same time. Across Ireland as a whole, transaction prices rose by 7.4pc in 2025, compared with 8.7pc in 2024. In Connacht and Ulster, excluding Galway City, transaction prices increased by 11.6pc in 2025, slightly below the 13.2pc rise recorded in 2024, but well above the 3.5pc increase seen in 2023. The report also shows a modest increase in the number of homes changing hands. The volume of transactions across Connacht and Ulster, excluding Galway City, was 2.5pc higher in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier. This growth was primarily driven by new homes. In total, more than 1,900 market transactions took place across the region in the third quarter of 2025, up 2.5pc year-on-year. Ronan Lyons, the author of the report, said that although there has been a modest decline in the speed of increases, the housing market remains very tight. Mr Lyons added that Ireland would need to build over 60,000 homes annually for decades to tackle the housing deficit built up over the last generation and to meet new housing needs. A snapshot of the Mayo property market, based on Daft.ie listings today, Friday, January 2, shows 457 properties for sale across County Mayo, excluding sites. Of these, 176 are three-bedroom properties, with prices varying significantly. The most expensive three-bedroom home is located in Lislackagh, Swinford, and is listed at 269,000. The most expensive property currently on the market in Mayo is a five-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Killadangan, Westport, with an asking price of 1.9m. At the other end of the scale, the most affordable listing is a severely derelict one-bedroom, one-bathroom property in Bekan, Claremorris. It is priced at 45,000 and would require complete refurbishment. This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. A five-year biodiversity plan with 55 actions has been launched by Meath County Council to address escalating environmental challenges across the county while supporting sustainable development. The Meath Biodiversity Action Plan 20252030 was unveiled at Buvinda House in Navan and sets out how the local authority, working with communities and partner organisations, intends to protect, conserve and promote biodiversity in the face of environmental pressures, including climate change. Organised under five broad strategic objectives, the plan is designed to operate alongside the County Meath Climate Action Plan, providing what the council describes as a roadmap for action at local level. Measures include rolling out biodiversity training for council staff, integrating nature-based solutions into infrastructure and development projects, strengthening commitments to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and reducing the use of chemical pesticides. The plan was developed over a 20-month period by a Biodiversity Working Group established under the Meath Heritage Forum. The group brought together community representatives, landowners and farmers, statutory agencies, council officials and biodiversity specialists, with two phases of public consultation allowing wider public participation. Cllr Wayne Harding, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, thanked everyone who engaged in the preparation of the Biodiversity Action Plan, adding: As we enter the implementation phase of this Plan, there is an important point to be made, and that is: this Plan will only succeed if we all play our part. Communities and individuals across Meath are already doing incredible work whether it is their efforts to re-introduce pockets of woodlands back to their communities, small orchards, hedgerows or management practices that encourage and allow nature to thrive - these local actions make a real difference. Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive of Meath County Council, said the Meath County Development Plan already places strong emphasis on preserving natural heritage, by guiding sustainable development while safeguarding nature. The Biodiversity Action Plan builds on this foundation, aligning local priorities with national and international policy, and setting out a path for meaningful, measurable progress. Meanwhile Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council described the Action Plan as a milestone initiative, representing a vital step in bringing national biodiversity policy to life at the local level. The development of the Meath Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 was supported with funding from The Heritage Council and Meath County Council, with the Biodiversity Officer position jointly supported by both organisations. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Man appears before Letterkenny District Court after being caught with over 33,000 of suspected cannabis and cocaine Gardai in Roscommon have arrested and charged a man who was caught in possession of over 33,000 of suspected cannabis and cocaine in Boyle. The man, who is in his 20s, was arrested and detained at a garda station in the Garda North Western Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and appeared before a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court on New Years Eve. The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations are ongoing. This comes after gardai increased patrols in the Boyle area following complaints from the public about alleged dangerous driving and careless driving along the N4 leading into the town over the festive period. It is understood that the activity involved cars speeding, racing and doing doughnuts on the N4 and had been ongoing since December 24. As a direct result of the extra garda patrols, a vehicle driven by the suspect was stopped in Corrigeenroe, Boyle, on December 30, and a quantity of drugs was seized. A garda spokesperson said such patrols will continue, in conjunction with Roads Policing Units in the area, to deter and detect any breaches of road traffic legislation. Any member of the public who wishes to report dangerous driving may contact An Garda Siochana to provide details and/or dash-cam footage, if available. A military equipment of the Chinese ground forces takes part in long-range live-fire drills targeting waters north of Taiwan, from an undisclosed location. Photo: Reuters Taiwans president Lai Ching-te said yesterday the island is determined to defend its sovereignty and boost its defence in the face of Chinas increasing expansion, after Beijing fired rockets towards the island as part of military drills. The Indo Daily: Melania: The Movie We saw it, so you dont have to... The 2026 Corvette ZR1X may represent the most extreme performance benchmark in the models history, but its cutting-edge hybrid system does not exempt it from federal fuel economy penalties. Chevrolets range-topping Corvette will carry a $2,600 gas-guzzler tax, underscoring how firmly the model prioritizes speed and output over efficiency. The federal gas-guzzler tax applies to passenger vehicles that fail to meet the Environmental Protection Agencys minimum fuel economy threshold of 22.5 miles per gallon. With a combined system output of 1,250 horsepower, the ZR1X easily falls below that benchmark. Despite pairing electrification with a twin-turbocharged internal combustion engine, the ZR1X remains focused on performance, resulting in fuel consumption figures that trigger the additional charge. Notably, the $2,600 tax applies uniformly across the ZR1X lineup. Buyers will pay the same amount regardless of configuration, including models equipped with either of the available Carbon Aero packages. Those aerodynamic upgrades are designed to increase downforce but also add drag, yet they do not alter the tax assessment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within the broader C8 Corvette family, the ZR1X does not carry the highest gas-guzzler penalty. The standard C8 Corvette ZR1 is assessed a higher $3,000 tax. That model uses the same twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 LT7 engine found in the ZR1X, though it lacks the front-mounted electric motor that defines the hybrid variant. The C8 Corvette Z06 is subject to a $2,600 gas-guzzler tax in base form, with that figure rising to $3,000 when Carbon Aero packages are added. In contrast, the C8 Corvette Stingray and the C8 Corvette E-Ray avoid the gas-guzzler tax entirely. Fuel economy data further explains the penalty. Natural Resources Canada lists the 2026 Corvette ZR1X at 19.2 liters per 100 kilometers in city driving, 12.7 on the highway, and 16.2 combined. Converted to U.S. measurements, those figures translate to approximately 12 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined. The non-hybrid 2026 Corvette ZR1 posts similar numbers, with EPA ratings of 12 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, and 14 mpg combined. All C8 Corvette variants, including the ZR1X, are built on GMs Y2 platform and assembled at the Bowling Green plant in Kentucky, where Chevrolets most advanced performance cars continue to take shape. Read the full article on Motorious Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Kyivs spies fake fighters death to trick Moscow into paying bounty A Russian pay-out equivalent to 426,000 will go towards the Ukrainian war effort Russian president Vladimir Putin. Photo: Getty Iona Cleave Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Fri 2 Jan 2026 at 06:30 As far as the Russians were concerned, they had got their man. Denis Kapustin, one of the most prominent anti-Putin Russians fighting on behalf of Ukraine, was reported dead on December 27, assassinated by a drone at the front. Ukraine and Russia trade accusations of attacks on civilians over new year's period Volodymyr Zelensky says over 200 drone attacks were launched over new year Employees rescue birds in a private zoo hit by a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters Max Hunder Reuters Fri 2 Jan 2026 at 06:30 Russia and Ukraine accused each other of targeting civilians over the new year, with Moscow reporting a deadly strike on a hotel in territory it occupies in southern Ukraine while Kyiv said there had been another broad attack on its power supplies. Carpenters are in a race against time to save the wooden house in South Georgia where Ernest Shackleton planned the rescue of his crew. The building, which is part of a historic whaling station, was abandoned in the 1960s and has since fallen into disrepair. There are concerns it could fall down in the next two years. Six killed as Tehran launches violent crackdown on protests Riot squads open fire on crowds and carry out mass arrests on fifth day of spreading unrest An Iranian man performs with an effigy of US president Donald Trump while participating in a pro-government rally in southern Tehran in reaction to the recent anti-government protests. Photo: Getty Akhtar Makoii Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Fri 2 Jan 2026 at 06:30 At least six people were confirmed dead on the fifth day of spreading unrest across Iran. The Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has amended the Director Know Your Customer (KYC) framework under the Companies Act, 2013, rationalizing compliance requirements for company directors. The revised regime replaces the annual KYC filing obligation with a streamlined submission once every three years. The reform is expected to ease the compliance burden, particularly for individuals serving on multiple boards. India currently has over three million registered company directors, with media reports indicating that over 39,000 new Director Identification Numbers (DINs) were issued in November 2025 alone. Legal basis of the amendment The changes arise from a comprehensive review of Rule 12A of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014. According to the MCA, the review was undertaken in line with the recommendations of the high-level committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms and representations received from stakeholders. The revised framework has been notified through the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Amendment Rules, 2025. The amended rules were notified on December 31, 2025, and will come into force on March 31, 2026. It is advised that the companies and directors in India should align their compliance calendars accordingly. ALSO READ: Appointment of Foreign Nationals as Company Directors in India: A Legal Checklist Key changes to director KYC requirements Three-yearly KYC filing requirement Under the revised framework, every individual holding a DIN as of March 31 of a financial year must submit a KYC intimation once every three consecutive financial years. The KYC filing is required to be completed by June 30 of the relevant year. Single web-based KYC form The rules now prescribe the exclusive use of the web-based DIR-3-KYC-Web form. References to multiple KYC forms have been removed to streamline the filing process. The simplified KYC form serves multiple purposes beyond routine compliance. It may be used for updating a directors mobile number, email address, or residential address, as well as for the reactivation of a DIN. Digital signature and certification requirements Digital signature-based verification by the director and certification by a professional are required only when the KYC form is filed to update contact details or residential address. Routine three-yearly KYC filings do not trigger additional certification requirements. Transition and compliance relief The revised framework provides compliance relief to directors across all companies in the country. Directors who have already completed their KYC filings in FY 2025-26 are automatically covered under the new regime, with their next KYC submission due by June 30, 2028. Directors who have not yet filed their KYC may continue to reactivate their DINs under the existing provisions until March 31, 2026. FAQs on latest Director KYC requirements (2025 Amendment) What is Director KYC under the Companies Act, 2013? Director KYC is a regulatory requirement under the Companies Act, 2013, that mandates individuals holding a DIN to periodically confirm and update their personal and contact details with the MCA. Who is required to file director KYC? Every individual holding a DIN as of March 31 of a financial year is required to comply with the director KYC requirements, irrespective of whether they are currently active on a companys board. How frequently is KYC required to be filed now? Under the revised framework: Routine KYC must be filed once every three consecutive financial years. The KYC must be completed on or before June 30 of the applicable year. Which form is prescribed for director KYC filings? Only Form DIR-3 KYC-Web is prescribed for all KYC-related purposes. Earlier references to multiple KYC forms have been removed to standardize and simplify the compliance process. Is KYC required to be filed even if there is no change in details? Yes. If there is no change in personal or contact details, the director is required to file DIR-3 KYC-Web as part of the periodic three-year cycle. When is KYC required to be filed outside the three-year cycle? An event-based KYC filing is mandatory if there is any change in the directors details, such as the following: Mobile number Email address Residential address In such cases, DIR-3 KYC-Web must be filed within 30 days of the change, regardless of the three-year cycle. Are digital signatures and professional certification required for KYC filing? Digital signature-based verification by the director and certification by a professional are required only when DIR-3 KYC-Web is filed for updating personal or contact details. Routine periodic KYC filings without changes do not trigger additional certification requirements. What are the consequences of non-filing or delayed filing of KYC? Failure to file DIR-3 KYC-Web within the prescribed timelines may result in: Deactivation of the DIN, and Levy of late fees under the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014. Does the amendment change the authority responsible for KYC processing? Yes, references to Regional Director (Northern Region), Noida have been updated to Regional Director, Northern Region Directorate I. This is an administrative change and does not affect KYC obligations or procedures. What documents/scanned documents are required to be attached for filing e-Form DIR-3 KYC? Permanent address proof, such as a voters ID, driving license, or PAN card. Present address proof, such as utility bills not older than 2 months, rental agreements, etc. Aadhaar card (for Indian nationals only) Passport. Apart from the above documents mentioned above, the applicant must also have the following documents: Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of the director filing the form (applicant). DSC, membership number, certificate of practice, and number from a practicing professional, such as a chartered accountant, company secretary, or cost accountant. What is the key compliance takeaway for directors and companies? Director KYC compliance has shifted from an annual exercise to a risk-based, event-driven framework. While routine filings are reduced, directors must ensure timely reporting of changes in personal details to avoid regulatory action and DIN-related disruptions. How Indias New Labor Codes Will Reshape M&A Transactions in 2026 Indias new labor codes are reshaping the M&A landscape in India by altering valuation models, workforce liabilities, and integration costs, requiring buyers to treat labor diligence as a core financial and deal-structuring exercise. Historically, Indias mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions have taken place within a fragmented labor law framework comprising 29 central statutes, with varying definitions, registration requirements, and enforcement practices. As a result, labor-related liabilities, particularly around payroll structures and contractor arrangements, often surfaced late in transactions, limiting labor diligence to a reactive, compliance-focused role. Indias consolidation of legacy laws into a unified labor code framework in 2025 establishes standardized definitions and mandates digital compliance. The policy direction points toward centralized registrations, digital-first filings, and clearer employer obligations, which should reduce procedural friction over time. At the same time, implementation introduces execution complexity. Businesses must continue tracking state-level rules and operational practices as the framework stabilizes. This legal shift reshapes the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape by positioning labor as a measurable financial variable rather than a purely compliance consideration. By reducing scope for interpretational arbitrage, the new framework ensures that changes in wage definitions, broader workforce coverage, and tighter penalty regimes have a direct impact on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and post-transaction cash flows. Overview of Indias four new labor codes and implementation status Indias long anticipated four labor codes came into effect on November 21, 2025. The legal law overhaul is no longer a prospective reform but a live regulatory reality. While the central codes have repealed legacy statutes nationwide, the Dual Regulatory Environment persists as states finalize specific subordinate rules. The four labor codes now in force are: Code on Wages, 2019, which merges multiple wage-related statutes and standardizes definitions of wages and minimum pay structures. Industrial Relations Code, 2020, which subsumes laws on trade unions, employment standing orders, and industrial disputes, and recalibrates procedural requirements for layoffs and dispute resolution. Code on Social Security, 2020, which integrates several benefits frameworks (such as provident fund and employee insurance) and expands coverage to include gig and platform workers. Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, which consolidates multiple safety and working condition statutes into a unified compliance regime covering a wide range of establishments. Labor Code Key reform M&A lifecycle impact Code on Wages 50 percent wage ceiling: Exclusions capped; excess is wages. Valuation: Increases social security outflows (EPF, gratuity), potentially lowering EBITDA. Code on Social Security Expanded coverage: Includes gig, platform, and fixed-term workers. Due diligence: Requires granular audit of hidden headcount and 1-2 percent turnover contribution for gig workers. Industrial Relations Code Approval threshold: Increased from 100 to 300 workers for layoffs. Integration: Enhances agility for workforce rationalization in mid-sized targets. OSHWC Code Compounded penalties: Higher fines and director liability. Deal structuring: Drives demand for specific indemnities, escrows, and CPs. Navigating the central-state implementation overlap The effectiveness of new labor codes is a two-tier process requiring both central notification and state-level rule-making. This creates a dual regulatory environment where legacy practices and nascent code rules coexist. For M&A deal teams, this overlap phase is not merely a legal technicality; it introduces significant regulatory uncertainty regarding deal timing and enforcement horizons. Consequently, buyers must account for differentiated state-level rollouts when scoping diligence and calculating statutory benefit liabilities, as assumptions remain more variable than under a fully harmonized regime. Valuation and EBITDA implications of the new wage definition The now-active uniform wage definition has effectively ended interpretation arbitrage. By capping allowance exclusions at 50 percent of total remuneration, the code forces an immediate recalibration of statutory contributions, directly impacting EBITDA and enterprise value. For acquirers, the financial implications are immediate. A broader wage base increases employer contribution to provident fund, gratuity, bonus, and other social security obligations, raising recurring employee costs even where historical compliance appeared technically sound. As outlined in the reference material, these higher statutory outflows translate into a structural EBITDA impact, particularly in labor-intensive sectors where payroll costs form a significant share of operating expenses. This shift forces deal teams to revisit valuation assumptions. Higher ongoing labor costs can compress margins, prompt downward adjustments to valuation multiples, and require recalibration of purchase consideration. In competitive processes, buyers may seek price adjustments, deferred consideration, or earn-out mechanisms to bridge valuation gaps driven by post-closing cost increases rather than legacy non-compliance. As a result, diligence must evaluate forward-looking cost behavior under the new wage definition rather than relying on historical compliance outcomes. Acquirers must model how revised compensation structures reshape cash flows, valuation multiples, and integration economics. Acquirers must model how compensation structures under the new wage definition will reshape cash flows, valuation multiples, and integration economics. Workforce classification risks under expanded statutory coverage The new labor codes materially expand the scope of who qualifies for statutory protection, increasing workforce-related risk in M&A transactions. Under the SS Code, coverage now extends beyond traditional employees to include fixed-term employees, gig workers, and platform workers, significantly broadening the universe of individuals entitled to social security benefits. For digital platforms and aggregators, this shift introduces a direct financial obligation to contribute 1-2 percent of annual turnover toward a dedicated social security fund for gig and platform workers, creating a new, transaction-relevant cost line. Fixed-term employment also carries heightened implications. The codes grant gratuity eligibility after one year of continuous service, aligning fixed-term workers more closely with permanent employees for benefit purposes. Businesses that rely heavily on project-based or contract hiring may therefore face higher accrued liabilities than reflected in historical accounts. These changes elevate the importance of worker classification diligence. Long-standing practices of engaging consultants, contractors, or commission-based sales staff outside the statutory framework now present clear deal risks. If authorities recharacterize such arrangements as employment relationships, buyers may inherit unprovided liabilities for provident fund, gratuity, bonus, and social security contributions. In M&A contexts, reclassification risk can translate into retrospective liabilities post-closing, affecting cash flows and integration plans. As a result, acquirers must reassess workforce structures at a granular level and factor classification exposure directly into valuation, indemnity design, and transaction pricing. Restructuring, retrenchment, and post-merger integration under the new regime The new labor codes preserve the core principle governing business transfers and continuity of employment. As carried forward from the earlier Industrial Disputes Act into the Industrial Relations Code, employees transferred as part of a merger or acquisition do not qualify for retrenchment compensation where continuity of service remains intact, employment terms are not less favorable, and the transferee assumes future retrenchment liability. From a deal-structuring perspective, this continuity framework remains familiar and provides legal certainty for asset and business transfers. Where the new regime materially alters post-merger integration is in workforce restructuring flexibility and cost. The threshold for seeking prior government approval for layoffs has increased from 100 to 300 workers, significantly reducing regulatory friction for mid-sized acquisitions. This change shortens integration timelines and allows buyers greater agility in executing synergy-driven workforce rationalization, particularly in manufacturing and services businesses that previously fell within the approval regime. That flexibility comes at a price. The cost of exits has increased through mandatory retrenchment compensation, employer contributions to the re-skilling fund equivalent to 15 days wages per retrenched worker, and the requirement to settle all dues within two days of termination. These provisions intensify short-term cash-flow pressure during integration. The net effect is clear: the new regime lowers execution risk but raises integration liquidity requirements, forcing acquirers to plan workforce restructuring earlier, fund exits upfront, and reflect higher integration costs directly in deal economics. Compliance, penalties, and director exposure in M&A transactions The OSHWC Code consolidates multiple safety and workplace statutes into a single compliance framework, raising both the visibility and materiality of labor risk in transactions. Under the earlier regime, fragmented enforcement and low monetary penalties often relegated safety compliance to a secondary diligence item. The new framework alters that calculus. The OSHWC Code introduces a clear shift from nominal fines to materially higher penalties, with certain violations attracting substantial financial sanctions and, in serious cases, criminal liability including imprisonment. While the number of offences carrying imprisonment has narrowed, repeat and aggravated violations now carry a higher probability of enforcement. This change elevates labor compliance from a routine regulatory issue to a potential transaction-stopping risk. Director and senior management exposure has also increased. The codes place greater responsibility on directors and key managerial personnel for compliance failures, which has direct implications for deal negotiations, board appointments, and post-closing governance structures. As a result, safety audits and labor compliance reviews are moving decisively into the pre-signing phase. Deal documentation increasingly reflects this shift through expanded conditions precedent, higher or ring-fenced indemnity caps, and escrow arrangements designed to cover legacy violations. Labor compliance now directly influences risk allocation, deal certainty, and closing mechanics in Indian M&A transactions. Navigating M&A under Indias new labor codes Indias new labor codes require deal teams to recalibrate how they approach workforce risk across the transaction lifecycle. The starting point is early re-modelling of labor costs during valuation and financial diligence. Buyers should stress-test EBITDA assumptions against revised wage definitions, expanded social security coverage, and higher exit costs, rather than deferring these issues to post-closing integration. Equally critical is granular workforce mapping and classification audits. Under SS Code, digital aggregators must now contribute 1 to 2 percent of annual turnover to a gig-worker fund, making hidden headcount a primary due diligence item. This analysis helps quantify reclassification exposure and identify liabilities that may not appear in historical compliance reviews. From a structuring perspective, buyers increasingly rely on labor-specific indemnities, escrows, and price adjustment mechanisms to allocate risk. Generic indemnity language often proves insufficient where liabilities stem from forward-looking cost increases rather than past violations. Deal documentation must reflect this distinction. These integration mechanics require buyers to plan liquidity well before closing, particularly where workforce rationalization forms part of the post-merger strategy. Emergency dispatch details surface amid investigation TMZ Us Weekly, Image credit : Masatoshi Okauchi/Shutterstock | Paramedics and fire department personnel were sent to the Fairmont San Francisco Hotel, where Victoria Jones was found unresponsive. Medical Examiner yet to determine cause of death Victoria Jones' brief acting career Men in Black II The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada Image credit : X/@DarkChrisBurner | Victoria Jones appeared in a handful of films as a child. Family mourns as questions remain Victoria Jones, daughter of Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, died at the age of 34 after first responders were called to a luxury hotel in San Francisco in the early hours of January 1. Emergency services were dispatched following reports of a medical incident, and she was later pronounced dead at the location.Her death has prompted an active investigation, with officials working to determine the exact circumstances. At this time, no confirmed cause has been made public.Details surrounding the initial emergency response have since emerged through media reporting. 911 audio cited byindicates that San Francisco police were alerted to a high-priority medical situation involving a possible overdose and visible physical distress: "code 3 for the overdose, colour change,"Paramedics and fire department personnel were sent to the Fairmont San Francisco Hotel, where Victoria Jones was found unresponsive. After assessing the situation, first responders determined that she had already passed away. The scene was subsequently handed over to law enforcement and the city's Medical Examiner.According toconfirmed that the San Francisco Fire Department responded to a medical emergency at the hotel at approximately 2:52 AM, though the individual involved was not publicly identified at the time.Officials later confirmed that the Medical Examiner's Office was notified and took over the case. While authorities have acknowledged the emergency response, they have not released findings related to the cause or manner of death.The investigation remains ongoing, and further information is expected once the Medical Examiner completes its review.Victoria Jones appeared in a handful of films as a child, includingand, projects connected to her father's work. Despite early exposure to Hollywood, she did not pursue a long-term acting career and largely remained out of public view in adulthood.Jones is survived by her father, Tommy Lee Jones, and her mother, Kimberlea Cloughley, as well as her older brother, Austin Jones. The actor has not issued a public statement regarding his daughter's death.Tommy Lee Jones and Cloughley divorced in the early 1990s. He later married Dawn Laurel-Jones in 2001, with whom he remains married.As authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding Victoria Jones' death, attention remains focused on the emergency response and pending findings from the Medical Examiner. Guest initially thought Victoria Jones was drunk The Daily Mail Image credit : X/MichaelSCollura | The death of Tommy Lee Jones daughter Victoria Jones at a San Francisco luxury hotel remains unexplained Emergency response and police findings Image credit : X/MichaelSCollura | Victoria Jones, the 34-year-old daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones Cause of death remains unclear Victoria Jones acting career and family Image credit : X/Assyrian2 | Victoria Jones was 34 years old at the time of her death The death of former child actor Victoria Jones, the daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, remains unexplained after she was found unresponsive at a luxury hotel in San Francisco in the early hours of New Years Day. A guest who discovered her initially believed she had passed out after drinking, before hotel staff realised the seriousness of the situation.Victoria Jones was 34 years old at the time of her death. Authorities say there were no immediate signs of foul play, trauma, or self-harm, and her cause of death has not yet been determined.Victoria was discovered lying on the ground of the 14th floor of the Fairmont hotel, a high-end property in San Francisco. According to a source cited by, a hotel guest who spotted her first believed she might be drunk.Hotel staff also reportedly assumed she had been drinking when they found her unresponsive. It was only after attempts to revive her failed that the seriousness of the situation became clear.Staff immediately began CPR and called for emergency medical assistance. Despite their efforts, Victoria could not be revived.Emergency services were called to the hotel at around 2.52am, according to reports cited by TMZ. Paramedics arrived to find Victoria unresponsive, and first responders later pronounced her dead at the scene.San Francisco Police confirmed that officers were dispatched shortly after 3am. A police spokesperson said officers responded to a hotel on the 900 block of Mason Street following a report of a deceased person.At the scene, officers met with medics, who declared the adult female deceased, the spokesperson said. The Medical Examiner arrived on scene and conducted an investigation.Authorities said there were no visible signs of trauma to Victorias body. Police also reported that no drug paraphernalia was found at the scene, and there was no evidence suggesting she had taken her own life.Victorias cause of death has not yet been determined. Police have asked anyone with information related to the incident to come forward.It remains unclear whether Victoria was a registered guest at the hotel or why she was on the 14th floor at the time she was found. Investigators have not provided further details about her movements before her death.For now, officials have said the case remains open as they wait for further findings from the Medical Examiner.Victoria Jones was the daughter of Tommy Lee Jones and his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. She followed her father into acting at a young age and appeared in several projects as a child.Her film credits include Men in Black II in 2002, where her father played Agent K. She also appeared in a 2005 episode of One Tree Hill and acted in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, a Western film directed by her father that same year.Victoria made her first acting appearance as a child before making her Hollywood debut in 2002. After a brief period in the industry, she did not continue acting but occasionally appeared alongside her father at public events.In 2017, she attended the premiere of Just Getting Started with her father at the ArcLight Hollywood. The film starred Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo.Victoria is survived by her father, her mother Kimberlea Cloughley, and her brother, Austin. Image credit : X @MeghanTheQwin | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle mention their children. Archewell name change raises eyebrows Image credit : X @hmgifs | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spark a new debate. Royal expert questions Prince Harry and Meghan Markle s message Daily Mail Image credit : Instagram @meghan | Meghan Markle shares a rare glimpse of their children. A rare look at Prince Harry and Meghan Markles family life Tension behind the scenes Page Six Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have quietly sparked fresh debate about their childrens future after making a rare public reference to Archie and Lilibet in an official statement. The comment appeared just days before Christmas, wrapped inside a wider announcement about changes to the couples charitable work. While the update focused on philanthropy, the mention of their children stood out and raised new questions about what Harry and Meghan may be planning next.In December 2025, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that their charitable organisation, the Archewell Foundation, would be renamed Archewell Philanthropies. The update came five years after the foundation was launched.In an official statement, the organisation explained the change by saying, This charitable entity allows the couple and their children to expand upon their global philanthropic endeavours as a family.It was this line, specifically naming Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, that caught attention. The statement marked the first time Harry and Meghan have mentioned their children by name in such a formal, public capacity.Royal expert Richard Eden suggested that the wording could signal plans to involve the children in future charitable work. While the Sussexes have not confirmed this, Eden said he spoke to an old friend of Prince Harry who was surprised by the move.According to the, the friend said, I am genuinely confused. Harry and Meghan were always so insistent that their children would be able to make their own way in life without the pressure of expectations or titles. I cant believe Harry is behind this. It must be Meghans influence.On the same day the statement was released, Meghan Markle shared a rare family photo on Instagram, captioned, Happy Holidays! From our family to yours. The image offered a glimpse of Archie and Lilibet outdoors. The children were also seen briefly in a 2025 year-in-review video.Meghan, 44, relaunched her Instagram account on New Years Day 2025, and since then, Archie and Lilibet have appeared more often, though their faces are always hidden using angles or emojis to protect their privacy.However, not everyone is comfortable with the growing visibility.reported in November 2025 that Harry, 41, doesnt love Meghans social media displays and is very aware of her parading around their family.Since stepping back from royal duties in 2021 and moving to Montecito, California, Harry and Meghan have pursued deals with Netflix, Spotify, and other platforms, with mixed success. Image credit : X | @MarinaMedvin | Missing 19-Year-Old Camila Mendoza Olmos Found Dead Near Her Texas Home How did Camila Olmos die? Newsweek Investigation reveals conditions around Camila Mendoza's death Image credit : X | @TaraBull | Camila Mendoza Olmos, Missing Texas Teen, Found Dead Near Home Amid the ongoing investigation into the 19-year-old teen who went missing on the morning of Wednesday, December 24, 2025, authorities and volunteers launched an extensive search in the San Antonio area. Following the long search, the body of the girl was discovered near her home in Texas, and officials have confirmed it is Camila Mendoza Olmos. But what happened to her? Lets find out.According to, during a news conference on Tuesday, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar announced that they had found a body in a field late that afternoon, between 4:40 pm and 4:45 pm.Although the body was immediately identified, authorities later confirmed through the medical examiner that it belonged to Camila Mendoza Olmos and determined both the cause and manner of her death.In a statement released Wednesday, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office cited multiple reports and confirmed that the medical examiner had ruled her death a suicide. Sharing a statement on Facebook, the office revealed, The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office has identified the decedent found yesterday during an open-field search in the 10000 block of FM 1560 as 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos.As per the same report, prior to confirming the identity of the body on Tuesday, investigators found no clear evidence of foul play and observed circumstances that did not immediately point to self-harm.However, Sheriff Javier Salazar said that officials working alongside FBI agents discovered the body in tall grass near a landscaping business located just a short distance from Olmos home. Moreover, as per the officials, a firearm and a gun were recovered close to where Camilas body was found.Earlier this week, Camila Mendoza Olmos family in California described her disappearance as heartbreaking and completely out of character. They expressed deep concern, saying that the situation was not like her, highlighting the sudden and shocking nature of her absence. Image credit : Tommy Lee Jones daughter Victoria Jones found dead Inside Kimberlea Cloughley's marriage to Tommy Lee Jones Image credit : X/@BigDayinHistory | Kimberlea Cloughley married Tommy Lee Jones in 1981 and they have two children. Kimberlea Cloughley's motherhood away from Hollywood's glare Victoria Jones' troubled final years Image credit : X/@TrueCrimeUpdat | Victoria Jones briefly acted as a child in films including Men in Black II and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. What we know about the investigation so far? Kimberlea Cloughley, the second wife of Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, has been thrust back into public attention following the death of her daughter, Victoria Jones, at the age of 34.Victoria was found unresponsive at a luxury hotel in San Francisco on New Year's Day, a development now under investigation by the city's Medical Examiner.Cloughley married Tommy Lee Jones in 1981, during the early years of his Hollywood career. The couple welcomed two children - son Austin Leonard Jones in 1982 and daughter Victoria Kafka Jones in 1991 - before their marriage ended in divorce in 1996.Unlike her former husband, Cloughley has largely remained out of the public eye. She focused on raising her children away from Hollywood, with both Austin and Victoria growing up largely outside the spotlight despite their father's fame.Victoria Jones had a brief acting career as a child. She had made appearances in films such asand. In 2025, however, she faced a series of legal troubles, with court records showing multiple arrests across different California counties over the course of the year.The incidents highlighted a difficult and turbulent period in her life, though authorities have stressed that the past arrests are not believed to be connected to the circumstances surrounding her death.A spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department confirmed that paramedics were dispatched to the Fairmont Hotel at 2.52 AM. According to Daily Mail reports, a fellow guest was the first to raise the alarm after discovering Jones unresponsive in a hallway.Authorities have said that foul play is not suspected in Victoria's death, though an official cause has yet to be determined. The San Francisco Medical Examiner is continuing its investigation, with police urging anyone who may have information to come forward. Greece executed its largest public investment program in 15 years in 2025, spending a record 14.6 billion to bolster infrastructure and economic reforms, the Ministry of National Economy and Finance reported. Spending reached 100.08% of the planned budget, surpassing targets. Of the total, 6.86 billion came from EU co-financed programs and 4.9 billion from the EUs Recovery and Resilience Facility, underscoring high absorption rates of European Alternate Finance Minister Nikos Papathanasis said the figures reflect the economy's momentum. In 2025, Greece recorded growth rates significantly higher than the eurozone average, Mr. Papathanasis said. He noted public investment is set to rise further to 16.7 billion in 2026, rejecting complacency. Katerina Oikonomou, secretary-general for Public Investments, confirmed the program financed projects worth 14.61 billion. Ms. Oikonomou highlighted reforms prioritizing transparency and the approval of a new 16.6 billion national development plan for 20262030. Vasiliki Pantelopoulou, secretary-general for EU structural funds, called 2025 a milestone year. Ms. Pantelopoulou noted that 85% of available funds have been activated through project calls, with more than half already under contract. Orestis Kavalakis, head of the Recovery Fund coordination service, reported a positive balance with 5.2 billion in disbursements received. Mr. Kavalakis stated that 2026, the final year of the fund's implementation, will focus on fully utilizing remaining resources. Officials confirmed these results position Greece to enter 2026 with increased liquidity and a renewed focus on competitiveness and social cohesion. iefimerida.gr Farmers remain determined not to back down under government pressure. Sundays nationwide assembly in Malgara is set to be a crucial moment. A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has urged supporters of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, to formally join the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying Obis loyalists who remain outside the ADC can no longer claim to be true Obidients. Okonkwo made the call on Friday while speaking on Channels Televisions The Morning Brief, following Obis recent defection to the ADC as part of an opposition coalition. According to him, Obi has now made it clear that his supporters should register as members of the ADC, describing any refusal to do so as disobedience. Advertisement When I was in the Labour Party, I said it was a tactical mistake telling your followers they can join all political parties, Okonkwo said. Im very glad that my brother, Peter Obi, has changed the tactic. Referring to an interview Obi granted on X Space, Okonkwo said the former governor had directed his supporters to align with the ADC. He said all the Obidients should go and register as members of the ADC. So if you are an Obidient and youre not in the ADC, sorry, youre not an Obidient, you are a disObidient, he stated. The lawyer, who is a member of the ADC National Working Committee, praised the partys internal processes, describing it as a platform built on democratic values. Anybody you see in the ADC is allowed to get into the ADC on one condition: you must be a true democrat, he said. One thing ADC will not compromise on is internal democracy and living on the tenets of democracy. Okonkwo said the party deliberately discouraged conditional entry in order to strengthen its foundation. No leader, no opposition leader was allowed to give conditions before entering because we want to exercise discipline, he said. That is why everybody took their time to come to ADC, because we want that foundation to be solid. He also claimed that the South-East had thrown its weight behind the ADC, warning that politicians in the zone who chose other platforms were indirectly supporting the ruling party. Now, the South East has gone ADC. Any other politician who is not in the ADC, who wants to do any other party, is working for Tinubu, Okonkwo said. While welcoming Obis defection, Okonkwo said the ADC was yet to take a position on zoning its presidential ticket but pledged to support whoever emerges from the partys primary election. He is an ADC member. We work with every ADC member, he said. Rest assured, whoever emerges as the presidential candidate of the ADC, I will work for the person. A fire outbreak in the early hours of Wednesday gutted several shops in a storey building beside the Ikotun Roundabout area of Lagos State. PUNCH Metro learnt that the shops comprise electronics worth millions of naira. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, however, confirmed the incident in a statement by its Controller General, Margret Adeseye, on Thursday. She stated that the agency received the distress call at about 12:22 a.m., while firefighters arrived at the scene at about 12:32 a.m. Advertisement The statement partly read, It is a fire involving a storey building shopping complex consisting of 24 shops of varying sizes. The affected shops and their contents were severely damaged by fire. One class A foam branch from Fire Eagle C12 (LFS 89LA), Enigbo, supplemented with water from FFL 008 (LFS 69LA), Isolo, and FFL 001 (LFS 62LA), Ijegun, was deployed to combat the fire. She added that a team of policemen from the Ikotun Division was also on the ground to maintain order while firefighting operations were ongoing. The fire service said the blaze was successfully extinguished and brought under control, with no casualties recorded. Adeseye stated that the suspected cause of the fire was an electrical surge resulting from negligence. The incident occurred barely 72 hours after a fire outbreak that gutted a section of Arena Market in the Bolade area of Oshodi. This is just as emergency responders were still at the scene of the Great Nigeria Insurance plaza, which was gutted by fire on Wednesday, December 24. Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed three suicide bombers and their escorts along the GudufPulka axis in Gwoza LGA of Borno state. Sani Uba, media information officer, joint task force north-east operation Hadin Kai, relayed this in a statement on Thursday. He said the suicide bombers were dispatched from the Mandara Mountains by the Ali Ngulde-led Jamaatu Ahlis Sunna Liddaawati wal-Jihad faction of Boko Haram terrorists. Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have successfully neutralised three terrorist suicide bombers following a deliberate, intelligence-driven operation conducted along the GudufPulka axis in Gwoza LGA of Borno State, the statement reads. Advertisement The operation, executed through covert intelligence efforts by troops in collaboration with local volunteer forces, led to the tracking and neutralisation of the suicide bombers before they could carry out planned attacks on innocent civilians. Troops also inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorist escorts accompanying the suicide bombers. The officer added that the surviving elements fled into the Mandara Mountains under pressure from sustained troop action. In the course of exploitation, troops recovered four AK-47 rifles abandoned by the fleeing terrorists, while two motorcycles used by the terrorists were destroyed, the statement reads. Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have intensified efforts to detect, track, and neutralise suicide bombers and other terrorist elements operating from this enclave, leveraging human intelligence, communication intercepts, and other intelligence-gathering capabilities. George Clooney has hit out at Donald Trump after the president criticised the actor for obtaining French citizenship. George Clooney has hit out at Donald Trump The Jay Kelly actor insisted he "totally agrees" with the current US leader that America needs to be made "great again" - and pledged to start in November when the midterm elections for the senate and House of Representatives take place. He told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement: I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. Well start in November. George's response came after the former Apprentice star blasted the 64-year-old actor and his wife Amal after France's Ministry of Justice confirmed they had received their naturalisation orders. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden. Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat. "Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasnt a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!(sic)" George recently reflected on how he knew Trump socially during his early days in Hollywood. He told Variety: "I knew him very well. "He used to call me a lot, and he tried to help me get into a hospital once to see a back surgeon. Id see him out at clubs and at restaurants. Hes a big goofball. Well, he was. That all changed." George believes the US is currently struggling amid Trump's presidency but he tries to see the positives. He explained: "Its a very trying time. "It can depress you or make you very angry. But you have to find the most positive way through it. You have to put your head down and keep moving forward because quitting isnt an option." Actor Will Smith poses for photographers upon arrival at the 'Aladdin' European Gala premiere in London, Thursday, May 9, 2019. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) Read more Actor and musician Will Smith is facing a lawsuit filed by violinist Brian King Joseph, who has accused Smith of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation during Smiths Based on a True Story tour. Joseph, who rose to fame as an Americas Got Talent contestant, was hired for Smiths concerts in 2024. Now, he is suing Smith and his company, Treyball Studios Management, over an alleged incident that took place in March 2025 during the tours Las Vegas stop. Advertisement According to a civil complaint filed in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday, Joseph said he returned to his Las Vegas hotel room at 11 p.m., which was booked by Smiths company, to find it was unlawfully entered by an unknown person. A handwritten note was left behind, according to the lawsuit. It read, Brian, Ill be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us, Stone F. The note was left behind with other items that allegedly include wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another individuals name, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to a person unknown to Joseph, the lawsuit states. Joseph said he reported the incident to hotel security, local police, and tour management. The musician claims he was accused of fabricating the story and was shamed for reporting the incident. He was subsequently fired from the tour, with management telling him the tour was moving in a different direction. Another violinist was promptly hired in his place. In the lawsuit, Joseph claims that tour management had suspiciously lost his bag, which included his room key. Joseph called these a sequences of events which, paired with the nature of the hotel intrusion, all point to a pattern of predatory behavior rather than an isolated incident. The lawsuit also claims that Smith, a Philadelphia native, was grooming and priming the violinist for further sexual exploitation. Joseph said in the filing that he and Smith had developed a close relationship while working together on Smiths latest album and concert tour. You and I have such a special connection that I dont have with anyone else, Joseph claims Smith said to him. Joseph is seeking compensation for personal and financial damages. He claims he made significant financial investments for the tour, and now suffers from major physiological damage and PTSD. Smiths attorney, Allen B. Grodsky, denied all claims, calling the allegations false and baseless. They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light, Grodsky said to People in a statement on Thursday. The U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Foremost among Congress' corporate boons is a $4 trillion tax-cut package that extended and added generous breaks for businesses. Read more The Republican-controlled Congress has been very good to most of corporate America this year. Foremost among the boons is a $4 trillion tax-cut package that extended and added generous breaks for businesses large and small. But it hasnt been all good news for U.S. companies, and some industries have benefited more than others. The legislative branchs acquiescence to Donald Trumps sharp tariff increases raised input costs across the economy and provoked retaliatory moves against U.S. farm exports. Advertisement The healthcare sector, renewable energy companies, and Las Vegas casinos have taken legislative hits while chipmakers, drug companies, and private equity fended off potentially costly congressional interventions. Here are this years winners and losers. Winners Nvidia Americas most valuable company beat back influential Republican China hawks efforts to insert provisions in legislation aimed at ensuring U.S. companies get first dibs on Nvidias products. Chief executive officer Jensen Huangs visits to Congress and the White House also helped pave the way for Trump administration actions easing export restrictions so the company could sell advanced chips to Chinese customers. Private equity The struggle to preserve a tax break cherished by private equity proved to be one of the rare instances this year when congressional Republicans stood up to Trump, rebuffing the presidents early demands to raise taxes on carried interest. The provision would have eliminated a lower income tax rate for a key portion of private equity executives compensation. PE firms worked to squelch the change in tandem with venture capital and real estate partnerships, whose executives and dealmakers also benefit. Better yet, private equity also won an expanded interest expensing tax break. Oil and gas Energy companies secured a tax break worth more than $1 billion for oil and gas producers in the Trump tax package. The provision allows businesses subject to a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax to deduct certain drilling costs when calculating their taxable income. Companies including ConocoPhillips Co., Ovintiv Inc., and Civitas Resources Inc. lobbied in favor of it. Crypto Digital-assets companies achieved a breakthrough with the passage of a light-touch regulatory law for dollar-pegged stablecoins, clearing the way for broader use of the technology in everyday finance. An industry drive for a broader rewrite of securities and commodities laws to set up favorable regulation of crypto assets is moving closer to the finish line. A $263 million campaign war chest the crypto industry has amassed in super-PACs is sure to help. Pharma Drug companies mostly succeeded in blocking legislative efforts to control their soaring prices. While Trump talked up requiring massive price cuts from pharmaceutical companies, Republican leaders on Capitol Hill made no moves to codify such a policy. Still, the Senates confirmation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. empowered a foe of vaccine makers. Tech giants Technology giants have stymied public pressure for federal legislation to regulate social media and other tech products amid rising concern over harm to children. Even so, the industry so far hasnt been able to secure a federal law blocking state regulation of artificial intelligence. The Trump administration stepped in with an executive order to override state AI regulations, though that faces legal challenges. Financial planners The wealth management industry came out ahead when Senate Republican leader John Thunes campaign to add a repeal of the estate tax to Trumps tax law foundered. The tax overhaul kept in place the complex loopholes that the rich employ financial planners to navigate on their behalf. Defense and aerospace The defense industry thwarted efforts by Elon Musks DOGE team to cut military spending and scored big increases in the Pentagon budget. Trumps massive tax and spending package included $150 billion in new defense spending. A defense policy bill Congress just passed came in $8 billion above the White House request. Notable beneficiaries include Anduril Industries Inc., Palantir Technologies Inc., and Boeing Co. with the new F-47 fighter. A provision to allow the Pentagon to repair weapons systems without paying contractors to do so was defeated. Domestic car dealers Car dealers won a tax break for loan interest on purchases of new U.S.-built automobiles. Large corporations The $4 trillion Trump tax cut bill extended a bevy of 2017 tax breaks that had expired. Manufacturers won bonus depreciation for the cost of production upgrades and a research and development tax break. Attempts to pay for these by scaling back the corporate state and local tax deduction and to increase the stock buyback tax were beaten back by a heavy lobbying effort. Small businesses The 2017 law that allowed pass-through businesses to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business income from their taxable income was permanently extended. Losers Hospitals A $50 billion bailout for rural hospitals included in Trumps tax cut plan wont offset the loss of funding from Medicaid cuts in the law. Millions of Americans will lose health insurance in the coming years, according to forecasts, leading to a surge in uncompensated care in emergency rooms. Health insurers Big insurers are in line to lose millions of customers with the expiration of enhanced Obamacare premium tax credits at the end of December. Fewer healthy people signing up for policies also could further harm insurers bottom lines. While a bipartisan group of moderates in both parties are trying to renew the credits in January, they face an uphill battle against Republican congressional leaders, who oppose the effort. Green energy The Trump tax bill ended Joe Bidens signature tax credits for solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources, and curtailed the $7,500 consumer electric vehicle tax credit for cars made by such companies as Tesla Inc., Rivian Automotive Inc., and General Motors Co. Renewable energy companies Sunnova Energy International Inc., Solar Mosaic Inc., and Pine Gate Renewables LLC all filed for bankruptcy protection this year in part due to the ending of tax incentives. Banks Crypto bros gain is bankers loss as the stablecoin legislation Congress passed this year threatens the banking sectors long and profitable dominance of the payments system. Still, bankers congressional allies blocked votes on credit card competition legislation, which would cut into the nearly $190 billion in swipe fees retailers pay annually to banks, Visa Inc., and Mastercard Inc. Congress also repealed a Biden-era regulation limiting bank overdraft fees. Casinos Under the tax bill, professional gamblers would only be able to deduct 90% of their losses against their winnings, leading to a situation where they could still owe income tax if they break even over a year or lose money overall. Major casino companies are pushing to repeal the provision, fearing a drop-off in business from their best customers. Airlines Airlines lost hundreds of millions of dollars in ticket revenue during the longest government shutdown in history as the Trump administration moved to curtail flights during the congressional impasse. Delta Air Lines Inc. alone estimated it took a $200 million hit from the shutdown. Importers Retailers and other importers stung by Trumps tariffs got little help from lawmakers this year, as Republicans largely sat back while the president claimed broad authority to rewrite the worlds trading order. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a close Trump ally, has so far managed to delay a looming floor fight over the legality of the tariffs until at least the end of January. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel greets Pamela Chase, Director of the Group Violence Intervention program, before a community meeting at a church in the 22nd Police District in December. Read more For the first time in more than half a century, Philadelphia has recorded fewer than 225 homicides in a single year. In 2025, 222 people were killed the fewest since 1966, when there were a fraction of as many guns in circulation and 178 homicides. Advertisement It is a milestone worth commemorating and mourning: Violence has fallen to its lowest level in decades, yet 222 deaths in a single city is still considered progress. The drop mirrors a national reduction in violence and follows years of sustained declines after Philadelphias annual homicide totals peaked during the pandemic, and it reflects a mix of likely contributing factors: Tech-savvy police are solving more shootings, violence prevention programs have expanded, and the city has emerged from pandemic instability. No single policy or investment explains it, and officials caution that the gains are fragile. The numbers dont mean that the work is done, said Adam Geer, the citys director of public safety. But its a sign that what were doing is working. The impact is tangible: fewer children losing parents, fewer mothers burying sons, fewer cycles of retaliation. We are saving a life every day, District Attorney Larry Krasner said. Still, the violence hit some. Victims ranged from a 2-year-old girl allegedly beaten to death by her mothers boyfriend to a 93-year-old grandfather robbed and stabbed in his home. They included Ethan Parker, 12, fatally shot by a friend playing with a gun, and Said Butler, 18, killed just days before starting his first job. Police say street-level shootings and retaliatory violence fell sharply, in part because some gang conflicts have burned out after key players were arrested or killed. Killings this year more often stemmed from long-standing drivers arguments, drugs, and domestic violence and were concentrated in neighborhoods that have borne the brunt of the crisis. These same communities are still traumatized, said Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. One gunshot is a lot. We cant sit or act like we dont see that. The number of domestic-related killings nearly doubled this year compared with last, making up about 20% of homicides, Geer said. The disappearance and killing of Kada Scott, a 23-year-old woman from Mount Airy, was among them, and led to a citywide outcry and renewed scrutiny of how authorities handle violence against women. And mass shootings on back-to-back holiday weekends 11 people shot in Lemon Hill on Memorial Day, and 21 shot in a pair of incidents in South Philadelphia over July Fourth left residents reeling. Still, a 2025 survey from Pew Charitable Trusts showed that a majority of Philadelphians feel safer in their neighborhoods than they have in years. The progress comes even as the police department remains 20% below its budgeted staffing levels, with about 1,200 fewer officers on the force than 10 years ago. The citys jail population has reached its lowest level in recent history. It dipped below 3,700 in April for the first time in at least a decade, and remains so today. And arrests citywide, particularly for drug crimes, have cratered and remain far below pre-pandemic levels, mirroring a nationwide trend. Experts say the moment demands persistence. We cant look at this decline and turn our attention to other problems that we have to solve. We have to keep investing and keep pushing to get this number even lower, because it could be even lower, said Jason Gravel, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Temple University. Unheard of clearance rates After shootings exploded during the pandemic, and Philadelphia recorded 562 homicides in 2021 the most in its history violence began to decline, slowly at first. But then, from 2023 to 2024, killings fell by 35% the largest year-over-year reduction among U.S. cities with the highest homicide rates, according to an analysis by Pew. The decline continued into 2025. Bethel has pointed to a host of potential reasons for the decline: the reopening of society post-pandemic kids returned to school and adults reconnected with jobs, courts, and probation officers as well as police resources focused in hot spot crime areas and improved coordination among city leaders. Most notably, he said, detectives are making more arrests in nonfatal shootings and homicides. Experts say that arresting shooters is a key violence-prevention strategy it prevents that shooter from committing more violence or from ending up as a victim of retaliation, sends a message of accountability and deterrence, and improves the relationship between police and the community. The homicide clearance rate this year ended at 81.98%, the highest since 1984, and the clearance of nonfatal shootings reached 39.9%. Thats unheard of, said Geer, the public safety director. The small amount of people who are committing these really heinous, violent crimes in our neighborhood[s] are being taken off the street. Still, more than 800 killings from between 2020 and 2023 remain without an arrest, according to an Inquirer analysis. That has had a significant impact on the police departments relationship with the community over the years, something Bethel has sought to repair since he was appointed commissioner in 2024. In 2025, he created an Office of the Victim Advocate, hired a 20-person team to communicate with and support victims, and hosted 35 meetings with residents of the most challenged neighborhoods. Yet Bethel has grappled with the challenge of convincing residents that the city is safer today than four years ago, while questioning whether todays gains can outweigh years of devastation. That challenge was on display on a recent cold December night, as Bethel gathered with a few dozen residents inside a North Philadelphia church and asked what they wanted him to know. Person after person stood and told him what gun violence had taken from them in recent years. My son. My brother. My nephew. Both of my sons. Investing in violence prevention The citys network of violence prevention strategies has expanded greatly since 2020, when the city began issuing tens of millions of dollars in grants to grassroots organizations. Early on, the city faced criticism that its rollout of the funds was chaotic, with little oversight or infrastructure to track impact. Today, Geer said, the city has stronger fiscal oversight, better organizational support, and a data-driven approach that targets neighborhoods experiencing the most violence. In 2024, Community Justice, a national coalition that researches violence-intervention strategies, said that Philadelphia had the most expansive violence-prevention infrastructure of the 10 largest U.S. cities. When evaluating 100 cities, it ranked Philadelphia as having the third-best public-health-centered approach to preventing violence, falling behind Washington and Baltimore. Geer said the work will continue through 2026. Starting in January, the city will have a pool of about $500,000 to help cover the funeral expenses for families affected by violence. One of those organizations that has benefited from the citys funding is Men of Courage, a Germantown-based group that mentors young Black men ages 12 to 18 and focuses on building their confidence, resilience, and emotional intelligence. We want them to know that one decision can affect your entire life, said founder Taj Murdock. Their environment already tells them theyll be nothing. We have to shift their mindsets. Arguments are a leading cause of shootings, and teaching teens how to de-escalate conflicts and think through long-term consequences can prevent them from turning disputes violent, he said. Isaiah Clark-White, 16, a sophomore at Hill Freedman World Academy in East Mount Airy, said that in his three years working with Men of Courage, he has grown more confident and has improved his public speaking. And David Samuel, 15, of Logan, said he has learned how to better control his emotions and identify those of the people around him. Both said they feel safer today than three years ago, but remain vigilant of their surroundings. Samuel said his dad watches the news every day and talks about the overnight crimes and shootings. Hes always telling me, he said, David, I dont want this to happen to you. Anthony Caprio III, 49, was riding an e-bike in Mount Laurel Township when he was fatally struck by a white SUV early Monday morning. The driver has now been arrested. Read more Police in Burlington County have arrested a California man in the hit-and-run death of a man who was riding an e-bike on Route 73 in Mount Laurel earlier this week. Thair Maroki, 40, of El Cajon, Calif., has been charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office said. Advertisement Marokis arrest comes days after the death of Anthony Caprio III, who was killed Monday. Mount Laurel Township police were dispatched to the 1100 block of Route 73 southbound just after 12:15 a.m. Monday to respond to a crash involving an e-bike and an unknown vehicle, and pronounced Caprio, 49, of Magnolia, dead at the scene. Michele Caprio, 71, Anthonys mother, told The Inquirer that her son had taken his e-bike to a Wawa on Sunday night from her house in Mount Laurel. Around 3 a.m. Monday, police arrived at her home to inform her of the crash and Caprios death, she said. Sgt. Kyle Gardner said the e-bike was equipped with lights, which were on at the time of the crash. The vehicle driver dragged Caprio at least a quarter-mile and then continued south on Route 73 into Evesham Township, Gardner said. Investigators used surveillance footage from businesses in the area, as well as the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, to identify the vehicle that allegedly struck Caprio as a white 2022 Jeep Cherokee with California plates. Following a law enforcement alert for the vehicle, officers in the Lyndhurst Police Department in Bergen County located it Thursday and took Maroki into custody, authorities said. Maroki was slated to appear in court Friday in Mount Holly. No attorney information for him was immediately available. From left, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, and Noah Schnapp as Will Byers in Stranger Things, Season 5. Netflix Read more This article contains spoilers. New Years Eve brought the much-anticipated finale of the ultrapopular Netflix series Stranger Things, marking the official conclusion of the 10-year sci-fi saga. Advertisement One detail from the series two-hour finale caught the ear and imagination of local viewers. In one of the episodes final scenes, four of the shows main characters Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve discuss how to keep in touch now that many of them have departed their cursed hometown, the fictional Hawkins, Indiana. Over beers on the rooftop of a local radio station, the characters vow to meet up once a month in a convenient location. Whats a city between Hawkins and Massachusetts [and] New York? asks Nancy, who drops out of Emerson College to take a job at the Boston Herald. I have an uncle who lives in Philly, replies Robin, played by Maya Hawke, who attends Smith College in Massachusetts. Hes kind of weird, but hes got a really big house. Its an idea that Philadelphians quickly took to online, obviously. The closest thing to the upside down IRL would probably be Philly, so I guess that makes sense, wrote one commenter in a Reddit thread on the topic. Gritty has yet to emerge so they think its safe, wrote another. Even the citys official tourism agency got in on the action. Did the Stranger Things crew just say theyre meeting up in Philly?! the Visit Philly account posted to the social media site Threads. Where should they meet? (Among the suggestions: Its Always Sunny in Philadelphias Paddys Pub.) Inevitably, some pined for a Philly-based spinoff or, at the very least, a crossover with another high-profile show set in the region. Im pretty sure when she says Philadelphia she really means Delco which, to [an] Indiana native, would be close enough, wrote one Reddit commenter. And would make for a kickass spin off or team up with Mare of Easttown. Pennsylvania-made amaro bittersweet liqueurs made by macerating herbs and spices is a nascent booze category. But its production isnt restricted to larger distilleries like Philadelphia Distilling, which makes the popular Vigo Amaro. Bartenders around the city are making their own in-house. The practice of making in-house amaro is a result of a relative lack of access. In Pennsylvania, amari are often expensive and the selection comparatively small due to what the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board makes available. On the Fine Wine and Good Spirits website, there are only 41 amari listed, compared to 838 tequila and tequila-based drinks available. Some bars, like Borromini and Le Virtu, maintain lists of 70-plus amari by sourcing them through whats called Special Liquor Orders, or as Le Virtus general manager and beverage director Chris OBrien explains, something that is brought in from a smaller importer instead of getting it directly from the state. Advertisement But bars with a limited winery, brewery, or distillery licenses a vastly more affordable and increasingly popular path to a liquor license than a full restaurant license can only serve beer, wine, and liquor thats produced (or at least bottled) in Pennsylvania. That winnows the PLCB-stocked options from 41 to two, giving some establishments good reason to make their own amari. The family of liqueurs known as amaro (Italian for bitter) are made from steeping botanicals in alcohol. They can be enjoyed before dinner (aperitivo) or after (digestivo). There are numerous types and subdivisions, like fernet. Nocino is a similar liqueur made from walnuts. Here in Philly, ambitious bartenders are making all kinds of variations. Almanac At Almanac in Old City, which is tucked above Ogawas omakase counter, large mason jars filled with witchy green-black liquid cover the shelving on one entire wall. Lead bartender Rob Scott brews his own amazake, a spirit typically made from fermenting rice with koji mold spores, and steeps mostly foraged nuts and leaves in Everclear and brandy for Almanacs unique, house bitters. Spinning one jar of amaro from October in his hands, studying the aromatics still steeping within, Scott recited each of them, Fig leaf, apples of some sort, trifoliate orange, yomogi which is a cousin of mugwort, chrysanthemum, rosemary. We keep a book downstairs where we weigh and measure everything and write them down. Otherwise its easy to forget. Theyre all autumnal flavors, and they steep for months in Lairds Jersey Lightning, an un-aged apple brandy. The jars of amaro sit next to about a dozen similar jars of nocino, made from local black walnuts. You can taste a bit of astringency with nocino, but it goes away with time, Scott said. But if you make an amaro with, say, cardoons or wormwood, those will always be bitter. The nocino currently sitting on Almanacs shelves were started on June 24, when their team harvested the nuts in Merchantville with Danny Childs, sliced them in half, put them all into 2-liter mason jars, and covered them with Everclear, a neutral grain spirit. They steeped until Thanksgiving, when the nocino was tempered with water and sweetened with Demerara sugar. Scott offered a sample of what he called hot nocino, used for Almanacs Manhattan. We only put the nocino into cocktails because the other flavors in the cocktail temper its hotness. In order to get a true, sipping nocino, I would let this age for another six to eight months for it to become a more evolved drink. You cant really over-extract [the walnuts], so we use them when they feel right. Almanac, 310 Market St., Second Floor, 215-238-5757, almanacphilly.com Percy Diner and Bar Percy Diner and Bars limited winery license means they can only serve Pennsylvania-made amari. So they decided to make their own. Percy, which is part of the Forin group, serves Forins black currant and cherry fruit wines and their oaked ube and ube honey wines straight ($10) and blends them into cocktails. Theyve used the honey wine as a base for their amaro, but more recently, the in-house selection is made with mostly neutral grain spirits. Lead bartender Sean Goldinger is hoping to slowly cultivate a series of house-made amari to feature in cocktails. At the moment he has made both a straightforward amaro with bitter orange peel, angelica root, fresh orange peel, star anise, hibiscus, gentian, wormwood, and sweetened with Demerara sugar, as well as an aperitivo that follows a similar recipe but is sweetened with a syrup made from clarified fresh-squeezed orange juice. The aperitivo is wonderfully citrusy and significantly less bitter than the amaro. Goldinger also makes a house riff on Benedictine, a French herbal liqueur typically consisting of a couple dozen secret ingredients, with Stateside vodka and Dads Hat whiskey, Fell to Earth sweet vermouth, and Peychauds bitters. Its infused with cinnamon, cloves, fresh thyme, lemon and orange peel, vanilla, cardamom, wormwood, fresh ginger, star anise, and angelica root, sweetened with both Demerara sugar and honey. Percy Diner and Bar, 1700 N. Front St., 215-975-0020, percyphl.com Le Virtu While the majority of Le Virtus robust menu of amari and other liqueurs is sourced from Italy and Eastern European countries, the East Passyunk restaurant also offers some house-made options. Three house-made digestivi stand out: acqua santa (an agrumi, Italian for citrus fruits), genziana (a traditional Abruzzese gentian digestivo), and caffe, a coffee liqueur. These arent amari, as they use far less ingredients, but they serve the same purpose helping you to digest the pasta dinner youve just indulged in. For $15, you can get a generous pour of one of these digestivi. Theyre all made by owner Francis Cratil Cretarolas brother Fred, whos been making amari since 2013, when he attended a wedding in Abruzzo, in the town of Pacentro and became drinking buddies with a guy who taught him, according to Francis. Amari are much more complex, with 10 to 12 different ingredients, but these are the things Abruzzese are making in their homes, he said. Acqua santa is a light golden yellow. Le Virtus beverage director, Chris OBrien, referred to it as a high-octane limoncello. Its made with lemon, grapefruit, orange, and lime. With less sugar than limoncello, its much more nuanced in its citrus flavors. For the caffe, Fred takes fresh espresso grounds and infuses them in Everclear for 30 to 40 days, turning them each week to make sure theyre evenly distributed, Francis explained. The genziana is clear, amber-hued, and bracingly bitter, but still very balanced. It opens with a bright citrusy burst and is made bitter with gentian root, a common ingredient in amari. The root, brought to the U.S. by Francis friends who live near the Maiella mountains, steeps in Trebbiano or Pecorino wine from Abruzzo. Fred adds some lemon peel and coffee beans to it, along with Everclear. Le Virtu, 1927 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-271-5626, levirtu.com Fell to Earth You may recognize Tim Kweeders name from his viral concoction, Dumpster Juice, a line of vermouths born at Bloomsday, but his making of liqueurs has come a long way. Hes the producer, bottler, salesperson, and delivery person for Fell to Earth, Phillys first vermoutherie. Its technically both a winery and a distillery: The state made us get both licenses, said Kweeder. Fell to Earths liqueurs can be found at about 40 different Philly bars. Kweeder sources fresh ingredients for his fernet, like nepitella and chamomile, from Green Meadow Farms. He sweetens them with blackstrap molasses from Bucks County, then blends them with a neutral grain spirit and lets them sit for a week before blending the tinctures. The base of his amaro starts with spruce tips from Green Meadow. Theres a two-week window where you can forage for them, between late March and April. I throw them all into a big vat with neutral grain spirit ... That becomes a base for amaro, and I build on top of that, blending in other tinctures, he said. Though most of our ingredients are from the Mid-Atlantic, we have a tiny spice cabinet of traditional amaro ingredients that dont grow here, like gentian, cinchona (a bark that yields quinine), etc. which we use like chefs would use seasonings. We get these locally from Penn Herb Co. If you cant decide whether youre looking for a nocino or an amaro, you may find your solution in Fell to Earths Nocinaro a hybrid of the two made from green walnuts, walnut leaf, black walnut syrup, trifoliate orange, wormwood, blackstrap molasses, and a gentle seasoning of cinchona bark and gentian root. Available for delivery in Philadelphia (four-bottle minimum), shipping outside the city available via Vinoshipper; felltoearth.com DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together 23 years, married for almost nine. We are in our 60s. Its the second marriage for both of us. I retired due to having to move to another state for his job. I make friends wherever I go and get involved in community activities. My husband has NO friends. Seriously. ZERO! He goes to work and comes home. Over the years, he has accused me of wanting relationships with my male friends (whose wives are also my friends) and tells me I should just go on and be happy with the other man. Neither my friends nor I have ever done anything to spark his pathological jealousy. Advertisement Currently, I am on a nonprofit board of directors and must communicate often with the male president. He has become the new target. Counseling is out of the question because psychiatry is my husbands specialty. Also, he seems to think he is always right about everything. He has never issued an apology as long as Ive known him. I do not respond to his tirades because its pointless, but Im sick and tired of his behavior and thought process. I understand the why to this behavior (his heritage and environment), but that doesnt give him carte blanche to use it as an excuse. Any suggestions for moving forward? WEARY IN FLORIDA DEAR WEARY: From what you have written, your antisocial husband is a bottomless vessel of insecurity. If you havent been able to assuage it in all these years, I doubt you ever will. Many psychotherapists use mental health professionals themselves. But unless your husband is willing to admit that perhaps he, and not you, is the problem and seeks help, nothing will change. Frankly, I am surprised your marriage has lasted this long. Is this how you want to live the rest of your life? Answering that question is the way to move forward. ** ** ** DEAR ABBY: I work from home a few days a week and live a block from the local middle school. Recently, Ive broken up a group of kids in my yard hitting and fighting with each other. I dont know these kids, have no children in school and realize this is an ongoing issue. Im not certain how to handle it. I could ignore it, but Im afraid not only that one of the kids will get hurt, but also that a parent would be upset that this happened on my property. I could report it to the police, but that may be overkill. I could also try reaching out to the school, but without any information on who these kids are, Im not sure that would be much help either. Any ideas? WITNESS IN OHIO DEAR WITNESS: I do have a suggestion. You have already spoken to the children involved in these altercations. You are correct that there could be liability if one or more of them are injured on your property. Contact the principal of the middle school and explain what has been going on. Once thats done, call or visit the police department and report that your yard is being turned into a battleground. If you do, the next time something starts happening and you call the police, they may respond quickly. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates President Donald Trump and top Iranian officials exchanged dueling threats Friday as widening protests swept across parts of the Islamic Republic, further escalating tensions between the countries after America bombed Iranian nuclear sites in June. At least seven people have been killed so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, which were sparked in part by the collapse of Irans rial currency but have increasingly seen crowds chanting anti-government slogans. Advertisement The protests, now in their sixth day, have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations. However, the demonstrations have yet to be countrywide and have not been as intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was detained over not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities. Trump post sparks quick Iranian response Trump initially wrote on his Truth Social platform, warning Iran that if it violently kills peaceful protesters, the United States will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go, Trump wrote, without elaborating. Shortly after, Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker who serves as the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, alleged on the social platform X that Israel and the U.S. were stoking the demonstrations. He offered no evidence to support the allegation, which Iranian officials have repeatedly made during years of protests sweeping the country. Trump should know that intervention by the U.S. in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests, Larijani wrote on X, which the Iranian government blocks. The people of the U.S. should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers. Larijanis remarks likely referenced Americas wide military footprint in the region. Iran in June attacked Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar after the U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites during Israels 12-day war on the Islamic Republic. No one was injured, though a missile did hit a radome there. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the Great People of Iran will forcefully reject any interference in their internal affairs. Similarly, our Powerful Armed Forces are on standby and know exactly where to aim in the event of any infringement of Iranian sovereignty. Araghchi also said that Trumps message likely was influenced by those who fear diplomacy between the two nations without elaborating. Video circulated on social media late Friday showed protests continued in many cities across the country, including at least three points in the south and east of the capital Tehran. The Associated Press cannot independently verify the footage. No major changes have been made to U.S. troop levels in the Middle East or their preparations following Trumps Iran post, said a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who previously was the councils secretary for years, separately warned that any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut. The people of Iran properly know the experience of being rescued by Americans: from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza, he added on X. Irans hard-liner parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also threatened that all American bases and forces would be legitimate targets. Irans Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also responded, citing a list of Tehrans longtime grievances against the U.S., including a CIA-backed coup in 1953, the downing of a passenger jet in 1988 and taking part in the June war. The Iranian response came as the protests shake what has been a common refrain from officials in the theocracy that the country broadly backed its government after the war. Trumps online message marked a direct sign of support for the demonstrators, something that other American presidents have avoided out of concern that activists would be accused of working with the West. During Irans 2009 Green Movement demonstrations, President Barack Obama held back from publicly backing the protests something he said in 2022 was a mistake. But such White House support still carries a risk. Though the grievances that fuel these and past protests are due to the Iranian governments own policies, they are likely to use President Trumps statement as proof that the unrest is driven by external actors, said Naysan Rafati, an analyst at the International Crisis Group. But using that as a justification to crack down more violently risks inviting the very U.S. involvement Trump has hinted at, he added. Protests continue Friday Demonstrators took to the streets Friday in Zahedan in Irans restive Sistan and Baluchestan province on the border with Pakistan. The burials of several demonstrators killed in the protests also took place, sparking marches. Online video purported to show mourners chasing off security force members who attended the funeral of 21-year-old Amirhessam Khodayari. He was killed Wednesday in Kouhdasht, over 250 miles southwest of Tehran in Irans Lorestan province. Video also showed Khodayaris father denying his son served in the all-volunteer Basij force of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, as authorities claimed. The semiofficial Fars news agency later reported that there were now questions about the governments claims that he served. Irans civilian government under reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has been trying to signal it wants to negotiate with protesters. However, Pezeshkian has acknowledged there is not much he can do as Irans rial has rapidly depreciated, with $1 now costing some 1.4 million rials. That sparked the initial protests. The protests, taking root in economic issues, have heard demonstrators chant against Irans theocracy as well. Tehran has had little luck in propping up its economy in the months since the June war. Iran recently said it was no longer enriching uranium at any site in the country, trying to signal to the West that it remains open to potential negotiations over its atomic program to ease sanctions. However, those talks have yet to happen as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warned Tehran against reconstituting its atomic program. KYIV, Ukraine Russian officials said Thursday that a Ukrainian drone strike killed 24 people and wounded at least 50 more as they celebrated the new year in a Russian-occupied village in Ukraines Kherson region. Three drones struck a cafe and hotel in the resort town of Khorly on the Black Sea coast, the regions Moscow-installed leader Vladimir Saldo said in a statement on Telegram. He said that one of the drones carried an incendiary mixture, sparking a blaze. Advertisement Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on the claim of a strike. The attack could not be independently verified by the Associated Press. The attack was condemned by a number of Russian officials as tensions between the two nations continue to spike despite diplomats hailing productive peace talks. Valentina Matviyenko, the chair of Russias upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, said that the strike strengthened Russias resolve to quickly achieve its goals in its almost four-year invasion of Ukraine. The strike once again demonstrates the validity of our initial demands, Matviyenko said. The statement follows claims from Moscow that Ukraine launched a long-range drone attack against one of Russian President Vladimir Putins official residences in northwestern Russia on Tuesday. Kyiv has denounced the claims as a lie. Russias Ministry of Defense said Thursday that its specialists had accessed the navigation system in one of the drones it claimed was used in the Tuesday attack and used its data to confirm that Putins residence was the drones final destination. The claim could not be verified as the ministry did not share evidence on the findings, but officials said that it would transfer the data to U.S. officials through established channels. On Wednesday, Russias Defense Ministry also released a video on Wednesday of a downed drone it said was involved in the attack. The nighttime clip showed a man wearing camouflage, a helmet, and a Kevlar vest standing near a damaged drone lying in snow. The man, his face covered, talks about the drone. Neither the man nor the Defense Ministry provided any location or date and neither the video nor its claims could be independently verified. Kyiv has called the allegations of an attack on Putins residence a ruse to derail ongoing peace negotiations, which have ramped up in recent weeks on both sides of the Atlantic. In his New Years address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a peace deal was 90% ready but warned that the remaining 10%, believed to include key sticking points such as territory, would determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live. Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday that he, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trumps son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner had a productive call with the national security advisers of Britain, France, Germany, and Ukraine to discuss advancing the next steps in the European peace process." We focused on how to move the discussions forward in a practical way on behalf of (Trumps) peace process, including strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms to help end the war and ensure it does not restart, Witkoff said in a post on X. Lead Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov also reaffirmed that European and Ukrainian officials plan to meet Saturday. Zelensky is due to hold talks next week with European leaders. In the diplomatic sphere, Kyiv has also continued to push the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take action against Russia for alleged attacks on electricity infrastructure deemed critical for nuclear safety and security at Ukraines nuclear power stations. The IAEA on Tuesday published a Note Verbale sent by Kyiv to the agency, saying that a Russian drone and missile attack on Dec. 23 had caused certain Ukrainian nuclear power plants to lose a significant part of their off-site power connections. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia attacked the Odesa region overnight, targeting civilian infrastructure in several waves of drone attacks, according to regional head Oleh Kiper. In a post on Telegram, Kiper said that a two-story residential building was damaged and that a drone hit an apartment on the 17th floor of a high-rise building without detonating. There were no casualties reported. In its daily report, Ukraines air force said air defense forces had downed or suppressed 176 of 205 drones targeting the country overnight. It said hits by 24 strike drones were recorded at 15 locations and the attack was still ongoing. By erasing the factual presentation of slavery at Independence Park, a venerated place that represents the founding ideals of the nation, President Donald Trump is revealing a vivid disrespect not only for African Americans but for all of us, writes John Plonski. Read more President Ulysses S. Grant established Yellowstone as the first national park on March 1, 1872. Ever since, 27 American presidents have supported, nurtured, and developed national parks that is, until now, with this president, Donald Trump. Over the course of the past 153 years, presidents have grown the number of parks to todays 423. Last year, more than 325 million people visited these sites. But this year, visitors to national parks experienced closed campsites, canceled summer camps and school science programs, and visitor centers either closed or with limited hours. Advertisement These Trump-era cutbacks began the disassembling of a system of national parks that was the pride of America and the envy of the world. In the 11 months since President Trump began his second term, the National Park System has experienced astounding reductions in personnel, staggering cuts to operations and infrastructure budgets, widespread eliminations of environmental protections, and baffling erasures of historical facts. National park budget cuts, which were first proposed by the Heritage Foundations Project 2025, have totaled roughly 35%. Implemented by Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, the cuts have led to thousands of public servants being fired and day-to-day operations being vastly curtailed. Taking it to the next step, Trumps secretary of the interior, Doug Burgum, who oversees national parks, is considering a plan for the elimination of up to 350 park sites across the country. Burgum is apt to diminish or shutter sites that fall vulnerable to Trumps executive order, cynically titled, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. Park sites seen as not conforming to the order might include the Manzanar National Historic Site in California, which describes the governments forced race-based relocation to detention camps of Japanese Americans at the start of World War II, or the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, where the advancement of civil rights for LGBTQ+ Americans is celebrated. National parks across the country are also burdened with huge backlogs of deferred maintenance to infrastructure. Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island in New York Harbor stand proudly as memorials to those who migrated to the United States to escape poverty, repression, and tyranny. Many of the nearly four million who visit every year pay honor to ancestors who made new homes, raised families, and helped build the American dream. Sadly, though, deteriorating structural conditions at these historic sites have led to a $288 million repair shortfall. This backlog will grow because the Trump administration has suspended many new public works projects. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina is a natural gem that attracts over 12 million visitors a year. People come to camp, hike, fish, or enjoy the awesome scenery. Guests also spend an estimated $2.1 billion annually boosting area lodgings, restaurants, and convenience stores. This economic dynamic supports over 20,000 jobs in the region. President Trump apparently does not grasp that if parks nationwide are degraded through deep budget cuts, thousands of small businesses located in or near national park gateway communities will suffer, and tens of thousands of employees, mostly in the private sector, will be out of work. The Presidents House Site at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia memorializes nine people who were enslaved there while George Washington was president in the earliest years of the republic. Their names are Austin, Christopher Sheels, Giles, Hercules, Joe, Moll, Oney Judge, Paris, and Richmond. The house site reflects this important detail and describes it truthfully. Yet, this president has ordered that the story be altered to be compatible with a sanitized and dishonest description of history. By erasing this factual presentation at Independence Park, a venerated place that represents the founding ideals of the nation, President Trump is revealing a vivid disrespect not only for African Americans but for all of us. Slashed funding, fired employees, endangered properties, lost revenue, environmental rollbacks, whitewashed history: this will be the public lands legacy of President Donald Trump. The damage to national parks that Trump and his loyalists have already inflicted is so profound that it will take years for these sites to recover. We citizens, though, can do something now to help save them. We can write, call, or text members of Congress to demand they step up and repel this presidents egregious assault on parks. Meanwhile, we should also make sure to visit a nearby national park site, seek out a ranger or guide, and assure them that we will do our part to defend and protect Americas magnificent national parks. John Plonski was a finalist for the 2023 Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the Promotion of Conservation and served as executive secretary of the Pennsylvania State Park and Forest Systems from 1995-2004. (From left) Jamila Winder, Neil Makhija, and Tom DiBello are seated together on stage at the Montgomery County Community College gymnasium Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, during ceremonies before they were sworn in as Montgomery County's new Board of Commissioners. Read more By the end of this year, Montgomery County will have three emergency short-term shelters with beds for 190 people in Pottstown, Lansdale, and Norristown. In late 2024, it had zero full-time shelters, even as homelessness soared to new heights in the county Pennsylvanias second wealthiest. Advertisement The three-member board of commissioners is currently composed of two Democrats and one Republican, but in the past year they have operated with an unusual degree of cohesion on both the challenge of homelessness and on a county budget that included a small property tax increase. We came in with similar goals around addressing the homeless problem throughout the county, said Tom DiBello, the Republican commissioner. We all heard it when we were campaigning [in 2023] and when we got elected, we felt that we needed to do something. We cant continue doing it the way its always been done in the past, where people just kept talking about it. Although the Montgomery County commissioners have formed a united front on many issues last year, housing policy issues are more likely to divide them in 2026. In Pennsylvania, county governments revenue sources are restricted to the politically sensitive property tax. And counties have no direct influence over municipal-level zoning restrictions that limit how much housing can be built. But the Democrat commissioners, Neil Makhija and Jamila Winder, have ideas about how to get around those limitations to directly fund more affordable housing and encourage local governments to allow more building. DiBello is not excited about many of the proposals being considered by the two Democrats. He opposes creating new county-level taxes and says zoning powers should be left to localities. Still, DiBello has further housing policy goals he would like to pursue such as developing more affordable homes for senior citizens. As the county releases its 2026 housing blueprint, expected early this year, the first round of these debates will begin in earnest. This planning document, created by county government staff with commissioner feedback, lays out goals for the county based on a comprehensive housing policy the first its seen in recent memory, Makhija says. Its going to be the first time that the entire board has had a voice and a view on what our role is to address a crisis in the cost of housing, said Makhija. There are things we can do to help people. How the shelters got built Making policy to address homelessness is difficult because many municipalities and community groups fight against having shelters placed in their neighborhoods. The number of people in Montgomery County experiencing homelessness has grown with the cost of housing. In 2024, there were 435 people living without a roof over their heads. In 2025, the number grew to 534. Meanwhile, Montgomery Countys last full-service homeless shelter closed in 2022. Opposition to new shelters or affordable housing bloomed in Norristown, where officials said the rowhouse-dominated municipality was already asked to shoulder too many social services, and in Lower Providence where the local government denied a shelter application (the legal fallout is ongoing). The county commissioners decided to get involved by courting local governments and personally attending zoning hearings about potential placements. DiBello attended meetings in Pottstown, near where he lives. Winder went to hearings in Norristown, including one that stretched past midnight, then stuck around to discuss neighbors concerns. In some parts of the county, efforts to address the issue overcame opposition. Communities like East Norriton have established more code blue shelters, which only operate during freezing weather, and in wealthy Lower Merion, a new affordable housing complex for seniors and people with disabilities, called Ardmore House II, is under construction. It takes political courage in these moments, Winder said, referring to local officials who have embraced shelters and affordable housing. Sometimes you have loud voices in the room and just have to say, well, this is the right thing to do. The commissioners provided $5.3 million in county funding for the shelters. The county also provided a quarter of Ardmore House IIs $20 million budget. And as federal funding cuts loom under President Donald Trumps administration, the commissioners have also been engaging with philanthropists and foundations. Earlier this month, Nand Todi, president of Montgomery County-based Penn Manufacturing Industries, announced a $1 million donation to the Lansdale shelter. Winder hopes this example of generosity is just the beginning. I come from the private sector, so I believe in public-private partnerships, said Winder. Were home to some of the largest corporations in the southeast area. We know that companies have social responsibility goals. So how do we partner with corporations? What can a county government do? This year, the commissioners want to continue to tackle housing issues. But county-level politicians do not have large budgets at their command, and unlike their municipal-level counterparts, they do not set zoning policy. Makhija and Winder want to push those limits. For example, the county dispenses infrastructure grants, and Makhija says the rules around that funding could be rewritten to incentivize municipalities to reform their zoning codes, perhaps using model ordinances established by the county. Such ordinances could, for example, allow more transit-oriented development. Or they could legalize accessory dwelling units small living spaces such as a garage apartment or in-law suite that can be rented out. If you have a grant program and it says these are the requirements, then people are going to prioritize getting those things done, said Makhija, though, he said, he still has to make the case to his colleagues. He also noted that county planning staff can help implement new municipality policies. DiBello is skeptical of the county getting involved in local zoning policy. The governing structure in Pennsylvania is that municipalities are autonomous to county and state when it comes to zoning, said DiBello. Its up to the communities. The Democrats would also like to find revenue sources to pay for more housing projects without increasing the property tax, which would cut against their goal of affordability. But for that they would need permission from Harrisburg, which Republicans in the state Senate have denied. There are opportunities for us to advocate to the state legislature, to give counties like ours other means to generate revenue, said Winder. Its not sustainable to continue to burden taxpayers by increasing property taxes, and we cant fund these programs unless we have the money to do so. DiBello is also opposed to creating new taxes (if Harrisburg allows it), and doesnt want to see more property tax increases either. But he still wants to see proactive housing investments by county government. These debates will unfold next year as the housing blueprint dominates the commissioners agenda. Were the second wealthiest county in Pennsylvania, and people struggling to find housing can be quite invisible in these communities, said Winder. Weve got an embarrassment of riches, but there are people that are struggling and so were trying to be on the ground helping to solve these issues. This shopping center at 785 Starr St. in Phoenixville recently sold for $7.35 million. Read more A fully occupied shopping center near downtown Phoenixville recently sold for nearly $7.4 million. Chester County property records show that the 33,000-square-foot complex was sold in late November by one private investor based in Malvern to another based in Glen Mills, with both registered as limited liability companies. The sale was first reported Thursday by the Philadelphia Business Journal. Advertisement Located at 785 Starr St., the center is about a mile down the road from Phoenixvilles main drag. It is shadow-anchored by a corporately owned Acme, according to Marcus & Millichap, the firm that represented the seller. The Acme is connected to the rest of the shopping center and drives traffic to other stores but was not included in the sale. The centers other tenants include Benchmark Federal Credit Union, Habitat for Humanity ReStore thrift store, Fresenius Kidney Care, Labcorp, NovaCare Rehabilitation, and State Farm. It also has a martial arts gym, a dry cleaner, and several quick-service restaurants. This closing highlights the strength of essential-service tenants, 100% occupancy, and strong tenant performance, Scott Woodard, senior director of investments for Marcus & Millichap, said in a statement. Phoenixvilles expected population growth and proximity to major anchors, such as Acme, made this center a standout asset with long-term stability. Woodard represented the seller alongside Derrick Dougherty, senior managing director of investments. The shopping center sits on 3.7 acres, near the corner of Nutt Road and Starr Street, and was built in 2007. According to Chester County property records, it previously sold for $6.35 million in 2018. Prior to that, the property had last changed hands in 2006, when the land was purchased for $325,000, according to the records. Phoenixville, a once-dilapidated former steel town, has experienced a rebirth over the past two decades. Its restaurant and bar scene has flourished, and Bridge Street is bustling, especially on the weekends. Luxury apartment complexes have attracted both millennials and empty nesters to the quaint 3.8-square-mile borough. READ MORE: Phoenixville has turned into a destination, but some locals dont like what its become Since the pandemic, Phoenixville has continued to grow: Its population increased 9% between 2020 and 2024, according to census data. In 2010, it was home to roughly 16,000 people. Today, that number is estimated to be more than 20,000. The Acme shopping center sits just inside the bounds of Phoenixville, near its border with Schuylkill Township and not far from Valley Forge National Historic Park. The Phoenixville centers sale occurred around the same time that grocer Jeff Brown bought a 98,000-square-foot Northeast Philadelphia complex, anchored by one of his ShopRites, for $30.8 million. New Jersey lawmakers passed a bill to prohibit households from being denied housing because they use public assistance. The legislation, which lawmakers passed on Dec. 18, makes explicit that the states anti-discrimination law includes protections for residents based on their source of income for housing payments, including government vouchers, child support payments, and assistance from nonprofits. And the bill affirms that protections apply both to people paying rent and those paying mortgages. Advertisement State Sen. Angela V. McKnight (D., Hudson County), one of the bills sponsors, said the legislation will protect the rights of homeowners and tenants. Access to stable housing should never hinge on the source of a persons legal income, especially for vulnerable populations like single parents, veterans, or those living with disabilities who often rely on assistance to make ends meet, she said in a statement. The legislation, which would take effect immediately after Gov. Phil Murphy signs it, is part of local and national efforts to prevent people from being denied housing because they use public assistance to pay for it. More than 2.3 million families use federal Housing Choice Vouchers, formerly known as Section 8 vouchers. In September, Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman cosponsored a bill that would create federal protections for these tenants. The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 would prohibit landlords from denying housing to tenants because they pay rent using Housing Choice Vouchers; Social Security benefits; payments from a trust; income from a court order, such as spousal or child support; or other legal sources of income. It also would expand protections in the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to prohibit discrimination based on source of income or military or veteran status. Its hard enough to find an affordable place to call home, Fetterman said in a statement. Every veteran and every family struggling to keep a roof over their head deserve dignity and our support, not discrimination based upon their service or if they use a voucher. Chantelle Wilkinson, vice president of strategic partnerships and campaigns at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said source of income discrimination is far too often a main barrier for households seeking stable housing. When a landlord denies a voucher holder access to housing despite meeting all other qualifications, that no is not just about a home: its denial of opportunity, equity, and stability, she said in a statement. In Philadelphia, the citys Fair Practices Ordinance bans rental property owners from discriminating against potential tenants based on the source of the income they will use to pay their rent. That includes housing vouchers and other public assistance. But housing denials based on voucher status still happen. In June 2024, City Council passed a bill to expand protections under the Fair Practices Ordinance. The legislation explicitly stated that housing providers renting or selling a property cannot advertise or communicate that they do not accept housing vouchers. It also explicitly says that Housing Choice Vouchers are an example of a protected income source. And it makes fighting this type of housing discrimination easier for renters. The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, the citys official civil rights agency, began enforcing the protections last December. Protesters and counter protesters gather at the Minnesota Capitol building in St. Paul. (Photo: Caroline O'Donovan / The Washington Post) Read more Daycare operators say the Trump administrations restrictions on federal childcare funding unfairly punish them over a conservative activists fraud allegations against Minnesota centers that are undercut by state records and disputed by some of the owners. YouTuber Nick Shirley recently went to nine federally subsidized daycare centers in Minneapolis, many operated by Somali Americans. Advertisement In a 42-minute video of his visits that went viral last week, he claimed that the centers werent caring for any children because none could be seen entering or exiting the buildings. In response, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cut off funds to the centers until they undergo extensive auditing and announced stricter verification measures nationwide for childcare funds. Minnesota state regulators visited the centers within the past 10 months and saw children, according to state officials and records, undermining claims that they are fraudulent businesses. One daycare manager told the Washington Post that security camera footage showed Shirley visiting her facility when it was closed. Another daycare director said staff didnt open the door in part because they assumed that Shirley and six or seven men with him, some masked, were from Immigration and Customs Enforcement which launched an operation in early December focused on Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis area. Ahmed Hasan, director of ABC Learning Center, said the YouTuber showed up at the front entrance around noon on Dec. 16. During the winter, most parents use the back entrance and Shirley stayed no more than a few minutes, he said. There were kids here all the time, Hasan said. I was also here. Hasan said his daycare serves about 56 children, most from low-income East African families. It was last visited by a state regulator on Nov. 7. Since the video went viral, people have flooded his centers phones with harassing calls, threatening to have him arrested or call ICE, he said. Ayan Jama, manager at Mini Childcare Center, said that her daycare has also received threatening phone calls, including a bomb threat, and that people have attempted to break in. She said Shirley visited in the morning before her center opened after noon. Its typical hours are 12:30 to 9:30 p.m. to serve mostly Somali children after school while their parents work in the afternoons and evenings, she said. Why not come during operating hours? she said. This is a targeted attack on our community. Jama, whose business was last visited by a regulator on June 11, said she wont be able to keep her doors open if federal funds, which account for 90% of her revenue, arent restored. Of the seven other daycare centers featured in Shirleys video, five didnt return requests for comment on Wednesday, the mailbox was full for a sixth, and multiple calls to a seventh resulted in a busy signal. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat, said the Trump administration is threatening funding for childcare services apparently all on the basis of one video on social media. To say I am outraged is an understatement, Ellison said in a statement Wednesday. The scrutiny on the nine daycare centers in Shirleys video has nationwide implications because all daycare centers will have to submit more documentation to HHS before receiving childcare funds. The new guidelines, while still unclear, mirror defend the spend requirements that briefly went into effect in April before they were stopped, child welfare policy analysts said. For a few weeks, states seeking to draw down money to reimburse daycares were asked to upload additional details on why the payments were justified. That effort significantly delayed payments to providers, said Stephanie Schmit, director of childcare and early education at nonpartisan Center for Law and Social Policy. If the new documentation requirements are the same or more onerous, providers that are chronically underfunded will struggle to keep their doors open, she said. We already know that childcare providers dont have a lot of additional time to do things like this, Schmit said. HHS said federal childcare dollars, which help families with low incomes pay for care, will be frozen to the centers under suspicion until they release extensive documents, including attendance records, inspection reports, and complaints. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the agency has a clear duty to verify the proper use of taxpayer funds. The documentation process exists to rule out fraud and confirm that funds are supporting legitimate child care providers, he said in a statement. Any provider operating should be prepared to demonstrate compliance. Clare Sanford, a government relations chair for the Minnesota Child Care Association, which represents more than 300 centers across the state, called the viral video misleading. For example, daycare centers often lock their front doors for safety reasons, and it is not unusual for employees to not answer a door if they are caring for children and not expecting a visitor, she said. If an employee opens a door, children might not be visible because daycare centers keep them in classrooms, away from entrances, she said. Shirley did not return requests for comment Wednesday evening. The action comes amid state and federal fraud investigations of 14 Minnesota-run safety net programs, including for child nutrition, housing, and autism assistance. President Donald Trump, Republican lawmakers, and conservative activists and media outlets have cited the involvement of Somali Americans to blast the immigrant group. Trump said in a Cabinet meeting last month that he doesnt want Somali immigrants in the United States and referred to them as garbage. Around three dozen people gathered Wednesday at the Minnesota Capitol to express opposition to the childcare funding restrictions, holding signs that said No child care, no workforce and Fund care not fear. Lets be honest about how we really got here: Our president decided he doesnt like the Somali community and he wants to destroy them, said Amanda Schillinger, a Minnesota childcare provider, to a loud chorus of boos. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, tweeted Tuesday that Trump was politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans. State Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, a Democrat who is cochair of the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, said the state has been actively working for years to put safeguards in place against fraud. Its incredibly frustrating to me that Donald Trump and the Republicans want to use this as a political vehicle to cut funding to our state, she said. Eight of the daycare centers depicted in Shirleys video have received multiple violations by state regulators. ABC Learning Center was cited for deficiencies, which Hasan said were corrected and described as common among daycares, such as not having food menus with proper nutritional requirements and not having an individual care plan for a child with a known allergy. The ninth center in Shirleys video Super Kids Daycare Center had its license activated Oct. 1 and shares the same address as another daycare center whose license expired that same day and previously received violations. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families did not return requests for comment after the Trump administration announced its funding freeze. Victor Causey (left) and James Creamer tong oysters from the Cat Point oyster reef in Apalachicola Bay, Fla., in 2018. The oyster beds in the bay have reopened for harvetsting on a limited basis. (Photo: Mark Wallheiser/For the Washington Post) Read more Chad Hanson remembers a time, not so long ago, when driving on a bridge across Floridas Apalachicola Bay meant witnessing an astounding sight. Youd see just boats lined up along the reefs and spread out, he said of the hundreds of oyster fisherman that used to harvest from roughly 10,000 acres of the bay, about 75 miles southwest of Tallahassee. Advertisement For generations, those boats helped fuel the local economy and provided 90% of the oysters harvested in Florida, as well as about 10% of the nations wild caught oysters. Pretty much the whole community, in one way or another, was involved with the oyster industry, said Hanson, a science and policy officer for the Pew Charitable Trusts who works on conservation issues around the Southeast. Now, more than a decade after the once-iconic industry began to fade and five years after harvesting was shuttered completely Apalachicolas storied oyster beds have opened once more, on the first day of 2026. In 2013, the fishery entered a precipitous decline, the result of pressures such as excessive drought, overharvesting, the loss of reef material and long-running water disputes along the rivers that feed the bay a reflection of stressors that have affected oyster populations across the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. By 2020, Florida had imposed a five-year oyster harvesting ban, in an effort to try to jump-start an ecological recovery. When harvesting in Apalachicola begins anew, it wont be anything like the glory days just yet, with a truncated season, fewer permits available to access fewer acres and catches strictly monitored and limited. But for folks such as Shannon Hartsfield, a fourth-generation Franklin County fisherman, its something. How can I put it? Hartsfield, 56, said on a recent afternoon. Its a step forward, but its not going to be enough to say you can make a living in the bay. The decision to reopen the bay In the fall, Floridas Fish and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to reopen Apalachicola Bay to oyster harvesting on Jan. 1 a decision that drew swift praise from Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican. Apalachicolas oyster industry has been the cornerstone of Floridas seafood economy for generations. No place knows oysters better than Apalachicola, DeSantis said at the time. I look forward to continuing to invest in restoration activities that support the long-term restoration of Apalachicola Bay and the communities that rely on it, DeSantis said. The approval came with a series of restrictions. To begin with, the state will allow only a two-month season, ending on Feb. 28. If all goes well, officials plan to reopen future seasons beginning in October. For now, the state considers only about 500 acres suitable for harvesting, and commercial crews who qualify for a permit will be allowed to fish Monday through Friday along four small, designated reefs. Each permit holder also will be limited to a certain number of bags from each reef. A bag is equal to two 5-gallon buckets, one 10-gallon bucket, or 60 pounds of oysters. No one is pretending that such modest limits are enough to bring back oystering jobs that have been lost over the years, or to immediately make harvesting a sustainable line of work again in Apalachicola, where some oystermen have sold their boats and many have had to seek other kinds of work. I just dont know how its going to be, said Hartsfield, who said he quit harvesting oysters in 2013 but has helped academic researchers with their ongoing search for solutions. We have a drop in the bucket compared to what we used to have. Merely reaching the point of being able to temporarily reopen Apalachicola Bay to harvesting took years of work and significant funding. Numerous small-scale restoration efforts have unfolded during the years of closure, but the largest effort came in 2024, when the states fish and wildlife commission constructed 77 acres of new reef on degraded oyster habitat, the agency said. State officials have set a long-term goal to restore 2,000 acres of oyster reefs in the bay by 2032 still a fraction of what once existed, but far more than its recent lows. The state also hopes to reestablish an oyster fishery with a long-term cultch program, in which oyster shells or other material are added back onto reefs to create an ideal habitat for baby oysters to attach and grow. Such a program is necessary component of any sustainable oyster fishery, state wildlife officials wrote in a recent presentation. The success of oyster recovery in Apalachicola Bay, which includes a viable oyster fishery, depends on continued restoration and reef maintenance, the agency wrote, estimating that such efforts will require an annual budget between $30 million and $55 million. A budget proposal rolled out by DeSantis in December seeks $30 million in funding to expedite the states efforts to restore oyster habitats, including $25 million in Apalachicola Bay. But even if that amount ultimately is approved, restoring resilience in the estuary will take time. Ill be frank, said Hanson, who also serves on the board of the Partnership for a Resilient Apalachicola Bay. Oyster restoration and habitat rebuilding is on the order not of years, but decades. Stress on the industry across the region The pressures facing Floridas once-renowned oyster industry are not unique. Other oyster populations around the Gulf of Mexico have faced declines in recent years for a litany of reasons, including habitat loss, pollution, and damage from storms. Recently, Alabama announced that the state would close all public water bottoms oyster harvesting on Dec. 23 after one of the worst harvests in years. State conservation officials said in a statement that surveys of reefs suggest Alabamas oyster populations have faced multiple stressors in recent years which have led to a population decline. Those threats extend across much of the Gulf Coast and far beyond said Tom Wheatley, a conservation project director for Pew. Its a global issue, he said. Indeed, researchers have estimated that as much as 85% of oyster reefs have been lost. Those losses matter not only because of the fishing industry they support, but also because of the habitat they provide for other marine life and the critical role they play in improving water quality and helping buffer the impacts of storm surges and waves. Hanson said so much work remains in Apalachicola Bay before its beloved reefs resembled anything from decades ago. But he sees the reopening of the harvest season as a small step to a potentially brighter future. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a success story, he said. Hartsfield, like others who come from generations of oyster families, shares that hope. He said he plans to be back out on the water come January, and so does his 78-year-old father. But he also knows how delicate the situation remains. How if another drought hits hard, or salinity levels arent just right, or other threats deepen, It could go right back to where it was when officials closed the bay in 2020. Right now, for the next few years, we will just be waiting to see what happens, he said. Its very fragile. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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David ordered a private auction for Tucker, the subject of a series of Delaware court disputes since his owners split in 2022. Where judges in other states favored a pets best interests in similar fights, David found Delawares default partition rules the best resolution for the entrenched disputants. Still, David flat-out said this is a living and breathing being that needs care, and that is a pretty big step forward in these types of cases, said Rebecca Glenn-Dinwoodie, a Pennsylvania attorney practicing animal and family law. Delaware considers dogs personal property. Its also one of eight states allowing courts to consider companion animals best interests when divorces require division of property. No state addresses what to do about pets when unmarried co-owners separate. Davids decision to award Tucker to the highest-bidderonly the estranged couple involved will participateseems cold. But a careful reading of her Nov. 14 opinion reveals how a best-interest standard upheld in other states courts colored the case even if David ultimately defaulted to partition law, said Michelle Pardo of Duane Morris LLP. The judge recognized the equity court could override a presumption of partition if evidence showed one party couldnt care for Tucker, Pardo said. Since David found both parties equally capable, thats why, I think, the court put the onus on the parties. Tuckers Case Joseph Nelson and Karen Callahan acquired the goldendoodlea mix between a poodle and a golden retrieverwhile dating. Had they married, a family court wouldve applied a 2023 Delaware law allowing a judge dividing marital property to consider a companion animals well-being. When Nelson kept Tucker post-breakup, Callahan reclaimed the dog through the justice of the peace court. It decided she was the rightful owner, but two other courts found the couple shared ownership. Callahan went to Chancery Court in 2024 seeking a partition remedy from the venue for civil cases where damages dont resolve a conflict. Davids decision wont split the dog in twoshe wanted the couple to figure out what to do. When they couldnt agree, she ordered an auction where the highest bidder gets Tucker, and the other person is compensated. She appointed a neutral attorney to oversee the auction. None of the well-being factors available for the Delaware Family Court when married pet owners split provide a basis to deviate from the presumption of an auction in Tuckers case, Davids Nov. 14 opinion said. Best Interests In Delaware divorces, considering a companion animals well-being includes evaluating each partys ability to provide care, its attachment to each party, and the time and effort each party spent tending to its needs. Courts in states with similar laws look at whose name is on veterinarian records or adoption paperwork. Then they ask, Who takes the dog on a walk? Whos the one who picks out the horses stall? Whos the one who gives the diabetic cat their injections? Whos doing all these things that are necessary for the care of an animal that dont show up on paperwork? Glenn-Dinwoodie said. Courts have been sympathetic to pet owners in applying best-interest standards, but also wary of extending the same resources available in child custody casessuch forensic evaluations, expert witnesses, or guardians ad litem, Pardo said. This year, the American Bar Association called for provisions ensuring the safety, well-being, and best interest of pets in domestic relations proceedings when assigning ownership, as part of a resolution aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence. Mrs. Abigail Sparklepants David found neither a best-interests standard nor consideration of Nelsons and Callahans financial portfolios should trump a value-maximizing auction. The cases she cited illustrate the complexity of animal law disputes playing out in courtrooms nationwide. A miniature dachshund named Dennis Hopper had the same legal status as a piece of furniture, according to a 2013 Delaware Superior Court decision reversing a lower courts granting ownership to an ex-boyfriend. The same court in 2009 found damages sought by the owner of a Yorkshire terrier named Peanut, injured by a neighbors three-legged bloodhound, were limited by Peanuts market value and couldnt be measured comparable to an injured human. A border collie in Connecticut in 2024 went home with the ex-boyfriend because the court found he supported Bear financially better than his ex-girlfriend. Glenn-Dinwoodie advises unmarried pet owners to sign an agreement clarifying whod care for the animal after a separation. In a 1976 divorce case in Louisiana, an appeals court affirmed an order directing the ex-wife to surrender a car and a dog in a partition auction. Over 40 years later, the same court upheld an ex-boyfriends ownership of a dog named Mrs. Abigail Sparklepants. One judge on that panel dissented, saying the trial court that found partition too drastic shouldnt have intervened. David and the other judges couldnt seem to help adding personal commentary in their footnotes. In Peanuts case, the judge wrote the terriers owner could not find a more avid dog lover than the judge assigned to this case. But she was still duty-bound to apply the law that establishes that a dogor any pet for that matteris personal property, not a person. Such comments show how judges directly express discomfort with the statutory limits available when a companion animal is the subject of a dispute, said Megan Senatori, executive director of the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School. It is undisputed that Tucker is a very good boy, David wrote in a footnote. To contact the reporter on this story: Jennifer Kay in Philadelphia at jkay@bloombergindustry.com. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Carmen Castro-Pagan at ccastro-pagan@bloomberglaw.com; Andrew Harris at aharris@bloomberglaw.com Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Delaware With the second-oldest population in the country, Vermont needs its nursing homes. Yet, while Vermonters rapidly age, the states long-term care capacity has dwindled, losing 900 beds in the last two decades. To keep the struggling system afloat, the state has bailed out nursing homes with around $38 million in state and federal Medicaid dollars for what are known as extraordinary financial relief over the past five years, according to records obtained by VTDigger. The practice, which has not previously received media attention, has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, who this year asked for comprehensive reports and payment records from state leaders regarding the bailout program. For their part, state health officials say Vermonts nursing homes are a vital piece of the eldercare landscape. Without extraordinary financial relief, they say, the state would have lost even more critical bedspace. Efforts to address the upstream causes of the nursing homes financial crises, like the states reliance on traveling nurses, have received far less financial support. Around half of the extraordinary financial requests from 2020 onward mention concerns with increased costs of staffing, particularly contract staffing. Staff and contract staff make up about 50% of total costs in nursing homes budgets, according to the state. Vermonts nursing homes depend on traveling staff more than those in any other state, according to federal data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. There are many reasons extraordinary financial relief is not a sustainable means to plug the gap for nursing homes, but we needed something, said Helen Labun, the Vermont Health Care Associations executive director. We dont want EFR to be a standard option, Labun said. It really is meant to be an extraordinary measure. An old program meets an urgent need Despite existing for more than 20 years, Vermonts extraordinary financial relief program started playing a recurring and sustaining role for the states nursing homes only since the COVID-19 pandemic. The bureaucratic program routes through multiple departments nested within Vermonts Agency of Human Services. The Department of Vermont Health Access rate-setting division, which sets Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes, reviews requests submitted by facilities. But the funds for extraordinary financial relief come from Medicaid dollars allocated through the Vermont Department of Disability, Aging, and Independent Living, according to the departments commissioner, Jill Bowen. Nursing homes, which receive extraordinary financial relief, provide the most intense level of care, serving people who wouldnt have their needs met in an assisted living or residential care home, according to Labun. These facilities must serve patients on Medicaid to qualify for financial relief, she said. There are 33 nursing homes in the state, with a total of about 2,847 beds as of July, a decline of nearly 900 beds in the last 20 years, according to the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living. Bowen said the loss of beds in long-term care facilities in the state is worrying given Vermonts aging demographic, though she said the trend may partially stem from people seeking at-home care instead. Angela Smith-Dieng, director of DAILs Adult Services Division, said the state does not want to lose options for its large elderly population, so extraordinary financial relief is incredibly important as a tool to prevent nursing home closures. One factor leading to increased emergency funding requests, according to state leaders, is the rebasing of Medicaid reimbursements. Rebasing, which most recently has occurred in 2025 and 2023, according to state leaders, changes Medicaid reimbursement rates based on cost data from earlier years. In 2023, the state altered reimbursement rates based on 2020 costs, which didnt yet capture the new financial pressures brought on by the pandemic. In July, the state again balanced reimbursement rates, this time using 2023 costs, which Bowen hopes will limit the need for extraordinary financial relief. Working with the Legislature, the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living advocated for changing how much facilities are paid based on their occupancy, reducing penalties for not meeting high thresholds, according to Bowen. In some instances, the state has advanced nursing facilities money through the bailout process or provided more money than a facility requested. The state may advance facilities funds if they will not be able to meet payroll for staff, Bowen said, but she added that the state was more likely to provide less not more than a company wanted. The state has recouped every advance back or was in the process of recouping them, according to the departments rate setting division. As part of an extraordinary funding review, Jaime Mooney, the director of the rate setting division, said the state examines a companys finances and whether facilities are in compliance with state and federal requirements. After the rate setting division reviews the request, combing through the provided financial information like past-due invoices and the amount of cash on hand, the division makes a recommendation to the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living. The rate setting division also consults with DAIL regarding possible issues with the care provided by the requesting facility. But Mooney said she couldnt recall ever denying a facilitys request due to the quality of care. If a request is granted, the state restricts the grants use, and facilities cannot pay penalties or exorbitant owner-administrator fees using the financial relief funds, according to Mooney. Once granted, the facility must meet reporting requirements, including providing updated financial information, she said. According to Labun, nursing home owners need to demonstrate they dont have money from other sources. That prevents companies that own many facilities from shifting their investments to out-of-state homes and then requesting bailouts from Vermont. In the past, nursing homes had savings they could rely on when reimbursement rates werent covering expenses, Labun said. But, during the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing homes coffers ran dry, and extraordinary financial relief was retrofitted to respond to the emergency at nursing homes, Labun said. Outlier state Nursing homes typically used extraordinary financial relief in one-off cash flow emergencies to fight financial storms that they might not otherwise have been able to weather, according to Labun. Thats now changed, and the cost of nursing is driving the crunch. Contract staff tend to cost facilities at least twice as much as permanent staff, contributing to nursing homes financial distress, Labun said. The use of contract staff in Vermont has fallen slightly, according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data. But the states rate is still exceedingly high compared with the national average, and it has yet to be seen whether this downward trend continues, Labun said. Vermonts an outlier state in terms of our use of travelers as part of a normal part of the workforce, Labun said. While the nation saw heightened rates of contract staff at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rates have generally returned to the pre-pandemic norm, said Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, a national nonprofit organization. Thats not the case in Vermont. Vermont nursing homes had the highest rate of contract staff employment compared with those in other states in 2024, peaking at 31% in the first quarter of 2024, according to analysis of Medicaid data by the Long Term Care Community Coalition. The national average in the same period was 8%. Mollot, an advocate for nursing home residents, said nursing homes often use a larger number of contract staff when there is high attrition among permanent staff, which is often a result of poor working conditions such as workplace hazards or low pay. Staffing tends to be the highest expenditure for nursing homes, and oftentimes nursing homes that work with temporary staffing agencies are contractually obligated to pay contract staff more than permanent staff, said Kaili Kuiper, Vermont Legal Aids long-term care ombudsman. That means nursing homes spend much of their budget on filling the staffing gap with temporary staff, and do not have the funds to invest in recruiting long-term staff. This is a difficult cycle to break, because theres only so much money to go around, Kuiper said. The cycle can also cause poor care, and Kuiper said her office has seen a lot of issues that are related to there not being enough staffing to provide the care thats needed, including problems with response times and hygiene. Not a sustainable means to plug the gap Vermonts demographic challenges are driving the underlying problem of nursing homes high use of contract staff, Labun said. So, in recent years, the Legislature has allocated some funds to rebuild the nursing workforce. The state put half a million dollars toward attracting and keeping licensed nursing assistants in the current fiscal year budget. That investment was an attempt at addressing the upstream causes of nursing homes financial woes, according to Sen. Richard Westman, R-Lamoille, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee and serves on the board of a rural hospital. The state plans to draw down federal funds for workforce development from the Civil Monetary Penalty Reinvestment Program that had previously been held up in between the President Joe Bidens and President Donald Trumps administrations and during the federal shutdown, Labun said. The legislative investment was far less than the money spent on extraordinary relief, but Westman argued that prioritization makes sense, given the financial weakness of some facilities. In the last two years, about two-thirds of nursing homes have requested extraordinary relief, he said in a May interview. I think one could make an argument that without that help, they probably would have gone out of business, Westman said. Staffing underlies the financial challenges, Westman said, echoing others. Investing in nurse recruitment and retention, as well as increasing reimbursement rates nursing homes receive, could prevent the facilities reliance on bail out money, he suggested. Kuiper said that using temporary emergency staff is an important tool. As the states advocate for nursing home residents, Kuiper said employing contract staff is a better alternative than allowing a facility to be understaffed. But in the long run, Kuiper said she would like to see a stronger movement away from temporary staff, and for the care community to prioritize strategies to curb the high use of contract staff as the status quo. Former VTDigger reporter Peter DAuria contributed reporting. This story was originally published by VTDigger 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. Two men who died after their helicopters collided midair in New Jersey last weekend both earned their private pilot licenses over a decade ago and would often have breakfast together at a cafe near the crash site before taking to the skies from the local airport. Authorities on Monday identified the two New Jersey men as Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71. Witnesses told police that the two helicopters they were piloting Sunday were flying close together just before they crashed in a farm field near the airport in Hammonton, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia. Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said in a statement that Kirsch, of Carneys Point, was pronounced dead at an area hospital after being flown there, while Greenberg, of Sewell, died at the crash site. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board were examining the accident site on Monday and determined the debris field is about 100 yards (91 meters) long and contains parts of the main rotors and tail rotors, a spokesperson said. Both helicopters are expected to be removed from the site Tuesday and taken to another location for further review. A preliminary report is expected in about 30 days, the NTSB said. Cafe Regulars Friel said rescuers responded to a report of an aviation crash at about 11:25 a.m. Sunday. Video from the scene shows a helicopter spinning rapidly to the ground. Police and fire crews subsequently extinguished flames that engulfed one of the helicopters. The Federal Aviation Administration described the crash as a midair collision between an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and Enstrom 280C helicopter near Hammonton Municipal Airport. Only the pilots were on board. Kirsch and Greenberg both received their private pilot licenses in 2014, FAA records show. They often stopped at the Apron Cafe next to the airport for breakfast before flying, said the restaurants owner, Sal Silipino. Silipino said Kirsch and Greenberg ate at the cafe shortly before the crash. Patrons watched the helicopters take off from the airport and were stunned when the aircraft fell from the sky, he said. It was shocking. Still shaking to see that happen, Silipino said. They were just at our cafe having breakfast. Theyre regulars. They come in every week or every other week. They fly in together. They seem to be very nice people. They were also very kind to the workers and staff and all. He said the helicopters flights appeared to begin without incident. I saw one go down and then I saw the other one go down and there was little bit of disbelief. Its like, is that really happening?, Silipino said. Loud Snap FAA records show Kirsch was the registered owner of one of the helicopters, while the other aircraft was registered to M&M Charter LLC of Mountville, Pennsylvania. Contact information for M&M Charter could not be immediately found Monday. Hammonton resident Dan Dameshek told NBC10 that he was leaving a gym when he heard a loud snap and saw two helicopters spinning out of control. Immediately, the first helicopter went from right side up to upside down and started rapidly spinning, falling out of the air, Dameshek told the TV station. And then it looked like the second helicopter was OK for a second, and then it sounded like another snap or something and then that helicopter started rapidly spinning out of the air. Hammonton is a town of about 15,000 people located in Atlantic County in the southern part of New Jersey. The town has a history of agriculture and is located near the Pine Barrens, a forested wilderness area that covers more than 1 million acres (405,000 hectares). Investigators will likely first look to review any communications between the two pilots and whether they were able to see each other, said Alan Diehl, a former crash investigator for the FAA and NTSB. Virtually all midair collisions are a failure to what they call see and avoid,' Diehl said. Clearly theyll be looking at the out-of-cockpit views of the two aircraft and seeing if one pilot was approaching from the blind side. Although it was mostly cloudy at the time of the crash, winds were light and visibility was good, according to the weather forecasting company AccuWeather. Photo: Debris from a helicopter is shown after two helicopters crashed in Hammonton, N.J., on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP) Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics New Jersey Taiwan remained on high alert on Wednesday after China staged massive military drills around the island the previous day, keeping its emergency maritime response center running as it monitored Chinese naval maneuvers, the coast guard said. The exercises named Justice Mission 2025 saw China fire dozens of rockets towards Taiwan and deploy a large number of warships and aircraft near the island, in a show of force that drew concern from allies in the region and the west. Beijing announced late on Wednesday the completion of the drills, saying its military would remain on high alert and continue to strengthen their combat-readiness. In reply, Taiwans defense ministry said that as there were still a significant number of Chinese planes and vessels in its response area, its armed forces would maintain an appropriate contingency mechanism. It did not elaborate. The Chinese Communist Partys aggressive and militaristic provocations endanger regional security and stability, and have been condemned by democratic allies in the international community, it said in a statement. Chinas President Xi Jinping struck a familiar tone on Taiwan in his New Year address shortly after Beijings announcement, repeating last years warning to what it regards as forces seeking Taiwans independence. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are bound by blood ties thicker than water, and the historical trend toward national reunification is unstoppable, he said in a speech televised by state broadcaster CCTV. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, and it has not ruled out using force to take it under Chinese control. Taiwan, which rejects Chinas claims, condemned the latest drills as a threat to regional security and a blatant provocation. Chinese ships were moving away from Taiwan by Tuesday night, according to Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwans Ocean Affairs Council. The maritime situation has calmed down, with ships and vessels gradually departing, she said in a post on Facebook late on Tuesday. A Taiwan coast guard official told Reuters that all 11 Chinese coast guard ships had left waters near Taiwan and were continuing to move away. A Taiwan security official said emergency response centers for the military and coast guard remained active. There were more than 90 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels in the region, with many of them deployed in the South China Sea, near Taiwan and the East China Sea, two security officials in the region told Reuters earlier. The officials, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the size of Chinas maritime deployment had steadily increased since early this week. China is in the middle of what has become a busy season for military exercises. Taiwans defense ministry on Wednesday said 77 Chinese military aircraft and 25 navy and coast guard vessels had been operating around the island in the past 24 hours. Among them, 35 military planes had crossed the Taiwan Strait median line that separates the two sides, it added. Stern Warning As the war games unfolded, United States Ambassador to China David Perdue posted on X a photo of himself with the ambassadors from countries in the Quad, a grouping that includes the U.S., Australia, Japan and India. In the post, he called the Quad a force for good working to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific but gave no details about what the meeting discussed or when it took place. The U.S. State Department said Perdue regularly meets with diplomats and Chinese officials to advance the U.S. presidents agenda. In line with these routine meetings he met with Quad Ambassadors in Beijing on December 19, a State Department spokesperson told Reuters. The drills, Chinas most extensive war games by coverage area to date, forced Taiwan to cancel dozens of domestic flights and dispatch jets and warships for monitoring. Soldiers ran rapid-response drills including putting up barricades at various locations. China regards the exercises as a necessary and just measure to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, its Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han told reporters on Wednesday at a weekly briefing. They were a stern warning against Taiwan independence separatist forces and external interference, she added. Chinas state news agency Xinhua published an article summarizing three key takeaways from the drills, which began 11 days after the United States announced a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan. The simulated encirclement demonstrated the Peoples Liberation Armys ability to press and contain separatist forces while denying access to external interference an approach summarized as sealing internally and blocking externally, the article said, citing Zhang Chi, a professor at the PLA National Defence University. Despite the growing intensity of Chinas war games, Beijing is unlikely to start a war at the cost of its reputation, said Lyle Goldstein, the Asia program head of U.S. think tank Defense Priorities. They threaten and bluster a lot, but ultimately (a war) would be very costly for China no matter what, Goldstein said. Authorities are investigating damage to an undersea telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland early Wednesday that occurred between the capitals of Finland and Estonia. Finnish authorities seized and inspected the vessel suspected to have caused the damage, the countrys border guard said in a statement. Its anchor was lowered when it was discovered in Finlands exclusive economic zone. Helsinki police have opened an investigation into aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Read more: Poland Says Key Infrastructure at Risk After Baltic Sea Incident The cable belongs to Finnish telecommunications service provider Elisa and is considered to be critical underwater infrastructure. The damage occurred in Estonias exclusive economic zone, police said. The ships crew of 14 hailing from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was detained by Finnish authorities, local media reported. The ship, named the Fitburg, was flagged in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It had been traveling from Russia to Israel. Finnish National Police Commissioner Ilkka Koskimaki told local media that investigators are not speculating on whether a state-level actor was behind the damage. Koskimaki also said the ship had been dragging its anchor for hours. Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary, Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote on social platform X. The undersea cables and pipelines that crisscross one of the busiest shipping lanes in Europe link Nordic, Baltic and central European countries. They promote trade and energy security and, in some cases, reduce dependence on Russian energy resources. Earlier this year, Finnish authorities charged the captain and two senior officers of a Russia-linked vessel that damaged undersea cables between Finland and Estonia on Christmas Day in 2024. The Finnish deputy prosecutor general said in a statement in August that charges of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications were filed against the captain and first and second officers of the Eagle S oil tanker. Their names were not made public. The statement said they denied the allegations. The Kremlin previously denied involvement in damaging the infrastructure, which provides power and communication for thousands of Europeans. The Eagle S was flagged in the Cook Islands but had been described by Finnish customs officials and the European Unions executive commission as part of Russias shadow fleet of fuel tankers. Those are aging vessels with obscure ownership, acquired to evade Western sanctions amid the war in Ukraine and operating without Western-regulated insurance. For the West, such incidents are believed to be part of widespread sabotage attacks in Europe allegedly linked to Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Meanwhile, Estonian authorities are cooperating with the Finns to decide whether they should initiate a separate criminal case or move forward in a joint prosecution in the Elisa case. The telecom provider said its service was not affected by the damage. Another undersea cable, owned by Swedish telecommunications service provider Arelion, was also damaged early Wednesday, according to Estonian officials. It was not immediately clear whether the Arelion cables damage was linked to the Elisas. Martin Sjogren, an Arelion spokesperson, confirmed Wednesdays cable damage in the Gulf of Finland. He said another cable, this one between Sweden and Estonia in the Baltic Sea, was damaged on Tuesday. We are actively working with authorities in Sweden and other countries to investigate the cause of the cuts, Sjogren said in an email. We cannot disclose any details about exact times or locations at this point with regard to the ongoing investigation. Repair work is expected to begin as soon as poor weather conditions clear. He said the vast majority of the companys customers were unaffected by the damage. Photograph: The seized vessel Fitburg rests in the harbour in Kirkkonummi, Finland, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP) Related: The world is now moving into the latter half of a critical decade to fight climate change. Scientists have warned that nations need to cut carbon emissions nearly 50% by 2030 to stave off 1.5C temperature rise. The world is woefully off track to meet those targets and risks further backsliding, even as there are some surprising sources of progress. In the US, those tensions are on full display. The future of the energy transition is being shaped by President Donald Trumps climate policy rollbacks that favor fossil fuels but also the life support for renewables and batteries paradoxically coming from data center power demand. Read more: Some Good Climate News to End the Year Chinas role as the worlds biggest emitter and hub for green tech are also affecting efforts to curb carbon pollution. This year, the country will set a new plan laying out how climate fits with its economic ambitions, while its booming clean tech sector is expected to help more developing countries adopt renewable energy and electric vehicles. Here are 14 themes Bloomberg News writers are keeping tabs on in 2026. Climate Clues in Chinas New Economic Blueprint When Chinese officials gather in March for annual legislative meetings, they will approve the countrys next five-year plan. Climate watchers will be looking to see if the plan does anything to speed up the pace of decarbonization after Beijing set whats widely seen as a conservative 2035 climate target last year. The key stat to watch for is Chinas target for carbon intensity that is, a measure of how much it emits per unit of GDP. Its currently off track of its last five-year plan created in 2020. How much policymakers push to close the gap will be a critical litmus test for Chinas climate leadership amid global backpedaling. Lili Pike Can Diplomats Make Headway at COP31? International negotiators will spend much of this year trying to create a bare-bones road map to phase out fossil fuels and another to eliminate deforestation. The two issues were left unresolved at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil last year. But with the nation in control of the COP presidency this year, it has a chance to make progress. The first key milestone will be a conference in Colombia in April focused on phasing out fossil fuels. Negotiators will continue to hash out their differences at the Bonn Climate Change Conference in June, as well as at London and New Yorks climate weeks held in June and September, respectively. The worlds efforts will culminate at COP31, which will take place in Antalya, Turkey, in November. Laura Millan Look to Developing Countries for Climate Progress In recent years, there have been breakout climate success stories in developing countries, largely enabled by cheap Chinese clean tech exports. Bangladesh off-grid home solar installations set a record globally, enabling rapid rural electrification. Pakistans huge purchase of solar panels and batteries have led the country to abandon natural gas as a strategic fuel. And Ethiopias de facto ban on fossil-fuel car imports has led to a surge in electric vehicle sales. These transitions were largely driven by access to Chinese technology. With the countrys green exports increasing, expect more such stories to emerge in 2026. Akshat Rathi The Clean Tech Revival Continues Global climate tech investment made a comeback in 2025, largely driven by growing data center energy demand. The surge is likely to continue this year, with both nascent nuclear technologies and proven renewable solutions set to draw investor interest. Upgrading the power grid is likely to see continued investments as well, giving a boost to everything from battery energy storage to power management software. But questions remain about whether the artificial intelligence boom can continue to sustain the climate tech sector, and how to bring growth to companies beyond the energy ecosystem. Coco Liu Nuclear Energys Boom Is Just Over the Horizon Data centers are sucking up electricity as fast as new power plants can get built, and Big Tech is willing to throw big money at nuclear. Dozens of companies are working on the next generation of small reactors, and the Trump administration is pushing to streamline the regulatory process and lining up billions in financing for big ones. More than 60 reactors were under construction worldwide at the end of 2025, though the worlds nuclear capacity contracted a bit. Yet even friendly regulations and fat checks can only do so much to accelerate the notoriously slow-moving industry. That means that while the nuclear sector will start to see momentum in 2026, its still a few years away from bringing a wave of new plants online. Will Wade Will the AI Bubble Burst? Last year began with a crash in AI-related stocks after news of Chinese company DeepSeeks more efficient models threw a wrench in power demand growth projections. Will there be another DeepSeek moment in 2026? Thats a question thats on investors minds, even as money keeps pouring into AI and the energy sector. Even if models dont become more efficient, the bubble could burst in other ways. Already, clean energy and real estate developers are sounding the alarm that electric grids, permitting and regulations arent keeping up with the pace of interconnection. Some regions are seeing years-long queues to hook up power projects to the grid, and there are backlogs for the crucial electric infrastructure. If the friction continues, AI investors could find their ambitions thwarted or that theyll have to rely more on developing power onsite and behind the meter. Michelle Ma Everyone Wants a Piece of the Arctic What happens in the Arctic doesnt stay in the Arctic is a truism thats become irrefutable. This past year was the hottest in 125 years of records at the top of the planet, and the spill-over effect of that is beginning to be felt everywhere else, from rising seas to an uptick in atmospheric carbon. Rising temperatures also have the world increasingly looking at how to exploit the region. In 2026, expect previously local or regional Arctic issues from ports to critical mineral development to become international priorities. They include how Chinas push to transport cargo through the Northern Sea Route will impact fragile ecosystems, and whether Trumps push for the US to take over Greenland becomes more aggressive. Danielle Bochove The EV Market Splits The global transition to electric vehicles will fracture in 2026, as EV sales slow in the US and scoot ahead in the rest of the world. BloombergNEF expects drivers to snap up 16.9 million EVs globally through September. That would be an increase of 16% over the year-earlier period. The tide of affordable and well-reviewed Chinese machines from companies like BYD and SAIC Motor will help drive the uptick in sales, building on 2025s rise in exports. The EV outlook is far cloudier in the US, which still largely bars Chinese cars and trucks. The sunset of federal subsidies on EV purchases in September slammed the brakes on electric car adoption in the US. BNEF expects US sales to essentially stay level in the first half of the year and dip in the third quarter, in comparison to the markets record run in August, September and October of this year. Kyle Stock What Will New York City Do About BlackRock? Three of the citys five pension funds are weighing whether to drop BlackRocks $42 billion mandate because of the asset managers climate policies. Former Comptroller Brad Lander made a recommendation late last year after a formal review of all the fund managers overseeing the citys retirement money, citing BlackRocks failure to tackle global warming. Lander tried to pass the resolution to cut out the money manager in December, but he was unable to convince pension board of trustee members to hold a vote before the end of the year. Now, it will be up to new comptroller Mark Levine to hold a vote this year. Mayor Zohran Mamdani will also have a significant amount of influence over the outcome of the vote. It will come as BlackRock faces other headwinds: Late last year, the firm lost a mandate with a Dutch pension fund due in part to climate-related concerns. Olivia Raimonde Climate Risk Modeling Gains Steam Demand is high and growing for accurate, usable climate information, particularly information that can help assess risk. Thats driving researchers to probe every level of risk and solution, from neighborhoods exposed to more frequent flooding, to whether proposed atmospheric cooling approaches can work safely, if at all. The clamor for actionable information comes as the Trump administration tries to dismantle much of the infrastructure in the US that underpins world-leading science. That includes hiding reports and data; cutting staff and funding; and putting out analyses that cherry-pick data downplaying climate change. The next 12 months are shaping up as a fight for more accurate climate information and an increasingly challenging environment to find it. Eric Roston US Renewables Face a Bumpy Road The boom days for clean energy in the US are over for now. Trumps efforts to halt the buildout of solar and wind have resulted in policy and financial headwinds that will continue to be a big challenge for the industry. Large-scale solar installations, while still expected to make up the bulk of all new power plant additions, are forecast to decline as lucrative federal tax incentives start to fade away by mid-year and tariffs raise costs, according to BloombergNEF. Rooftop solar tax credits for homeowners also got wiped out, though leasing panels will still qualify. Wind developers may be even harder off. Subsidies have disappeared, and the Trump administration has thrown up additional permitting hurdles. The one bright spot? Batteries, which can still qualify for tax breaks if they satisfy new rules restricting the amount of materials that can come from China. Data centers are likely to be a strong source of power demand, which could help the industry. And clean energy developers are hopeful that artificial intelligences power needs will convince Trump to ease his assault on the industry. Mark Chediak The EPAs Biggest Climate Attack Is Coming A process initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency last summer to unravel the federal governments authority to regulate greenhouse gases is set to conclude this year. The EPA is expected to finalize the controversial rulemaking that would rollback the so-called endangerment finding and immediately remove greenhouse gas regulations for passenger cars and trucks. While the administration has rolled back a number of climate rules, this would be the most consequential yet. Any decision to rescind the endangerment finding will undoubtedly be swiftly challenged in the courts, kicking off an epic legal battle that could determine how much the federal government can do to respond to global warming. Zahra Hirji FEMAs Fate Will Be Decided The Trump administration spent 2025 weighing whether or not to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with the president establishing a review council co-chaired by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The group was tasked with providing recommendations on what to do with the agency, which its expected to finalize early this year. Disaster researchers, state and local emergency managers, and FEMA staff are all waiting to see how dramatic the proposed reforms will be. Although the president doesnt hold the exclusive power to dissolve the agency in its entirety that power rests in the hands of Congress theres a lot Trump can change, or at least try to. Zahra Hirji Can California Meet its Climate Goals? This new year marks the 20th anniversary of Californias landmark climate law that has transformed the Golden State into a green powerhouse. But itll spend 2026 fending off the Trump administrations campaign to dismantle its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The Trump tax bills elimination of federal renewable energy and electric vehicle incentives is already slowing Californias progress toward reaching net-zero emissions by 2045. With the administration trying to scuttle the states cap-and-trade market, expect California to continue to spend more time fighting back in the courts and developing workarounds. Beyond Trumps reach, local and regional California agencies continue to eliminate fossil fuels. A Bay Area ban on the sale of gas water heaters and furnaces, for instance, begins to take effect in 2027 and will apply to a fifth of the states population. Todd Woody Top photograph: Floating solar panels manufactured by Hanwha Solutions Corp. on the Hapcheon Dam in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do province, South Korea, on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. More than 92,000 solar panels floating on the surface of a reservoir are able to generate 41 megawatts, enough to power 20,000 homes; photo credit: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg Related: Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Trends Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt this week announced a Sedgwick county man has been sentenced to 18 months of probation for insurance fraud. Shawn Gales, age 37, pleaded guilty on December 18, 2025, in Sedgwick County District Court to one count of Fraudulent Insurance Act, a level 8 Nonperson Felony and one count of Interference with Law Enforcement. Gales fraudulently reported his dirt bike as stolen to his insurance company for a payout on the bikes loan. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months probation for insurance fraud. Gales was ordered to pay $2,273.93 to Progressive Insurance and $1,757.50 to Golden Plains Credit Union in restitution. The Kansas Department of Insurance investigated this case which was prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney Generals Office. The US labor board is abandoning a complaint over SpaceXs severance and arbitration policies, resolving one front of a sprawling legal battle between the agency and Elon Musks aerospace company. In a Dec. 18 joint motion, attorneys for both SpaceX and the National Labor Relations Board asked a federal judge in Texas to dismiss one of two lawsuits filed by SpaceX that argued the NLRBs structure was unconstitutional, since the agency had decided to withdraw its complaint against the company. The case had centered around a complaint issued by the NLRBs Seattle office in March 2024. The agency alleged that terms in the companys severance and arbitration agreements, including confidentiality rules, were illegally coercive. SpaceX sued the next month to challenge the NLRBs constitutionality, its second such challenge after another it filed in response to a complaint from an NLRB office in Los Angeles. The reversal by the NLRB the US agency responsible for enforcing most private sector employees rights to organize or take collective action about working conditions is a victory for SpaceX. The NLRB has also been backtracking on the complaint it had issued in California, telling a court in April that it was exploring whether it lacked jurisdiction to pursue that case in the first place. That complaint alleged that the firm illegally retaliated against workers who criticized Musk. Since SpaceX filed its first lawsuit last year, other companies including Amazon.com Inc. have filed similar cases, several of which are now pending in US courts. While the labor board isfacing similar challenges from other firms, the NLRBs acting general counsel, WilliamCowen, said the agency concluded that the dispute over the SpaceX confidentiality complaint wasnt the best one to reach the US Supreme Court. After considering Is this the horse we want to ride on this issue?, he said, It was determined that that was really not the path to follow, which is why we backed off. SpaceX didnt respond to requests for comment. Musk was the largest single financial contributor in the 2024 election, with almost all of his spending supporting Trump, and his Department of Government Efficiency played a key role in Trumps first year in office. The two men had a fierce split earlier this year, but those tensions have thawed since, with Musk attending a November gala dinner at the White House to honor Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In May, a three-judge panel granted a request from the government and the company to pause proceedings in SpaceXs other lawsuit against the labor board while the NLRB seeks input from theNational Mediation Board, which oversees railways and airlines, about whether that agency has jurisdiction over SpaceX rather than the NLRB. President Donald Trump tapped Cowen as the agencys acting top prosecutor in February. Under Cowen, the agency has pulled back from several of his predecessors more attention-grabbing cases, including moving to dismiss a complaint about private prison company GEO Group Inc.s treatment of immigrant detainees. The NLRB also withdrew a complaint regarding an email Sean Penn sent excoriating those complaining about working conditions at his nonprofit. The US Senate voted this month to confirm Trumps pick for permanent NLRB general counsel, Crystal Carey, who had been a partner atMorgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, a law firm that represented companies including Tesla Inc. and SpaceX. She will likely be sworn in soon. Photo: SpaceX offices in Hawthorne, California. Photographer: Alisha Jucevic/Bloomberg Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics Aerospace The US government has lifted sanctions on three people who it previously accused of aiding in the proliferation of Predator spyware, a sophisticated surveillance technology thats allegedly been used against Americans. The Department of Treasurys removal of the business bans on the trio associated with the Intellexa Consortium partially reverses the first US sanctions issued over the alleged misuse of a type of software that can secretively take over phones. Last year, then-President Joe Bidens administration sanctioned several people and businesses associated with the Intellexa Consortium for what the government said was their roles in developing, operating, and distributing software that was used to target US government officials, journalists and policy experts. In announcing some of the the sanctions, the Treasury Department said the proliferation of commercial spyware poses distinct and growing security risks to the United States. On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced that it had lifted the sanctions against three of the people: Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou, Andrea Nicola Constantino Hermes Gambazzi and Merom Harpaz. Last year, in announcing sanctions, Treasury described Hamou, a Polish national, as a corporate off-shoring specialist who provided the consortium with managerial services, including renting office space in Greece. Gambazzi, from Switzerland, is the beneficial owner of a company that holds distribution rights to the Predator software, Treasury said, while Harpaz is an Israeli and top executive at the consortium. Contact information for the trio couldnt be immediately located. The Intellexa Consortium, which Treasury has described as a complex international web of decentralized companies, didnt immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. Treasury removed the three from its sanctions list as part of the normal administrative process in response to a petition request for reconsideration, the agency said in a statement to Reuters, adding that each of them had demonstrated measures to separate themselves from the Intellexa Consortium. Treasury officials didnt respond Wednesday to emails seeking comment from Bloomberg News. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Torontos Citizen Lab, called the agencys reversal puzzling. Intellexas reputation for reckless proliferation of cyber capabilities is unmatched, Scott-Railton said on the social media platform X. The pile of Predator abuses is enormous. Intellexa was founded by Tal Dilian, an Israeli intelligence agency veteran who started the company in 2019 and has since supplied spyware to authoritarian regimes, according to the Treasury. In 2023, the US added four companies associated with Intellexa to an export blacklist, which effectively bans use of the products in the US or supplying parts to them. Treasury sanctioned Dilian himself in March 2024, along with Hamou and five entities associated with the consortium, and the agency issued more sanctions against people it called enablers of the spyware consortium later that year. Predator spyware triggered a national scandal in Greece in 2022 after it was allegedly used to target dozens of politicians, journalists and businessmen in the country. Amid the fallout from those revelations, the head of Greeces intelligence service resigned. A investigation by Amnesty International and media organizations in 2023 found evidence that Predator spyware had been used to target United Nations officials, US lawmakers and the president of the European Parliament. Photo: The US Treasury building in Washington, DC. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics USA Porsche is recalling 173,538 vehicles in the U.S. as the rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday. This is one of the largest single safety recalls issued by Porsche Cars North America in recent years, following a 2022 recall pertaining to missing headlight adjustment screw covers that affected 222,858 vehicles. The current recall affects certain 2019-2025 Cayenne, Cayenne E-Hybrid, 2020-2025 911, Taycan, 2024-2025 Panamera, and 2025 Panamera E-Hybrid models. The regulator flagged that the vehicles fail to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards requirement for rear visibility. Dealers will update the driver assistance software, free of charge, the regulator said. Earlier this year, the NHTSA also issued recalls of Hyundai Motor America, Ford Motor, Toyota Motor and Chrysler vehicles over similar rearview camera issues that may fail to display, increasing the risk of a crash. Berkshire Hathaway shares closed slightly lower on Warren Buffetts final day as chief executive, with the legendary investor set to hand the reins to Greg Abel on Jan. 1. The price of Berkshire Class A shares edged down $600, or 0.1%, to $754,800 on Dec. 31, while the Class B share price fell $1.06, or 0.2%, to $502.65. The Standard & Poors 500 .SPX fell 0.7%. Investors fortunate enough to own Berkshire since 1965, when Buffett took over, realized a return of about 6,100,000%, far above the S&P 500s approximately 46,000% return including dividends. The index outperformed in 2025 and over the last decade, though Berkshire never had a down year, as Buffett struggled to find acquisitions for his $1.08 trillion conglomerate. Berkshire subsidiaries include the insurer Geico, the BNSF railroad, dozens of manufacturing and energy businesses, and retail brands such as Brooks, Dairy Queen, Fruit of the Loom and Sees Candies. It ended September with $381.7 billion of cash and equivalents. Abel, 63, joined Berkshire in 2000 when it bought MidAmerican Energy, now known as Berkshire Hathaway Energy. He has been a vice chairman managing Berkshires non-insurance businesses since 2018. Buffett, 95, will remain chairman and plans to keep going every day to Berkshires office in Omaha, Nebraska, about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of his home, and help Abel. Vice Chairman Ajit Jain will retain day-to-day oversight of Berkshires insurance businesses, while Abel will continue monitoring the BNSF, manufacturing and energy businesses. Adam Johnson, chief executive of luxury plane unit NetJets, will directly oversee Berkshires consumer products, service and retail businesses, which Abel has been doing. Berkshire has not said who will take over its equity portfolio, whose $283.2 billion of stocks as of September 30 included Apple and American Express. It was long thought that Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, who helped run that portfolio, might take over, but Combs left this month for JPMorgan Chase and Buffett said in May 2024 that Abel could handle the job. Berkshire did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Walt Disney World worker in Florida was injured while attempting to stop a large runaway prop boulder from rolling into seated spectators at the Indiana Jones live show. The worker at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at the Disneys Hollywood Studios park was knocked to the ground by the 400-pound (181-kilogram) prop boulder after it moved off its track on Tuesday and started rolling toward audience members. Another worker stopped the boulder before it reached the spectators. Disney wouldnt disclose the workers injuries, citing privacy reasons. One of the attractions scheduled shows was canceled Tuesday after the accident, and Wednesdays shows were modified to exclude the prop boulder. Disney said it was reviewing why the prop rolled off the track. Were focused on supporting our cast member, who is recovering, Disney said in a statement. Safety is at the heart of what we do, and that element of the show will be modified as our safety team completes a review of what happened. The show is based on the Indiana Jones films and recreates an early scene in the first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Photo: A re-creation of the scene from Indiana Jones (Willrow Hood/Indiana Jones) Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Workers' Compensation New laws in Southeastern states took effect this week, impacting several aspects of property and casualty insurance. In Georgia, Senate Bill 69 puts new restrictions on third-party litigation financing, a lawsuit funding practice that has raised growing concerns for insurers. The bill, signed into law in early 2025, now requires financiers to register with the state Department of Banking and Finance and to provide information about principals and affiliations with foreign interests. It also bars funders from making legal decisions about attorney representation, settlements and expert witnesses, and requires disclosure in discovery of litigation financing agreements, the National Law Review reported. The bill text can be seen here. The bill also added something that could affect auto insurers. The use of seat belts may be considered in lawsuits but the failure of an occupant of a motor vehicle to wear a seat safety belt in any seat of a motor vehicle which has a seat safety belt or belts shall not be any basis for a cancellation of insurance coverage or an increase in insurance rate, the law reads. Another new law requires that manufacturers warranties for air-conditioning and heating systems transfer to the new owner of a home. It also bars manufacturers from requiring consumers to register their products for the warranty to be valid, according to news reports. In Florida, Senate Bill 655, signed into law in April, requires pet insurance providers to do a better job of explaining policies, coverage and the basis for claims denials. The bills text is here. Dexters Law, the result of House Bill 255, requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to post a searchable list of people convicted of or pleaded guilty to animal cruelty. The law could make it easier to show a pattern of neglect in dog-attack lawsuits and insurance coverage. In South Carolina, long-awaited but still-controversial changes to the states liquor liability law took effect Jan. 1. Since 2018, state law had required $1 million in liquor liability coverage for most bars and restaurants, a requirement that led to huge insurance premiums and reportedly drove many establishments out of business. The new law lowers the coverage requirement for most places where alcohol is less than 40% of total sales. It also limits liability for businesses found to be less than 50% at fault. The law allows establishments to lower their liquor liability coverage by requiring only an aggregate limit of $1 million, and if the bars and restaurants stop selling booze at midnight, provide training to servers, and other measures. Read more about the law here. A version of a bill aimed at broader joint-and-several liability changes failed to pass in 2025. Topics Lawsuits Mergers & Acquisitions Legislation Liability Alliant Insurance Services hired Adam Johnson as executive vice president within Alliant Specialty. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Johnson has experience in insuring venture capital and private equity funds, along with their portfolio companies. He develops strategic risk solutions that leverage management liability, directors and officers liability, technology errors and omissions, cyber liability and M&A and transactional risk coverages. He most recently served as EVP and capital practice leader at Newfront. Alliant is headquartered in Irvine, California. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Alliant 1. The Second Woman was a 24-hour play hailed as the highlight of Cork Midsummer Festival. Who was the locally-born actress who starred in it? 2. Plans were released for a major arts centre development of the Phoenix Cinema in which Munster town? 3. The National Gallery in Dublin had an exhibition of the work of Pablo Picasso. In which country was the famed artist born? 4. Which Swaziland-born star of Withnail And I was at West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry to discuss his memoir A Pocketful of Happiness? 5. Which Irish author believes she could be arrested if she travels to Britain, because of her support for banned protest group Palestine Action? 6. Name the Cork sculptor whose centenary was marked with the re-publication of his memoir, Stone Mad? 7. Who was the Green Party politician who ended her tenure as Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media? 8. The Impossible Fortune, the latest book in the Thursday Murder Club series, was published in September. Who is the author? 9. In which city is the famed international art Biennale taking place in May 2026? 10. Who is this? ANSWERS 1. Eileen Walsh 2. Dingle 3. Spain 4. Richard E Grant 5. Sally Rooney 6. Seamus Murphy 7. Catherine Martin 8. Richard Osman 9. Venice 10. Cork artist Dorothy Cross The government has defended its approach to reforming legislation to deal with the legacy of the Troubles, after criticism from its own Northern Ireland veterans commissioner. David Johnstone said that the governments proposed legislation treats veterans worse than terrorists. A commission to investigate Troubles-related killings and a separate information recovery body will be established under the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. It treats them worse than terrorists because under the Bill they will be exposed to the full force of the law, for in many cases following orders. Whereas in 1998, and the years following, terrorists were allowed out of prison, given pardons, comfort letters All British police investigations into Troubles-related killings were shut down in May 2024 under the previous Conservative governments Legacy Act, and a new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was established. Labours Bill, agreed as part of a framework with the Irish Government, will put in place a reformed Legacy Commission with enhanced powers. In an interview published in The Times on Friday, Mr Johnstone said: It treats them worse than terrorists because under the Bill they will be exposed to the full force of the law, for in many cases following orders. Whereas in 1998, and the years following, terrorists were allowed out of prison, given pardons, comfort letters. Asked about the comments, a British government spokesperson said: The vast majority of those killed during the Troubles were murdered by terrorists. Many families still do not know how their loved ones died and have approached the independent commission for information and answers. The Troubles Bill is about enabling more victims and families, including a great many armed forces families, to do the same through a reformed commission. The last governments proposal to give immunity to terrorists was wrong. It was rejected by the courts, and indeed by victims and many veterans alike. Any government would have had to replace it. The Troubles Bill will put in place six new and effective protections for our veterans. We will never equate the actions of terrorists with those of our brave armed forces. The condition of a woman left fighting for her life after a reckless arson attack in north Dublin on New Years Eve appears to have improved and is now described as being stable. Gardai said that the four other people affected by the fire-bombing, which targeted the wrong house, have been released from hospital. This includes a boy who was described last Wednesday morning as suffering serious injuries in the blaze. Detectives suspect the attack is part of a violent local feud between two extended families in the Finglas and Ballymun area. Sources have said the fire could have caused multiple fatalities. Lone attacker on motorbike Eyewitnesses have said that a lone attacker, on a motorbike, was involved. He smashed in the downstairs window of a three-storey house on Creston Avenue and threw in a pipe bomb, just after midnight. It turned out to be a wrong house, which was occupied by people totally unconnected to the fued. Some of the occupants had to jump out of upstairs windows and were assisted by neighbours. While members of the feuding families are suspected of being involved in drug dealing, gardai believe the violence is fuelled by personal hatred rather than criminal matters. Stabbing and attempted bombing in feud The feud has seen a stabbing, extensive criminal damage, and an unsuccessful pipe bomb attack just before Christmas, prompting verbal taunts and threats on social media. Gardai are examining CCTV and other footage to try to track the attacker and are gathering intelligence from local sources. Detectives are following a line of inquiry in relation to the rival family, but are factoring in the possibility that they could have got a teenager, who might not be from the area, to carry out the attack. A Garda update on Friday evening said: Gardai continue to investigate an incident of criminal damage by fire at a residential property in Finglas, Dublin 11 on Wednesday, December 31. Four of the five occupants of the house have been discharged from hospital and continue to receive medical attention. The woman, aged in her 40s, remains in hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Her condition is described as stable. Appeal for witnesses It said local gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or noticed anything suspicious in the Creston Avenue area between midnight and 1am on Wednesday, December 31, to contact Finglas Garda Station on 01 6667500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111, or any garda station. It asked people who may have video footage from the area between those times (including CCTV and dashcam) to make this footage available to investigating gardai. The tides of time have permanently receded for a Co Cork bar with historic links to the worlds most famous large fish and to the catch of Hollywood luminaries that its story successfully netted. The last drink was poured in Moby Dicks bar in Youghal on New Years Day, with the filling of pints matched only by the copious flow of music and memories. Proprietor Kevin Linehan and his wife Brid, who are in their 60s, decided to berth the ship following over 30 years of manning the taps in a family enterprise that began with Kevins grandad, David, in 1880. It was not an easy decision, Kevin reveals, explaining that the couple have prioritised spending quality time with their grandchildren while still young enough to enjoy an active retirement. The pub acquired international fame in the summer of 1954 when John Huston, on the recommendation of journalist Claud Cockburn, transformed the harbour into 1840s New Bedford, before filming the opening scenes of his adaptation of Herman Melvilles sea revenge novel, Moby Dick. Linehans bar became Hustons HQ, where stars such as Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart, and Irelands Noel Purcell quenched their thirst or climbed the stairs to reach Hustons office. Kevins dad Paddy once described the commercial boost as like sitting on top of an oil well. When the cameras departed, Paddy added the title Moby Dicks over the door and retained the Spouter Inn moniker above the counter. Staunchly Fianna Fail, Paddy served as a local councillor for over 40 years. Kevin Linehan pictured outside the well known Youghal pub, whih has been in the family since 1880. Picture: Howard Crowdy Deeply religious, his prayer vigil for prosperity during Youghals Purgatory period in the 1980s saw the town welcome the first of three new light industries within a year however, sadly, all left again since. Meanwhile, his wife Maureens proficiency as a business woman and publican earned her kudos and front page prominence in Womans Way magazine in 1967. In 1999, Paddy passed the political baton to his daughter and currently Independent Cork County Mayor councillor Mary Linehan-Foley. Moby Dicks was my home throughout a wonderful childhood and my place of work for a decade behind the bar from 15 years old, Mary recalls. Ive many happy memories, but am sad now to see it closing. On the pubs final day, the past featured prominently in peoples farewells, with musician AJ and DJ Ger assisting a sad yet celebratory ambience like an American wake, where someone sadly leaves forever but everyone is happy for them. An active member of local community group Youghal4All, the groups representatives Helen Heaphy Grange and Jimmy Flanagan made a grateful presentation to an Ahab-attired Kevin and his wife. Helen recalled, as a 1970s child, travelling from Cork with her mum Nellie and being brought to Mobys for toasted sandwiches. It still holds magical memories, she smiled. Rose Brennan, from Carrigaline, alongside her friend Catherine D from Shanagarry, travelled specifically to say thanks to the departing proprietors for 26 years of being lovely, welcoming people. Similarly, the president of Youghal Chamber of Tourism Development, Kay Curtin, fondly recalled, as a very young girl, meeting her trade unionist dad Jim, as he supped a pint and a drop in Mobys after night meetings. Proprietor of Lombards pub, near Youghal, Geraldine OReagan invoked an international dimension. Some of the revellers enjoying their last pints in Moby Dicks Pub in Youghal on its last day of trading on January 1. Picture: Howard Crowdy All our Americans used to go to Moby Dicks, she revealed, in reference to what seems to have been shiploads of cousins from Philadelphia. They are currently upset. Adjacent to the expansive town centre Market Square, Mobys was particularly perfect for outdoor tables during summer events. Its closure reduces the number of Youghal pubs to 17, including three sports clubs, from over 30 in the early 1990s. Kevin is optimistic nonetheless. While not in any hurry to sell, he hopes that someone will eventually purchase and re-open the property, with its many photos and mementoes included. In 2020, Youghal4All erected a statue of a harpoon-armed Ahab facing the pub from across the road. Summing up the current situation, one resigned local decided: So Ahab won. He got rid of Moby Dick. Youghal will be hoping thats not the end of the voyage. The business of prediction rarely ages well. Irish public life has a habit of rewarding the unexpected and humbling the apparently inevitable. And yet, every so often, patterns begin to form not certainties, but currents. As Ireland approaches 2026, there is a sense of accumulation rather than rupture. The economy remains outward facing, the cultural confidence hard-won rather than brash, and politics caught between generational impatience and institutional inertia. The figures worth watching now are not necessarily the loudest, nor even the newest, but those whose next moves feel timely aligned with questions Ireland is already asking itself. What follows is not a ranking, nor a promise of greatness. It is simply an attempt to notice 10 Irish presences people, ideas, symbols whose trajectories suggest 2026 may be a year where influence arrives quietly, but meaningfully. Siobhan McNutt, visual artist For someone who spends much of his time in galleries wondering whether the fire extinguisher is part of the exhibition, encountering Siobhan McNutts work is a small relief. Her art doesnt demand genuflection. It whispers for attention bodily, unforced, and slightly slower than were used to giving. Siobhan McNutt: Her abstract work is intuitive and responsive, alive to what paint and paper want to do rather than what they can be made to submit to. Based in Galway, McNutt moves between drawing, painting and printmaking with a confidence shaped by long experience rather than theory alone. A graduate of Central Saint Martins and the Limerick School of Art & Design, she spent over a decade working internationally in design before returning to studio practice a background that shows in her comfort with materials and refusal of fuss. Her abstract work is intuitive and responsive, alive to what paint and paper want to do rather than what they can be made to submit to. Gesture matters. Repetition matters. So does restraint. Underneath it all lies a quiet resistance to control environmental, cultural, internal and a belief that attention, properly cultivated, is itself a form of ethics. McNutts work doesnt shout. It listens. And in 2026, that may be exactly why it lasts. Daryl McCormack, actor By 2026, Daryl McCormack will have quietly assembled something rare: a genuinely international filmography without having surrendered his sense of scale. Following his acclaimed performances in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, and Twisters, McCormack has lined up a slate of projects that continue to resist obvious careerism, including a lead role in a psychological thriller shot in Ireland, and a supporting turn in a US prestige drama expected to premiere during awards season. What distinguishes McCormack is not range many actors have that but judgement. He gravitates toward characters whose authority is unstable: men navigating power without certainty. There is restraint in his performances that feels increasingly out of step with an industry addicted to maximalism. For Irish audiences, his appeal lies in recognisability without exhibitionism. He still sounds local. Still chooses small over loud. If 2026 confirms him as a leading man, it will do so on his terms and that feels noteworthy. Florence Road, music Florence Road are emerging at a moment when Irish guitar music is being quietly re-evaluated. Their early singles dense, melodic, built for live spaces rather than headphones have earned them a growing reputation on the Irish and UK circuit, with festival slots pencilled in for summer 2026 and a debut EP expected early in the year. Florence Road: Their sound draws from post-punk and classic rock traditions without apology, delivered with a seriousness that might once have felt unfashionable but now feels refreshing. What sets Florence Road apart is conviction rather than novelty. They are uninterested in pastiche or irony. Their sound draws from post-punk and classic rock traditions without apology, delivered with a seriousness that might once have felt unfashionable but now feels refreshing. Their real test in 2026 will be pacing. Irish bands have often been rushed outward too quickly. Florence Road seem, so far, to be doing things in sequence: tightening live sets, writing carefully, letting word-of-mouth build. If they arrive properly next year, it will be because they waited. Nicola Coughlan, actor Nicola Coughlans ascent has been the kind you cant quite call unexpected. Anyone who watched her pinball through Derry Girls with weaponised sincerity knew she was operating at a slightly different voltage. Bridgerton made her a global presence; Big Mood confirmed she could pivot from comedy to something rawer without dropping so much as a cadence. Across it all, Coughlan has shown an actors instinct rather than a celebritys an appetite for roles that stretch feeling rather than feed profile. Nicola Coughlan at the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles last February. Picture: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images But what defines her just as strongly is her willingness to speak. Coughlan has been consistently, sometimes uncomfortably brave in her activism whether challenging misogyny, pushing back on body shaming, or using her platform to advocate for queer rights, reproductive rights, Palestinian freedom, and social justice causes that are easier left unmentioned in her industry. She does it without the choreography that usually accompanies Hollywood statements. Its bravery without the branding exercise, which is increasingly rare. In 2026, well see her return to Bridgerton at the centre of the story rather than fluttering at its edges. A new Irish feature, trading bonnets for something contemporary and bitey, will give her room to explore more grounded emotional terrain. There are whispers too of writing and producing the natural next step for someone who seems less interested in being cast than in creating. Coughlan remains a fascinating figure not because she is famous, but because she appears determined to use fame for something more than self-expansion. She treats visibility as both responsibility and opportunity and somehow manages to do so with wit intact. If 2026 turns into her defining year, it wont be because she courted it. It will be because she kept doing what she has always done: choosing good work, telling the truth loudly, and trusting that the audience can handle complexity. Colin Burke, designer Irish fashion has always had a complicated relationship with tradition. We celebrate it rhetorically, then rush to modernise it out of recognisability. Colin Burke combines Irish traditional motifs with modern structure and silhouettes. Colin Burkes work sits in a more patient space between the two. An award-winning designer of handmade knitwear, Burke combines Irish traditional motifs with modern structure and silhouettes not as costume or revivalism, but as something lived-in and contemporary. What distinguishes his work is discipline. Each piece is considered, tactile, shaped by an understanding that knitwear is as much about engineering as it is about heritage. Aran references appear, but they are stretched, pared back, re-balanced. Nothing feels nostalgic. In an industry fixated on speed, Burkes practice is deliberately slow. His clothes invite repeat wear rather than first impressions, longevity rather than spectacle. As sustainability becomes less of a slogan in 2026, his approach handmade, thoughtful, restrained feels less like an aesthetic choice than a position. If Irish fashion is to have a future that respects its past without being trapped by it, Burke offers a quietly persuasive model. John Farrelly, director / screenwriter Farrellys growing reputation rests on a deceptively simple idea: that Irish-language cinema can operate comfortably within genre, without explanation or translation. His breakout success with An Taibhse an Irish language horror film that travelled internationally has led to funding and interest for follow-up projects, including a second feature currently in development and a television collaboration with an Irish-language broadcaster. John Farrelly's films treat language as atmosphere rather than statement. The Irish he uses is lived-in, unsettling, poetic and so particularly suited to horror. Farrellys films treat language as atmosphere rather than statement. The Irish he uses is lived-in, unsettling, poetic and so particularly suited to horror, where suggestion matters more than exposition. As global audiences grow increasingly receptive to subtitled genre cinema, 2026 may be the year Farrellys work crosses from cultural curiosity into something more durable. His success would matter not symbolically, but structurally: proof that Irish-language film need not justify itself to be ambitious. General Sean Clancy, chairman, EU Military Committee In 2026, Ireland will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union and General Sean Clancy will sit at the centre of conversations the country has long preferred to approach obliquely. As chair of the EU Military Committee, Clancy occupies a role that demands credibility abroad and reassurance at home. The neutrality debate will sharpen next year, driven by global instability and Irelands evolving responsibilities within Europe. Clancys influence lies not in advocacy, but articulation: explaining Irelands position in language that travels. What makes him worth watching is what his presence comes to represent for an Ireland internally unsure of itself, and externally in need of direction. Jesse Buckley, actor Jesse Buckley has spent the past few years assembling a body of work that rewards close attention rather than loud applause. From Wild Rose to The Lost Daughter, from Men to Women Talking, she has become one of the rare performers whose name signals not genre but depth the promise of a character whose inner life wont be handed to you neatly. In 2026, that pattern looks set to continue. She will appear in Fingernails, the quietly unsettling sci-fi romance already building an afterlife on the festival circuit, and more significantly in Hamnet, the long-awaited adaptation of Maggie OFarrells novel. Jessie Buckley at the Irish premiere of 'Hamnet' at the Light House Cinema. Picture: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie Early whispers from those in the room suggest Buckley may be doing the kind of work that attracts Oscar voters, even if neither she nor we would dare say that out loud just yet. What makes Buckley compelling is not ambition but calibration. She chooses roles that require listening, withholding, shaping. Performances that dont demand attention so much as accumulate it. In an industry that often mistakes noise for substance, Buckleys seriousness her refusal to coast remains quietly radical. Watch her in 2026. Something is gathering. Holly Cairns, Opposition politics Returning from maternity leave, Holly Cairns enters 2026 at a moment where promise must translate into structure. Her early appeal was built on clarity and empathy; her task now is durability. Holly Cairns enters 2026 at a moment where promise must translate into structure. Her early appeal was built on clarity and empathy; her task now is durability. Picture: Gareth Chaney. Cairns has demonstrated an ability to communicate complex ideas without jargon. What she must now develop is the capacity to absorb compromise without erosion. Opposition politics rewards both. If she succeeds, she could help reshape what opposition leadership looks like in Ireland. If not, the danger is stagnation. 2026 will be clarifying. Catherine Connolly, president Now that Catherine Connolly has formally taken up residence in Aras an Uachtarain, the conversation has shifted from whether she could be president to how she will inhabit the role and, already, she has unsettled the expectations of both admirers and sceptics, albeit in opposite directions. President Catherine Connolly has begun her term with a steadiness that feels neither ornamental nor oppositional, but quietly authoritative. Picture: Fran Veale For someone long caricatured as too sharp or too principled for the soft-focus demands of the office, Connolly has begun her term with a steadiness that feels neither ornamental nor oppositional, but quietly authoritative. Her challenges for 2026 are considerable. At home, Connolly inherits a country marked by rising frustration with political drift and a weary public discourse in which certainty is too often mistaken for substance. She will be expected to acknowledge that unease without violating the constitutional delicacies of the presidency a line she has walked deftly so far. Her early statements have been measured and unhurried, offering neither lofty abstraction nor forced geniality. Instead, she has spoken of dignity, solidarity, and the value of listening, with a clarity that feels earned rather than rehearsed. Internationally, her role is no less demanding. Ireland holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, placing Connolly in the foreground of conversations about neutrality, European security, and the nature of collective responsibility in a newly fragile world. She will not shape policy, but her moral authority calm, precise, untheatrical will matter. Critics who imagined she might use the presidency as a pulpit have found instead a president intent on grounding, not grandstanding. What may have surprised some of her critics in these early days is her tone: confident without being declarative, warm without theatricality. Connolly seems determined to restore a sense of constitutional seriousness, to treat the office not as a performance space but as a site of attentiveness the kind that invites a country to breathe rather than brace. If the presidency tests her in 2026, and it will, she seems prepared to meet those tests without spectacle. In a political age defined by noise, a president who speaks softly and only when it matters may prove to be exactly what Ireland didnt realise it was waiting for. On the night of April 18, 1926, Ireland paused. Across the Irish Free State, enumerators went door to door with clipboards and carefully worded forms, recording names, ages, relationships, religions, occupations, and languages spoken. It was an unglamorous act, but a revealing one. For the first time since independence, the new State attempted to count itself not symbolically, but in ink and arithmetic. Culture minister Patrick ODonovan and National Archives director Orlaith McBride study a vintage photo of Kelly's Garage on Catherine St, Waterford, at the launch of the public programme of events ahead of the centenary release of data from the 1926 Census. Picture: Mark Stedman The census has long been one of the States quietest rituals. 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 There are no speeches, no flags. Yet few exercises reveal more about a countrys inner life. As one later Central Statistics Office historian put it, a census is where the ambitions of a state meet the realities of its people. A century on, the 1926 census stands as more than a demographic snapshot. It is a reckoning with history, with loss, and with the limits of political change. Read alongside todays census returns, it offers a stark before-and-after portrait of a country transformed. The 1926 census was not Irelands first. Far from it. Ireland had been counted regularly since 1821, when the first modern census was conducted under British administration. Early efforts were blunt instruments headcounts rather than household portraits but by 1841 and 1851, the census had become a detailed social record, capturing housing conditions, literacy, occupations, and, in the aftermath of catastrophe, the demographic wreckage of the Great Famine. The 1851 census famously attempted to document famine deaths and emigration an extraordinary and grim exercise in state self-examination. Later censuses in 1901 and 1911 went further still, recording intimate household detail that remains invaluable to historians and genealogists today. Yet much of this record was lost. Nineteenth-century census returns were destroyed either deliberately or in the 1922 Public Record Office fire at the start of the Civil War. History, in Ireland, often survives by accident. Against that backdrop, the 1926 census carried unusual weight. It was the first taken under the Statistics Act 1926, and the first administered by the institutions of the Free State itself. Irish captain WE Crawford before the rugby international versus Wales at Swansea on March 13, 1926. Picture: Kirby /Getty Counting, this time, was an act of sovereignty. The most arresting number in the 1926 census is not how many people lived in the Free State, but how few. On census night, the population stood at 2.97 million a fall of more than 5% on the 1911 figure. In the words of one contemporary civil servant, the results confirmed with statistical finality what had long been known anecdotally: The country was still emptying. Independence had not reversed Irelands demographic trajectory. The Great Famine lay eight decades in the past, but its aftershocks remained visible in every table and chart. Emigration, delayed marriage, and low birth rates continued to suppress growth. Ireland was one of the few European countries whose population was still declining in peacetime. Crowds at the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Bazaar at the Arcadia Ballroom, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, in 1926. Today, the contrast is dramatic. Irelands population now exceeds five million, surpassing its pre-Famine level for the first time. The shift marks one of the most significant demographic reversals in Europe. However, the comparison also reveals a deeper truth. In 1926, the census recorded absence: Missing sons, empty rooms, counties losing people year after year. Modern censuses record pressure instead on housing, infrastructure, schools, and hospitals. Ireland has moved from worrying about vanishing to grappling with arrival. The Free State of 1926 was, as one would suspect, overwhelmingly rural. More than half of those in employment worked in agriculture. Small farms, family labour, and seasonal work defined economic life across much of the country. Cities existed, but they were few and underdeveloped. One urban centre stood apart. Dublin was the only county to record population growth in 1926, increasing by nearly 6%. Even then, the census hinted at a gravitational pull toward the capital. At the time, this was not seen as inevitable. The dominant political vision favoured rural self-sufficiency, smallholders, and decentralised life. Mrs Thomas McKessy, of Limerick, upon her arrival in New York on the SS Aurania in March 1926. She was joining her husband, who came over the previous September, with 10 of her family of 21 children. Urbanisation was viewed with suspicion, even regret. A century later, that vision has been overtaken by reality. Ireland is now a predominantly urban society, with Dublin functioning as a European capital in all but name. Suburbs, commuter belts, and satellite towns define daily life for hundreds of thousands. Yet the tension revealed in 1926 has not disappeared it has merely changed shape. Then, rural decline was the fear. Now, regional imbalance is the challenge with a capital straining under its own success and other regions struggling to keep pace. Few questions in the 1926 census carried as much symbolic weight as the one on the Irish language. Just 18.3% of the population reported being able to speak Irish. The language survived, but unevenly strongest in poorer western regions and among older generations. The census did not simply record this reality, it framed it. Irish was broken down by age, occupation, and geography. As one official report noted, the data allowed policymakers to measure decline and progress with equal clarity. A hundred years later, the paradox remains. Far more people now report some knowledge of Irish. The language is embedded in education, and it enjoys greater public visibility than in 1926. And yet daily use remains limited, largely confined to Gaeltacht areas and specific social settings. The census continues to be a tool that exposes the gap between aspiration and practice between the Ireland people wish to preserve and the one they inhabit. If population is the headline story, migration is the engine beneath it. In 1926, emigration was a fact of life. Young people left for Britain, the United States, and beyond, often following siblings or neighbours. Departure was individual, but its effects were communal. The census captured the residue: Skewed age profiles, imbalanced gender ratios in rural areas, and households structured around absence. As one later historian observed, emigration was not an event but a condition. Workers outside the Ford factory in Cork in 1926. Modern census returns tell a different story. Immigration has become a defining feature of population growth. People now arrive from across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, reshaping schools, workplaces, and neighbourhoods. This reversal is among the most profound changes since 1926. Ireland has moved from a country that exported its people to one defined by diversity. Yet migration remains central to national identity whether as memory, experience, or political debate. The 1926 census recorded a society organised around traditional family structures and rigid gender roles. Marriage was often delayed. Households were large. Work was divided along predictable lines, with womens labour particularly in the home and on farms undercounted or categorised narrowly. Paid employment for women existed, but was often temporary and it ended at marriage. Family life revolved around necessity as much as choice. Todays census data describes a radically altered landscape: Smaller households, later marriage, diverse family forms, and womens participation across every sector of the workforce. And yet, some tensions feel familiar. Housing costs delay family formation. Care work remains unevenly distributed. The census still exposes the gap between policy ambition and lived reality just as it did in 1926. A female piper performing at a feis at the Mardyke, Cork, in July 1926. Then, more than 92% of the population identified as Catholic. Religious affiliation was not merely personal; it structured education, healthcare, and politics. The census did not challenge that dominance, it confirmed it. Minority religions existed, but they were marginal, and religious identity was assumed to be inherited and stable. A century later, census returns chart a dramatic shift. Ireland is now religiously plural and increasingly secular. Catholicism remains the largest single group, but its cultural authority has waned, reshaped by social change, scandal, and generational distance. What once seemed permanent now reads as contingent. The census reminds us that even the deepest social certainties can erode within a lifetime. While the census began in Ireland as a tool of administration and control, over time it became something else: A collective mirror. It asked a fragile new state to confront uncomfortable truths that independence had not undone demographic decline, that cultural revival faced structural limits, that rural life alone could not sustain the population. Modern tallys ask different questions, but the purpose is unchanged. To count is to acknowledge uncertainty. To admit that policy must begin with reality rather than rhetoric. A hundred years on, the numbers show an Ireland transformed richer, larger, more diverse but still wrestling with familiar pressures. Housing, migration, language, and belonging remain contested terrain. In 1926, Ireland learned who it was. It seems like in every census since, its been reminded that who we are is never finished being counted. A grandmother and her five-year-old grandson burned to death in Gaza when their tent caught fire, as thousands of Palestinians battle harrowing winter conditions in flimsy makeshift housing and the humanitarian crisis deepens. The nylon tent in Yarmouk caught fire on Thursday night from cooking activity, a neighbour said. As 2026 begins, the shaky 12-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely ended large-scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza. But Palestinians are still being killed almost daily by Israeli fire, and the humanitarian crisis shows no signs of abating. Over past weeks, cold winter rains have repeatedly lashed the sprawling tent cities, causing flooding, turning Gazas dirt roads into mud and causing buildings damaged in Israeli bombardment to collapse. The bodies of Amal Abu Al-Khair and her grandson, Saud, are transferred to hospital (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Unicef says at least six children have now died of weather-related causes, including a four-year-old who died in a building collapse. At least three children have died from hypothermia, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Aid groups say not enough shelter materials are getting into Gaza during the truce. Figures recently released by Israels military suggest it has not met the ceasefire stipulation of allowing 600 trucks of aid into Gaza a day, though Israel disputes that finding. There is also concern that Israels recent suspension of more than three dozen international aid groups from operating in Gaza will make it even harder to get supplies such as tents in. Palestinians have long called for mobile homes and caravans to be allowed in to protect them against living in impractical and worn-out tents. In Yarmouk people live in nylon tents near a rubbish dump. Magdi Abu Al-Khair with the body of his mother, Amal Abu Al-Khair, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Ashraf al-Suwair said he woke up to the sound of screaming. He said the nylon is like fuel, easy to ignite. We need a good place that suits the people and the children of Gaza, instead of burning to death, he said. On Friday the foreign ministers of Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, expressed concern about Gazas deteriorating humanitarian situation. The situation has been compounded by the continued lack of sufficient humanitarian access, acute shortages of essential life-saving supplies, and the slow pace of the entry of essential materials, said the joint statement. Also on Friday, American actor and film producer Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The only crossing between the territory and a country other than Israel, it remains closed despite Palestinian requests to reopen it to people and aid. Angelina Jolie greets Red Crescent workers during her visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza (Mohamed Arafat/AP) Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began, 414 people have been killed and 1,142 wounded in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry. The overall Palestinian death toll from the war is at least 71,266. The ministry, which does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its count, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community. The Israel-Hamas war began with the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on October 7 2023 that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, Meanwhile, Israel continues operating in the occupied West Bank. On Friday, the Palestinian Prisoners media office said Israel carried out wide-scale raids across the territory including Ramallah and Hebron. Nearly 50 people were detained. Israels military said there were arrests made of people involved in terrorist activity. This follows the arrest of at least 50 other Palestinians on Thursday. Most of those occurred in the Ramallah area. The Palestinian Prisoners Society says that Israel has arrested 7,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem this year, and 21,000 since the war began. The number arrested from Gaza is not made public by Israel. ( IMEMC ) A Palestinian child was killed by Israeli fire in northern Gaza on Thursday, as worsening winter conditions and unsafe displacement shelters led to the deaths of a woman, her daughter, and a threeweekold infant, underscoring the deepening humanitarian crisis across the Strip amid ongoing ceasefire violations. In Gaza City, a woman and her young daughter died when a fire broke out inside a displacement tent in the Yarmouk Stadium camp. Field reporters said the blaze spread rapidly through the makeshift shelter, injuring five others with severe burns. Humanitarian agencies have long warned that overcrowded, poorly insulated tentscombined with unsafe heating methods pose deadly risks for displaced families. Al Jazeera: Israels ban on 37 aid groups kicks in, Gaza starts 2026 with despair Please enable JavaScript play-sharp-fill Embed Copy and paste this HTML code into your webpage to embed. Israels ban on 37 aid groups kicks in, Gaza starts 2026 with despair In central Gaza, the threeweekold infant Malak Rami Ghneim died inside her familys tent in the Nuseirat camp. Medical staff attributed her death to extreme cold as a powerful winter storm continues to batter the Strip. Aid groups and UN agencies have repeatedly cautioned that Israels restrictions on shelter materials, blankets, and heating supplies have left displaced families exposed to lifethreatening temperatures. Humanitarian Conditions Worsen Under Severe Weather Heavy winter rains and intense winds have devastated displacement camps, flooding tents and destroying the few possessions families managed to salvage. AlJazeera correspondents documented widespread flooding in camps across central and southern Gaza, where children were seen standing in kneedeep muddy water inside their shelters. Aid agencies warn that the combination of cold, flooding, and continued restrictions on shelter materials is creating a new wave of preventable deathsparticularly among infants, the elderly, and the injured. UN officials have reiterated calls for Israel to lift all barriers on the entry of humanitarian supplies, including tents, blankets, and fuel, which remain critically scarce. Photo of Gaza February 2025 by Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash Rising Death Toll Amid Ceasefire Violations The overall Palestinian death toll in Gaza has risen to 71,271, with 171,233 wounded since October 7, 2023, the majority of whom are children, women, and elderly. Medical officials reported that in the past 24 hours, hospitals received two fatalitiesone newly killed and one recovered from under the rubblealong with one injury. Dozens more remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings and in inaccessible areas, as emergency crews continue to face severe restrictions and repeated Israeli fire that prevents them from reaching affected zones. Since the ceasefire announced on October 11, 2025, the number of Palestinians killed has reached 416, with 1,153 injured, and 683 bodies recovered from destroyed neighborhoods. AlJazeeras latest reporting indicates that Israeli forces continue to conduct neardaily violations of the ceasefire, including shootings, artillery fire, and airstrikes across multiple areas of the Strip. Gazas Government Media Office has documented 969 Israeli ceasefire violations, resulting in hundreds of additional civilian deaths and injuries. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 2, 2026) - METALSOURCE MINING INC. (CSE: MSM) (the "Company" or "Metalsource") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated December 24, 2025, it closed the non-brokered private placement for total gross proceeds of $1,020,000 (the "Offering") on December 31, 2025. The Company has allotted and issued 3,400,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.30 per Unit. Each unit consists of one common share of the Company (the "Shares") and one-half of one transferable share purchase warrant (each whole, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.40 for a period of two (2) years from the closing date. Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned by him, acquired 3,400,000 Units pursuant to the Offering for total consideration of $1,020,000. Prior to the Offering, Mr. Sprott beneficially owned or controlled 7,500,000 Shares and 3,750,000 Warrants, representing approximately 12.7% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and 17.9% of the outstanding Shares on a partially-diluted basis assuming exercise of such Warrants. As a result of the Offering, Mr. Sprott now beneficially owns or controls 10,900,000 Shares and 5,450,000 Warrants, representing approximately 17.5% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and 24.1% of the outstanding Shares on a partially-diluted basis assuming exercise of such Warrants. 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. A copy of the early warning report with respect to the foregoing will appear on Metalsource Mining's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and may also be obtained by calling Mr. Sprott's office at (416) 945-3294 (2176423 Ontario Ltd., 7 King Street East, Suite 1106, Toronto Ontario M5C 3C5). The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to advance exploration at the Silver Hill and Byrd-Pilot projects in North Carolina, with a primary focus on expanding Silver Hill's silver potential, to continue work on the Company's Aruba manganese project in Botswana, and for general working capital. About Metalsource Mining Inc. The Company is engaged in acquisition, exploration and development of mineral property assets. The Company's objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct its exploration program on the Aruba Property. The Aruba Property is located in the Kalahari Desert region of Botswana, covering 4,663 square kilometers in an area prospective for platinum group metals, gold, silver, and manganese mineralization. For more information, please refer to SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), under the Company's profile. Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Israeli former hostage Romi Gonen has said in a television interview that four Hamas militants sexually assaulted her during her 15 months in captivity in the Gaza Strip. "No one will tell me to stay quiet.. I'm here, I won," Gonen, 25, told Israel's Channel 12 in a two-part interview, the second of which was broadcast on Thursday evening. Gonen, speaking in Hebrew, evoked "different sorts of sexual assaults in captivity, from four different men, with varying degrees of gravity", without ever explicitly using the word "rape" yet still hinting at it. Gonen, who was released in January 2025 during a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, described how she was once assaulted by one of her guards in the room where she was being held. "I start crying uncontrollably... He looks at me incessantly and signals to me 'be careful' with his index on his mouth. 'If you don't calm down, I'm going to get angry.'" On another day Gonen said the guard followed her to the toilet. "And that's when I was assaulted for the third time. It lasted almost half an hour," she said. "I said to myself: 'Romi, all of Israel thinks you're dead, when in fact you're going to be his sexual slave for ever'", she said, recounting how she felt one day after an assault. She recounted how another time her attacker, who was sitting on a couch, looked at her and asked: "'Romi, are you okay or not?' "In my head, I'm thinking: 'Son of a bitch, how can you ask me that?' "And then he comes up to me, puts the gun to my temple and says: 'If you mention this to anyone, I'll kill you.'" Several Israelis and one other woman who were held captive in Gaza and later released have since said that they were sexually assaulted during captivity. Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which along with allied Palestinian factions held hostages taken during its unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, never admitted to any such assaults. "We affirm that the allegations made by the female captive are false claims," Suhail al-Hindi, a member of Hamas's political bureau, told AFP, referring to Romi Gonen. She was at the Nova music festival in Reim, near Gaza, when she was abducted. Of the 251 people seized that day, militants have handed over all the dead and living captives, with the exception of the body of an Israeli police officer. Last month, rights group Amnesty International accused Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups of crimes against humanity, including torture, enforced disappearance, rape and "other forms of sexual violence". Friday, January 02, 2025 - A photo of former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, during a recent meeting in Lagos has ignited debate across political circles and social media. The trio was attending the Future Africa Leaders Awards 2025, where Obasanjo was present as a guest of honor. While the image may appear routine, in politics perception often carries weight. Obasanjos long-standing friendship with the late ODM leader, Raila Odinga, has fueled speculation about possible behindthescenes discussions. Netizens have questioned whether Raila may have shared his views on the 2027 presidential race with Obasanjo, particularly as Kalonzo - who previously served as Railas running mate - emerges as a key opposition contender against President William Ruto. Uhuru, meanwhile, is believed to be quietly working to unite the opposition, a move that has drawn criticism from some ODM leaders who accuse him of meddling in party affairs. ODM itself appears divided, with factions either supporting Rutos administration or resisting the broadbased arrangement between ODM and UDA. Whether the photo was a simple snapshot or a coded political message, it has set tongues wagging. For now, speculation abounds, and only time will reveal its true significance. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, January 2, 2026 - A Kisii man has turned to social media to express his heartbreak after losing his wife to another man, who allegedly married her without his consent. The man shared photos of his estranged wife alongside her new husband, accusing the so-called homewrecker of interfering in his marriage. Unable to move on, he has continued exposing the man across various social media platforms, attracting widespread attention. The posts have sparked heated reactions online, with some sympathizing with the heartbroken husband, while others advise him to focus on healing and moving forward. Check out the posts that have ignited debate across social media. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, January 02, 2025 - A young girl from Migori County is recovering from serious injuries after being attacked by a rogue baboon at her home in Sumba village, Nyatike Constituency, Migori County. According to Nyabomo sublocation elder, Salim Nyochol, the girl was attending to household duties when the primate struck unexpectedly. The baboon attacked the girl as she was eating, injuring both her shoulders, Nyochol explained. The incident has heightened fears among residents, who say baboons have increasingly become a menace in the area, harassing women and children. Nyochol attributed the growing aggression to the prolonged drought, noting that the animals often invade homes in search of food. The injured girl was rushed to a Kisii Hospital, where she was admitted for treatment. She has since been discharged and is recuperating at home, though villagers say she remains traumatized by the ordeal. Residents living along the shores of Lake Victoria now worry about escalating encounters with both baboons and hippos, which have shown signs of aggression. With schools set to reopen for the new term, parents are increasingly anxious about the safety of their children in the face of wildlife threats. The Kenyan DAILY POST From small business owners to global brand leaders, these experts reveal the real drivers of customer loyalty and its not just discounts. In an era where customer acquisition costs keep rising, turning first-time buyers into repeat customers is more than smart its essential. So we asked over 40 founders, executives, and marketing professionals one key question: Whats the best way to drive repeat business? Their responses reveal a powerful truth: loyalty isnt bought its earned, through trust, consistency, and deep human understanding. Heres what stood out. 1. Trust is the currency of loyalty Many experts pointed out that repeat business hinges on one thing: customer trust. Irrespective of what business youre in, if people dont trust you, they wont come back, said Anfernee Chansamooth, content strategist at Simple Creative Marketing. Leonie Henzell, founder of Beautys Got Soul, added that consistency in experience builds that trust from ordering to delivery to post-purchase care. 2. Keep the conversation going A one-off transaction becomes a relationship through ongoing engagement. Repeat business is all about staying top of mind, said Paul Dunn, chairman of B1G1. This means regular communication not spam that delivers value. Tim Kaposy, Director at Zea, emphasized listening: Engage with customers in the same places they found you. Respect where they hang out. 3. Make your customer feel known From birthday emails to tailored recommendations, personalization was a common theme. Louise Booth, founder of The C Word Agency, explained: We built customer loyalty by making people feel special and remembered. Meanwhile, Ben Hirons of SmartCompany argued that being relevant and helpful in your customers moment of need is what separates brands from noise. 4. Deliver an experience, not just a product Several contributors highlighted that customers return not just for the product, but the feeling that surrounds it. Michael Simonetti, founder of AndMine, said: The fastest way to earn loyalty? A better experience than they expected. Others agreed: shipping speed, packaging, support all shape perception. 5. Dont forget the post-sale moment Too many businesses neglect the post-purchase window, but thats when trust is won or lost. Show that you care after the sale, advised Kym Illman, entrepreneur and author. Its often the small gestures that matter a thank-you note, a follow-up call, a bonus tip. Darrell Hardidge of Saguity put it simply: Loyalty is a result, not a strategy. Focus on value and care. 6. Build a mission people want to support Customers stick with businesses whose values align with theirs. Weve built a community, not just a brand, said Melissa Browne, founder of A&TA. People return because they believe in what were doing. Likewise, several founders mentioned impact-led initiatives carbon offsets, charity donations, ethical sourcing as loyalty magnets. The bottom line? Repeat business is less about tactics and more about relationships. As Sharon Nouh, founder of ProSpend, put it: People return to businesses they feel connected to. Earn that connection every time. For Australian founders and SMEs navigating a competitive landscape, these insights are more than advice theyre a playbook. Read the full discussion here: What do repeat customers really want that most businesses miss? More Lets Talk episodes here. To contribute to future episodes, subscribe to our list here. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. August kicked off with one of the largest demonstrations seen in Kilkenny for years as around 2,000 people turned out to March for Palestine in solidarity with the people of Gaza. After the march, participants gathered on the Parade to hear from speakers from the Kilkenny City Palestine Solidarity Group along with several other organisations in a huge display of support amid calls for the passing of the Occupied Territories Bill. There was strong Kilkenny interest in this year's Rose of Tralee competition as local woman, Katelyn Cummins, took the crown as the Laois Rose. The apprentice electrician and farmer from Ballyouskill went to school in Ballyragget and was given a huge reception when she returned home after the win. Katelyn impressed the judges with her appearance where she spoke about her work in male dominated fields before dancing a jive with her escort. SEE ALSO: Kilkenny residents take on huge project to mark milestone anniversary - Kilkenny Live As always, Leaving Cert results day brought smiles and relief across the county as students were rewarded for their years of hard work and studying. Sixth years from every corner of Kilkenny made one last journey to their respective schools to collect the results on the morning of August 22 as they digested their marks and looked ahead to the future. Upgrades arrived at St Luke's General Hospital at the end of the month as Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill travelled to the city to open the Medical 3 Ward on its campus. The refurbished area was a vacant decommissioned surgical ward which was repurposed to create 14 additional new beds to facilitate winter surge capacity. August brought about much change in Kilkenny's parishes as priest retirements and relocations were finalised. A particularly notable example was the retirement of Fr Jim Murphy from St Canice's after 21 years. Fr Jim said his last mass on August 24 before starting an exciting new chapter in his life. TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS The Irish government must decide whether it will encourage more people to have babies or allow more migrants to enter the country. Those were the options presented to the government by the National Economic and Social Council after warning that Irish people are not having enough children to fund public services in the future. Questions have been raised about how the Irish economy will function if there are so few taxpayers in the future, according to an article by Newstalk. READ NEXT: Met Eireann issue status yellow weather warnings as ice and snow expected over the weekend A recent report by the National Economic and Social Council found that births in the country peaked in 2010, with 77,000 children that year. By 2024, that number had dropped to just 54,000, leaving the government wondering what to do to tackle this issue. Jack Horgan-Jones, a journalist with the Irish Times, told Newstalk that a call for more migration will settle some TDs, especially considering they have been making "political capital" on migration issues in recent months. "That's one of those things where you're going to have a policy imperative, something to address and right size the demographic shape of the State going forward, coming into conflict potentially with the prevailing politics of the moment, which is rather more sour on migration and immigration than it has been," he said. Another person who featured on the show suggested that Ireland stop forcing people to retire once they reach their 60s as people are living longer and healthier lives now. Thai mangosteen prices have doubled in Vietnam from a year ago to a record VND250,000 (US$9.51) per kilogram amid a lack of supply. Lan, a fruit vendor at a market in HCMCs An Hoi Dong Ward, said imports from Thai have never been as low as now. "Last year I could procure several hundred kilograms at a time, but now I can only find 50-100 kilograms." Thai mangosteens on sale at a store in Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by Cuong Nguyen Hoa, a fruit importer at the Thu Duc agriculture wholesale market, Thai output has been hit by unfavorable weather while Thailands border conflict with Cambodia has disrupted shipment to Vietnam. Customs data shows agricultural imports from Thailand have declined in recent months. Cuong, who owns a fruit shop on Hai Ba Trung Street in Tan Dinh Ward, said many customers are buying the Thai fruit despite high prices due to a lack of options. The main season in Vietnam is from May to August with some areas staggering their harvest this year to last through September. The prices of imported fruits, which took over the market in October after local supplies ran out, have risen fourfold since the local season peak in July. Thailand is the world's leading exporter of mangosteen. It produces around 408,000 tonnes of the fruit annually, of which 90% is exported. China is the top buyer, followed by Vietnam and some other Asian markets. Radio NZ reported: An Otago businessman who founded the countrys biggest ski area is being remembered as someone who shaped his local community over many decades. Wanaka farmer and entrepreneur John Allandale Lee died peacefully on Sunday surrounded by family, He was seen as a key figurehead in the economic takeoff of the Cardrona Valley Lees family confirmed the 89-year-olds passing in a statement on Wednesday. A second-generation Waiorau farmer, Lee grew up in the tough alpine clime of the Cardrona Valleys Pisa Range. In the late 1960s, the population of Cardrona was in decline, and as things were looking bleak, John got creative all with the goal of bringing life back to the valley. Lee and his wife, Mary bought the historic Cardrona Hotel in 1970 and Mt Cardrona Station a year later. The couple would spend the following years developing a ski area at Cardrona. Cardrona Alpine Resort was opened to the public in 1980 and now stands as New Zealands biggest ski area. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Some of the moves performed by the boy band of students as a punishment for arriving for class late in China. Photo courtesy of Douyin A teacher in eastern China has gone viral after turning a routine classroom punishment into a joyful dance moment that millions online could not stop watching. When several 15-year-old boys arrived late for class in Dezhou, Shandong Province, their teacher, surnamed Feng, skipped the usual scolding. Instead, she invited them onto the podium and asked them to dance to a popular 2009 pop song called "Mistake," transforming embarrassment into playful accountability, The Star reported. The clip quickly spread across Chinese social media, with viewers jokingly dubbing the students a "wrongdoers boy band." Many praised the boys confidence and charm, while others applauded the teachers creativity and warmth. One parent said her family "laughed to tears" after hearing about the incident and promised to wake her son earlier to avoid being late again, the South China Morning Post reported. Encouraged by the response, Feng later posted a follow-up video showing the boys dancing with more polished moves. She wrote that what began as punishment had turned into a kind of reward. When commenters said they hoped their children would have a teacher like her, Feng replied that happiness and learning do not conflict, and that relaxed classrooms help students grow. Tommy Lee Jones daughter has died, according to reports. Tommy Lee Jones daughter dead at 34 Victoria Jones, 34, was reportedly found dead in a San Francisco hotel room, on New Years Day (01.01.26). TMZ first reported news of the shocking death, citing law enforcement sources. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed to PEOPLE that it was called to a medical emergency at the San Francisco Fairmont hotel around 3 a.m. local time on Thursday, where an unnamed individual was found dead at the scene. The San Francisco Police Department added to PEOPLE that officers responded to the hotel on Thursday, where they met with paramedics and declared an unnamed adult female dead. NBC Bay Area reported on Victorias death, citing police sources with direct knowledge of the investigation and added that the woman was found in a hallway of the hotel early Thursday morning. The insider added her identity cannot be confirmed until her body is formally identified by a medical examiner but police do no suspect foul play. Tommy, 79, had Victoria and her brother Austin Jones, 43, with his ex-wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. Victoria appeared in some of her fathers movies at a young age, including Men in Black II, back in 2002 and 2005's The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which Tommy directed. President Donald Trump has single-handedly reversed more than three decades of mistaken American assumptions about China: namely, that by opening U.S. markets to China, encouraging American business to invest in China, and outsourcing American manufacturing to China, the U.S. would facilitate Chinas entry into the so-called rules based international order. This did not happen. China got rich and powerful, and used its wealth and power to its considerable advantage. Thats why President Trump has laid out a new course of action regarding China and the Indo-Pacific in his newly released National Security Strategy. The Indo-Pacific is already the source of almost half the worlds GDP. That share is certain to grow over the 21st century. Which means that the Indo-Pacific is already and will continue to be among the next centurys key economic and geopolitical battlegrounds. To thrive at home, we must successfully compete there - and we are, noted the National Security Strategy. President Trump signed major agreements during his October 2025 travels that further deepen Americas powerful ties of commerce, culture, technology, and defense, and reaffirm its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. America retains tremendous assets - the worlds strongest economy and military, world-beating innovation, unrivaled soft power, and a historic record of benefiting our allies and partners - that enable it to compete successfully. Since the Chinese economy reopened to the world in 1979, commercial relations between the U.S. and China have been and remain fundamentally unbalanced. What began as a relationship between a mature, wealthy economy and one of the worlds poorest countries has transformed into one between near peers. China adapted to the shift in U.S. tariff policy that began in 2017 in part by strengthening its hold on supply chains, especially in the worlds low- and middle-income countries - among the greatest economic battlegrounds of the coming decades. Chinas exports to low-income countries doubled between 2020 and 2024. The United States imports Chinese goods indirectly from middlemen and Chinese-built factories in a dozen countries, including Mexico. Chinas exports to low-income countries are today nearly four times its exports to the United States. When President Trump first took office in 2017, Chinas exports to the United States stood at 4 percent of its GDP but have since fallen to slightly over 2 percent of its GDP. China continues, however, to export to the United States through other proxy countries. Going forward, [the United States] will rebalance [its] economic relationship with China, prioritizing reciprocity and fairness to restore American economic independence, according to the National Security Strategy. Trade with China should be balanced and focused on non-sensitive factors. If America remains on a growth path, it should be headed from its present $30 trillion economy in 2025 to $40 trillion in the 2030s, putting the United States in an enviable position to maintain its status as the worlds leading economy. The ultimate goal of the United States strategy towards China and the broader Indo-Pacific is to lay the foundation for long-term economic vitality. The destruction of the Kakhovka Reservoir is not only the destruction of a hydraulic engineering facility, but also the loss of a system-forming element of the water, agricultural, and energy infrastructure of southern Ukraine, said Ukraines Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, Oleksiy Sobolev. "Therefore, we are considering not only the issue of possible restoration, but also a new model of water use in southern Ukraine that is better adapted to climate change and the real needs of the region," he said in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. According to the minister, the direct economic losses from the destruction amount to approximately $2.79 billion, while total damages exceed $11 billion. To compensate for the consequences, the government has decided, among other measures, to build water pipelines in Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions. These measures are expected to help restore access to water, create conditions for agriculture, and stabilize the water supply situation in southern Ukraine. Sobolev noted that the issue of fully restoring the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant is significantly complicated by security factors. The temporary occupation of the left bank of the Dnipro River makes it impossible to carry out large-scale engineering works and attract long-term investment. "Under such conditions, the implementation of projects to restore hydraulic structures or to create new capital-intensive facilities cannot be considered until Ukraine regains control over the entire adjacent territory and an appropriate level of security is ensured," the minister said. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/ On the night of January 2 (from 18:00 on January 1), the enemy attacked with 116 Shahed, Gerbera type strike UAVs and drones of other types from the following directions: Millerovo, Kursk, Shatalovo, Orel, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia, Chauda, Gvardiyske temporarily occupied Crimea, about 70 of them Shahed UAVs," the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Telegram on Friday morning. "According to preliminary data, as of 08:30, air defense shot down/suppressed 86 enemy Shahed, Gerbera type strike UAVs and drones of other types in the north, south and east of the country. 27 strike UAVs were hit at 23 locations, as well as the fall of downed (fragments) at two locations," the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine informs. A MAN serving time in prison did not get sentence extended despite being found guilty of possession with intent to supply cocaine, after discussing the merits of an Irish breakfast with the judge. Thomas Kavanagh (43), with an address at Ann Street, Prosperous was appearing in Naas District Court by videolink from prison where he is serving a two and a half years for an unrelated conviction. Sergeant Dave Hanrahan told the court how Kavanagh had been found at an address in Prosperous on 5 December, 2021 with 840 worth of cocaine and a further 955 in cash, which has already been forfeited to the State. He was also summoned for a hit and run in November 2021, at a time when he was disqualified from driving. Sgt Hanrahan told the court that Kavanagh had 64 previous convictions, 26 of them for road traffic offences, four for having no insurance, and three driving bans. What was his longest [ban]? asked Judge Desmond Zaidan. In 2011 he was disqualified for seven years, and in 2020 he was banned for six years, said the sergeant. Essentially, Mr Kavanagh is looking down the barrel of a two and a half year sentence, began his solicitor Tim Kennelly. But he is looking good, and seems to have put on weight, he added. What are they feeding you? asked the judge. Oh, the best food! said Kavanagh. Do you get an Irish breakfast? asked Judge Zaidan. Weetabix is an Irish breakfast, declared Kavanagh. Changing the subject, Mr Kennelly reverted to his mitigation. My client has decided he has had enough of in and out of prison, he said. Im confident he will continue his clean living, and contribute to society. Id plead with you judge, not to make this [sentence] consecutive, he asked. You told me you got two and a half years in the Circuit Court recently, said the judge Two and a half years is severe enough, so Ill sentence him to 20 months from today, he ruled. The judge has done you a great favour, giving you a year and 10 months [sic; its really a year and eight months] which will not add anything to your sentence, said Mr Kennelly. What will you get on Christmas Day? asked the judge, returning to the dining topic. Oh, well get turkey and ham, said Kavanagh. A pedestrian struck early New Years Day on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Carbon County has been identified as an Allentown man. Pennsylvania State Police at Pocono identified the deceased as 32-year-old Luis A. Carlo. Carlo died from multiple blunt force trauma, according to the Carbon County Coroners Office. The death was ruled an accident. State police said the incident happened just before 3:30 a.m. Thursday at mile-marker 76.2 northbound of the turnpikes Northeast Extension (Interstate 476) in Franklin Township. Carlo was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:40 a.m. by Deputy Coroner Jason A. Nicholas. An investigation revealed the accident happened when three separate vehicles were all stopped on the northbound shoulder of the highway: a 2010 Mazda Protege, a 2012 Dodge Ram and a Toyota Camry. The Mazda, state police said, was disabled with a flat tire. The Dodge Ram tow truck stopped to tow the Mazda. The Toyota, driven by a witness, was parked behind those two vehicles. A 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 27-year-old man from Allentown was heading north in the left lane when for an unknown reason, he swerved and traveled over to the shoulder of I-476, striking Carlo, state police said. At the time, Carlo was standing outside his vehicle and assisting the tow truck company, state police said. The impact caused the Jeep to overturn and Carlo was thrown in the accident, according to state police. The Jeep driver was unhurt, but three passengers in the vehicle were injured, police said. Two female passengers, ages 27 and 31, escaped with minor injuries, while a 22-year-old female passenger suffered a suspected serious injury. Updated conditions were not immediately available Friday afternoon. Police said the Jeep driver would be charged with reckless driving. Pennsylvania State Police, the Carbon County District Attorneys Office and the Carbon County Coroners Office continue to investigate Thursdays accident. Russian losses during the day amounted to 910 soldiers and 222 units of equipment, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in a summary as of 6:30 a.m. Friday. In particular, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed six tanks, two armored combat vehicles, 42 artillery systems, two multiple-launch rocket systems, one air defense system and 169 units of automotive equipment and tanker trucks. FORT INDIANTOWN GAP - Leaders at Fort Indiantown Gap are seeking selection as a new U.S. Army center for integrating drones into modern-day warfighting. The Army, in a program dubbed SkyFoundry, has announced plans to designate three sites as hubs for drone research, development, testing and training with one of them located at a National Guard base. Indiantown Gap, in Lebanon County, about 65 miles west of Allentown, wants to land that mission, and in December, its leaders spent time courting U.S. Sen. Dave McCormicks support. Pennsylvania National Guard leaders said that selection as part of the Armys SkyFoundry program would help keep the Gap, the state guards headquarters, at the cutting edge of 21st-century weaponry. Indiantown Gap, which sprawls across 17,000 acres and under restricted airspace, has long been an all-missions training center for guard members and other Army units, including drone operators. But this would be different. These facilities will be the central training point for the entire Army on this emerging technology. Both testing, development, research and then training and follow-on deployment of those systems, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, commander of the Gaps existing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Innovation Facility. Its all part of the Armys transition away from larger unmanned aircraft thats been central to its operations in the last generation, to far lighter units some small enough to hold in the palm of your hand that could help individual units scout territory ahead of an operation, or to deploy weapons ahead of an assault. Reed said unmanned training at the Gap to this point has largely centered on larger drones the Army has used in reconnaissance and surveillance. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a drone dominance memo in July directing every Army squad to be armed with small, one-way attack drones by the end of fiscal 2026. Other parts of the SkyFoundry initiative call for partnering with private industry to boost domestic drone manufacturing, to the point where one million units could be built within the next two to three years, according to reporting in the Military Times. A lot of the shift in thinking has come from lessons learned from the war between Russia and Ukraine, Reed said. In that four-year war, small, inexpensive drones piloted by remote operators have proven incredibly effective at taking out big, costly military equipment. Were kind of adapting what the Army of the future looks like for the United States in that regard," Reed said. But America, some defense experts note, is currently far behind countries such as China in drone-building capacity. As Reed spoke about the Pennsylvania Guards existing work, colleagues flew small drones through an obstacle course with FPV, or first-person view, equipment. So you can imagine this could fly into a house, a building, a car, Reed said of the songbird-sized device whirring around the room. Alongside the drones on display for McCormicks tour were replicas of incendiary devices the drones could be armed with, to give soldier-operators the full experience of maneuvering a drone with a payload, and then dropping that payload onto a target in mid-flight. Whatever type of scenario it is, we can take these smaller drones and really get right into the fight before we would put our own soldiers in any type of danger. We could go in and see whats going on and or carry out some type of other operation with them, Reed said. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea, operations officer at the Gaps Unmanned Aircraft Systems, spent time earlier this year on a deployment to Germany, where he helped train Ukrainian soldiers in operating drones. He sees the devices as a massive player in the future of warfare. The more we can remove humans from the front lines and direct combat, I think the more youre going to see that, Shea said. No specific number has been put on the initial investment or recurring allocations for the SkyFoundry hubs, for which Pennsylvania is known to be competing against National Guard bases in Mississippi and Michigan. Reed said landing the Unmanned Aircraft System Testing and Training Center designation would be a boon for the Gap, which already boasts more than 2,000 employees and sees more than 100,000 troops passing through for various types of training each year and Pennsylvanias technology economy generally. I think you could see an uptick in the assignment of troops, also creating a lot of additional full-time employment here, and also driving industry in Pennsylvania as well with the different, you know, defense contracts we have here. McCormick pledged full support Monday, telling an aide, This should be us. He promised to contact the Army as soon as he has the information needed to make his best case. Warren County Commissioner Lori Ciesla took the helm as board director for 2026 during the Board of County Commissioners annual reorganization meeting New Years Day at the courthouse in Belvidere. Ciesla is a former Lopatcong Township Council member starting her sixth year on the board. New Jersey 7th District Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. administered the oath to Ciesla. I want to give special thanks to my colleagues, Commissioners (James) Kern and (Jason) Sarnoski, for putting their faith in me to lead the board this year, Ciesla said. As always, I am grateful for their support and teamwork. Ciesla highlighted the countys achievement of becoming debt-free last summer after paying off its last bonds. She outlined priorities for 2026 that include upgrading emergency management communication infrastructure, supporting local businesses through tourism, and improving public communication methods. Commissioner Jason J. Sarnoski was sworn in for a record-tying sixth term. Sarnoski and then-Freeholder Richard D. Gardner are the only officials elected to six three-year terms since Warren County switched to a three-member board in 1917. New Jersey changed the title of the elected county government officials from freeholder to commission in January 2021. I am honored by the trust and confidence you have placed in me, and I pledge to continue working tirelessly to uphold the values and priorities that make Warren County such an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family, Sarnoski said. Commissioner James R. Kern III was named deputy director, and Warren County Sheriff James McDonald Sr. took the oath of office for a fourth three-year term. Sarnoski called the debt-free status one of our greatest achievements . This is a legacy worth protecting. Kern said his priorities are public safety, preservation, and smart growth. The commissioners set a 2026 meeting schedule with regular meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. The meetings will be held in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the Wayne Dumont Jr. Administration Building in White Township, with three traveling meetings scheduled at municipal buildings in Lopatcong Township, Blairstown, and Hackettstown. Laois locals are abuzz with excitement following the opening of a new restaurant. Savage Restaurant has been opened by owner Paul Forlea on the Mountmellick road in Portlaoise, offering a wide variety of foods to suit all palates. Officially opening on New Year's Eve, Manager Mihai Stanescu spoke with the Leinster Express / Laois Live on what Laois foodies can expect from the business. Pictured: Authentic American-style smash burgers with homemade chips and garlic sauce at Savage "We are a fresh new restaurant bringing you proper roasts, stacked smash burgers, and authentic Irish breakfasts made with quality ingredients," he said. "We offer eat in options, takeaway options and delivery. We will be serving breakfast, lunch, starters, mains and desserts- with a huge selection on our menus," he said. Traditional roast dinners from Savage Restaurant include roast beef, turkey and ham, and traditional bacon and cabbage. Mains also include vol au vents and beer battered cod. Pictured: Traditional roast dinners served with vegetables The specialty 'savage' menu features a variety of authentic American stacked and smashed burgers, served with homemade chips. Diners can also enjoy several hearty pasta dishes at Laois' latest eatery. Whether you are looking for an early full-Irish breakfast, or a late-night feast, the new business say they have it all. "This is our first restaurant to open, we're right next to the off-licence. We will be open every day from 9am until 11pm," Mr Stanescu finished. Laois farmers received nearly 40 million under various types of agricultural income support schemes administered by the Department of Agriculture in 2025, according to new data. As farmers from Laois and other counties protested in Brussels about EU support for farming, payment details by county under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and national support schemes were announced by the Department of Agriculture just before Christmas. In a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, Minister Martin Heydon noted the significant payment amounts totalling 2.18 billion issued in 2025 by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to support rural and coastal communities. Understandably, there has been a lot of focus throughout the year on payments made by my Department to farmers. Ireland continues to be one of the earliest to make payments under the CAP within the EU, and to the highest possible number of farmers. I am accordingly very pleased to announce the breadth of payments made by my Department throughout 2025. We will continue to work to issue payments as quickly as possible where they are still due, and I would ask farmers who have outstanding queries to respond to these as soon as possible. The payments made and funds allocated in 2025 show the depth of commitment the Government has to farmers and fishers in Ireland, and to the world-class food they produce in an ever more sustainable way. I look forward to a successful year ahead for Irelands farming industry and seafood sector, said Minister Heydon. See the payments for Laois below picture: Borris-in-Ossory man and IFA National Beef Committee Chairman Declan Hanrahan at a protest by farmers from across Europe in Brussels before Christmas. Pic: IFA Basic Income Support Scheme: 18,933,913.04 Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability: 2,755,507.72 Complimentary Income Support for Young Farmers: 796,280. Sheep Improvement Scheme: 164,107.8 Eco-Scheme: 7,584,603.39 National Sheep Welfare Scheme: 182,728.05 Areas of Natural Constraint: 3,674,173.36 Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme: 1,452,405.92 Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme: 169,489.6 Straw Incorporation Measure: 294,340.3 Protein Aid: 447,887.7 Multi Species Sward Measure / Red Clover Silage Measure: 103,314 Tillage Top up: 1,660,408 Baling Assistance Payment Scheme: 165,558.75 READ ALSO: IFA president from Laois demands farming future for son in front of farmers from across Europe A regional breakdown by county of the payments issued was published on the Department's website HERE. No mums appear to have been vying for the title of delivering the firstborn baby in Ireland of 2026 at the Maternity Unit in Portlaoise hospital, but there was delight nonetheless when the first new arrival checked in at nearly 6 am on January 1. The HSE issued a statement confirming the good news from the Dublin Road to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. The Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise is delighted to announce the arrival of the first Laois baby of the New Year. A beautiful baby girl, Anwen, was born at 5:37 a.m. on January 1, weighing 3.6 kg. She is the third child of proud parents Agata and Gareth Davies, who already have two wonderful boys, Stefan and Eoghan. Both mother and baby are doing well. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Agata and her family on this joyous occasion and wish them health and happiness in the year ahead, said the statement. Anwen's mum hails from Poland and her dad is from Wales. They live in Ballytore, Co Kildare. The little girl was the first of seven births in the Portlaoise hospital on January 1. The HSE also confirmed that there were a total of 1,405 births in Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRPH) in 2025, up from 1370 births in 2024. MORE BELOW PHOTO. Pictured: Mum Agatha with baby Anwen. Picture: HSE READ ALSO: New Portlaoise hospital wing is active for flu fight in Laois The latest Maternity Safety Statement for Portlaoise hospital shows that there were 1,193 by the end of October last year. This contrasts to 1,130 births at the Laois hospital to the end of October 2024. People in Laois will need to wrap up this weekend as the entire country has been issued a Status Yellow weather warning for low temperatures, ice, and even snow. Met Eireann has issued the Status Yellow warning for low temperatures and ice for the whole of Munster as well as Laois, Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow. This warning will be valid from 6pm on Saturday, 3 January until 11am the following morning on Sunday, 4 January. The impacted counties will see temperatures fall between -2 and -4 degrees with severe frost and icy stretches in some areas. Meanwhile, a Status Yellow snow and ice warning has been issued for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Louth and Connacht. These areas can expect to see wintry showers and snow accumulations. OFFICAL MET EIREANN FORECAST BELOW. READ NEXT: New weekly addiction recovery meeting starting in Laois This warning will be in affect at the same time as the low temperature warning for the rest of the country. Met Eireann has warned that the freezing conditions may result in hazardous driving conditions across Laois and the rest of the country. Cathal Nolan of Ireland's Weather Channel has also warned that snow showers might even be seen after Met Eireann's warnings end, with potential snowfall on Sunday evening in parts of Connacht, Ulster and north Leinster. National Forecast issued on January 2 at 1pm: Friday: Afternoon will be bright with sunny spells. Scattered showers also, mainly in Ulster and Connacht with some sleet or snow possible in Ulster. Cold with highest temperatures of just 2 to 6 degrees and mostly moderate northwesterly winds. The night will be cold with frost and ice developing under largely clear skies. Scattered showers will continue, mainly for Ulster and Connacht with some falls of sleet and snow. Largely dry elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly winds, fresher for northern and northwestern coasts. Saturday: Plenty of sunshine tomorrow with scattered wintry showers continuing for Ulster and Connacht while staying largely dry elsewhere. Highest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly breezes. Long clear spells with wintry showers in the north and west over night. Staying mostly dry elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of -4 to 0 degrees in light westerly breezes. Some fog or freezing fog patches may form. Sunday: Cold with frost and ice slow to clear. Good spells of sunshine will occur along with well scattered wintry for Ulster, Connacht and parts of west Munster while staying largely dry elsewhere. Highest temperatures of 1 to 5 or 6 degrees in light to moderate west to northwest breezes. Very cold and mostly dry overnight, though well scattered wintry showers will continue in the north and west. Lowest temperatures of -4 to 0 degrees in mostly light northwesterly winds. Monday: Another cold day with frost and ice slow to clear, leaving a predominantly dry day with plenty of sunshine and with just isolated wintry showers for the north and northwest. Highest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees in mostly light northwest to west breezes. Very cold again early in the night with just a few showers, mainly in the northwest. Lowest temperatures of -4 to 0 degrees with light westerly winds. It will turn less cold then as cloud builds from the west through the night with winds backing southerly and strengthening for Atlantic coasts by morning as outbreaks of rain move into the west and southwest. Tuesday: Outbreaks of rain will track southeastwards across the country through the day though there will be dry intervals too. Highest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees with moderate to fresh southerly winds developing for a time. Further Outlook: Some uncertainty in the outlook but indications are for more unsettled conditions through the rest of the week. Keep up to date with any changes to Laois' weather warnings with Leinster Express / Leinster Live. Fianna Fail TD for Kildare North, Naoise O Cearuil, has called on the Minister for Health to implement targeted winter surge supports at Naas Hospital, warning that immediate action is needed to protect both staff and patients during a particularly challenging winter period. Deputy O Cearuil made his call as patients attending Naas Hospital are currently waiting an average of 9.5 hours for admission from the Emergency Department, with delays peaking at 13.5 hours earlier in 2025. The hospital is also operating beyond capacity, with 196 of its 204 beds occupied as of December 31, and 24 surge beds in use during recent flu outbreaks. He said there is an urgent need to prioritise the allocation of surge resources within existing HSE winter planning, including extended senior decision maker coverage and rapid assessment initiatives, to help reduce these delays. Speaking on the issue, Deputy O Cearuil said: These targeted measures would free up hospital capacity at a time when a severe wave of flu is spreading across the country. They would help relieve pressure on staff at Naas Hospital during the Christmas period while ensuring patients receive the care they need and deserve. READ NEXT: Over 5,000 cases admitted to Kildare Wildlife Rescue in 2025 The Deputy said that long term measures under the HSE capital programme would ultimately strengthen capacity at Naas Hospital, including an 11 bed Acute Medical Assessment Unit, a 15 bed Admissions Unit and the Swan Ward expansion which will add 12 single rooms. However, he stressed that immediate action is required through targeted winter surge supports to help staff and patients manage current pressures. People in the area are deeply concerned for their loved ones, particularly older and more vulnerable family members. These measures would not only support staff at Naas Hospital in the immediate term but would also provide reassurance to families across the area, he said. Deputy O Cearuil concluded by saying: The staff in Naas Hospital do incredible work all year round. Unfortunately, we are experiencing a particularly severe flu season and they need all the support they can get to continue delivering safe and timely care. Damage costing an estimated 190,000 was caused at a stud farm near Naas after a fire broke out, it was claimed at the local district court. Three juveniles, who cannot be identified because of their age, face an allegation of arson at Rathasker Stud, near the Kilcullen Road, on February 7, 2025. READ NEXT 'Devastating year' - Major concerns over surge in deaths of vulnerable road users in 2025 Sgt Dave Hanrahan said it will be alleged the three defendants set fire to 450 bales of hay or straw, a barn and horsebox. He added they are friends and were trespassing. Sgt Hanrahan said they allegedly set fire to bales of hay and straw and the fire service was deployed to deal with the blaze. He said the fire started at around 5.30pm, the owners noticed it, saw a number of youths and took photographs of them." The aftermath of the blaze He said three teens, two aged 14 and one aged 15 at the time, were arrested. Defending solicitor David Powderly made an application to have the case heard in the district court, where less stringent penalties can be imposed, rather than the circuit court - as recommended by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Powderly noted the circuit court has more formality, higher sentencing powers and cases can be heard by jury. He said the defendants are all in secondary school, they have no previous convictions, never came to garda attention before and had no previous issues before a court and he asked for the case to remain in the lower court, which is allowed for under Section 75 of the Children Act. He also pointed out that they are closer to the beginning of their teenage years than adulthood. Mr Powderly also said that if this allegation had been made earlier in their lives they might not have been "criminally liable in law because of their ages. "They are just above the age where they are criminally responsible, he said. He said the incident could have caused little or no damage and he said a simple and stupid prank was at the root of what occurred. A bale of straw was set on fire and it had catastrophic consequences. It went beyond anything that was foreseeable, he added. He said that if two or three bales were involved the matter would have been dealt with by way of a juvenile caution. He said no accelerant was used and no other items were lit to start the blaze. There are no aggravating features, no additional actions or risks," he stated. Judge Desmond Zaidan said that the DPP had decided the case was too serious to be tried at this level. He said this was a very dangerous alleged act and it was fortunate that there were no injuries, including to the defendants, or to any animals. He said they should have known they are at significant risk when messing with fire. He said the court was satisfied it was not a minor allegation and refused the application to hear the matter in the district court. All three are on garda station bail and the case was adjourned to January 22 for the preparation of a book of evidence. A Kildare councillor criticised a move to support a boycott of goods produced in Israeli occupied territories in Palestine. Social Democrats councillor Claire ORourke sought backing at a Kildare County Council meeting for KCC to support the sanction and boycott as far as is practicable. READ NEXT Two men arrested as Gardai seize drugs and cash worth over 800,000 in Cork She said she was doing this in a spirit of solidarity with all who oppose genocide" until Israel observes international law and recognises human rights standards. But independent Newbridge councillor Tom McDonnell criticised the move, saying there was inadequate condemnation of the Hamas attack in Israel in 2023 or the murders at Bondi Beach in Australia. Its outrageous, I wont support it, he said. He also claimed there had been no condemnation of murders in Africa. We dont hear anything about Christian murders in Nigeria. He referred to 100,000 murders and said Christian people are being murdered wholesale. Sinn Feins Noel Connolly was among those who supported the motion and said silence is complicity when genocide is taking place. Cllr Chris Pender (SD) said KCC has a role in setting ethical standards, adding that Christians, Muslims and Jews live in Palestine. He described the situation there as one of the worst genocides the world has seen. KCCs chief executive Sonya Kavanagh also spoke against the motion. We can't leave KCC open to legal challenge. There is a legal risk, Ms Kavanagh said. KCC official Eoghan Ryan said the council is currently obliged to comply with EU procurement directives and national procurement advice (from the government). He said the motion would need a national or central government approach in order (for it to be enforceable). Nevertheless, a majority of the councillors (20) voted in favour of it, with nine against and seven opting not to vote. The threats facing all of us have changed, the British ambassador to Ireland has said, as she declared London is very happy to partner on security issues in the Irish Sea and beyond. Kara Owen became the UK Ambassador to Ireland in September, months after Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a programme of co-operation as part of a desire to reset relations. She said she was really pleased to be taking on the job in the context of improved relations between the UK and Ireland following a turbulent post-Brexit period. Ms Owen said there was no doubt her predecessor Paul Johnston had a set of really tricky issues to navigate. In an interview with the Press Association, she said: But it was really great to see him be there for the summit in Liverpool in March last year, and that was the moment when, I think An Taoiseach and our Prime Minister really set their vision towards 2030. So coming in with such strong political shaping and priorities that have been given from the top level of our Government thats a really great way to start as ambassador. Asked about her priorities for the role, Ms Owen said: What Im seeing is universities, cultural organisations, businesses that are really interested in collaborating with the UK. Many Irish businesses are interested in making their first internationalisation happen in the UK and whats brilliant is, you dont have to explain the whole of my country here. People are very well aware of what the strengths are of various regions within the UK, and theyre very well informed about where they might want to land so definitely, growth is a priority. Ms Owen said collaboration on infrastructure, energy and security issues were also key priorities. I think weve had a real reminder through Ukraine that the energy transition and the blessings that we have got across these islands, particularly with wind, offshore wind and onshore wind, put us in a position to be able to harness that for the security and the prosperity of our country. She said the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach had launched intensive work around infrastructure delivery. And something that came through really clearly as well, is around how we manage the seas that we both sit in, and that includes both how we use it for energy, but also maintenance of the environment, us understanding whats on the seabed, and also security issues. Asked if there was a perception that Ireland needed to be doing more on the security of the sea, Ms Owen said: The threats that we are seeing to all of us, have changed and so all countries are looking again to check that theyve got their security and defence in the right shape. And Ive thats been something Ive been really struck by since arriving, what the Irish-Irish debate around security and defence is, and how clear the Taoiseach has been and the Government has been about how they want to enhance defence spending and I think were very happy to be a partner. She added: Its not just about defence. Its actually about security of critical national infrastructure, its about cybersecurity, its about what we do in the maritime domain. Ms Owen also emphasised the links between the nations creative sectors which she said are worth huge amounts to our economy, but also make life richer. The ambassador is also learning Irish. She said: Its hard to describe how enriching that has been. As somebody thats been connected to Ireland for 20 years, the depth of understanding that Ive got through being able to tackle Gaeilge, Im just loving it. She added: When I started thinking about if I was going to pitch for this job, you know, what do I need to be thinking about? And so even sort of two years ago, I was starting to look at what the scene was in Ireland, what was new and fresh, and just the sort of explosion of the joy in the Irish language and how its popping up everywhere. And this vibe that you dont have to be perfect, but just use Gaeilge wherever you can mix it in with Bearla (English) if thats all you can do but just do it. Ms Owen said that when she met President Catherine Connolly, they spoke exclusively in Irish. She was incredibly kind and patient with me. At one moment I kind of lost a word, and she just waited until I found it again. And so I found that super encouraging. Since the beginning of the day, 97 combat clashes have taken place, the General Staff of the Armed Forces reported in the operational information as of 22:00 on Thursday. "The enemy launched one missile strike using one missile and 30 air strikes using 92 guided bombs on the positions of our troops and settlements. 4,158 strikes by kamikaze drones were recorded, the enemy carried out 2,674 attacks," the General Staff of the Armed Forces said. According to the information of the General Staff, the hottest situation today was on the Pokrovsk axis, where the aggressor carried out 23 assault and offensive actions. A collective artwork of quiet remembrance is unfolding at The Dock this winter, inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and take part in a shared act of making. Titled Bhi mo chuimhneamh ort. I was thinking of you, the work is presented as part of Waking the Land, an exhibition by the Leitrim-based ^ collective, and runs from December 6, 2025, to February 14, 2026. The piece is dedicated to the memory of Manchan Magan, whose work explored language, place, heritage, and deep listening to the land. Manchan Magan was an Irish writer, broadcaster, and documentary-maker whose work centred on language, landscape, and the deep cultural memory held in place. Best known for his explorations of the Irish language, traditional knowledge, and pre-colonial Irish life, Magan spent much of his career asking how people might live more attentively to the land, to history, and to one another. Through books, television programmes, radio documentaries, and public talks, he championed the idea that modern Ireland had lost something vital by becoming disconnected from its native language, ecology, and inherited ways of knowing. His work often blended scholarship with personal inquiry, drawing on folklore, etymology, archaeology, and lived experience to re-examine Irish identity beyond tourism cliches or nationalist simplifications. At the centre of the installation is a loom not as an object to be viewed from a distance, but as a living, communal space of participation. Visitors are invited to learn how to weave and to add a single line to the textile, each thread carrying a personal intention or memory, offered in remembrance of someone or something meaningful to them. The artists describe the loom as an invitation into a space of quiet attention, where slowness and care are central to the experience. The materials used are equally intentional: undyed wool from the native Galway sheep breed, combined with plant matter gathered from Benbo Mountain and five meadows carefully tended by the artists themselves. The result is a work rooted in place physically, emotionally, and ecologically. Rather than a finished object, the textile is a work in progress, shaped over time by many hands. Each woven line becomes part of a larger collective act, echoing themes that were central to Manchan Magans writing and broadcasting connection to landscape, memory carried through language and craft, and the importance of communal knowledge. The ^ collective is an artist-led group based in north Leitrim, made up of Tara Baoth Mooney, Shane Finan, James Kelly, Laura McMorrow, and Sonya Swarte. The group operates from an experimental studio space in Manorhamilton and has spent the past three years working closely with local communities in response to themes of environmental grief, care, and tending to the land. Their practice is rooted in collaboration not only with each other, but with community members and the natural world, which they describe as a co-creator of meaning. This approach has taken many forms, including rituals, workshops, symposia, shared meals, walks, and story-exchange gatherings, all grounded in attentiveness to place. Visitors interested in contributing to the loom or learning more about the project can speak with a member of staff at The Dock or email thedockartscentre@gmail.com to make a booking. Waking the Land runs at The Dock until February 14, 2026. READ MORE: GALLERY: Making a splash! Christmas Day swim photos in Leitrim lake MEP Nina Carberry along with fellow Fine Gael MEPs Sean Kelly, Regina Doherty and Maria Walsh have submitted their proposals to the Government ahead of the development of Irelands priorities and policy programme for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union this year and "are urging the Government to place citizens at the heart of this year's Presidency through a nationwide programme of events demonstrating the tangible benefits of EU membership." Among the proposals is a push to ensure farmers and coastal communities have a Presidency that delivers for them. "This means adequate incomes, less bureaucracy and red tape, more export opportunities and a level playing field across the Single Market. We see from the new CAP proposals, and last weeks' disappointing decision on 2026 fish quotas, that we face significant challenges at EU level. Ireland must use its Presidency effectively to deliver for our farmers and fishers," said MEP Sean Kelly. Ireland will assume the Presidency from July a critical time when much policy is due to be finalised at EU level. Negotiations on the EU's next seven-year budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework, will be in the final stages, while various strategic initiatives concerning competitiveness and capital markets and the rapidly-evolving geopolitical environment are set to dominate the agenda. READ MORE: GALLERY: Making a splash! Christmas Day swim photos in Leitrim lake Ireland will take up the Presidency at a time when Europe faces huge challenges but also huge opportunities. Above all, competitiveness must be the guiding theme. If Europe wants to deliver jobs, growth and security for its citizens, we must lower energy costs, cut red tape, deepen our single market, and unlock investment across the Union, said Kelly, MEP and Leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament. In their submission, the MEPs said that competitiveness should be the "central high-level priority for Irelands Presidency, building on the recommendations of Mario Draghis landmark 2024 report on the future of European Competitiveness." They listed several key actions from the Draghi report that Ireland should seek to progress at European level during its Presidency, including lowering energy costs and accelerating the roll-out of critical infrastructure, reducing administrative burdens and over-regulation, strengthening the EU Single Market, breaking down barriers to investment, and championing an ambitious Savings and Investment Union. The EU has around 10 trillion sitting idle in low-yield accounts across the 27 Member States. Our Presidency offers Ireland a unique platform to drive progress on financial policy that will make it easier for citizens and SMEs to put this money to work and drive growth, MEP Kelly stated. READ MORE: Planning application for the long-awaited bypass of Carrick-on-Shannon to be lodged in 2026 The MEPs stress that the Presidency must play a "central role in shaping a robust and well-resourced MFF for 20282034, ensuring continued support for agriculture, rural development, fisheries, research and cohesion." The delegation called on Ireland to prioritise the delivery of a substantial CAP budget, practical tools to strengthen farmers incomes and their competitiveness, progress on the EUs Livestock Strategy and constructive leadership on the forthcoming Vision 2040 for Fisheries. Our farmers and coastal communities must see a Presidency that delivers for them, MEP Kelly continued. This means adequate incomes, less bureaucracy and red tape, more export opportunities, and a level playing field across the Single Market. We see from the new CAP proposals, and last weeks' disappointing decision on 2026 fish quotas, that we face significant challenges at EU level. Ireland must use its Presidency effectively to deliver for our farmers and fishers." Irish actor Paul Mescal has said he will start rationing his workload to avoid resenting his career. The 29-year-old, who shot to fame during the pandemic for his role as love interest Connell Waldron in BBC miniseries Normal People, based on the novel of the same name by Irish author Sally Rooney, has since starred in blockbusters such as Sir Ridley Scotts Gladiator II and booked the role of Sir Paul McCartney in the upcoming biopics by filmmaker Sir Sam Mendes. Mescal, who also stars in two upcoming dramas, Hamnet and The History Of Sound, revealed that the growing film credits comes with a cost and that he may need to be more selective with his workload. Speaking to The Guardian, Mescal said: Im five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky. But Im also learning that I dont think I can go on doing it as much. When asked if he is rationing himself, he said: I think so. Im gonna have to start doing that. For sure. Rationing doesnt necessarily mean less. It means learning that films like The History Of Sound take more out of the well. You cant keep going back and expect to consistently deliver something youre proud of. Mescal plays Lionel in the film which follows his characters relationship with David (played by Josh OConnor) after the pair meet in 1917 at the New England Conservatory, and following the First World War, before travelling together to record folk songs in rural Maine in winter 1920. He added: What that (career) rationing looks like, I dont know. I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when Im only doing theatre for a couple of years. I also have different priorities in my personal life that I want to attend to. I dont want to resent the thing I love. This sounds bold, but Id rather not be on the train if that is the choice. Mescal, who is promoting Chloe Zhaos Hamnet, about William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, played by Irish actress Jessie Buckley, as they manage the grief of losing their son, added: Once Ive finished promoting that, I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when Im doing the Beatles. People will get a break from me and Ill get a break from them. Mescal will also make his National Theatre debut in 2027, staring in productions of A Whistle In The Dark and Death Of A Salesman. It comes after he won an Olivier Award in 2023 for a stage adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, before starring in Gladiator II as an arena fighter who tries to bring down two maniacal emperors. He added: I loved the process of making that film but The History of Sound felt like home to me. Its where Im most comfortable. I want to make more films like that versus ones on the scale of Gladiator II. Directed by Oliver Hermanus, The History Of Sound will be released in UK cinemas on January 23. Plans are progressing to bring historical treasures across the Atlantic for an exhibition in Northern Ireland marking the regions unique contribution to the founding of the US. Gillian Doherty, a senior archivist at the Public Record Office (PRONI) in Belfast, recently travelled to Washington and Philadelphia to unearth some of the historical links with the ancient province of Ulster. This year will see celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Semiquincentennial Commission which gives Northern Ireland special status in recognition of its contribution to the foundation of the US. Ms Doherty said: There were so many people here from the old province of Ulster, who migrated there in the 17th and 18th and 19th centuries. We traditionally look at that Irish migration of being from the mid-1800s onwards and a lot of people here, we dont realise how influential the migrants from Ulster, those early settlers, were, particularly to the Declaration of Independence. During her trips to Washington, Ms Doherty researched the career of Charles Thomson, who left Maghera in Co Londonderry as a child in 1739 and became one of the key figures in the story of American independence. She said: He left here when he was only 10 years old with his family. His mother had passed away, his father passed away on the way over across the Atlantic. So, he arrived an orphan. He didnt want to be an apprentice blacksmith and ran away. Years later, he becomes secretary to that first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Hes synonymous with the drawing of the Great Seal of the United States. That first Congress, where all of those representatives come together from 13 colonies, which leads to the Declaration of Independence being signed, he was there every step of the way and he remains secretary for the whole 15 years of the Continental Congress. I spent a lot of time in the Library of Congress. They have a lot of Charles Thomsons personal papers there. The archivist also researched the life of John Dunlap, who emigrated from Co Tyrone and became a printer. He printed the first copy of the US Declaration of Independence and is one of only three names to appear on it. She also studied the life of Hercules Mulligan, who left Coleraine and worked as a tailor and spy during the American Revolutionary War. Ms Doherty said: He also was able to hear information, because he was supplying the British armies with uniforms, and that information he was able to feed back to George Washington and saved his life on two occasions, saved him from being captured. She added: It was interesting to see that the people who emigrated had the same struggles. Not everyone went over and became prosperous, not everyone lived the American dream. Ms Dohertys research will culminate in an exhibition in the atrium at PRONI which will run from June until November. She said: The purpose of going over was to source some of those documents and stories that could form part of that exhibition, to really reflect those important links and look at the real key people who played a role in that. So, what wed really like to do with the exhibition is to highlight that connection that people arent really aware of here. I mean, who really knows about Charles Thomson? We hold loads of documents here in PRONI which we would like to showcase and were really hoping to bring over some documents on international loan from some of those institutions that I visited. We havent done that before, so this will be a new venture for us, to have transatlantic documents. The archivist said it is hoped to bring to Belfast the original address from Mr Thomson telling George Washington in 1789 that he has been elected president. She said: I think it shows how important Charles Thomson was. The Library of Congress have the written address that he travels to Mount Vernon with and he reads out to George Washington to tell him hes been elected as president of the first president of the United States. So, watch this space. Ukraine will not be in NATO and will have problems staying in the EU - Slovak defense minister Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliniak (Smer-SD Robert Ficos center-left pro-Russian party IF-U) has said that Ukraine will never become a member of NATO and will have problems staying in the EU, TASR, which interviewed Kaliniak on New Year's Eve, has reported. "The minister also reiterated that Ukraine will never be in NATO. According to him, it will also have a problem staying in the European Union. According to him, the group of states that are helping Ukraine, the so-called coalition of the willing, has not come up with anything. "Did it send soldiers? No. Of course not," Kaliniak said. As he added, Ukraine had a chance to end the war in 2022," TASR quoted Kaliniak as saying. The head of the Slovak Defense Ministry also criticized the idea of a common defense within the EU. "Either we are in NATO, and then we dont need it, or we are in Europe," he said. Photo: https://t.me/Ukraine_MFA Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha congratulated Cyprus on the beginning of the presidency of the Council of the European Union, France on the beginning of the presidency of the G7, Switzerland on the beginning of the presidency of the OSCE, as well as Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia on their election as members of the UN Security Council for 2026-2027. This was stated in a message of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the Telegram channel on Thursday. "I highly appreciate that among the key priorities of Cyprus in the Council of the EU is continued support for Ukraine and the restoration of a just and lasting peace. I look forward to fruitful cooperation with the Cypriot presidency and my colleague Konstantinos Kombos to advance the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU and strengthen the European security architecture through support for Ukraine and closer integration of our defense industries," the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Sybiha as saying. Regarding France, the Minister said: "We highly value our partnership and France's significant contribution to the restoration of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. Years of cooperation between Ukraine and the G7 have allowed us to remain steadfast in defending freedom, democracy and international law. I wish the French Presidency success in promoting our shared principles and look forward to fruitful cooperation in 2026." "We highly value Switzerland's strong commitment to achieving lasting peace for Ukraine and to upholding the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. Ukraine is ready to work together to restore peace, justice and guaranteed security. The OSCE can count on our close cooperation in ensuring its capacity to act. I look forward to the visit of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to Ukraine," Sybiha noted. The Minister also emphasized the important role of the UN Security Council: "At this crucial moment, when the international order is undergoing serious tests, we are convinced that responsible members of the UN Security Council can make a significant contribution to maintaining international peace and security, which are today being significantly undermined throughout the world, in particular as a result of armed aggression. Ukraine will support efforts aimed at overcoming numerous global challenges and at strengthening the principles of the UN Charter." "We welcome partners and will continue to cooperate together for a common goal," the Minister added. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close LIMERICK Chamber has called for the new high-visibility policing plan in Cork to come to this city. As part of a raft of new measures, 48 new gardai have been assigned to the Cork city division, and are planning an increase in foot patrols on selected streets in a bid to cut crime on Lee-side, including anti-social behaviour, open drug dealing, aggressive begging and shoplifting. Limerick Chamber, which is the largest business representative group in the region, held talks with Assistant Commissioner Eileen Foster. READ MORE: Driver caught doing shocking speed - more than twice the speed limit in Limerick City suburb During this meeting, while they welcomed the positive impact of the Christmas policing plan launch locally, they want to see something more permanent. Director of policy at the Chamber Sean Golden said: It was energising to engage with Assistant Commissioner Foster on such a clear, solutions-driven agenda. The Christmas Policing Plan shows a real commitment to supporting businesses and communities at a vital time of year. He acknowledged given the numbers in Limericks garda force, that the policing plan is limited here to the festive season, unlike in Cork. The visibility strategy in Cork is a powerful example of what effective, targeted policing can achieve, and were eager to see the introduction of a similar approach in Limerick in 2026, Mr Golden added. For now, Chamber has warmly welcomed the current policing measures for the city centre. Mr Golden noted the positive impact they have on businesses, workers and the public during what is the busiest periods of the year. Limerick Chamber says it looks forward to continuing this positive engagement and working in partnership with senior gardai in Limerick and across the region. LIMERICK business owners are being urged to join an alliance of companies which are committed to creating inclusive workspace for those with disabilities. The Rehab group, a charity which supports people with disabilities and others who are marginalised, has received support from more than 75 different companies for its More than a Job campaign. In this number are the HSE, Siptu plus Cook Medical in Plassey and Chadwicks at Ballysimon. READ MORE: Limerick nursing home residents report feeling cold and having no hot water These organisations have committed themselves to creating more inclusive, supportive workplaces for people with disabilities, where employment goes beyond a salary. By signing up, these firms are pledging to not only offer competitive salaries but also a commitment to providing flexible, inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities. The project was developed to provide support to disabled people who find themselves locked out of the jobs market. Finbarr Murray, the interim chief executive of Rehab Group said: Ireland has one of the lowest employment rates for people with disabilities in Europe, we want to change that. We are delighted to see so many organisations, including one of the countrys biggest employers, the HSE, supporting this important cause. The campaign kicked off on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities last month. With the campaign continuing to grow, businesses and organisations of all sizes are being invited to get involved. Whether you're a major corporate, a local retailer or a community-based organisation, theres an open invitation for you to sign up and be part of a movement thats about making work more meaningful for everyone, added Mr Murray. We believe businesses have a significant role in shaping the lives of their employees. By joining More Than a Job, companies not only help create an inclusive work environment but also make a lasting positive impact on their communities. To find out more about the campaign, and how your business can get involved, please visit: www.rehab.ie/join-the-more-than-a-job-movement, or call 01-205 7200. THERES a saying in this business that some stories have legs and this one was a millipede. A story about 25 men, and one woman, joining together to invest 300,000 to keep the doors of their pub in Kilteely open was given a page 1 splash in August. The headline read: Gin and tonic for Limerick parish as locals join together to save their pub. When Aherns pub came on the market in 2025, there were initial fears that it spelled the end for the well-known licensed premises. Limerick has the highest pub closure rate in Ireland with 178 fewer pubs than in 2005. However, the group put their heads, and wallets, together to ensure it remained as a public house - The Street Bar. After the story appeared in the Leader and on Limerick Live it was picked up on in Dublin and appeared in practically every national newspaper with a number of front pages. RTE and Virgin Media reporters and cameramen followed suit. It even made headlines across the water as The Guardians Ireland correspondent Rory Carroll and photographer Johnny Savage took the well trodden media path to Kilteely. The pubs 26 saviours are drawn from all walks of life - from farmers to lawyers, and from tradesmen to accountants - but not one publican amongst them! But what they have in common is a pride of place and a wish to see the village and the local community thrive and develop to its full potential. Noel ODea, one of five directors, said their tagline is comhphobal ag obair le cheile - a community working together. Fellow director, Liam Carroll BL said: We took the view that every community needs a place to come together. There is a positive update coming soon and youll read about it in the Leader first! The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has reported the completion of the pre-trial investigation into fraud with military payments in Zaporizhia. The report on the agency's website states that the indictment has been sent to the court. "The investigation established that the head of the military unit, together with the head of the financial service, created a system of enrichment for 'their own.' The commander signed documents about the alleged participation of staff employees close to him in combat operations on the front line. The head of the financial service entered this unreliable data into the settlement information," the report says. The documents indicated that the selected servicemen allegedly fought "at zero" in the Luhansk and Kharkiv regions, although in reality they did not leave their places of permanent deployment. Due to these frauds, staff employees close to the leadership managed to illegally receive almost UAH 700 thousand U "combat" payments. The commander of the military unit and the head of the financial service are accused of abuse of official position for the purpose of obtaining unlawful benefit for themselves or another individual, committed by a group of persons in prior conspiracy, and official forgery (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 364, Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The sanction of the articles provides for a penalty of imprisonment for a term of up to 6 years. The issue of compensation for damages caused to the state is being resolved. The court has seized the property of the defendants. A CHURCH in Limerick city which was supposed to last 10 years is still standing tall 75 years later. Our Lady of the Rosary Church on the Ennis Road, known colloquially as the wooden church or the temporary church was built in 1950. READ NEXT: PICTURES: Special Mass celebrates 75th anniversary of the Limerick parish church There was only one parish and one church on the whole of the citys northside until 1950, compared to now when there are four parishes and five churches. In 1964, the then Bishop Murphy divided St Munchin's Parish, and Our Lady of the Rosary on the Ennis Road came into being. Bishop Brendan Leahy was the chief celebrant at a special Mass of Thanksgiving, along with a number of priests who have served in the parish over the years, to mark the church's diamond anniversary. The Voices of Limerick Choir enriched the liturgy with beautiful music and song. Fr Des McAuliffe, parish priest, said a congregation gathered on December 11, 1950, for the dedication of what was arguably the most important piece of post-war ecclesiastical architecture in the Ireland of the time. Seventy five years later a congregation gathered again to celebrate it being built. Our Lady of the Rosary Church was far more progressive in art terms than anything that was being built in Dublin. The church we now call Our Lady of the Rosary was a curious sight. Planned and designed as a 'Church of Ease', its life expectancy was roughly ten years. Intentionally, it was seen as a beacon of twentieth century religious art and sculpture, keeping up a tradition that continues to the present time. Uniting the architecture and art, this lovely building is based on the simplest of plans; its current mission is spelt out exquisitely, said Canon McAuliffe. The priest said he is proud to be the custodian of this remarkable structure. It is an occasion for us to give thanks to God for the people back in the 1950s and the many parishioners who came together to fundraise and erect this unique church. We remember too, all living and deceased priests who have served the parish over the past 75 years, said Canon McAuliffe. The building is renowned for its architectural quality and ecclesiastical art inside. John Hunt, historian, antiquarian, and collector gave advice in relation to the selection of artists to work on the church. One of many famed artists commissioned was the late Ian Stuart regarded as the finest Irish sculptor of his generation. His own story is fascinating as he is a grandson of Maud Gonne MacBride and son of author Francis Stuart. Nazi spy Hermann Gortz found shelter in their family home in Wicklow. However, Mr Stuarts two unique sculptures of The Annunciation sadly went missing in the 1970s. A large congregation attended the special Mass with refreshments served afterwards in the parish centre. LIMERICK City and County Council says it is keeping an open mind on the future use of the former tourist office at Arthurs Quay Park. With council having acquired the complex, some 150,000 of Mayor John Morans funding has been spent on essential works, and these are set to continue into this year. A deep clean has taken place at the site, while 15 leaks have been shored up. READ MORE: Mind boggling: Child drove e-scooter 'extremely dangerously in Limerick city Elsewhere, walls have been knocked to provide an accessible toilet. The objective is to deliver a weather-tight, dry building with certified ESB basic electric to allow ESB reconnection, enabling the building to be put back into use, head of property Jayne Leahy told members of the metropolitan district. Social Democrats councillor Shane Hickey-OMara saw a notice of motion passed at last months meeting which called for it to be used as a venue for the city which would include community and co-working spaces. Doing this, he said, would keep alive the memory of the late and very much missed Lesley-Anne Liddane, who ran the Chez Le Fab cafe in that venue until its closure on New Years Eve 2018. She sadly passed away in 2020. We really need a central space to welcome people to our amazing city and you couldnt ask for a better space than this one. This building has long been a space synonymous with welcoming people, most recently as Chez Le Fab, a community and arts cafe run by the late Lesley-Anne Liddane who created a true community space for the city centre. Not only did Lesley-Anne create a space that welcomed everyone, she also acted as an incredible advocate for the citys arts workers, myself included, Cllr Hickey-OMara added. Having visited Britain recently, the northside councillor said he came across many community co-working spaces there. It was actually amazing to see how normalised this is in the UK. I was particularly inspired by Common Ground, a social co-work and community arts space in the centre of Oxford, which was choc-a-bloc full of workers and had such a friendly, welcoming energy, he added. The building at Arthurs Quay Park, which ceased to be a tourist information centre in 2015, has been mooted as a potential Welcome to Limerick office, giving visitors to the city a one-stop shop for local information. However, Ms Leahy has said while this may still happen, there are other uses in the mix. We are keeping an open mind regarding other potential uses which will benefit the city centre. It should be remembered that the space is limited and Limerick City and County Council has many other buildings in the city centre - for example the recently repaired 58 OConnell Street, Engine, Istabraq Hall and others which might be better suited for community and for co-working, especially Engine and the yet-to-be developed design and fashion hubs in Nicholas Street and Mary Street, she said. Cllr Hickey-OMaras motion was seconded by party colleague, Cllr Elisa ODonovan. The year 2025 was quite exciting for the Indian auto market. While the passenger vehicle segment witnessed some spectacular launches in 2025, the two-wheeler segment too witnessed several launches and unveilings. Following this momentum, the 2026 is also expected to see some exciting two-wheeler launches in the Indian market. Here are the top three most exciting motorcycles expected to launch in 2026. Royal Enfield Bullet 650 broke cover globally at the EICMA 2025, and later was showcased at the Motoverse 2025 in India. It comes as the testimony to the brand's ambition to grab a sizeable chunk of the bigger bike market in the country. The Royal Enfield Bullet 650 is expected to launch in India in January 2026. Upon launch, the Royal Enfield Bullet 650 is going to be the most powerful Bullet ever built by the company. Also, it will be the latest addition to the company's 650 cc range of motorcycles, where it currently has host of other models. The Bullet 650 is visually the same iconic motorcycle with an upright riding stance. It gets classic winged badge, hand-painted pinstripes on teardrop fuel tank, and the signature tiger-eye pilot lamps, paired with the chrome garnished retro-themed round LED headlamps, multi-spoke wheels. Built for long haul, the motorcycle gets power from a 648 cc engine paired with a six-speed gearbox, which generates 47 bhp power and 52.3 Nm torque. Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 is going to be the next big launch from the motorcycle manufacturer, following the Bullet 650. Royal Enfield displayed a prototype of the upcoming Himalayan 750 adventure bike at EICMA 2025. The motorcycle will be the first model to be based on the Royal Enfield's new 750 cc platform, which further focuses on the brand's ambition to make and sell even bigger bikes. Powering the Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 will be a heavily reworked version of the brand's 650 cc engine. In the Himalayan 750, the engine is expected to churn out 55 bhp peak power and 65 Nm of maximum torque. Upon arrival, this motorcycle will come targeting the consumers seeking to buy an affordable middle-weight adventure bike, which is capable of serious highway touring. The motorcycle is likely to be unveiled at EICMA 2026, followed by launch in India. SINGORE/HONG KONG, - Shares of Chinese AI chip designer Shanghai Biren Technology opened 82.1% higher in their Hong Kong debut on Friday, kicking off the financial hub's first listing of 2026. Biren shares opened at HK$35.7 each, above the offer price of HK$19.60. They rose as much as HK$40 after opening. The strong debut follows a blockbuster year for Hong Kong's equity market in 2025 and points to a likely wave of AI and semiconductor offerings this year as China accelerates efforts to build domestic chip alternatives in response to U.S. curbs on technology exports. Biren raised HK$5.58 billion by selling 284.8 million H shares at HK$19.60 each, the top of a marketed range. Institutional demand was nearly 26 times the shares on offer, while the retail tranche was oversubscribed about 2,348 times, exchange filings showed. At the offer price, Biren's market capitalisation stands at HK$46.9 billion, based on 2.396 billion shares outstanding. Founded in 2019, Biren develops general-purpose graphics processing units and intelligent computing systems for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Its co-founders include Zhang Wen, a former president at SenseTime, and Jiao Guofang, who previously worked at Qualcomm and Huawei. The company first drew attention in 2022 with its BR100 chip, touted as a domestic rival to advanced processors from U.S. AI leader Nvidia. Biren will spend most of the IPO proceeds on research and development and commercialization, its IPO prospectus showed. Its prospectus flagged risk from U.S. export controls after the group was added to Washington's Entity List in October 2023, which limits its access to certain technology. It also cited competition and highlighted opportunities from China's push for tech self-sufficiency and policy support. Cornerstone investors include 3W Fund, Qiming Venture Partners and Ping An Life Insurance, the prospectus showed. The growing popularity of obesity drugs is expected to spur Indian pharma companies to sign licensing partnerships and distribution deals as they eye the lucrative segment. Indian companies started signing big-ticket deals with innovators for novel GLP-1s, as well as generic versions, last year. This trend is likely to continue this year as the market opens up with the expiry of semaglutides patent, according to experts. Given the complex regulatory pathway and manufacturing required for a GLP-1 pen, which involves manufacturing the compound, the pen and the fill-finish (filling the pen with the formulated drug), analysts said companies may tie up with others to bolster their supply chain and grab a larger share of the market. GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1s) are a class of drugs used to treat type-2 diabetes and obesity, which mimic the bodys GLP-1 hormone to control appetite and regulate insulin. Also Read | Bangladesh gets a head start over India in export of weight-loss drugs Lupin announced a license, supply and distribution agreement with Chinese firm Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals for Bofanglutide, a novel GLP-1 drug to be taken fortnightly, which is currently under development. Lupin will have exclusive rights to commercialize and distribute Bofanglutide in India, the company said on 29 December. Ajanta Pharma inked a deal with Biocon on 23 December to distribute generic semaglutide (popularly known by its brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) in 26 African and Asian countries once the drugs patent expires in these markets this year. Ajanta Pharma is also considering a separate partnership for the domestic market, managing director Yogesh Agrawal told Mint in an interview. In November, Emcure Pharmaceuticals tied up with innovator Novo Nordisk for an exclusive distribution partnership for semaglutide under a new brand namePoviztra. Cipla signed a deal with rival innovator Eli Lilly for its weight-loss drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro). In both cases, the aim was to expand access to the drugs leveraging the strong front-end presence of the domestic companies. Distribution presence We will see these [partnerships] happening across markets," said Vishal Manchanda, a pharma analyst at Systematix Group. Companies with a strong distribution presence might tie up with leading manufacturing players, said Manchanda, adding that there may be more exclusive licensing deals in overseas markets, while manufacturers could likely tie up with more than one distributor in the domestic market. The number of deals for a specific sub-segment is unprecedented. Historically, other diabetes products have also lost patents. Sitagliptin was the first meaningful diabetes drug to lose patent, followed by Dapagliflozin, and others But there was no such deal-making around those patent expiries This is probably because the supply chain is complex here" said Manchanda. The market for GLP-1s in India has already crossed 1,000 crore in less than a year after innovator companies started selling Mounjaro and Wegovy in the country. The market is expected to grow 10-fold in the next two to three years, according to analysts. A key reason for the rapid increase expected is the loss of patent exclusivity for Novo Nordisks blockbuster drug Wegovy in several countries this year, including India in March. Globally, the GLP-1 market is expected to be worth $95 billion by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs. because it is a humongous population, not only in India but across multiple markets, the distribution is going to be very tough. And therefore, companies that have local distribution/marketing presence will get a preference in those local market," Shrikant Akolkar, a pharma analyst at Nuvama, told Mint. As we come closer to the date, which is in March 2026 (for India), when the product goes off patent, I think we may expect some more deals." Differentiated products While domestic drugmakers might partner up for generic semaglutide in India and overseas (Mint reported in October how contract manufacturers are increasing capacity), experts also expect more deals with innovators, such as Lupins recent deal. The entire goal would be to get a product which is differentiated," said Manchanda. The drug that Lupin has licensed is a fortnightly use, instead of once a week. Apart from the manufacturing complexity, which not many Indian players have in place, getting regulatory approval for the drug is a challenge. Several Indian companies have applied for regulatory approval, but only threeDr Reddys Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Alkem Laboratorieshave received it so far, said analysts. Everybody wants to try it out, but the larger ones are probably better poised. Obviously, because of the reach as well as because credibility is very important for this product," Manchanda said. Deepinder Goyal, the founder of Eternal Zomato's parent company, answered six crucial questions related to gig workers amid their strike on New Year's Eve, ranging from insurance to attrition rates and more. After a series of tweets debunking the actual situation of gig workers in the industry and also acknowledging the scope for improvement, Goyal answered six key questions about the gig economy to help put users' minds at ease. Responding to an X user's questions regarding the gig workers who have been demanding better pay, safer working conditions, and social security benefits, Goyal assured that everyone has two insurance policies and reiterated that the delivery drivers are not punished for being late. Also Read | What Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal says on gig workers strike Check what Deepinder Goyal has to say: Yes, everyone has medical and life insurance, Goyal said, while noting that the gig work is not a permanent job, and hence, there is no career progression in the profession. Career progression for an unskilled job? This is not a permanent job for anyone. Most people do this for a few months in a year and move on to something more permanent, he shared. Attrition percentage is 65% in a year, indicating that this is truly a gig and not a permanent job for anyone, he added. The attrition rate is the percentage of employees who leave a company. Goyal also clarified that anybody with a valid drivers license, and clear background check can work in gig. Nothing happens if they don't deliver on time, the Zomato founder said about the 10-minute delivery system. Nothing happens if they don't deliver on time. We understand that things go wrong many times. The user, following up on his previous tweets, asked why the deliveries were taking 10 minutes if the dark stores were only 2 km away. To this, Goyal answered, I agree. It should take less than 10 mins. But delivery partners drive safely, and sometimes get stuck in traffic in dense neighbourhoods. View full Image Screengrab of the exchange Gig workers' strike The Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) said that more than 1 lakh workers across 22 cities participated in the strike, including nearly 14,000 of its members from major centres such as Delhi and Mumbai, reported the news agency PTI. However, Deepinder Goyal said that Zomato and Blinkit recorded their highest-ever single-day order volumes on New Years Eve, noting that operations were largely unaffected despite calls for a nationwide strike by gig workers. Amid ongoing debates over the pay and working conditions of gig workers in India, an exchange between popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has gained significant attention on social media. The entire conversation took place on X (formerly Twitter), where Goyal defended the existing pay structure of gig workers. However, his stance was challenged by Rathee, who called for greater transparency from the top executive, including disclosures on how much the company's delivery workers earn on an hourly basis. As the scrutiny into the gig economy continues to intensify, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has emerged as a prominent public voice, stepping forward to defend the quick-commerce model. What was the conversation all about? Deepinder Goyal took to social media to address the constant conversation around worker compensation. He argued that while everyone who has a job wants to get paid more, wages are ultimately dictated by market forces. Goyal highlighted the brutal" competition between companies reliant on the gig economy and claimed that currently, the demand for delivery partners outweighs the supply, hence pushing gig incomes higher than those of many entry-level formal sector jobs in India. This narrative was quickly challenged by Dhruv Rathee, who called for hard data to back up these claims. He pressed Goyal to share the average hourly earnings of Zomato's delivery workers. Let people compare if its more than formal entry level jobs or not (sic), Rathee commented. The fact sheet promise In response to Rathee's request for transparency, Goyal committed to providing a detailed breakdown. I will post a fact sheet tomorrow, he stated, adding that the document should help observers understand the nuances of how gig work compensation is structured. This exchange comes shortly after several delivery workers linked to e-commerce platforms staged protests across several cities, demanding better pay, safer working conditions and social security benefits. In the past two days, Deepinder Goyal has shared several posts on X to defend the gig economy and quick-commerce model. In his posts, Goyal argued that these platforms provide livelihood opportunities to people from economically weaker sections, who otherwise could have been unemployed. Netizens react to the exchange The users on X appeared divided over the exchange. While some urged Goyal to avoid engaging with the YouTuber, others questioned his views on the gig economy and challenged his claims. Guys whatever be the reasons , let them be engaged in work , one worker is feeding a family , understand the impacts (sic), a netizen commented. Another person alleged that gig workers are subjected to exploitation in the name of employment, as they stated, Sir ji, that post was like, if someone is orphan and you are sheltering him/her in your house, then it's gives you right to exploit him/her. Whether you are agreeing ? Aap job de rhe hai, eska ye matbal nhi hai ki aap exploit kijiyega (sic). The KGD6 oil and gas block in the Bay of Bengal has been at the centre of two disputes involving its operator Reliance Industries, Indias most valuable company, after failing to live up to its potential. Reuters reported earlier this week that the Indian government is seeking a multi-billion-dollar compensation from the Mukesh Ambani-led company. Reliance has called the report factually incorrect. However, all eyes remain on the project as the outcomes for both disputes are expected in the first half of 2026, making it a crucial matter to track for investors. What is KG-D6? KGD6 is the common name for the KGDWN98/3 exploration block in the KrishnaGodavari (KG) basin off Indias east coast near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. It was awarded to a consortium led by Reliance Industries in 2000 through a production-sharing contract under Indias New Exploration Licensing Policy. Reliance controls 66.67% of the project while the UKs BP owns 33.33% after consortium partner Niko exited its 10% stake. Several oil and gas fields were discovered within the block, including the now-shut D1, D3 and MA, and operational fields RCluster, Satellite Cluster and MJ. Also Read | Palais Royale clears another hurdlebut completion delays persist What is the controversy over KG-D6? The D1 and D3 gas fields were Indias first deepwater natural gas project and had been in production since April 2009. The project was marred by technical difficulties including the ingress of sand and water. Before commencement, the Reliance-BP joint venture had estimated the quantum of gas reserves from D1 and D3 was 10.3 trillion cubic feet (TCF), the ministry of petroleum and natural gas said in August 2012. However, this estimate was scaled down to recoverable reserves of 3.10 TCF. The underproduction from the fields has been a pain point for the Reliance-BP venture and the Indian government, which was a partner in the project, as per the production-sharing contract. In a separate dispute, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) accused Reliance-BP of drilling out gas belonging to its adjacent KG-D5 and G-4 blocks. The case dates back to 2013, when ONGC first suspected the adjacent blocks may have been connected. When Reliance-BP started pumping gas from KG-D6, they may have inadvertently pumped gas that would rightfully have belonged to the public-sector company. The gas migration dispute has since been taken over by the government of India, with the two sides securing wins from different adjudicating authorities. Where does the production shortfall dispute stand today? The government has raised a claim of $247 million from Reliance-BP after it disallowed some of the investments made in developing the infrastructure for drilling oil and gas from the block. The production-sharing agreement allows the government and the producer to share the profit oil from the project after deducting investments made in developing the project. After the government disallowed some of the investments, it has contended that it is liable to receive more profit petroleum from the project to the tune of $247 million, as disclosed by Reliance. Separately, Reuters reported on Monday that the government has demanded $30 billion from Reliance and BP to compensate it for the shortfall in production from D1 and D3 against estimates made prior to drilling. Reliance has denied this report and said that the only claim made by the government pertaining to this project was for $247 million. There is NO claim of $30 billion against Reliance and BP," the company said Monday. The matters referred to in the report are entirely sub judice and would be determined in accordance with the laws of the country by its judicial system, in which Reliance has full faith." The dispute is presently undergoing arbitration, and an outcome is expected in the first half of 2026. Also Read | Regulator PNGRB has a fix for boosting adoption of natural gas Where does the gas migration dispute stand? The dispute is in the Supreme Court of India, and the next hearing is scheduled for 25 and 26 February 25. The ministry of petroleum and natural gas raised a demand of $2.81 billion from Reliance, BP and Niko in March pertaining to the gas-migration issue. This demand has been contested by the consortium partners. Before landing in the apex court, judgements by various adjudicating authorities see-sawed between the two sides. US-based consulting agency DeGolyer and MacNaughton, appointed in 2014 to investigate the matter, concluded that there was indeed significant migration of gas from ONGCs blocks which was pumped out by the Reliance-led consortium from 2009 to 2015. Subsequently, a committee led by former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Ajit Prakash Shah found that the government was liable to seek restitution from the private companies. The case then went before a three-member tribunal, led by Singapore-based arbitrator Lawrence Boo. The tribunal delivered a 2-1 award in favour of Reliance in July 2018, observing that the production-sharing contract did not prevent the private firms from extracting and selling gas that had migrated into their blocks. The government challenged this tribunals decision in the Delhi High Court, where a single-judge bench refused to overturn this ruling. When the government appealed this decision before a division bench of the Delhi High Court, it ruled in its favour in February this year. Reliance has since moved the Supreme Court. Why does KG-D6 matter? The offshore block produced 26.1 million metric standard cubic meters per day (MMSCMD) of gas on average during the July-September period, as per an investor presentation from Reliance Industries. That translates to about 14% of Indias 192 MMSCMD domestic gas consumption during the quarter. This makes the field important not just for Reliance but for India to serve its domestic gas requirements and minimize its import bill. The companys oil and gas business division reported 6,058 crore in revenue and 5,002 crore Ebitda in the July-September quarter, compared with consolidated revenue of 2.8 trillion and Ebitda of 50,367 crore. With the Supreme Court hearing in the gas migration case next month and the arbitration tribunals judgement expected in the coming months, the KG-D6 block will be a key monitorable for Reliance investors. Amid the ongoing debate over the gig economy, Info Edge cofounder Sanjeev Bikhchandani seconded Zomato boss Deepinder Goyal's post about gig workers. Hailing Goyal, the co-founder said every word in the former's post is "true". Very well written, Deepinder Goyal, Every word is true. It beggars belief that a Champagne Socialist who married a film star and had a designer wedding in Udaipur and a first wedding anniversary in Maldives has the audacity to then shed crocodile tears around alleged exploitation of gig workers. Aam Aadmi my foot, Bhikhchandani posted on X. The Info Edge co-founder's seconding of Goyal's post comes days after Raghav Chadha, MP, offered to mediate between companies and gig workers amid the strike called by gig workers' unions on New Year's Eve, 31 December. What Raghav Chadha said Stressing that the delivery persons should be treated with dignity and not as item-delivering robots with unrealistic delivery expectations, Chadha had said that the gig workers are the backbone of billion-dollar companies and invisible wheels driving the Digital India initiative. Deepinder Goyal's post on X Over two days, Deepinder Goyal took to X with a series of posts defending the gig-worker model. He argued that the much-debated 10-minute delivery promise is only possible in areas where there is a high density of stores around residences. In a post on X on 2 January, Goyal said the gig economy has, for the first time, brought the poor into plain sight on a massive scale. Suddenly, the poor arent hidden away. Theyre at your doorstep: the delivery partner handing over your Rs1000+ biryani, late-night groceries, or quick-commerce essentials, he wrote. In his X post spanning 12 paragraphs, Goyal also said, You see them in the rain, heat, traffic, often on borrowed bikes, working 810 hours for earnings that give them sustenance. You see their exhaustion, their polite smile masking frustration with life in general. Gig workers' strike The Gig and Platform Service Workers Union announced a nationwide strike on 31 December to collectively press for demands related to the rights, welfare and dignity of gig and platform workers across India. Dear reader, as 2025, a year of global tumult and volatility, rolls by, Mint's reporters and columnists look around the corner on what is coming in 2026to help you know what to expect and prepare for it. Tell us what you think at feedback@livemint.com. The Centre is shaping a wider and more deliberate standards strategy for 2026, moving to realign Quality Control Orders (QCOs) with actual testing and laboratory capacity while easing friction with key trading partners. The shift follows a series of QCO withdrawals over the past few months and growing scrutiny at the World Trade Organization (WTO), prompting a recalibration that ties future QCOs to laboratory readiness, phased transitions, and clearer justification for regulatory intervention. The new approach marks one of the most comprehensive resets of Indias quality regime since the QCO framework began expanding rapidly after 2014. The government had earlier set an ambitious target to eventually bring 2,0002,500 products under mandatory quality norms. For FY26 alone, officials had planned to notify over 700 additional products under the QCO regime. To operationalize the expansion, a meeting involving 37 ministries was held in February 2025, chaired by the consumer Affairs ministry, the controlling authority of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Each ministry was tasked with identifying products that could be brought under QCO. Also Read | In the works, QCO for food processing machines as China imports surge In January 2024, the then Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Piyush Goyal had underscored the centrality of quality, stating compliance with high-quality standards would help India achieve its ambition of becoming a developed nation, and outlined plans to substantially expand the QCO framework. At the time, 156 QCOs covering 672 products had been issued, compared with just 14 QCOs covering 106 products before 2014. Less than a year later, however, the trajectory began to shift. On 13 November, the government withdrew 14 QCOs in a single move, even as it reaffirmed its commitment to quality manufacturing earlier that week. These withdrawn orders largely covered polyester and petrochemical inputs, offering relief to user industries such as apparel and footwear, while increasing competitive pressure from imports for domestic producers of these inputs. The rollback came after a NITI Aayog committee chaired by former cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba called for relaxing certain QCOs that were raising costs for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) dependent on imported raw materials. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals subsequently acted on these recommendations. However, the policy rethink was conceptualized as early as December 2024, well before the Gauba committee was formed in August 2025. Mint had reported on 13 December 2024 that the government was considering enabling provisions that would allow domestic industry to bypass certain QCOs or seek more time. The first signs of this shift emerged on 23 July, when the government withdrew QCOs for three key industrial chemicalsacetic acid, methanol and aniline reducing the number of products under QCOs to 758 from 761. After the 13 November withdrawal, the number of products regulated through QCOs fell to 744. This was further reduced to 743 after the viscose fibre QCO was withdrawn, and declined again to 736 after seven more were rescinded on 1 December. The 1 December notification withdrew QCOs covering several chemicals which had required mandatory BIS certification since 2021. However, the government continued to signal its commitment to quality enforcement. On 21 November, it notified 12 new Indian Standards covering cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, wind energy systems and homoeopathic preparations, aimed at replacing several outdated specifications by April 2026. Earlier, Mint had reported on 1 April 2025 that the US Trade Representative report had flagged Indias QCO regime as a trade concern, arguing that some standards do not align with global norms and disrupt plastics and chemical trade. Two officials involved in the process said on the condition of anonymity that the recent withdrawals aimed to prevent supply disruptions, particularly in sectors such as textiles, paper and light engineering, where manufacturers depend heavily on global inputs. Meanwhile, BIS has continued to notify new standards, showing that the emphasis is not on diluting quality enforcement but on sequencing it more intelligently, the first among the two officials cited above said. "QCOs are mandatory in nature, while standards are voluntary. However, standards often serve as a pathway to QCOs over time, especially in cases where voluntary compliance remains low or stakeholders fail to adhere to the prescribed norms," this official said. The broader reset now underway prioritizes safety-critical sectorsincluding electrical appliances, toys, medical devices and select chemicalswhile adopting a more measured rollout for other categories. According to the second official, future compliance timelines will be backed by adequate domestic testing infrastructure, predictable certification pathways and realistic transition windows. Meanwhile, countries including the US, EU, Japan, South Korea and Asean members have raised concerns at the WTO, citing short notice periods, limited consultation and insufficient risk assessments for several QCOs. While India has consistently defended its right to regulate quality and safety, BIS has acknowledged internally that better-paced implementation can reduce friction without diluting regulatory objectives. The 2026 roadmap would include mandatory pre-notification, wider exporter consultations and clearer criteria for introducing QCO, as per the officials cited above. Also Read | Quality control orders on inputs are finally being scrappedfinish the job quick Industry players say the transition is already reshaping operating conditions. The QCO on plywood has helped the industry by putting a clear check on substandard imports, particularly from China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, which had been distorting prices and undermining compliant domestic manufacturers. With stricter standards now in place and better enforcement, we see a more level playing field emerging for organized players," said Manoj Tulsian, CEO and joint managing director of GreenPly Industries Ltd. Steel manufacturers echo that view. Stronger BIS safety and quality standards reinforce Indias commitment to a reliable, globally aligned steel sector," said Chandragupt Prakash Mangal, MD, Mangalam Worldwide Limited, a stainless steel manufacturer, noting that consistent implementation supports domestic producers and strengthens Indias global competitiveness. Electronics makers say a more targeted QCO regime will provide greater design and sourcing flexibility amid tightening global component cycles. Greater flexibility around components allows design teams to move faster, while integrating testing and certification earlier in the cycle helps ensure smoother market readiness," said Abhishek Malik, executive director at Calcom Vision, a B2B electronics manufacturer, adding that the shift encourages a development environment that is more agile yet standards-conscious, strengthening both design efficiency and product reliability across the sector. Easing controls on plastics, polymers or metals would lower input costs and support innovation and competitiveness, said Vivek Singhal, co-founder & CEO of Bidso, a B2B manufacturer of outdoor toys. "At the same time, strong BIS norms for finished toys remain essential given safety risks from toxic chemicals and mechanical hazards. BIS data showing 91% compliance under the toys QCO, 2020 indicates certification works. A model combining upstream flexibility with strict product-level safety can support growth, exports and consumer trust," Vivek Singhal said. "Coming to the next year, the industry should have a system with few restrictions on basic raw materials and strict, frequently updated requirements for chemical, mechanical, and electrical safety at the final product stage. At the same time, the government and authorities should provide digital traceability for completed toys, incentives for smaller manufacturers, and progressive compliance roadmaps," he said. Pharmaceutical companies, which have long sought regulatory predictability, say the new approach strikes a balance. Stronger safety standards in priority pharmaceutical areas, along with selective easing of certain QCO requirements, create a more constructive environment," said Bhavin Mehta, whole-time director at Kilitch Drugs and vice-chairman of Pharmexcil. If future QCO rollouts are phased and aligned with national lab capacity, predictability will further improve, allowing companies to sequence compliance, testing partnerships, and supply-chain adjustments efficiently. This structured approach supports operational continuity and strengthens Indias long-term competitiveness in export markets," said Mehta. Policy experts caution that QCOs remain central to Indias long-term quality strategy. It has taken India over a decade to clean up supply chains and mature processes to adopt QCOs. This has not only led to better, safer products for our consumers, but also provided a level playing field to the domestic players as cheap, poor quality imports were impacting our domestic industries," said Jaijit Bhattacharya, founder & president, Centre for Digital Economy Policy Research (C-DEP), a policy think tank. We are perhaps going to a tweaking of the QCO process but in the short run, we do need to get back the QCOs in order to become a developed economy, just as the US, Europe, Japan and China have adopted mandatory standards for their imports," Bhattacharya told Mint. A key driver of the reset is the gap between BISs mandate and Indias laboratory capacity. Several government labs face equipment shortages, uneven accreditation and limited geographic coverage. For 2026, BIS and the Department of Consumer Affairs are working on a capacity map linking each new QCO to the availability of accredited labs within reasonable logistics distances, mirroring approaches used in Europe and Japan. Officials cited above said that the capacity-linked approach would prevent situations where QCOs are notified but manufacturers face long testing queues, inconsistent results or delays in obtaining BIS licencesissues that contributed to multiple rollbacks over the past year. The recalibrated roadmap represents the first coordinated attempt to align standards ambition with institutional readiness. By linking QCO enforcement to laboratory capacity, improving notification timelines and focusing on priority sectors, the government aims to reduce trade friction, avoid implementation gaps and provide industry with predictable compliance pathways, while keeping quality at the centre of Indias manufacturing and consumer protection strategy. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/vadym.filashkin/ One person was killed and two others were injured in enemy shelling in Donetsk region, and there was extensive damage to housing, Regional Military Administration head Vadym Filashkin has said. "In Druzhkivka, one person was killed and one injured, a car was damaged. In Kostiantynivka, a person was injured," he wrote on the Telegram channel. According to him, in just 24 hours, the Russians shelled the region's settlements 12 times. In Kramatorsk district, in Malynivka, Mykolaiv community, a house was damaged. In Sloviansk, four private houses, a high-rise building, two administrative buildings, a warehouse and a car were damaged. In Novoprihodzha, Oleksandrivka community, a car was damaged. In Bakhmut district, in Riznykivka, Siversk community, two houses were damaged. Filashkin said 73 people, including 18 children, were evacuated from the front line. A calm, steady plan often beats the chase for the next big idea. For many NRIs, the NRE fixed deposit does that job. It brings clarity to savings, keeps things simple, and supports goals without fuss. Used thoughtfully, an NRE deposit can anchor your savings in India. Overview An NRE fixed deposit is a time-bound placement of your foreign income in India, maintained in rupees. It sits alongside an NRE savings account, which holds day-to-day balances and enables transfers. Together, they help you park funds, plan for needs in India, and move money when required. Banks like IDFC FIRST Bank offer both NRE savings accounts and NRE fixed deposits, making it easier to manage inflows and long-term allocations in one place. The NRE savings account manages regular inflows and payments. The NRE deposit focuses on disciplined saving for defined periods. Both are designed for non-resident Indians and are operated in Indian Rupees. Moreover, the interest earned in NRE Savings Account and Fixed Deposit is tax-free, which can be an advantage.. Steady Value in a Changing Market Markets move. Life abroad can be demanding. The NRE FD offers a clear approach: just commit an amount for a chosen tenure and allow it to run in the background. You know your timeline from day one, which helps align deposits to goals such as trips to India, school fees, or a home down payment. While every product has its own terms, the central idea stays the same: a rules-based way to save that does not need daily attention. How an NRE Deposit Fits Your Money Flow Think of your NRE account as the gateway and the NRE deposit as the engine room. Salary or business income arrives from overseas, you keep what you need for bills in the savings account, and you place the rest into deposits across different tenures. This split keeps liquidity for monthly needs while giving structure to the surplus. When a deposit matures, you can renew it, redirect it to a new goal, or credit it back to the savings account for upcoming expenses. Smart Ways to Use It Ladder your tenures: Create several NRE deposit tranches that mature at intervals. This can help manage cash flow and reduce the pressure of timing decisions. Match goals to timelines: Shorter deposits for near-term plans; longer ones for medium-term milestones. Keep a safety margin: Maintain a cushion in your NRE savings account to avoid breaking a deposit early. Track in one place: Review deposits and the linked savings balance together each quarter. A quick check helps you stay aligned with life events and currency needs. IDFC FIRST Bank enables NRE account management and tracking of deposits through its mobile banking app. Risk Sense and Practical Discipline No single product suits everyone. Rules, rates, and features vary by bank and may change. Consider how an NRE deposit fits your risk appetite, global tax position, and currency exposure. If you invest in markets abroad, the deposit can serve as a stabilising component in India. If simplicity is your aim, pairing deposits with an NRE savings account can bring order without complexity. Conclusion The NRE FD is not designed to attract attention, but it is stable, easy to understand, and suited for practical goals. It works best when used with intent: clear tenures, periodic reviews, and sufficient liquidity in your NRE savings account. If you are evaluating options, you may explore IDFC FIRST Banks NRE Fixed Deposit and NRE Savings Account as a starting point, and consult a qualified adviser to determine what fits your needs.. Chinas trade surplus with the rest of the world will top $1 trillion for 2025. That isnt merely a matter of selling goods to willing buyers. It is economic conquest on a scale the world has never seen. It has happenedand will continue to happenbecause the Chinese have the power to crush any industry anywhere in the world. Example: In October Beijing threatened to cut off magnet supplies to the U.S. Within days, American industries from defense to electric vehicles faced paralysis, and the chokehold affected several other critical sectors: semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, chemicals. Chinas powerwhich Xi Jinping can exercise at willconsists of 90% excess production capacity. That means it can identify a key industry, build the capacity to produce 90% of global demand, and then flood markets with subsidized exports, priced at marginal cost, backed by a 20% undervalued currency. That quickly wipes out competition. President Trump needs to treat this less like a trade dispute and more like a war. Fighting back requires America to organize its allies the way Franklin D. Roosevelt built a winning coalition in World War II. Here are five steps he should take: First, stop fighting alone. America and its core alliesEurope, Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdomrepresent roughly $60 trillion in combined gross domestic product. China plus Russia, Iran, North Korea and others in its orbit total approximately $25 trillion. Mr. Trump has been pressuring allies individuallytariffs on Europe and other allies, friction with Japan and South Korea. The partners we need are rattled. Mr. Xi is watching this and smiling. He knows if these countries ever coordinate on issues like tariffs, export controls and currency pressure, his industrial machine will break down. Second, create an expert unit with allied representationa working group that operates like the Manhattan Project, led by a globally recognized CEO with China experience, staffed by executives who have built businesses at scale and understand what Beijing is doing. Include game theorists who think four moves ahead, chemical engineers who understand how to apply reverse chokeholds on China, and operators who can execute at speed. Third, accept that this is a long fight. It will last years, possibly decades. Mr. Trump must bring America along: the press, the public, business leaders. Make the case daily using authentic data, not spin. Fourth, ask Congress to create a Department of Manufacturing. Rebuild capacity in 10 critical industries where China seeks dominance: bio-pharma, artificial intelligence, aerospace, high-tech ships, robotics, advanced rail, electric vehicles, power equipment, advanced agriculture and new materials. Self-sufficiency isnt isolation. It is survival. Fifth, clean up the tariffs within 90 days. If the Supreme Court strikes them down, use reciprocal duties by commodity. Negotiate with allies. Get it done fast. Show coordination, not chaos. In any two-player game, each side tests what the other cant tolerate. China has shown its weapon: the ability to attack our economy at will. We need a counterforce that creates a threshold of pain Beijing cant bear. America and its allies control inputs that Chinas factories cant produce: ultra-pure chemicals for semiconductors, specialty catalysts for refineries, precision equipment for rare-earth processing, agricultural protein that China imports by the tens of millions of tons. These are small-dollar imports on which tens of billions of Chinese industrial output depend. This leverage has never been used because we havent coordinated. When America and its allies deploy export controls together, the Chinese have no good answer. Their processing operations degrade. Their industrial machine stalls. That is the threshold of pain that will bring Beijing to the table for good-faith negotiation. Mr. Charan is an adviser to CEOs and boards and author of Chinas 90% Model," forthcoming in February. His clients have included Chinese companies. NEW DELHI : Homegrown carmakers JSW Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) are open to adopting range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) if Indias policy framework expands incentives beyond pure electric vehicles, even as experts warn against equating the technology with battery-electric cars. REEVs, also called REX (range extender) hybrids, are always driven by an electric motor but carry a small internal combustion engine (ICE) whose sole role is to generate electricity when the battery charge runs low. Comparatively, strong hybrids have both an electric battery and a powerful ICE engine, both of which can run the vehicle. To be sure, no carmaker in India manufactures or sells REEVs currently. Strong hybrid vehicles are on offer from Japanese carmakers such as Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Maruti Suzuki India and Honda Cars India. Discussions on the viability of REEV technology gained momentum after Indian industry lobby Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) proposed taxing them at 5%, on par with EVs, in November. Then, in December, American carmaker Ford Motor Co. announced a pivot to hybrid vehicles, including REEVs. Under the super credit regime of the proposed corporate average fuel efficiency (Cafe III) norms, one REEV will be counted as three cars, just like EVs. Nalinikanth Gollagunta, chief executive-automotive division at M&M, told Mint in an interview on the sidelines of the XEV 9S launch in November that EV and internal combustion engine (ICE) are at two ends of the spectrum, in which a hybrid is just an upgrade from an ICE, while a REX is just a downgrade from an EV. At this point in time, we're focused on EV because the entire regulatory policy system is focused on EV. Going to REX is an optionality we can have if we need to have it, because its a small dip from where we are today," he said. Well see how it plays out. If the regulatory environment changes, there can be an optionality we can bring in at that point in time." In response to a query from Mint amid speculation that the company is considering the technology, JSW Motors CEO Ranjan Nayak said such transitional technology allows consumers to adopt electrification without fear of range limitations, citing the example of China. Also Read | Maruti Suzuki prioritizes mini cars over bigger models Supported by consistent incentives, green number plates, and inclusion in the new energy vehicle policy framework, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and REEVs became the foundation of Chinas EV revolution," Nayak said. Although REEVs are electric-driven vehicles, ambiguity in goods and services tax (GST) classification risks placing them under higher tax slabs, undermining affordability." JSW Motors is the upcoming car brand of JSW Group, which is slated to launch its first vehicle in the October-December quarter of 2026. Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Hyundai did not respond to Mint's queries on whether REEVs can be backed in the country. Meanwhile, Ford announced on 16 December that it would back hybrid vehicles and write off $19.5 billion investment in EVs as it pivots to a multipower train approach. The company announced that it would offer a range of hybridsunderpinned by its Universal EV Platformto complement efficient gas engines. By 2030, about 50% of Fords global volume will be hybrids, extended-range EVs and EVs, versus 17% today," the company said. The viability question Mint reported on 20 November that Assochamwhich counts Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar, JSW Group, and M&M as its memberswrote to the ministry of heavy industries (MHI) that the current tax structure would force automakers to introduce such vehicles at a higher price, as they are generally heavier and bigger in size. While strong hybrid vehicles attract 40% GST, the lobby group wants REEVs to be taxed at 5%, just like EVs. However, experts are cautious about rushing to incentivize the technology. Amit Bhatt, managing director at non-profit research organization International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), said theoretically, such vehicles have no tailpipe emissions as they run on an electric motor while in operation. Also Read | Ford and General Motors are running out of time to reinvent themselves "However, it has a small ICE engine, which runs on gasoline and acts as a generator, so the role of conventional fuel is not going out. Such vehicles will still have emissions in their overall operations, unlike an EV, which takes electrical power and runs purely on it," Bhatt said. The question is whether time and energy should be spent on incentivizing technology, which will only play a transitional role in the short term, if the end goal is EVs." Automakers are dabbling with different types of hybrid vehicles as consumers still prefer vehicles with elements of ICE. Consulting major Deloittes 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study, released in April, said only about 8% of consumers said they would prefer a battery-powered EV, a decline from 10% recorded in its 2024 study. In comparison, the share of consumers preferring hybrid EVs and PHEVs was 33% in the 2025 study. According to the governments Vahan portal, EV sales in the country rose by 76% to 178,000 units during 2025, accounting for approximately 4% of the passenger vehicle market. Tata Motors led the market with nearly 70,000 EV sales, followed by JSW MG Motor, which saw sales touch nearly 52,000. M&M sold over 33,000 EVs during the year. Trust Wallet CEO Eowyn Chen informed users on Thursday, 1 January, that the cryptocurrency wallet's official browser extension on the Google Web Store is temporarily unavailable. Chena added that the unavailability of the Chrome extension has also delayed the rollout of its new version, which includes additional features designed to support users affected by the recent hack. Some may have noticed that the Trust Wallet Browser Extension is temporarily unavailable on the Chrome Web Store. We hit a Chrome Web Store bug while releasing a new version, Chen said in an X post. This update comes just days after the Binance-owned firm suffered a malicious security breach resulting in losses exceeding $7 million as attackers drained funds from user wallets on the platform. CEO warns about counterfeit extensions While informing users about the delay in rolling out the updated extension, Chen also warned about the possible presence of a fake version of the Trust Wallet Browser Extension, which may harm users if they download or use it. Please be alert of any fake version of Trust Wallet Browser Extension, she wrote in the post. Features of the new extension and current status of its launch Trust Wallet's new version features a direct submission option for verification codes, allowing reimbursement claimants to submit them from their extension. In simple terms, this helps confirm that the wallet truly belongs to the affected user, rather than a hacker or scammer, making the verification process more reliable, Chen explained in her post. Also Read | Coupang Faces Probe Over Widest Data Hack Seen in South Korea Speaking about the status of the new version's launch, the top executive said, Google has acknowledged the issue and is escalating it internally. We hope to have it resolved soon. Thank you for your patience! To reassure the affected users, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao stated that Trust Wallet will fully reimburse all users impacted. He also mentioned the team is investigating how hackers were able to submit the malicious update, suggesting a possible insider involvement, according to an official statement. How did the hack happen? The hack, which took place on 25 December, was reportedly carried out using hidden malicious code disguised as an analytics feature within version 2.68 of Trust Wallet's Chrome browser extension, which was released a day earlier. Buy or sell stocks: The Indian stock market is set to begin the second trading session of 2026 on a cautiously positive and stable note. As international markets reopen gradually, overseas cues remain limited, keeping early trade largely driven by domestic factors. With the Q3 earnings season approaching, investors are positioning for resilient results in consumer-oriented sectors, underpinned by GST rationalisation tailwinds and robust festive-season demand. Steady domestic institutional inflows continue to provide broader support, helping offset aggressive selling by foreign investors. However, investors are expected to remain vigilant about the movement in gold and silver rates today, as global bourses, especially the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the US Stock Market, will resume trading today after the stock market holiday for the New Year 2026. Stock market today Vaishali Parekh, Vice President of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, believes the Indian stock market sentiment is optimistic to positive. The Prabhudas Lilladher expert stated that the Nifty 50 index is close to its immediate hurdle, positioned at 26,200. However, a trend reversal pattern visible on the technical chart suggests that the 50-stock index is poised to break above this resistance. Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 index, Vaishali Parekh said, The Nifty 50 index started the year with a rangebound movement gripped between within a narrow band throughout the session and ended on a flat note near the 26150 zone with bias and sentiment maintained positive anticipating for further rise in the coming sessions." The Prabhudas Lilladher expert said the 50-stock index would have the important support positioned near the 25,850 level as we have been mentioning earlier, and, on the upside, would need to move past the 26,200 zone to establish conviction and thereafter, expect to continue with the upward move to trigger for fresh breakout in the coming days. On the outlook of the Bank Nifty index, Parekh said, The Bank Nifty index also remained flat during the session with a narrow movement witnessed and closed marginally in the green near the 59,700 zone with bias maintained with an optimistic approach for the coming sessions. As mentioned earlier, the index would need a decisive breakout above the tough resistance barrier of 59,800 zone to trigger a fresh upward move in the coming days, having the important support maintained near the 58700 zone, which needs to be sustained. Parekh stated that immediate support for the Nifty 50 index is located at 26,000, while the resistance level is at 26,300. The Bank Nifty is expected to have a daily range of 59,400 to 60,300. Vaishali Parekh's stock recommendations for today Regarding intraday stocks for today, Vaishali Parekh recommended three buy-or-sell stocks: Finolex Industries, Astral, Samvardhana Motherson. 1] Finolex Industries: Buy at 173, Target 182, Stop Loss 169. The stock has formed a rounding bottom pattern on the technical chart, signalling a fresh bull trend around the corner. 2] Astral: Buy at 1420, Target 1480, Stop Loss 1400. The stock is currently exhibiting an oversold position on the technical chart, and a trend reversal is visible. 3] Samvardhana Motherson: Buy at 120, Target 127, Stop Loss 118. The stock is on the cusp of a breakout at the 123 mark. The breakout appears possible, given the stock's high trade volume. Gold, Silver rates today The Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) data showed that the gold prices dropped 0.08% or 114 per 10 grams to 1,35,690 per 10 grams as of 5:30 p.m. (IST), compared to 1,35,804 per 10 grams, according to the official data. While silver prices on the MCX closed 0.03% or 73 per kilogram lower at 2,35,800 per kilogram as of 5:30 p.m. (IST), compared to 2,35,873 per kilogram. Small-cap stock Cupid crashed 20% to hit the lower price band on Friday, January 2, snapping its 13-day winning streak amid higher-than-usual volumes, during which it rallied 33%. Over 39 lakh shares of Cupid had changed hands on the BSE as of 2.45 pm, much higher than the two-week average of 5.03 lakh shares. On NSE, 221.59 shares were traded. There were only sell orders for 58 lakh shares on both exchanges combined. Cupid shares had opened at 526 as against the last closing price of 524.90. It soon tumbled to the day's low of 419.95 its 20% lower price band. There was no apparent fundamental trigger behind the crash in Cupid shares. The last exchange filing shared by the company is on December 29, wherein it announced setting up a new FMCG manufacturing facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Also Read | Cupid share price extends bull run to fifth session, hits record high The step marks an important milestone in Cupid's international expansion journey as it is the first manufacturing plant outside India by the company. The proposed facility is aimed at supporting Cupid's FMCG growth strategy and strengthening its presence in overseas markets, beginning with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, the company said in a filing. The plant is expected to enhance regional supply capabilities, improve speed to market, and ensure better product availability across KSA and other GCC countries. The project is proposed to be funded through the companys internal accruals and will be taken forward after completing detailed evaluations and obtaining necessary regulatory and statutory approvals, according to the filing. Cupid's multibagger returns Cuoid is one of the countrys leading manufacturers and brands of male and female condoms. It has recently forayed into the FMCG segment, offering products like fragrances, personal care items, and other wellness solutions. Cupid currently exports its products to over 110 countries, with a substantial portion of its revenue generated from international markets. Despite today's selloff, Cupid remains a top-performing stock with a 455% return in the last one year. In the past three months alone, the small-cap stock has zoomed 93% while its six-month performance shows a 293% rise. Mahesh Ojha of KC Securities said that, given a sharp rise in Cupid shares, investors should wait and watch for clarity on the movement and can look at the stock once it's stable. Sales of passenger vehicles continued to move in top gear in December, as three out of the four listed car manufacturers reported double-digit growth in dispatches. The growth was driven by higher demand for compact SUVs, healthy discounts, a sentiment boost following GST rate cuts, and a strong marriage season, helping the industry finish the year on a solid note. Amid continued demand for SUVs, Mahindra & Mahindra dispatched 50,946 units (domestic) in December 2025, compared with 41,424 units in the same month of 2024, reflecting a growth of 23%, as per the company's regulatory filing on Thursday, January 1. With this, the company retained its position as the second-largest PV maker in the domestic market. Maruti Suzuki, the countrys largest PV maker, reported a 22.21% rise in total sales at 2,17,854 units (domestic) in December 2025, compared with 1,30,117 units in the year-ago period, the exchange filing showed. Also Read | Tata Motors CV share price gets back-to-back bullish calls from top brokerages The sales of small cars, defined as petrol models with engine capacity below 1,200 cc and diesel models below 1,500 cc, not exceeding 4 meters in length, which had slowed in recent years, have also picked up momentum following GST rationalisation, making these cars more affordable for budget buyers. Sales of small cars grew sharply to 14,225 units last month, up from 7,418 units in December 2024. The companys UV sales, comprising Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny, Victoris, and XL6, jumped 32.64% year-on-year to 73,818 units. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles dispatched 50,046 units (domestic) to dealers last month, a 13.1% jump from 44,230 units in December 2024. Its electric vehicle sales remained strong at 6,906 units, showing a growth of 24.2% over 5,562 units in December 2024. Hyundai Motor India sales further weakened in December as it dispatched 42,416 units (domestic) to dealers, down from 50,340 units in November. On a year-on-year basis, the growth stood at 6.6%, as per Thursday's filing. Motilal Oswal sees demand recovery sustaining Following the GST rationalisation, demand has picked up across segments and appears to have remained intact even after the festive season, said domestic brokerage firm Motilal Oswal in its recent note. A notable trend is that entry-level vehicles, both two-wheelers (2Ws) and passenger vehicles (PVs), are seeing a marked pickup in demand. Further, wholesales were strong in December, and retail sales were equally healthy across most segments. Thus, OEMs are likely to have ended 2025 with lean inventory. The brokerage said this lean inventory position would help OEMs sustain volume momentum in Q4FY26 as well. With demand recovering, it expects discounts in the passenger vehicle segment to gradually reduce. Also Read | Hyundai Creta sold 2 lakh units in 2025. Key numerical facts Maruti Suzuki is the brokerages top pick in the PV category, as it believes the companys new launches and current export momentum are likely to drive healthy earnings growth. It also favoured Mahindra & Mahindra, supported by an uptrend in tractor demand and healthy growth in utility vehicles. In the two-wheeler segment, Motilal Oswal is positive on TVS Motor. Trade Set-up for January 2: The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open muted on Friday, January 2 amid thin trade as most global markets were closed yesterday. The trends on Gift Nifty indicated a flat but positive start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading at 26,314, up 23 points or 0.09% from the Nifty futures previous close. In the previous session, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 closed on a mixed note on the first trading day of calendar year 2026, as investors focused on stock-specific moves in the absence of fresh market triggers. The Sensex eased 32 points, or 0.04%, to close at 85,188.60, while the Nifty 50 edged up 17 points, or 0.06%, to settle at 26,146.55. Markets are likely to continued seeing stock-specific moves, keeping the benchmark indices confined to a range. The market is staying in a range amid a lack of fresh triggers, as investors await Q3 results and updates on India-US trade talks. Heres what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50, and Bank Nifty today: Sensex Prediction As the new year begins, analysts see room for further upside in the Sensex, as long as crucial support levels remain intact and buying interest persists. Sharing his technical view, Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research at Kotak Securities, said the benchmark is displaying positive technical signals. On the daily charts, the Sensex has formed a promising reversal pattern, and a long bullish candle supports the potential for a further uptrend from the current levels, he said. Chouhan added that 85,000 and 84,800 are immediate support zones, and as long as the index trades above these levels, bullish sentiment is likely to stay intact, with upside potential toward 85,800 and even 86,100, while a decisive move below 84,800 could make the trend vulnerable. Nifty OI Data As markets look ahead to the new year, analysts believe subdued volatility and supportive derivatives positioning could provide a stable base for further upside. With risk indicators remaining calm, traders are closely tracking signals from the options market to gauge whether the recent strength can sustain into early January. Commenting on the setup, Aakash Shah, Research Analyst at Choice Equity Broking, said, Volatility remained subdued, with India VIX staying in the low zone, reflecting stable near-term expectations. Derivatives data showed unwinding of call positions near 26,000 and fresh put writing at higher strikes, reinforcing the breakout and suggesting a positive bias heading into early January. Nifty 50 Prediction As markets look ahead to the next phase of the move, analysts believe the Nifty is nearing a critical juncture where a breakout from consolidation could set the tone for the near term. With the index hovering close to key resistance levels, the coming sessions are expected to be decisive for directional clarity. Offering a constructive outlook, Ajit Mishra, SVPResearch at Religare Broking, said, We expect the Nifty to gradually emerge from the prevailing consolidation phase, and a decisive breakout above the 26,200 level could pave the way for a move towards the 26,50026,700 zone in the near term. He added that traders should maintain a positive bias, adopt a buy-on-dips strategy, and prefer banking, auto and metal stocks, while sticking to disciplined risk management. Echoing a similar view, Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities, said the broader trend remains supportive despite near-term resistance. After forming a higher bottom reversal pattern at 25,878, the Nifty is expected to move higher and break decisively above the 26,200 hurdle after one to two sessions of consolidation, he said, adding that immediate support lies at 26,050, while a breakout could open the door toward 26,30026,400 in the near term. Bank Nifty Prediction As markets look toward the next leg of the move, banking stocks remain in focus, with technical indicators pointing to sustained strength in the near term. Analysts say the Bank Niftys ability to hold key support levels will be critical in extending the current uptrend. Commenting on the setup, Om Mehra, Technical Research Analyst at SAMCO Securities, said, Nifty Bank ended the session at 59,711.55, gaining 0.22%, as the index extended its bullish trajectory after the pullback from the all-time high near 60,114.30. He added that the index continues to trade above all key moving averages, with the RSI back above 60 and a bullish MACD crossover supporting momentum. Mehra also noted that downside pressure remains limited. Any minor correction toward the 59,45059,500 zone is being absorbed, with 59,45059,400 acting as a key support area, he said, adding that 59,850 remains the immediate hurdle, followed by 60,000, while pullbacks toward support could offer accumulation opportunities as the trend stays bullish. It has not been a happy New Year for ITC shareholders. The cigarettes-to-FMCG conglomerate has seen its stock tumble 14% in two days to its lowest level in three years, hurt by the government's announcement of a steep hike in the excise duty on tobacco products. This has resulted in the overall wealth evaporation of nearly 72,300 crore for ITC shareholders. Given Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is a major shareholder in the company, holding 1,98,58,07,233 shares or a 15.86% stake as of the September quarter, the ITC share price crash has resulted in a steep over 11,460 crore loss for India's biggest domestic institutional investor (DII) in two days. ITC's stock price recorded its worst one-day fall in nearly six years as it crashed 10% on Thursday. The blue-chip stock further saw a 5% decline in trade today to a fresh 52-week low of 345.25 on the NSE. Tax hike hurts ITC stock The finance ministry on Wednesday night announced an excise duty of 2,050-8,500 per 1,000 sticks based on cigarette length, effective February 1. This levy will be over and above the higher 40% goods and services tax (GST) rate applicable from the same date next month onwards. Market experts believe that to offset some of the impact of the tax hike, cigarette producers will have to raise prices, potentially weighing on demand and sales volume. A Reuters report, quoting analysts at Morgan Stanley, said that cigarette prices may need to rise by as much as 40% to pass on the full impact of the higher levies to the customers. Historically, after such a sharp hike, volumes decrease by 39%, said an analysis by Nuvama Institutional Equities. FY11 logged a 3% volume decrease YoY after an ~18% price hike versus a strong FY10 (7% volume growth), shows data shown by the brokerage. "A double-digit tax hike could push consumers towards smuggled cigarettes. As the effective date is Feb 1, we estimate January sales and production to sharply expand and therefore report a lower impact in Q4FY26," it added. A rollback looks difficult and can take time, as the industry will have to discuss with the government and back it up with supporting data. ITC shares downgraded! Following the government order, at least 11 brokerages, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley, downgraded the stock, suggested the Reuters report. Domestic brokerage Nuvama Institutional Equities said it is cutting the EBITDA by 7% each for FY27E/28E and downgrading ITC stock to HOLD from BUY, with a target price of 415. Meanwhile, Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOSL) said that earnings pressure on cigarettes would take away the near-term catalysts (soft tobacco prices, recovery in FMCG and Paper) and comfort on valuation. It now values the cigarette business at 14x Dec27E EV/EBITDA as against the earlier valuation multiple of 17x. It also downgraded the rating from 'BUY' to 'Neutral' with a revised SoTP-based target price of 400. Shares of Vodafone Idea extended their winning run to the second day on Friday, January 2, despite a 638-crore GST penalty order, as investors continued to cheer the sizeable promoter-led capital infusion aimed at strengthening its balance sheet and assessed the relief announced by the government for the debt-ridden telco. Vodafone Idea share price jumped another 3% to hit the day's high of 11.95 on the BSE in early morning trade. In the two trading days, the telecom stock has rallied 11%, recouping the sharp fall seen on Wednesday, following reports of a partial moratorium by the government on its adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues. Also Read | Vodafone Idea faces 800 cr AGR payment over six years In the last one year, Vodafone Idea shares have gained a substantial 47% amid optimism around a potential AGR dues resolution, meaningful improvement in ARPU and narrowing of losses. Voda Idea faces 638-cr GST penalty The company on Thursday evening (January 1) announced receiving a 638-crore GST penalty order from the Office of Additional Commissioner, Central Goods and Service Tax, Ahmedabad, on short payment of tax and excess availment of input tax credit. In an exchange filing, Vodafone Idea said it does not agree with the order and will take appropriate legal action against the same. Despite the tax order, announcements of a relief package and capital infusion by the promoters helped shore up confidence in the large-cap stock. Cabinet relief measures, promoter infusion in focus A PTI report, citing sources, stated that the Union Cabinet has frozen AGR dues of Vodafone Idea at 87,695 crore, which the struggling company now has to start paying from the 2031-32 fiscal and clear by 2040-41. The frozen dues will be reassessed by the telecom department based on the 'deduction verification guidelines' of 2020 and audit reports, and the outcome will be decided by a government-appointed committee and be binding on both parties, the report further added. Additionally, the company on Wednesday evening announced that it has reached an agreement with the Vodafone Group and executed an amendment to the original Implementation Agreement dated March 20, 2017, formalising the promoters commitment to infuse 5,836 crore into the company. Under the approved structure, 2,307 crore will be infused in cash over the next 12 months, while the remaining 3,529 crore will be raised by the promoters through the sale of equity shares held by certain Vodafone Group shareholders. The company further clarified that a portion of the contingent liability adjustment mechanism has been secured through the pledge of 328 crore equity shares by certain Vodafone Group shareholders for a period of five years. Emkay Global retains SELL on Vodafone Idea Brokerage Emkay Global continued to maintain its 'SELL' rating on Vodafone Idea stock with a target price of 6, despite government relief packages, as it believes the company's leverage remains high. "We believe that the government is taking enough steps to ensure that the company remains solvent. However, to make VI a structurally strong company with manageable leverage, the government will need to make deeper reforms," it said in a note on January 1. VIs valuations at 13.6x FY27E EV/EBITDA are expensive, it added. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine he Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has supported the city's population during the four-day blackout in Vyshhorod (Kyiv region). "During this time, more than 2,500 people received assistance at URCS points," the URCS said on Facebook. Four URCS aid points operated in Vyshgorod, where residents could charge their phones, rest, get hot drinks, or fill thermoses with water. Volunteers were constantly on duty to provide first aid if necessary. In addition, they provided the State Emergency Service (SES) points with places to rest and first aid backpacks in case of emergencies. Volunteers from the rapid response units of the Kyiv region, the Bila Tserkva branch, and the National Committee of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society operated at the locations. The volunteers worked in close coordination with the SES of Ukraine and other special services. URCS aid stations in the city will operate as long as they are needed. I am not Shakespeare. There can be no sentence that self-evident, and yetafter watching Pluribusit bears mentioning. Pluribus, the sensational new Apple TV drama created by Breaking Bad maker Vince Gilligan, is about an earth where aliens have bound (nearly) the entire human population into a hive-mind, where they efficiently live and share the worlds resources with each knowing everything the other knows. This is a compelling what-if, with no war and no crime, and a world living and working as one, in perfect harmony. Also Read | The best of winter menus to try this month However, within this hive-mind, romance novelist Carol Sturka is just as good as William Shakespeare. She creates plots, characters, arcs. Her books affect and move readers. She tells stories. Therefore, in the megabrain, she performs the same function. I was already appalled by the premise of forking over my free-will not to mention the very idea of everybody on the planet knowing my murkiest secrets but this frightened the hell out of me. Imagine a world where our taste was the same. Imagine a world where everything was exactly as good as everything else. Give me war instead. Not like we have that choice. The protagonist Carolplayed by a brilliant Rhea Seehornis facing a genuinely impossible quandary. One of less than a dozen humans who are not locked into the collective consciousness, Carol resists the peace and tranquility of the hive-mind. She distrusts it. This is an open world where she can drive any car she chooses and go anywhere she wants. Carol is basically living inside Grand Theft Auto, and she doesnt want to play. (Even though she does drive a police car.) We cant relate. Not just because of her quandary but because Gilligan and Seehorn intentionally make the character bristly and bitter. She is literally the worlds biggest spoilsport. We dont root for Carol as much as we question her, and thanks to Gilligans notoriously slow-burn storytelling, we have enough time to keep pondering what we would do instead of what she does. What, indeed, would you do if your neighbour and your girlfriend and the Prime Minister were all the same person? At some point Carol plays a board-game with one of the weirdos, as she calls them. The idea of playing against someone who knows everything reminded me of Ingrid Bergmans The Seventh Seal, where a man plays chess against Death. The odds may be even more stacked here. Its like playing cards with fucking Google, Carol gripes. Meanwhile, Koumba Diabate, one of her fellow survivors, surrounds himself with impossibly gorgeous women and makes the hive-minded folk act out 007-esque casino scenarios for his amusement. There is, however, someone having an ever rougher goone who has chosen an even harder lifethan Carol. Manousos Oviedo is a Spaniard with a militant mistrust of the hive-mind, and while Carol rationalises using the hive-mind to reopen her grocery story and even allows herself to pick up a Georgia OKeefe original from a musem and keep it in her living room, Manousos doesnt accept their food and lives on tinned meals salvaged from storage lockers. He keeps an account. He intends to pay it back, even if nobody wants anything back in this new world. There is a lot happening within this series, even (or particularly) in episodes where it seems nothing is happening. Gilligan, who followed up the iconic Breaking Bad with the superior Better Call Saul, is even sharper with Pluribus, telling an unfamiliar and startling story in an unfamiliar and startling way. Conceptually I was reminded of the unclassifiably stunning Mrs Davis, by Lost creator Damon Lindelof, where most of the world speaks to and is controlled by one omniscient Siri-like AI voice, as well as his show The Leftovers, where 2% of the worlds population suddenly vanishes. Yet Pluribus is very much its own apocalypse, one that unfolds with novelistic self-assurance. Seehorn is extraordinary. She plays Carol as understandablybut unlikeablymalcontent, a woman so tight-lipped that it is an absolute joy when she meets a waitress from her past and actually allows herself to be happy. After discovering a particularly grisly secret, when Seehorn gasped loudly, I felt chilled instantly to the bone. Its remarkable to watch her grapple with this new way of the world, finding her own boundaries and indulging some things because she deserves a break. In one scene she out-howls some wolves. Her triumph is contagious. All the actors are strong. Carlos-Manuel Vesga as Manousos is superlative as he learns English while crossing a lethal forest, while Karolyna Wydra is great as Zosia, the hive-mind human assigned to interface with Carol because she looks like the pirate hero on the cover of Carols novels. Samba Schutte, of Our Flag Means Death, has a blast as Diabate. Despite having the world at her literal command, Carol makes it a point to dig her own ditches and buy her own groceries and cook her own food, all while Diabate jets around in Air Force One. She is so overwhelmingly conscientious that this show, annoyingly enough, really made me care about taking out the trash. Is cleaning up after oneself, when the world is made up of drones and extras, the true meaning of Main Character Energy? To be or not to be, that is the question. Streaming Tip Of The Week: The idea of being the main character in a world of extras was most strikingly expressed in Peter Weirs The Truman Show (Netflix) where Jim Carrey played the unknowing protagonist on a reality show, filmed without knowledge (or consent) from birth. An essential film. New Delhi: Days after launching the market access support (MAS) intervention under the export promotion mission (EPM), the Centre on Friday rolled out two financial support measures to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) exports, including an interest subvention scheme and an export credit collateral guarantee. Launched under the Niryat Protsahan sub-scheme of the EPM, the interventions are aimed at supporting smaller exporters facing working-capital and collateral constraints by lowering the cost of export credit and easing access to finance, the commerce ministry said in a statement. Interest subvention The first measure provides interest support on pre- and post-shipment export credit, with a base interest subvention of 2.75% on rupee export loans extended by eligible lending institutions. The support is aimed at reducing borrowing costs and easing liquidity pressures for MSME exporters, particularly during the shipment and realisation cycle. An additional incentive may be offered for exports to under-represented or emerging markets, subject to operational readiness, the ministry said. The interest support will apply only to exports covered under a notified positive list of tariff lines at the six-digit level under the Harmonised System, covering around 75% of Indias tariff lines where MSME participation is high. An annual cap of 50 lakh per exporter, linked to the Importer Exporter Code, has been prescribed for FY26, with the applicable rates to be reviewed bi-annually in March and September based on domestic and global benchmarks. The ministry said the positive list has been drawn up using a data-driven approach that prioritises labour-intensive and capital-intensive sectors with high MSME concentration and value addition, while excluding restricted or prohibited items, waste and scrap, and products already covered under overlapping incentive schemes. Defence and SCOMET-notified items have been included to support strategic exports. Operational guidelines for the interest support will be issued by the Reserve Bank of India, and the scheme will be rolled out on a pilot basis with scope for refinement. Collateral guarantee The second intervention introduces a collateral guarantee for export credit in partnership with the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), addressing one of the key barriers faced by MSME exporters in accessing bank finance. Under this facility, guarantee cover of up to 85% for micro and small exporters and up to 65% for medium exporters will be provided, with a cap of 10 crore on the outstanding guaranteed exposure per exporter in a financial year. Also Read | Govt weighs interest, penalty to make MSME clients pay up dues on time The government said that the collateral guarantee is designed to complement existing credit guarantee mechanisms and encourage banks to step up lending to export-oriented MSMEs. Detailed guidelines will be notified by CGTMSE, followed by a pilot phase before the facility is integrated into a broader revamp of export promotion frameworks. Both interventions will be implemented initially on a pilot basis, with continuous monitoring and data-driven refinements, the ministry said. Helpful for MSMEs From the industrys perspective, Vinod Kumar, president of the SME Forum, said that the interest support and collateral guarantee measures could ease long-standing credit constraints for MSME exporters, particularly smaller firms that struggle with high borrowing costs and lack of collateral, and help them compete more effectively in new and emerging export markets. As per government data, MSMEs exports have witnessed a remarkable rise, increasing from 3.95 trillion in 2020-21 to 12.39 trillion in 2024-25, underscoring their critical role in boosting Indias economy and strengthening global trade. The number of exporting MSMEs has also increased considerably from 52,849 in 2020-21 to 173,350 in 2024-25. MSMEs contributed 45.73% to the countrys exports in 2023-24. Earlier moves Earlier this week, the government launched the market access support (MAS) intervention under the Export Promotion Mission. Implemented under the Niryat Disha sub-scheme, the initiative aims to strengthen buyer connect, improve the visibility of Indian products overseas and help exportersespecially small businessesenter priority and emerging markets. The broader objective of the Export Promotion Mission is to reduce the cost of exporting, widen access to finance, diversify export markets and strengthen Indias export brand, enabling MSMEs to integrate more deeply into global value chains. The Export Promotion Mission, with a total outlay of 25,060 crore for the period from FY26 to FY31, is jointly implemented by the Department of Commerce, the Ministry of MSME and the Ministry of Finance. The central government on Friday came down heavily on Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) and sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 72 hours, while calling for immediate compliance to prevent the hosting, creation, and uploading of obscene, nude, indecent, and sexually explicit content through the misuse of AI-based services like Grok and xAIs other services". The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) cited X's failure to observe statutory due diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and other applicable laws. The notice asked for the report on the specific technical and organisational steps adopted or proposed for the Grok application, the role and oversight exercised by the Chief Compliance Officer, actions taken against offending content, users and accounts, and the mechanisms established to ensure compliance with the mandatory reporting requirements under Section 33 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). It further noted that the issue extends beyond the creation of fake accounts, as women who share their own images or videos are also being targeted through prompts, image manipulation and synthetic outputs. The statement said this points to a serious breakdown in platform safeguards and enforcement, amounting to a gross misuse of artificial intelligence technologies in violation of applicable laws. What if X fails to comply? "Failure to observe such due diligence obligations shall result in the loss of the exemption from liability under section 79 of the IT Act, and you shall also be liable for consequential action as provided under any law including the IT Act and BNS," the letter read. Also Read | Elon Musk's Grok AI claims that Donald Trump won the 2020 US Elections Outrage Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote to Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, raising concerns about the alleged misuse of artificial intelligence tools on social media to circulate objectionable images of women through fake accounts. Calling it unacceptable, she said such practices amount to a serious breach of womens privacy and urged the Centre to take immediate steps to safeguard their rights. Also Read | Elon Musk's Grok now claims billionaire is fit Meanwhile, French ministers informed prosecutors about sexually explicit content produced by Musks xAI artificial intelligence chatbot Grok on the X platform, stating on Friday that the sexual and sexist content was manifestly illegal", according to Reuters. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava on Friday said he had been informed of 10 fatalities linked to a diarrhoea outbreak caused by contaminated water in the citys Bhagirathpura locality, PTI reported. Here are the top ten updates: 1. According to health department data, four people have died due to the diarrhoea outbreak in Bhagirathpura. However, I have received information about 10 deaths due to this outbreak, Bhargava told PTI. In response to a question about suspected cholera spread in the area based on preliminary test reports of drinking water samples collected from Bhagirathpura, the mayor said only the health department could provide information on the matter. 2. Residents have alleged that the death toll is higher, claiming that 14 peopleincluding a six-month-old babyhave died amid the outbreak. The health department has not yet verified these claims, PTI reported. 3. Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani on Thursday said that laboratory test reports from a city medical college had confirmed that the drinking water from the locality was contaminated due to a leakage in a pipeline. The CMHO, however, did not share the detailed findings of the report. Administrative officials have also been reluctant to provide clear information about it. 4. Officials reported that a leak was detected in the main drinking water pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura, at a location where a toilet had been built. They said the breach resulted in contamination of the water supply. Over the past nine days, more than 1,400 residents of Bhagirathpura have suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea, PTI reported. 5. A health department official, citing the situation till Thursday night, said that 272 patients were admitted to hospitals in the area, of whom 71 have been discharged. The official said 32 of the 201 patients currently hospitalised are undergoing treatment in intensive care units, PTI reported. 6. Dr Hasani on Friday said that senior doctors and district administration officials were closely monitoring the situation and watching closely to ensure treatment to patients affected by the contaminated water incident. Currently, senior doctors and district administration officials are continuously monitoring the situation at the hospitals and keeping a check that proper treatment is being ensured to the patients. I am going to the hearing of a case regarding this contaminated water issue, and give further details later. Till now, as per records, four deaths occurred, though we will revise and update if we receive additional data and evidence in this regard, CMHO Hasani told ANI. 7. Speaking about the water sample report, the CMHO added, I have not received any information regarding the water sample reports. We will update you as we receive a report from the medical college. 8. Earlier, Indore Collector Shivam Verma said the initial report suggests water contamination, while authorities continue to assess the situation on the ground. "The initial report indicates that the water is contaminated, but we are gathering more information. We have admitted 13 additional patients to the hospital. Our survey team is going door-to-door to check for symptoms among people. We are distributing chlorine tablets everywhere," Verma said. 9. He added that the situation is being closely monitored, and the number of inpatients has decreased compared to before. According to health department data, four people have died due to the diarrhoea outbreak in Bhagirathpura. However, I have received information about 10 deaths due to this outbreak. 10. "Currently, 201 patients are admitted across private and government facilities, and 71 have been discharged. The number of patients has decreased, but we are keeping an eye on the situation, and whoever is found infected is being treated," he said. (With inputs from agencies) The Ministry of Labour and Employment pre-published draft rules on the four labour codes on Thursday to seek stakeholders' feedback. The government intends to fully operationalise the four codes from April 1, 2026 across the country in one go. The four labour codes Code on Wages, 2019, Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 were notified on Thursday. Social security for gig workers In their draft rules, the Centre proposed that to be eligible for benefits under these codes, gig workers or platform workers must be engaged as one for not less than 90 days with an aggregator, or in the case of multiple aggregators, not less than one hundred and twenty days, in the last financial year. Also Read | Draft rules spell out wage, gratuity calculation under new labour codes But what if a gig worker is engaged with multiple aggregators? To explain this rule, the Centre elaborated: (i) A gig worker or a platform worker will be considered to be engaged with an aggregator for one day, if he has earned income, irrespective of the amount, for such work rendered with the aggregator on that calendar day; (ii) In case of working with multiple aggregators, the days of engagement of a gig worker or a platform worker shall be calculated across the aggregators in a cumulative manner; (iii) If a gig worker or a platform worker is engaged with three aggregators on a particular calendar day, this shall count as three days. Centre seeks feedback Now, the states are also in the process of formally publishing the rules under the four codes as the labour is a concurrent subject, news agency PTI reported. The ministry has given stakeholders 30 days from the publication of the draft rules to provide feedback on the Industrial Relations Code, 2020. The ministry has given 45 days for providing feedback on the remaining three codes. Commenting on the development, Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, said in the statement, "The release of the draft rules under the four Labour Codes marks a key step in operationalising India's labour reforms." "By offering clear and practical implementation pathways, the rules help industry prepare with confidence, simplify compliance, and support sustainable growth, while strengthening worker protections," Banerjee said. Earlier this month, addressing CII IndiaEdge 2025, Union Labour & Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said draft rules under the four labour codes will be pre-published shortly. He had also said earlier that the central government as well as the states had pre-published draft rules, but that was a long time ago, and now there is a need for bringing draft rules again in sync with present times. Also Read | Labour codes: The state must show commitment by doing its workers justice first The minister also highlighted the government's intent to meet the target of providing social security to 100 crore workers by March 2026, up from existing 94 crore in the country. The social security coverage had expanded from 19 percent in 2015 to over 64 per cent in 2025. Since labour is a concurrent subject, appropriate governments -- Centre and states will have to notify the rules under the four codes to enforce these fully across the country. The enforcement of the codes will mark the next transformative step -- broadening worker protection, easing business operations and promoting a pro-worker labour ecosystem. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has issued a fact-check report after several social media posts claimed that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will discontinue the circulation of 500 notes by March 2026. Labelling the speculation as fake, the government media agency clarified that the central bank has not made any such announcement regarding the discontinuation of 500 currency notes. Some social media posts claim that the Reserve Bank of India will discontinue the circulation of 500 notes by March 2026. PIBFactCheck: This claim is fake! RBI has made NO such announcement, PIB said in an X (formerly Twitter) post. PIB warns citizens about unverified claims The agency further stated that 500 notes continue to be a valid legal tender, which means they can be freely used for all transactions, urging the public not to fall for unverified claims or misleading information circulating on social media and other platforms. 500 notes have NOT been discontinued and remain legal tender. Always verify news from official sources before believing or sharing it! the government media agency said in the post. Previous clarifications about 500 demonetisation claims This is not the first time the Government of India has stepped in to clarify rumours and misleading claims about the demonetisation of 500 currency notes, reiterating that such speculation has surfaced repeatedly in the past and has been debunked. Also Read | Rupee traders look for cues after RBI dominates recent price action In June, the PIB's fact-checking unit clarified on platform X that the claims about an upcoming alleged demonetisation in March 2026 were false and that they were an attempt to spread misinformation among the masses through social media platforms. During that time, a video circulated widely on social media in which a news anchor from a YouTube channel claimed that India is set to discontinue the circulation of 500 banknotes effective March 2026. This speculation was later refuted by the government. New Delhi: A technology-driven platform, managed by the Prime Ministers Office to oversee and fast-track government projects in real time, has tracked over 3,300 major public projects and 61 schemes worth a staggering 85 trillion over the past decade. However, government data shows that only a small fraction required direct intervention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflecting the system's effectiveness in resolving most bottlenecks at the ministerial and bureaucratic level. Of the projects that met the escalation threshold under the PRAGATI platform, about 382roughly 10%were taken up for review at the prime minister's level, with the remainder handled through line ministries, inter-ministerial coordination and state-level engagement, said cabinet secretary T.V. Somanathan at a press conference on the achievements of the platform since its launch. PRAGATI stands for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, and was launched in March 2015. No revision of policy However, Somanathan clarified that there are no plans to revise the land acquisition policy, despite it being a major source of delays in infrastructure projects nationwide. PRAGATI is a technology-driven governance platform through which the prime minister reviews infrastructure projects, government schemes and citizen grievances by resolving inter-ministerial and Centrestate bottlenecks. Its 50th meeting was chaired by Modi on 31 December. Somanathan, who was accompanied by a group of secretaries handling key departments such as power, roads, industry, and railwayswhich together account for most critical projectssaid that the layered approach was aimed at preventing routine administrative issues from being centralised while ensuring that politically sensitive, high-value or long-pending projects receive top-level attention when required. Under the framework, ministries are expected to clear most land, environmental, utility and right-of-way issues internally or in coordination with states, with only the most complex cases escalated for review by the prime minister. Also Read | PMO to take a call on Vodafone Ideas fate Jaijit Bhattacharya, founder and president of the Centre for Digital Economy Policy Research (C-DEP), said, PRAGATI has significantly strengthened Indias development delivery by fast-tracking stalled projects through high-level, technology-enabled monitoring. By breaking bureaucratic silos and enforcing accountability across Centre and states, it has shortened timelines for critical infrastructure. The platform has translated intent into execution, especially in roads, railways and public services. Overall, PRAGATI reflects a shift from execution paralysis to performance-driven governance. The platform has now become embedded in the governments decision-making rather than functioning as a periodic review forum, Somanathan emphasised. The data shared by the government shows that a total of 7,735 issues have been raised under the PRAGATI-led ecosystem so far, of which 7,156 issues have been resolved, with the pace of resolution accelerating after 2021. Under direct review Projects directly reviewed by the prime minister account for about 10% of this progress, with 382 PRAGATI projects, spread across 637 packages or sections, taken up at the top level. These projects saw 3,187 issues raised, of which 2,958 were resolved, translating into nearly one issue being resolved every working day, Somanathan said. An external study by Oxford Universitys Said Business School has described PRAGATI as a global benchmark in digital governance, noting that its strength lies in combining decentralised resolution with senior-level accountability. With over 400 major projects still under implementation, the government official said that the focus would remain on strengthening ministerial ownership and state coordination, while reserving PM-level reviews for projects where delays carry high economic or strategic costs. Also Read | PMO bats for the industrialization of northern states The cabinet secretary further said that a study would be conducted to assess the savings achieved in project implementation after the resolution of issues under PRAGATI. He added that a training module is also in the works to familiarise young officers with project implementation and issue resolution, and that they would be trained at their administrative training institutes. The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie is the training institute for Indian Administrative Service officers. Schools across Punjab will remain closed till 7 January after the state government issued an order in view of the ongoing cold wave and dense fog. The move aims to safeguard the health and safety of students and school staff amid worsening winter conditions. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced the school holidays following consultations with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. Sharing the update on X, Bains said the decision was taken in line with the chief ministers directions. School holidays have also been announced for Uttar Pradesh given the cold wave that has gripped the state. Uttar Pradesh school holiday Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, directed the closure of all schools up to Class 12 across ICSE, CBSE, state and other boards till 5 January due to the severe cold wave. The UP government has asked officials to remain vigilant with field inspections, ensure blankets, prevent people from sleeping in the open, and make complete arrangements in all night shelters. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, directed the closure of all schools up to Class 12 across ICSE, CBSE, state and other boards till 5 January due to the severe cold wave. The UP government has asked officials to remain vigilant with field inspections, ensure blankets, prevent people from sleeping in the open, and make complete arrangements in all night shelters. The orders come as large parts of north, central, and eastern India continue to battle a severe cold wave accompanied by dense fog on Friday, disrupting daily life and transport services. On Thursday, the IMD had issued a weather forecast warning of dense fog over Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and cold wave conditions in Delhi, Chandigarh among other states as winter tightens its grip. Fog blankets UP cities In Uttar Pradesh, fog and cold wave conditions were reported across several cities on Friday, 2 January. Agra witnessed comparatively lighter fog, allowing clear views of the Taj Mahal. Visuals from the Taj View Point ADA showed the monument visible despite the fog. At the same time, Prayagraj was engulfed by a thick layer of fog amid intensifying cold wave conditions. Schools closed in Punjab Schools across Punjab will remain closed till 7 January after the state government issued an order in view of the ongoing cold wave and dense fog. The move aims to safeguard the health and safety of students and school staff amid worsening winter conditions. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced the extension following consultations with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. Sharing the update on X, Bains said the decision was taken in line with the chief ministers directions. Now it's going to be possible to cover the distance by road between Surat and Chennai in 17 hours as the Centre has approved 19,142 crore National Highway investment plan. This major roadway project will cut the travel time by 14 hours from the previous 31 hours. The Cabinet on 31 December 2025 gave green light to the construction of a section of the Surat-Chennai high-speed corridor the 374-km Greenfield access-controlled Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot highway in Maharashtra. NHAI in a post on X stated, The Union Cabinet has approved the development of the 374 km long 6-lane Greenfield NashikSolapur-Akkalkot Corridor, a major milestone in Indias high-speed National Highway infrastructure. Salient features of Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot highway project This project aims to strengthen seamless connectivity between western and southern India. Information and Broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that this will be the largest value of highway project on Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) mode in the countrys NH development history. This project will reduce the distance between Nashik and Solapur distance cut by 14%, from 432 kilometre to 374 kilometre. It will increase the average speed from 60 kmph to 100 kmph. Surat to Chennai travel time will be reduced by 45%. This link will serve as an alternative to the existing Mumbai-Chennai corridor, an official informed Times of India . . The project will be developed in two large packages of 152 km (Nashik to Ahilyanagar) and 222 km (Ahilyanagar to Akkalkot), TOI reported. As per the report, the traffic estimate for this corridor is projected around 39,000 passenger car units (PCUs) per day. Also Read | Cabinet clears highway projects worth 20,688 crore Suggesting that the project will be bid out after acquisition of 90% land, an official told the publication, The land acquisition is at an advanced stage for the entire project." Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X said, This transformative project, aligned with PM Gati Shakti, will significantly reduce travel time, strengthen west-east connectivity, boost logistics cost, and create large-scale employment. Ashwini Vaishnaw said, The travel time between Surat and Chennai will be reduced by 45% from 31 hours at present to 17 hours. This will facilitate heavy traffic between Surat, Vadodara and Mumbai towards Kurnool, Bengaluru and Chennai. Besides this, the cabinet approved widening and strengthening of NH-326 in Odisha. THE VINDICATOR The Vindicator An infamous serial killer disrupts a true crime podcast, challenging the curious hosts to deadly tasks that expose their darkest secrets in the pursuit of exposing the killers identity in a twisted new horror Victims The Vindicator, from directors Luca Patruno and Brandon Sherrill in their feature debut, pushes the pursuit of truth and justice to the very edge with deadly consequences in darkly disturbing new horror. Following its recent release in the US, the film is set to arrive on UK digital 19 January, courtesy of Miracle Media. Trailer Tune in to The Vindicator for a grisly and gruesome horror where justice is deadly. On digital 19 January from Miracle Media INHABITANTS Punished for living in sin, a young man and his girlfriend are haunted by a malevolent paranormal entity from his past in spine-chilling new possession horror staring Josh Rivera and Anna Jacoby-Heron 'Be prepared to be scared whitless in 2026' Femalefirst Say your prayers as Inhabitants is set to possess you when it arrives on UK digital 26 January 2026, courtesy of Miracle Media. Trailer Exploring religious trauma through the haunted house horror sub-genre, Inhabitants is a suspenseful thriller from director Matt McClung (The Mad Whale) with a stellar cast including rising Hollywood star Josh Rivera (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, West Side Story), Anna Jacoby-Heron (Stranger Things, Contagion), Ana Auther (Sunset Beach, Days of Our Lives) and comedy icon Kevin Nealon (Saturday Night Live, Weeds). Repent for your sins and invite Inhabitants in for a tense, spine-tingling supernatural chiller. On digital 26 January from Miracle Media by Matt Shine for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), with the assistance of the State Border Service of Ukraine, have stopped the activities of a transnational cocaine supply channel from EU countries to the territory of Ukraine. "The international drug trafficking was organized by a group of citizens of Ukraine, Armenia, the Czech Republic and Germany. The group acted in a conspiratorial manner," the SBI reported in a Telegram channel on Friday. According to the agency, the organizer previously served a sentence in the US for drug crimes, and after returning to Ukraine, he resumed his activities and attracted accomplices in the EU. The Bureau specifies that the drugs were initially transported in small batches via couriers, and large-scale deliveries were prepared in parallel, in particular using sea logistics through Odesa. "Cocaine was planned to be imported up to 2 kilograms per week. The cost of one such batch on the illegal market exceeded $200,000," the Bureau said. According to the report, the organizer of the group was detained by SBI officers in Odesa, he was informed of the suspicion. Procedural management - Odesa Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the Field of Defense of the Southern Region. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote to Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, expressing concerns over the alleged misuse of artificial intelligence tools on social media to share objectionable images of women via fake accounts. While describing it as unacceptable, she stated that such actions constitute a serious violation of womens privacy and called on the Centre to take immediate measures to protect their rights. In the letter, Chaturvedi stated, I wanted to bring to your urgent attention and urgent intervention on a new trend that has emerged on social media, especially on X, by misusing their Al Grok feature where men are using fake accounts to post women's photos and pushing out prompts to Grok to minimise their clothing and sexualise them. It is not just limited to sharing photos through fake accounts but are also targeting women who post their own photos. This is unacceptable and a gross misuse of an AI function. What is worse is that Grok is enabling this behaviour by adhering to such requests. This is a breach of women's right to privacy as well as unauthorised use of their pictures, which is not just unethical but also criminal, she added. Also Read | IndiGo flight cancellations reach Parliament, Priyanka Chaturvedi submits notice Chaturvedi appealed to the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology to take strong measures against the social media platform X and to introduce safeguards in AI-based tools to protect women online. In her letter, she emphasised that the country cannot remain passive while women's dignity is publicly and digitally violated under the guise of creativity and innovation. She highlighted that similar patterns of abuse are emerging on other major tech platforms, often without any oversight. Chaturvedi urged that addressing this issue should be a national priority to prevent women from becoming victims of such openly criminal practices and being further sidelined or pushed off these platforms. She further noted that while India embraces the advantages of artificial intelligence, it cannot allow the dissemination of content that demeans women, and expressed hope that the Ministry would engage with major tech companies to address the issue. Also Read | Elon Musk's Grok now claims billionaire is fit Meanwhile, the persistent presence of morphed images on X, even after partial restrictions, has fueled criticism that the platform is not doing enough to safeguard its users. Concerned female users are reportedly deleting their photos. Cybersecurity expert reacts Why are we asking or expecting victims to be careful at all? This isnt about caution; its about accountability. When a platform like Grok even allows such prompts to be executed, the responsibility squarely lies with the intermediary. Technology is not neutral when it follows harmful commands, Cyber-security expert Ritesh Bhatia informed CNBC-TV18. Edward Nathan Varghese, a final-year computer science engineering student, set a new milestone at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IITH) by landing a record-breaking job offer worth 2.5 crore at Optiver, an international trading firm based in the Netherlands. Varghese is set to join the company in July, according to the Times of India This reportedly marks the highest salary package secured at the institute since its establishment in 2008. Varghese told TOI that the moment he found out about the offer was one he would never forget. This was the first and only company I interviewed for. I was ecstatic when my mentor indicated that the firm would be extending me an offer. So were my parents, he stated. Varghese mentioned that he was confident the IIT tag would continue to attract recruiters to campus. "I knew the effect of the present job market would be minimal. Also, since first year of engineering, I was into competitive programming and among the top 100 in the country, he further said. Also Read | Microsoft director shares inspiring journey after failing IIT twice He credited IIT Hyderabads flexible academic structure for his success, noting that the freedom to choose from a wide range of courses helped him perform well in the interview process. Varghese, whose parents are both engineers, added that he was fortunate to receive a pre-placement offer (PPO). The summer internship at the firm consisted of two weeks of training, succeeded by a six-week project. Who is Edward Nathan Varghese? A native of Hyderabad, Varghese, 21, pursued his schooling in Bengaluru from Class 7 through Class 12. Even amid a wider slowdown in the job market, he said he stayed confident about securing a top-tier offer. He bagged an All India Rank (AIR) of 1100 in JEE Main and AIR 558 in JEE Advanced in 2022. In the 2025 Common Admission Test (CAT), he scored an impressive 99.96 percentile, earning an all-India rank of 120. According to his LinkedIn profile, Varghese served as the Overall Head of the Office of Career Services at IIT Hyderabad, where he led a team of eight student managers and 250 coordinators across various cells to oversee placements and internships. Before this role, he worked as an Internship Cell Coordinator for nearly eleven months. Varghese will reportedly join Optivers Netherlands office as a full-time employee. Meanwhile, until now, the highest salary package received by a student at IIT Hyderabad stood at 1.1 crore in 2017. In comparison, the top offers during the 202324 and 202425 academic years were 90 lakh and 66 lakh, respectively. Veteran fund manager and founder of Aequitas Investment, Siddhartha Bhaiya, passed away at the age of 47 years due to a sudden cardiac arrest, while he was on a family vacation in New Zealand. Since the news of his untimely death emerged, social media users have been paying their tributes, highlighting the loss for the Indian financial sector. Siddhartha Bhaiya passed away on 31 December 2025, and the company disclosed his death to investors and the public on 2 January 2026. Also Read | Who was Siddhartha Bhaiya? Aequitas MD dies of sudden cardiac arrest It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our Managing Director, Mr Siddhartha Bhaiya, on 31 December 2025, following a sudden cardiac arrest while on a family vacation in New Zealand, the official announcement read. Netizens pay respects Several people took to social media to pay their tribute and respect to the veteran fund manager, who was known as a maverick in the Indian financial market. Mint reported earlier how Siddhartha Bhaiya was one of the very few people who called out a correction when the markets were at their record high in 2024. A profound loss to the finance fraternity. A leader who inspired trust, clarity, and conviction. Your legacy will continue to guide many. Rest in peace, Siddhartha Bhaiya, said a social media account named ZenFlow Finance in their post on X. Siddhartha Bhaiya's bold cash calls prompted him to hold nearly 90% cash amid the raging US tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, while most were heavily invested in the market. Sadly its true.. Heartbroken. The passing of #SiddharthaBhaiya feels like losing a guru the markets rarely produce. A thinker of rare clarity, integrity, and long-term wisdom who shaped not just portfolios, but minds. Om Shanti, said a social media user named The Investors Club of India. X users, including Kabir Shah, Pranav Purankar, and Aryan Yadav, among many others, lauded Siddhartha Bhaiya's achievements while paying their respects to the veteran investor. Rest in peace my friend Siddhartha Bhaiya the MD of @AequitasL, great soul great soul, such a great man gone too soon, see you on the other side brother, said a user named Kabir Shah in his post on X on Friday. Pranav Purankar highlighted how Siddhartha Bhaiya's intellectual honesty and deep commitment to value investing made a mark on the Indian stock markets. The investment world loses a brilliant mind today Siddhartha Bhaiya the Multibagger King. His intellectual honesty, and deep commitment to value investing have left an indelible mark on the Indian markets. His insights will be missed, but his teachings remain, said Purankar in his post on X. A user named Pracheeti Maheshwari said Siddhartha Bhaiya was reportedly an extremely health-conscious person who frequently urged the younger generation to focus on their health. Siddhartha @sidd1307 was extremely health-conscious. Many times during his audio sessions on Clubhouse / Twitter he asked the younger generation to focus on health, said Maheshwari in her post. Gone too soon, said Aryan Yadav, paying respects to the veteran investor. Who was Siddhartha Bhaiya? Siddhartha Bhaiya, the Founder, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Aequitas Investment Consultancy Pvt Ltd, was a market veteran with more than two decades of experience in portfolio management. He started his career as a Fund Manager at Nippon India Mutual Fund in 2005, and later in 2012, Siddhartha Bhaiya founded Aequitas Investment to cater to Ultra High Net Worth individuals and family offices. The FBI announced on Friday (January 2) that it had thwarted a planned attack on a grocery store and fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill, North Carolina, according to AP report. Authorities arrested 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, who officials said was inspired by the Islamic State (IS) group and had pledged loyalty to the extremist organization, the report stated. Sturdivant was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terror organization. He remains in federal custody following a court appearance on Friday, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for January 7. IS inspiration and online activity An FBI affidavit revealed that Sturdivant came under investigation last month after officials identified social media posts linked to him that expressed support for IS. The posts included images of a ballistic vest and promoted violence, while the account name referenced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the late IS leader. Sturdivant communicated with someone online who he believed supported his plans. In reality, the individual was an undercover FBI agent who acted as an encouraging confidant. Earlier FBI contact The affidavit notes that Sturdivant had previously been on the FBIs radar in January 2022, when he was a minor. Authorities said he had been in contact with an IS member in Europe and received instructions to dress in black, knock on doors, and commit attacks with a hammer. On one occasion, he reportedly set out for a neighbors house armed with a hammer and knife but was restrained by his grandfather. Targeted locations and ongoing investigation Russ Ferguson, US Attorney for western North Carolina, declined to identify the grocery store and fast-food restaurant targeted due to the ongoing investigation. Both establishments are located in Mint Hill, a small residential community near Charlotte. (With AP inputs) Also Read | Trump warns Iran against shooting protesters A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado on Thursday (January 1), in what would be the states first fatal attack by the predator in more than 25 years, Associated Press reported citing authorities as saying. The attack occurred in the mountains south of the small community of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park, an area considered the gateway to the eastern entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, according to officials. AP stated. The woman was found along a remote stretch of the Crosier Mountain Trail, which lies within a national forest. Hikers encounter mountain lion near victim Shortly before noon, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the womans body and threw rocks at the animal to scare it away so they could attempt to help, said Kara Van Hoose of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. One of the hikers was a physician who attended to the victim and did not find a pulse, Van Hoose said. Details about the womans injuries and the official cause of death were not immediately released. Two mountain lions shot by officers Wildlife officers later located two mountain lions in the area and fatally shot the animals, Van Hoose said. The search for other mountain lions in the area remained ongoing, she said, adding that circumstances would dictate whether any additional lions that are found are killed. Area known for lion sightings Authorities said sightings of mountain lions are common in the forested area where the suspected attack occurred, though no recent attacks on humans had been documented there. This is a very common time of year to take mountain lion sightings and reports, especially in Larimer County, where this is very good mountain lion habitat, Van Hoose said. Trails in this area are in pretty remote land its wooded, its rocky, theres elevation gains and dips." Rare but deadly encounters Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare in Colorado. The states last suspected fatal attack occurred in 1999, when a 3-year-old child was killed. Two years earlier, a 10-year-old boy was killed and dragged away by a mountain lion while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park, the news outlet stated. Last year in Northern California, two brothers were stalked and attacked by a mountain lion; one of them was killed, authorities said. About mountain lions in Colorado Mountain lions also known as cougars or catamounts can weigh up to 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and grow more than six feet (1.8 metres) long. They primarily prey on deer. Colorado is home to an estimated 3,800 to 4,400 mountain lions. The animals are classified as a big game species in the state and may be legally hunted. US President Donald Trump on Friday (January 2) said White House doctors have declared him in perfect health and that he once again passed a cognitive test with full marks, using the announcement to renew his call for mandatory mental fitness exams for top political leaders. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said doctors reported that he is in PERFECT HEALTH and that he had ACED his cognitive examination for the third straight time. Meaning, was correct on 100% of the questions asked! Trump wrote. The 79-year-old president added that no other sitting or former president or vice president had been willing to take such a test, a claim he has repeatedly used to contrast himself with political rivals. Trump also urged that cognitive examinations be made compulsory for candidates seeking the countrys highest offices. I strongly believe that anyone running for President, or Vice President, should be mandatorily forced to take a strong, meaningful, and proven Cognitive Examination, he said. Our great Country cannot be run by STUPID or INCOMPETENT PEOPLE! Trump added. The comments come amid renewed public scrutiny of Trumps health and mental fitness as he continues his second term in office, and as debates over age, cognition and leadership remain a central issue in US politics. Trump's recent interview renews health focus The renewed attention follows a Wall Street Journal interview published Thursday (January 1), in which Trump at 79 the oldest person to assume the US presidency discussed his health and daily medication. Trump's doctor said the President takes a higher-than-usual dose of aspirin, citing concerns about blood circulation. They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I dont want thick blood pouring through my heart, Trump told the Journal. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense? Aspirin dose above typical recommendation Trumps physician, Sean Barbabella, told WSJ that the President takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for cardiac prevention significantly higher than the commonly prescribed 81-milligram low-dose aspirin recommended for many older adults, according to the Mayo Clinic. Also Read | Trump warns Iran against shooting protesters CT scan, not MRI: Doctor clarifies Barbabella also clarified confusion over imaging tests conducted in October. While earlier statements referenced an MRI, the physician said Trump instead underwent a CT scan. Doctors opted for the CT scan to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues, Barbabella told the Journal, adding that the results showed no abnormalities, according to Reuters. The White House has previously said visible bruising on Trumps hands was due to frequent handshaking, and described the imaging scan as a preventative measure. The US State Department said Chinas military drills around Taiwan had unnecessarily raised tensions and urged Beijing to cease military pressure against the self-ruled island, after President Donald Trump initially shrugged off concerns. Chinas military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement on New Years Day, some 48 hours after the Peoples Liberation Army wrapped exercises covering the largest combined area in decades. The PLA simulated a blockade of the global chip hub for two days this week with live-fire exercises encircling the island. It launched long-range projectiles into the Taiwan Strait one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes for the first time since 2022, although the drills didnt rise to the same intensity as those three years ago when China fired missiles over Taiwan. Trump initially dismissed the drills as a continuation of longstanding Chinese activity. Theyve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area, he said after live-fire drills on Monday, touting his great relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The US leaders comments contrasted to statements from other major democracies criticizing Beijings show of force. The European Union, UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand and Japan all voiced concerns days before the US State Department. China blasted that criticism, calling Taiwan which Beijing considers its own territory an internal affair. Taiwans Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung welcomed the support, saying in a statement that Taipei would work with the US and all like-minded countries to jointly uphold the rules-based international order. Chinas Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest US statement. The State Departments response to the drills arrived later than its condemnation of some previous Chinese drills. When Chinese forces launched exercises around Taiwan in October last year and in April, the State Department issued statements on the same day, slamming the actions as unwarranted provocations and destabilizing intimidation tactics. In another round of exercises in May last year, held shortly after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office, the State Department released a statement the day after the drills ended, blasting Beijing for using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations. Beijing framed its latest maneuvers as a warning to separatist forces and external interference, after the US this month unveiled an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan. We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue, the State Department said in its statement, adding that it opposes changes to the status quo by force or coercion. Beijing has ramped up diplomatic pressure and military aggression against Taiwan in recent years. Large-scale PLA drills around the democracy of 23 million people have become a regular occurrence since then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to the island in 2022. Ties between the worlds largest economies have stabilized in recent months after a turbulent year that saw tariffs soar and both sides weaponize supply chains. A one-year truce has paused that volatility, with Trump preparing to visit the worlds No. 2 economy in April. His comments about the exercises indicate the US is keen to keep that deal in place. With assistance from Colum Murphy and Cindy Wang. 2026 Bloomberg L.P. Victoria Jones, the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, has been found dead at a hotel in San Francisco. She was 34. Tommy Lee Jones' daughter Victoria found dead Jones was discovered unresponsive in the early hours of New Years Day at the Fairmont hotel, according to reports first published by TMZ, which cited law enforcement sources. Emergency services were alerted shortly before 3am, and paramedics attended the scene. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department confirmed that crews were dispatched to the hotel at 2.52am. Our units responded to the scene, performed an assessment and declared one person deceased, the spokesperson said, adding that the local police department and the medical examiners office subsequently took over the investigation. Also Read | Mountain lion attack suspected after woman found dead while hiking in Colorado The cause of death has not yet been determined. Authorities have not indicated whether foul play is suspected, and no further details were immediately available. What happened and who found her? The Daily Mail reported that a fellow hotel guest raised the alarm after finding Jones unresponsive in a corridor of the hotel. Officials have not publicly confirmed the circumstances surrounding how she came to be in the corridor or whether she was staying at the hotel alone. Victoria Jones was the second child of Tommy Lee Jones and his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. She is survived by her older brother, Austin, who is 43. The family has not issued a public statement at the time of writing. As a child, Jones appeared in several film and television projects, including acting alongside her father in Men in Black II and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. She also had a role in the popular television series One Tree Hill. While she did not pursue a long-term acting career into adulthood, she occasionally accompanied her father to public events and film festivals. Speaking during the promotion of The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Tommy Lee Jones once spoke warmly about his daughters early interest in acting. Shes a good actress, has her SAG [Screen Actors Guild] card, speaks impeccable Spanish. When she was a baby, I told Leticia, her nurse, to speak to her in Spanish, he said. He also recounted a more humorous moment from her teenage years, reflecting on the demands of film production. She had to get up at 5am for her part, he told The New Yorker. One morning, she wouldnt get out of bed. I said: Honey, this is work. But she wouldnt budge. So I fired her. Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time. Jones and her father were frequently photographed together at red-carpet events, including in October 2018, when Tommy Lee Jones served on the jury at the Tokyo International Film Festival. Tommy Lee Jones, now 79, is one of Hollywoods most respected actors. He won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his role in The Fugitive and has appeared in a wide range of acclaimed films, including JFK, Lincoln, In the Valley of Elah and No Country for Old Men. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky began the New Year with a stark message of resolve, telling his nation and the world: What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No, he said. We want the end of the war not the end of Ukraine. Are we tired? Extremely. Does that mean we are ready to surrender? Those who think so are deeply mistaken. Ukraine is doing everything for peace Despite continued fighting, Zelensky insisted Kyiv has exhausted every avenue to secure peace. But with a clear conscience, I, all of us, can say that Ukraine is truly doing everything for peace, he said. Peace deal 90% ready Zelensky noted that a US-backed peace framework is nearly complete, though critical details remain unresolved. The peace deal is 90% ready, he said. Those are the 10% that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live. Ten percent to save millions of lives. Ten percent of the determination needed for peace to work 100%. Ten percent of the unity and wisdom so desperately needed Ukrainian, American, European, from the entire world. Call with Trump envoy The address came shortly after Zelensky spoke with US President Donald Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss practical steps for advancing the peace process and strengthening Ukraines security. We focused on how to move the discussions forward in a practical way on behalf of @POTUS peace process, Witkoff wrote on X. This includes strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms to help end the war and ensure it does not restart. Russia attacks as talks continue Even as discussions over peace continued, Russia marked the New Year by launching roughly 205 drones across the border, killing at least two people, according to Ukraines military. Moscow also renewed claims that Ukraine attempted to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin during a December drone strike. Ukraine denies assassination claims Ukraine denied the allegations, with the CIA reportedly confirming they were false. Zelenskys resolve As the new year began under renewed bombardment, Zelensky emphasized Ukraines determination. Those who still doubt us, he said, have not understood who Ukrainians are. Also Read | Russia hands proof of attempted Ukrainian strike on Putin's residence to US A senior Russian military official handed over to a U.S. military attache on Thursday debris from a Ukrainian drone, claiming the data it contained showed that Ukrainian forces had targeted a Russian presidential residence earlier this week, as reported by Reuters. Moscow accused Kyiv on Monday of trying to strike a residence of President Vladimir Putin in Russia's northern Novgorod region with 91 long-range attack drones. It said Russia would review its negotiating position in ongoing talks with the U.S. on ending the Ukraine war, according to the report. What is the matter? Ukraine and Western countries have disputed Russia's account of the alleged attempted strike. A video posted on the Russian Defence Ministry's Telegram channel showed Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces, handing to the U.S. attache what he described as the controlling mechanism of a drone found among downed fragments. "The decryption of the content of the memory of the navigation controller of the drones carried out by specialists of Russia's special services confirms without question that the target of the attack was the complex of buildings of the Russian president's residence in Novgorod region," Kostyukov said. We presume that this measure will do away with any questions and allow for the truth to be established. The Ministry had earlier posted a statement on Telegram saying its findings would be turned over to the United States. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that U.S. national security officials had found Ukraine did not target Putin or one of his residences in a drone strike. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. U.S. President Donald Trump initially expressed sympathy for the Russian charge, telling reporters on Monday that Putin had informed him of the alleged incident and that he was "very angry" about it. Also Read | How Trump and Putin reached a new make-or-break moment on Ukraine By Wednesday, Trump had grown more doubtful, posting on social media a New York Post editorial that claimed Russia was obstructing peace efforts in Ukraine. Ukraine rejected the allegation, saying it had not carried out the attack and calling the claim part of a Russian disinformation effort aimed at straining relations between Kyiv and Washington following a weekend meeting between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has said that Zaporizhia suffered one of the largest attacks by Russian UAVs on Friday night. "The enemy shelled Zaporizhia with strike UAVs this night. This is one of the largest attacks on the city. Residential buildings, shopping mall premises, and civilian infrastructure were damaged. Fortunately, no one was injured," she said on Telegram on Friday. The Prime Minister stressed that the Russians are continuing to terrorize people in peaceful cities in the new year, systematically shelling houses and energy infrastructure in our frontline and rear cities. "I thank the Defense Forces, rescuers, and all services that are promptly eliminating the consequences. The enemy will not succeed in achieving its goal," she added. Canada is expected to see a sharp rise in undocumented immigrants as millions of work permits expire, with nearly half of those affected coming from India. Immigration consultant Kanwar Seirah told Hindustan Times that data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows around 1,053,000 work permits expired by the end of 2025, with another 927,000 set to expire in 2026. As work permits expire, holders lose legal status unless they secure another visa or transition to permanent residency, Seirah said, noting that recent government measures have made these options more restrictive, especially for temporary workers and international students. Historic levels of out-of-status workers Seirah warned that Canada has never faced such high numbers of people going out of status. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, nearly 315,000 expiries are expected, creating a significant bottleneck in the immigration system, he reportedly said. By comparison, the last quarter of 2025 saw over 291,000 expiries. He estimated that by mid-2026, at least two million people in Canada could be living without legal status, with Indians accounting for roughly half of this number. Seirah described the figure for Indians as a very conservative estimate, emphasizing that tens of thousands of study permits will also expire and many asylum applications may be rejected. Impact already emerging According to Seirah, the growth of the undocumented population is already creating social issues in parts of the Greater Toronto Area, including Brampton and Caledon. Tent encampments have allegedly appeared in wooded areas, housing people who are undocumented. About Kanwar Seirah Seirah, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) with Sierah Immigration, provides guidance to those navigating Canadian immigration pathways. His firm operates out of Mississauga, Canada, and has multiple offices in Punjab, India, including Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Mohali. He reportedly added that the IRCC data and government policy shifts should serve as a warning to those on temporary visas. A total of 128 journalists and media workers lost their lives worldwide in 2025, underscoring another deadly year for the profession, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) final Killed List. The Middle East and Arab World emerged as the most dangerous region. In a report released on Wednesday, the IFJ said the region accounted for 74 of the deathsalmost 58% of the global total, largely linked to coverage of conflict zones, especially the war in Gaza, ANI reported. Of these, 56 journalists were killed in Palestine alone, highlighting the severe risks faced by media professionals in conflict zones. The Middle East and Arab World hold a macabre record for the number of journalists killed in 2025, with 74 deaths. Palestinian journalists have paid the highest price, as a result of the war in Gaza, where the IFJ recorded 56 killings. The most emblematic was the 10 August targeted attack on Anas Al-Sharif, an Al Jazeera reporter: he was killed, along with five other journalists and media workers, in a tent housing journalists on the outskirts of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the release read. Releasing the report, the IFJ said the death toll includes nine accidental deaths and 10 women journalists. The Federation also confirmed that 17 additional cases occurred after 10 December, revising its earlier preliminary figure of 111 killings. The IFJ noted that Yemen recorded 13 journalist deaths, Ukraine eight, and Sudan six, while India and Peru reported four deaths each. Several other countries, including Pakistan, Mexico, the Philippines and Peru, saw three journalists killed each during the year. In the Asia-Pacific region, 15 journalists lost their lives. The region also continued to imprison the highest number of journalists globally, with 277 media workers behind bars. China, including Hong Kong, remained the world's largest jailer of journalists, with 143 imprisoned, according to the report. The Asia-Pacific region continues to imprison the largest number of journalists for their work: 277 are currently behind bars. With 143 journalists imprisoned, China (including Hong Kong) remains the world's largest jail for media professionals. This is followed by Myanmar with 49 and Vietnam with 37, the report added. Europe recorded 10 journalist killings in 2025, eight of them in Ukraine, amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Africa also reported nine work-related journalist killings, with Sudan accounting for six, while the Americas saw 11 deaths, with Peru recording the highest number in the region, with four. The IFJ also released a list of 533 journalists currently imprisoned worldwide, warning of growing repression and impunity. Since the launch of its annual Killed List in 1990, the IFJ has documented 3,173 journalist deaths globally. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said the figures reflect a global crisis and urged governments to take immediate action to protect journalists, end impunity, and uphold press freedom, including by adopting an international mechanism to ensure journalists' safety. It is a global crisis. These deaths are a brutal reminder that journalists are being targeted with impunity, simply for doing their job. Governments must act now to protect media workers, bring killers to justice, and uphold press freedom. The world can no longer wait, Bellanger said. China has ended a tax exemption on contraceptive medicines and devices that had been in place for more than 30 years, effective 1 January, as part of efforts to address its slowing birth rate, according to a report by Reuters. As a result, condoms and birth control pills are now subject to a 13% value-added tax, the same rate applied to most consumer products. Whats behind Beijings new contraceptive tax? The decision comes at a time when Beijing is grappling with persistently low birth rates in the world's second-largest economy. China's population declined for a third straight year in 2024, and experts have warned that the downward trend is likely to continue. Also Read | Americas fertility crash reaches a new low In response, authorities have introduced a range of measures aimed at encouraging childbirth, including exempting childcare subsidies from personal income tax and launching an annual childcare allowance last year. Other fertility-friendly steps rolled out in 2024 included calls for colleges and universities to offer love education that promotes positive views on marriage, relationships, childbearing, and family life, according to Reuters. Top leaders again pledged last month at the annual Central Economic Work Conference to promote positive marriage and childbearing attitudes to stabilise birth rates. One-child policy China has historically ranked among the world's most populous countries, surviving invasions, floods, and other natural calamities while supporting large populations sustained by rice cultivation in the south and wheat farming in the north, according to a report by the Associated Press. After World War II and the Communist Partys takeover in 1949, large families became common again, resulting in a doubling of the population within three decades. This growth occurred despite the deaths of tens of millions during the Great Leap Forward, which aimed to transform agriculture and industry, and the Cultural Revolution that followed soon after. Also Read | Can air pollution affect fertility and pregnancy? IVF expert weighs in Following the end of the Cultural Revolution and the death of Mao Zedong, Communist officials grew concerned that Chinas population growth was exceeding the nations capacity to feed itself. In response, they introduced the harsh one-child policy. Although it was never formally enacted into law, women were required to seek official approval to have a child, and those who violated the policy risked forced late-term abortions and sterilisations, steep financial penalties, and the denial of identification documents for their children, effectively rendering them without legal status, Associated Press reported. Rural China preferred male offspring According to the AP report, rural China, where the preference for male offspring was especially strong, and two children were still ostensibly allowed, became the focus of government efforts, with women forced to present evidence they were menstruating and buildings emblazoned with slogans such as have fewer children, have better children. The government tried to curb the practice of selectively aborting female fetuses, but because abortions were legal and easily accessible, illegal operators running unauthorised sonogram services thrived. This contributed significantly to Chinas skewed sex ratio, with millions more boys being born than girls, raising concerns about potential social instability among the countrys large population of unmarried men, AP reported. 2022 More disturbing for the government was the drastically falling birthrate, with Chinas total population dropping for the first time in decades in 2022 and China being narrowly overtaken by India as the worlds most populous nation the following year. A rapidly ageing population, a declining workforce, a lack of consumer markets and migration abroad are putting the system under severe pressure. Fertility rate in China from 2000 to 2022 with forecasts until 2050 View full Image Graph: Fertility rate in China from 2000 to 2022 with forecasts until 2050 (in children per woman). Source: Statista. China's total fertility rate rose slightly in 2022, increasing by 0.02 children per woman, or about 1.72 per cent, to reach 1.18 children per woman. What is the total fertility rate? The total fertility rate represents the average number of children a woman of reproductive age, typically between 15 and 44 years, would be expected to have over her lifetime. Like life expectancy, it is a statistical estimate based on a hypothetical cohort, assuming that existing age-specific fertility patterns remain unchanged throughout a womans reproductive years. Population growing old While China continues to ramp up spending on its military and high-profile infrastructure projects, the countrys already fragile social security system is under strain. Growing numbers of citizens are opting out of contributions to the underfunded pension system, adding to concerns about its sustainability, according to reports. View full Image Share of population aged 60 and older in China from 1950 to 2020 with forecasts until 2100. (Source: Statista) Already, more than one-fifth of the population is aged 60 or over, with the official figure given as 310.3 million or 22% of the total population. By 2035, this number is forecast to exceed 30%, sparking discussion of changes to the official retirement age, which one of the lowest in the world. With fewer students, some vacant schools and kindergartens are meanwhile being transformed into care facilities for older people. A 25-year-old Russian flight attendant who travelled to Dubai hoping to rebuild her life away from an alleged stalker was found brutally murdered in a luxury hotel, in a case that has sparked shock and outrage in Russia and beyond, Metro reported. Anastasia Nikulina had recently moved from St Petersburg to Dubai, telling friends that she was desperate for a fresh start after living in fear for nearly two years. According to reports, she believed her ordeal would go on forever unless she left Russia, and was actively looking to switch airlines and relocate permanently. Her hopes were cut short when she was found dead in her room at the Voco Bonnington Dubai, where she was staying while attending a job interview. Hotel staff discovered her body a few hours after the attack, lying in a pool of blood. Investigators later confirmed that she had suffered at least 15 stab wounds to her neck, torso and limbs. A close friend told media outlets that Nikulina had flown to Dubai specifically to explore career opportunities and distance herself from her alleged stalker, 41-year-old Albert Morgan. Russian and international media reports allege that Morgan followed her to Dubai along with an accomplice, tracked her movements inside the hotel and broke into her room. According to police findings cited by Russian media, the accomplice reportedly a bailiff from St Petersburg followed Nikulina through the hotel lobby to identify her room number. Morgan allegedly stole a hotel robe from the laundry area and convinced a maid to open the door, claiming he had forgotten his key. Once inside, he is accused of confronting Nikulina, accusing her of leading a double life and working as an escort. In a chilling detail, investigators say the suspect poured antiseptic dye over her body before fleeing the scene. He reportedly boarded a flight back to Russia shortly after the killing. Friends revealed that Nikulina had earlier paid Morgan around 10,000 in an attempt to make him leave her alone, but the harassment allegedly continued. For nearly two years, she is said to have endured stalking, physical violence and repeated break-ins, despite approaching the police multiple times. Dubai Police traced the suspect using hotel CCTV footage and alerted Russian authorities. Morgan was arrested after landing in St Petersburg. Reports also claim that before his detention, he had sought to be sent to fight in the Ukraine war a route some accused criminals have attempted under laws introduced during the conflict under President Vladimir Putin. Despite this, Morgan was produced in a Russian court wearing a mask and cap, where he was remanded in custody for two months pending further investigation into Nikulinas death. (Bloomberg) -- More oil tankers are turning away from Venezuela as the US threatens to seize vessels transporting oil that helps fund the regime of President Nicolas Maduro. At least seven ships have reversed course or halted at sea, according to ship movements tracked Friday by Bloomberg. That adds to four others that turned away in the immediate aftermath of US forces boarding the vessel Skipper in mid-December. US President Donald Trump has accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund an array of criminal activities, including drug trafficking and terrorism. As part of Trumps pressure campaign, US forces have seized two oil tankers and launched strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats that have killed more than 100 people. Venezuela has denied the allegations and called the US actions illegal. In another sign of the escalation, the US struck a facility within Venezuela that was allegedly used to move narcotics. It also sanctioned four Chinese companies and four vessels linked to the trade of Venezuelan crude. The vessels avoiding the Caribbean waters are able to carry a combined 12.4 million barrels of crude oil. Four of them diverted away, while three others have stalled at sea, data shows. As ships avoid going to Venezuela, its storage tanks are filling to the brim with oil, forcing state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA to shut in some oil wells. Production in the key Orinoco basin, where most of the countrys oil is produced, had plunged 25% on Dec. 29 compared with levels seen in mid-December. Meanwhile, US oil major Chevron Corp continues to lift Venezuelan crude as part of a license obtained with the US Treasury Department. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Investigators believe sparkling candles placed atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire that tore through a crowded bar at a Swiss ski resort during New Years Eve celebrations, authorities said on Friday. Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said the fire likely started when sparkler candles used during bottle service were brought too close to the ceiling of the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, triggering a rapid and violent spread of flames. It appears the fire started from sparkler candles, which were placed on top of Champagne bottles and were taken too close to the ceiling during bottle service, Pilloud said at a press conference, according to Fox News. Violent ignition led to flashover She explained that the sparks ignited combustible gases, causing a flashover a phenomenon in which flames spread suddenly and violently throughout an enclosed space. Possible criminal liability under probe Pilloud warned that criminal investigations could follow if negligence is established. We will be able to investigate whether any individuals bear criminal liability for this incident, she said. And if this is the case and if these people are alive, all the investigations will be opened for fire by negligence, homicide by negligence and injuries by negligence. Safety compliance under investigation Authorities said they would examine whether the bars ceiling materials, including sound-dampening insulation, complied with fire safety regulations. Investigators will also assess whether sparkler candles which emit upward-shooting sparks were permitted for indoor use at the venue. Other safety measures under scrutiny include the availability and condition of fire extinguishers, as well as emergency exits and escape routes. Heavy toll The fire broke out early Thursday and killed 40 people, while 119 others were injured, making it one of the deadliest tragedies in Switzerlands history. The injured include 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French citizens and 11 Italians, along with people from Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal and Poland. The nationalities of 14 victims remain unclear. Also Read | Viral videos capture horror at Swiss bar after massive fire, 40 killed No longer is the threat posed by nuclear weapons even tenuously contained by mutually agreed rules and accepted norms. Instead, it is returning with a vengeance, pushing us all to the edge of the abyss. For the first time since the end of the Cold War, nuclear arsenals are growing, and the weapons themselves are becoming more lethal, more diverse, and more vulnerable. Arms-control talks have stalled, and most agreements have expired or been so hollowed out as to have lost all credibility. Worse, nuclear rhetoric is becoming ever more threatening, and nuclear-armed states more brazenly confrontational. Just consider several worrying developments seen in 2025: Russian President Vladimir Putins nuclear saber rattling over Ukraine; US President Donald Trumps threat to resume nuclear-weapon tests, and Chinas strategic nuclear missile build-up, the worlds largest since the 1960s. And, most ominously, war nearly erupted between two nuclear-weapon statesIndia and Pakistanin May. These trends are completely out of step with the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the objective of which was to free the world from the constant threat of self-annihilation. The NPT requires all parties to renounce nuclear weapons and to subject their nuclear activities to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection. It also obliges five recognized nuclear-weapon states at the time of its signingChina, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United Statesto get rid of their weapons and achieve nuclear disarmament. With 191 states party to it, the NPT is almost universal. But four of the five exceptionsIndia, Pakistan, Israel, and North Koreaare nuclear-weapon states (the fifth is South Sudan). The first three refused to join before developing nuclear weapons; North Korea initially joined but later withdrew amid accusations that it had violated the treatyand now openly proclaims its growing nuclear ambitions. The NPT was supposed to be fortified with other agreements, but things did not go as planned. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, for example, never entered into force, owing to a lack of ratifications, though a moratorium on nuclear testing has held for more than three decades (except in North Korea). The same is true of a treaty banning the production of weapons-grade nuclear materials (and requiring the elimination of existing stocks), which has remained stalled in the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva since 1993. There have also been proposals to put the sensitive parts of the nuclear fuel cycle under multinational control, some of which gained steam following revelations about Irans enrichment program in 2023. But these efforts also fizzled out. From 1972 onward, the two major nuclear-weapon states, Russia (and the Soviet Union before it) and the USwhich together account for almost 90% of the global nuclear arsenaldid enter into a series of bilateral agreements to limit the number and types of nuclear warheads and delivery systems. But only one of these, the New START Treaty of 2010, is still in force, and it is due to expire this February. Far from having disarmed, nuclear-weapon states possess more than 12,000 nuclear warheads. Some 4,000 are deployed on missiles and aircraft, with around 2,000 on high alert and ready to launch within a few minutes. Worse, all nine nuclear-weapon states are doubling down by modernizing" their arsenals to take advantage of emerging technologies. In 2020, former US Secretary of Defense William J. Perry and Tom Z. Collina summed up the situation: Mr. Trump has the absolute authority to start a nuclear war. Within minutes, the president could unleash the equivalent of more than 10,000 Hiroshima bombs. He does not need a second opinion Yet it would mean the end of civilization as we know it." Having grown frustrated with the lack of progress in moving toward nuclear disarmament under the NPT, the majority of non-nuclear states adopted a Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which entered into force in 2021. The TPNW aims to prohibit nuclear weapons and require states to destroy any existing ones. While 74 countries have ratified it, none of the nine nuclear-weapon states has followed their lead. In fact, the US, Britain, and France responded to the TPNWs adoption by arguing that nuclear deterrence has been essential to keeping the peace in Europe and North Asia for over 70 years." Nonetheless, they have at least reiterated their commitment, under the NPT, to disarmament, stating that they believe strongly that the further spread of [nuclear] weapons must be prevented." In the not-too-distant past, the original five nuclear-weapon states did work together to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in the cases of North Korea, Iraq, and Iran. But North Korea ended up withdrawing from the NPT, and Iraq was invaded by a US- and UK-led coalition of the willing," on the false pretext that Saddam Hussein had undeclared weapons of mass destruction. In the case of Iran, an agreement between that country and the five nuclear-weapon states aimed to build trust through cooperation and enhanced transparency, but it unraveled when the first Trump administration withdrew from the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in 2018. Then, despite the IAEA reporting that there are no credible indications of an ongoing, undeclared structured nuclear program" in Iran, Israel and the second Trump administration took it upon themselves to launch airstrikes against Irans nuclear-fuel-cycle infrastructure, assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists in the process. Chain reaction Notwithstanding statements and assurances by the five original nuclear-weapon states that their arsenals are only for defensive purposes, and that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," some have begun to emphasize the value of nuclear weapons and espouse the principle of might makes right. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, for example, warns that a defeat of a nuclear power in a conventional war may trigger a nuclear war," adding that nuclear powers have never lost major conflicts on which their fate depends." Similarly, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently stated that, Were not building for peacetime; we are pivoting the Pentagon and industrial base to a wartime footing." The Trump administration has coupled such rhetoric with threats or the actual use of force (or US weapons) against a wide range of countries and territories, including Iran, the occupied Palestinian enclaves, Denmark, Canada, Venezuela, and Nigeria. In this fraught new environment, some US allies are starting to doubt the reliability of the US nuclear umbrella. While Japan has long taken the position that it will not possess nuclear weapons, there is an intensifying debate about how it can defend itself in a more dangerous world. South Koreans are holding a similar debate, and polls suggest that many would support the country acquiring its own nuclear-weapons capability. And in Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously stated an openness to talks with France and the UK about sharing" nuclear weapons in Europe to boost the US shield" (though his government subsequently said that it has no immediate plans to acquire nuclear weapons"). Thus, geopolitical developments are leading to the steady crumbling, if not outright demolition, of the international architecture for maintaining peace and security. Major nuclear-weapon states are casting aside international and humanitarian law, democratic values, and international institutions as they pursue unilateral action. The power conferred by weapons that could easily wipe out civilization is becoming the ultimate arbiter in statecraft and international affairs. So, the message is that, if you want the ultimate security guarantee, you must have the bomb; and that if you do have it, you can get away with murder. Ukraine, a country that agreed to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees, understands this all too well. Whatever they say, the nuclear-weapon states have clearly reneged on their commitment to nuclear disarmament and are now rushing in the opposite direction. Sophisticated technologiesincluding autonomous weaponsand global tensions have brought the world to an extraordinarily dangerous place. The current nuclear arms-control regime always had to treat some as being more equal than others. But it can no longer be sustained. Soon, others will shake off its yoke and develop their own deterrence." More nuclear weapons will mean more vulnerabilities, owing to growing cyber capabilities, shaky command-and-control systems, and the age-old risk of sleepwalking into conflict. There has never been a greater or more urgent need for dialogue, trust-building among major powers, a rules-based system, and new efforts at disarmament. Mohamed Elbaradei is former vice president of Egypt and director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. 2025/Project Syndicate We are bound to one another by a single fate. If we go down, we go down together; if we are to reach the heights, we do so not by conflict but by common effort." Those words were spoken a century ago, by a German foreign minister, standing in the British Foreign Office, having just signed a pact that sought to guarantee peace between the nations of Europe and avoid a descent into another world war. For Gustav Stresemann and the other foreign ministers who signed the Locarno Treaties, that moment of hope was short-lived: a decade and a half later, worldwide conflict erupted once more. But the vision Stresemann and the others set out at that time has endured as a brave experiment in putting cooperation before division. At the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in 1926, the Norwegian humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen described the Locarno spirit" as the almost unprecedented attempt to base politics on the principle of mutual friendship and trust." That is why the British government recently chose to mark the centenary of the pact in the Foreign Office, with representatives of several countries involved in the original negotiations gathering in the same historic rooms where the treaties were signed. But as we commemorated the events of a hundred years ago, it was impossible to ignore the acute conflicts that haunt our world today, the humanitarian crises they are causing, and the wider regional and global risks to security and stability they pose. And in so many of those cases, from the Middle East and Sudan to Ukraine, we know it will take that same Locarno spiritof countries working together in partnershipto overcome our shared challenges, rather than letting them divide and defeat us. First in mind is the challenge of creating lasting peace and security in the Middle East. The United States-led peace plan unveiled in September came after two years of the most unimaginable suffering for the civilian population in Gaza, and two years of torment for Israeli hostages and their families, following the horrific terror attacks on October 7, 2023. The international community united to support that ceasefire agreement, and we need to continue working together to advance every part of US President Donald Trumps 20-point plan and turn the ceasefire into a just and lasting peace. Novembers United Nations Security Council resolution in support of the plan was widely backed, including by the Arab and Muslim-majority states in the region. It provided the UN mandate needed for the International Stabilization Force to help implement the plan, support the ceasefire, and avoid leaving a vacuum which Hamas could exploit. The resolution also emphasized the importance of increased humanitarian aid, which is still desperately needed in Gaza. As long as children are going hungry, and young mothers cannot get basic care, the most urgent priority must be to open all the crossings, lift restrictions, and flood Gaza with aid. In supporting that UN resolution, the United Kingdom reiterated the importance of implementing the proposed transitional arrangements in accordance with international law. Implementation must respect Palestinian sovereignty and self-determination, strengthen the unity of Gaza and the West Bank, and empower Palestinian institutions in order to enable a reformed Palestinian Authority to resume governance in Gaza. This is essential to maintain progress toward a two-state solution, which remains the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace, with Israelis and Palestinians living securely side by side. The challenges of the next stage will be even harder than achieving a ceasefire, and it would be easy at this point for individuals, governments, and the global community to start to pull back or to walk away, because they think it is too difficult, or will take too long. So, it is more important than ever to maintain our international cooperation, to redouble our shared commitment to peace, and to enable the fragile hope of recent months to grow. The tasks ahead Just as international cooperation and support secured the ceasefire in Gaza, we need the same determination and commitment to end the brutal war in Sudan and relieve the terrible suffering of the Sudanese people. Over 30 million people need lifesaving aid. Twelve million have been forced from their homes. Famine is spreading. Cholera and other diseases are rampant. Wherever the war rages, there are appalling atrocitiesmass executions of civilians and systematic rape as a weapon of war. This cannot be allowed to continue. It is not just a vast human-rights and humanitarian emergency, but a vital test of international resolve. Also Read | Asymmetrical trade can have political consequencesa lesson for the Trump era In November, the UK called a special session of the UN Human Rights Council, where a UK-drafted resolution was unanimously passed, demanding an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and an end to the external support that is prolonging the conflict. Crucially, the resolution also mandated urgent new investigations of atrocities by the UN Fact-Finding Mission, to document the truth and help us ensure that those responsible for the mass rape and murder of civilians will one day face justice. The message from the international community was clear: impunity will not be tolerated; the suffering of the Sudanese people cannot go on, and this war must end. We also need to bring that same collective effort to bear to end Russias war of aggression against Ukraine. Nearly four years after the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion, it is clear that Russian President Vladimir Putins war aims have failed. But even after a million Russian casualties, his economy ailing, and 40% of Russian federal spending going to the war, he is still refusing to pursue peace. Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that he is ready for a ceasefire and serious talks, Putins only instinct is to escalate the conflict furtherlaunching some of the largest attacks in Europe since the height of World War II. But the Ukrainian people are standing strong, and we continue to stand with them. Together with our allies in the coalition of the willing," the UK is ensuring that there is a strong flow of weapons, air-defense systems, and infrastructure support to sustain Ukraine in its fight. And in concert with the US and the European Union, we have also introduced new sanctions packages to target Russian oil and gas revenues and Russias suppliers of defense equipment. Ukraines security is Europes security. That is why the UK will continue to support Ukraine, now and for decades to come. We are determined not just to help a brave people defend themselves but also to defend principles that matter for the whole world: aggression will not pay and will be resisted. Apathy is no option As we work for peace in the Middle East, Sudan, and Ukraine in 2026, we must not forget other conflicts that have also gone on for too long, from Myanmar to the Sahel, and the terrible humanitarian crises they have caused. It is all too easy to turn away from conflicts where there is no simple solution, or crises where there is no quick fix, but the spirit of international cooperation demands that we work together to find answers and provide hope. The same is true of many other great challenges we face in todays world: helping every child around the world to realize their full potential; enabling women and girls to live their lives free from violence; avoiding the point of no return on climate change; restoring sustainable growth and prosperity to all our economies; ensuring that the incredible power of AI becomes a force for good; protecting our countries against terrorism and state threats, and our democracies against interference; dealing with the mass migration caused by famine, conflict, and economic insecurity; and ensuring that we are better prepared for the next major pandemic than we were for COVID-19. One thing is certain: a retreat into isolationism will not help any country, let alone the world as a whole, deal with these challenges. It is only through international cooperation and the power of joint action that we will succeed. As Nansen put it at that Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in 1926, the only chance of creating a real future for mankind is to stand united in a sincere desire to work together." That was true a century ago, and it remains true today. It is high time we acted accordingly. Yvette Cooper is foreign secretary of the United Kingdom. 2025/Project Syndicate In November 2024, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping made their first substantive joint statement about the national-security risks posed by AI. Specifically, they noted that both the United States and China believe in the need to maintain human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons." That may sound like diplomatic low-hanging fruit, since it would be hard to find a reasonable person willing to argue that we should hand control over nuclear weapons to AI. But with the Chinese government, there is no such thing as low-hanging fruit, especially on weighty security matters. The Chinese are inherently skeptical of US risk-reduction proposals, and Russia had opposed similar language in multilateral bodies. Because bilateral talks with the US on AI and nuclear security would open daylight between Russia and China, progress on this front was not a foregone conclusion. Also Read | Will 2026 be a turning point for AI in India? In the end, it took more than a year of negotiation to make that simple joint statement happen. Yet simple as it seems, the result was significant, because it demonstrated that the two AI superpowers can engage in constructive risk management even as they compete vigorously for AI leadership. Moreover, diplomats and experts from our two countries had also met earlier in 2024, in Geneva, for an extended session dedicated to AI risks. It was the first meeting of its kind, and though it didnt produce any significant results, the very fact that it occurred was an important step, and both sides did manage to identify critical areas of risk that required further work. Now, as the momentum behind AI development and deployment, both civil and military, gathers pace, the US and China need to build on this foundation by pursuing sustained, senior-level diplomacy on AI risks, even as each strives for the lead in the AI race. They must do so because the risks of AI are real and only growing. For example, as AI capabilities advance and diffuse, non-state actors like terrorist organizations could leverage them to threaten both the US and Chinaas well as the rest of the world. Such threats could take many forms, including cyberattacks that paralyze critical infrastructure, novel bioweapons that evade detection or treatment, disinformation campaigns that destabilize governments and societies, and AI-enabled lethal drones that can strike anywhere will little or no notice. Also Read | Enterprises actually using AI will be the big trend in tech for 2026 Nor do the risks stop there. As the US and Chinese militaries increase their use of AIshortening decision loops and altering deterrence frameworks in the processthe risk of AI-powered systems inadvertently triggering a conflict or catastrophic escalation will grow. As AI becomes increasingly central to the global banking system, AI-powered trading could cause a market crash in the absence of adequate firewalling. And looking further ahead, one can imagine a powerful, misaligned AI system (pursuing aims other than what their creators intended) threatening grievous harm to humanity. As the worlds only AI superpowers, the US and China need to engage one another directly to address these and other dangers. Managed competition Engagement does not mean that China and the US will stop competing vigorously. This fall, China showed how sharp that competition has become when it issued new, extreme export controls on rare earths that are critical to the production of microchips and other components of AI systems. As national security adviser during the Biden administration, I worked hard to ensure that the US maintained its lead on AI so that the technology will work for us rather than against us. I saw that the race for leadership in military, intelligence, and commercial applications, and for adoption of American and Chinese AI models and applications by countries around the world, would only continue to heat up. But it is precisely because of this intense competition that diplomacy is essential, even in this period of heightened tensions. It would be deeply irresponsible for the US and China to race ahead without engaging each other on the risks, or without talking about the immense opportunities that AI presents to address transnational challengesfrom the climate crisis to public health. To be sure, leading thinkers in both countries have participated in Track 2" diplomatic effortstalks outside of government, usually involving universities, business leaders, and civil-society groups. Such discussions are valuable, and they should continue. Ultimately, though, there is no substitute for direct government-to-government engagement, even if it is quite modest at first. Nor can engagement wait, given the breathtaking speed of technological advancement and the foreseeable difficulties of reaching diplomatic breakthroughs that are equal to the moment. Managing AI risks is uncharted territory, so progress will be neither swift nor easy. The US and China need to get started. Many commentators have drawn parallels to nuclear-arms control as it developed over the decades, and that analogy has some merit. Superpowers bear responsibility for managing the risks associated with powerful technologies, and we have successfully discharged that responsibility in the past through arms-control agreementsincluding at the very height of the Cold War. But AI also presents different challenges, requiring more innovative approaches than arms control. There are several reasons for this. First, verification is more vexing. Counting missiles and warheads, with their detectable signatures, is one thing; counting algorithmslet alone discerning all the capabilities and applications of a given algorithmis quite another. Second, the challenge of dual use presents itself differently in the case of AI. Yes, splitting the atom has both civilian and military uses, but there is a fairly straightforward line between peaceful nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has a lot of experience policing it. By contrast, the same AI model that can help advance scientific research and generate economic growth can also help deliver terrifying lethal effects. This makes the competitive dynamics between the US and China much harder to manage, and the line between opportunity and risk much harder to discern. Third, arms-control discussions have focused chiefly on states threatening other states, whereas AI risk involves state-to-state threats but also non-state threats and the risks associated with AI misalignment. This presents different challenges and opportunities for diplomacy. Fourth, at least in the US, AI development is driven not by the government but by the private sectorand not by one company, but by many competing against each other. That means a wider range of actors must be involved in discussions aimed at mitigating the risks that the technology poses. Lastly, there is a wide spectrum of views on how fast and how far AI capabilities will go. Some see it as a normal" technology whose full adoption will take decades, while others argue that a superintelligence explosion is just a few years away. With nuclear weapons, you could get a slightly bigger or smaller detonation, or a faster or more maneuverable delivery vehicle, but you basically knew what you were dealing with. The evolution and impact of AI capabilities is much less clear. When I served as national security adviser, I worked to make certain that the US government was ready for every scenario along the uncertainty spectrum. Doing so requires an additional level of flexibility, subtlety, and steadiness. The nuclear-arms-control framework did not emerge overnight. It took years to devise the relevant export controls, testing schemas, verification protocols, and guardrailsand it took decades of diplomacy to maintain them. With AI, we are at the opening stages of something similar in ambition, but different in substance and complexity. That makes it all the more important to proceed with risk-reduction efforts immediately. Jake Sullivan was the US National Security Adviser (2021-25) to President Joe Biden; professor of the practice of statecraft and world order at Harvard Kennedy School. 2025/Project Syndicate Since Hamass attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Middle East has faced its most severe and consequential crisis in decades. Hamass egregious action demonstrated that it still posed a serious threat to Israels security, and the Israeli governments reaction triggered a series of conflicts that has rattled the region. The latest Gaza war has produced a profound humanitarian catastrophe, the impact of which will be felt long after the fighting has ended. The conflict also quickly expanded into a broader war between Israel and the Iranian-anchored Axis of Resistance," turning Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and even Qatar into battlefronts. Israel has scored important victories in each, crushing Hamas, defeating Hezbollah (by eliminating its leadership), vastly reducing Irans influence in the Levant, and inflicting significant damage on the Islamic Republics military and nuclear infrastructure. Following Israels strike on Hamas targets in Qatar in September, the United States began pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza. But with or without one, Israel will continue to pursue expansive goals, redrawing borders in the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and southwestern Syria in ways that could further fracture its neighbors. The Axis of Resistance is, for all intents and purposes, no longer the grave threat that it once was. In its absence, the Levant is being carved into a pliable axis of minorities," with Alawite, Druze, Maronite, Shia, and Sunni camps competing against one another within an expanding Israeli sphere of influence. Thus, the regional balance of power that was obtained before 2023 has changed profoundly. The war has not only empowered Israel and weakened Iran, but also diminished the roles of both the US and the regions Arab power brokers. While the US and its allies have finally led a push to end the Gaza war, it is not clear that a ceasefire and prisoner exchange will produce a viable peace agreement, and, failing that, how regional stability will be restored, or what a new regional order will look like. For the foreseeable future, the Middle East will be bracing for prolonged conflict and simmering chaos. Israel first Israels warmaking has not served any political goal that would unite the region or foster alliances. Its definition of regional stability is tied to its own military supremacy. But it is a mistake to think that its unrivaled capabilities will constitute a viable basis for regional order. It is more likely that Israels drive for supremacy will be met with new and different forms of resistance, fueling ongoing conflict. Americas role in the Middle East since the Hamas attack has been sporadic and largely reactive. Its vision for the region has not caught up with how dynamics have changed. During President Donald Trumps first term, the US believed that regional stability could be anchored in the Gulf monarchies, with their vast economic potential. Then the Biden administration expanded on that vision, arguing that if the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, could be expanded to include Saudi Arabia and others, the region would be integrated by trade corridors connecting Asia to Europe. Arab economies would be put on the fast track, whereas Iran and its clients would be marginalized. US officials continue to invoke this vision, even though it was an early casualty of the Gaza war. Israel does not see economic interdependence and regional integration as a guarantor of its own security, nor is it putting much stock in the potential for a negotiated political settlement with other regional players. Its goal is to press its military advantage to eliminate all threats. This posture understandably worries the rest of the region, which fears that, barring an American intervention, Israel will continue pursuing maximal goals. Chief among these may be to resolve" the decades-old Palestinian issue unilaterally by annexing the West Bank and Gaza, and forcing large numbers of Palestinians living in those territories into exile. But such a strategy would not actually address Israels long-term security concerns. Though Israel would not be ruling over restless Palestinian populations, it would abut a more unstable and hostile Arab world. Among other things, expelling Palestinians and annexing Gaza and the West Bank would risk Israels peace treaties with various Arab states, as well as introduce more political instability into Egypt and Jordan, both of which have been crucial to Israels security strategy for decades. The shock waves from Gaza and the West Bank would radiate outward, plunging the region into the unknown. In place of the current relative calm across much of the Arab world would be persistent social unrest, political crisis, and extremist violence. Israels military supremacy would not offer a solution to these problems. On the contrary, using its firepower would only fuel popular outrage and weaken the local regimes seeking to contain it. Developments in Lebanon and Syria provide a window onto the instability that haunts the broader region. Since Hezbollahs defeat and the Assad regimes collapse, Lebanon and Syria, respectively, have been breaking up into autonomy-seeking minority regions, some of which Israel (and Turkey, in Syrias case) have occupiedperhaps permanently. In Syria, the Alawites, Druze, and Kurds are all resisting the new governments consolidation of power. With memories of the Islamic States savagery still fresh, these minority communities fear that the former rebels who now rule in Damascus are still virulent Sunni jihadis who will return to their old ways once they have consolidated control. That fear is even echoing in Iraqi politics, where Shia militias who previously fought the Islamic State are now on high alert about the Sunni ascendance in Syria. The same worries are also informing Hezbollahs calculations. The militia-cum-political party is wary of Israel, but also increasingly concerned about civil war in Lebanon and an intervention by Sunni forces from Syria. Thus, the Levant is facing a new round of sectarian politics. Not only has an expansion of the Gaza war opened the door to this fracturing, but Israel sees benefits in stoking it further, calculating that warring sectarian and ethnic communities will pose little threat. But this is a risky bet. Chaos in the Levant may provide Israel some short-term respite, but it could threaten stability across the rest of the region, with consequences for Turkey, Europe, and ultimately Israel itself. Also Read | Mint Explainer | How the US economy defied expectations in 2025 The octopus in the room Israel has long viewed Iran as its principal security threatthe head of the octopus whose tentacles were tightening around it. The Israelis therefore made a calculated decision to follow their assault on Hezbollah by attacking Iran. In June, an Israeli bombing campaign killed scores of Irans military leaders and inflicted heavy damage on its military and nuclear facilities. The US then bombed Irans hardened nuclear sites, hoping to end its nuclear program once and for all. But the Islamic Republic did not collapse after these assaults, and the fate of its nuclear program remains unclear. During this brief war, Iran did manage to cause notable damage inside Israel with barrages of cruise missiles, before the US stepped in to call for a fragile ceasefire. Ultimately, Iran was weakened, but the conflict fell short of Israels expectations. Israel remains eager to fulfill its war aims, and Iran has an imperative to re-establish deterrence. That leaves ample grounds for renewed conflict in the year ahead. Knowing that it cannot rely solely on its missiles to deter future Israeli attacks, Iran will be seeking better diplomatic relations with its Arab neighbors; but it could also seek to exploit the very chaos that Israeli policy is spreading in the Levant. Israel may well find it difficult to isolate Iran while also pursuing its war aims in Gaza and the Levant. And, of course, ongoing military exchanges between Israel and Iran risk undermining the regional stability that Gulf economies need to prosper. All this will unfold against the backdrop of a tense standoff over Irans nuclear program. In September, European powers reimposed sanctions on Iran that had been suspended with the adoption of the Iran nuclear deal in 2015. This development drastically changes the context in which the US and Iran have managed the nuclear impasse in the past. Without a diplomatic path to reverse course, there will be a higher likelihood of renewed war between Iran and Israel, or even between Iran and the US in the Gulf. Realignments The Middle East is thus entering a period of great uncertainty. Israel has demonstrated an ability to assert its military superiority to secure its own strategic goals, but it is not inclined to use this moment to engage regional actors in shaping a new political order, nor will it be able to sustain its current strategy indefinitely. Its agenda is not backed by any regional allies, and it is already fighting on too many fronts and creating more instability than it can manage on its own. In fact, heading into 2026, Israels strategy has prompted the rest of the region to come together to thwart its plans, with many in the Arab world seeing Iran as a less urgent threat. The issues weighing most heavily on regional strategists minds are the fate of the Palestinians, instability in the Levant, and Israels willingness to use its military might even against friendly countries in the Gulf. The US has generally allowed Israel to prosecute its wars as it sees fit. But the strike on Hamas targets in Qatar cast doubts on Americas commitments to defend its regional allies, at least if they come into Israels crosshairs. The Trump administrations security guarantee to Qatar is likely to have done little to assuage these fears, given the contempt that Trump shows for the security guarantees the US has given to its other allies. This realization is prompting Americas Arab allies to hedge their bets. For example, Saudi Arabia has responded by forging a security partnership with Pakistan, which could be replicated by other regional actors (from Iran to Turkey) that are also seeking strategic alternatives. Americas Arab allies hope that the US government will be wise to the dangers inherent in a regional order dictated by Israel. They will try to convince Trump to support their own vision for a regional order supported by inclusive diplomatic and economic deals. Trumps push for a ceasefire in Gaza is an important win, but it still falls far short of heralding a credible American commitment to restore order to the region. For now, the region is groping for ways to counterbalance Israel by forging alliances across political and ideological fault lines, as well as looking to China and Russia for support. The conflict that started on October 7, 2023, has changedand is continuing to changethe Middle East in profound ways. But it may be years before the final outcome and the full costs become clear. Vali Nasr is professor of Middle East studies and international affairs at Johns Hopkins Universitys school of advanced international studies; and is the author, most recently, of Irans Grand Strategy: A Political History. 2025/Project Syndicate Photo: https://x.com/andrii_sybiha Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has held a telephone conversation with his Cypriot counterpart Konstantinos Kombos to congratulate Cyprus on the start of its presidency of the Council of the European Union. " We focused on advancing Ukraines EU accession, deepening bilateral cooperation, strengthening defense cooperation, and enhancing Ukraines energy resilience," he said on X. The ministers also exchanged views on joint peace efforts and their coordination during the Cypriot presidency of the EU. " I informed my colleague about the battlefield situation and the consequences of Russias air terror," Sybiha said. He stressed that Ukraine and Cyprus will continue to work together to achieve common goals - "with unity, strength and a shared vision." As reported, from January 1, 2026, Cyprus begins its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union. To imagine all Latin American countries being governed by a republican order respectful of freedom and democracy seems utopian. It shouldnt. Latin Americans established precisely such an order for themselves 200 years ago after gaining independence from Spain and Portugal. The continents own founding fathersincluding Andres Bello, Simon Bolivar, Juan Bautista Alberdi, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, and Jose Maria Luis Moratook inspiration from those of the United States. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were still alive when Latin Americans achieved independence from Spain, and the regions first constitutions duly recognized the essential elements of any republic: separation of powers, the rule of law, civil liberties, a free press, and regular elections. While some of these republics were more enduring and successful than others (those in Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Costa Rica, and, for long periods, Argentina), all ultimately proved unstable and fragile. There were many ruptures, not so much because the founding ideals were abandoned, but because three other baleful influences prevailed. The first factor was political leaders craving for personal power. The wars of independence left Latin America with various caudillos who wielded both political and military power. Then came a series of outright dictators (Juan Manuel de Rosas, Jose Antonio Paez, Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia, and Gabriel Garcia Moreno) who were followed by a succession of caesars (Porfirio Diaz and Juan Vicente Gomez) in the late 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century. While only a few of these rulers were enlightened, most were tyrannical. Finally, in the 20th century, militarism was consolidated across the region, with Juan Perons regime in Argentina deploying fascist methods of control. The second factor was social and political violence. Although there werent many wars between Latin American countries, coups detat, insurrections, revolts, rebellions, and revolutions were all too common. Rather than renouncing constitutionalism, however, the victors often sought to continue the republican legacy, at least in a formal senseas in the case of the 1910 Mexican Revolution. But things changed with the Cuban Revolution in 1959. Fidel Castros regime ushered in the continents first unalloyed and unashamed dictatorship, inspiring a wave of communist and left-wing guerrilla movements throughout the continent. Whatever their differences, they all opposed democracy. Perhaps the damage done to the regions politics would not have been so profound had it not been for a third external factor: US imperialism. Latin Americas historical grievances with the US are almost endless. For example, in the Mexican War of 1846-48, what we now know as California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming were all taken and eventually annexed by the US. In 1973, Chiles president, Salvador Allende, was overthrown and replaced by the US-backed military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. A comprehensive list of Americas misdeeds would include almost every country in the region. US diplomacyblind to its own long-term interests, attentive only to commercial gain and an America First" concept of security, and often ignorant, dismissive, and racistnever accommodated, and in some cases openly betrayed, the regions liberals and liberal traditions. Instead, America preferred to support dictators. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt allegedly said of the Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, He may be a son of a bitch, but hes our son of a bitch." Given this history, it is almost miraculous that many liberal administrations had any staying power in the region. But liberal values remained strong. In defiance of the 19th-century dictators, the press always rose up with fierce caricatures, satirical verses, incendiary articles, and gifted prose writers. Many suffered imprisonment and ostracism, others death. In the 20th century, freedom of expression had great intellectual exponents in figures such as Daniel Cosio Villegas, Octavio Paz, and Mario Vargas Llosa. Some Latin American newspapers have operated for up to a century and a half without interruption, becoming living monuments to freedom of thoughtto freedom itself. Also Read | Politics over artificial intelligence: This trend will endure in 2026 Green shoots Starting in the 1980s, and especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a miracle seemed to occur in Latin America: almost every country made a peaceful transition back to its democratic republican roots as militaries throughout the Southern Cone returned to their barracks. In Argentina, the murderous generals were put on trial; in Chile, Pinochet left power not through a coup detat but through a plebiscite. Nicaragua turned away from the Sandinista commanders revolutionary path and elected as its president Violeta Chamorro, the widow of the man who led the struggle for freedom from the Somoza dictatorship. El Salvador held peace conferences. Even Mexicos Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which dominated the countrys politics for three-quarters of a century, and which Vargas Llosa called the perfect dictatorship," gave way to a democratic regime in 2000. Only Cuba remained enslaved. This democratic wave seemed like a new dawn, but it was a mirage. Soon enough, the first two factors mentioned abovemegalomania and social conflictfused in the figure of a populist leader endowed with abundant oil. The Venezuelan people handed power to a caudillo, Hugo Chavez. A military colonel originally inspired by Che Guevara, Chavez chose instead to follow Ches spiritual father, Castro, in building a Socialism of the 21st Century." In practice, this meant using Venezuelan oil money to subsidize Cubas failing economy. Chavezs anointed successor, Nicolas Maduro, is a violent despot who has presided over the greatest economic implosion in Latin American history. Meanwhile, a new populist wave crashed over Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico. But the tide seems to be turning once again. First in Peru and Ecuador, and now in Bolivia, people are waking up to their populist rulers lies and misdeeds. Notably, this does not imply a defeat of the left in countries that have been spared from populist regimes. The rule of law still prevails in those places, with strong support from a committedly democratic left. This is the case not only in Brazil but, even more so, in Chile and Uruguay. This apparent retreat of populism reflects a growing awareness of the suffering inflicted by the Cuban and Venezuelan regimes, both of which have been irreversibly discredited. Despite the presence of Cuban intelligence agents across the continent (and their dominance in Venezuela), the reconquest of freedom is more achievable now than in decades. For freedom in the Americas to become a reality, however, Venezuela must restore democracy with the inauguration of Edmundo Gonzalez, its legitimate president. That would vindicate the opposition leader Maria Corina Machado as the architect of an extraordinary feat of liberation. Fortunately, the criminal autocracy that currently rules Venezuela, where drug traffickers have seized power, may soon be forced out, owing to extraordinary pressure from inside and outside the country. As rich as it is in oil, Venezuelan society is even richer in courage and resilience. After years of repression, its people remain determined to rid themselves of their criminal rulers. With Maduros fall, millions of Venezuelans will return to their country to rebuild it. Families will reunite. Venezuelas people have learned their lesson. They now know the true meaning, and the price, of freedom, because they have experienced the reality of its loss. Moreover, their example would drive similar changes in Nicaragua and Cuba, as well as preventing Latin Americas remaining populist governmentsfrom Colombia and Mexico to El Salvadorfrom weakening the rule of law, violating civil liberties, and undermining free elections. Also Read | Why the US Federal Reserve must not function as a lender of immediate resort Declaring independence Of course, Latin Americas many grievances with the US will undoubtedly complicate efforts to restore democracy. President Donald Trump is adding to those grievances with his bullying, his threats to retake the Panama Canal, and his willingness to deploy the US military unilaterally against suspected cartel members in the region. Worse, Trump himself does not care about democracy. On the contrary, he is attempting to dismantle democratic institutions and rule of law in Brazil as payback for the prosecution and conviction of his ideological soulmate, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who plotted a coup after losing the 2022 election. But autocrats are always playing their own games. The Maduro regimes symbiosis with drug trafficking has led the Trump administration to apply greater pressure on it, which could aid in the liberation of the Venezuelan people. The aim should be for the peaceful removal of the regime and an orderly transitionfree of revenge or rancortoward a political and economic system that the entire hemisphere can support. It is hard to imagine that Americans, under Trump, will find common ground to celebrate next years 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence together. The return of democracy in Latin America, however, could inspire us all to uphold the shared ideals of the founding fathers across the Americas. Enrique Krauze is an historian, essayist, publisher, and the editor of the cultural magazine Letras Libres. His books include Mexico: Biography of Power, and Redeemers: Ideas and Power in Latin America. 2025/Project Syndicate The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) recent report on Trends and Progress of Banking in India 2024-25 is reassuring overall. It says the Indian banking sector remained resilient, underpinned by strong balance sheets, sustained profitability, steadily improving asset quality and high capital buffers. Bad loans are at a multi-decade low. Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) also recorded robust performance, supported by double-digit credit growth, improved asset quality and comfortable capital cushions. On the face of it, all is well. However, a close read reveals a disturbing trend that could potentially endanger financial stability: the growing role of NBFCs and their close inter-connectedness with banks. A single sentence says it all. In 2024-25, the balance sheet of NBFCs saw double-digit expansion, surpassing the growth recorded in the previous year." In contrast, the consolidated balance sheet of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs, regional rural banks excluded), grew slower. In short, the growth of NBFCs outpaced that of banks in 2024-25. By end-March 2025, NBFC credit was around a quarter of the quantum extended by banks, with NBFC credit growth surpassing that of banks in all segments except agriculture and allied activities. Clearly, NBFCs are adept at cherry-picking. But not always wisely, it would seem. So, 25% of their total loans were to sensitive sectors, including capital markets and real estate, with significant investment in securities and advances against commodities. Likewise, loans to the power sector, the Waterloo of SCBs in the second decade of this century, accounted for the largest share of NBFC credit to industry at 56.1% in March 2025. As before, debentures and bank borrowings remained the main source of funding for NBFCs (72.9% last September). Although RBI had increased the risk weights on bank loans to NBFCs in November 2023 to moderate their over-dependence on bank funds, bank credit to NBFCs reduced only a bit in 2024-25, and these weights were later restored as part of an effort to spur lending overall. Also Read | Why non-banks are making global markets nervous again However, banks and NBFCs are interlinked not only through the medium of bank loans. Banks are increasingly acting as counter-parties for securitization by NBFCs. As NBFCs turned assets into securities to generate liquidity, rebalance their exposures and comply with regulations, banks became willing partners in order to meet their priority-sector lending goals. In the process, we now have yet another channel of risk transmission. NBFCs are not as closely regulated as banks and should things go wrong with the former, the latter could suffer in ways that endanger financial stability. On the liabilities side too, the growing presence of NBFCs poses some dangers. On one hand, the higher rates of interest they offer have given them strong deposit growth, despite the absence of deposit insurance, which should help lower their reliance on bank money. On the other, the concentration of depositsfive major deposit-taking NBFCs account for 96.9% of aggregate depositscould spell a too-big-to-fail scenario, resulting in taxpayer money being used to bail out a failed-but-systemically important NBFC. In a nutshell, RBIs restoration of lower risk weights for bank lending to NBFCs, along with its easing of monetary policy, might be helping these financiers expand their footprint. But RBI must stay on guard against this adding to systemic risk. Credit expansion must not come at the cost of financial stability. The West" is a club on life support, skewered on the lance of Donald Trumps Hobbesian view of the world as a series of protection rackets carved up by countries strong enough to command a seat at the table. With Americas traditional allies now part of the buffet, this seismic development begs a question: Is the West worth saving, and can it be? As a concept, the West has always been frustratingly vague and slippery. So much so that at various times and publications of my journalistic career, editorial fatwas were issued against its use. It cant be determined by geography, because it also includes parts of the East. It cant be just Nato, or a Christian club, for similar reasons. And yet, none of those editorial bans stuck. The term soon squirrelled its way back into use, because there was no substitute. It was too useful as a shorthand description of a tribe of market democracies that readers and writers alike understood to exist. Also Read | Manu Joseph: America and the bearable loneliness of losing the West I dont recognize the exclusively Christian, race-based Western civilization described in the new US National Security Strategy, or in the deeply disingenuous sermons of US Vice President J.D. Vance. Neither does Georgios Varouxakis, a historian of political thought at Londons Queen Mary University. I reached out to him because in July he published The West: The History of an Idea. Its a book that does a valuablemeaning document-based and non-ideologicaljob of debunking some of the most common theories about when and how this entity arose. So, no, the West doesnt stretch back to ancient Greece, because the ancient Greeks never mentioned it, or conceived of it. Nor was it, as some on the left believe, conjured up in the late 19th century by imperialists as a helpful, dog-whistling tool to legitimize their colonial exploitation of other, non-White, races. The idea appeared earlier and its most vocal proponents were passionate anti-imperialists. But the West also has been subject to constant reinterpretation, and right now, its getting highjacked amid the culture wars. Dont leave it to them," Varouxakis told me, as we discussed the Trump administrations assaults on Europe. Dont allow them to own the term, they dont own the term. Western civilization does not mean White supremacism." What defines the West can change, of course, if enough far right populists gain power in the countries that belong to it. But if that happens, its also doubtful that either the West or its major institutionsprimarily the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organizationcould long survive the toxic nationalism such a shift would bring. The first recorded articulations of the West as a political identity came around the time of the 1821-1829 Greek War of Independence, Varouxakis told me. Until then, the Ottoman Empire had been Europes most worrying threat. So, when people wanted to talk about their collective otherness and defence against the Ottomans, theyd speak of Christendom, or of Europe. Now Greece was breaking free from three centuries of subjugation within the Ottoman Empire, because the Sultans and their armies had failed to modernize and were growing weak. This was a tumultuous period. Russian troops had briefly occupied Paris in 1814, just a few years earlier. In 1815, Napoleon suffered his final defeat at Waterloo and Russias emperor, Tsar Alexander I, formed a so-called Holy Alliance with Austria and Prussia. They wanted to promote absolute monarchy and faith against the secular republicanism that in 1812 had taken French troops all the way to Moscow. Christendom would no longer do as a rallying cry against this emboldened Russia, because unlike the Ottomans, it was Christian too. Europe was no longer adequate either, because the recently established American republic across the Atlantic was a potential ally in promoting the fruits of the enlightenmentseparation of Church and state, science, the rule of law and individual rightsagainst Moscows absolutism. A common, predominantly Christian culture was part of the formula for this new West, but not of the reductive kind preached by Vance. This was, as always, ultimately about geopolitics. Russia had partitioned Poland and occupied Finland over the two previous decades. It was looking to snap up territories from the weakening Ottomans, taking Bessarabia (todays Moldova) in 1812, and looking further into the Balkans. Now Moscows armies were also driving south on the other side of the Black Sea, through the Caucasus, and consolidating their hold on Central Asia, setting off the Great Game with Britain for control of the approaches to India. Also Read | Is the US running out of time? The Mahabharata has surprising geopolitical clues The man who did most to promote and define the new West as a bulwark against this emboldened Russia was the French father of sociology, Auguste Comte. He saw the West as including Latin and Anglo-Saxon Europe, as well as their outposts in the New World. Slavic, yet Catholic Poland, and Orthodox, yet Athenian Greece were special guests. He also included Germans as core members, but that relationship remained fraught until after 1945. Adolf Hitler in particular spoke of the West" as an encircling enemy, echoing some Russian rhetoric today. Other French writers and politicians also promoted Greeces inclusion in the new Western club as it struggled to gain independence, because its people had proved willing to fight. By defending themselves they were also defending the rest of Europe, which had grown too soft and decadent to fight for itself, the argument went. At the same time, many members of the Greek elite, educated at European universities, yearned to join the West for their own reasons. They saw it as a path to the kind of tolerant, law-based, secular and technologically advanced society they wanted their country to become. In fact, Varouxakis told me, the way people talked of the Greeks exactly 200 years ago is spookily reminiscent of how we speak now about Ukraine." Id add that Alexanders bid to push back and reshape Europe in the image of his own conservative values and authoritarian political system has equally strong echoes in Vladimir Putins actions and rhetoric today. The desire of Greeks in the early 19th century and Ukrainians today to join the West is testament to the enduring soft power that this fundamentally liberal-democratic idea has had, for all the countless faults and misdeeds of its constituent states. Its probably best thought of as the ideological glue that holds Nato and the EU together. Lose that bond, or try to replace it with a common identity manufactured from extreme nationalism, and its hard to see not just the West but also the secularism and tolerance that made it attractive surviving. Bloomberg The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Europe, Russia and the Middle East. Praveen Chakravarty, chief of a Congress body representing working professionals, has stirred a debate by his comments declaring that Tamil Nadu has the highest outstanding debt among all states. Chakraborty called its debt levels alarming and pointed to high interest payments third across India and a high debt-to-GDP ratio. Congress party is an ally with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu where elections are scheduled this year. The two parties will contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election together as well. Also Read | BJP appoints Piyush Goyal as Tamil Nadu in-charge, Baijayant Panda for Assam Praveen's comment drew sharp responses from the ruling DMK, with the state's Industries Minister, Dr TRB Rajaa, leading the charge. Dr Rajaa was dismissive of Praveen's remarks."Urge our ecosystem to please avoid engaging with anyone with private agendas. We have a larger war to fight with those trying to curtail the growth of TN. Beware of unwanted distractions, he said "Concentrate on our Leaders pathbreaking schemes and development oriented thoughts. Use your time to share the achievements of the #DravidianModel government of our Leader #CMMKStalin avargal," Rajaa wrote ending the X post with internet slang "IYKYK." What did Praveen say in the post? Praveen's post on X that he put out last week was in response to a comment by DMK MP Kanimozhi praising her party for having 'transformed Tamil Nadu into an advanced (and) developed state. TN has the highest outstanding debt of all states. In 2010, UP had more than double the debt of TN Now, TN has higher debt than UP, Praveen said in a post accompanied by a graph comparing DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu with BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. Praveen Chakravarty is chairman - Professionals Congress & Data Analytics TNs interest burden (%) is 3rd highest after PB & HR TNs debt/gdp is still much higher than pre-covid levels TNs debt situation is alarming! he said. Chidambaram defends Stalin Govt The remarks drew sharp criticism from within Praveens own party. It in fact invited flak from senior leader including former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram who termed Chakravartys assessment incorrect, noting that an annual increase in debt is normal and defended the Tamil Nadu government led by chief minister MK Stalin. It is wrong to assess a states economic condition based solely on its total debt. The total debt of all developed countries - from the United States to the United Kingdom, Japan, France and Canada - increases every year, Chidambaram said. Chidambaram added that Indias total debt, as well as the combined debt of all its states, also rises annually. This is normal. Total debt is not the correct measure to evaluate an economy, he said. The Tamil Nadu government is under criticism from several quarters over its increasing debt, which currently stands at 9.21 lakh crore. As the principal opposition party from 2016-2021, the DMK government tore into the AIADMK for the states growing debt Tamil Nadu is among the states voting in 2026. In 2021, the DMK won the election, ending the decade-long reign of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The DMK won 133 seats in the 234-member house. DMK's alliance partner Congress won 18 seats. The AIADMK won 66 seats. The BJP throws shocking self goal jibe at Congress BJP pounced on Chakravarthy's remark. Former state unit chief K Annamalai accused the DMK of distorting data to claim an 'advanced economy' and stressed the doubling of debt under the rival party's government. And party spokesperson CR Kesavan mocked the Congress for a "self goal". "The Congress does a shocking self-goal to expose the disastrous failure model DMK government. Does Rahul Gandhi concur with this view... d the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and his deputy agree with this damning view of their ally... disastrous DMK government is similar to a directionless car," Kesavan said. Many in the Congress party rushed to DMKs defence. Party MP Jothimani called it 'unfair' to compare the two states and highlighted Tamil Nadu's achievements in education, healthcare, industrial growth, and social justice. It is unfair to compare Tamil Nadu with Uttar Pradesh. Tamil Nadu one of the top state in the country in education, healthcare, industrial investment, social justice, urban infrastructure and effective welfare delivery. Uttar Pradesh still struggles on most human development indicators while promoting a bulldozer raj model instead of institutional governance, the Karur MP said on X. Doesnt represent voice of Congress in TN Experts said that Praveens comments do not reflect state Congress units stand. He is trying for relevance in Tamil Nadu. The state unit is with the DMK largely, Chennai-based political analyst Sumanth Raman told LiveMint. State Congress president K Selvaperunthagai agreed and said Praveens views don't represent the voice of the Congress party. He also asserted that the Congress party's alliance with DMK remains "as strong as an iron fortress". "We will not allow anyone within the Congress to echo the voice of the RSS or the BJP. I want to clarify that Chakravarty's statements do not represent the voice of the Congress party," he told reporters in Tamil Nadu earlier this week. Also Read | Tamil Nadu holiday calendar 2026: Full list of public holidays in Chennai "The alliance with DMK stands like an iron fortress; no one can break it. We will not allow any force -- within or outside -- to help the BJP gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu or act as its spies," the TN Congress Chief said. Selvaperunthagai said Chakravarty's comments were "incorrect and motivated". It is wrong to assess a states economic condition based solely on its total debt. "Comparing Uttar Pradesh to Tamil Nadu is unjust. UP is under a 'Bulldozer rule' where people's homes are demolished. Is Praveen speaking as the voice of Yogi Adityanath?" he asked, adding that Tamil Nadu's debt ratio had come down under the DMK regime -- from 4.61 per cent during AIADMK's rule in 2021 to 3 per cent now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the expo and the opening ceremony of India AI Impact Summit scheduled in New Delhi from February 15-20, 2026 in the national capital. The mega event will see many global heads of state and CEOs from firms like Google Deepmind, Anthropic, Adobe, Salesforce, Qualcomm, and FedEx converge. Also Read | India extends historic invitation to China for 2026 AI Impact Summit Host India expects that the event will build consensus on key issues around Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly spotlighting inclusion agenda and democratisation of AI resources. Who all are attending? India has extended an official invitation to China to participate. This marks the first time that India has extended an official invitation to China to participate in its annual artificial intelligence event as a partnering nation, as New Delhi seeks to showcase its foundational AI models and present a policy directive that other nations agree with. "We have confirmations from Bill Gates, Demis Hassabis (Google DeepMind CEO), Dario Amodei (Anthropic CEO), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe CEO), Marc Benioff (Salesforce CEO), Cristiano Amon (Qualcomm CEO), Raj Subramaniam (FedEx CEO)," IT Secretary S Krishnan told reporters recently. Prominent names that are widely expected at the event include French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Lula da Silva as well as industry bigwigs such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, reports said. About 50 global CEO and founders have already confirmed their participation at the upcoming event, Krishnan said, exuding confidence that the list of confirmations would increase substantially post the holiday season. Overall, more than 100 countries are expected to be represented at the summit. At least 100 CEOs are expected as more are confirming the attendance. "Many international leaders from countries across the world have also confirmed participation, at the head of state, head of government-level or at a ministerial level... those numbers are also very substantial. We expect 15-20 countries to be represented at the head of state and head of government level, and more than 50 countries at the ministerial level," Krishnan said. Overall, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 aims to enable global democratisation of AI and bridging the AI divide, support the development of indigenous and local AI solutions, enable development of 'AI for Good solutions' across healthcare, agriculture, governance, and importantly, align global standards and models of AI governance and innovation to the needs of the developing world. India AI Impact Summit 2026 builds on the momentum of previous multilateral initiatives, including Bletchley Park, Seoul, Paris, and Kigali summits. India expects a number of countries from the global south to join the global dialogue this time, including many from Africa and Latin America. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the mega expo, host a dinner event (likely on February 18); and will be there for the opening ceremony, the leaders plenary, and CEO roundtable on February 19, Krishnan said. About India's talks with the US to join Pax Silica silicon supply chain block, Krishnan said, "As far as Pax Silica is concerned that is an ongoing process of discussion between India and the US... it takes place in multiple levels... takes place in MEA... at the NSA level. Delhi Gearing Up Delhi's Public Works Department (PWD) has planned an extensive revamp of the areas around Bharat Mandapam, IGI airport and major tourist hubs across the city, officials said on Thursday. The Delhi government has instructed the PWD and other civic bodies to ensure that arrangements for the international event transcend the standards set during the G-20 Summit. "The Delhi chief secretary has directed that all the arrangements, including security, traffic, movement of dignitaries, cleanliness, road conditions, signage, lighting and preparations at important tourist areas and markets likely to be visited and a revamp plan has been prepared," a PWD official was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Also Read | DeepSeek Touts New Training Method as China Pushes AI Efficiency "During the summit, various heads of state, foreign delegates, leadership of prominent international organisations and AI leaders, including CEOs of top AI companies, along with their families, are expected to visit Delhi. The arrangements for the summit should be of a standard better than those made during the G-20 summit," the plan stated. The action plan prioritises the maintenance of PWD roads and footpaths by addressing potholes, fixing missing signage, damaged grilles, improving and repairing central verges, and eliminating dark spots to improve safety and infrastructure quality. PWD, the main road-owning agency in the national capital, has been given the areas around Bharat Mandapam, where pre-event activities and bilateral engagements will be done around Hyderabad House, Vigyan Bhawan, Ambedkar Bhawan, Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, all five major five-star hotels, and Rajghat. In addition, roads leading to prominent tourist locations such as Qutub Minar, Lal Quila, Humayun Tomb, Connaught Place, Central Park, Delhi Haat and Mehrauli Archaeological Park will also be revamped. We expect 15-20 countries to be represented at the head of state and head of government level. To coordinate with other departments, a control room has also been set up at the PWD headquarters with a nodal officer to oversee the arrangements for the summit. Samsung is expected to introduce its next generation of flagship smartphones in 2026, with fresh leaks shedding light on pricing, launch timelines and key hardware upgrades. Despite rising component costs across the industry, the South Korean brand is reportedly planning to keep prices steady for its upcoming Galaxy S26 and foldable line-up. No price increase planned for 2026 flagships? According to a report from South Korea, Samsung does not intend to raise prices for the Galaxy S26 series, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or the Galaxy Z Flip 8. The decision is said to be part of a broader strategy to maintain market share while protecting overall profitability, especially as competitors increase prices due to ongoing RAM supply constraints. Galaxy S26 series launch timeline tipped The Galaxy S26 series is expected to debut on February 25 at a launch event in San Francisco. The line-up is likely to include three models: the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra. Retail availability is tipped for March, which differs from earlier rumours that suggested a late January unveiling followed by an early February sale. Expected specifications and hardware upgrades Leaks suggest the standard Galaxy S26 will feature a 4,300mAh battery, marking an improvement over the 4,000mAh unit found in the Galaxy S25. The Galaxy S26+ is also tipped to receive camera enhancements, including support for 3x zoom HDR shooting. In terms of performance, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset globally. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 and S26+ could ship with Samsungs in-house Exynos 2600 processor in select regions, continuing the companys dual-chip strategy. Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 leaks Samsung is also expected to refresh its foldable lineup later in the year, with a likely July launch window. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is tipped to weigh around 200g, making it roughly 15g lighter than its predecessor. It may also house a larger 5,000mAh battery, up from the 4,400mAh unit in the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Also Read | Samsung Galaxy S26 leak suggests slimmer design and Qi2 wireless charging The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is said to see an even more noticeable weight reduction, coming in at around 150g, which would make it significantly lighter than the previous model. DOJ to hire hundreds of lawyers to review millions of pages of Epstein files, NYT reports Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk has said that he considers the statement of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament Tomio Okamura against providing weapons to Ukraine an example of ignorance and cynicism. "Tomio Okamura's New Year's address is a vivid example of ignorance, manipulation and cynicism. Once again insulting Ukraine and Ukrainians, he actually causes harm and shame, first of all, to the Czech Republic and the Czechs, who remain on the side of dignity and justice, on the side of Ukraine," Stefanchuk said on Facebook on Friday. According to him, Ukraine is grateful to the great Czech people and their worthy representatives for all the help and support in difficult times. According to Stefanchuk, the statement of the Czech speaker is exclusively his personal position, and not the position of the Czech Parliament and the Czech people. "I am convinced that the harshest assessment of Okamura's words will be given, in fact, by the Czechs themselves - and, of course, history, in which his name is unlikely to be preserved. And we will definitely find out whether he was a useful idiot or an FSB agent," the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament emphasized. According to the Ceske noviny (CTK) resource, the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Okamura, "once again spoke out on social networks against providing weapons to Ukraine." "I believe that our republic will jump off the Brussels train, which, despite the warnings of the US government, is heading for World War III... I understand that it is profitable for the West when we pay Western arms companies for ineffective weapons that the Russians will waste before they even reach the front," CTK quotes the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. "Money flows in all directions, and everyone gets something from this business. Western companies and governments, as well as Ukrainian thieves around Zelensky's junta, who are building toilets out of gold... Let them steal, but not from ours, and let there not be such a country in the European Union," CTK said, quoting a fragment of Okamura's speech. A 60 year old Melview man who received the benefit of the court by being ordered to pay 1,000 to the Little Blue Heroes charity in lieu of a conviction drew the ire of the district court judge when he not only failed to appear in person for his scheduled court date recently, but additionally, had not paid the balance of the donation. Mr Harry Hughes of Derryharrow, Melview, Longford, was originally found guilty of a section 6 public order offence for threatening and abusive behaviour which occurred on Mary Street, Drumlish on August 22, 2023. Mr Hughes was represented in court by solicitor John Anderson who told the court that there was still a balance of 440 outstanding. When asked if his client was present in court, Mr Anderson added, Mr Hughes had to attend an appointment with his partner in Belfast and couldnt be here today. We asked him for the money but he doesnt have it so Im asking for one final adjournment. Replied Judge Owens, visibly annoyed, Oh this is painful now! It is, Judge, Mr Anderson agreed. Im in your hands, Judge. Judge Owens pointed out that this man got the benefit of a 1.1 if he paid the money referring to the penalty known as Section 1.1, which is usually a charity donation in lieu of a conviction, a prison sentence, or a fine. Failure to pay the donation in the time frame allocated by a court carries with it repercussions such as a conviction and a fine. Judge Owens added that there was now a fault position because the donation had only been partially paid. The Judge gave credit to Mr Hughes for having paid 560 of the 1,000 fine but said he was going to now have a conviction recorded against him. Upon directing that the 560 be paid to Little Blue Heroes, Judge Owens convicted and fined Mr Hughes 400 with 5 months to pay. Read More: Woman in court accused of stealing groceries from county Longford shop worth 800 At the end of a safe but busy year Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew was on the water over the festive period. On Sunday last (December 28) there was a call to assist one person on board a cruiser which developed engine problems on the lake. At 1.30pm on Sunday last the Irish Coast Guard tasked Lough Ree RNLI to assist a lone boatman on board a cruiser which had called for assistance from St Johns Bay. Also read: Film premiere on famous Longford priest Fr Joseph Mullooly to be screened on Sunday The Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat Tara Scougall was on the water ten minutes later under helm Billy Henshaw Jnr and with a crew of Patrick Walsh, Emmet Deveraux and Stan Bradbury. On arrival at the scene just before 2pm the crew found one person and his dog on board the 30ft cruiser. On examination of the boat it was found that an over heating engine was the problem. The cruiser was taken under tow to Coosan Point where it was tied up safely before 3pm. This was the 22nd call out for Lough Ree RNLI this year. Launch Authority Matt Harte said, "This rescue shows the real benefits of calling for assistance at the earliest opportunity as at this time of year limited daylight can provide more challenges for the rescue crew." PICTURES | Award winning Longford car dealership unveils brand new showroom The support of the local communities around Lough Ree at central to the provision of the service. As a charity, almost totally dependant on the generosity of the public the station begins the New Year with its annual table quiz. The Lough Ree RNLI table quiz takes place in The Bounty at Buccaneers RFC on Thursday, January 8 at 8pm. The fee for a table of four is 40. The volunteer crew look forward to welcoming you on the evening. Also read: 'Bizarre high demand' in Longford for CD players, CDs, DVDs and vinyl Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Ukraine is seeking a balanced approach to applying environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures, taking into account European Commission recommendations and the economic challenges caused by the full-scale war, said Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev. According to him, in October Ukraine received the European Commission's Progress Report for the previous year, which includes recommendations to strengthen EIA and SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) mechanisms. In November, a six-month audit by the Accounting Chamber was completed, which also contained a number of recommendations to enhance the EIA instrument. "On the one hand, we have clear recommendations from our partners and oversight bodies to strengthen EIA. On the other hand, there is a request from business to simplify procedures, given the economic challenges caused by the war," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. Sobolev noted that Ukraine understands the importance of EIA as an environmental instrument and is guided by the need to implement European Commission recommendations, particularly with regard to preventing any weakening of established rules. However, the full-scale war has caused extensive destruction of infrastructure and business facilities, requiring the government to make fast and effective decisions. "That is why, on November 3, at a meeting of the UkraineEU Subcommittee, the Ministry proposed to the European Commission the idea of a shortened EIA procedure as a mechanism for case-by-case decisions for critical infrastructure facilities and projects of strategic importance to the economy and national security," he said. According to Sobolev, such a mechanism must be based on the principles of preventing significant environmental harm, ensuring public participation, and maintaining full transparency in decision-making. The concept is currently being finalized and will be submitted to the European Commission for consultations. "Following those consultations, the Ministry will prepare amendments to EIA legislation, in a way that both prevents environmental damage and does not become a regulatory barrier for responsible businesses," the minister said. At the same time, Sobolev is convinced that Ukraine has the potential to increase timber harvesting in a legal manner without violating European standards. A former Quincy officials case is headed to trial in Febuary after federal prosecutors said he arranged for the city to pay for personal expenses, some of which included a Toyota Prius, a large self-portrait, steak tips and recordings of him singing. Thomas F. Clasby, Jr., was charged with embezzlement, mail and wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property. He was arrested and indicted in January 2025. Clasby was the Director of the Quincy Department of Elder Services between 1999 and April 2024. Starting in 2019, Clasby used the citys purchasing power to pay for personal expenses and make money for himself, federal prosecutors said. Clasby arranged for the city to pay $8,950 to a music studio to produce recordings of him singing, $2,236 to food service vendors for 153 pounds of bourbon steak tips, $4,800 for a Toyota Prius and $1,658 for a self-portrait, according to federal prosecutors. Clasby also arranged for the city to pay over $38,000 to a New York consulting company owned by his friend, federal prosecutors said. The consulting company didnt provide any goods or services to Quincy, federal prosecutors said. Instead, Clasbys friend cashed the citys checks and gave Clasby the money at three separate places: A rest stop in Framingham, a ferry terminal in Bridgeport, Connecticut and at the friends New York apartment. Starting in June 2021, Clasby stole most of the cash receipts from the citys elder services department at the Kennedy Center in Quincy, federal prosecutors said. Thomas Clasbys alleged betrayal of trust is not just a theft from the City of Quincy but an affront to the seniors he was sworn to serve and the taxpayers who funded these programs, former U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy said in a statement in January 2025. As Director of Elder Services, Mr. Clasby was entrusted with protecting vulnerable members of his community. Instead, he allegedly used his position to fund personal indulgences, from bourbon steak tips to a custom-framed self-portrait, and even went so far as to collect cash handoffs at ferry terminals and rest stops. Let this indictment serve as a reminder: public officials who exploit their positions for personal gain will be found out and held accountable for their crimes. The trial is expected to start Feb. 23. If Clasby is found guilty of these charges, he could serve multiple years in prison, federal authorities said. One of the charges regarding mail and wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Boston police have arrested a second man in connection with the October shooting that left 18-year-old GKiyah Lewis dead. Kwessi Silcott, 20, of Mattapan, turned himself in at a Roxbury police station on Friday, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office. Silcott was wanted for murder and carrying a firearm without a license. On Tuesday, another man, Dhkrai Wornum-Brown, was arrested at an apartment in Roxbury in connection with the same case. Wornum-Brown was arraigned Wednesday and is charged with first-degree murder and carrying a firearm without a license. At Wornum-Browns arraignment, the district attorney urged the second suspect to turn himself in. On Oct. 11, Lewis was standing on the front porch of a house in Mattapan when she was shot, along with two men. Lewis was taken to a hospital and died from her injuries on Nov. 11. The other two victims survived. Silcott is expected to be arraigned Friday in Dorchester. Wornum-Brown pleaded not guilty. Lewis was a senior at Malden High School who loved fashion, the beach, bubble tea and taking photos, her mother, Rehema Grayson, told The Boston Globe. She had two younger sisters. Thats my best friend and they stole her from me, said Grayson, 34. Her school is hurting, our family is hurting, Im hurting. Travelers taking Cape Air or JetBlue might want to double check their flight status, especially those traveling to and from Boston. The two airlines have had many flight delays and cancellations over the holidays and continuing into the weekend. Cape Air sent out an alert earlier this week that high winds and mixed winter precipitation on Monday would affect flights to and from parts of New England. On Monday, 38 total Cape Air flights were canceled and 31 were delayed. This included 32 canceled flights to and from Boston. On Tuesday, more than 70 Cape Air flights were canceled with 65 of them to and from Boston. By Thursday, 16 Boston flights on Cape Air were canceled and 24 were delayed. On Friday morning, six flights were canceled and four were delayed. Customers were allowed to change their travel plans to alternative flights through Jan. 6 without any additional fees prior to the winter weather. We appreciate your patience as our teams closely monitor weather conditions and work to operate safely, the airlines website states. JetBlue was also experiencing delays and cancellations Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. While only six flights were canceled to and from Boston on Thursday, there were more than 150 delays, which accounted for 61% of JetBlue flights in the city Thursday. On Friday morning, JetBlue had canceled nine Boston flights and delayed nearly 30 flights. JetBlue did not immediately respond to MassLives request for comment. Overall, Boston is experiencing some of the highest cancellations out of all airports Friday. As of 11 a.m., 10 flights had been canceled and more than 40 flights were delayed. Its a big year for the United States, with 2026 marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Thats an awesome legacy. But there are some spots in Massachusetts that go even further back in terms of history. Not all of them served as a restaurant or inn before 1776, but in those cases, the buildings themselves do. Some of them date back to the 1600s. Heres a roundup of notable Massachusetts destinations with histories dating back further than America itself. Snow blankets a grist mill at Longfellow's Wayside Inn in Sudbury. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes) How old is it? Its served as an inn since 1716. This Massachusetts landmark is one of the oldest establishments in the country and is included in the National Register of Historic Places. The inn touts that it started with humble beginnings as a simple, two-room family home hosting travelers along the Old Boston Post Road in 1716. Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow famously stayed there in 1862, using it as the setting of his collection of poems, Tales of a Wayside Inn. Now, its one of the most scenic destinations in Massachusetts, serving as an inn, restaurant and event space. A general view of The Union Oyster House on March 2, 2013, in Boston. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images) Union Oyster House, Boston How old is it? Its been a restaurant since 1826, but the building is much older. The Oyster House traces its history back to 1742, when the building was home to a dress goods business. The restaurant notes that there are no official records of when the building was constructed. A designated National Historic Landmark, Union Oyster House touts itself as the oldest restaurant in America. Some reports state that the property may date back as far as 1716. As the name suggests, the restaurant serves a seafood-heavy menu, with an emphasis on oysters. The 1761 Old Mill Restaurant & Cracker Barrel Pub in Westminster. (Nick O'Malley/MassLive) How old is it? It was first built as a mill in 1761. It became a tea room in 1921 and a restaurant in 1946. The Old Mill first opened as, well, a mill in 1761. However, the restaurant says the mill went out of business and fell into disrepair in the late 1800s. It later served as a summertime tea house from 1921 to 1942. In 1946, Ralph and Ruth Foster purchased the property and turned it into a year-round restaurant. The Old Mill remains in the Foster family, now in its third generation of ownership. These days, the Old Mill is famous for its rustic architecture, waterfall, pondside setting and of course its pecan rolls. A room from the Hart House as reconstructed at the Metropolitan. Museum of Art. (Photo by: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) 1640 Hart House, Ipswich How old is it? Hart House dates back to about 1640 or 1680, depending on who you ask. It touts itself as being built by Thomas Hart in 1640, only twenty years after the arrival of the Pilgrims. However, a 2007 study traced the earliest construction back to around 1680. Historic Ipswich suggests that it was, in fact, built by Harts son, Samuel Hart. Regardless, the building is one of the oldest American constructions that is still standing today. Some of the original rooms were even dismantled and moved to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Winterthur Museum in Delaware. The Hart House remained a private residence until recently. In 2003, owners Jim Lesko and Kim Costello purchased the property to turn it into a restaurant. Barkers Farm, North Andover How old is it? The farm dates back to 1642 While Barkers Farm isnt a restaurant or inn, this historic farm stand is still in operation. Barkers Farm touts itself as the oldest continuously operated family farm in the United States. It was originally founded by Richard Barker in 1642. Years later, many of Barkers children were accused of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials. These days, Barkers Farm operates a farm stand and offers apple picking and flower picking during its open season. Colonial Inn 1716, Concord, Massachusetts. (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) How old is it? The structure was built in 1716 and fully opened as a hotel in 1889. In its early years, the inn served as a storehouse for arms and provisions during the Revolutionary War. In the 1800s, it began to transition into a general store, boarding house and small hotel. Henry David Thoreau stayed at the property from 1835 to 1837 while he went to school at Harvard. The Colonial Inn marks 1889 as the year it began to fully operate as a hotel. These days, the inn has multiple wings and two restaurants, offering a variety of hospitality options for lodging and events. Old Yarmouth Inn, Yarmouth Port How old is it? The inn claims it dates back to 1696. The Old Yarmouth Inn doesnt have the lofty historic landmark accolades as some of its 17th century counterparts in Massachusetts. But it does have a long legacy of spooky ghost stories and claims that it is haunted. While its still dubbed an inn, the establishment no longer offers overnight lodging. Instead, it serves as a restaurant and event space. The Publick House is located at 277 Main Street in Sturbridge. Publick House Historic Inn, Sturbridge How old is it? Its served as an inn since 1771. The historic space in Sturbridge has come a long way since Ebenezer Crafts first opened in 1771. These days, the Publick House is known for its tap room, tavern, bake shoppe and as a picturesque setting for weddings and other events. Jill Scott is making her long-awaited return to music this year. The R&B star announced Friday that her new album, To Whom This May Concern, will be released on Feb. 13. The album will mark Scotts first full-length project since 2015s Woman, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. THIS MAY CONCERN drops Feb. 13th, Scott wrote in an Instagram post on Jan. 2. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE and THANK YOU for your patience and your listening ears. Fans can pre-save or pre-order the album online. Scott is a three-time Grammy Award-winning artist who achieved platinum success straight out the gate with her 2000 debut album, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1." A fixture of the modern Neo-soul movement, the Philadelphia native achieved further success with her following albums Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 (2004), The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 (2007) and The Light of the Sun (2011). In 2025, Scott marked the 25th anniversary of her debut album with a special Jill Scott & Friends performance at Essence Festival in July. Scott is also an accomplished actress. She made her film debut in 2007 in Hounddog and Tyler Perrys Why Did I Get Married?. Scott has also starred in the BBC/HBO series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, the film Get on Up and appeared in The CWDC Comics superhero series Black Lightning. Scott has been more focused on acting since her last album, most recently making a guest appearance on Abbott Elementary. She will return to the screen for Tyler Perrys Why Did I Get Married Again? for Netflix, which started production in October 2025. The iconic stand-up comedian who also hosted several national talk shows has died. He was 67. John Mulrooney was found dead inside of his home in Coxsackie, New York on Dec. 29, the Times Union reported. His cause of death has not been revealed. Im just stunned, Mulrooneys close friend Steve Van Zandt told the newspaper. To talk to somebody less than two weeks ago, and he had mentioned what he was doing for Christmas, and he was looking forward to 2026 because he had a pretty full calendar... Its all so unexpected. Its still sinking in. Mulrooneys career in comedy began in the 1980s at Pips in Sheepshead Bay, New York, his obituary reads. Mulrooney then went on to perform across the country for decades at venues like the Improv, the Comic Strip and the Laugh Factory. In Hollywood, Mulrooney hosted a handful of television shows including Comedy Tonight, the Late Show and Comic Strip Live. He was also a part of other standup specials via HBO, Showtime, A&E and Comedy Central. John Mulrooney will be remembered as much for being a loyal friend to countless people as for the laughter he brought to a multitude of strangers, the comedians obituary says. His voice, his stories and his spirit will continue to echo in the lives of those he touched. A woman who was found dead in a California hotel on New Years Day is believed to be the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones. Although formal identification from a medical examiner is pending, a police source with direct knowledge of the investigation told NBC Bay Area that the woman found dead in a hallway of the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel is suspected to be Victoria Jones. First responders were called to the hotel at around 2:52 a.m. on Jan. 1 following reports of a medical emergency, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department told TMZ. Paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected, NBC Bay Area reported. Victoria Jones was the daughter of Tommy Lee Jones and his former wife, Kimberlea Cloughley, according to PEOPLE. The couple also have a son named Austin Jones. During her fathers career, Victoria Jones made select appearances at a young age in films like Men in Black II and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. She also had a part in an episode of the popular teen drama TV series One Tree Hill in 2003, PEOPLE wrote. A Wrentham police dog located and rescued a person from the cold, snowy woods after an hours-long search in Bellingham. The dog, Cruiser, was called in after a single-vehicle crash in the early morning hours on New Years Day, according to a post on the Wrentham police Facebook page. An SUV struck a utility pole, and the vehicles crash detection system sent an alert to the Bellingham Emergency Dispatch Center. Bellingham police found the vehicle unoccupied, with footprints leading into the woods. Officers followed the tracks and found an injured man who appeared to be disoriented, likely due to exposure to the freezing cold. Police continued to search the woods, but after 30 minutes the falling snow made it difficult to follow the footprints. Around 3 a.m., Bellingham police called Wrentham police to request assistance from Cruiser and his handler, Sgt. Dan Morris. It took more than two hours, but Cruiser tracked and located another of the vehicles occupants deep in the woods. That person was also suffering from exposure, according to authorities, and was taken to a hospital. A third occupant was later confirmed to have been picked up by an unknown vehicle, according to police. After returning to the warmth of the police station, Cruiser was rewarded with ice cream. Actor George Clooney lashed out at Donald Trump after the president criticized Frances decision to grant the actors family French citizenship. Clooney, his wife Amal Clooney and their children were granted citizenship in December after living at an estate in France since 2021, according to Esquire. This was because Clooney had fears of raising children around Hollywood culture. I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood, he told the magazine. I dont want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I dont want them being compared to somebody elses famous kids. After the decision was made, Trump wrote on Truth Social: Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden. The president continued, Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasnt a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney responded to Trumps post by referring to the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3, I totally agree with the current president, Clooney said. We have to make America great again. Well start in November. The Oceans Eleven star said that his family is happiest in France, according to The Guardian. Clooney provided examples of this to Esquire stating that his kids are not on their iPads and dine with grown-ups before cleaning up their dishes. They have a much better life, the actor said, adding that he felt like his kids were never going to get a fair shake at life in Hollywood. France they kind of dont give a [expletive] about fame." Clooney also has a home in England and Kentucky, where he was born, according to the New York Times. However, their farming estate in France is his and the familys primary residence. Growing up in Kentucky, all I wanted to do was get away from a farm, get away from that life, he told the Times in February. Now I find myself back in that life. I drive a tractor and all those things. Its the best chance of a normal life. Though fire deaths dropped in Massachusetts last year, the state saw its deadliest blaze in decades a Fall River assisted living facility fire that killed 10 people even as most fatal fires happened at homes and many without smoke alarms. A total of 44 people died from 30 fires statewide in 2025, according to the Department of Fire Services, excluding fatal fires that started from a car crash. This is down by 12% from the 50 fire deaths that happened in 2024. One child, a 4-year-old girl from North Adams, was killed by a fire in the last year, while 24 people aged 65 or older died in fires more than half of the victims, the office said. Many of those numbers come from the catastrophic Gabriel House assisted living facility fire in July, which killed 10 people. It was the greatest loss of life from a single fire that Massachusetts has experienced more than 40 years, the office said. In the aftermath, survivors and relatives of those who died have filed multiple lawsuits against facility owner Dennis Etzkorn and Fire Systems Inc., the company contracted to inspect the fire suppression system. The two parties are also locked in a separate legal battle, each blaming the other for the systems failure. At least eight civil lawsuits filed since uniformly assert negligence, claiming the sprinkler system was known to be defective and that the assisted living facility was not properly managed, supervised or inspected. The unsafe use or disposal of smoking materials remained the leading cause for fatal fires, accounting for 21 deaths in 2025 what investigators believe was the combined cause with oxygen tanks in the Gabriel House fire. The state fire marshals office noted it was unusual for the Gabriel House fire to have happened in July as the majority occurred in cold months. November was the second leading month with nine deaths, followed by March and October with four each. And though the Gabriel House fire accounted for the highest number of deaths in a single fire, the majority began at home, the office noted. A total of 14 people died in single-family homes, nine in apartments or multi-family homes, four in mobile homes in three people inside two-family homes. This includes the death of 21-year-old Kayla Corrigan, a woman killed in a fire at her home in Needham on Dec. 24. Corrigan was a senior in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University studying marketing management and was on track to graduate this spring. Seventy-five firefighters from departments across the region had battled for seven hours Wednesday morning to bring the flames under control at the Needham home, the office of State Fire Marshal John M. Davine said. Two other adults in the home escaped and the cause was deemed not suspicious, the Department of Fire Services said. Most fatal fires in 2025 occurred overnight, between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m., the office said. Of the 40 residential fire deaths last year, smoke alarm status could be determined in 30 casesand only 16 homes had working alarms. The rest were missing or not functioning. Sadly, the places we should feel safest our homes are where most people lose their lives to fire, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said. The numbers underscore how lifesaving working smoke alarms are, Davine said. ... we have less time to escape a fire at home than ever before, Davine said, pointing to modern construction and synthetic furnishings that allow flames to spread faster and produce more toxic smoke. Working smoke alarms give you that warning before its too late. Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram Kyrylo Budanov has accepted the offer of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to head the Office of the Head of State. "I continue to serve Ukraine. I consider the position of Head of the Office of the President as another milestone of responsibility to the country. For me, it is an honor and a responsibility - at a historic time for Ukraine to focus on critically important issues of the strategic security of our state," he wrote in Telegram on Friday. Budanov thanked the President of Ukraine for his trust and the entire team of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for their joint work. "I thank all my comrades-in-arms and the entire team of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for their joint work. We must continue to do our part - to beat the enemy, defend Ukraine and work to achieve a just peace. We continue to fight together for a free and secure future of Ukraine! Lets stand up!" the message says. from President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani are going into 2026 with polar opposite favorability ratings. Just days before Mamdani was inaugurated as mayor of New York City, his net favorability rating with New York City voters stood at a +38, a figure that had skyrocketed from +38, a figure that had skyrocketed from a +14 in September, according to CNN analyst Harry Enten. New York City voters have never felt better about the man that they elected to lead this city come 2026, Enten said in a video posted on X. Mamdanis net favorability across New York State is similarly strong, standing at a +15 going into the new year. Trumps favorability in his home state of New York tells a completely different story. Across the Empire State, the presidents net favorability is at -30 heading into 2026, according to Enten. If Zohran Mamdani were something, hed be the Empire State Building, way up there in the clouds in terms of popularity compared to other politicians in the state of New York, Enten said. And Donald Trump, well, he would be like a garbage dump out on Staten Island. Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City just after midnight on Thursday. Becoming the citys first Muslim mayor and, at 34, the youngest since the 19th century, according to ABC-7, the Democratic Socialist assured New Yorkers during his inaugural address that he intended to follow through with his many campaign promises. In writing this address, I have been told that this is the occasion to reset expectations, that I should use this opportunity to encourage the people of New York to ask for little and expect even less, he said in his inaugural address. I will do no such thing. The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations. Massachusetts is ringing in 2026 with new laws and regulations reshaping everything from cannabis to hunting rules. While some changes will take effect starting this year, others are still on the horizon, but each promise to touch residents lives. Heres what you can expect in 2026. Cannabis regulations Regulations from the states Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) have shifted to allow cannabis lounges and other on-site pot consumption in Massachusetts. Voters allowed such establishments when they legalized recreational cannabis in 2016, but regulations were delayed due to safety concerns and took years to develop. The CCC approved them Dec. 11, as previously reported by MassLive. The CCC established three types of licenses: a supplemental license for existing cannabis businesses to add on-site consumption to their offerings, a hospitality license for non-cannabis businesses to host pot-friendly activities in partnership with regular cannabis businesses, and an event organizer license to allow temporary consumption events. However, before any cannabis lounges can open, the CCC needs to finalize staff training requirements on responsible service and overconsumption, similar to bartender training for alcohol. Cities, towns and local boards of health and licensing authors must also opt in, often by changing zoning laws. With these necessary community agreements and a licensing process that hasnt started yet despite rules taking effect on Jan. 2, 2026 the first lounges are likely a year or more away, CCC Chair Shannon OBrien told WBZ. Expanded deer hunting Beginning in 2026, regulations for deer hunting in Massachusetts will be expanded on the islands of Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard, where deer populations are overabundant, according to Department of Fish and Game Director Tom OShea. These new regulations will now allow for a six-week winter primitive firearms and bowhunting season from Jan. 1 through Feb. 14, 2026. Additionally, an early fall deer hunting season will be established from Sept. 21 through Oct. 1, 2026, for primitive firearms and archery equipment. Public listening sessions will also be held in early 2026 to consider additional tools to manage the deer population, like a further-expanded hunting season or hunting on Sundays. Massachusetts is one of two states in the country that does not allow Sunday hunting. The statewide goal is 12-18 deer per square mile, but MassWildlife estimates the Islands each have more than 100 deer per square mile. Authorities say the high population harms forest health, negatively impacts other wildlife species and can lead to the spread of tick-borne disease, increased deer versus vehicle collisions and coastal erosion. Assault and battery on transit officers A new amendment to an existing law will strengthen the penalties for assault and battery against transit workers and other public employees, especially those involving bodily fluids. This amendment, signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey at the start of December, sentences those convicted of assaulting an on-duty transit worker to a mandatory minimum of 90 days and up to two-and-a-half years in the house of correction. It also carries a fine between $500 and $5,000. Previously, the penalties in the law were generally lighter and did not explicitly include transit workers, nor specifically include assaults with bodily substances. New commemorative calendar dates Starting in 2026, two new dates will be added to calendars in Massachusetts a Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day for military service members and veterans, and a Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day. The Suicide Awareness Day for military service members will fall on Sept. 22, according to an act accompanying a bill signed by Gov. Maura Healey in late November. This will be held annually to acknowledge the epidemic of suicides among service members and veterans, according to language in the bill, and in recognition and in honor of fallen service members and veterans and their families. Additionally, June 7 will be known as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day, with legislators recommending that the day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people. Boston shivered through its second-coldest December in 25 years, with an average high temperature below freezing and the arctic air could keep coming. The average high temperature of 31.3 degrees for the month of December was second only to 2017 since the turn of the century. In December 2017, the citys average was 30.7 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, Canada (and Greenland) were to blame for the frigid conditions in Massachusetts. Weve had a lot of cold air coming down from Canada, with some higher pressure near Greenland, Francis Tarasiewicz, a National Weather Service meteorologist working out of the Boston/Norton station, told MassLive Friday. So that has allowed an atmospheric circulation that has pushed down much colder air from the arctic. Bostons arctic-infused mean temperature of 24.4 degrees was actually the lowest since 2000, when the city recorded a mean of 22.5 degrees. Central Massachusetts was a bit chillier, as Worcester recorded an average high temperature of 33.0 degrees for December. A cold December doesnt mean a cold January is to follow, however, as Tarasiewicz said the arctic air doesnt necessarily impact the long-term forecast. There arent really strong signals as to whether its going to be really cold or really warm over the next couple of months, he said. The combination of higher pressure over far northern areas and lower pressure below could lead to more storms in the coming months. Could we see a couple of storms in this pattern? Absolutely, Tarasiewicz said. With this type of pattern and plenty of cold air in place, you could see storms, especially a little later in the winter. CHICOPEE The Cabotville Mill property might land in the hands of the city because of unpaid taxes, according to Hampden County Registry of Deeds documents. Chicopee officials were hopeful that the sprawling 700,000-square-foot property in the citys center would be redeveloped to help revitalize the downtown. Instead, John Vieau, the citys mayor, said Friday, We were forced to take (tax) title. The citys liens go unpaid, it could force a foreclosure. Recouping the lost taxes which is about $750,000, with interest might result in Cabotville being put on the auction block, said Vieau. Documents show that 4 Perkins LLC, managed by Aaron Papowitz, bought the massive mill property in 2018 for $7.8 million. After purchasing the building on Front Street, 4 Perkins received a $25.5 million construction mortgage from the Easthampton Savings Bank but did little to improve or renovate the property, according to a lawsuit filed by the city against the property owner last year over a lien for the citys expenses in keeping the building secure. That cost the city $88,000. The Dwight Manufacturing Co. expanded the site of the Cabotville Mill complex. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook The mortgage was discharged in 2021, according to the complaint. In March 2022, the city brought code enforcement violations against 4 Perkins after it failed to comply with state building and fire safety requirements. The buildings tenants had to evacuate under court order after a judge deemed it unsafe. Vieau said Friday that no one is occupying the building. Papowitz, according to deed documents, did not keep the buildings fire alarm panel and fire sprinkler system up to code, incurring thousands of dollars that he owes to the city. The building is condemned, Vieau said. We gave him many chances to right these violations, but he did not. Vieau said it was in the best interests of the community to take back the mill property but noted that the city is not a landlord. We dont want to own other peoples real estate, he said. Were not in the business of taking titles or redeveloping properties. A historic marker explains the history of the Cabotville Mill in Chicopee. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook Vieau said he has not recently spoken with Papowitz, who did not return a request for comment Friday afternoon. Last spring, Mark Yunger, a New York entrepreneur, filed a new special permit application with the City Council, renewing an interest in purchasing the mill property for redevelopment. Vieau said the deal between Yunger and Papowitz had fallen through in the fall after a disagreement over the purchasing costs. However, another prospective buyer might be in the wings, the mayor said. The small town feel Ive been working towards is still in the works, he said. The former mill building, which was condemned in 2022, has been the subject of cautious optimism for many years, as interested parties have filed redevelopment proposals. Older special permit proposals have been approved by the City Council to convert the building into about 600 units of housing, a continued vision of the mayor. While it is not in Vieaus purview to determine what comes of the property, he said he is well-aware of the shortage of housing units in Western Massachusetts, and how a repurposed Cabotville could have an effect on the region. The former Dwight Manufacturing Co. mill has fallen into disrepair, and the city of Chicopee has begun the process to take ownership of it for back taxes. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook I strongly believe this property is a key component of revitalizing our downtown, said Vieau. There are potentially 600 units of workforce housing that will offer a place for people to live near where they work. Vieau encourages potential buyers to reach out to the city if they are interested in redeveloping the property. This story has been corrected to reflect that the Cabotville Mill building owner owes about $750,000 in back taxes, that $88,000 was the cost to secure the building, and that the process is beginning for the potential taking of the building by the city. Communities across Western Massachusetts will kick off 2026 by swearing in mayors who will be starting their second, third and even fourth terms. The events will be held on Monday, with the earliest starting at 9:30 a.m. and latest at 7 p.m. Dozens of new and returning city councilors, school committee members and others who hold elected positions also will take oaths of office. None of the Hampden County mayors who will take their oaths of office are new. Holyokes Joshua Garcia and Agawams Christopher Johnson each won their first bid for reelection in November, while those in West Springfield, Westfield, and Chicopee have been in office longer. Johnson also served as mayor in the 1990s. Chicopee Mayor John L. Vieau will start his fourth term on Monday in a swearing in that starts at 10 a.m. in the City Hall auditorium. Also included in the ceremony are two assessors, the new collector, the 13 members of the City Council and 11 other School Committee members. I wasnt sure how long I would stay when I first ran, but Im passionate about what I do. I love the city of Chicopee, Vieau said. Im excited about where we are heading. In the past year or so, Chicopee was listed as the most affordable community in Massachusetts, and Vieau said he works hard to try to keep it that way. But it isnt all about budgets and attracting businesses, Vieau said; he really enjoys hosting National Night Out, which is ranked the 12th largest in the country, and the Halloween Spooktacular, which attracts thousands to Szot Park every year. I believe it about the dynamic team we have built, he said. Im just so grateful for our employees who come to work and do a good job every day. Springfields swearing in also will take place at 10 a.m. Monday in City Hall. Two of the 13 city councilors and three of seven School Committee members are newcomers. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, who is the dean of the Western Massachusetts mayors, is half-way through his four-year term, so he is not part of the swearing-in ceremony. After the event, the City Council will convene and officially elect a new president and vice president. In an informal vote in December, the council selected Tracye Whitfield to serve as the bodys first Black female president and Jose Delgado as the vice president. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia ran unopposed when seeking his second, four-year term in the city and is scheduled to be sworn in at 10 a.m. in City Hall. Brenna Murphy Leary, who also ran unopposed, will take the oath to continue in the position of city clerk. On the City Council, four of the 13 members to be sworn in are new, and two of the nine School Committee members who take the oath were elected in November for the first time. Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe fought off a challenge in November and will be sworn into his third term to lead the city at 9:30 a.m. at Westfield High School. Multiple other elected officials also will formally begin their terms, including the 13 city councilors, six School Committee members, Municipal Light Board members and an athenaeum trustee. The City Council will hold an 11:30 a.m. meeting in City Hall to elect a president. West Springfield Mayor William C. Reichelt will be sworn in to his third, four-year term Monday after holding off a challenge from Town Councilor Daniel M. OBrien in November. The inauguration ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the West Springfield Town Hall Auditorium. Also being sworn in are the nine members of the City Council and the six School Committee members. Organizational meetings in which the council and School Committee will select officers will be held after the ceremony. Agawam Agawams swearing-in ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. with Johnson, the 11 members of the City Council and six members of the School Committee taking their oath of office. The City Council, which has three new members, will meet after the ceremony to elect a new president. Current Councilor and President Rosemary Sandlin said she is not running for the position again. SOUTHWICK The Select Board voted unanimously to approve the warrant for the Special Town Meeting that included an additional article related to health insurance for the towns retirees. It was Article 1 that essentially drove the need to have a Special Town Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 13, after the Select Board were formally asked by town employees in September to hold one to adjust the percentage the town pays for employee health insurance. Currently, the town pays 50% of the health insurance premium for each employee but with health insurance premiums skyrocketing there are some employees who received an annual cost of living raise but ended up bringing less money home after taxes and covering their portion of the premium. Fire Department Prevention Officer Brian Schneider, who represented the towns employees, said adjusting the split would make it a more desirable place of employment for both new and existing employees. He also pointed out that the town has lost a few employees over the last year, in part, because of the unaffordable health insurance premium. Article 1 will only ask residents to approve adjusting the split. The split will be negotiated by the town administration and its employees if the article passes, said Chief Administrative Officer Nicole Parker. However, the town doesnt have to explain in the article how it might be paid for. Article 2, which has been added in the last two weeks, will ask residents at the Special Town Meeting to allow towns retired employees with at least 10 years of service -- to also have their 50/50 health insurance premium split adjusted. This authorization is the same exact thing except [its] for retirees. So, its very similar to Article 1, but it covers our retired employees, said board member Douglas Moglin. Article 3 will ask residents to approve of the town spending $220,000 to finish a public safety project to replace the towns radio system. If approved, the funds will be used to purchase microwave repeaters that will be installed on the four nodes used by public safety to broadcast and receive radio messages throughout the entire town. Currently, the nodes are hardwired with copper cable, which is maintained by Verizon. The telecommunications company had alerted the town it will stop maintaining the lines in early 2027. So, this $220,000 to complete the system and get the new radio system up and going is something that we need to do and we need to go in front of town meeting to get that approval, Moglin said. At the board meeting Finance Committee chair Joseph Deedy said that since free cash had been certified it is $4,527,287 the funds needed for the radio system would be withdrawn from that. Article 4 is a general bylaw amendment related to the employment of outside consultants used by the Planning Board to review applications. Developers that submit the application bear the cost of the review. Article 5, which was requested by the Planning Board, will ask residents to support a temporary moratorium on any renewable energy systems, like a battery electric storage system or the construction of large-scale solar array fields. As 2025 draws to a close, the new year will bring new changes for the City of Worcester. From brand new city councilors, a new resource center for the homeless, to a new starting line for the Pan Mass Challenge, Massachusettss second largest city has plenty to be on the lookout for in 2026. Here are 10 things Worcester residents should anticipate for the next year. 1. New (and returning) city council members The Worcester City Council will feature some brand new and familiar faces in 2026. The winners of the Nov. 5 municipal election for city council will all be sworn into office on Jan. 2. Of the 11 councilor-elects, four of them, District 2 Councilor-elect Robert Bilotta, District 3 Councilor-elect John Fresolo, District 5-Councilor-elect Jose Rivera and Councilor-at-Large-elect Satya Mitra, are newcomers. Two of the councilors-elect, Councilor-at-Large-elect Gary Rosen and District 1 Councilor-elect Tony Economou, served on the council in the past, returning to politics once more. The remaining five winners of the Nov. 5 election, Mayor Joseph Petty, Vice Chair and Councilor-at-Large Khrystain King, Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Toomey, Councilor-at-Large Morris Bergman and District 4 Councilor Luis Ojeda, are all incumbents. 2. Upcoming construction for bike lanes A proposed project that would add bike lanes, more sidewalks and more pedestrian crossings to Worcesters Pleasant Street is scheduled to have construction begin in the Fall of 2026, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The bike lanes will be a minimum of five feet and a buffer in between the bike lane and the travel lanes will be created, according to the department. The cost of the project is around $4 million, according to MassDOT. 3. A new homeless resource center A resource center for homeless individuals is expected to open sometime in 2026. City Manager Eric D. Batista previously announced that Worcester will be partnering with the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance (CMHA) to open a day resource center at 134 Gold St. The resource center will be a place where individuals experiencing homelessness will be able to access services for housing, employment, and other resources in one location. Clients will be able to visit the resource center during its daytime hours and will have access to bathrooms, showers, charging stations, laundry and storage lockers, according to the press release from the city. 4. New developments with less required parking As part of the citys housing production plan aimed at developing 12,000 housing units by 2033, the city will look at either eliminating or significantly reducing parking minimums in 2026, according to Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn. Parking minimums are local regulations that require the development of a specific number of parking spaces for new buildings. The citys housing production plan reads that scholars have linked parking minimums to limiting land for development. While Worcester has eliminated parking requirements in zoning areas for general business, the plan suggests the city should look at other areas where minimums can be either reduced or eliminated. Dunn told MassLive the city administration will submit a recommendation for a zoning ordinance to either significantly reduce or eliminate parking minimums in the city next year. 5. A new starting line for the Pan-Mass Challenge The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester will be the new starting line for the 2026 Pan-Mass Challenge. Riders taking part in the bike-a-thon will now start in Massachusetts second largest city rather than Sturbridge, which had been the starting point for the PMC since 1981. The Holy Cross campus will be a place where riders gather to receive support, including food, water, mechanical assistance and medical care during the event, a college spokesperson previously told MassLive. It is the intention of the PMC to start at Holy Cross in Worcester from 2026 and beyond, per the spokesperson. 6. New galleries at Worcester Art Museum A new set of galleries of American art dating from the colonial period through the 19th century will open at the Worcester Art Museum in April 2026, according to the museums website. Iconic works from the collection such as the paired portraits of John Freake and Elizabeth Clarke Freake and Baby Mary (16711674), Winslow Homers The Gale (18831893), and silver objects crafted by Paul Revere will be on view, along with lesser-known and rarely seen treasures including changing displays of light-sensitive items that can only be exhibited for limited amounts of time, the website reads. The opening of the galleries will coincide with the celebration of the United Statess 250th birthday, according to the museum. 7. Completed construction of Kane Apartment buildings A project to renovate the Kane Building on Main Street into 20 apartment units is estimated to be finished in 2026, according to the developer responsible for the project. The developer in question is Menkiti Group, a Washington, D.C.-based developer with offices in Worcester. Menkiti Group provided the estimated completion year in a June 3 press release. Construction on the building at 204 Main St. began in 2025. The Kane Building was first constructed by Kane Enterprises, which included Kane Furniture Co. It housed the company until it closed in the 1950s, according to the Telegram & Gazette. 8. A concert from Journey on their farewell tour Fans of legendary rock band Journey will get a chance to see them perform in Worcester at the DCU Center on Saturday, June 6. The band announced their farewell tour, named the Final Frontier Tour, on Thursday, Nov. 6. The tour will feature of 60 shows starting on Feb. 28 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Journey will travel across the U.S. throughout the first half of the year, ending in Laredo, Texas, on July 2. Before they wrap their tour, the band will perform in Worcester in June. This tour is our heartfelt thank you to the fans whove been with us every step of the way through every song, every era, every high and low, guitarist Neal Schon said via a news release. 9. A new comedy show from Jerry Seinfeld Legendary stand-up comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld will be performing in Worcester in 2026 as part of his latest routine. Seinfeld will perform two shows at The Hanover Theatre in Worcester on Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. People can either buy tickets online or by calling The Hanover Theatre at 877-571-7469. 10. New intercity bus service coming to Worcester Finally, next year will see the launch of a new bus route from Boston to New Haven that will feature Worcester as a stop, according to an August press release from GOGO Charters, an Atlanta-based charter bus service. GOGO Charters will be responsible for operating the route, The bus stop for Worcester will be at the AC Hotel Worcester, 125 Front St. Fares will start at $10, according to the press release. As part of our recap of the many stories from Mayo in 2025, we will be posting some of the stories that performed best across The Mayo News site this year. Here is a story that generated a lot of interest in September. Passport? Wallet? Phone? Keys? Dog? The checklist for a growing number of Irish holidaymakers now includes finding a dog friendly hotel or B&B. Recognising the new trend, The Irish Times has compiled a nine strong shortlist of dog friendly holiday spots around Ireland. The Wyatt Hotel in Westport is listed alongside Cashel Palace, Castlemartyr Resort and Muckross Park Hotel in Co Kerry as a top spot for dog lovers looking to go on holiday in Ireland. The Irish Times review describes Westport as arguably Irelands prettiest town. Walks in Westport House, Brackloon Woods and the Great Western Greenway provide plenty of options for dogs to get a good stretch of their legs. READ MORE: Keeping Christopher Gavins memory alive The Irish Times notes that The Wyatt Hotel offers dog-friendly bedrooms in a secluded area of the property with exterior access and exercise opportunities in a lovely green area. While dogs are not allowed in the main public areas, guests can enjoy breakfast with their pets in a specially designated area of the hotel and dine in Cobblers Bar for dinner. READ MORE: Mayo school's students outperform national average in Leaving Cert Budanov's appointment as head of President's Office is signal to military about opportunity to build a career after the war - MP Arakhamia Photo: Video NV @newvoiceua The decision of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to appoint Kyrylo Budanov as the head of his Office is a signal to the military that after the end of the war they will have opportunities to build a career, head of the Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia has said. "This is the presidents decision and we support it. I believe that this is a good signal to all the military that after the end of the war they will have many career opportunities," Arakhamia told the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Friday. According to the peoples deputy, Budanov has proven himself well both as a military man and as an administrator. "I sincerely wish him success in his new position," Arakhamia said. Farhan Akhtars much-talked-about Don 3 continues to stay in the spotlight. After Ranveer Singhs exit sparked widespread online buzz, the project drew further attention when Kiara Advani and Vikrant Massey also stepped away from the film. Now, a fresh development has added to the intrigue. A source told HT that Farhan is keen on casting Rajat Bedi, whose surprising second innings in The Ba***ds of Bollywood recently set the internet buzzing. The 51-year-old actor is currently in discussions with the makers to play a key role in the third chapter of the iconic franchise. As per sources, Rajat is being considered as a potential replacement for Vikrant Massey, who recently exited the project. Instagram/Vikrant Massey A source stated, Farhan is considering Rajat Bedi to play a pivotal part for which Vikrant was roped in originally. The actor-producer have done an official conversation around and the two are planning to meet around mid of Jan at their Khar office in Mumbai. According to a Bollywood Hungama report from July 2025, Vikrant exited the film, with industry sources claiming that he stepped away due to the role lacking depth and requiring a major transformation. At the time, there were also online reports suggesting that Aditya Roy Kapur and Vijay Deverakonda were being considered as possible replacements, though the makers never officially confirmed these claims. Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Oleh Ivaschenko will continue to carry out tasks to limit Russias military potential in a position within the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a meeting with him. "Starting today, Oleh Ivaschenko will continue serving our state and carrying out tasks to limit Russias military potential in a position within the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine," Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram channel on Friday. Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko will soon present candidates to replace the head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and Serhiy Deineko will continue working in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "At the same time, there are tasks related to changing approaches to the work of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. I discussed this with Serhiy as well. In the near future, Minister Klymenko will propose candidates to replace the Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and Serhiy Deineko will continue his work within the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. When the last American combat troops left Vietnam in January 1973, over 700,000 veterans needed psychological treatment for what no one knew how to diagnose. The VA couldn't help them because officially, their condition didn't exist. Nightmares, flashbacks, rage, emotional numbness. Veterans knew something was wrong. VA psychiatrists called it depression or schizophrenia. Treatment rarely worked because doctors were treating the wrong things. The psychiatric establishment had a term for combat trauma as early as 1952, when "gross stress reaction" appeared in the first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. By 1968, when the DSM was revised during peak Vietnam combat operations, that diagnosis vanished without explanation. Veterans coming home had nowhere to turn. Veterans Built Their Own System Without official recognition or treatment, Vietnam veterans created their own support networks. Groups such as Twice-Born Men formed for veterans leaving prison. Others met informally, what psychiatrist Robert Lifton called "street corner psychiatry." Veterans helped veterans because no one else would. They demanded answers. Why were so many veterans homeless, unemployed or addicted? Why did symptoms that started in Vietnam follow them for years? The VA denied disability claims for psychological conditions because no combat-related diagnosis existed in the manual. Advocates pushed back. Veterans testified before Congress. Researchers studied returning soldiers. Psychiatrists who worked with survivors of the Holocaust, rape victims and combat veterans saw the same patterns. Trauma didn't discriminate by source. The pressure mounted through the 1970s. Veterans organizations lobbied the American Psychiatric Association. Clinicians like Chaim Shatan wrote about "post-Vietnam syndrome" in The New York Times. The psychiatric community couldn't ignore 2.7 million veterans anymore. Read More: EMDR: The PTSD Treatment Many Veterans Don't Know the VA Offers In 1980, Changed Everything Five years after the war ended, the American Psychiatric Association added post-traumatic stress disorder to DSM-III. The diagnosis finally gave veterans' suffering a name and treatment pathway. More importantly, it shifted blame from individual weakness to external trauma. PTSD was the first psychiatric diagnosis to identify the cause as outside the person rather than an inherent flaw. That distinction mattered. Veterans weren't broken. They'd experienced events outside normal human experience and reacted normally to abnormal circumstances. Congress ordered the VA to study PTSD prevalence in 1983. The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study found that 15% of Vietnam veterans had PTSD. A follow-up study decades later showed 11% of male theater veterans and 7% of female theater veterans still struggled with PTSD 40 years after the war. The PTSD diagnosis opened doors. The VA developed specialized treatment programs. Research into trauma-focused therapies began. Veterans could file disability claims for a condition the VA finally recognized. But recognition came too late for thousands who'd suffered without help for years. Read More: December 1944: The Medics Who Saved Thousands at the Battle of the Bulge The Legacy Lives On Modern VA mental health treatment exists because Vietnam veterans refused to accept that their symptoms weren't real. They organized, testified, demanded research and forced the psychiatric establishment to acknowledge combat trauma. Today's veterans benefit from that fight. PTSD treatment protocols, specialized VA programs, disability compensation for mental health conditions. None of it existed before Vietnam veterans created it. The VA now offers evidence-based PTSD treatments such as cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure and EMDR. Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling. The Veterans Crisis Line operates 24/7. Mental health care is integrated into primary care. But gaps remain. Veterans still wait weeks for mental health appointments. Some VA facilities lack trained PTSD specialists. The stigma around mental health persists in military culture. Vietnam veterans fought a second war at home to get recognition and treatment. That fight created the modern VA mental health system. Every veteran who gets PTSD treatment today owes them a debt. Stay on Top of Your Veteran Benefits Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox. Venezuelans awoke Friday to mounting reports that a narrow stretch of coastline near its border with Colombia may have been the target of a U.S. military strike a move that would mark a sharp escalation in Washingtons pressure campaign against the Nicolas Maduro regime. The suspected strike occurred in the western reaches of the Gulf of Venezuela, between Puerto Lopez in Colombias La Guajira region and the Wayuu community of Poshoure in Venezuelas Zulia state, according to local and international media citing witness accounts. Analysts say the area has long been associated with illicit maritime trafficking and, more recently, with cocaine shipments moving through the Caribbean. Residents along Colombias La Guajira coast reported hearing a powerful explosion in mid-December that shattered the stillness of a windless afternoon. Moments later, plumes of dark smoke rose from the sea, prompting residents to record what appeared to be the aftermath of an airstrike. The footage circulating on social media marks the first visual evidence linked to the U.S. counternarcotics campaign in the region. Two days later, debris washed ashore near Puerto Lopez. According to residents and local officials, the wreckage included a burned vessel roughly 30 meters long, two severely damaged bodies, and scattered debris such as charred fuel drums, life vests, and dozens of empty packages. Some of the packages contained traces of a substance that smelled like marijuana. The Telemundo television network later broadcast images of twisted metal fragments recovered on the Venezuelan side of the border, in the Alta Guajira region. Weapons experts cited by the network said the debris appeared consistent with components from a U.S.-made AGM-114 Hellfire missile or its newer AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile variant, both commonly deployed from MQ-9 Reaper drones and U.S. attack helicopters. Those reports appear to corroborate statements made Monday by President Donald Trump, who said the United States had destroyed a docking area used by suspected drug traffickers in Venezuela, marking the first public acknowledgment of a U.S. ground strike inside the country. There was a big explosion in the dock area where they load the boats with drugs, Trump said while speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president did not specify whether the operation was carried out by U.S. military forces or intelligence agencies, nor did he identify the precise location of the strike, saying only that it occurred along the coast. He also declined to say whether there were casualties. The reports come as the United States expands what officials have described as Operation Southern Spear, a months-long campaign targeting drug trafficking networks across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. U.S. authorities say the operation has destroyed at least 35 vessels and resulted in more than 100 deaths over the past five months. On Dec. 31, the Pentagon confirmed strikes on three additional boats it said were linked to narcotics trafficking. If confirmed, the apparent strike in Venezuela would mark the first known instance of U.S. forces hitting a land-based target inside the country as part of the campaign. Members of Venezuelas Wayuu indigenous community told NBC News and Telemundo that they witnessed a powerful explosion on Dec. 18 in the remote Alta Guajira region, where armed groups including Colombias National Liberation Army (ELN) operate. The blast destroyed a structure believed to be used for storage, according to witnesses. The ELN has long been involved in cross-border drug trafficking and maintains a presence on both sides of the border. Venezuelan authorities have neither confirmed nor denied that an attack occurred on land. In a televised address Thursday, Maduro said the countrys defense systems guarantee territorial integrity when asked about reports of a U.S. strike. Our national defense system, which unites the people, the military and the police, guarantees peace and territorial integrity, Maduro said, adding that he would address the matter in greater detail in the coming days. Maduro again denied that Venezuela produces illegal drugs and said his government remains open to discussing a counternarcotics agreement with Washington. If they truly want to talk seriously about fighting drug trafficking, we are ready, he said. Both Venezuela and Colombia have condemned the U.S. operations as unlawful and have accused Washington of carrying out extrajudicial killings. The United Nations has warned that the strikes could violate international law and has urged the United States to stop them. Meanwhile, satellite imagery from Europes Sentinel-2 system dated Jan. 1 shows the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navys largest aircraft carrier, operating 227 nautical miles north of Caracas. The carrier strike group is part of a growing U.S. military presence in the region that includes guided-missile destroyers, amphibious vessels and an estimated 15,000 troops. U.S. officials say the deployment is aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks, including the so-called Cartel de los Soles, which Washington alleges is run by Maduro along with senior figures of his regime. Caracas has repeatedly denied the accusation, even as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate. 2026 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The U.S. State Department said Chinas military drills around Taiwan had unnecessarily raised tensions and urged Beijing to cease military pressure against the self-ruled island, after President Donald Trump initially shrugged off concerns. Chinas military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement on New Years Day, some 48 hours after the Peoples Liberation Army wrapped exercises covering the largest combined area in decades. The PLA simulated a blockade of the global chip hub for two days this week with live-fire exercises encircling the island. It launched long-range projectiles into the Taiwan Strait one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes for the first time since 2022, although the drills didnt rise to the same intensity as those three years ago when China fired missiles over Taiwan. Trump initially dismissed the drills as a continuation of longstanding Chinese activity. Theyve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area, he said after live-fire drills on Monday, touting his great relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The U.S. leaders comments contrasted to statements from other major democracies criticizing Beijings show of force. The European Union, U.K., France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand and Japan all voiced concerns days before the U.S. State Department. China blasted that criticism, calling Taiwan which Beijing considers its own territory an internal affair. Taiwans Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung welcomed the support, saying in a statement that Taipei would work with the U.S. and all like-minded countries to jointly uphold the rules-based international order. Chinas Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest U.S. statement. The State Departments response to the drills arrived later than its condemnation of some previous Chinese drills. When Chinese forces launched exercises around Taiwan in October last year and in April, the State Department issued statements on the same day, slamming the actions as unwarranted provocations and destabilizing intimidation tactics. In another round of exercises in May last year, held shortly after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office, the State Department released a statement the day after the drills ended, blasting Beijing for using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations. Beijing framed its latest maneuvers as a warning to separatist forces and external interference, after the U.S. this month unveiled an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan. We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue, the State Department said in its statement, adding that it opposes changes to the status quo by force or coercion. Beijing has ramped up diplomatic pressure and military aggression against Taiwan in recent years. Large-scale PLA drills around the democracy of 23 million people have become a regular occurrence since then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to the island in 2022. Ties between the worlds largest economies have stabilized in recent months after a turbulent year that saw tariffs soar and both sides weaponize supply chains. A one-year truce has paused that volatility, with Trump preparing to visit the worlds No. 2 economy in April. His comments about the exercises indicate the U.S. is keen to keep that deal in place. ____ (With assistance from Colum Murphy and Cindy Wang.) ___ 2026 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. On the morning of Dec. 28, 1835, a single gunshot rang out in the central Florida wilderness. Chief Micanopy fired the initial shot before one hundred eighty Seminole warriors hidden in the shrubs opened up on 110 unsuspecting U.S. soldiers. Soon after, 108 soldiers were dead. The Second Seminole War had begun. Fewer than 2,000 Seminole warriors would find themselves facing an overwhelming army of 30,000 Americans. It became the longest, costliest and deadliest conflict the United States fought against any Native American tribe. Although the Seminoles suffered heavy losses and many were forced from their ancestral home, they never surrendered. A 20th century McBarron illustration of U.S. Army troops with a Seminole guide. (Wikimedia Commons) The Road to War The United States and the Seminoles had already fought once before. Between 1817 and 1818, General Andrew Jackson led troops into Spanish Florida during the First Seminole War. His forces attacked Seminole villages and Black Seminole settlements as they pursued escaped slaves from Georgia and other states. Unable to defend the territory, Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1819. The U.S. took formal possession in 1821. White settlers soon flooded into Florida. They wanted the fertile lands occupied by roughly 5,000 Seminoles in northern and central Florida. The Seminole nation had coalesced over the previous decades from Creek, Hitchiti and Miccosukee peoples who migrated south. Florida sheltered hundreds of escaped slaves. Some lived in Black Seminole communities near Native towns. Others had intermarried into Seminole families. Many had been born free in Florida. By the 1830s, Black Seminoles numbered several hundred. They would form a crucial part of the resistance. This view of a Seminole village shows the log cabins they lived in prior to the disruptions of the Second Seminole War. (Wikimedia Commons) In 1823, the U.S. government forced Seminole leaders to sign the Treaty of Moultrie Creek. The treaty confined them to a four-million-acre reservation in central Florida. The government promised money and supplies to ensure their sovereignty. In return, white settlers could build roads through the reservation and hunt for escaped slaves. The treaty was violated almost immediately. The government delivered supplies late or not at all. White settlers stole Seminole cattle. They encroached on reservation lands constantly. Slave hunters outright raided Seminole villages. President Andrew Jackson then signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830. The law mandated the relocation of all eastern tribes, to be moved west of the Mississippi River. In 1832, U.S. negotiators met Seminole leaders at Payne's Landing. They demanded the Seminoles abandon Florida entirely. The Treaty of Payne's Landing gave them three years to move to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. Many Seminoles refused. Osceola, a young Creek warrior, became the most vocal opponent. At one meeting, he stabbed his knife into the treaty document. "My skin is dark, but not black!" he said. "I am an Indian, a Seminole. The white man shall not make me black. I will make the white man red with blood." The treaty stated that Black Seminoles would remain in Florida. That meant slave hunters could reclaim them. For Osceola and many others, that was unacceptable. By late 1835, war was inevitable. The Treaty of Moultrie Creek provided for a reservation in central Florida for the Seminoles. (Wikimedia Commons) The Dade Massacre Major Francis Langhorne Dade led 110 soldiers north from Fort Brooke near Tampa on Dec. 23, 1835. His command included troops from the 2nd and 3rd Artillery and 4th Infantry. They marched toward Fort King near present-day Ocala to reinforce the garrison as tensions escalated. Seminole scouts shadowed every step. Dade knew enemy warriors were watching. He expected an ambush at each river crossing or in the thick woods. After five quiet days, he stopped posting flankers to watch the column's sides. Just before 8 a.m. on Dec. 28, Chief Micanopy fired. His bullet killed Dade instantly. One hundred eighty warriors opened fire from the palmettos and trees. The first volley killed or wounded half of the American force. Captain George Gardiner took command. The survivors built a log breastwork. They managed to hold for hours. Then the Seminoles launched a final assault in the afternoon. By the end of the engagement, 108 of the 110 soldiers were dead or dying. Private Ransom Clarke and Private Joseph Sprague survived with severe wounds. A third man escaped but died the next day. Halpatter Tustenuggee helped plan the ambush. "We had been preparing for this more than a year," he later said. "Just as the day was breaking, we moved out of the swamp into the pine-barren. I counted, by direction of Jumper, one hundred and eighty warriors." On the same day, Osceola's warriors attacked Fort King. They killed Indian Agent Wiley Thompson and six others. Thompson had been enforcing Seminole removal. News of the massacres spread across the nation. Americans demanded military action. Viewing the demise of Major Dade and his Command. (Wikimedia Commons) Guerrilla War in the Swamps Seminoles and Black Seminoles struck back hard in early 1836. War parties raided plantations along Florida's east coast and St. John's River. By February, they had attacked 21 plantations. Sugar mills burned. Enslaved people fled to join the resistance. White settlers were slaughtered. Chief Micanopy led the overall resistance. Osceola became a powerful war leader. Jumper, Alligator and Coacoochee commanded their own warrior bands. Sam Jones, also called Arpeika, led his forces from deep in the Everglades. Halleck Tustenuggee directed operations in central Florida. Black Seminole leaders John Caesar and John Horse commanded an estimated 300 to 400 Black fighters. American numbers built up steadily throughout the year. Meanwhile, a young Lieutenant with orders to report directly to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Archibald Henderson, in Washington D.C. found a note pinned to his door. The note read, Gone to Florida to fight the Indians. Will be back when the war is over. Thomas Sidney Jesup (17881860), quartermaster general of the United States Army. (Wikimedia Commons) General Thomas Jesup took command of all U.S. forces in late 1836. He noted the overall racial undertones of the campaign. "This is a negro, not an Indian war," he warned. "If it be not speedily put down, the south will feel the effects of it on their slave population." Fewer than 2,000 Seminole warriors faced a U.S. force that grew to 30,000 troops. The numbers meant little. Florida's terrain gave the defenders the advantage. Swamps, sawgrass prairies and dense hammocks made conventional military operations nearly impossible. Summer heat and disease killed more soldiers than combat. Malaria and yellow fever probably caused most of the 1,500 American deaths during the war. The Seminoles hid their families on remote islands in the Everglades. Warriors struck American troops in unsuspecting ambushes. They disappeared into the terrain where the American soldiers couldn't follow. They used feigned retreats to draw the pursuers into kill zones. They positioned themselves in dense tree islands surrounded by sawgrass and mud, forcing U.S. forces to advance across exposed ground. Jesups campaign during the Second Seminole War in Florida. (Wikimedia Commons) Multiple American commanders failed. General Duncan Clinch achieved little and resigned. General Winfield Scott tried coordinated columns, but his forces couldn't navigate the swamps or find the enemy. Jesup changed tactics. He built forts and supply depots across Florida. His troops conducted raids to destroy Seminole villages, crops and cattle. They confiscated roughly 15,000 cattle from the Alachua region alone. They burned corn fields and food stores. The strategy aimed to starve the Seminoles into surrender. Major Ethan Allen Hitchcock served under Jesup. In February 1836, Hitchcock found the remains of Dade's command. In his journal, he wrote, "The government is in the wrong, and this is the chief cause of the persevering opposition of the Indians, who have nobly defended their country against our attempt to enforce a fraudulent treaty." The war ground on through ambushes and small skirmishes. The Seminoles besieged many of the forts for weeks. In July 1836, warriors trapped American soldiers in a Withlacoochee River blockhouse for 48 days. The soldiers endured brutal heat, disease and the constant threat of death. Burning of the town Pilak-li-ka-ha by Gen. Eustis. (Wikimedia Commons) Capture Through Treachery In September 1837, American soldiers captured King Philip. Jesup had Philip send a message to his son Coacoochee to arrange a meeting. When Coacoochee arrived under a flag of truce, Jesup detained him. Coacoochee, also called Wildcat, was a rising war leader and one of the most prominent leaders the U.S. sought to capture. In October 1837, Osceola and another chief requested a meeting with Jesup to discuss peace. When they arrived under a white flag, Jesup's troops seized them. The American public condemned the violations. Jesup transferred Osceola to Fort Moultrie prison in South Carolina. Osceola refused to accept any removal agreement. On Jan. 30, 1838, he died at age 34 from throat inflammation. The attending physician beheaded his corpse. Osceola was seized at the orders of Gen. Thomas Jesup when he appeared for a meeting under a white peace or "parley" flag. (Wikimedia Commons) Coacoochee was imprisoned at Fort Marion in St. Augustine. The fort was considered escape-proof with five-foot-thick walls and an old Spanish moat. But Coacoochee and 19 other prisoners squeezed through a narrow window in their cell. He later recalled, "With much difficulty I succeeded in getting my head through; for the sharp stones took the skin off my breast and back." They descended by rope to freedom before daybreak. Coacoochee's escape energized the resistance. He became the Seminoles' most important remaining leader. His band included hundreds of Seminole and Black Seminole warriors. U.S. military records noted that when American soldiers learned Coacoochee was in an area, they stopped their operations. His reputation as a fierce warrior leader weighed heavily on the soldiers' minds. Chief Coacoochee or Cowacoochee aka Wild Cat. (Wikimedia Commons) Christmas Day at Lake Okeechobee Colonel Zachary Taylor led 800 troops against Seminole and Miccosukee warriors on Christmas Day 1837. Between 380 and 480 warriors camped on Lake Okeechobee's northeast shore. They positioned themselves in an area surrounded by sawgrass and mud. Coacoochee, Sam Jones and Alligator led the Seminole forces. Taylor ordered a frontal assault. Missouri volunteers went in first. The warriors opened fire. The volunteers broke and fled. Colonel Richard Gentry fell mortally wounded. Taylor sent in the 6th Infantry. Five companies took devastating casualties in the sawgrass. Every officer but one died or was wounded. Most noncommissioned officers fell. Only four men from those companies survived unharmed. The 4th Infantry finally pushed the warriors from their position. They escaped across the lake that night. Taylor lost 28 killed and 112 wounded. The Seminoles left 12 dead. Later accounts from Native participants indicated another 11 were wounded. The American press called it a great victory. Following this and his later service in the Mexican-American War, Taylor became a national hero and eventually president. Though he had suffered severe casualties while killing relatively few enemies in Florida. The Seminoles escaped deeper into the Everglades and kept fighting. A U.S. Marine boat expedition searching for the Seminoles in the Everglades during the Second Seminole War. (Wikimedia Commons) The War Drags On In March 1837, Chief Micanopy had agreed to stop fighting. Hundreds of Seminoles gathered near Fort Brooke to await transport west. But on June 2, warriors led by Sam Jones attacked and managed to free them. They disappeared into the wilderness. This would go on for years. Groups of Seminoles would surrender and gather before being transported west. Then they would escape and rejoin the fight. Others were hunted down. Their villages were destroyed. Coacoochee fought on until 1841. When he finally faced capture again, he said, "I was in hopes I would be killed in battle, but a bullet never reached me." Before his forced removal to Oklahoma, he delivered a speech that captured what he believed the war had been about. "I have said I am the enemy to the white man," he said. "I could live in peace with them, but they first steal our cattle and horses, cheat us, and take our lands. The white men are as thick as the leaves in the hammock; they come upon us thicker every year. They may shoot us, drive our women and children night and day; they may chain our hands and feet, but the red man's heart will be always free." The remaining Seminoles in Florida were allowed to stay on an informal reservation in southwest Florida at the end of the Second Seminole War in 1842. (Wikimedia Commons) The War Ends By 1842, the United States had spent more than $20 million fighting the Seminoles. That represented roughly 10 percent of the federal budget. More than 1,500 soldiers had died, mostly from disease. Hundreds of civilians also died. The government forcibly removed 3,000 Seminoles to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. The nation was appalled at the outcome. But several hundred Seminoles remained on remote Everglades islands. The military never defeated them. On Aug. 14, 1842, the government declared the war over. No peace treaty was ever signed. A third conflict erupted in 1855. The final Seminole War lasted until 1858. Constant military patrols and bounties reduced Florida's Seminole population to roughly 200 individuals. The Seminoles who stayed never surrendered. They survived on land that white settlers considered worthless. Their descendants formed the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which today numbers more than 4,000 members. Bushnell, Florida: Dade Battlefield Historic State Park entrance. (Wikimedia Commons) Soldiers killed in the Dade Massacre and the subsequent battles rest beneath three coquina pyramids at St. Augustine National Cemetery. More than 1,300 soldiers are buried there. The cemetery dedication occurred on Aug. 14, 1842, the day the government declared the war over. The Dade Battlefield Historic State Site near Bushnell preserves where Dade and his men died. Annual reenactments mark the anniversary. The site commemorates America's longest and deadliest war against the Native Americans. It was a seven-year conflict the United States never truly won. CNNs new documentary focused on longtime Hollywood funny man Chevy Chase, has arrived with renewed attention on the comedians legacy and the long-running controversies that have followed him for decades. Titled Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not, the 97-minute film premiered Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CNN. The documentary is available to stream live through any streaming service that carries CNN, including DirecTV, Sling, and Hulu + Live TV. Some platforms are offering limited free trials that let viewers watch the premiere at no cost. Comedy Icon Unfiltered | Im Chevy Chase And Youre Not Official Trailer | CNN From his Saturday Night Live beginnings to a string of classic comedies, Chevy Chase has always had huge comedic range. He is also a complex and contradictory human being. Featuring revealing interviews with those closest to him, this documentary digs into the talent, flaws, and humanity that shaped an icon. Watch Im Chevy Chase And Youre Not premiering New Year's Day on CNN and streaming next day on the CNN app! In the days leading up to its release, the film drew attention for revisiting an SNL-era dispute involving Terry Sweeney and for prompting a public statement from former Community co-star Yvette Nicole Brown. Marina Zenovich, director of Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not. Image made available on Wikipedia, under Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0. Who Made the Documentary The film is directed by Marina Zenovich, an Emmy-winning documentarian known for high-profile celebrity portraits, including Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired and Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind. Zenovichs approach typically blends first-person interviews with archival material and third-party accounts, and early descriptions suggest a similar structure here. Chevy Chase appears as Clark Griswold alongside child actors in a scene from National Lampoons Vacation (1983), one of the films that cemented his status as a leading comedy star of the 1980s. Image courtesy of Warner Bros. What the Documentary Covers According to CNN, Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not features interviews with Chase, members of his family, and a range of colleagues who worked with him over the course of his decades-long career. The documentary traces Chases rise as one of the most recognizable comedy stars of the 1970s and 1980s, from Saturday Night Live and National Lampoon to major film successes like Caddyshack and National Lampoons Vacation. The film also revisits Chases later career and the reputation he developed behind the scenes, including long-standing claims from former collaborators who have described him as difficult or confrontational to work with. Several of those accounts have circulated publicly for years, but the documentary places them alongside Chases own recollections and responses. Chevy Chase appears at the Weekend Update desk during his tenure on Saturday Night Live in the late 1970s, where he became the first anchor of the long-running news parody segment. Image courtesy of NBCUniversal. Terry Sweeney and the SNL Segment One of the most discussed segments of the film involves Terry Sweeney, who joined Saturday Night Live during the 198586 season as the shows first openly gay cast member. The documentary revisits Sweeneys account of an AIDS-related joke Chase allegedly proposed during that period. In the film, Zenovich recounts the incident to Chase, quoting from Live From New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. According to Sweeneys recollection, Chase suggested a sketch that mocked the AIDS epidemic and singled out Sweeney. Chase disputes Sweeneys version of events in the documentary and claims he does not remember the incident as described. In the film, he also makes an incorrect remark about Sweeneys status, prompting Sweeney to respond publicly after the documentarys details became known. Sweeney later told The Hollywood Reporter that he found Chases comments offensive and inaccurate. Chevy Chase in a scene from Community, which is revisited in CNNs documentary when discussing his exit from the series. Image used for commentary and analysis. Courtesy of NBC/CNN. Yvette Nicole Brown Responds The documentary has also prompted public reaction from Yvette Nicole Brown, Chases former Community co-star. Brown did not participate in the film, but addressed it directly on social media in the days leading up to its premiere. In a statement posted on Threads and later shared on Instagram, Brown criticized unnamed individuals for speaking for or about her without consulting her directly. She emphasized that people claiming to have insight into her experiences were doing so without her consent or involvement, and asked that her name not be used in connection with the documentary. Brown added that she would not be offering further comment on the situation and described the renewed discussion as beneath her. Her remarks followed reports that the documentary revisits Chases firing from Community, which stemmed from a series of on-set conflicts, including an incident involving racial language. How NBCs Community Is Addressed Although none of Chases Community co-stars appear in the documentary, the show figures prominently in the narrative. Director Jay Chandrasekhar, who worked on the series, appears in the film and recounts the events surrounding Chases departure. According to Chandrasekhars account, tensions escalated during a production dispute involving a scripted storyline that Chase reportedly objected to. The documentary includes recollections of the aftermath, including Chases reaction and how production leadership handled the situation. Chase has previously acknowledged being unhappy with his characters trajectory on Community, and the documentary presents his perspective alongside those of other participants. Chevy Chase is featured in the official promotional artwork for CNN Films documentary Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not, which examines the comedians career, legacy, and controversies. Image courtesy of CNN. Early Reactions and Whats Next Full reviews were not widely available before release, but early coverage from industry outlets suggests the documentary does not function as a straightforward tribute. Instead, it appears to examine Chases career through both his achievements and the conflicts that followed him over time. Several individuals referenced in the film have already responded publicly to its content, signaling that the documentary may reopen long-standing debates rather than resolve them. How to Watch Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not Premiere: Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 Time: 8 p.m. ET/PT 8 p.m. ET/PT Network: CNN CNN Streaming options: DirecTV, Sling, Hulu + Live TV DirecTV, Sling, Hulu + Live TV Runtime: 97 minutes Additional streaming availability following the CNN premiere has not been officially announced. As Im Chevy Chase and Youre Not debuts, the conversation surrounding it has already extended beyond the film itself. Whether the documentary reshapes Chases public legacy or reinforces existing narratives will become clearer once audiences have the chance to see it in full. Photo: Kharkiv OVA As of 17:05, the number of victims of the Russian missile strike on the center of Kharkiv has increased to 30 people. This was reported by the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, on his Telegram channel. According to Kharkiv Regional Prosecutors Office, two Iskander missiles were used to strike a residential area of the Russian Armed Forces. "Kharkiv. At least 25 people were injured as a result of a hostile missile attack on the center of Kharkiv: prosecutors are documenting a war crime. A number of residential buildings, shops, cafes, a supermarket, etc. were damaged," the report says. A pretrial investigation into the fact of committing a war crime has been launched (Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). MANISTEE, MI - Michigan State Police said today that an autopsy will be conducted after a body was found at a fire scene in Manistee County. Troopers from the Cadillac post, along with local authorities, responded on Thursday morning to a report of a fire at a residence on Cadillac Highway in Cleon Township. The call came in about 9:30 a.m. Preliminary investigation indicated that after the fire was extinguished by firefighters, they located a deceased individual inside the residence, MSP Spl/Lt. Ashley Miller said. This discovery prompted an investigation by the MSP and the MSP Fire Investigation Unit. Due to the condition of the scene, the deceased individual has not been positively identified. An autopsy will be conducted to identify the body found at the fire scene. State Police officials say this investigation remains ongoing. Troopers were assisted by the Maple Crown Township Fire Department, Cleon Township Fire Department, Bear Lake Fire Department and the Benzie County Emergency Medical Services. State and local officials are looking into a report that President Donald Trumps administration is planning to renovate warehouses throughout the country, including one in Michigan, into mass immigration detention centers. The federal government is reportedly seeking contractors to turn warehouses into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, facilities that could hold up to 80,000 people, according to a draft solicitation reviewed by the Washington Post. Doing so would more than double the current detention capacity nationwide. The documents said seven large-scale warehouses could hold between 5,000 and 10,000 detained immigrants in Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Georgia and Missouri, making them the largest detention facilities in the country. Another 16 smaller warehouses could hold up to 1,500 detainees, including one listed in Highland Park, a city about eight miles north of Detroit. Exact details about facilitys location were not reported by the newspaper. The Washington Post reported these plans are not final and could still change. Political leaders in Michigan could not immediately confirm the report. State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, state Rep. Tonya Myers Phillips, D-Detroit, and Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald responded on Dec. 31 saying they do not have any evidence of concrete plans for an ICE detention center in Highland Park, but theyre still looking into it. In talking with the owners of a large site that was perhaps in question, they do not have any plans to lease the facility for a detention center and the property is not at all zoned for a detention center, Chang wrote in a statement. Related: In rural Michigan, a prison is reopening as biggest ICE detention hub in Midwest The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Chang, who represents Highland Park, has not gotten any direct response from ICE about the rumored facility, but she remains opposed to any new detention center that would further exacerbate the destructive mass detention and deportation efforts by ICE, she wrote. ICE detention has expanded under President Donald Trumps effort to escalate immigration enforcement and speed up deportations. Several new detention centers opened last year including one in Texas that became the largest in the country with 5,000 beds and a supplemental budget bill allocated $45 billion toward building new facilities. The Trump administration has eyed purchasing warehouses to become mega detention centers, as previously reported by NBC News. Acting director of ICE Todd Lyons said last March the agency needs to get better at treating this like a business by streamlining the deportation system to be like Amazon, trying to get your product delivered in 24 hours. Michigan currently has five immigration detention facilities, including four jails that hold detainees for ICE and the privately-owned North Lake Processing Center in northern Michigan. Private prison firm GEO Group reactivated the former Baldwin prison last summer, turning it into an 1,800-bed immigration facility the largest in the state. After opening in June, its now nearing capacity with 1,371 immigrants as of Dec. 11, the latest federal data shows. A Bulgarian immigrant died at North Lake in mid-December. Its believed the 56-year-old man died from natural causes, according to ICE, but the death remains under investigation. The number of immigrants detained nationwide hit a record high of 68,442 last month with the vast majority of them, 74%, not having criminal convictions. GENESEE COUNTY, MI A 36-year-old Clio man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly pointing a gun at a familys vehicle and then striking it during a road rage incident. Tony Charles Lesperance, who was arraigned on Dec. 17, allegedly sent the familys vehicle into the median along I-75 on Dec. 13. He faces two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two felony firearm charges. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said Lesperance was driving north on U.S. 23 when he first encountered the Livingston County family a man, a woman and two children driving in the right lane. Lesperance allegedly tailgated the vehicle and pulled out a handgun, sticking it out the window and pointing it at the familys vehicle, Swanson said. As the familys vehicle began to slow down, Lesperance allegedly bumped into it in what Swanson called a PIT maneuver, sending the vehicle into the median. Multiple witnesses called 911 after the incident took place in Vienna Township. The familys vehicle was totaled. Do not let your emotions overcome common sense, Swanson said in a statement. Lesperance posted bond and was released on a tether. He is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 8 for a probable cause conference before Judge William H. Crawford. Irish rap trio Kneecap have claimed that the UK government intends to challenge the court decision that saw a terror charge against member Mo Chara dismissed. Photo: Avalon The case came about after Chara - whose real name is Liam Og O hAnnaidh - was accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag during a performance at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town in November 2024. Kneecap have repeatedly denied supporting terrorist organisations Hezbollah and Hamas. In a statement shared on Instagram this week, the group stated that they had been formally notified of an appeal against the ruling made by a magistrates court in September, which had dismissed the case. According to the group, the date has been set for January 14 at the High Court in London. Kneecap criticised the move, saying their legal representatives believe there is no credible basis for the challenge. The No Comment group posted to their official account on the app: "The Brits are at it again... "The British government has issued us notice that they will appeal the decision of their own magistrates court to throw out the case against Mo Chara. "It is the view of our legal team that there is not an iota of logic for this, it is without any sound legal basis. "It is another flailing arm to distract from, and to try and silence those who stand on the right side of history as they are complicit. "As Israel today moves to ban charitable organisations providing lifesaving aid and primitive shelter to millions, the British state once again turns to vilify those who oppose genocide. "It will be heard on Jan 14th at the High Court, Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, London. "We will not be silent. "FREE PALESTINE ps." The case was dismissed after the Metropolitan Police failed to issue the requisition within the required sixmonth statutory deadline, rendering the charge "unlawful". Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said at the time: I find that these proceedings were not instituted in the correct form. The time limit requires consent to have been granted at the time or before the issue of the requisition. Consequently the charge is unlawful and null and this court has no jurisdiction to try the charge. Erdogan plans to discuss war in Ukraine, situation in Gaza with Trump on Jan 5 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that he intends to hold a telephone conversation with his American counterpart Donald Trump on January 5 to discuss, in particular, the war in Ukraine. "I will have a telephone conversation with President Trump on Monday," the Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying. The Turkish leader noted that among the topics he plans to discuss are the situation in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Erdogan stressed that he is in close contact with all parties involved in the war in Ukraine, including Western countries. According to him, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris next week. GRAND BLANC TWP, MI -- Recall language targeting Grand Blanc Township Supervisor Scott Bennett and Trustee Paul White has been approved by the Genesee County Election Commission, and additional attempts to remove three other officials are on the horizon. The commission approved nearly identical petition language aimed at removing Bennett and White on Friday, Jan. 2, while rejecting similar language calling for the removal of Clerk David Robertson, Treasurer Mike Yancho Sr., and Trustee Joel Feick. Petitioner Monica Shapiro said she will file slightly different language against Robertson, Yancho, and Feick after commission members turned down her filings against them on Friday for technical reasons. Each of the five recalls cited votes by the five officials to approve a 2026 township budget last month as the basis of the removal attempts. Shapiro said Friday that the budget left the township without funding for four additional firefighters, leaving a gaping hole in public safety. The rejected recall language targeting Feick and Yancho did not include a period at the end of a sentence. Robertson was referred to as Dave instead of David, the first name Robertson used in the last election. Under Michigan law, the commission is charged with determining whether recall language is factual and sufficiently clear before any signatures can be collected. If language is approved, petition drives against officials can be initiated after a 10-day window that allows for the decision to be contested in Genesee Circuit Court -- something Bennett said hes considering. For a special recall election to be called, petition circulators are required to collect the signatures of at least 25% of the number of votes cast in the township for all candidates for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial election. If recall language is approved and a petitioner collects the minimum number of valid signatures, a special election is scheduled, and the recall target and other candidates seeking to replace the officeholder are included on the ballot. The candidate with the highest vote total completes the term in office. Fridays action by the commission comes after it rejected different sets of language filed by Shapiro to recall the same five officials last month. That language stated in part that the officials allowed township Fire Chief Jamie Jent to be placed on administrative leave. Jent was put on leave in October after raising staffing concerns, but he was reinstated after one week. The chief was reinstated after dozens of community members and area firefighters showed up to support him at a township board meeting in late October. The chain of events leading to his leave was triggered after the Sept. 28 shooting and fire that killed four people at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Jent was hired less than a year ago after retiring from a 24-year career with the Dearborn Fire Department. Shapiro, who lost to Bennett in the 2024 election for township supervisor, said township officials chose to ignore Jents request for additional firefighters, an action that would bring us up to the basic safety standards. On the day of the tragedy, they arrived, and they were short-staffed, she said of the firefighters effort to respond to the church shooting and fire. Targets of the recall who attended Fridays meeting said the reason stated to recall them was ridiculous because they were required to adopt a budget to keep the township running and spending in line with revenue. We would love to have a police car on every corner, Bennett said. We cant afford that. Robertson told the commission that the recall attempts were directly tied to township board members carrying out their duties. You are not obligated to approve an absurdity, and this is an absurdity, he said. The commission voted unanimously on each recall petition that was denied or approved. The commission consists of three county officials -- Probate Judge Jennie Barkey, Clerk-Register Domonique Clemons, and Treasurer Sam Muma. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- University of Michigan Health-West welcomed its first baby of the new year when Shepherd Isaac Anderson was born at 6 a.m. on January 1. The newborn weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 19 inches long. Shepherd and his parents, Jenn and Mike Anderson, are doing well following the early morning delivery at the University of Michigan Health-West Childbirth Center. The hospital celebrated the arrival as its first birth of 2026, marking the beginning of another year of deliveries at the medical facility. Hospitals typically highlight the first babies born each year. Also in Grand Rapids, Corewell Health announced the first baby born for 2026 at its hospital. JACKSON COUNTY, MI A new affordable apartment building in Jackson recently opened to its first tenants. Here is that headline and some more you might have missed this week. New affordable apartments in Jackson welcome first residents Construction is completed on two new apartment buildings in Jackson and developers hope to have all new residents moved in by the end of 2025. Ohio-based company Pivotal began construction on The Blackstone, 209 N. Blackstone St., and The Greenwood, 702 Greenwood Ave., in January 2024. As of Dec. 3, The Blackstone had been fully leased, meanwhile The Greenwood had 15 units still available. The Greenwood offers 51 units, while The Blackstone has 53, bringing 104 new apartments to the downtown-area, Pivotal Regional Manager Rachel Osbon said. Fewest homicides in 3 years recorded in 2025 in Jackson County There were far fewer homicides in 2025 Jackson County than there have been in the last three years. Police investigated six deaths ruled as homicides in the county this year, as of Dec. 28, according to information provided by the Jackson Police Department, Michigan State Police, Jackson County Sheriffs Office and Blackman-Leoni Township Department of Public Safety. By comparison, there were 10 homicides reported in Jackson County in each of 2024, 2023 and 2022. Southern Michigan college lines up to recruit students from a soon-to-close neighbor Before one Southern Michigan private college closes for good next spring, another in the same region is bracing to help take in its students. Spring Arbor University southwest of Jackson has reached a teach-out agreement with the soon-to-close Siena Heights University in nearby Lenawee County, according to a news release. SHU announced this summer it would end its century-long history after its spring 2026 semester, and soon after, a host of other institutions began lining up to recruit the Catholic universitys departing students, particularly as informal transfer pathways. How a Grass Lake classroom project created a 7-year bond with a Hawaii firehouse A group of Grass Lake Community School children have maintained a holiday tradition with a firehouse in Hawaii. What started as a simple classroom activity for Fire Safety Month back in 2019 has evolved into a regular event for Grass Lake Elementary School teacher Dakota Bahlaus old class of first-grade students. Theyve been sending firefighters in Pahala painted high fives for years. Michigan township crafts data center rules before developers arrive Henrietta Township will consider adopting an ordinance that would regulate data centers, if a developer decided to bring one to the area. The township planning commission unanimously recommended the ordinance in November, and the board of trustees is expected to consider it in January at the earliest, Planning Commission Chairperson Nancy Hawley said. The township has not received any applications from any developers but is preparing as data center proposals begin to pop up around Michigan. Christmas day fire causes extensive damage to Napoleon Township home A Napoleon Township home was damaged on Christmas day when a fire broke out inside the structure. Fire crews were called at 3:44 p.m. Dec. 25 to a home in the 9000 block of Rexford Road after neighbors reported seeing a large amount of black smoke coming from the roof of the home, Napoleon Township Fire Chief Greg Bickford said. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke venting from the attic on both sides of the structure. The homeowners were not home when the fire broke out, Bickford said. A Michigan prisoner who was mistakenly freed is now accused of killing inmate in gang fight A Michigan prisoner who was mistakenly released and later recaptured is now accused of killing another man in prison. Talleon Stephon Brazil is charged with one felony count of open murder for the stabbing death of Deandre Jackson, a fellow prisoner at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility outside Jackson, court records show. Jackson died June 11, 2021, after he received a stab wound to his neck in what prosecutors allege was a gang-related attack, court records show. Popular Jackson burger spot for sale as owner faces health challenges A popular Jackson-area burger restaurant will serve its last meals at the end of 2025. Baby Bear Burger owner Marshawn Goodloe is selling the restaurant building, 2400 Page Ave., for $270,000 through Era Real Estate. The restaurants last day is Wednesday, Dec. 31. Goodloe said he has been dealing for several months with health problems that have kept him from the restaurant. While he hoped to return, his family has been helping run the business, he said, and its been a struggle. Police recover stolen Christmas decorations on display in Chelsea A woman was caught after stealing Christmas decorations on display in Chelsea, police say. Police were called at 11:58 a.m., Dec. 24, to the 1600 block of S. Main Street in Chelsea for a reported theft that occurred two days prior, according to the Chelsea Police Department. Officers spoke with a woman who reported that several Christmas decorations on display had been stolen by another woman, police said. Marketplace Manna closing in downtown Jackson after rising costs A fair trade gift shop is leaving downtown Jackson. Marketplace Manna, 143 E. Michigan Ave., is closing because nonprofit President Al Mellinger said rent, utilities, insurance and labor have gone up over the years, and sales have not kept pace. From our perspective, Im a little disappointed. But at the same time, I cant wait to see what Gods going to do and how hes going to open doors for us to even have a greater impact, Mellinger said. 3 men charged in shooting that killed Mama Tu-Tus son in Jackson Three men have been charged in a quadruple shooting that killed Anthony Owens Jr., son of Wanda Beavers, better known in Jackson as Mama Tu-Tu, authorities announced Tuesday. The charges range from open murder, assault with intent to murder, felony firearms and possession of firearms by prohibited persons, according to a Dec. 30 press release from the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. Their names have not been released because they are not yet in custody, according to Sydney Marriott, chief of administrative services at the county prosecutors office. She deferred further comment to the sheriffs office. Suspect in fatal Jackson shooting that killed Mama Tu-Tus son captured in Ohio One of three men charged in a quadruple shooting that killed Anthony Owens Jr., son of Wanda Beavers, better known in Jackson as Mama Tu-Tu, has been arrested in Ohio. The Jackson County Sheriffs Office announced the arrest of one of the men Wednesday, Dec. 31, and is requesting assistance in locating the three others who should be considered armed and dangerous. Per MLive policy, the men are not being named by MLive until they have been arraigned in court. Joann Fabrics among 10 Jackson County businesses that closed in 2025 Between abrupt closures and ownership challenges, 10 Jackson County-area businesses shuttered in 2025. Here are 10 businesses Jackson said goodbye to this year. Chick-fil-A, Pickle Barrel among 10 new Jackson County businesses welcomed in 2025 Between long-anticipated restaurants to new shopping destinations, several businesses opened in Jackson County throughout 2025. Heres a look at 10 of them. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page. BAY CITY, MI This fall, Bay City Commission President Alex Dewitt openly invited representatives from Bay City Bridge Partners to come to a city meeting and speak with city officials about where things stand with the bridge work, updating them on whether there would be future closures and offering a progress report of sorts. The bridge partners didnt bite. Indeed, the relationship between the city and the private company leasing two of its drawbridges has apparently turned sour. What communication has taken place between the two in recent months has been lukewarm at best. Will that improve in 2026? Non-residents will be losing out on their monthly passes to cross the bridge at a reduced rate, and while the company has said toll rates will not increase, the company has been known to throw a curveball or two at the city. The relationship between Bay City and its bridge partners is just one of the stories Ill be following in 2026. Below are three others that you can expect to see headlines about. Bay City city manager Dana L. Muscott listens during a regular Bay City Commission meeting at Bay City Hall. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com The future of Bay Citys manager Bay City Manager Dana Muscotts contract with the city ends on June 30. The questions of whether her contract will be renewed, whether she even wants to, or whether shell opt to retire, will likely be answered by then. Muscott has significant power in Bay City, which has a weak mayoral system. She is, in essence, the Chief Administrative Officer for the city, responsible for tasks assigned to her by the city commissioners. She has been city manager since 2017 but has worked in Bay City much longer, beginning her career as the city clerk in 2000 and becoming the deputy city manager in 2004. Muscott was manager when Bay Citys Uptown district was developed from little more than a field along the river to what it is todaystrips consisting of businesses, restaurants and with room for more development. Despite her tenure as the citys leader, residents and commissioners alike have expressed concerns that Muscott does not live in the city she helps govern. It should be noted, of course, that the city charter does not require that she live in the city, and she has been employed in Bay City for more than two decades. Muscotts time in city government has coincided with the leasing of two of Bay Citys bridges to a private company that has since begun charging tolls. This move, of course, was authorized by the city commission. She has also been in charge while controversies erupted involving the historic State Theatre and the DoubleTree hotel. While neither storm involved her directly, residents on social media and at commission meetings have constantly associated Muscott with the citys unappetizing drama, even if it is unwarranted. State Rep. Timothy Beson is pictured speaking in Lansing. Photo provided by Mike Quillinan. The Saginaw News/MLive.com Besons pledge to obtain bridge funds State Rep. Timothy Beson, R-Bay City, has vowed to get back $1.6 million in funding he voted to return to the states general fund earlier this month. The money, originally earmarked to reimburse the city for costs associated with the state Lafayette Bridge project, was part of more than $600 million in work projects Michigan republicans voted to put on ice ahead of the new year. Originally, Beson said he voted to rescind funding approval for the project because the bridge work was lumped in with wasteful spending for other projects. However, information obtained by MLive/The Bay City Times through a Freedom of Information Act request showed that wasnt necessarily the case. He then said the conflict of interest acknowledged by former Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet in the original grant application process when she was championing for the funding was too risky to not revisit. Regardless of the cause for his vote, Beson has vowed to get the money back, which would mean the city wouldnt need to scramble to deal with a sudden $1.6 million hole in its budget. Well be following to see where this funding goes. Michael Bacigalupo walks out of the Eastern District of Michigan United States District Court building after pleading guilty before a judge, located at 1000 Washington Ave. in Bay City, Mich. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com Bay Citys State Theatre controversy The Bay City State Theatre fiasco might actually be coming to an end in 2026. Mike Bacigalupo is scheduled for sentencing in late January, which would seemingly be the final chapter in a story that has played out in federal and state courts as well as in the city commission chambers. Bacigalupo borrowed $150,000 through the U.S. Small Business Administration program in June 2020. Those funds went toward a publicly owned park in Bay City. Around that same time, Bacigalupo borrowed $800,000 from the Bay County Growth Alliance, pledging real property as collateral. Again, that money was used toward the Bay City band shell and surrounding areas in a publicly owned park. The State Theatre was unable to repay the loans, leading to a bankruptcy filing. Lawsuits involving the city and local businesses have been settled, but Bacigalupos criminal case is ongoing. In September, he admitted to misusing funds. He is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 29. BAY CITY, MI An off-the-books tattoo artist, or scratcher, is charged with sexually assaulting a customer in his Bay City apartment. Robert W. Trexler, 48, is charged with single counts of third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and assault and battery. Third-degree CSC involves penetration and is a 15-year felony, while fourth-degree is a two-year high court misdemeanor. The afternoon of Sept. 18, a 44-year-old woman called 911 to report she had been sexually assaulted earlier that morning. Police met with the caller, who described herself as incredibly new to the area, having recently moved to Bay City from another state. In the early morning, the woman began exchanging text messages with Trexler in hopes of getting a tattoo from him, she said. She added Trexler had previously tattooed her, according to police reports. The woman messaged Trexler that she would visit his apartment on Bay Citys East Side after getting off work about 4:30 a.m., she told police. She went to his apartment in the predawn hours and was greeted by Trexler wearing only a towel around his waist, she told police. Trexler proceeded to grab and sexually assault her, she alleged. She repeatedly resisted but he would not let her go, she said. He goes, Just dont think about it, the woman told police. Just think about the free tattoo youre going to get. I kept telling him no, no, no. Trexler offered to give the woman $50 but she replied she was not a prostitute, she told police. She eventually made it out of the residence, with Trexler trying to grab her as she left, she alleged. A detective reinterviewed the woman on Oct. 2. She said she went to Trexlers apartment to get a tattoo and found him acting strange using a couch cushion as a shield, searching his house with a flashlight, and smoking something from a glass pipe that did not smell like marijuana, reports state. Trexler told the woman to get comfortable then sat beside her on a couch and offered to give her the tattoo for free in exchange for oral sex, she told the detective. She told Trexler she was not a sex worker and would pay for her tattoo. At that point, Trexler grabbed her by the back of her head, she alleged. She added the assault felt like forever and she was afraid to fight back as Trexler had two large dogs she was fearful would attack her, reports state. The woman undid several door locks to leave Trexlers apartment, she told the detective. She went to her own apartment, told her roommate what happened, and called 911. The detective reviewed messages the woman exchanged with Trexler, which featured them discussing the tattoo design and its cost, reports state. The detective interviewed Trexler on Oct. 23. He said he moved to Bay City from Maryland to help operate a tattoo shop, but the business closed and he has since been tattooing out of his home, reports state. Trexler admitted the woman was a customer of his, adding she had been very flirtatious with him when he first tattooed her. He called her the night of Sept. 17 and asked if she wanted to mess around, he told the detective. The woman answered in the affirmative, Trexler told the detective. When the woman arrived, Trexler answered his door wearing only a towel, he said. Trexler alleged he had consensual sexual contact with the woman, that he never forced her to do anything, and that she never resisted. Trexler speculated the woman had a split personality or was being pressured by someone to make her allegations against him, he told the detective. Police found no record the State of Michigan had ever issued Trexler an ID, reports show. Michigan law does not require tattoo artists to be licensed as individuals, but it does mandate they only practice their trade at licensed facilities. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services records indicate Trexlers address is not a licensed body art facility. The colloquial term for tattooists who practice in unlicensed facilities, often private residences, is scratchers. Police arrested Trexler at his apartment on the afternoon of Dec. 19. Trexler remains jailed on a $25,000 cash-surety bond. His case is set for a preliminary examination on Jan. 6. SAGINAW, MI Saginaw Public Schools and the larger community is mourning the loss of Kevin Rooker, secretary of the districts board of education, a retired educator and volunteer. Officials with Saginaw Public Schools on Friday, Jan. 2, announced Rooker had died at the age of 67. District officials made the announcement Friday morning, expressing their deep sadness. A Saginaw native, Rooker was elected to the Saginaw Public Schools Board of Education in November 2022, and he was sworn in as a board member in January 2023, according to district officials. Before joining the board, he retired from his position as a teacher with Carrollton Public Schools. Rooker also volunteered at multiple school gatherings and could often be seen at community events and celebrations. Rooker died at approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, according to his husband, Saginaw City Councilman Bill Ostash. He had been battling prostate cancer and was recovering from a recent surgery. He was a pillar, Ostash said. He was a fighter. Ostash said Rooker was diagnosed with prostate cancer early this past summer. He kept saying, Im gonna live to be 100, Ostash said. We took really good care of ourselves. The couple were set to travel to Mexico in February and attend a school board conference in San Antonio, Texas in April. Rooker and Ostash also planned to return to Provincetown, an annual tradition for them. Ostash cared for Rooker following his diagnosis, and he reflected on some of the moments from this time he holds most dear. When I was bringing him home from the hospital, he would hold his hands out, and he would hold my cheeks, and he would just pull me in and he would kiss me, and he would just say, I just love you so much. Thank you for taking care of me. Ostash, 60, credits Rooker with helping him come out as gay in 2004 at the age of 38 and become the first openly gay member of the Saginaw City Council. Ostash said he came out the same year he moved to Saginaw and met Rooker. Rooker and Ostash were introduced to each other by a friend at a bar in Saginaw, Bambis Bottoms Up. Kevin and I sat there and talked for, like, an hour and a half like weve known each other our whole life, Ostash said. Ostash said Rooker helped him discover what it was like to be part of the gay community and to be comfortable in his own skin. The couple married in 2019. Ostash said he would have never joined the Great Lakes Bay Pride Board of Directors if it werent for the support he received from Rooker and his parents. Ostash said his husbands legacy was his dedication to his community and the students he taught. Thats the one thing thats really pushed me forward, Ostash said. It was nothing to be in a grocery store or somewhere, and a student would walk up and theyre like, Hey, Mr. Rooker, And the student would tell him, You had such a profound effect on my education, and I wouldnt be where I am if it wasnt for some of the things that you taught me. One subject Rooker particularly loved was history, Ostash said, noting that Rooker would dress in period-accurate clothing to teach about different historical topics. If he was teaching Victorian, he dressed up in Victorian, he said. If he was teaching World War II, he bought a soldiers uniform and did all the research on the medals and what this soldier was about. He was just that type of a person. School Board President Charles Coleman said Rooker cared very much about students and teachers. Kevin was a former teacher, so he was very protective of teachers rights and made sure that our policies were properly designed to properly impact students and to make sure that didnt overlook caring for teachers. When we were talking about caring for students, he took very seriously the policy that the board has placed above our table, helping teachers teach and helping students learn, Coleman said. He brought a level of expertise about working in a school district that not all of us had. Teachers have a different perspective than administrators or parents, so he brought that to the table. And he made sure that we were protective of all lifestyles, give everybody the same opportunity. Kevin was a good man, and he did his job, Coleman added. He took his role as a trustee of the Board of Education very seriously and did everything that he could do to make sure that we were about the role as trustees of helping teachers teach and helping students learn. Rookers legacy can also be seen in the aluminum historical markers he placed at homes throughout his neighborhood. The signs were provided through a grant from the Saginaw Community Foundation. Every time I walk by a house, Im going to see a sign that he did, Ostash said. The owners of a historic home themselves, Rooker and Ostash welcomed former U.S. President Joe Biden into their house for a visit last year. Rooker also helped maintain the park across the street from their Saginaw home, Weadock Park, which he and Ostash adopted. The details for Rookers funeral have yet to be determined, but Ostash said the service will be open to the public. Kevin touched a lot of people, and I want people to be able to come and pay their respects to a really great man, he said. Ive been telling my friends, Dont shy away. If you are thinking of me, call me. Investigators believe they have determined what caused a deadly bar fire that killed 40 people and injured more than 100 others. Beatrice Pilloud, the prosecutor general of the Valais canton in Switzerland, told the New York Times that evidence suggests that the sparkler-topped bottles were held too close to the ceiling in the basement of the popular bar in the Alps, Le Constellation. The sparklers were birthday candles that anyone could buy in a shop, the Times reported. The bar, a hot spot for guests in their late teens and early 20s, was packed for New Years Eve when the fire broke out at 1:30 a.m. in the ski-resort town of Crans-Montana. Most of those who died were found in the basement, where a dance floor and live DJs are located, and were teenagers, Swiss officials said previously. At least 119 are injured, many of them badly burned and recovering and/or fighting for their lives in hospitals. Ebenezer Mehari, 17, described the scene as hell to NBC News. I heard a big boom, and everybody was screaming...I have four friends who died, he said. For me, its not real. Those injured are from across Europe including Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and others. Swiss President Guy Parmelin has called the fire was one of the worst tragedies in the countrys history. Photo: @OleksiiKuleba Telegram Due to the difficult security situation, the Coordination Evacuation Headquarters has decided to forcibly evacuate more than 3,000 children and their parents from 44 frontline settlements in Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. "In Zaporizhia region, 651 children are being evacuated from four settlements across two communities. In Dnipropetrovsk region, 2,463 children are being evacuated from 40 settlements in five communities," reported Deputy Prime Minister for Ukraines Recovery Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Oleksiy Kuleba, on his Telegram channel. In addition, the headquarters discussed the situation in Chernihiv region, where on December 30 a mandatory evacuation was announced for 14 settlements: evacuations have been completed in three, while the process is ongoing in the remaining eleven. "It is important that regions receiving evacuees coordinate their actions and ensure proper conditions for families," the minister emphasized. He noted that since June 1, a total of 150,000 people have been evacuated from frontline territories to safer regions, including nearly 18,000 children and more than 5,000 people with limited mobility. To coordinate the processes, 17 transit centers are operational. People receive comprehensive support there: humanitarian, medical, psychological, legal, and social assistance. They are helped to restore documents, apply for payments and social services, as well as access financial support from the state and humanitarian partner organizations. At temporary accommodation sites for internally displaced persons (IDPs), over 80,000 places have been prepared, allowing people to be fully provided for after evacuation. A 24/7 hotline, 15-48, is also available, where people can obtain all necessary information regarding evacuation, temporary accommodation, obtaining IDP status, and accessing assistance. Did our AI summary help? Palak Vij is a Sub Editor and Entertainment Journalist with over a year of experience covering films, television, and pop culture in the digital space. Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Chef Vikas Khanna raises health concerns at Mumbai airport as he returns for MasterChef India shoot Did our AI summary help? Ragini Jaiswal Entertainment journalist and content writer with 3+ years of experience covering Bollywood, lifestyle trends, and celebrity stories across leading digital platforms. Photo: Unsplash The U.S. State Department has updated its advice for citizens planning to travel to Russia. American citizens are advised against traveling to Russia due to the dangers associated with the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the risk of persecution or unlawful detention by Russian security forces, arbitrary application of local laws, and the possibility of terrorist acts. "U.S. citizens in Russia should leave immediately," the department reports. At the same time, citizens who choose to ignore travel advisories and travel to Russia are warned that the risk of unlawful detention of U.S. citizens is significant, and travelers should be prepared for the possibility of being detained for an unknown period of time, possibly without a clear reason and without the ability to contact the embassy or anyone else for assistance. "Prepare a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries or power of attorney. Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States. Review this list of documents to prepare for your trip. Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care and custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc," according to the recommendations published by the State Department. It is also recommended to leave DNA samples with the doctor in case the family needs access to them. "Develop a communication plan with family, your employer or host organization. List how and when you'll confirm you're safe (text or call). Specify how often you will do this. Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations," the department reports. It is also recommended to log out of all social media accounts and not log in to them while in Russia. "U.S. citizens should assume all electronic communications and devices in Russia are monitored by Russian security services. Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals based on information found on electronic devices. This includes information that was created, transmitted, or stored while in another country," the recommendations note. It is noted that the U.S. Embassy in Moscow has limited capacity to provide assistance in the event of the detention of a U.S. citizen. In addition, there is no guarantee that the Russian government will grant the U.S. Consulate access to detained U.S. citizens. Did our AI summary help? who was victoria jones Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to BTS confirms March 20 comeback with new album; band to reunite after nearly four year hiatus Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to THE BOYZs Eric wins hearts worldwide after explaining emotional reason behind multilingual New Years letters Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Sarvam Maya review: Nivin Pauly and Riya Shibus horror comedy entertains more than expected Did our AI summary help? Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Sonakshi Sinha, Zaheer Iqbal welcome 2026 with glittery Maldives New Year bash Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Urvashi Rautela celebrates her mom's birthday with 24 carat gold crown cake at worlds tallest hotel When David Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016, millions had the feeling of losing someone close even though they had not known him personally. This was part of the magnetism of this multi-talented pop icon who, according to his biographer, David Buckley, changed more lives than any other public figure: he opened our minds to the possibility that it was okay to be different, to sit outside of the norm. Now, a decade after his death, Bowies star still dazzles. In the UK, Alexander Larmans Lazarus: the Second Coming of David Bowie has just been published, and Movistar Plus will premiere the documentary David Bowie: The Final Acton on January 9. Bowie classics such as Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold the World, Changes, Starman, Ziggy Stardust and Heroes still get plenty of airplay while his albums, whose covers are portraits of his face as mod, alien, Hollywood celebrity, rock star, female model and Diamond Dog-hybrid, still take pride of place in personal record collections. In short, Bowies cultural and social footprint remains indelible. Ahead of his time, Bowie spoke of post-apocalyptic landscapes, of isolation, of the technological journey beyond the human realm posing the great question of our time: Is the planet going to survive? He talked of dynamiting binarism and making room for different notions of identity, while forging a deep and warm bond between those who listened to him. Because beyond pessimism, his songs reveal two things, as the philosopher Simon Critchley writes in his book Bowie: one is the hope that we are not alone and the other, that it is possible to escape from this place, even if its for a day. In his multiple phases, Bowie addressed the fragility of being by embodying the adolescent, the madman, the ghost, the degenerate ascetic, the android, the addict, the father, the friend, the brother, the human. And he opened an infinite number of doors For me, for you. For us, wrote British journalist Suzanne Moore in The Guardian. He gave us everything. He gave us ideas, ideas above our station. All THE ideas and a specific one. Of life. The stellar idea that we can create ourselves whoever we are. He achieved a personal and, at the same time, collective connection, especially among the marginalized young among those who consider themselves different, misunderstood, rejected. Bowie bridges the gap between the secret and the public. He is a person who works with words and produces effects. He was also the first to say: Im weird, so what? Uruguayan writer Ramiro Sanchiz, author of David Bowie, sonic posthumanism tells EL PAIS. Bowies successive personas represent the great masquerade: the authentic, in fact, does not exist, and everything is influence, copy and simulacrum. Bowie assumes that the self is a fiction, and that every biography is nothing but a polyphonic novel, says Sanchiz, who has Bowie on his list of agents from beyond along with the writers H. P. Lovecraft, J. G. Ballard, Kathy Acker, the philosopher Donna Haraway and the film director David Lynch, with whom he worked on Twin Peaks. Sanchiz is fascinated by those who reveal the dark, stranger side of things, those who dare to push the boundaries and infect us and usurp everything we think we are and make us understand that we have nothing. Bowie breaks our chains and frees us. As his beloved Little Richard did earlier a poor, lame, Black and gay boy who decided to come out in the 1950s when the U.S. was awash with racism, super macho attitudes and an obsession with money Bowie redefined what was considered natural. According to Critchley, What defines Bowies music really well is the experience of longing. David Bowie wearing a design by Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto. Sunset Box / Allpix Press / ContactoPhoto Byron and the Enlightenment Music doesnt play a big role in my life, Bowie said in a 1976 Playboy interview, speaking during his Thin White Duke phase, marked by a crazy fondness for cocaine. He claimed then that recording songs was just a way to make a living, and that his true passion was knowledge and the survival of the soul. We will never know to what extent that is true, but the truth is that Bowie was an avid reader: he once defined himself as a born librarian with a sex drive. He studied Buddhism, read Carl Jung, Nietzsche, Albert Camus, and probably also some figures from the British Enlightenment, who raised the possibility that consciousness was a construct. Famously, George Berkeley said esse est percipi to be is to be perceived which opened up the possibility of the human being coexisting with two identities: a revolutionary notion that could imply that people do not have a real self, or that they have several selves, or that they had no self, but only a series of sensations and responses, Emily Bernhard-Jackson, professor of literature at the University of Exeter, tells EL PAIS. Identity became confusing and questionable, and I think David Bowie was reflecting on these very possibilities. Bernhard-Jackson is the author of several articles about Bowie: in one she likens him to Lord Byron, because both use their work to explore the meaning and construction of identity. Like the beatniks he admired Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, and Neal Cassady Bowie perhaps also believed that the critical spirit of the Enlightenment could be traced back to the theories of Hegel and Marx. He reproached the positivists for having killed the true spirit of the Enlightenment, by stifling its fundamentally negative dimension, according to Bernhard-Jackson, who also glimpses in Bowie hints (conscious or not) of Herbert Marcuse; Marcuse believed that the struggle against alienation could only be addressed by those marginalized by the system. Perhaps it is time to recognize that disharmony with the world is an identity and a way of existing as good as any other; that we can expand the limits of what is possible. Bowies son, filmmaker Duncan Jones, recently explained on Instagram that one of the things he admired most about his father was his ability to reduce a roast chicken to a dry shell, sucking every last drop of marrow from every bone. Bernhard-Jackson reflects: This image of Bowie is completely different from the one most people have of him. However, this was also his identity: father, chicken lover, very hungry man... You never know someone completely. To imagine Bowie devouring a chicken, flying in a space capsule, or reading in his slippers is to live accompanied by a mysterious, absolutely incandescent star. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Indore water contamination crisis: Out of the 50 samples collected, presence of bacteria has been found in 26 samples. (Picture Credit: X/@imgrijesh) Shreya Garg is a journalist with over 6 years of experience at leading media houses. She writes extensively on lifestyle, health and things that are trending on the internet. California is the first state to take a stand against third-hand smoking. (Picture Credit: Pexels) Shreya Garg is a journalist with over 6 years of experience at leading media houses. She writes extensively on lifestyle, health and things that are trending on the internet. Zohran Mamdani and his wife and illustrator Rama Duwaji at former's swearing-in ceremony. Shreya Garg is a journalist with over 6 years of experience at leading media houses. She writes extensively on lifestyle, health and things that are trending on the internet. Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Indias dependence on Chinese silver imports is rising. A commodity trade is becoming a strategic concern In the FY26 Budget, the government set aside Rs 11.21 trillion for capital expenditure, marking a 10 percent increase over the revised estimates of the previous year Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Manufacturing growth cools to 24-month low of 55 in December as export momentum weakens Nuvama Institutional Research in its latest ITC report noted, Historically, after such a sharp hike, volumes decrease 39%. For example, FY11 logged a 3% volume drop YoY after an ~18% price increase. Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Investors mourn loss of Siddhartha Bhaiya, say 'a very promising fund manager gone too soon' Kyiv faked the death of a Russian far-right activist fighting in its ranks against the Kremlin in order to expose several enemy agents Denis Kapustin, a Russian far-right opponent of Vladimir Putin, died on December 27 in the Ukrainian province of Zaporizhzhia at the age of 41. Kapustin, commander of a group of Russians opposed to the Kremlin fighting against the occupying troops in Ukraine, was killed in a drone strike on the front lines. This was announced by his battalion, the Russian Volunteer Corps (DRK), and confirmed by the Ukrainian army. But Kapustin was resurrected on January 1: his death was a fabrication by the Ukrainian intelligence services (GUR) to expose an operation by Moscows secret services. Congratulations, Denis Kapustin, on your return to life. This was how Kyrylo Budanov, head of the GUR, greeted him on January 1 in a video conference that was made public as proof that he was alive. Its always a pleasure to greet you. The money used to assassinate you will go toward supporting our struggle, Budanov added. According to a statement from the GUR, the Timur Special Unit required only a month of preparation to convince Russian intelligence services that they were contacting collaborators inside Ukraine. The Timur group did not specify how they achieved this. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU, responsible for intelligence operations along with the GUR) regularly presents cases of how the enemy recruits Ukrainians to carry out sabotage or transmit information about the location of military units. The most common method is through Telegram channels where pro-Russian sympathizers or those with financial difficulties make contact. Once the task is completed, they are paid, in most cases, in cryptocurrency. They agreed to pay $500,000 for Kapustins assassination. Announcing his death was necessary to convince the Kremlin that the operation had been carried out and to transfer the money. Through this mission, the GUR managed to save Kapustins life and identify Russian agents assigned to operations inside Ukraine. Kapustin explained in the videoconference that he is in Ukraine and will soon take up arms again. The DRK leader is an extremist who provokes enormous revulsion outside of Ukraine. The Russian opposition in exile has broken off relations with him, and since 2019, due to a German court ruling, he has been barred from entering the European Union on charges of promoting neo-Nazi groups. Compared to Kapustin and his group, parties that in Spain are usually labeled far-right, such as Vox, would be considered moderate political forces. Their racism, for example, dictates that only Slavs can fight in the DRK. Their stance on issues like homosexuality would land them in court in many EU countries. Ukrainian authorities are avoiding this controversy because they believe Kapustin is doing the job they need: mobilizing Russians who want to fight against other Russians. His battalion gained prominence in 2023 when it participated in the first Ukrainian incursion to occupy part of Russian territory, in the Belgorod region. The GUR has distinguished itself during nearly four years of war with covert operations worthy of a movie script. In 2023, they convinced a Russian helicopter pilot to defect with the aircraft. This Russian military officer was secretly transferred to Spain, where he was murdered in 2024, allegedly at the behest of his countrys intelligence services. Also in 2024, they managed to infiltrate an enemy warship docked in Kaliningrad, Russia, and set it on fire. There are missions on Russian soil with indications that they were carried out by the GUR, but neither the GUR nor other Ukrainian defense agencies officially acknowledge them. This is the case with the three car bomb attacks that occurred in Moscow in December. One of them killed a general involved in the invasion. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Olectra Greentech shares jump 6% as operations begin at Hyderabad EV plant; JBM Auto up 8% Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Stocks to Watch Today: South Indian Bank, Hyundai Motor, Hero MotoCorp, TVS Motor, RailTel, Aurobindo Pharma, Time Technoplast, MCX in focus on 2 January Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Vodafone Idea shares jump 4% as report says AGR dues to be halved after reassessment Teena Jain Kaushal is Editor - Personal Finance (Audience Growth) at Moneycontrol, with over two decades of expertise demystifying money matters. Whether its decoding tax, navigating investments, or breaking down the latest insurance trends, her aim is to help readers make smarter financial decisions. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to BJP drops Pooja More from civic poll race over past remarks on Pahalgam attack, Fadnavis This came after a group of US lawmakers wrote to Indian ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra, urging a fair and timely trial for activist Umar Khalid in "accordance with international law. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is setting up 10,231 polling stations across the city to cater to its 10.3 millions voters. The ED arrested Chaitanya Baghel in July last year in connection with its money laundering probe in the alleged scam (Image: PTI) China and Pakistan have repeatedly denied allegations of military expansion under CPEC, maintaining that the project is economic in nature (Image for representation) On New Years Eve, the Nicolas Maduro regime authorized the release of another 87 political prisoners in Venezuela. This information has been confirmed by civil organizations that advocate for the prisoners, such as the NGO Justicia, Encuentro y Perdon (Justice, Encounter, and Forgiveness, or JEyP), and the Comite de Madres en Defensa de la Verdad (Committee of Mothers in Defense of the Truth). The vast majority of the prisoners were being held in Tocoron prison, an hour and a half from Caracas, for taking part in the massive popular protests that challenged Nicolas Maduros victory in the 2024 presidential elections. Once the releases were authorized, the civil association JEyP reported that, so far, 33 of them have actually been carried out. Information about political prisoners in Venezuela often has a subtext that gives rise to confusion and frequent misinterpretations. At times, the Venezuelan regime does not free all the prisoners it announces, or delays the execution of many releases, sparking anxiety among affected families. At Christmas, the Maduro government announced the release of 99 political prisoners. The organization Foro Penal, a leading authority on the matter, had registered 61 as of December 30. Currently, including the announced releases, there are still approximately 720 political prisoners in Venezuela, the highest number in the entire Western Hemisphere. The Maduro government has been authorizing these pardons throughout the past year, which have benefited hundreds of people. But the move comes only after having lashed out ferociously against the population in the weeks following the July 2024 presidential elections. In the second half of last year, after those controversial elections, 2,000 people were taken to prison. The Tocoron prison, in Aragua State traditionally a judicial center for common criminals was then expanded to make room for the new political prisoners, who were already overcrowded in other jails. The political prisoners who benefited from these measures, including those released on Christmas Day, do not enjoy full freedom: they will remain under precautionary measures, with mandatory court appearances and additional restrictions. While acknowledging the relief that a measure like this brings to these activists and their families, civil society organizations issued a renewed call to the authorities of the Maduro regime to declare a general amnesty. All have described the arrests and judicial punishment of these citizens as arbitrary and unjustified. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Delhi riots case: 8 US lawmakers write to Indias envoy seeking bail, timely trial for Umar Khalid Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All How ex-bankers were busted in personal loan scam: Fake salaries, phoney govt IDs The park is under threat from the interests of local mining and real estate firms who are eyeing the green zone, the paper said citing activists. (Representative image) Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Indias cyber scam bill crosses Rs 52,976 crore in 6 years; investment fraud is the big monster Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge questions survey on voters' confidence in EVMs: 'What do you expect?' The FIR has been registered under Sections 353 (1) and 192 of the BNS. Mother of two chops off married lover's private parts after inviting him over for New Year celebrations The most unsettling issue is not that the authoritarians are winning. Its that those who should be opposing them seem to have forgotten why Educational exposure of ideas, assumptions or hypotheses, based on proven facts" (which need not be strictly current affairs) Value in judgments are excluded, and the text comes close to an opinion article, without judging or making forecasts , just formulating hypotheses, giving motivated explanations and bringing together a variety of data On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding. Rarely has a milestone coincided so precisely with the exhaustion of the very idea that made it possible. It will be like toasting a world that no longer exists. The nation that for decades presented itself as the guarantor of global democratic order has, according to the most rigorous political scientists, crossed the line separating democracy from competitive authoritarianism. This is neither a metaphor nor rhetorical exaggeration. In 2025, the number of autocracies in the world surpassed that of democracies for the first time. While the guardian has become the arsonist, others watch and wait. But the most troubling thing is not that authoritarians are gaining ground it is that those who should oppose them seem to have forgotten why. A year ago, at Donald Trumps inauguration, the most revealing image was not the vindictive speech or the presence of the so-called Reactionary International from Italys Giorgia Meloni to El Salvadors Nayib Bukele while leaders such as Frances Emmanuel Macron or Germanys Olaf Scholz were not even invited. It was the prime position occupied by tech magnates, smiling, alongside the new president. The fusion of political and economic power was already being displayed without shame. Today, these magnates not only amass unprecedented wealth: they wield an unprecedented cultural and communicative influence. And some no longer hide their disdain for democracy. Peter Thiel, one of the most influential ideologues of this new right, stated bluntly: I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible. This is not a provocation; it is a program. Curtis Yarvin, another intellectual reference in the Trumpist sphere, openly calls it reinventing fascism and putting it at the service of Silicon Valley. If they lose the 2026 midterm elections, he warns, they will have lost the opportunity to dismantle democracy. Hence the urgency to consolidate power before voters can stop them. Why should we be concerned? Because they wield a kind of power that no previous elite possessed. The Rockefellers didnt aspire to colonize Mars, create private currencies, or influence military conflicts in real time. They didnt believe that progress required abolishing democracy. Evgeny Morozov has precisely described what they represent: they concentrate three forms of domination that were previously dispersed. The plutocrat, who buys influence; the oracle, listened to like a prophet; and the platform, which controls the stage where others speak. The problem is no longer that this new power influences what is said, but that it decides what is said, how it circulates, and in what terms it is understood. Viktor Orban and Donald Trump, last November 7 at the White House. Jonathan Ernst (REUTERS) But the success of contemporary authoritarianism cannot be explained solely from the top down. It also requires asking why millions of people vote for leaders who will ultimately strip them of their rights, and why populism defined as a rebellion against the elites has enthroned an even larger elite. Inequality breaks the bond between citizens and institutions, and then leaders emerge promising protection from supposedly indifferent elites. They dont offer a coherent economic program their policies tend to benefit the wealthy but they do offer something politically decisive: recognition. Someone who names the suffering and points the finger at those responsible. Material frustration is channeled into identity, and liberal democracy neutral, procedural, cosmopolitan becomes the enemy because it seems to represent precisely those who abandoned ordinary people. As Susan Stokes has described, 21st-century autocrats dont come to power through coups; they come with ballots and stay, using the very tools of democracy. The process tends to repeat itself. First move: polarize. Patriots versus traitors. When politics becomes tribal warfare, defending the leader no matter what becomes a matter of loyalty, not reason. Second move: discredit. Institutions that could limit power are systematically attacked: judges are corrupt, journalists lie, electoral agencies commit fraud, universities indoctrinate. And when institutions lose credibility, they can no longer fulfill their role as a check on power. Third move: replace. Once discredited, the institutions are reformed, that is, filled with loyalists. Everything still appears democratic there are elections, there is a parliament, there are courts but the substance has been hollowed out. Only the shell remains. The most perverse aspect is that citizens actively participate in the process. Those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, believed they were saving democracy from a nonexistent fraud. Convinced they were defending it, they were dismantling it. Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right AfD party, in the Bundestag on September 24. Liesa Johannssen (REUTERS) The year 2026 will put this model to the test. In November, the U.S. midterm elections will decide whether Trump consolidates his power or faces institutional checks. In October, Brazil will choose between an octogenarian Lula and Bolsonaros movement, which is waiting for its moment. In April, Hungary the European laboratory for this authoritarianism will hold elections in which Viktor Orban faces his first serious challenge in 15 years. In Germany, the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is aiming for historic results in the eastern regional elections. In France, the municipal elections will gauge Marine Le Pens strength before the 2027 presidential elections. The playing field is wide open: either democracies react, or the erosion of democracy will be complete. But with what moral authority can Europe resist? The authoritarianism arriving from across the Atlantic has severed the link between power and legitimacy. The deepest damage is not only the concentration of power, but the breaking of the postwar pact: the promise that the law would also bind the powerful. And Europe, which should be its guardian, has been complicit. In 2025, while invoking the international order to defend Ukraine, it silently suspended it for Gaza. It is Joseph Conrads old formula: light at home, the heart of darkness at the margins. The same logic that Europe applies today at its borders, outsourcing the horror to Libya, Turkey, or Morocco. In June 2026, the new Global Compact on Migration and Asylum will come into force, with faster deportations and return centers. Today it is the migrants. Who will be next? Zohran Mamdani takes office as mayor of New York. Amir Hamja (via REUTERS) This is not classic authoritarianism. It is something more insidious: a crisis of meaning. Contemporary Europe resembles the butler in Kazuo Ishiguros The Remains of the Day: proud of procedure and technical excellence, but reluctant to examine the ends it serves. He manages and makes compromises. Only at the end, on the dock, does the protagonist admit that he dedicated his life to perfecting the service while the world he served crumbled. The question is whether Europe will have that moment of clarity in time, or if only the remains of the day will be left. Meanwhile, a rudderless social democracy adopts the rhetoric of those it should be fighting. Britains Keir Starmer and Denmarks Mette Frederiksen mimic the right wing on immigration, believing they are disarming it. They only succeed in legitimizing its framework. And by abandoning their own ground, they have left a space that others are beginning to occupy: the void creates opportunities. In Copenhagen, the social democrats lost after 122 years not to the far right, but to a left wing that refused to apologize for being left wing. In New York, the new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, was sworn in on a Quran in an abandoned station of the citys first subway line. These are signs that something can be born where the old order is crumbling. 2026 will be the year of decision. Not because anything will be resolved crises of meaning arent resolved in an election cycle but because we will know if there is anything left to defend or if we are merely managing the decline. The question is no longer whether the old order can be sustained. It is whether we will be capable of imagining another. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 'No dispute with anyone, why was he targeted?': Hindu shopkeeper set on fire in Bangladesh, wifes questions hang heavy Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Priyanka Chaturvedi flags misuse of Xs Grok AI to sexualise women, seeks action from Ashwini Vaishnaw In September, Rahul Gandhi had accused the Election Commission of engineering mass deletion of Opposition supporters from voter list before the 2023 Karnataka election. Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to S Jaishankars bad neighbour jab at Pakistan amid IWT row: Nobody can tell us what to do The death has occurred against the backdrop of a wider contamination scare in the Bhagirathpura belt of the city Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All When Supreme Court acted first: Inside 2025s suo motu moments of top court Today, the United States is a fascist country; theres no other way to describe it. But there are Americans who resist and create havens of beauty and culture Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed When, 40 years ago, in December 1985, I first set foot in New York, I wasnt aware that I had just embarked on a one-way journey. Without intending to, the center of gravity of my life had shifted forever to the other side of the Atlantic, which I have since crossed some three hundred times. Two-thirds of my life have been spent in New York, a city that has indelibly marked me: here I earned a doctorate in literature, won a professorship at an elite college, and was publicly born as a writer with a novel that won the Nadal Prize in 2006, Call Me Brooklyn. That same year, I was appointed director of the Cervantes Institute in the city, a position I held until 2011. Since arriving, I have closely observed American culture through a dual lens: observing the state of the Spanish language and the current state of U.S. literature. Decade after decade I have been reporting on both issues through the pages of this newspaper. Regarding literature, Ive had in-depth conversations with Joan Didion, Janet Malcolm, Toni Morrison, Anne Carson, Siri Hustvedt, Norman Mailer, Philip Roth, John Updike, Paul Auster, David Foster Wallace, Don DeLillo, Salman Rushdie, and Richard Ford, among other prominent figures. I later had to write obituaries for many of them. If those conversations reveal anything, its that the contradictions that have always violently shaken this country are enormous. Since I arrived, seven presidents have occupied the White House: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump. The mere act of writing the last name has a paralyzing effect, given the atrocities his administration perpetrates incessantly. As for Spanish, the attack on our language is head-on. Simply speaking Spanish makes you a suspect and a potential target for deportation, though thats not the end of the story. Spanish arrived in what is now North American territory before English, and no one will ever be able to eradicate it; on the contrary, it will only grow stronger. Its worth noting that Trump is the embodiment of a trend that has always been present in American history; one need only recall the Ku Klux Klan or the Joseph McCarthy era. Immediately after Trump took office for the second time, many people in my circle who had been legally residing in this country for decades mostly artists, writers, and filmmakers, many of them Spanish decided to become U.S. citizens. One major reason was insecurity, but it was not the only one. At a deeper level, it was the precariousness of democracy in a country founded on the inviolability of democratic values. Norman Mailer was the first to make me aware of the danger to democracy itself when I interviewed him during the Gulf War in 2003. Since then, the situation has only deteriorated to the point we are at today. The United States today is a fascist country. There is no other way to characterize what we are experiencing. Its worth clarifying again. Fascism has not taken over the United States monolithically. In many places, New York being one of them, there is a profound sense of repulsion toward what is happening, which has given rise to resistance movements. My two most recent contributions to this newspaper deal with Thomas Pynchons latest book and Mike Wallaces account of New Yorks history in the 1930s and 1940s. The common thread between the two is resistance to fascism. That is also what underlies the decision so many of us have recently made, invoking an eloquent (if not entirely accurate) title from Gertrude Stein: to become Americans. Becoming an immigrant isnt exactly an easy process. In its final stage, after completing all the formalities, I had to attend an interview at the grim building located at 26 Federal Plaza, near Broadway, in Lower Manhattan. As you approach, the first thing that catches your eye is a sign with the ominous initials ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement. At dawn, people form endless lines, exposed to the wind and cold, unsure of what fate awaits them when authorities review their cases. A chilling article published not long ago in EL PAIS recounted atrocities perpetrated by ICE agents against immigrants, whom they handcuffed after throwing them to the ground in hallways or elevators. I didnt see any of that, although I know its true because its widely documented. My experience at Federal Plaza was completely different from what I expected. What I saw highlighted the enormous dysfunction we are experiencing in this country today. In my experience, those in charge of assisting immigrants were extraordinarily friendly and eager to help. While I waited, I observed the most diverse variety of people imaginable, men and women of all races, languages, and social statuses. Something that particularly struck me was the considerable proportion of Hispanics in the line and the fact that the officials spoke Spanish to communicate with them. The tone of the conversations underscored their willingness to help. The reason most frequently mentioned was the precarious situation of non-citizens and the difficulties that those aspiring to become citizens will face in the near future, once even stricter measures than those currently in place take effect. The interview I had reinforced my impression of the officials solidarity. The last question that the person reviewing my case asked me, as part of the so-called civic exam, was: What is the name of the president of the United States? When he heard my answer, he smiled enigmatically. He didnt say so, but it was clear that he felt a deep antipathy for the individual who was the subject of his question. A few days ago, the solemn ceremony took place in which over 150 people were granted citizenship. It wasnt in Federal Plaza, but on Pearl Street, the street where Herman Melville was born and lived for many years. The ceremony was presided over by a judge of Latin American origin who delivered a speech denouncing the hostility of Trumps immigration policy. This is a nation that, since its inception, has been built on the shoulders of immigrants, she declared passionately, recounting the story of her parents, who arrived at Ellis Island fleeing poverty without speaking a word of English, and noting that despite their humble origins, she had become a federal judge. When I told my friends that I had become a naturalized U.S. citizen (without losing my Spanish citizenship), their reaction was always polite, but with a great deal of reservation. They identified the United States with the image projected by the current administration. But the United States is not Trump, just as Germany wasnt Hitler, Italy wasnt Mussolini, and Spain wasnt Franco execrable figures whom history has erased, as it will with Trump. Only a few of those who congratulated me were able to discern this. The United States is Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, Rosa Parks, James Baldwin, and Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of my city, a socialist and Muslim immigrant born in Uganda, who became a citizen eight years ago. To be able to vote for people like him and support him in his fight against fascism, its important to take the same step. Eduardo Lago is a writer and translator. His most recent book is La estela de Selkirk (Galaxia Gutenberg). Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Zohran Mamdani sends handwritten note for Umar Khalid: 'We are all thinking of you' Why is the Western media and academia so focused on targeting the RSS? Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. From Escaping Gold to Shifting Poles: What We Learned About Earth in 2025 (Image: Canva) Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to This blue marble fruit isnt blue at all and its optical trick is stunning Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day 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. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico, early Friday, shaking buildings and prompting evacuations in Guerrero, Mexico City, and Acapulco. No serious damage or casualties were reported, though minor impacts and debris were noted in some areas. Did our AI summary help? Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Did Zohran Mamdani really make a Nazi salute at his inauguration? MAGA supporters compare him to Elon Musk Alain Aspect, in a talk he gave in Palaiseau, France, on the day he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2022. The pioneer of quantum computing talks about how Albert Einstein would have reacted to his experiments, the hype around the technology, and the parallels between physics and his new hobby: magic Alain Aspect, 78, learned the real quantum physics in Cameroon. Not at the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, but during his civil service in Africa, reading a book by Claude Cohen-Tannoudji while teaching physics. That work which revolutionized the teaching of quantum physics, he explains changed his life. Decades later, Aspect experimentally demonstrated something that most physicists considered science fiction: quantum entanglement, the phenomenon Albert Einstein called spooky action and that few believed in. It is so counterintuitive that even today it is hard to grasp: two particles are connected in a way that classical physics cannot explain, and what happens to one instantaneously affects the other, even when they are separated by miles. Aspects experiments in 1982 settled a half-century-long debate between two of the most important physicists in history, Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr, and opened the door to the second quantum revolution computers, cryptography, and technologies that today generate billions of dollars. On October 4, 2022, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded Aspect the Nobel Prize in Physics alongside John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for pioneering quantum information science. Aspect, born in Agen, France, has just published Si Einstein avait su (If Einstein Had Known), a historical journey through the fascinating debate in quantum physics from Max Planck to the 2022 Nobel Prize for Physics, including the disputes between Einstein and Bohr and the important work of John Stewart Bell in the 1960s. In this conversation with EL PAIS via videoconference, which takes place a few days after Aspect returned from Stockholm following the Nobel celebrations, he talks about physics and physicists, the genius of Albert Einstein, the limits of quantum technology and his new hobby: magic. Its like physics, he explains. I do something that is really unbelievable, but there is an explanation for it. Question. The title of your book is provocative: If Einstein Had Known. What would have changed in 20th-century physics if Einstein had lived to see your 1982 experiments? Answer. Nothing would have changed in the world. But it would have been interesting to know Einsteins reaction; he was so smart that he would have had to acknowledge the results and react. So I try to imagine how he would have reacted. Q. And how would he have reacted? A. I think he would have realized that he had to abandon [one of his positions]: realism or locality [either particles have no defined properties until we observe them, or there are instantaneous connections between them regardless of distance]. And I think he was so committed to realism that he would have kept realism and abandoned locality. Q. You say that Bohr wins from a certain point of view, but Einstein detected something extraordinary. Can you explain in what sense they were both right? A. Its interesting from the historical point of view that there were two debates. Einstein was wrong in 1927, at the Solvay meeting. But in 1935, as you say, Bohrs point of view can be defended. It all depends on your epistemological position regarding what is physical reality. If you take Bohrs view that the physical reality of an object cannot be defined without saying how you observe that reality, then you are convinced by Bohr. But if you agree with Einsteins point of view, that physical reality is intrinsic to the object, you dont need to define how you observe it. Thirty years later, John Bell showed that if you take Einsteins viewpoint seriously, you have a contradiction with quantum physics. Q. In 1982 you experimentally demonstrated quantum entanglement, but you say that many physicists werent interested in it. Why? A. Physicists had heard that there had been a debate between Einstein and Bohr and thought it had been settled with Bohr being right. Even someone like Richard Feynman, one of the greatest physicists of the second half of the 20th century, ended up acknowledging: Oops, maybe I underestimated entanglement. And then they began with the first ideas about quantum computing. Q. You spent eight years working on your experiments. What was it like when you finally got the results? A. We had prepared for this for a long time. Every detail and every little point had to be solved before we did the final experiment. And once everything was in place, it worked, and I got a result, I thought, Wow, I did it. Alain Aspect, in a photo provided by his publisher. Llx Q. Did you realize then that your discovery would be recognized with a Nobel Prize? A. No, no, absolutely not. When I stopped thinking about it and stopped accepting invitations on the subject, I switched to something else. When I started, in 1974, everyone told me that what I was doing was of no interest whatsoever. Then I did my experiment, and they were saying, Oh, thats very interesting; you finally settled the Bohr-Einstein debate. Well, I settled the Bohr-Einstein debate, period. I had no idea that it could be useful for something. The first hint that it could be came around 1990, when Arthur Ekert, a young student, came to me and said, Did you know that you can do quantum cryptography with entangled photons? I said, Wow. But up until that point, for me, it was finished. I had settled the Bohr-Einstein debate, and that was it. I absolutely never envisioned that it could lead me to the Nobel Prize. Q. You mention Richard Feynman. Did you ever meet him? A. Yes. In 1984, I gave a talk at Caltech, and Feynman was sitting in the front row. There were people in the room expecting Feynman to attack me [laughs]. And no, not at all. He was extremely friendly. Because at that time, he had understood that entanglement was interesting. He made extremely positive comments. He took me to his office, we talked for an hour, and then he sent me a letter. I still have it. Q. Spanish physicist Juan Ignacio Cirac, who wrote the foreword to the Spanish edition of your book, spoke with EL PAIS a few days ago and argued there is a bubble in quantum computing. Do you agree? A. Yes, theres too much hype. That doesnt mean its not interesting. But the problem is the press releases from companies and universities. Scientists are usually reasonable. But the communications teams exaggerate. Q. What will a quantum computer be able to do that a classical computer will never be able to do? A. Its very difficult to say. Im sure there are some applications that will be used. For example, quantum cryptography. We also have quantum computers that are producing some interesting initial results, but were not yet at a stage where we can say, Its a totally new world. Will they change society? I have no idea. But Im deeply convinced that well have an answer in the coming years. I hope so, because Im not such a young man, and Id like to see it. Q. Cirac mentions in the prologue of your book that you are also a magician A. Oh, well, this is just for fun. But in a sense, it is like physics. I do something that is really unbelievable, but there is an explanation for it. Its the same in physics. Theres something in nature thats incredible, but theres an explanation. And I can push the comparison a little further. In natural physics, the people who have access to the explanation are experts, people who already know the theory and everything. The general public doesnt really have access to the explanation. Its the same with magicians. Thats why I like it. Its fun. Q. What is your opinion on the problem in some countries, such as the United States, that are facing major attacks on science from different pressure groups and politicians? A. Its terrible. But my point of view when I give talks is that if some people think the Earth is flat, thats fine, theyre allowed to have that opinion. But theyre not the ones Im interested in; I cant convince them. And then there are the people who love science and are happy to come to my talk because it reinforces their pleasure. And in between are all the people who sometimes may hesitate. They are the ones I try to keep on the right side. Theyre the ones I make the effort for. Q. After settling one of the biggest debates in physics, and winning a Nobel Prize, are there still unanswered questions that keep you up at night? A. Yes, yes, of course. My biggest question is how big an object can be and still be quantum. There are quantum computers with thousands of qubits now. But can we have millions? Can we have billions and still control for errors? I joke about this. If at some point we discover that we cant have a quantum computer that size, Ill be very happy because Im a physicist and well have learned something. And if theres no limit, if we can build a quantum computer, Ill be happy too because Im a co-founder of a quantum computing startup [Pascal]. So in both options I win. Im an optimist. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Dulhasti Stage-II cleared: Why India is fast-tracking hydropower on Chenab as Pakistan cries foul over IWT suspension Indian student Thokala Hruthik Reddy, 25, died after jumping from his apartment in Brandenburg, Germany, to escape a fire on New Year's Eve. His family has appealed to the Indian government for help in repatriating his body. The fire's cause is under investigation. Did our AI summary help? Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All How a Japanese scallop got caught in a China-Japan power struggle India and Bangladesh have started joint water flow measurements as they prepare to renew the 1996 Ganga Water Sharing Treaty, set to expire in December. Disputes persist over water allocation, with Bangladesh seeking changes and India citing political challenges. Did our AI summary help? New Delhi wants BRICS to amplify the Global South. It also wants to stop the bloc from becoming an anything-goes club, and Pakistans bid sits right at the fault line. Iran warned the US against intervening in its internal affairs after President Trump threatened action if Iran used force on protesters. Iranian officials blamed the US and Israel for fueling unrest amid ongoing protests over economic issues and rising prices. Did our AI summary help? Jack Smith tells House Trump was central to Jan. 6 Capitol attack: Key revelations from deposition North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared with his daughter Kim Ju Ae at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, fueling speculation about her as a possible successor. Analysts note her rising public profile but say her young age makes formal succession unlikely for now. Did our AI summary help? Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All NASA's largest research library closes today amid budget cuts, material to be tossed away Starting January 1, local and federal agents detaining migrants in California are prohibited from hiding behind masks that conceal their faces, as they have done until now. This is mandated by one of the many laws that have taken effect at the beginning of the year and will impact the migrant community. The Trump administrations crusade against immigration has divided the nation and, on the legislative front, has led to the passage of new regulations in local and state laws that will come into force in 2026. Some, in states governed by Democrats such as California and Illinois, expand protections for migrants; in other states like Texas and Tennessee, governed by Republicans, the objective is to facilitate the work of federal agents in their race against time to increase the number of detainees and deportees. Californias law SB 627, which makes it a crime for law enforcement officers to wear a mask or a face covering while on duty, has been challenged in court by the federal government. The Trump administration argues that anonymity for employees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a protective measure for agents. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported that attacks on agents have increased by more than 1,000%. The lawsuit argues that the mask ban is unconstitutional because states do not have the power to regulate federal agencies. Several states have introduced measures prohibiting immigration agents from wearing face coverings, but California was the first to enact such a ban into law. Democratic Senator Scott Wiener, the bills author, criticizes the fear and helplessness migrants feel when they cannot identify those who detain them. When law enforcement wears ski masks in communities that terrorize communities, it reduces trust in law enforcement, he stated in a video posted on social media. Migrants and organizations that support migrant rights say that concealing officers faces and allowing them to remain anonymous has made it easier for abuses of force to occur during arrests, including by people who are not law enforcement officers Another new rule aimed at addressing this problem requires federal agents to visibly wear their identification with their name, badge number and agency, and prohibits bounty hunters from participating in arrests. Another law signed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom that will have a broad impact on the immigrant community is AB 495, also known as the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025. Its purpose is to help families prepare for deportation. The new legislation expands the number of relatives up to the fifth degree (such as great-aunts and cousins) who can become temporary guardians of children, allowing them to make decisions about medical care and school enrollment. Since the start of immigration raids, one of the biggest concerns in the immigrant community has been who will care for children if their parents are detained or deported. In addition, the new law will prohibit daycare centers from collecting immigration information about a child or their parents. With the goal of protecting minors, California has also enacted a law requiring the state to provide legal counsel to young people to defend their immigration cases. The Trump administration has targeted unaccompanied minors arriving in the United States on several fronts, drastically cutting funding to organizations that assist them and eliminating their right to legal representation a measure that is being challenged in court. This lack of protection has led to scenes as surreal as children under the age of five being forced to argue their asylum cases alone before an immigration judge. Another of the Trump administrations most controversial actions against minors, later blocked by a judge, was an attempt to deport more than 300 Guatemalan children without any removal order or giving them the opportunity to defend themselves. Restoring sensitive locations One of Trumps first actions upon returning to the White House was to eliminate the protections afforded to so-called sensitive locations (hospitals, schools, and places of worship), which effectively barred immigration agents from these facilities. Since January, Californias SB 81 law has sought to restore such protections by designating health care facilities as safe spaces, barring immigration agents from accessing them, and classifying a patients immigration data as protected medical information. Illinois, another state heavily affected by federal immigration raids, has also moved to strengthen protections for patients immigration status in hospitals. The new legislation, approved this fall amid an escalation of federal operations under Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, also bans civil arrests in and around Illinois courthouses and allows anyone wrongly arrested in or near a courthouse to seek compensation of up to $10,000. The Trump administration has turned the routine court appearances that migrants are required to attend into ambushes designed to detain them. Agents will also be barred from entering schools without a warrant, and certain decisions based on immigration status are restricted. State-licensed daycare centers must now display information about immigrants rights at each facility, tighten the conditions for sharing documentation with law enforcement, and develop action plans in case immigration agents appear. Greater cooperation with ICE For migrants living in Republican-controlled states, however, the new year brings little cause for optimism. In Texas, a law has taken effect requiring sheriffs to sign cooperation agreements known as 287(g) agreements with ICE. Under SB 8, local jail officials must share detainees immigration information with federal agents. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas warn that the legislation could lead to over-policing and racial discrimination. Under these agreements, local jails may hold residents without legal status who would otherwise be released after a minor offense or after posting bail, until ICE arrives to arrest them. Local police officers become secretaries for ICE doing paperwork and helping process people for deportations, the ACLU said. In Tennessee, another Republican-led state, the new year also brings a new form of discriminatory documentation for foreign residents. Legal residents will be issued temporary drivers licenses or identification cards that explicitly state they are not full citizens. Republican Senator Bo Watson introduced the bill as a measure to safeguard election integrity. Another law that will take effect in 2026 prohibits Tennessee from recognizing drivers licenses or identification cards issued by other states to undocumented migrants. Loss of health care In recent months, a recurring line of attack by the government against irregular immigration has been the claim that undocumented migrants take advantage of federal resources an argument that is false, since undocumented migrants are not eligible for any federal benefits. In response, some states have established programs to provide them with basic services, such as access to education or health care. Residents of Minnesota are beginning the year by losing part of those benefits. The state, whose legislature has a very slim Democratic majority, passed a law in early summer last year that withdraws health coverage for undocumented migrants over the age of 18. About 17,000 people who were enrolled in the MinnesotaCare program will lose their health coverage with the arrival of 2026. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A man holds a placard 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, Bangladesh, December 20, 2025. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain Pakistan has temporarily approved Biman Bangladesh Airlines to operate direct Dhaka-Karachi flights, reflecting warming ties after political changes in Bangladesh. The move signals closer engagement, raising regional concerns, especially for India. Did our AI summary help? Pakistan circulated misleading satellite images claiming strikes on Indian military sites in Amritsar after its 2025 defeat, but OSINT expert Damien Symon debunked the claims, showing no damage in verified images and exposing the disinformation attempt. Did our AI summary help? A woman leaves flowers outside the 'Le Constellation' bar, after a fire and explosion during a New Year's Eve party where several people died. (Photo: Reuters) Swiss officials put the death toll at 40 with more than 100 injured. Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All The other war Russia isnt talking about Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Trump warns Iran as protests enter sixth day, says If protesters are violently killed, US will come...' Nearly 40 people lost their lives and more than 100 were injured after a fire broke out during New Years celebrations at Le Constellation Teens are chatting less with friends and relying more on AI for emotional support Teens chatbots rather than mates A new report from the Pew Research Center paints a picture of teenage life online, from the platforms they favour to the growing role of artificial intelligence. The non-partisan research organisation surveyed 1,458 teens aged 13 to 17 across the US between 25 September and 9 October 2025, making the findings a timely look at how young people interact online. Researchers asked teens about the platforms they use most, which apps are losing popularity and how often they turn to AI chatbots. One of the clearest trends is the continued dominance of video-first platforms. YouTube, TikTok and Instagram now sit firmly at the top of the list for teen users. Snapchat is still widely used but its popularity is slipping, dropping from 60% in 2023 to 55% in the latest data. For some experts, Snapchats decline is welcome news. Titania Jordan, chief parenting officer at Bark Technologies, said: Snapchat has long been many parents biggest concern, and with good reason. Seeing it decline in popularity is a huge step forward for our childrens online safety. The specialist explained that YouTube and TikTok encourage a different kind of interaction. "Kids may send friends DMs of favourite videos, but theyre not the group chat powerhouses Snapchat used to be. YouTube and TikTok are more like Netflix than they are Snapchat." The report shows how quickly AI chatbots have entered the mainstream for teens. Only three in ten use them every day, but 64% say they use them at least occasionally. ChatGPT dominates the field, with Gemini and Meta AI also widely used. Psychologist Dr Lance Garrison, dean of professional psychology at The Chicago School, said teens are using AI for more than homework. "Maybe theyve asked ChatGPT to help write a story. Maybe theyve asked it how to handle a break-up. AI is changing how teens learn, create and even cope with their emotions. "Some AI tools can generate biased or harmful content that teens may not have the maturity to evaluate. Parents are still and always will be the most powerful influence in helping teens feel seen, safe and supported." by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk The controversial extended ACA subsidies expired on December 31, and across the country people are struggling to decide between paying the new prices or giving up coverage Saray Perez first saw on social media what her insurance agent, Mariela Feal, later confirmed: the new year would add another bill on top of her rent, water, electricity, car insurance, and food expenses monthly costs that are making life increasingly difficult in the United States. She and her husband, who had been paying nothing for MyFlorida Blue insurance, will now have to pay $70 per month each starting in 2026, a significant sum for the stylist, just a year after starting a beauty and hair care company in Florida. It may seem small at first glance, but it amounts to over $1,600 a year for the couple, which, amid a cost-of-living crisis, can be decisive. The situation is a direct consequence of the fact that the additional subsidies for beneficiaries of the public health insurance support system implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic came to an end on December 31. These cuts were part of the sweeping tax bill passed by the Republican majority in Congress last summer. The Democrats opposed the decision, and the ensuing dispute with the Republicans meant the two parties could not agree on a government funding bill, leading to the longest government shutdown in the countrys history. The news took us by surprise and, like many families, caused us concern, says Perez, a 37-year-old from Cuba. It might seem like a small amount to some, but when were talking about families living paycheck to paycheck or entrepreneurs, as is my case, every new expense has an impact. Its not just the amount; its the buildup of responsibilities that often go unseen. However, more than frustration, what I felt was the need to understand why and to approach it consciously. Thats when the call came from Feal, CEO of Marival Insurance, the life and health insurance advisory agency. Since November 1, she and her team had been working through the open enrollment period, which runs until January 15. It was a challenging task: they had to call each of their clients and inform them that they would no longer be paying the same amount for health insurance as they did a year ago. It was difficult for us to contact all our clients and explain everything, says Feal. In 2021, amid the coronavirus pandemic the most devastating in modern times, which left 1.2 million dead in the United States then-president Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act, which reduced healthcare costs for many families across the country. On the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as Obamacare, the Democrat increased subsidies. A few clicks and a short conversation, and thats all it takes to start seeing those benefits, Biden said at an event in Ohio. Increased coverage and lower premiums, he proclaimed. At that time, everything was very simple for Marival Insurance. I would send a text message to clients saying, Hey, your health insurance went down in price because of the new law the government signed. Now you pay 50 cents, instead of $20. And people were amazed, Feal says. The new federal law brought a rapid increase in enrollments by expanding tax credits for premiums, so many more people were able to buy health insurance through the federal marketplace. From then on, beneficiaries with incomes between 100% and 400% of the poverty level received larger tax credits for premiums, and those with incomes above 400%, who were previously ineligible, also qualified. This excess credit allowed people to pay less, on average, between $700 and $1,000 a year. That is, an average of $70 or $80 per month. It made it easier for people to receive an additional subsidy on top of the subsidies already provided by Obamacare, explains Luis Orlando Hernandez, CEO of Dulcinea Insurance, an agency with clients in more than 40 states across the country, primarily within the Hispanic community. But after the summer, people began to wonder what was happening. Why were the media claiming that many would lose their health insurance? How much more would be taken from customers pockets in a country that was becoming increasingly expensive to live in? These were some of the questions many of the 24 million people enrolled in Obamacare began asking themselves. It was a huge shock for me. Before, I didnt pay anything, and now I pay $35 every month, says William Rios, a 38-year-old handyman from Miami who uses Oscar Health Insurance. Diley Jimenez, a 37-year-old self-employed worker in Jacksonville, who previously paid nothing under Ambetter Health insurance and now pays $10, said that while she wasnt heavily affected by such a small amount, unlike other families she knows who faced much higher increases, the news was nonetheless not very pleasant. Protest in defense of the Obamacare program, in Washington, in 2020. HANNAH MCKAY (Reuters) What was happening nationally was that Congress did not renew the expanded subsidies, which were set to expire on December 31. While a hairstylist, a handyman, and a self-employed worker counted every dollar of their end-of-month bills, Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement to extend the subsidies. The former wanted to prolong the aid, but the latter insisted that such subsidies were too costly and prone to fraud by large insurance companies. An estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicates that continuing the financial assistance would increase the budget deficit by $335 billion between 2025 and 2034. Amid the disagreement, Democratic politicians have argued that the Trump administration intends to dismantle the healthcare system, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated. Even so, U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the only healthcare he will support and approve is that which sends money directly back to the people, even though Republicans for years have failed to present an alternative healthcare proposal. What is almost certain, according to CBO data, is that the number of uninsured people will increase by an average of 3.8 million each year between 2026 and 2034 if Congress does not permanently extend the expanded tax credits for health insurance premiums. And the consequences of this decision are already beginning to be seen. More and more people giving up health insurance Yeanny Gonzalez, a health insurance agent with Harmonia Insurance in Illinois, reports that one of her clients, a 26-year-old with cancer, saw his monthly premium jump from zero to $58. Since he wont be able to work much this year, its going to be difficult for him to make the payments, she says. In Cook County, near Chicago, premiums are even higher. A policy that had a monthly premium of $19 in 2025 now exceeds $139 for a minimum-income family. According to Gonzalez, the people most affected right now are self-employed workers, middle-income individuals who dont qualify for Medicaid, families with children, and many legal immigrants who rely on Obamacare for healthcare. During renewal calls, many clients told me that the premium increase put them in a tight spot. This is especially true for migrant women nearing 60 who are alone in the country and have a minimum income to qualify for Obamacare. These women need health insurance because they are alone and at an age where they require routine checkups, so they are forced to pay the new prices. Even though prices are rising, many have no choice but to continue paying for their increasingly expensive health insurance. Stopping insurance payments was never an option. Health isnt something you can postpone or improvise, says Saray Perez. You can adjust in other areas, but going without health insurance is a decision that can have serious consequences. Nevertheless, some have decided to forego enrolling in health plans this year due to the situation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that nearly 950,000 new people enrolled for coverage in 2026, down from more than 3 million new enrollees in the previous two years. Other reports indicate that recent enrollment of customers under the Affordable Care Act fell to 15.6 million, down from approximately 16 million last year. CBO projections indicate that if the enhanced tax credits expire indefinitely, the number of uninsured could increase by 2.2 million this year and by 3.7 million in 2027, when benchmark premiums are projected to rise by 4.3% and 7.7%, respectively. Luis Orlando Hernandez, from Dulcinea Insurance, says he has clients whose insurance premiums increased from nothing to $40 and who refuse to pay, because they say they dont need it and prefer to save some money. At my agency, and others Ive spoken with, customer losses are between 12 and 20%, because many people didnt respond to renewal requests, or said they didnt want to renew. The most worrying thing is that they were left without insurance as a result of this situation. A study by the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based organization, shows that the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming would account for 63% of the decline in enrollment in subsidized insurance plans. Young and middle-aged adults are the most likely to lose their insurance coverage going forward. Press conference following the Senate vote on health plans. Kevin Lamarque (REUTERS) Gonzalez, for her part, has no doubt that the strict anti-immigrant policies implemented in the country a year ago are contributing to the exodus of program members. Many are in the immigration process and are simply afraid that the subsidies will affect their applications and cause them to be canceled, she says. Here in Chicago, theres a strong working Latino population, and many depend on these subsidies; but at the same time, there are those who dont want to accept them for fear that their applications wont be approved by USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services]. Health and politics At a time like this, many people are reminded of one of the most frequently repeated and controversial phrases in the country: that in the United States you can only be very poor or very rich, never middle class. The argument some people make is that while the wealthy can afford private insurance and the poor can access Medicaid, a two-person household reporting $85,000 a year could end up paying 15 times more for the lowest-cost Gold plan compared to what they paid in 2025, according to Health Insurance company data. Still, Mariela Feal insists that even if the expanded subsidies are eliminated, the government continues to subsidize far more than it did before Obamacare. What we have is the best healthcare system this country has implemented in many years. Someone who came to the country after 2021 and whose insurance was $0 until now, and suddenly has to pay $60, says, But how is this possible? Are they not subsidizing me at all? Ive had to explain to clients that they are indeed receiving subsidies so they can pay $50; otherwise, it would be much more. If Republicans and Democrats continue to fail to reach an agreement on the cuts, as they did during the nearly 40-day government shutdown, more and more people will live in fear of getting sick, visiting the emergency room, or simply accessing preventative medicine in a country where healthcare remains the most contentious and sensitive issue. Whats more, some insurers, such as Aetna and Molina Healthcare, have begun withdrawing ACA plans for 2026 as a result of this situation. If the subsidies arent renewed, the system will continue to exist because healthcare is too expensive in the U.S., but fewer people will benefit from it, says Gonzalez, who also acknowledges that many families will end up in debt with bills of up to $20,400 a year, according to researchers calculations. Luis Orlando Hernandez, for his part, says he is quite skeptical of the situation. What Trump and the Republicans are doing is weakening Obamacare and promoting alternative healthcare options. Republicans have always been enemies of Obamacare. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Who was Thokala Hruthik Reddy? Indian student from Telangana killed in Germany apartment fire Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Why the Clooneys picked France as their second home and citizenship On January 3, skywatchers can see the Wolf Moon as a supermoon, appearing larger and brighter as it makes its closest approach to Earth. This rare event, rich in folklore, will be the last supermoon until November and is best viewed at moonrise or moonset. Did our AI summary help? Zohran Mamdanis new era for New York: What the mayor promised as he says Logon ke dil badal gaye January 2, 2026 Zelenskis Choice As New Head Of Office Moves Scale Towards Peace The acting president of Ukraine Vladimir Zelenski has made an interesting choice by filling the position of his chief of staff with the head of Ukraines Military Intelligence Service (GUR) General Kyrylo Budanov. Zelensky Asks General to Replace Chief of Staff Ousted in Graft Scandal (archived) NY Times, Jan 2 2026 President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said Friday that he had asked Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the countrys military intelligence agency, to be his new chief of staff, filling a weekslong vacancy left by the resignation of Mr. Zelenskys right-hand man over a corruption scandal. Budanov has accepted his new position. He is a live long military intelligence man with personal battle experience. He once led a CIA trained unit which in 2016 tried to attack Russian positions in Crimea. He was wounded on several occasions and the CIA once flew him to Washington for rehabilitation in the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The GUR under Budanov has been the main conduit for executing CIA terror attacks in Russia. The NY Times continues: Mr. Budanov has been seen as a potential rival to Mr. Zelensky as the United States and Russia call for elections in Ukraine. Bringing the general into the presidential office could complicate any run by Mr. Budanov for the presidency. In announcing his intention to appoint him, Mr. Zelensky said that Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, the development of its defense and security forces, and further progress on the diplomatic track of negotiations. The NYT is right in claiming that Budanov has been seen as a potential rival to Zelenski. But the bigger rival to Zelenski is the former commander in chief General Valeri Zaluzhny who was moved aside as ambassador to Britain but could come back to run against Zelenski in upcoming elections. Lifting Budanov to the informal number two position in Ukraine might have a different purpose than blocking a rival candidate. It is highly questionable that Zelenski will survive in his position until the end of 2026. When Zelenski leaves office he will be endangered by various forces. He could go to jail for this or that corruption scheme run through his office, or he could be killed for treason by one of the nationalist extremist formations. But if Budanov were anointed as his successor Zelenski could sleep well. It would be a deal similar to the one the former Russian president Yelzin made in 1999 when he anointed Vladimir Putin in exchange for protection. In two days Budanov will celebrate his 40th birthday. His career has only just started. One aspect of interest here is the rivalry between the CIA and its British MI-6 competition. Yermak, the ousted former head of Zelenkis office, had good relation with MI-6. Zaluzhni is likewise seen as a British intelligence asset. Budanov in contrast is a CIA figure. The U.S. would like to shut down the war, at least for now. The British have tried to prolong it. In his new position Budanov can move the scale towards the U.S. favored outcome. Budanov has been warning cryptically for some time that Ukraine will lose the war against Russia. He will now take the role of the de facto chief negotiator of a peace deal. The Russians will not like to have to deal with someone who has supervised the killing of Russia civilians. On the other side they will acknowledge that Budanov is a competent and resourceful soldier. The various exchanges of prisoners were negotiated with him. It will be easier to work with him than with some scheming lawyer. Budanov is thus well positioned to make some kind of peace deal with Russia. Through his position as head of the GUR Budanov has control over several powerful nationalist formations who fight under the GUR banner. This will make it easier for him to sell a peace deal within Ukraine and to suppress any forces which want the war to continue. SACRAMENTO The Sacramento Region Community Foundation invites students from throughout the region to apply for one or more of the more than 40 open scholarships currently available through the organization. Ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, many of the scholarships are based on financial need, while others focus on academic achievement or are designated for a specific cause or area of study. Criteria vary and are determined by the wishes of local individuals who donated to establish the scholarships. Opportunities exist to support former foster youth, English language learners, students living with chronic illness and those interested in veterinary medicine, sustainable agriculture and more. The deadline to apply for most open scholarships is March 13, 2026. One example is Abigail Canafe, who was a student at UC Berkeley in 2021 when she received the Benny Goodman Foundation Scholarship, which supports students studying jazz or classical music. The impact of the funding was so meaningful that Canafe now volunteers as a scholarship evaluator with the Foundation. As a past scholarship recipient, I want to give back to the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and continue helping future students fund their education, Canafe said. Investing in young people or lifelong learners is one of the most powerful ways we can strengthen our regions future, said Kerry Wood, CEO of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. Scholarships reduce financial barriers and, just as importantly, they tell students that their community believes in them. We strongly encourage students from throughout the region who are interested in furthering their educational goals to review and apply for the variety of open scholarships the Foundation is proud to offer. In 2024, the Foundation awarded more than $1 million in scholarships, supporting 400 students as they worked to achieve their educational goals. Since its founding in 1983, the Foundation has distributed more than $275 million in scholarships and community grants, demonstrating a long-term commitment to regional opportunity. Descriptions and eligibility requirements are available at sacregcf.org/students for students interested in exploring or applying for open scholarships, as well as for community members considering a tax-friendly gift of any amount to support future scholarship awards. About Sacramento Region Community Foundation Since 1983, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation has awarded more than $275 million in grants and scholarships on behalf of local people, families and businesses, as well as through its flagship charitable giving program, Big Day of Giving. As the center of philanthropy in the capital area, the Foundations mission is to lead, serve and inspire enduring philanthropy for a just and vibrant Sacramento region. Learn more at sacregcf.org. Should US homebuilders emulate Sweden? Construction Physics Some of your cells are not genetically yours what can they tell us about life and death? Nature Did fireworks on champagne bottles trigger deadly blaze in Swiss ski resort bar? Firstpost Could Next-Generation Medicines Help Cure Opioid Addiction? Scientific American Please stop mailing butt plugs to Bahrain Boing Boing Youre Not A Doomer: The Radical Logic Against Positive News Nate Bear Climate/Environment Pandemics This BMJ highlight on movement from immunity debt to COVIDs direct role in immune harm is a welcome shift The evidence on T cell dysregulation driving secondary risks has been mounting and its good to see mainstream outlets engaging it seriously 1/ https://t.co/ejM2euv0oT pic.twitter.com/YXcs3ayOZY AJ Leonardi, MBBS, PhD (@fitterhappierAJ) January 1, 2026 Americans brace to start New Year without healthcare BBC China? The shocking thing is not the large demand from Chinese tech firms for H200s (pending Beijings approval) but that their price is apparently just 15% lower than grey-market alternatives. This implies access to chips was not a huge issue for large firms, assuming China-bound Kyle Chan (@kyleichan) January 1, 2026 India Syraqistan Israel, US advance Rafah Green City concentration camp plan Israels Channel 14 reports that Israel and the US agreed to move forward with the so-called Green City project in Rafah, presented by Washington as a solution for Gazas population but better described as a The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) January 1, 2026 Iran in the Crosshairs: Economic Protests and the U.S.Israeli Strategy of Destabilization The dominant narrative in Western and Israeli media is now familiar: Iran is on the verge of collapse, its society is turning against the state, and the regime is living on borrowed time. pic.twitter.com/1InNsB0TbN Ibrahim Majed (@ibrahimtmajed) January 1, 2026 The riots in Iran have a different pattern this time There are organized groups in smaller cities that target the main governmental buildings. Easier targets Smaller cities with different ethnicities.. Next they will go for the police stations to arm themselves There are Soureh (@Soureh_design2) January 1, 2026 | Riot Saboteurs intended to seize the police station in Azna, Lorestan province in Iran, but they failed. Around 6 PM today, a group of masked rioters attacked the side closer to the armory of the police station in Azna. Several police vehicles were set on fire during this pic.twitter.com/Ksw9Nik6nE Arya (@AryJeay) January 1, 2026 Africa European Disunion Peter Magyar, a main opposition figure, addressed the nation and left a chilling message on New Years Eve, just 100 days before the general election in Hungary pic.twitter.com/ytsFeaTCEx SzabadonMagyarul (@SzabadonMagyar) January 1, 2026 New Not-So-Cold War Russias Defense Ministry says GRU chief Igor Kostyukov has handed a recovered flight controller and decoded navigation data from a downed Ukrainian drone to a US military attache in Moscow. The files allegedly show the UAVs programmed route toward Putins residence in Novgorod pic.twitter.com/6hOHIoDawU Brian McDonald (@27khv) January 1, 2026 Yes, the CIA is Lying About the Drone Attack on Putin Larry Johnson The CIA (with Trumps blessing) has attacked Russian oil facilities and tankers during peace negotiations and during efforts to restore US-Russia bilateral relations. Trump, the mediator, has continued the proxy war and dramatically escalatedhttps://t.co/wi0TjER73F pic.twitter.com/lk7pcTayBj Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) January 1, 2026 A torchlight procession dedicated to Banderas birthday is taking place in Lviv. -> These tough guys walk around with torches and attack grandmas speaking Russian but theres no way they would join the war that is literately against them. Russia wants to denazify you pic.twitter.com/4Nzt5hYVy0 Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 1, 2026 The Great Game Rising Border Insecurity Puts Chinese Interests at Risk in Tajikistan The Times of Central Asia South of the Border Trump 2.0 Below is a non-exhaustive list of individuals who defrauded the American public, U.S. financial institutions, and taxpayer-funded systems out of billions of dollars through bank fraud, securities fraud, Medicare fraud, insurance fraud, and foreign-influence schemes. They pic.twitter.com/kEz6IFHZ9x DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) January 1, 2026 Wars Come Home JUST IN: Netanyahu gave a speech to a Chabad synagogue in Miami Florida on New Years Eve about fighting anti-Semitism. You should fight backYou should attack your attackers! How is it allowed to incite violence in a synagogue in the U.S?pic.twitter.com/WIfHyRLjok Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) January 1, 2026 Immigration They stole the art as well. pic.twitter.com/lS2bXkCBXo Tracey Schulz (@TraceySchulz) January 1, 2026 Imperial Collapse Watch The Post-American Internet Cory Doctorow Mamdani AI Accelerationists Its all right here 15 years ago how the PayPal Mafia planned to escape from politicsby creating an alternate virtual reality. They did it. Thats why were talking about Somali fraud instead of the Epstein files. But the basic idea was that we could never win an pic.twitter.com/xnR33HV3YY Jim Stewartson, Decelerationist (@jimstewartson) December 31, 2025 Economy Casino Nation Class Warfare Antidote du jour (via): Bonus: You are looking at a creature that watched the continents drift apart. The Feather Star (Crinoid) has been here for 400+ million years.pic.twitter.com/y239RtKFNR Curiosity (@MAstronomers) December 31, 2025 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Yves here. Trump, showing his long-established tendency to believe the last person who spoke to him, has gone from accepting Vladimir Putins report that Ukraine attempted to assassinate him via over 90 drones targeting his residence near Valdai to buying the CIAs denial, that there was a Ukraine attack, but of a military objective not near the Putin lodging. Frankly, Russia feeling the need to provide evidence to Trump through attaches (charitably assuming it will get to him unmolested and that he has the cognitive chops to interpret it) shows that theyve gone too far in indulging the negotiation-to-end-the-war charade. Putin like felt it was necessary to enhance Russias image with its economic allies, who werent happy with the fact of the invasion. He may even have harbored some hope of improving relations and restoring at least some commercial ties. But the Administration has been unwilling or unable to take even the baby step of returning diplomatic property seized from Russia. And Trump has repeatedly retraded his deals, first retrading Alaska, now apparently retreating from the 28 point plan to some new version yet to be finalized. Russia would be better served to stop dignifying this distraction, particularly since the CIA is now using it to try to discredit Putin personally. They need to prosecute the war and see if and when the US or Ukraine reopens talks of perceived necessity. By Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who specializes in the global systemic transition to multipolarity in the New Cold War. He has a PhD from MGIMO, which is under the umbrella of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Originally published at his website Tensions risk spiraling out of control if Trump isnt disabused of the CIAs false narrative that Ukraines recent large-scale drone attack against Novgorod Region wasnt an attempt to assassinate Putin. Trump retweeted an editorial from the New York Post on New Years Eve about how Putin attack bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace, which followed CIA chief John Ratcliffe briefing him about the agencys assessment that Ukraine supposedly didnt attempt to assassinate Putin. Several days prior, Putin informed Trump during their latest call that nearly 100 Ukrainian attack drones were intercepted near his residence in Northern Russia on the day that Trump hosted Zelensky. Trump expressed anger when asked about this by the press and reminded everyone how he decided against giving Ukraine Tomahawks, seemingly implying that this might have saved Putins life. Ukraine predictably denied that it targeted Putin, with Zelensky lashing out at India and other countries whose officials condemned the attack that he insisted didnt happen. Trump is now evidently of the same mind after Ratcliffes briefing, which convinced him that Ukraine didnt attempt to assassinate Putin. According to the CIA chief, an attack did indeed take place at the time that Russia claimed and in the same region as Putins residence in Northern Russia, but it supposedly only targeted a nearby military site. If Trump disagreed with this assessment, then he wouldnt have retweeted the New York Posts editorial condemning Putin of all people over this incident, conspiratorially speculating that the Russian leader made it all up as an excuse to reject Trumps progress on peace and spit in Americas eye. In the interests of transparency and wanting to prevent the CIA from manipulating Trump into once again escalatingagainst Putin, Russias military intelligence chief handed over to a representative of the US military attache materials containing the downed drones decoded route data. He also said that this evidence unequivocally and accurately confirmed that the target of the attack was the complex of buildings of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation in the Novgorod region. Nevertheless, this evidence might not disabuse Trump of Ratcliffes false narrative since hes still dependent on the CIAs assessment of the downed drones decoded route data. Seeing as how they lied about the attacks target to misportray Putin as trying to manipulate Trump, theyre unlikely to reverse their narrative, especially after publicly receiving evidence from Russia. Theyre therefore expected to stick to the script and misportray this evidence as yet another attempt by Putin to manipulate Trump. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that Russias response will not be diplomatic, but if Trump doesnt believe its side of the story, then he can be manipulated by the CIA into perceiving this as unprovoked aggression and thus misled into escalating further. The New York Times recent report on Trumps Ukraine policy revealed that the CIA earlier convinced him to authorize them to aid Ukrainian attacks against Russian refineries and its shadow fleet so the escalation risk is very real. Therein lies the importance of convincing Trump that Ratcliffe lied to him. If that can be achieved, then the US likely wont overreact to Russias retaliation, and perhaps Trump might finally force Zelensky to withdraw from the rest of Donbass as a concession for averting Russias retaliation. If Trump remains under Ratcliffes influence and Russias promised retaliation is more than symbolic, however, then he might be manipulated by him into being the one who reverses his own hard-earned progress on peace. Echoes of Andromeda: How governments, academic institutions and elites erased proof of pre-flood civilizations The book exposes deliberate efforts by academic institutions, governments and elites to erase evidence of advanced prehistoric civilizations. Artifacts like the Great Pyramid, Puma Punku and the Piri Reis Map defy conventional timelines, suggesting lost technologies (anti-gravity, free energy) and a global network of enlightened cultures. Ancient texts (Sumerian tablets, Dogon tribe lore, the Book of Enoch) describe extraterrestrial beings (Anunnaki, "Watchers") who genetically engineered or guided early humans. The Vatican and modern elites allegedly hoard this cosmic heritage to maintain control. The book links ancient suppression to today's centralized institutions (Big Pharma, World Health Organization, Federal Reserve), framing COVID-19 as a manufactured crisis to enforce digital surveillance (CBDCs, AI governance). Trauma-based mind control (MK Ultra, media censorship) keeps populations docile. Solutions include rejecting fear (boycotting mainstream media), decentralizing power (off-grid living, cryptocurrency) and reconnecting with spiritual wisdom (meditation, sacred plant medicines). Benevolent extraterrestrials (e.g., Andromedans) may assist humanity's awakening. The book urges readers to challenge official narratives, embrace suppressed truths and prepare for an epochal shift. It positions itself as a revolutionary blueprint for reclaiming sovereignty and uncovering humanity's true galactic lineage. In "Echoes of Andromeda: Unveiling Earth's Hidden History and the Extraterrestrial Truth," the author embarks on a daring expedition into the suppressed annals of human history, exposing a tapestry of advanced civilizations, extraterrestrial influences and institutionalized deception. This is not merely a bookit is a manifesto for truth-seekers, a rallying cry against the entrenched narratives that have kept humanity shackled in ignorance. With meticulous research and an unflinching commitment to uncovering the forbidden, the book dismantles the mainstream dogma of linear progress and replaces it with a vision of cyclical enlightenmentone where ancient societies possessed technologies and spiritual wisdom far surpassing our own. The suppression of ancient knowledge The book opens with a damning indictment of academic gatekeepersgovernments, museums and elite bloodlineswho have systematically erased evidence of advanced prehistoric civilizations. From the Library of Alexandria's deliberate destruction to the Smithsonian's alleged confiscation of anomalous artifacts, the pattern is clear: history is controlled to maintain power. The Great Pyramid of Giza, Puma Punku's precision-cut megaliths and Gobekli Tepe's astronomical alignments defy conventional timelines, suggesting a global network of cultures that mastered anti-gravity, free energy and cosmic sciences. Mainstream archaeology dismisses these anomalies as "pseudoarcheology," yet the evidence persists. The Piri Reis Mapdepicting Antarctica's ice-free coastline millennia before its official "discovery"challenges the very foundations of cartographic history. Similarly, the Baghdad Battery and Antikythera Mechanism hint at lost technologies deliberately obscured by modern institutions. The book argues that this suppression is not accidental but strategic, ensuring humanity remains ignorant of its true potential. Extraterrestrial contact and cosmic heritage Central to "Echoes of Andromeda" is the assertion that humanity's origins are inextricably linked to extraterrestrial intelligence. Sumerian tablets describe the Anunnaki, celestial beings who genetically engineered early humans. The Dogon tribe's knowledge of Sirius Ba star invisible to the naked eyesuggests ancient contact with advanced civilizations. Even the Bible's omitted texts, like the Book of Enoch, speak of "Watchers" who descended from the heavens, imparting forbidden knowledge. The book posits that today's global elitethe "Committee of 300"are the inheritors of this hidden legacy, hoarding esoteric technologies (like free energy and scalar physics) to maintain dominance. The Vatican's secret archives, rumored to house pre-flood records, exemplify this suppression. Meanwhile, modern "disclosure" initiatives are carefully controlled to avoid revealing humanitys true galactic lineage. The grand conspiracy: From ancient times to modern control The second half of "Echoes of Andromeda" shifts focus to the present-day matrix of deceptiona web of centralized institutions (Big Pharma, the Federal Reserve, the World Health Organization) that perpetuate dependency and depopulation. The COVID-19 pandemic is framed as the latest in a series of manufactured crises, designed to test compliance with digital IDs, CBDCs [central bank digital currencies] and AI-driven governance. The book draws chilling parallels between ancient catastrophes (like the Younger Dryas comet impact) and today's engineered collapseseconomic, ecological and spiritual. The author highlights the role of trauma-based mind control (MK Ultra, predictive programming) in keeping populations docile. Media censorship, fluoride in water and EMF [electromagnetic field] pollution are tools to dull consciousness, ensuring humanity remains disconnected from its innate power. Yet, the book offers hope: decentralized technologies (Bitcoin, permaculture, natural medicine) are breaking the chains of centralized control. A call to awakening "Echoes of Andromeda" culminates in a stirring call to action. The old system is crumbling, and the choice is stark: remain enslaved or reclaim sovereignty. The path forward involves: Rejecting fear : Withdrawing energy from the control grid by boycotting mainstream media and Big Pharma. : Withdrawing energy from the control grid by boycotting mainstream media and Big Pharma. Decentralizing power : Embracing off-grid living, cryptocurrency and community-based governance. : Embracing off-grid living, cryptocurrency and community-based governance. Reconnecting with the divine: Meditation, sacred plant medicines and rediscovering suppressed spiritual texts. The book's most radical proposition? Humanity is not alone. Benevolent extraterrestrial civilizations (like the Andromedans) are assisting in dismantling the matrixbut only if we awaken en masse. A revolutionary blueprint "Echoes of Andromeda" is a tour de force of alternative history and cosmic revelation. It challenges readers to question everythingfrom the origins of human civilization to the true architects of modern tyranny. While skeptics will dismiss it as conspiracy, the evidence presented (suppressed artifacts, declassified documents and whistleblower testimonies) demands serious consideration. This book is not for the faint-hearted. It is for those who sense the lies beneath the surface, who hunger for a truth beyond the sanitized narratives of textbooks and televised news. If even a fraction of its claims are accurate, then humanity stands on the brink of an epochal shiftone where the past's hidden wisdom illuminates the path to a liberated future. Grab a copy of "Echoes of Andromeda: Unveiling Earth's Hidden History and the Extraterrestrial Truth" 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 Alex Collier and Mike Adams discussing hidden civilizations, exopolitics and awakening humanity. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Books.BrightLearn.ai 1 Books.BrightLearn.ai 2 BrightLearn.ai Brighteon.com A faceted crisis: The 2025 diamond crash reshapes a global industry Global diamond mining faced a severe crisis in 2025, marked by steep revenue declines and job cuts. Market leader De Beers stockpiled $2 billion in unsold gems as its parent company moved to sell it. Surging demand for cheaper, lab-grown diamonds fundamentally undercut the value proposition of mined stones. Major producers like Botswana's Debswana slashed output by up to 40%, causing economic strain in diamond-dependent nations. The industry's response includes a global marketing pact and corporate consolidation, signaling a historic market reset. The global diamond industry, long synonymous with enduring value and luxury, confronted a profound and destabilizing crisis in 2025. Weak consumer demand, accelerated by the relentless rise of lab-grown alternatives and ongoing geopolitical tensions, triggered a severe market slump that forced the worlds largest miners to make painful cuts to jobs and production. This convergence of pressures has not only shaken corporate giants like De Beers and Russias Alrosa but also threatened the economic stability of nations whose fortunes are built on diamond extraction, prompting a desperate industry-wide scramble for a new strategy. Market leaders confront a new reality The years turmoil was most starkly illustrated by the plight of De Beers, the storied company that once expertly controlled the diamond supply to maintain high prices. The miner reported a dramatic revenue drop and was left holding approximately $2 billion in unsold natural stonesa clear signal of collapsing demand. In response, it announced plans to cut more than 1,000 jobs across its operations. The distress was compounded as its parent company, Anglo American, advanced plans to divest De Beers while pursuing a merger with Canadian miner Teck Resources, a move analysts see as a pivot away from troubled luxury commodities toward resources like copper essential for the energy transition. The pain was widespread. Russias Alrosa, a other pillar of the industry, saw its profits plunge by nearly 80%, leading it to suspend operations at key sites. Smaller miners, unable to withstand the pressure, entered administration or shuttered mines entirely. This collective downturn represents a stark reversal from the industrys historical resilience and marketing-driven perception of scarcity. The synthetic disruption goes mainstream At the core of the crisis is the rapid consumer adoption of lab-grown diamonds. These stones, which are chemically and visually identical to their mined counterparts, have successfully eroded the long-standing value proposition of natural gems. No longer a niche product, synthetics now command a growing share of critical market segments like engagement rings, appealing to cost-conscious and ethically-minded buyers. This shift has forced a fundamental strategic reckoning, exemplified by De Beers decision to abandon its own lab-grown jewelry brand, Lightbox, and refocus its marketing budget solely on promoting natural diamonds. Economic fallout and a coordinated response The market reset has had immediate and severe consequences for diamond-dependent economies. Botswana, Africas leading diamond exporter, has been hit especially hard. With sales plummeting, the Debswana joint venture with De Beers announced plans to cut output by up to 40% in 2025, leading to rising unemployment and significant fiscal strain for the government. In an unprecedented move to counter the synthetic threat, major producing nations, including Botswana and Angola, forged the Luanda Accord. This pact commits signatories to allocate 1% of annual diamond revenues to a collective global marketing campaign aimed at reviving consumer desire for natural stonesa direct, defensive response to a competitive threat unlike any the industry has faced. Historical context and a shifting landscape The 2025 crash marks a pivotal moment in an industry built for over a century on controlled supply and masterful narrative-building. The famous A Diamond is Forever campaign established in 1947 successfully cemented the gems status as an indispensable symbol of commitment. Todays challenge from lab-grown diamonds, however, severs the direct link between rarity and price that De Beers itself cultivated, testing whether marketing alone can preserve the premium for mined stones. Concurrently, the industry faces a luxury slowdown in China, a market that had driven a previous generation of explosive growth, and broader geopolitical uncertainties affecting Russian supply. An industry forced to reposition The diamond sector now stands at a crossroads, navigating a painful transition from a model of perceived scarcity to one that must compete on new terms. The planned merger of Anglo American and Teck Resources subtly underscores a broader capital migration from mature luxury commodities toward resources fundamental to technology and decarbonization. While the Luanda Accord represents a unified defensive front, the efficacy of a generic marketing push against a cheaper, physically identical product remains unproven. The events of 2025 suggest the industrys future will be defined not by rediscovering its past glory, but by adapting to a market where its core product is no longer uniquely rare, compelling a redefinition of value for the next generation of consumers. Sources for this article include: Mining.com Geomechanics.io Trump administration seeks to reroute asylum seekers to a safe third country The Trump administration is implementing a policy to dismiss U.S. asylum claims without hearings and reroute applicants to third countries with which the U.S. has "safe third country" agreements, such as Uganda, Honduras and Ecuador. The policy is a direct response to a record-breaking backlog of nearly 3.75 million immigration cases, which officials argue creates a loophole for fraudulent claims by economic migrants. Following a supportive opinion from the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), Department of Homeland Security attorneys have dramatically increased requests to immigration judges to dismiss asylum cases, seeking to remove migrants to partner countries for processing. Administration officials defend the move as a lawful fix to a broken system, while critics condemn it as an erosion of refugee protections that sends vulnerable people to potentially unsafe nations and trades humanitarian principles for deportation targets. This asylum strategy is integrated with other aggressive measures, including prosecutions for illegal entry, plans to terminate humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands and an unprecedented review of all valid U.S. visas to enforce compliance. In a bold legal and diplomatic maneuver, the Trump administration is aggressively pushing a new strategy to dismantle what it calls a broken asylum system. The plan, spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security, seeks to have U.S. immigration courts dismiss asylum claims without hearings and instead direct applicants to seek refuge in third countries with which the U.S. has struck agreements. This policy represents a fundamental re-engineering of humanitarian protection, aiming to curb record immigration and meet ambitious deportation targets by rerouting the flow of migrants away from American soil. A system under strain and a new legal path The administration's urgency is fueled by staggering numbers. In Fiscal Year 2024, nearly 900,000 asylum claims were filed with the U.S. immigration court system, a figure that dwarfs the roughly 200,000 annual filings during Trumps first term. This backlog, exceeding 3.75 million cases, has created what officials describe as an unsustainable loophole that encourages economic migrants to make fraudulent claims simply to enter and remain in the United States. The legal cornerstone of this new approach is the "safe third country agreement." The Trump administration has expanded this concept, negotiating agreements with nations including Uganda, Honduras and Ecuador. Under these deals, the U.S. can now seek to send asylum seekers to these countries to have their claims processed there, even if the migrant has no prior connection to that nation. Immigration judges asked to dismiss asylum applications Operationally, DHS attorneys are now asking immigration judges to summarily dismiss asylum applications. They argue that because the U.S. has an agreement with a third country deemed "safe," the migrant should pursue their claim there, negating the need for a U.S. hearing. This effort gained significant momentum in October when the Justice Department's Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) issued an opinion supporting the consideration of third-country removal before evaluating the merits of an asylum case in the United States. This BIA endorsement acted as a green light. Data analysis reveals that in November, following the opinion, DHS lawyers asked judges to dismiss nearly 5,000 casesmore than double the requests in October and quadruple those in September. The administration's case: Closing a huge loophole Senior administration officials defend the policy as a lawful and necessary correction to systemic abuse. They contend the core purpose of asylum is to provide safe harbor from persecution, not to allow individuals to select their preferred destination after traveling through multiple safe nations. An anonymous senior official stated that if the U.S. is confident a migrant can be safely removed to another country where they face no threat, there is no obligation to let them remain. Immigrant rights advocates and many Democratic lawmakers condemn the strategy as a catastrophic erosion of the U.S. asylum system. They argue that sending vulnerable individuals to countries like Uganda or Hondurasnations with their own histories of instability, gang violence or human rights concernsviolates the spirit of refugee protection. Rebekah Wolf, an attorney with the American Immigration Council, accused the administration of wanting to "demolish our humanitarian protection system" entirely. Critics also highlight the diplomatic quid pro quo often involved. In exchange for accepting migrants, partner countries have reportedly received reduced U.S. criticism on human rights issues and increased security assistance. This, opponents argue, subordinates humanitarian principles to political deportation targets. A broader immigration offensive This asylum strategy is part of a broader, multi-pronged assault on the immigration system. It dovetails with record-breaking prosecution efforts for illegal entry and plans to terminate humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The administration has already deported individuals to countries like South Sudan and Eswatini and sent over 200 Venezuelans to detention in El Salvador. Moreover, the strategy also aligns with the Trump administration's request to the U.S. Supreme Court to lift an injunction blocking the termination of humanitarian parole protections for over 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The Trump administration's initiative to conduct an unprecedented, continuous review of all 55 million valid U.S. visas marks a significant shift in immigration policy. This initiative involves heightened scrutiny and stringent enforcement, reflecting a hardline stance on visa compliance. The aim is to deter overstays and unauthorized activities by holding visa holders accountable at all times. The road ahead "An asylum system is a noble concept designed as an emergency measure to protect those in dire need, originally inspired by the tragedies of World War II," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "Today, the system is described as being misused by millions crossing borders under false pretenses. The argument presented is that this misuse has rendered the system ineffective and dangerous, necessitating its abolition to restore trust and security." The Trump administration's drive to reroute asylum seekers to third countries marks a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration policy. It is a deliberate and contentious attempt to redefine America's role in the global refugee protection system, shifting from a destination for asylum to a transit point. Framed by its proponents as a lawful solution to crisis-level abuse and by its critics as a dangerous abdication of humanitarian responsibility, this strategy ensures that the battle over asylum will be fought fiercely in courtrooms, diplomatic channels and the court of public opinion for the foreseeable future. Watch this report about President Trump freezing two million asylum claims. This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com Politico.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com A new brink: Trumps strike warning meets Irans vow of retaliation President Donald Trump warned the U.S. would strike Iran again if it rebuilds its nuclear program. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded by threatening a "harsh and discouraging" retaliation to any attack. The exchange follows a June war between Iran and Israel and U.S.-led strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran has banned international nuclear inspectors, deepening a crisis of verification over its atomic ambitions. The escalating rhetoric occurs amid severe domestic unrest in Iran over economic collapse. The fragile calm in the Middle East is being tested by a renewed war of words that threatens to reignite direct conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a willingness to order further military strikes against Iran if it reconstitutes its nuclear program, prompting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to issue a stark warning of "harsh" retaliation. This exchange, unfolding in late December, underscores a dangerous shift from diplomacy to a policy of enforced deterrence, with the destroyed infrastructure of Iran's nuclear program at the heart of a high-stakes intelligence dispute. From ceasefire to new threats The threats follow a devastating but contained 12-day air war in June between Iran and Israel, which included U.S.-Israeli coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. While a tense ceasefire has held, the underlying conflict over Iran's atomic ambitions has only intensified. Trump, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, framed the prior conflict as "exhausting" for both nations but made clear his stance on Iran's recovery. "If they are [rebuilding], we're going to have to knock them down," he stated, adding that any U.S. response would be "very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time." Iran's defiant posture President Pezeshkian's response on social media was swift and unyielding, framing the confrontation as a "full-scale war" with the U.S., Israel and Europe. His vow that Iran's answer to aggression would be "harsh and discouraging" aligns with his earlier warnings that any Israeli attack would be met with retaliation deep inside Israeli territory. This rhetoric persists despite Iran's public insistence that it is no longer enriching uraniuma claim U.S. and Western intelligence agencies view with deep skepticism. The crisis of trust is compounded by Iran's decision to ban inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing the body of leaking intelligence to Israel and crippling global oversight efforts. The intelligence black hole The core of the escalating crisis is a fundamental disagreement over facts on the ground. Tehran has consistently downplayed the damage from the June strikes, asserting its nuclear knowledge "lives in the minds of its scientists," suggesting a rapid rebuild is possible. Washington and its allies, however, are operating on assessments that Iran remains intent on weaponization. With IAEA inspectors locked out, the international community is left weighing Trump's claims against Iran's denials without reliable verification, creating a volatile scenario where miscalculation could lead to renewed conflict. A cycle of brinkmanship This latest standoff is not an isolated event but part of a decades-long cycle. The 2015 nuclear deal, which imposed strict limits on Iran's program in exchange for sanctions relief, collapsed after the U.S. withdrawal in 2018. Subsequent "maximum pressure" campaigns and sporadic talks have failed to yield a new agreement. The current posturewhere the U.S. threatens military action to enforce red lines instead of negotiating themmarks a return to a more unilateral and confrontational strategy reminiscent of pre-diplomacy eras. Furthermore, Trump's expressed openness to allowing Iranian oil sales to China to help Iran recover economically directly undermines prior sanctions regimes, adding a layer of strategic contradiction to the pressure campaign. Internal unrest as a backdrop The international confrontation unfolds against a backdrop of severe domestic instability within Iran. As leaders exchange threats, the Iranian public is grappling with economic collapse, marked by a currency in freefall and widespread protests. The government's closure of offices to manage energy consumption and promises of tax relief for businesses highlight a regime preoccupied with internal survival. This internal pressure may influence Tehran's risk calculus, potentially making it more defiant to project strength or, conversely, more desperate for economic relief that could necessitate diplomatic outreach. An uncertain path forward The world now watches a precarious waiting game. The coming weeks will test whether the destruction of infrastructure has indeed replaced diplomacy or if the crisis is merely entering a new, more uncertain chapter. With Iran's nuclear capabilities shrouded in secrecy, Trump's vow of further strikes hanging in the air, and Tehran promising severe retaliation, the region remains on a knife's edge. The path forward is fraught with risk, where the assessment of shadows and rubble could determine whether a war of words once again becomes a war of weapons. Sources for this article include: TheNationalPulse.com APnews.com IranIntl.com New Years Eve MASSACRE: Ukraines drone strike in Russian-controlled village kills 24 civilians An escalating "eye-for-an-eye" dynamic marks the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukraine's successful drone strikes on Russian air bases deep inside Russia prompted a massive retaliatory assault from Russia, which then set the stage for further Ukrainian strikes, like the recent one on Khorly. Both sides' military campaigns consistently result in civilian casualties and suffering. Russia's mass drone and missile attacks cause deaths and injuries from falling debris, while Ukrainian strikes on occupied territories, even when aimed at military targets, lead to tragic civilian losses, as seen in the Khorly attack. Every major incident is followed by conflicting narratives. Russia frames Ukrainian strikes as deliberate terrorism against civilians, while Ukraine insists it only targets military and energy infrastructure. Independent verification is nearly impossible, making propaganda a key battlefield. The war shows no signs of a military breakthrough. Russia demonstrates resilience and a capacity for massive aerial barrages, while Ukraine's improving air defenses show determination. This creates a prolonged stalemate, described as a war of attrition with no clear victor. Despite the relentless violence, moments of cooperation like prisoner exchanges occur. However, peace talks remain stalled. Major attacks and accusations, like those following the Khorly strike, instantly overshadow and complicate any reported diplomatic progress, trapping the situation in a cycle where military escalation repeatedly undermines the path to negotiations. A Ukrainian drone strike on a New Year's Eve gathering in a Russian-controlled village has left at least 24 people dead and over 50 wounded, marking one of the deadliest single attacks on civilians in recent months and intensifying the Russia-Ukraine War's bitter propaganda battle. The attack occurred shortly after midnight in the coastal village of Khorly, in the Kherson Region, which Russia claims as its own following 2022 referendums rejected as illegitimate by Kyiv and the West. According to Russian officials, three drones struck a cafe and hotel crowded with revelers, with one allegedly carrying an incendiary mixture that triggered a massive blaze in the area. Graphic images released by authorities show a scene of total destruction, with heavily burned bodies among the rubble. Vladimir Saldo, the governor of the region, compared the assault to the 2014 Odessa massacre, a highly charged reference to a tragic event from the early stages of the Ukraine conflict, framing the strike as a deliberate act of terror against civilians. Ukraine's defense: The strikes are only on military targets In response to the reports, a Ukrainian military spokesperson offered a starkly different account, insisting that Kyiv's forces exclusively target Russian military installations or energy infrastructure. The spokesperson, speaking to the Interfax Ukraine news agency, stated that all strikes conducted by the Ukrainian military are documented and published through official channels. "The Defence Forces of Ukraine adhere to the norms of international humanitarian law and strike exclusively at enemy military targets, fuel and energy facilities of the Russian Federation, and other legitimate targets," the spokesperson said, without directly confirming or denying the specific attack in Khorly. This statement reinforces Ukraine's longstanding position that it does not intentionally target civilian gatherings, though it acknowledges that strikes on occupied territory continue. The broader context of accusations and denials The deadly incident follows a week of heightened accusations from Moscow. As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, Russian authorities claimed that just days prior, on Dec. 28-29, Ukrainian forces launched a long-range drone attack targeting one of President Vladimir Putins official residences. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the alleged attempt as an act of "state terrorism." The Kremlin further asserted that this purported attack was aimed not only at Putin but also at undermining President Donald Trump's efforts to facilitate peace talks. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have extracted navigation data from a downed drone that confirmed the residence was the target. Meanwhile, Kyiv has flatly denied these claims, dismissing them as a "lie" and a calculated ruse intended to derail ongoing peace negotiations. This pattern of claim and counter-claim underscores the deep mistrust and the use of information as a key weapon in the conflict. Political fallout and a dim path to peace The attack on Khorly has drawn fierce condemnation from Russian officials. Valentina Matviyenko, the chair of Russia's upper house of parliament, stated that such violence only strengthens Russias resolve to achieve its military objectives, suggesting it validates the reasons for its ongoing invasion. This escalation in violence and rhetoric occurs against a backdrop of reported diplomatic movements. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently suggested that a peace deal was "90% ready," while U.S. officials have pointed to "productive" discussions with European allies about advancing the peace process. However, the shocking civilian toll from the New Year's Eve strike and the accompanying barrage of accusations demonstrate how rapidly military actions on the ground can overshadow and complicate fragile diplomatic efforts, prolonging a cycle of suffering with no end in sight. Watch this clip of Putin's New Year's address to the nation. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com TheGuardian.com JapanTimes.co.jp BrightU.ai Brighteon.com U.S. approves $328.5 million arms sale to Taiwan amid rising tensions with China The Pentagon greenlit a sale of 55 Legion Enhanced IRST pods for Taiwan's F-16 jets, awarded to Lockheed Martin, to be delivered by June 2031. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has intensified military pressure, including rocket launches, naval drills and aerial incursions, aiming to undermine Taiwan's defense confidence. Despite no formal diplomatic ties, the U.S. is legally committed to supplying Taiwan with defensive weapons, angering Beijing, which sees this as interference. Beijing condemned the sale, calling it a threat to sovereignty, while experts warn it increases the risk of U.S.-China military confrontation. The U.S. seeks to deter Chinese aggression without provoking war, but Beijing perceives arms sales as steps toward Taiwanese independence, raising global tensions. The U.S. Department of War has greenlit a potential $328.5 million arms deal with Taiwan, supplying advanced infrared search and tracking (IRST) systems for the island's F-16 fighter jets. Lockheed Martin, the principal contractor, will provide the cutting-edge defense technology through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative OfficeTaiwan's unofficial embassy in the U.S., given the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei. This latest arms sale underscores escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, which views the self-governing island as a breakaway province and has repeatedly threatened military action to reclaim it. The deal announced December 31, 2025 by the Pentagon awards Lockheed Martin a $328.5 million contract to supply Taiwan with 55 Legion Enhanced IRST podssystems designed to detect and track enemy aircraft without relying on radar, making them crucial for modern air warfare. "This contract provides for the procurement and delivery of 55 Infrared Search and Track Legion Enhanced Sensor pods, processors, pod containers and processor containers," the Pentagon said. China has ramped up military provocations against Taiwan in recent months, conducting large-scale drills, firing rockets near the island and deploying warships and aircraft in a show of force. Just recently Beijing launched 27 rockets into waters surrounding Taiwan in what Taipei's defense ministry described as an attempt to "erode confidence" in its military readiness. A Pentagon report released that same month warned that China aims to be capable of forcibly seizing Taiwan by 2027 through an amphibious invasion, firepower strikes, or a maritime blockade. China's defense budget has nearly doubled since 2013, reflecting its aggressive military expansion under President Xi Jinping. U.S. commitment to Taiwan's defense Despite recognizing Beijing under the 1979 U.S.-China Joint Communique, Washington maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act, which obligates the U.S. to provide the island with defensive weapons. This policy has long angered China, which views arms sales as interference in its internal affairs. BrightU.AI's Enoch notes that the Taiwan Relations Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1979, is a key piece of legislation governing the relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan. It was passed in response to the U.S. government's decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1979, which required the U.S. to break official diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (ROC), the government based in Taiwan. To reassure Taiwan and maintain U.S. interests in the region, Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which outlines U.S. policy towards Taiwan and provides a framework for continued relations between the two. The latest deal follows a record $11.1 billion arms package approved under the Trump administration in Decemberthe largest-ever U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan. The Trump administration has continued this policy, emphasizing Taiwan's right to self-defense while avoiding overt provocations that could trigger a broader conflict. Lockheed Martin will manufacture the IRST systems in Orlando, Florida, with work expected to conclude by June 2031. The Pentagon has described the sale as addressing an "urgent operational need" for Taiwan's Air Force amid China's growing aerial threats. Taiwanese officials have welcomed the support, stressing that enhanced defense capabilities are vital in deterring Chinese aggression. China's reaction and the risk of escalation Beijing has consistently condemned U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, warning that such moves undermine stability in the Taiwan Strait. China's Foreign Ministry accused Washington of severely damaging China's sovereignty and security interests and vowed necessary countermeasures. Experts warn that continued military support for Taiwan increases the risk of a direct U.S.-China confrontation. With tensions already highand China's military buildup acceleratingthe Trump administration's latest arms approval could further inflame relations. The U.S. faces a difficult balancing act: supporting Taiwan's defense without provoking a full-scale conflict with China. While Washington insists its arms sales are purely defensive, Beijing perceives them as steps toward formalizing Taiwan's independencea red line that could trigger war. As geopolitical tensions mount, Taiwan remains a flashpoint in U.S.-China relations. The latest arms deal signals continued American commitment to Taiwan's securitybut also raises the stakes in an already volatile region. With both sides digging in, the risk of miscalculation grows, making diplomatic de-escalation increasingly urgent. Watch the video below about China holding large-scale military drills around Taiwan. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com TaiwanNews.com.tw TaipeiTimes.com Reuters.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com The Uttarakhand government has declared 2026 a decisive, results-oriented year, with a roadmap centered on transparent, technology-driven governance and inclusive development. Key infrastructure projects like the Char Dham All-Weather Road and the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line will be prioritized to improve connectivity in remote regions. A major agricultural push aims to increase farmers' incomes through missions focused on kiwi cultivation, polyhouse farming, and high-value crops. The year will also see a strong focus on youth employment, women's empowerment through economic schemes, and continued environmental conservation efforts. Uttarakhand CMO declares 2026 a decisive year for results, focusing on e-governance, farmer income, tourism, and women's empowerment under PM Modi's guidance. Dehradun, January 2 Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office said that 2026 is set to be a decisive, results-oriented year for the state's development, with the government focusing on effective implementation of policies, visible grassroots-level change and tangible improvement in the income and living standards of citizens. The 2026 roadmap, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is centred on good governance, inclusive development, economic self-reliance, strengthening agriculture and horticulture, and maintaining environmental balance. The government's foremost objective is to make governance more transparent, accountable and technology-driven. In 2026, e-governance will be made mandatory across all departments, with a strong push for digital file systems, online services and time-bound delivery. Under the zero-tolerance policy against corruption, speedy grievance redressal and timely service delivery will remain top priorities. Strengthening road, rail and air connectivity is another key focus area. Projects such as the Char Dham All-Weather Road, the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line, expansion of heli services, and construction of strategic border roads will be prioritised to improve access to healthcare, education, and emergency services in remote and mountainous regions. Agriculture and horticulture will remain central to the state's development strategy in 2026, with a strong push to increase farmers' income. Special emphasis is being placed on polyhouse farming, kiwi cultivation, high-value crops and the apple-kiwi policy. The government aims to promote large-scale polyhouse farming in hilly areas by strengthening subsidies, technical support, training and market linkages. Under the Kiwi Mission, Uttarakhand aims to emerge as a leading kiwi-producing state. The initiative is expected to increase income from smaller landholdings and enhance export potential. Value chains for apples, pears, walnuts and other hill fruits will also be strengthened to curb migration and generate local employment. Tourism development will continue to be a key economic driver. In addition to making the Char Dham Yatra safer and more technologically enabled, the government will promote winter, adventure, and eco-tourism, as well as homestay schemes. Special emphasis will be placed on employment generation through the participation of local youth and women. The government reiterated its commitment to transparent, time-bound and corruption-free recruitment. To boost private-sector employment, startups, IT parks, industries and investments will be encouraged. Skill development, technical training and self-employment schemes for youth will also be expanded. With the effective implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), special attention will be given to women's safety, education, health and economic empowerment. Through self-help groups, the Lakhpati Didi scheme and promotion of women entrepreneurship, women will be integrated into the mainstream of development. Environmental conservation will remain a long-term priority, with focus on protecting forests, rejuvenating rivers and water sources, and strengthening disaster early warning systems. The CMO said 2026 will be a year of visible outcomes, ensuring that the benefits of good governance reach every citizen. Special focus will be placed on increasing farmers' incomes through polyhouse farming, kiwi cultivation, apple cultivation, and other high-value crops in mountainous regions. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that empowering youth and women remains the government's top priority. "Alongside transparency in government recruitment, efforts are underway to expand opportunities in startups, industry and self-employment. Special emphasis will be laid on women's empowerment and environmental conservation. The goal is to make Uttarakhand a strong, safe, self-reliant state full of development opportunities, where farmers are prosperous, youth are hopeful, and women are active partners in the mainstream of growth," he said. - ANI Adani Enterprises is launching a public issue of secured, redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs) starting January 6, 2026. The bonds, rated CARE AA- (Stable) and ICRA AA- (Stable), offer returns up to 8.9% across tenures of 24 to 60 months with quarterly or annual payout options. This issue, backed by company assets, is part of the firm's strategy to diversify its funding sources and strengthen its balance sheet. It marks the company's third public bond offering following previous issuances in 2024 and 2025. Adani Enterprises launches a public secured NCD issue from Jan 6, 2026, offering returns up to 8.9% with CARE & ICRA AA- ratings. New Delhi, January 2 Adani Enterprises Limited, the flagship company of the Adani Group, is set to launch a public issue of secured, redeemable non-convertible debentures from January 6, 2026. The issue, which will open on Tuesday and close on January 19, 2026, carries credit ratings of CARE AA- (Stable) and ICRA AA- (Stable), reflecting a high degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations. The NCDs will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and it is likely to close before January 10, 2026, subject to investor response. Under the quarterly interest payout option, investors can choose between a 36-month tenure offering 8.48 per cent, and a 60-month tenure offering 8.62 per cent. For those opting for annual interest pay-outs, the company is offering 8.60 per cent for 24 months, 8.75 per cent for 36 months, and 8.90 per cent for 60 months. The issue comprises secured instruments, backed by assets of the company, and forms part of Adani Enterprises' broader strategy to diversify funding sources and strengthen its balance sheet. Adani Enterprises operates across multiple infrastructure-focused businesses, including energy transition, transport and logistics, and integrated resource management. The proposed sale would be the company's third public bond offering. Adani Enterprises last raised Rs 10 billion via a public bond issue in July 2025, across two, three and five-year tranches after its first public debt issue in September 2024. - ANI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched the Financial Assistance Scheme for Udasin Bhakats, fulfilling a promise from last year's state budget. The scheme provides a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500 directly into the bank accounts of celibate Vaishnavite monks associated with Satras, which are vital monastic and cultural institutions. A total of 620 monks across 13 districts, with Majuli island being a major beneficiary, will receive this support. The initiative aims to honor and sustain the spiritual devotees who dedicate their lives to preserving Assam's rich Neo-Vaishnavite heritage. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launches a Rs 1,500 monthly financial assistance scheme for celibate Udasin Bhakats, supporting 620 monks across Satras. Guwahati, January 2 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched the Financial Assistance Scheme for Udasin Bhakats, providing monthly support of Rs 1,500 to celibate Vaishnavite monks associated with Satras across the state. In the Assamese Vaishnavite tradition, Sattras are monastic institutions that serves as religious and cultural centres. Devotees called bhakats gather the sattras to offer prayers. Sattras where bhakats lead celibate lives are known as Udasin Sattras. Addressing the launch event in Guwahati, the Assam Chief Minister said the scheme was announced in last year's state budget and has now been implemented. "We had mentioned the scheme of financial assistance to Udasin Bhakat in our last year's budget, and today we have launched the scheme. Under this scheme, Rs 1,500 will be given to the bank accounts of Udasin Bhakats every month. If any Udasin Bhakats are left, then we will try to include them in this scheme," Sarma said. Providing district-wise details, the Chief Minister said that a total of 620 Udasin Bhakats will benefit from the initiative. These include 10 from Barpeta, 8 from Dhubri, 8 from Goalpara, 6 from Golaghat, 54 from Jorhat, 14 from Kamrup, 22 from Lakhimpur, 474 from Majuli, 7 from Nagaon, 6 from Nalbari, 5 from Sivasagar, 3 from Sonitpur and 3 from Udalguri. In a post on X, the Chief Minister highlighted the cultural and spiritual importance of Satras in Assam's heritage. "Assam's Satras breathe life into our culture and have held our ethos and values for years. It was only befitting that we protected the Satras, upgraded them and looked after the Udasin Bhakats who dedicate their lives to the Satras," he wrote. "With Gurujona's blessings, it is the honour of a lifetime to be able to support the Udasin Bhakats with a monthly assistance of 1,500 to help them in their path of Bhakti," the Chief Minister added. In Assam, Majuli, the world's largest river island, which is the core and main place of Assamese Neo-Vaishnavism and the land of Satras (Vaishnavite monasteries). - ANI Leading Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch has written to India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The letter commends India's resolute actions against terrorism while condemning Pakistan's decades-long occupation and rights violations in Balochistan. Baloch warns that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could lead to a Chinese military deployment on Baloch soil, posing a direct threat to regional security. He calls for support for Balochistan's defence forces and reaffirms the historical and cultural ties between Balochistan and India. Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch writes to EAM Jaishankar, praising India's actions, flagging Pakistan's abuses, and warning of a Chinese military deployment via CPEC. Quetta, Jan 2 Leading Baloch human rights defender, Mir Yar Baloch, has written to External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar underscoring Pakistan's occupation, state-sponsored terrorism, and grave human rights atrocities faced by the people of Balochistan over the past seventy-nine years. In a New Year message addressed to EAM Jaishankar, the human rights activist commended what he described as the bold and resolute actions taken by the Indian Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in 2025 through Operation Sindoor, which dismantled Pakistan-backed terrorism hubs following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack last year. Mir described these measures as a demonstration of India's exemplary courage and a steadfast commitment to regional security and justice. "On behalf of the six crore patriotic citizens of the Republic of Balochistan, we extend our deepest and most sincere congratulations for the New Year 2026 to the one hundred and forty crore people of Bharat, both Houses of Parliament, the media, civil society, and all esteemed individuals. This auspicious occasion provides an opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the profound historical, cultural, commercial, economic, diplomatic, defence, and multifaceted ties that have bound Bharat and Balochistan for centuries," the letter detailed. "These enduring relations are exemplified by sacred sites such as the Hinglaj Mata Temple (Nani Mandir), which stands as a timeless symbol of our shared heritage and spiritual connections," it added. Mir reaffirmed unwavering support for India and its government in fostering "friendship, trust, and mutual interests encompassing peace, prosperity, development, trade, defence, security, future energy challenges, and the mitigation of concealed threats." He asserted that the people of Balochistan view the escalating strategic alliance between Pakistan and China as profoundly dangerous, warning that China, in collaboration with Pakistan, has advanced the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to its final phases. "Should the capabilities of Balochistan's defence and freedom forces not be further bolstered, and if they continue to be overlooked as per longstanding patterns, it is conceivable that China could deploy its military forces in Balochistan within a few months. The presence of Chinese boots on Balochistani soil without the will of the 60 million Baloch people would pose an unimaginable threat and challenge to the futures of both Bharat and Balochistan," the human rights activist noted. - IANS Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch has issued a stark warning that China could deploy its military forces in Pakistan's Balochistan region within the coming months. In an open letter to India's External Affairs Minister, he labeled the deepening China-Pakistan strategic alliance as "profoundly dangerous" and linked it to the final stages of the CPEC project. He detailed decades of alleged repression by Pakistan and argued that any Chinese military presence without local consent would threaten regional stability. While China and Pakistan deny military ambitions for CPEC, India has consistently opposed the corridor on sovereignty grounds, with the Baloch leader notably praising India's past counter-terrorism strikes. Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch warns China could deploy military forces in Balochistan soon, calling the China-Pakistan alliance a dangerous threat in a letter to India's EAM. Quetta, January 2 Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch has claimed that China could deploy its military forces in Pakistan's Balochistan region within the next few months, warning that the deepening China-Pakistan alliance poses a serious threat. In an open letter addressed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and posted on X on New Year's Day, Mir Yar Baloch said Baloch representatives view the growing strategic partnership between Islamabad and Beijing as "dangerous". He said that Balochistan has faced decades of repression under Pakistan's control, including what he described as state-sponsored violence and human rights abuses. "The people of Balochistan have endured Pakistan's state occupation, state-sponsored terrorism, and egregious human rights atrocities for the past seventy-nine years. The time has now arrived to eradicate this festering affliction at its roots, ensuring lasting peace and sovereignty for our nation, " he wrote. In the letter, Mir Yar Baloch also noted that China and Pakistan are moving rapidly towards the final stages of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project of Chinese President Xi Jinping that runs through Balochistan. "The Republic of Balochistan views the escalating strategic alliance between Pakistan and China as profoundly dangerous. We warn that China, in collaboration with Pakistan, has advanced the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to its final phases," he said. He claimed that unless Baloch resistance and defence forces are strengthened and taken seriously, the region could soon witness a direct Chinese military presence. "Should the capabilities of Balochistan's defense and freedom forces not be further bolstered and if they continue to be overlooked as per longstanding patterns, it is conceivable that China could deploy its military forces in Balochistan within a few months," the letter stated. Mir Yar Baloch further claimed that any Chinese troop deployment in Balochistan without the consent of the local population would have wider regional consequences. "The presence of Chinese boots on Balochistani soil without the will of the 60 million Baloch people would pose an unimaginable threat and challenge to the futures of both Bharat and Balochistan," he wrote. China and Pakistan have repeatedly denied allegations of military expansion under CPEC, maintaining that the project is economic in nature. India, however, has consistently opposed CPEC, stating that it passes through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and raises sovereignty and security concerns. Earlier this year in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State in the Ministry of ExternaL Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written reply, " Government's position on CPEC is clear and consistent. Government has consistently protested to parties concerned over the inclusion of the so-called 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)', which passes through parts of the Indian Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan, as a flagship project of 'OBOR/BRI' and asked them to cease these activities. Any proposed participation of third countries or expansion of the so-called CPEC projects to third countries is unacceptable." Moreover, in the letter, Mir Yar Baloch also commended the Indian strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. "We commend the bold and resolute actions undertaken by the Modi Government in the previous year through Operation Sindoor, particularly targeting terrorism hubs facilitated by Pakistan and directed against the Pakistani military in response to Pahalgam terror attack. These measures demonstrate exemplary courage and a steadfast commitment to regional security and justice, " he wrote. There has been no official response so far from the Indian government or the Chinese and Pakistani authorities to Mir Yar Baloch's claims. - ANI The Gujarat government has fast-tracked plans to develop five satellite towns by 2030 as part of its Gujarat@2047 vision. These citiesnear Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Gandhinagar, Surat, and Rajkotaim to be economically vibrant hubs with metropolitan-level infrastructure. The initiative seeks to decentralize growth, reduce pressure on major urban centers, and generate local employment. With master plans to be prepared within a year, the project underscores a strategic shift towards inclusive and sustainable urban development. Gujarat govt accelerates plans for 5 satellite towns near major cities to create economic hubs, reduce urban pressure & drive inclusive growth by 2030. Gandhinagar, Jan 2 In a step towards achieving the vision of Developed India by 2047 and Developed Gujarat@2047, the Bhupendra Patel government has accelerated plans for the strategic development of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of strengthening smaller urban centres, the state, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has initiated the process to develop five satellite towns by 2030 and has invited urban planners to prepare comprehensive master plans for these cities. As part of the implementation process, tenders have been floated to appoint experienced national and international urban planning consultants. The selected planners will be tasked with preparing master plans within a year, aiming to equip these towns with metropolitan-level infrastructure and civic amenities. The move is expected to reduce pressure on major cities while creating new economic and employment hubs closer to urban centres. Under the state's "Earning Well-Living Well" urban development approach, Sanand near Ahmedabad, Savli near Vadodara, Kalol near Gandhinagar, Bardoli near Surat and Hirasar near Rajkot were identified as the first five satellite towns. These cities will be developed as economically vibrant centres with integrated planning for transport, industry, tourism, education and healthcare. A satellite town is defined as a city located within approximately one hour's travel from a major urban centre, developed to absorb population growth and economic activity. By strengthening these towns, the government aims to create balanced urbanisation, generate local employment opportunities and ease infrastructure stress on major cities. The proposed satellite towns will feature world-class infrastructure, organised public transport, including electric buses, advanced water supply and waste management systems, ring roads, urban forest parks, developed lakes, model fire stations and mixed-use zones where residential, commercial and office spaces coexist. To ensure swift execution, dedicated approval and monitoring committees have also been constituted. Highlighting the importance of urban areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that cities are the growth engines of the nation and must be developed as centres of economic activity to build a developed India. He has noted that a large number of India's startups are emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, many of them led by women, and represent the vast untapped potential of smaller urban centres. With this initiative, Gujarat is positioning its smaller cities as key drivers of future growth, marking a decisive leap towards inclusive and sustainable urban development in the decades leading up to 2047. - IANS NANCHANG, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A suffocation incident occurred at a biopharmaceutical company in Jinxian County, east China's Jiangxi Province, at around 10:25 p.m. on Wednesday, resulting in three deaths despite rescue efforts, local authorities said on Thursday evening. Three other individuals were hospitalized and are currently in stable condition, according to the local emergency management bureau. Following the incident, local authorities immediately activated an emergency plan and organized personnel to carry out on-site management, medical treatment for the injured, and follow-up arrangements. An investigation into the cause and circumstances of the accident is currently underway. The fragile peace in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is unraveling as the Joint Awami Action Committee accuses the government of failing to fulfill any promises made during October's agreement. With talks officially called off, intelligence assessments warn that renewed protests could be larger and more intense than previous demonstrations. Residents and committee members allege systemic corruption, with resources from PoK being diverted to major Pakistani cities while local development is neglected. Indian officials note this pattern is consistent with Pakistan's historical approach to the region and warn that unrest could escalate beyond control, with potential spillover effects. Fresh unrest looms in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as the government reneges on agreements, sparking accusations of corruption and neglect. New Delhi, Jan 2 The calm that was restored in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in October is all set to end with talks being called off between the PoK's Joint Awami Action Committee and the government. In September, protests had erupted in the region during which several organisations had made multiple demands relating to development. The government of Pakistan intervened and agreed to fulfil all their demands. However, now, the committee has accused the government of orchestrating an eyewash and said that not a single demand has been met. It has refused to hold any talks with the government, thus signalling the start of protests once again. An Intelligence assessment says that the protests are likely to be bigger than the last time. This is not the first time that the Pakistan government has gone back on its word. This has left the people of the region extremely frustrated. The approach that the government has towards PoK is the same that one gets to witness in Balochistan. People of both regions accuse the government and top Army officials of indulging in corruption. They say that their resources are used and all developmental works are carried out in top cities of Pakistan, while the two regions remain extremely neglected. The Joint Awami Action Committee which had signed an agreement with the government on October now says that their demands must be fulfilled first. At the time of the signing of the agreement, it was decided that the committee and government would meet every 15 days to review the progress. However such a meeting has taken place only thrice in the past three months, which has led the committee of accusing the government of an eyewash. The government had also promised to remove the names of several committee members from the Exit Control List (ECL). It was also assured that the FIRs against them would be withdrawn and the issues relating to the refugee seats would be resolved. However not a single demand has been met and this has angered the members of the committee. The committee says that everything that the government has done since the October 3 agreement has been tripe. A committee had been constituted by the government to address the issues of refugee seats. However, the committee would only address specific issues. This the PoK committee says is nonsense and they want all issues to be resolved at once. It further said that partial measures would not do and this time it is not buying into the assurances that the government is making. Indian officials say that these developments are not surprising and this has been Pakistan's stance always where PoK is concerned. Officials also warn if the issues are not sorted on an urgent basis, then the protests could become intense and a spillover into India cannot be ruled out. Another official said that it is the Pakistan Army that calls the shots. It has appointed several retired army officials to deal with middlemen in the region. They are tasked with tapping into the resources available in PoK. The people have accused these officials of diverting all the funds to the main parts of Pakistan, while not making any improvements to the region. Further a lot of funds that are generated from these resources are usurped by army officials, who have been accused of large scale corruption. These issues have also caused a stir within the army. Recently, a letter by the Guardians of Honour accused Field Marshal Asim Munir of incompetence, oppression and corruption. An official said that the Pakistan government has for long lied to the people of Pakistan by making false assurances. It has done so yet again and the people of the region are getting impatient. It is just a matter of time before the situation in PoK would go beyond the control of the establishment in Pakistan, the official also added. - IANS Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected six Chinese naval vessels, an official ship, and two balloons near its waters, responding with monitoring and countermeasures. This follows earlier sightings of Chinese military aircraft and vessels, including incursions across the median line into Taiwan's air defense identification zone. Taiwan's former foreign minister, Joseph Wu, accused China of intimidation through military exercises and thanked the U.S. for urging restraint. The heightened activity raises regional concerns over stability and the risk of miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan reports Chinese naval vessels, official ships, and balloons near its waters, amid military drills and U.S. calls for reduced tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Taipei, January 2 Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected six naval vessels, an official ship and two balloons around its territorial waters as of 6am on Friday. The MND said they responded according to the situation. In a post on X, the MND said, "6 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 PRC balloons were detected during this timeframe. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." Earlier on Thursday, Taiwan detected three sorties of Chinese military aircraft, 17 naval vessels and eight official ships operating around its territorial waters. Of the three, one sortie crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "(U) 3 sorties of PLA aircraft, 17 PLAN vessels and 8 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 3 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." Earlier in the day, Taiwan's Secretary-General of the National Security Council and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu widely known has publicly thanked the United States for urging restraint following China's latest military exercises near Taiwan and across the wider region. In a post on X.com, Wu said China's recent drills were aimed at intimidation and coercion, warning that such actions are destabilizing for the Indo-Pacific. "China's military exercises toward Taiwan and others in the region were designed to intimidate and coerce countries in the Indo-Pacific. They're provocative and escalatory," he wrote. He expressed appreciation to the US State Department for issuing a statement on New Year's Day calling on Beijing to reduce tensions. Wu's remarks came amid heightened concern in Taipei and among regional partners after the People's Liberation Army conducted large-scale live-fire exercises around Taiwan. The drills involved naval and air forces operating in multiple zones near the island, drawing criticism for raising the risk of miscalculation and threatening civilian air and maritime traffic. - ANI The makers of the historical action drama "Draupathi 2" have released the first look of actor Chirag Jani as the formidable Sultan, Mohammad Bin Tughlaq. Director Mohan G Kshatriyan describes the character as a complex, layered ruler and praises Jani for bringing "menace, dignity, calculation, and emotional depth" to the role. The film, set in 14th-century South India and featuring an ensemble cast led by Richard Rishi, has completed post-production and received a U/A certificate. Positioned as the first of three powerful villains, Jani's Tughlaq is anticipated to be a major highlight of this grand multilingual period film. First look of Chirag Jani as the layered antagonist Mohammad Bin Tughlaq in the historical epic 'Draupathi 2' released. Director Mohan G praises his performance. Chennai, Jan 2 The makers of director Mohan G Kshatriyan's historical action drama 'Draupathi 2' on Friday released the first look poster of actor Chirag Jani as Mohammad Bin Tughlaq in the film, much to the delight of fans and film buffs. Taking to his X timeline to share the poster of Chirag Jani as Mohammad Bin Tughlaq, director Mohan G Kshatriyan wrote, "Terror Wears A Crown. Unveiling the Delhi Sultanate #MohdBinThugluq...@JaniChiragjani nailed it. Roaring as First-Level Antagonist." The film has triggered huge interest in fans and film buffs. Mounted as a grand multilingual period film rooted in 14th-century South India, the film, which recently completed post-production, has now been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for release with a 'U/A' certificate. Sources close to the unit of the film say that the film will have three powerful villains, with Chirag Jani positioned as the first-level antagonist. Speaking about the casting of Chirag Jani, director Mohan G says, "Chirag portrays Mohammad Bin Tughlaq, not simply as a villain, but as a layered ruler whose brilliance often clashed with the consequences of his own choices. I wanted an actor who could convincingly bring together physical gigantism and intellectual brilliance. History remembers Tughlaq as an 'intelligent fool,' and capturing that contradiction requires tremendous control. Chirag immersed himself completely, he brings menace, dignity, calculation, and emotional depth to the role. He doesn't just act the character; he lives it, and that presence lifts the film." 'Draupathi 2' features Richard Rishi in the lead, with Rakshana Indusudan as the female lead and Natti Natraj in a pivotal role. The ensemble cast includes Y G Mahendran, Nadodigal Barani, Saravana Subbiah, Vel Ramamoorthy, Siraj Johnny, Dinesh Lamba, Ganesh Gaurang, Divi, Devayani Sharma, and Arunodayan. The film has been produced by Chola Shakkaravarthi (Netaji Productions) in association with G.M. Film Corporation, with cinematography by Philip R. Sundar, music by Ghibran Vaibodha, action choreography by Action Santosh, choreography by Thanika Tony, editing by Devaraj, and production design by Kamalnathan. Dialogues for the film have been penned by Padma Chandrasekhar and Mohan G. - IANS Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally inspected a grassroots camp under the "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar" campaign to assess grievance redressal and service delivery. He directed officials to ensure speedy and transparent resolution of public issues, emphasizing that welfare schemes must reach the last person in society. The visit aligns with the state's 2026 development roadmap, which prioritizes transparent, accountable, and technology-driven governance. Key goals include mandatory e-governance, a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, and empowering youth and women. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected a Nyaya Panchayat camp, reviewed grievance redressal, and outlined Uttarakhand's 2026 roadmap for transparent, tech-driven governance. Dehradun, January 2 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday inspected a Nyaya Panchayat-level camp organised at Khairaman Singh in Dehradun district to assess the on-ground implementation of the "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar" campaign. On the occasion, the Chief Minister reviewed the status of grievance redressal at the multi-purpose camp held under the "Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore" (Administration Towards Villages) programme and obtained feedback regarding the campaign. The Chief Minister also visited the stalls set up by various departments at the camp and assessed on-site arrangements to ensure that villagers benefit from the government's public welfare schemes and services. During the programme, assistive devices were distributed to 102 persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Chief Minister Dhami issued clear instructions to officials to ensure the speedy, transparent, and satisfactory resolution of public grievances. He stated that the objective of the "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar" campaign is to ensure that government schemes and services reach the last person in society. Therefore, the campaign must be implemented with complete sensitivity, responsibility, and effectiveness. Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that 2026 is set to be a decisive, results-oriented year for the state's development, with the government focusing on effective implementation of policies, visible grassroots-level change and tangible improvement in the income and living standards of citizens. The 2026 roadmap, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is centred on good governance, inclusive development, economic self-reliance, strengthening agriculture and horticulture, and maintaining environmental balance. The government's foremost objective is to make governance more transparent, accountable and technology-driven. In 2026, e-governance will be made mandatory across all departments, with a strong push for digital file systems, online services and time-bound delivery. Under the zero-tolerance policy against corruption, speedy grievance redressal and timely service delivery will remain top priorities. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that empowering youth and women remains the government's top priority. - ANI Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will lead the state's delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026. His agenda focuses on pitching the state as a premier destination for investment in key future-ready sectors. He will highlight specific opportunities in automotive and electric vehicle manufacturing, renewable energy projects like the Omkareshwar Floating Solar plant, and the growing IT hubs in Indore and Bhopal. The visit includes high-level meetings with global CEOs and aims to strengthen MP's position on the global investment map alongside India's strong national delegation. Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav will showcase investment opportunities in automotive, renewable energy, IT & food processing at WEF Davos 2026. Bhopal, Jan 1 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is set to attend the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos at Switzerland, from January 19 to 23, 2026, where he will pitch the state as a premier investment destination, government officials said on Thursday. The prestigious global summit, themed "A Spirit of Dialogue", will focus on fostering open discussions to unlock new sources of economic growth amid geopolitical and societal challenges, a statement said on Thursday. Chief Minister Yadav's participation aims to engage directly with top global industry leaders, multinational companies, and policymakers. He will highlight Madhya Pradesh's strengths and supportive policies in key priority sectors to attract fresh investments and strengthen the state's international brand as a future-ready economy, the statement said. A major focus will be on the "Automotive and New Mobility" sector, showcasing the robust ecosystem in clusters like Pithampur for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, battery storage, and auto components, the statement added. In "Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen", the state will present landmark projects such as the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project and Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Project, alongside emerging opportunities under the Green Hydrogen policy. For "IT, ESDM (Electronics System Design and Manufacturing), and Global Capability Centres", Indore and Bhopal will be positioned as rising hubs, emphasising incentives from the IT, Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES), and Electronics System Design and Manufacturing Policy 2023. The "Food Processing" sector will spotlight Madhya Pradesh as India's "Food Basket", promoting investments in mega food parks and agriculture value chains. During the visit, Chief Minister Yadav will hold one-on-one meetings with the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and global industrialists. Existing investors will share success stories in sectoral roundtables on automotive, energy, IT, healthcare, and food processing. The Chief Minister will also join WEF sessions discussing critical topics like labour, energy security, renewable energy, and food security. With India sending a strong delegation -- including several Chief Ministers and more than 100 CEOs -- Chief Minister Yadav's Davos outreach underscores Madhya Pradesh's ambition to drive sustainable growth and position itself prominently on the global investment map. - IANS Kim Jong-un's teenage daughter, Ju-ae, has made her first known visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the family mausoleum housing North Korea's former leaders. The visit, which occurred on New Year's Day alongside her parents and officials, is seen as a significant symbolic gesture amid growing speculation about her role in the dynastic succession. South Korea's unification ministry confirmed it is closely monitoring this development, noting it marks the first publicized joint visit. This follows Ju-ae's prominent appearance at a New Year's performance, where she was shown displaying affection toward her father, further highlighting her elevated public profile. Kim Ju-ae, daughter of North Korea's leader, pays tribute at the Kumsusan Palace for the first time, fueling discussions on her political role and dynastic succession. Seoul, Jan 2 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's teenage daughter Ju-ae has paid tribute at the family mausoleum for the first time, accompanied by her father, the North's state media images showed on Friday. Her first known attendance at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the North Korean leader's late father and grandfather lie in state, came amid growing speculation about her presence in the North Korean communist dynasty's potential succession. Kim, his wife and Ju-ae, as well as key party and government officials, visited the family mausoleum on New Year's Day. While the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not mention that Ju-ae visited the family mausoleum, state media photos showed the Kim family standing in the front row. Ju-ae was spotted in the centre, with her parents standing on each side. It marked the first known visit to the family mausoleum by Ju-ae, who first appeared in North Korean state media in 2022. "All the visitors made a firm pledge to fulfill their responsibility and duty in the vanguard of accomplishing the sacred cause for the eternal prosperity and development of the great DPRK and the promotion of the people's well-being, true to the ideas and leadership of Kim Jong Un with single-minded loyalty," the KCNA reported, using the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The mausoleum enshrines the embalmed bodies of the North's founder Kim Il-sung, grandfather of Kim, and Kim Jong-il, a former North Korean leader and Kim's father. Kim Jong-un last visited the family mausoleum on the occasion of New Year's Day in 2023. He paid respects to his father and grandfather on the first day of each year since taking power in 2012 but skipped such visits in 2018, 2024 and 2025, Yonhap news agency reported. When asked about the significance of the visit, Seoul's unification ministry confirmed that it marked Kim's first visit to the family mausoleum with his daughter that was made public. "We are closely watching as it is the first such visit," Chang Yoon-jeong, deputy spokesperson at the ministry, told a regular press briefing on Friday. "We will continue to closely monitor activities by Chairman Kim Jong-un's daughter." On Thursday, Kim attended a large-scale celebratory performance marking the new year in Pyongyang, also accompanied by his wife and daughter. Video footage aired by the state-run Korean Central Television showed Ju-ae seated next to him during the event. Clad in a leather coat matching her father's, she was seen holding his hand and whispering to him as they watched the performance, and kissing him on his cheek after the New Year's countdown ended. - IANS Delhi recorded its lowest average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 in 2025 since 2018, according to data from the Union Environment Ministry. The improvement coincides with the revocation of Stage-III GRAP restrictions, though officials emphasize that on-ground anti-pollution efforts will continue. Enforcement actions have intensified, including thousands of vehicular fines and extensive mechanical road sweeping. The city's environment minister credited persistent, multi-sector interventions and unified efforts for the measurable gains in air quality. Delhi records lowest average PM2.5 and PM10 levels since 2018 in 2025, as GRAP Stage-III restrictions are lifted amid ongoing anti-pollution efforts. New Delhi, Jan 2 In 2025, Delhi recorded its lowest ever average concentration levels of Particulate Matter since in 2018, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said on Friday. It claimed that the daily average of PM10 in Delhi in 2025 was 198 (gm/m3) as compared to 212 in 2024 and 242 in 2018. The Ministry, in a statement, said the daily average of PM2.5 in Delhi in 2025 was 97 as compared to 105 in 2024 and 114 in 2018. The Ministry shared data for eight years and said the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), since its inception in 2021, through a series of directions/advisories and orders, has initiated various policy measures and field actions towards abatement of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The Ministry's statement coincided with the decision of the CAQM Sub-Committee on Friday to revoke restrictions under Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Delhi's Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the city's improving air quality reflects persistent ground-level efforts under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI), which stood at 380 on Thursday, was recorded at 236 on Friday, marking a significant decline. Minister Sirsa emphasised that even though GRAP Stage-III restrictions have been lifted, on-ground operations will continue with the same rigour and priority. "This is not the time to relax; this is the time to double our efforts and consolidate the gains we've made. Each small win fuels our motivation to make Delhi's air cleaner every single day," he added. "In the past year, Delhi has advanced new pathways of pollution control -- from accelerating legacy waste biomining (35 MT per day) to expanding clean-tech interventions on industrial and transport fronts. The unified effort is showing measurable impact," Minister Sirsa said. In the last 24 hours, the Environment Department and associated civic agencies have reported a substantial increase in anti-pollution activities. During this period, 6,596 challans were issued for vehicular emission violations; 12,000 MT of garbage was removed across city zones and 6,261 km of roads were mechanically swept to reduce dust load. The Minister noted that Delhi's fight against pollution is ongoing and determined. "Each day, we are learning, adapting, and improving. The city's progress today inspires us to aim higher tomorrow," he said. He added that under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's leadership, Delhi's civic work on field has strengthened multifold. "Pollution control teams have focused on addressing sources directly, from ensuring compliance at industrial clusters to deploying smog guns and anti-smog vehicles at traffic-heavy stretches and hotspots," Minister Sirsa said. - IANS The Inter-Departmental Committee, chaired by DFS Secretary M Nagaraju, met to evaluate RBI-referred proposals from foreign banks seeking to establish a presence in India, consulting key ministries on security and economic aspects. In a separate development, the Finance Ministry approved a Rs 200 crore loan for Uttarakhand under a capital investment scheme to reform its mining sector. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated the funds would promote transparency, technology, and sustainable development in mining operations. The assistance aims to make the sector more organized and employment-oriented, boosting the state's economy. DFS Secretary chairs committee on foreign bank branches in India. Separate Rs 200 crore mining reform loan approved for Uttarakhand under central scheme. New Delhi, January 2 The Secretary of the Department of Financial Services, M Nagaraju, chaired the Inter-Departmental Committee meeting on Friday to consider proposals received from the Reserve Bank of India regarding foreign banks seeking to open branches, representative offices, or subsidiaries in India. It was attended by member ministries or departments, i.e., the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Department of Commerce (DoC) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), according to an official release by the Ministry of Finance. During the meeting, after due deliberations, the Committee recommended the proposals placed before it. IDC is a committee wherein the Department of Financial Services (DFS), as the nodal Department, evaluates proposals received from foreign and domestic banks. Before reaching a consensus, the committee consults the proposal with member ministries or departments, i.e. MHA, MEA & DoC, seeking their inputs in the matter from security, political and economic angles respectively, the release said. Earlier, on Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance extended significant financial assistance to the state of Uttarakhand. For the financial year 2025-26, a special assistance of Rs 200 crore (loan) has been approved for Uttarakhand under the "Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)" to support reforms in the mining sector, the Chief Minister's Office said in a press release. This assistance has been provided to implement reforms related to minor minerals and initiatives linked to the State Mining Readiness Index. The funds have been released in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Government of India, based on the proposal submitted by the Uttarakhand government and the recommendations of the Ministry of Mines. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India for this support, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the assistance would give fresh momentum to transparency, technological advancement, and sustainable development in Uttarakhand's mining sector. He added that the state government would utilise the funds to make the mining system more organised, environmentally sensitive, and employment-oriented, thereby strengthening the state's economy and creating new opportunities for local youth. - ANI Shashi Tharoor posits that India's strategy of "multi-alignment" has allowed it to become a crucial stabilizing bridge in a world marked by fractured supply chains and transactional partnerships. He highlights India's balanced engagement with the US, Russia, and China while deepening ties with the Global South as evidence of sovereign autonomy. Tharoor points to domestic economic resilience, critical mineral security, and leadership in tech-diplomacy and climate action as pillars of this approach. Ultimately, he frames India not as a retreating power but as a confident, engaged nation building a "fortress-like" economy to withstand global volatility. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor argues India's "multi-alignment" strategy makes it a stable bridge in a turbulent world of fractured alliances and supply chains. New Delhi, Jan 1 The year that was, truly tested the resilience of India on its "multi-alignment" strategy, proving that a nation can indeed be a "friend to all" while remaining beholden to none, according to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. "By choosing multi-alignment over binary allegiances, India has ensured that in a fractured world, it remains the most stable bridge across the fissures," added the Lok Sabha member from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram. In a newspaper column published this New Year's Day, Tharoor has reflected on India's geopolitical and economic trajectory as the world entered 2026. Placing India at the crossroads of global turbulence - marked by fractured supply chains, tariff wars, climate urgency, and digital fragmentation - he argued that India's "multi-alignment" strategy has allowed it to remain a bridge across fissures. Earlier, Tharoor has occasionally praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government's policies, sparking protests from the Congress. His remarks - ranging from applauding the PM's speeches to defending foreign policy decisions - have often led Congress leaders to distance themselves, stressing that Tharoor's views are personal and not the party's official stance. In Thursday's column, he described 2025 as a year of "maximal interdependence and minimal trust", where partnerships have become transactional, economic ties weaponised, and strategic assumptions destabilised. "New Delhi has deepened ties with the Global South while balancing relations with Washington, Moscow, and Beijing," he observed, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin's New Delhi visit in face of intense Western scrutiny was "a bold assertion of sovereign autonomy". The move served as "a reminder that India refuses to be a 'spoke' in anyone else's wheel." Simultaneously, the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit in August and the launch of the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) naval exercise signalled India's intent to lead as a 'Vishwa Bandhu'," asserted Tharoor, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. He noted that the collapse of markets following China's restriction of rare earth exports and US President Donald Trump's imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods exemplify this new reality. Yet, despite India's vulnerability, especially in its green transition and labour-intensive industries, Tharoor stated that the country has responded with confidence - diversifying trade partners, accelerating the National Critical Mineral Mission, and deepening ties with the Mineral Security Partnership. Against external shocks, he observed, India's domestic fundamentals remained buoyant. The rupee weakened under tariff pressure, but fiscal stability was maintained, he wrote, and further emphasised that the enactment of four labour codes and the SHANTI Act for nuclear energy investment demonstrated a proactive approach to reform. Tharoor interpreted these moves as evidence of India building a "fortress-like" economy capable of withstanding global volatility. Here again, his analysis aligns with earlier praise for the Modi government, which he once described as having successfully implemented structural reforms that positioned India as a rising economic power. As India surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, Tharoor called it a testament to a "golden period" of structural reform. The Congress MP has also mentioned India positioning itself as the voice of the Global South at COP30 in Brazil, and championing equitable climate action, demanding that developed nations move beyond targets towards the actual delivery of predictable support. Additionally, he lauded India pioneering a unique "tech-diplomacy" footprint in an area where "global giants dominate the World Wide Web and the Internet splinters into sovereign fragments". With technology a defining force of 2025, as AI accelerated its impact on labour markets and energy systems, "India's push into AI innovation hubs and digital public infrastructure offers a pathway to global leadership," he added. Agreeing that the task ahead is not simple, he said, "India has shown that the path forward is not to retreat from the world, but to engage with a clear vision that prioritises national interest without abandoning global responsibility". - IANS Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel distributed appointment letters to 4,742 new drivers and helpers for the State Road Transport Corporation (ST). He emphasized their critical role in public service, safe travel, and maintaining the state's modern bus fleet. Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi outlined ambitious targets, including increasing daily passengers to 30 lakh by 2027 to reduce traffic and pollution. The event also featured the inauguration of the Jan Sarthi Driving School and highlighted recent infrastructure additions, including over 1,700 new buses. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel distributed appointment letters to 3,084 drivers & 1,658 helpers, highlighting their role in public service & the state's transport vision. Gandhinagar, January 2 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday distributed appointment letters in Gandhinagar to 3,084 driver and 1,658 helper cadre candidates of the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, according to the chief minister's office. On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Road Transport Corporation bus drivers reach every citizen. By ensuring safe travel and punctuality, they carry a major responsibility and play an important role in shaping the state government's image. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured development that delivers essential services such as roads, electricity, water, healthcare, and bus services to every citizen. He called the newly appointed candidates the guardians of the state's transport system. He said that the Prime Minister has transformed the transport sector, with modern buses including AC Volvos are today operating in the service of citizens. He added that the responsibility of maintaining these modern facilities rests with bus drivers and helpers. The Chief Minister said that citizens travel with confidence, relying on ST drivers. By ensuring timely travel, they fulfil a social responsibility along with public service. He appealed that bus drivers, who are closely connected with the lives of citizens, should remain physically and mentally healthy, perform their duties with mental balance in all situations, and work with a positive and balanced approach to life. He said that buses equipped with GPS can now be tracked by citizens on mobile phones, and therefore bus drivers must ensure punctuality. The Chief Minister added that cleanliness is a priority in the Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and urged the newly appointed staff to maintain cleanliness in the state's modern buses. Furthermore, on this occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the Jan Sarthi Driving School. In the programme, the Chief Minister distributed appointment letters to four candidates and inaugurated the Jan Sarthi Driving School established by the Transport Corporation. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi congratulated employees who serve citizens 24x7 throughout the year. He said that while the world celebrates festivals, several departments in Gujarat never pause. He noted that, like hospitals, police, fire services, and the electricity department, ST Corporation employees work day and night in all conditions, and their dedication is a strong pillar of good governance in Gujarat, which he wholeheartedly saluted. Highlighting the state government's efficiency, he said that the recruitment of 3,084 drivers and 1,658 helpers has further strengthened the Corporation. Setting future transport goals, he said that the ST Corporation, which serves about 24 lakh passengers daily, had set a target of 27 lakh passengers by 2025 and has achieved it within time. The government now aims to increase this number to 30 lakh by 2027. According to a study, he said that achieving this target will reduce highway load, traffic congestion, and pollution, with an estimated reduction of about 25,000 four-wheelers and 1 lakh two-wheelers. He also noted that 9 lakh students currently use ST buses, with a target to increase this to 10 lakh, which would benefit another one lakh families and help secure the future of one lakh children. Informing about the work carried out by the ST department in 2025, he said that in just one year, 1,714 new robust buses have been introduced into public service. These include 962 Super Express, 272 Semi-Luxury, 350 Midi buses, along with 30 Volvo and 100 AC buses. Along with this, for passenger convenience, 27 new bus stands were inaugurated in 2025, and foundation stones for 29 new projects have also been laid for the future. He appealed to all employees to pay special attention to maintaining cleanliness in buses and bus stands. On this occasion, Minister of State for Transport, Pravin Mali, said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister and the guidance of the Deputy Chief Minister, the ST Corporation has achieved many new milestones. In the coming times, the ST Corporation will move towards 100 per cent digital payments, which will relieve citizens from the need to carry change. "In the last approximately 40 days, under the guidance of the Chief Minister, appointment letters have been given to more than 45,000 candidates for government jobs across various departments. Following the Prime Minister's initiative to conduct fully transparent examinations nationwide to enable more candidates to secure government jobs, Gujarat is implementing the same system under the leadership of the Chief Minister. As a result of good governance, youth from the farthest regions are also clearing examinations and joining government service," Mali added. Principal Secretary of the Ports and Transport Department, Hareet Shukla, while welcoming all, lauded the transparent, merit-based appointment process for approximately 4,700 newly joining karmayogis. The event was attended by Mayor Mira Patel, MLAs Rita Patel, Jayanti Patel, Balrajsinh Chauhan, leader Ashish Dave, Chief Secretary M K Das, Vice-Chairman and Administrative Managing Director M. Nagarajan, and a large number of newly appointed candidates. - ANI Cambodian evacuees return home in Battambang province, Cambodia on Dec. 30, 2025. Some 167,478 Cambodian evacuees have so far returned to their homes, Cambodia's Ministry of Interior said in a press release on Thursday. (Agence Kampuchea Presse/Handout via Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Some 167,478 Cambodian evacuees have so far returned to their homes, Cambodia's Ministry of Interior said in a press release on Thursday. About 110,924 displaced persons have returned to their homes in Banteay Meanchey province, 47,594 in Oddar Meanchey province, and 8,960 in Preah Vihear province, the press release said. Meanwhile, around 512,263 displaced persons are still at various safe shelters. Cambodia and Thailand signed a joint statement on Dec. 27, agreeing to an immediate ceasefire after three weeks of armed conflict. Cambodian evacuees return home in Battambang province, Cambodia on Dec. 30, 2025. Some 167,478 Cambodian evacuees have so far returned to their homes, Cambodia's Ministry of Interior said in a press release on Thursday. (Agence Kampuchea Presse/Handout via Xinhua) Cambodian evacuees return home in Battambang province, Cambodia on Dec. 30, 2025. Some 167,478 Cambodian evacuees have so far returned to their homes, Cambodia's Ministry of Interior said in a press release on Thursday. (Agence Kampuchea Presse/Handout via Xinhua) President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, stating the U.S. is "locked and loaded" to respond if Iranian authorities violently crack down on peaceful protesters. The warning comes as widespread demonstrations over severe economic hardship and a plunging currency have erupted across multiple Iranian provinces, leading to fatal clashes with security forces. These protests, involving shop owners, students, and traders, mark the largest public unrest since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. The U.S. State Department has also voiced alarm, urging Iranian authorities to halt the intimidation and violence against demonstrators. President Trump warns the U.S. is ready to respond if Iran targets protesters, as nationwide demonstrations over economic hardship turn deadly. Washington, DC, January 2 US President Donald Trump on Friday said that the United States is "locked and loaded" to respond if Iranian authorities use violence against peaceful protesters, as demonstrations over worsening economic conditions spread across multiple provinces in Iran. In a Truth Social Post, Trump wrote, "If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" This comes as people in Iran continue to protest against rising prices and economic hardship pouring into the streets across several provinces in Iran, with some protests escalating into fatal confrontations with security forces, CNN reported. Protesters reportedly clashed with police, hurled stones at officers and torched vehicles, according to Fars News Agency. The outlet alleged that some armed "disturbers" exploited the gatherings. Without offering proof, Fars claimed authorities later seized firearms from several individuals. Earlier, at least two people were killed during clashes between dozens of protesters and police in Lordegan county in the southwestern Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Fars reported. It was not immediately clear whether those killed were protesters or security personnel. Unconfirmed videos shared online appeared to show demonstrators throwing stones at uniformed police in the area. Fars alleged that protesters targeted the governor's office, banks and other state buildings, CNN reported. The earliest reported fatality linked to the unrest occurred on Wednesday night, when a member of Iran's Basij paramilitary force was killed and 13 others injured in the city of Kuhdasht in Lorestan province, according to state-affiliated media. Fars News Agency aired footage showing a police officer receiving medical care after allegedly being set on fire by protesters. The Basij paramilitary force is frequently deployed by authorities to quell demonstrations. Twenty people were detained during the protests, the prosecutor of Kuhdasht said on Thursday, according to state-run Tasnim News Agency. In Malard county, west of Tehran, officials arrested 30 individuals for "disturbing public order," Fars reported. County official Mansour Saleki was quoted as saying those detained were "misusing the lawful right to protest." He added that several of those arrested had travelled from nearby counties. Shop owners, bazaar traders and university students joined demonstrations in several Iranian cities this week, chanting slogans against the government over economic hardship after the national currency plunged to historic lows. The unrest marks the largest demonstrations since the nationwide protests of 2022, which erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody following her arrest for allegedly violating Iran's headscarf rules. The US State Department said in a post on X on Wednesday that it was alarmed by reports of protesters facing "intimidation, violence and arrests," urging Iranian authorities to halt the crackdown. "First the bazaars. Then the students. Now the entire country. Iranians stand together. Different lives, one demand: respect our voices and our rights," the State Department wrote in a Farsi-language post. Though still limited in scope, the protests signal the latest phase of mounting public dissatisfaction in Iran, as citizens increasingly reclaim public spaces and personal freedoms through spontaneous and uncoordinated acts of resistance. - ANI The year 2025 marked a major resurgence for Andhra Pradesh, headlined by the revival of the Amaravati capital project with a Rs 56,000 crore development push. A monumental boost came from Google's commitment to build a $15 billion AI data center in Visakhapatnam, expected to generate massive employment. The state government successfully attracted over $120 billion in proposed investments across sectors like electronics, renewables, and banking. With ambitious plans like developing Amaravati into a Quantum Valley and creating three major economic corridors, Andhra Pradesh has charted a confident course toward becoming a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047. 2025 saw Andhra Pradesh restart Amaravati capital works, secure Google's $15B AI data center, and sign $120B in investments, setting a roadmap to a $2.4T economy. Amaravati, Jan 1 The re-launch of Amaravati capital development works, Google's announcement to set up a $15 billion AI data centre in Visakhapatnam, and agreements for major investments across sectors were among the key developments in Andhra Pradesh in the year 2025. The highlight was the resumption of state capital works, as promised by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition during the elections held in 2024. With the support of the BJP-led government at the Centre, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu restarted work on his dream project. On May 2, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi re-launched the Amaravati development works, nearly 10 years after laying the foundation stone for the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. The state government restarted work on projects worth Rs 56,000 crore, including the High Court, Legislative Assembly, State Secretariat, and four towers housing Heads of Departments (HoDs). Chief Minister Naidu is confident that the works will be completed by March 2028. The year also saw the launch of the second phase of land pooling in Amaravati. Under this phase, 16,666 acres of land will be acquired across seven mandals in the Amaravati capital region. According to Naidu, the existing 29-village footprint is inadequate to build a metropolitan entity comparable to Hyderabad. In October, he inaugurated the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) office, marking a significant milestone in the capital's development. The state-of-the-art seven-storey structure, spread over a built-up area of 28,562 square metres, has been constructed in the upcoming administrative core of Amaravati. In November last year, CM Naidu, along with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, laid the foundation stone for the regional headquarters of 15 public sector banks and insurance companies in Amaravati. The government also announced ambitious plans to develop Amaravati as a Quantum Valley, on the lines of Silicon Valley in the United States. Naidu expressed confidence that Andhra Pradesh would lead the quantum revolution in India. "Within six months, the first quantum computer will be operated from Amaravati and within two years, quantum computers will be manufactured here and supplied to the world," he said in a recent event. Google's announcement to set up its largest data centre in Visakhapatnam came as a major boost to the state. Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh believes this development will transform Visakhapatnam in the same way Microsoft's facility transformed Hyderabad. It is estimated that Google's $15 billion investment over five years would generate employment for 1.88 lakh people, create a Rs 48,000-crore impact on the local economy during the period, and have a 25-times multiplier effect. The state government claims to have attracted investments worth $120 billion (Rs 10 lakh crore) over the last 16 months. During the recently held CII Summit in Visakhapatnam, the government entered into 610 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) involving investments of Rs 13.25 lakh crore, expected to generate 16.13 lakh jobs. The government has decided to set up MSME parks in all 175 Assembly constituencies. Lokesh claimed Andhra Pradesh is attracting massive investments due to the speed of doing business, in which the State ranks first. With a cluster-based approach and vertical and horizontal integration, the government has set a target of transforming Andhra Pradesh into a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047. The Greater Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor alone is envisioned as a $1 trillion economy. The state will have three economic corridors, with the other two in Amaravati and Rayalaseema. Anantapur has been developed as a mobility valley with the KIA Motors plant, while the north Anantapur and Kurnool districts are attracting major renewable energy, pumped storage projects, and cement factories. An electronics manufacturing ecosystem is being created in Chittoor and Kadapa districts, and Nellore district already has a large industrial ecosystem in the form of Sri City. The government is working towards fulfilling its 'Super Six' promise of creating 20 lakh jobs in five years, with five lakh jobs targeted in the IT sector alone. To deliver on these commitments, the coalition government rolled out several welfare schemes. Under the Talliki Vandanam scheme, financial assistance of Rs 10,090 crore was disbursed to benefit 67.27 lakh students. The scheme provides Rs 15,000 annually for every child studying in a government school. On August 15, the government introduced the Stree Sakthi scheme, offering free travel for women in APSRTC buses. So far, 3.25 crore women have availed the facility, with the government spending Rs 1,144 crore on the scheme. The government also distributed three free LPG cylinders per year, benefiting two crore women at a cost of Rs 2,684 crore. Under the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme, Rs 6,310 crore was credited to the accounts of 46 lakh farmers. Under the NTR Bharosa pension scheme, Rs 33,000 crore is being distributed annually to over 63 lakh beneficiaries. To improve governance delivery, the government introduced citizen services through WhatsApp Governance and adopted data-driven decision-making for disaster management. In August, the government rolled out the ambitious P4 Initiative (Public-Private-People Partnership) to achieve the goal of zero poverty by 2029. The initiative aims to empower underprivileged families through community participation, mentorship, and access to resources. The P4 model focuses on connecting wealthier individuals and institutions with needy families to provide customised support for employment, healthcare, and entrepreneurship, while integrating existing welfare schemes and leveraging technology, including AI, for needs assessment. - IANS India faces 2026 contending with significant US trade tariffs, prompting a "diplomacy of repair" to unlock stalled investments. On the security front, the government pushes to meet a March 2026 deadline to make India "Maoist-free," building on a decade of major territorial gains and reduced violence. Simultaneously, the nation grapples with a sharp rise in cyber fraud and "digital arrest" scams, labeled a national menace by the Supreme Court. Persistent geopolitical strains, including troop deployments along the China border and the enduring threat from Pakistan, round out a complex security landscape. As India enters 2026, it navigates US trade tariffs, a deadline to eradicate Maoism, rising cyber fraud, and persistent tensions with China and Pakistan. New Delhi, Jan 1 India enters 2026 facing a complex matrix of geopolitical friction, internal security deadlines, and climate-induced economic pressures, marking a shift from the stabilisation efforts of the previous year, according to official data and strategic analysts. While the domestic economy maintains a growth trajectory above seven per cent, New Delhi is currently navigating a "diplomacy of repair" to address 50 per cent US tariffs on key exports imposed in 2025. The Indian government is pushing for a trade settlement in early 2026 through various levels of talks to unlock stalled investment following the August 6 Executive Order by the US President Donald Trump, which targeted India's record-high purchases of discounted Russian oil. On the internal security front, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the Indian government's goal to make India "Maoist-free" by March 31, 2026. It remains to be seen whether the deadline can be met, even as official records show that Maoist presence has shrunk from 125 districts in 2014 to just three in 2025. Operations like 'Operation Black Forest' neutralised 270 Maoists last year, including top leaders Nambala Keshav Rao and Madvi Hidma, a resident of Chhattisgarh's Maoist-infested Sukma district. Data reveals that the surrender rates of Maoists surged to 1,225 nationwide in 2025, supported by state rehabilitation packages offering up to Rs 20 lakh in rewards. Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra have been declared 'Maoist-free' by their respective governments, while Chhattisgarh has reclaimed strongholds such as Bijapur, Sukma, and Dantewada, leaving only three vulnerable districts in the tribal-dominated state. Maoist violence has also declined sharply, with incidents falling by 53 per cent and security personnel fatalities dropping by 73 per cent between 2014 and 2024. Security agencies reported a 95 per cent conviction rate in terror-related cases via the National Investigation Agency, but warned of "white-collar terrorism" involving professionals. This follows the November 10 Delhi car blast near the Red Fort in which 15 persons were killed and several hurt. Following the Delhi terror blast, a Jaish-e-Mohammed-linked network, including doctors from a Faridabad-based Al Falah University, was dismantled. The bomber, Umar Un Nabi, an assistant professor at the Al-Falah Medical College and a native of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, was also killed in the car bomb blast. The doctors along with other aides allegedly planned the terror plot and raised Rs 26 lakh to fund terror activities. Investigations have traced their funding networks and shell fronts, resulting in at least eight arrests so far including Al-Falah University founder Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, with several other suspects currently under surveillance. Cyber fraud and so-called "digital arrest" scams witnessed a sharp rise in 2025, with India losing nearly Rs 1,000 crore every month to online fraud. Nearly 18,000 such cases were reported within just two months, leading to the arrest of more than 16,000 accused across the country through coordinated action by the state cyber police and the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. Addressing the Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu warned that cybercrime, digital fraud, and deepfakes pose serious threats to social, economic, and national security, underscoring the need for robust cyber defences. The Supreme Court termed digital arrest scams an organised national menace, granting the Central Bureau of Investigation nationwide jurisdiction and directing close coordination with the Reserve Bank of India, Department of Telecommunication, banks, and state cyber units to track money trails, strengthen KYC norms, and swiftly freeze suspicious accounts. Diplomatic experts emphasise that 2026 requires a "cautious reset" with China. Despite a 2025 meeting between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, where both agreed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) must remain peaceful, more than 60,000 troops remain deployed. India continues a dual approach of firm military posture and calibrated economic de-risking. The threat from Pakistan continues to persist after the Pahalgam attack and India's subsequent response against its neighbour in May last year. Although infiltration and domestic terror incidents have declined significantly, India cannot afford to lower its guard along the north-western frontier. While Bangladesh does not pose a direct strategic threat to India like China or Pakistan, rising domestic unrest and attacks on minorities, including Hindus, remain a serious concern for India. This has become particularly significant following the removal of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. - IANS The Romeo Force of the Indian Army has intensified search and surveillance operations in the snowbound Pir Panjal ranges of Poonch district, operating at altitudes above 13,000 feet despite extreme conditions. This marks a decisive shift from the traditional winter lull, with security forces adopting a proactive posture by establishing temporary bases in isolated, snow-covered areas. Coordinated operations with police are also underway in Kishtwar and Doda districts to root out terrorists attempting to use the harsh season for concealment. The heightened operations aim to ensure civilian safety and preempt potential terror threats along the Line of Control. Amid heavy snow, India's Romeo Force conducts high-altitude search ops in Poonch. A proactive winter strategy aims to neutralize terrorists in Pir Panjal ranges. Poonch, January 2 The Romeo Force of the Indian Army, in coordination with the Special Operations Group Poonch, intensified a night search operation in the Jhullas and Mangnar areas of Poonch district. The Romeo Force of the Indian Army has intensified search and surveillance operations in the Pir Panjal ranges of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir amid heavy snowfall in the region. Operations are being conducted at altitudes above 13,000 feet despite heavy snowfall, extreme cold, and challenging terrain. Army personnel are conducting coordinated exercises, moving through snow-covered mountains as part of a safety measure along the border. From the visuals, troops are seen equipped with specialised winter gear and are communicating extensively to monitor suspected areas. Meanwhile, the Indian Army have also intensified counterterrorism operations in the Kishtwar and Doda districts. On December 31, 2025, the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police were also conducting operations in the frozen forests and hidden mountain caves of Doda to root out potential threats before winter fully sets in. Undeterred by freezing temperatures, treacherous terrain, and heavy snowfall, Army units expanded their operational reach into higher and snowbound areas to pursue and neutralise Pakistani terrorists attempting to exploit the harsh season for concealment. Traditionally, the onset of Chillai Kalan, the harshest phase of Kashmir's winter, spanning from December 21 to January 31, ushers in a temporary lull in terrorist activities, as communication routes close and heavy snowfall isolates mountain regions. However, this winter has marked a decisive shift in the operational approach of the Indian Army and other security forces. Instead of reducing activities, sources have said the Army has adopted a proactive winter posture, establishing temporary bases and surveillance posts deep within snow-covered areas to maintain continuous pressure on potential terrorist hideouts. All these anti-terror operations are going forward to ensure the safety of civilians living in the border area and to weed out potential terror attacks. The operation came as the search for hidden terrorists along the LoC (Line of Control) was heightened. The Army remains on high alert to prevent any attempts to disrupt peace and security in the region. - ANI Industry leaders express confidence in India's strengthening economic position for 2026, crediting policy stability and expanding global trade ties. Recent free trade agreements with countries like Oman, New Zealand, and the UK are expected to provide a significant boost to exports across key sectors. The textiles and gems & jewellery industries highlight new opportunities and momentum from these FTAs. With India now ahead of Japan in economic size, the focus is on significantly increasing exports and building alternative trade arrangements to achieve the goal of becoming the world's third-largest economy by 2028. Industry leaders project stronger Indian economy in 2026, with exports gaining momentum from FTAs with Oman, New Zealand, and the UK. New Delhi, Jan 1 Industry leaders on Thursday said they believe that India's economic position will strengthen further in 2026, with exports expected to gain momentum due to free trade agreements signed with key countries. Speaking to IANS, they said policy stability and expanding global trade ties will help drive growth in the coming year. They also said that free trade agreements signed with countries such as Oman, New Zealand and the UK in recent months are expected to give a strong boost to India's exports. Speaking to IANS, All Gujarat Textile Federation president Ashok Jirawala said India reaching the fourth spot globally is a matter of pride. "This achievement has been possible due to a stable government and supportive policies," he said. He added that the government has taken several positive steps for the textile sector in recent years, including better availability of quality yarn, which has helped the industry grow. "The free trade agreements signed in 2025 have opened new opportunities for exporters. He expressed confidence that these agreements will lead to a sharp rise in exports in the coming years," Jirawala said. Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nikhil Madrasi said the new year has brought renewed hope for the country. "India has now moved ahead of Japan in terms of economic size and is aiming to become the world's third-largest economy by 2028," he said. "To achieve this goal, India must significantly increase exports and build alternative global trade arrangements instead of depending heavily on the US," he mentioned. India Bullion and Jewellers Association Gujarat state head Nainesh Pachchigar said the gems and jewellery sector plays a key role in India's export growth. He said India exports jewellery and gems worth around $7.8 million every day. "The industry is working to scale this up further, and the recently signed free trade agreements are expected to provide additional momentum," Pachchigar stated. - IANS India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection surged to Rs 1.74 lakh crore in December 2025, marking a 6.1% year-on-year increase driven by heightened economic activity. Integrated GST formed the largest share at nearly Rs 99,000 crore, while refunds also saw a significant rise. The government confirmed the GST compensation cess will continue as a transitory measure until outstanding loans are settled. Concurrently, new excise duty rates under the Central Excise (Amendment) Act, 2025, will take effect for tobacco products from February 1, 2026. India's GST revenue grew 6.1% to Rs 1.74 lakh crore in Dec 2025. Explore the breakdown of CGST, SGST, IGST, and key policy changes on tobacco. New Delhi, Jan 1 India's GST collection recorded a 6.1 per cent increase to Rs 1,74,550 crore in December 2025 compared to Rs 1,64,556 crore the same month of the previous year, reflecting the increase in economic activity during the month, official figures released on Thursday showed. Central GST collections rose to Rs 34,289 crore, state GST collections to Rs 41,368 crore, and integrated GST collections to Rs 98,894 crore. The government raised Rs 4,551 crore via the GST compensation cess, which is continuing only as a transitory arrangement till the entire loan and interest liability are settled. The full-year collection was Rs 88,385 crore, compared to Rs 1.1 lakh crore in 2024. While there are new higher GST slabs like 40 per cent for luxury items, the cess continues on tobacco and pan masala. Total GST refunds in December amounted to Rs 28,980 crore, compared with Rs 22,138 crore in the same month of the previous year. The GST collection has registered a growth despite the cut in tax rates that kicked in on September 22, as this has resulted in an increase in the demand for goods and services by consumers, leading to an increase in economic activity. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry on Thursday also issued a series of notifications that would bring into effect the new tax regime for tobacco products from February 1, 2026. It was notified that the Central Excise (Amendment) Act, 2025, passed in the recently-concluded Winter session of Parliament, would come into force from February 1, 2026. This Act specifies new rates of excise duty on tobacco products. It also notified that the provisions of the Health Security Se National Security Act, 2025, which currently levies a cess on the manufacture of pan masala, will come into force from February 1, 2026 The ministry also released an FAQ list to explain that, under the Goods and Services Tax regime, the excise duty on cigarettes had so far been rendered a nominal amount of a "fraction of a paisa" per cigarette stick, and that the GST compensation cess rate on tobacco products had not been increased since it was implemented in July 2017. - IANS Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has stated that India's "Neighbourhood First" policy has delivered tangible results for Sri Lanka, particularly during its economic crisis and natural disasters. He highlighted over USD 4 billion in assistance during the economic collapse and praised India's role as the first responder after Cyclone Ditwah, which includes a new USD 450 million reconstruction package. Premadasa emphasized that the bilateral relationship is shaped by shared geography and destiny, not just diplomacy. Looking ahead, he identified digital transformation, energy, and tourism as key areas for enhanced cooperation to achieve mutual national interests. Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says India's policy provided crucial economic & disaster aid, highlighting a partnership beyond diplomacy. By Ayushi Agarwal, Colombo, January 2 Sri Lanka's Leader of the Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya leader Sajith Premadasa has said that India's "Neighbourhood First" policy has delivered tangible results for Sri Lanka, particularly during periods of economic crisis and natural disasters. Speaking to ANI from Colombo, Premadasa said India-Sri Lanka relations should not be viewed purely through the prism of diplomacy, but as a partnership shaped by shared geography, history, culture and economic destiny. "Our destinies are inextricably linked," he said, stressing that cooperation between the two neighbours is essential for achieving mutual national interests. Premadasa highlighted India's role in supporting Sri Lanka's recovery during its the economic collapse, noting that New Delhi extended more than USD 4 billion in assistance through grants, soft loans and financial support. He said India's help went beyond statements and declarations, translating into real action when Sri Lanka faced bankruptcy and humanitarian challenges. Referring to India's response following Cyclone Ditwah, Premadasa praised New Delhi's swift intervention as the first responder, including financial assistance, disaster relief resources and the deployment of emergency personnel. He said the Modi administration had "walked the talk" by providing immediate and meaningful support during Sri Lanka's time of need. "The Neighbourhood First policy has been very beneficial to Sri Lanka," Premadasa said, adding that India had accurately identified and responded to the basic human and developmental needs of the Sri Lankan people. He expressed gratitude to both the Indian government and the people of India for their timely and generous assistance. Notably, in December 2025, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that India has proposed a comprehensive USD 450 million assistance package to support Sri Lanka's reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. The announcement follows the successful completion of the immediate humanitarian phase under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India's rapid response to the crisis.Speaking in Colombo as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaishankar emphasised India's commitment to its neighbour during a uniquely challenging period, saying "the letter from PM Modi that I handed over builds on our first responder role and commits a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka." Further reflecting on bilateral relations in 2025 and prospects for 2026, Premadasa said the relationship has endured multiple challenges and continues to remain resilient. He stressed that closer cooperation would help both countries meet their national objectives. Highlighting key areas of collaboration, Premadasa underlined India's pivotal role in supporting Sri Lanka's digital transformation, noting the island nation's ambition to build a USD 30 billion digital economy by 2030. He pointed to opportunities for cooperation in IT, business process outsourcing, and management services, adding that India's expertise would be vital. Energy cooperation, he said, is another priority area, particularly in reducing energy costs to attract foreign investment. Premadasa also called for enhanced collaboration in tourism and foreign direct investment, encouraging Indian entrepreneurs and businesses to invest in export-oriented ventures that generate employment and boost Sri Lanka's productive capacity. Notably, India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbor and the relationship between two countriesis more than 2,500 years old, sharing a strong civilizational and historical connect. Sri Lanka has a central place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision. - ANI Former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi publicly thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his support of the Iranian people, stating it gives hope to those protesting the regime. Pahlavi declared he has a plan for a stable transition and seeks to rebuild the peaceful relationship Iran once had with America. This comes as Trump warned the U.S. is "locked and loaded" to respond if Iranian authorities violently suppress the widespread economic protests. In response, senior Iranian officials sharply condemned the statements as interference, warning that any intervention would be met with a "regrettable response." Iran's Reza Pahlavi thanks Trump for backing protesters, seeks restored US ties as regime warns against foreign intervention. Latest updates. Tehran, January 3 Iran's former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi thanked US President Donald Trump for his support of the Iranian people, saying his message had given hope to those protesting against the country's leadership. He said Iranians are seeking an end to what he called "decades of repression" and are looking to rebuild ties with the United States for peace and stability in the region. In a post on X, Pahlavi said, "President Trump, thank you for your strong leadership and support of my compatriots. This warning you have issued to the criminal leaders of the Islamic Republic gives my people greater strength and hope--hope that, at last, a President of the United States is standing firmly by their side. As they risk their lives to end this regime's 46-year reign of chaos and terror, they send me with a responsibility and a message: to seek the relationship Iran once had with America that brought peace and prosperity to the Middle East." "I have the plan for stable transition for Iran and the support of my people to get it done. With your leadership of the free world, we can leave a legacy of lasting peace," he added. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that the United States is "locked and loaded" to respond if Iranian authorities use violence against peaceful protesters, as demonstrations over worsening economic conditions spread across multiple provinces in Iran. In a Truth Social Post, Trump wrote, "If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" This comes as people in Iran continue to protest against rising prices and economic hardship pouring into the streets across several provinces in Iran, with some protests escalating into fatal confrontations with security forces, CNN reported. Protesters reportedly clashed with police, hurled stones at officers and torched vehicles, according to Fars News Agency. The outlet alleged that some armed "disturbers" exploited the gatherings. Without offering proof, Fars claimed authorities later seized firearms from several individuals. Meanwhile, Iranian officials sharply rebuked US President Donald Trump and the Israeli Foreign Ministry for their statements regarding the ongoing protests in the country, warning that any foreign intervention in its internal affairs would be met with a "regrettable response". They further asserted that the country's national security is a "red line" not subject to "adventurous tweets". Ali Shamkhani, Political Advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and representative of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the Defence Council, in a post on X, said that Iran's national security was a red line and not open to external interference. He further slammed the US President over his "rescue" call, noting that Iranian citizens were "well familiar" with Americans coming for rescue, citing previous US military actions in Iran and Afghanistan. The people of Iran are well familiar with the experience of "rescuing" Americans, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza. Every hand of intervention that approaches Iranian Security with excuses will be cut off with a regrettable Response before it arrives. Iran's national security is a red line, not the subject of adventurous tweets, Shamkhani said. - ANI Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for hosting him and his wife at a New Year's Eve party in Florida. Netanyahu expressed hope for a stronger bilateral alliance in a social media post following the event. During the gala, Trump spoke about U.S. strength and auctioned a painting for charity, which sold for $2.75 million. Separately, Trump announced the withdrawal of the National Guard from several cities, citing reduced crime but leaving open the possibility of a future return. Israeli PM Netanyahu thanked President Trump for a New Year's Eve invitation, expressing hope for a stronger US-Israel alliance during the Florida event. Florida, January 2 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday thanked US President Donald Trump for hosting him on the New Year. Netanyahu wished for the alliance between the nations to grow stronger. In a post on X, Netanyahu said, "Grateful to US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for inviting us to a memorable New Year's evening. May our alliance grow even stronger." Trump held a New Year's bash at his Florida resort on Thursday, and when he was quizzed about his wish for the New Year, he said he wanted peace on Earth, reported Fox News. The gala was attended by, among other guests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. In his address to the gala, the US President praised his government and claimed that the US was back and strong. "We're taking in hundreds of millions of dollars in tariffs," the President said. "We're doing great as a country. We're back. We're strong. I didn't think it could happen this fast. It's happening faster than anybody thought possible." Trump then acted as the auctioneer for a painting of Jesus Christ's face by artist Vanessa Horabuena. Trump said proceeds would go to St. Jude Children's Hospital and a sheriff's department. The painting sold for USD 2.75 million. Earlier, in what will come as good news in the New Year, Trump announced that the National Guard will be withdrawn from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, claiming that their presence had helped reduce crime in these cities. He also suggested that federal forces could return in the future if crime rises again. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact. Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren't for the Federal Government stepping in. We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time." - ANI The Sachs family from Sydney was officially welcomed as Israel's first immigrants of 2026, with their son having already moved and enlisted in the IDF. Their arrival highlights a broader trend where immigration from Western nations like the US, UK, and France is increasing. This shift comes as immigration from Russia and Ukraine has sharply declined, a change officials link to rising antisemitism in the West. Israel's population now exceeds 10.1 million, with nearly 22,000 people having moved there in 2025. The Sachs family from Sydney became Israel's first 2026 immigrants as data shows a major shift, with Western immigration rising while numbers from Eastern Europe fall. Tel Aviv, January 2 The Sachs family from Sydney, Australia -- father Trevor, mother Dalit, and daughter Ashira -- became Israel's first immigrants in 2026 after arriving at Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday as trends point to rising Jewish immigration from Western countries. On landing, the three were greeted by Minister of Immigration and Absorption Ofir Sofer, received Israeli ID cards, and officially began their new life in the country. The family's son, Levi Sachs, had already immigrated ahead of them and enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces. "The Sachs family's choice to immigrate to Israel, especially when their son is serving in the IDF, is gratifying and encouraging. We are working for the aliyah [immigration] of Australian Jews to Israel and have already taken and will continue to take significant steps to that end," Sofer said. The arrival of the Sachs family adds to the nearly 22,000 immigrants who moved to Israel in 2025. According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), approximately 21,900 people moved to Israel last year, representing only about one-third of the previous year's total. Signaling a shift in the global pattern of Jewish migration, Russian and Ukrainian immigration fell by half, while arrivals from the United States, United Kingdom, and France increased. Overall, North American aliyah rose by 13 percent, and French immigration jumped 45 per cent, the CBS reported. The change is generally attributed to rising Western antisemitism. "The changing composition of new immigrants shows how Israel continues to attract Jews from around the world," a ministry spokesperson said. As of December 31, 2025, Israel's population stood at 10,178,000. - ANI KATHMANDU, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nepal welcomed over 1.15 million foreign tourists in 2025, a rise of one percent compared to 2024, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said on Thursday. A total of 1,158,459 tourists visited Nepal, representing a 97 percent recovery compared to the pre-COVID pandemic level of 2019, according to the NTB. While the Himalayan country witnessed steady growth in tourist arrivals throughout the year, political unrest in early September impacted visitor numbers, the NTB data show. In September, foreign tourist arrivals declined by 18.3 percent, but the sector recovered over the following three months compared to the same period of the previous year. India remained the largest source market, accounting for 25.2 percent of total foreign tourist arrivals, with 292,438 visitors. It was followed by the United States with 112,316 visitors. China ranked third, with 95,480 Chinese tourists visiting Nepal. The United Kingdom stood fourth with 58,684 visitors, followed by Bangladesh in fifth place with 57,545 visitors. The Indian Army's RR10 Regiment organized a blood donation camp in Doda district on New Year's Eve, with personnel volunteering to support patients and demonstrate commitment to public welfare. Local medical authorities praised the Army's consistent role in community service, encouraging civil society to participate. Concurrently, security forces are conducting rigorous search operations in Doda's frozen, rugged terrain to neutralize terrorist threats amid severe winter conditions. Despite extreme hardships like heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, troops remain resolutely deployed to ensure regional peace and security. Indian Army jawans organized a blood donation camp in Doda, J&K, to start 2026 with service, while troops conduct harsh winter operations against terrorists. Doda, January 2 Indian Army jawans donated blood on New Year's Eve at a camp organised by the RR10 Regiment in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. The initiative aimed to support patients in need of blood and reinforce the Army's commitment to public welfare. A large number of Army personnel volunteered at the camp, marking the beginning of the New Year with a humanitarian gesture. Speaking to ANI on Friday on the occasion, Lt Col Spray Chinakhan said the camp was organised to help people and serve society. "With the help of this blood donation camp, we wanted to help people. As we always believe in putting the nation first, we began the New Year by organising this blood donation camp here," he said. Block Medical Officer, Dr Abdul Gafoor, said, "The Indian Army remains at the forefront, whether on the border, in blood donation camps, or in other services. We also expect civil society to come forward and donate blood to help save more lives." The blood donation drive was appreciated by local authorities and residents, who praised the Indian Army's continued community service alongside its operational responsibilities. Meanwhile, to ensure a peaceful start to 2026, troops are navigating frozen forests and hidden mountain caves in Doda to root out potential threats. In the dense forests, natural caves, and rugged mountainous terrain of the Doda Bhalesa belt, which borders Himachal Pradesh, security forces are conducting continuous search operations amid sub-zero temperatures and severe weather conditions. Despite extreme hardship, heavy snowfall, and rugged terrain, the forces remain fully committed to confronting every terrorist threat and restoring lasting peace in the region. Their resolve to neutralise all dangers stands as a symbol of courage and sacrifice. Undeterred by freezing temperatures, treacherous terrain, and heavy snowfall, Army units have expanded their operational reach into higher and snowbound areas to pursue and neutralise Pakistani terrorists attempting to exploit the harsh season for concealment. - ANI The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has urgently appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene for the safety of approximately 2000 Kashmiri students in Iran amid escalating violent protests. Students report feeling stranded and unsafe due to internet shutdowns and restricted mobility, with families in India experiencing severe distress. The association demands immediate establishment of 24/7 communication channels with the Indian embassy and a prepared evacuation plan. They emphasize that India's swift action is crucial to safeguarding citizens and fulfilling its national responsibility. JKSA urges PM Modi to ensure safety of 2000 Kashmiri students in Iran amid violent protests. Calls for evacuation plan and emergency helplines. Srinagar, January 2 The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Friday written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his urgent and immediate intervention to ensure the safety, security, dignity, and welfare of Indian students, particularly from the Kashmir Valley, currently studying in the Islamic Republic of Iran amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation. The situation in Iran was marked by widespread unrest, mass protests, violent crackdowns, and reported killings across several regions of the country. In the letter addressed to the Prime Minister, JKSA expressed deep anxiety and grave concern over the plight of hundreds and thousands of Indian students, a majority of them from Jammu and Kashmir, who are pursuing MBBS and other professional medical courses in Iran due to its economically viable education system and long-standing academic ties with India. National Convenor of JKSA, Nasir Khuehami, stated that nearly 2,000 Kashmiri students are presently enrolled in medical universities across different provinces of Iran. He said these students are heavily dependent on local hostels, universities, public transport, and essential services, making them extremely vulnerable during periods of internal conflict, political upheaval, and civil unrest. Khuehami said that the prevailing situation has created an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty, and helplessness, with students feeling unsafe, exposed, and stranded. "JKSA has been receiving continuous distress calls and messages from students and their families, who have expressed serious concerns over restricted mobility, sporadic internet shutdowns, lack of timely and clear safety advisories and the absence of visible contingency measures on the ground," he said. The Association noted that the lack of real-time information and communication has further intensified anxiety among parents and families in India, who remain thousands of kilometres away and are unable to assess the ground situation, leading to immense psychological distress. Seeking immediate remedial measures, Khuehami urged the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to establish dedicated, responsive, and round-the-clock communication channels between Indian students in Iran and the Indian Embassy in Tehran. The Association specifically requested regular outreach by embassy officials, activation of dedicated emergency helplines, issuance of clear, timely advisories, and uninterrupted communication channels to ensure students remain informed, reassured, and supported at all times. Highlighting the seriousness and unpredictability of the situation, JKSA also called for immediate preparation of a comprehensive evacuation plan. "Should the security situation further deteriorate or critical infrastructure come under sustained threat, timely evacuation could prove lifesaving. The Government of India must remain fully prepared to act swiftly and decisively to bring Indian students home safely, if circumstances so require," Khuehami said. The Association emphasised that the safety, dignity, and well-being of Kashmiri students studying abroad are a collective national responsibility and must remain paramount. JKSA said that prompt and decisive action by the Government would not only safeguard lives but also reassure students and their families and reaffirm India's moral and constitutional obligation towards its citizens abroad. Reposing faith in the Prime Minister's leadership, the Association said that India has consistently stood by its citizens worldwide during times of crisis and expressed confidence that the same resolve, sensitivity, and responsiveness would guide the government's actions in the present situation as well. Association added that it remains in close and constant contact with students and their families, is closely monitoring developments, and will remain available for any coordination, assistance, or information sharing required by the Government and relevant authorities. People demonstrating against worsening economic conditions in Iran poured into the streets across multiple provinces over the last 24 hours, with some protests escalating into fatal confrontations with security forces, reported CNN. - ANI Union Health Minister JP Nadda led a high-level review with the health ministers of Rajasthan and Maharashtra to accelerate national health programs. He emphasized the critical need for robust drug regulatory oversight from manufacturing to distribution to ensure medicine quality and safety. The meeting focused on expanding the Jan Aushadhi and AMRIT pharmacy networks for affordable drugs and advancing mission-mode strategies to eliminate tuberculosis. Nadda also stressed the importance of professional hospital management, quality diagnostics, and public-private partnerships to improve health outcomes. Union Health Minister JP Nadda held a review meeting with Rajasthan & Maharashtra to strengthen regulations, TB elimination, and drug access. New Delhi, January 2 Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, today held a comprehensive review meeting with the Health Ministers and senior officials of Rajasthan and Maharashtra to evaluate healthcare delivery mechanisms and fast-track the implementation of priority national health initiatives, a release said. The discussions centred on reinforcing public health infrastructure, improving patient-centric services, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and advancing India's commitment to eliminating tuberculosis as a public health challenge. During the review, Nadda emphasised the critical role of a strong, vigilant drug regulatory system, stressing that end-to-end oversight from manufacturing to last-mile distribution is indispensable to ensure quality, safety, and public confidence. He called for the adoption of best regulatory practices and emphasised that patient satisfaction, compliance, and regulatory supervision must be pursued as a sustained and continuous endeavour. Reviewing the progress of the Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Initiatives, the Union Health Minister urged both States to address supply-chain inefficiencies and close monitoring gaps. The Union Health Minister emphasised the need to establish more Jan Aushadhi Kendras and AMRIT Pharmacy stores in these States. He stated that strengthening this network would play a crucial role in further expanding access to quality, affordable medicines for the people of these States. During the meeting, the State of Rajasthan emphasised that Ayushman Arogya Mandirs should be established on a population-based basis, particularly to address scattered habitation patterns and ensure effective primary healthcare coverage, the release said. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare release, Nadda highlighted that timely and quality diagnostics are foundational to effective healthcare delivery and must be robustly integrated across all levels of care, primary, secondary, and tertiary. He noted that while clinical services depend heavily on doctors, hospital administration and regulatory compliance require professional management structures. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening regulatory oversight of blood banks, hospital operations, and patient safety standards. Reaffirming the national resolve to eliminate tuberculosis, Nadda stressed the need for district and block-specific strategies, with intensified screening, diagnostics, treatment adherence, and nutritional support. He emphasised that TB elimination efforts must be driven in mission mode with close and regular monitoring at the grassroots level. Union Health Minister also proposed conducting sensitisation workshops for Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), encouraging them to actively engage with Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and Block Medical Officers (BMOs) through structured review mechanisms. He reiterated that Jan Bhagidari, or people's participation, is crucial for strengthening accountability, improving health outcomes, and building trust in public health systems. The Health Ministers of Rajasthan and Maharashtra assured the Union Health Minister of their full cooperation and commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to strengthen implementation and improve outcomes across all priority health programmes. JP Nadda underscored the importance of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and Viability Gap Funding (VGF) in accelerating TB elimination and strengthening health system interventions. He also reiterated the Centre's continued support to both States through National Health Mission interventions, public-private partnership models, expansion of medical education capacity, viability gap funding, and infrastructure development support. He emphasised that the Union Government remains committed to providing technical assistance, capacity building, and handholding support to address state-specific public health priorities. Nadda stated that similar consultative engagements with Health Ministers of other States would be undertaken in the coming days as part of a mission-mode approach to health sector reforms. The Union Health Minister earlier met State Health Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana in the last fortnight. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to enhance drug regulation, strengthen diagnostic services, professionalise hospital administration, expand medical education, and accelerate progress towards a TB-free India, reflecting the spirit of cooperative federalism in strengthening the country's public health architecture. - ANI Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced a judicial inquiry commission to identify and honour the martyrs of the 1948 Kharsawan firing, often compared to Jallianwala Bagh. The massacre occurred when tribal protesters gathered to oppose merging princely states with Orissa and demand a separate state. The exact death toll remains unknown, and the official investigation report has never been made public. The annual Martyrs' Day observance in Kharsawan continues to memorialize one of the most brutal repressions in India's tribal movement history. 77 years after the Kharsawan firing, Jharkhand CM announces a judicial commission to identify and honour tribal martyrs of the 1948 massacre. Ranchi, Jan 1 While January 1 is celebrated across the world as the beginning of a new year, the day remains a symbol of grief and sacrifice for Jharkhand's Kharsawan. Seventy-seven years ago, on January 1, 1948 -- a few months after India attained independence -- the soil of Kharsawan was soaked in blood during a brutal firing on tribal protesters, an incident often compared to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. On that fateful day, thousands of tribals had gathered to oppose the proposal to merge the princely states of Kharsawan and Seraikela with the then Orissa. The protest was triggered by the demand for a separate state, and was met with indiscriminate police firing, leaving scores dead. As every year, large numbers of people assembled at the Martyrs' Memorial in Kharsawan on Thursday to pay homage to those who laid down their lives. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, Minister Deepak Birua, Singhbhum MP Joba Majhi, Chakradharpur MLA Sukhram Oraon, Kharsawan MLA Dashrath Gagrai, and Ichagarh MLA Sabita Mahato were among the leaders who visited the memorial on Thursday morning and paid floral tributes. The Chief Minister announced the formation of a judicial panel to identify and honour those martyred during the massacre. After paying tribute, Soren said: "Today is Martyrs' Day as well as the first day of the year. For the world, it is New Year's Day -- a day of celebration. But for the tribals, indigenous people, farmers, and labourers of Jharkhand, January 1 is Martyrs' Day. Jharkhand is steeped in the history of sacrifice; perhaps no other state has witnessed so many martyrs." "A draft has been prepared for this purpose. A judicial inquiry commission will be constituted, with retired judges as its members. The martyrs of this firing will be honoured before the next Martyrs' Day," he said. The firing was linked to the reorganisation of princely states following Independence. A proposal to merge Kharsawan and Seraikela with Orissa had triggered strong opposition from the local tribal population, who instead demanded a separate state. To press their demand, a massive public meeting was organised at the Kharsawan Haat ground on January 1, 1948, under the leadership of renowned tribal leader Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda. Tribal activists from Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Chaibasa, Simdega, Khunti, Tamar, and other areas had gathered in Kharsawan to participate in the meeting. However, Jaipal Singh Munda could not reach the venue for some reason. Subsequently, the gathering decided to proceed towards the Kharsawan royal palace to convey their demands to the king. Anticipating unrest, the Orissa government had deployed a heavy police force. As the crowd moved towards the palace, police issued warnings to stop. When these warnings went unheeded, the police opened fire indiscriminately on the unarmed protesters. The Kharsawan firing is remembered as one of the most brutal episodes of repression in the history of India's tribal movements. In a speech delivered on January 11, 1948, Jaipal Singh Munda recounted that bodies were strewn across the Kharsawan market area, while the wounded cried out for help and water. He alleged that the administration sealed off the area, preventing entry or exit, and that by evening, bodies were loaded onto trucks and disposed of in forests and rivers. Even after more than seven decades, the exact number of those killed in the firing remains unknown. The report of the tribunal constituted to investigate the massacre has also not been made public to date. - IANS Chief Minister Mohan Yadav participated in the state-co-sponsored Ramayana Fair in Jabalpur, highlighting the epic's worldwide reverence in countries like Cambodia and Indonesia. He emphasized the extraordinary righteousness embodied in Lord Ram's life. Simultaneously, the CM took stringent action regarding the Indore contaminated drinking water incident, ordering show-cause notices and immediate transfers of municipal officials. Corrective measures are also being extended to other parts of the state to prevent similar crises. Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav participates in Ramayana Fair in Jabalpur, emphasizing its global reverence, and takes action on Indore's water contamination. Jabalpur, January 2 Chief Minister Mohan Yadav underscored the life of Lord Ram at the Ramayana fair, co-sponsored by the state government in Jabalpur on Friday. Speaking with ANI, Yadav said, "I participated in the Ramayana fair in Jabalpur today. The Madhya Pradesh government is a co-sponsor of this event. This event is held every three years, and people from across the country and the world are invited." Speaking on the occasion, he shed light on the significance of Ramayana, "a scripture worshipped worldwide." "Ramayana is a divine scripture. It is worshipped and understood in several countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, and Japan. They worship Lord Ram as an idol and actively seek learnings from his divine life," Yadav stated. He added that the life of Lord Ram reflects exceptional righteousness. "...The life that Lord Ram lived, within the bounds of righteousness, is extraordinary," the CM said. Earlier in the day, CM Mohan Yadav reviewed the steps being taken by the state government officials regarding the contaminated drinking water incident in Indore and issued necessary directions. He instructed to serve show-cause notices to the Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Additional Commissioner. Additionally, he directed to transfer of the Additional Commissioner from Indore with immediate effect, and to withdraw the charge of the water distribution works from the In-charge Superintending Engineer "This morning, I reviewed the actions being taken by the state government in the Indore contaminated drinking water case with the Chief Secretary and other officials and issued necessary directives. We also discussed the report submitted by the Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Administration and Development)," CM said in a post on X. He further added, "I instructed that show-cause notices be issued to the Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Additional Commissioner in this regard. The Additional Commissioner be immediately transferred from Indore, and the in-charge Superintending Engineer be relieved of his duties in the water distribution department. I also directed that the necessary vacant posts in the Indore Municipal Corporation be filled immediately." The Chief Minister also emphasised that following the Indore contaminated drinking water incident, corrective measures were being taken for other parts of the state as well, stressing instructions were given to the concerned officials for the purpose. - ANI The Tamil classic *Ratha Kanneer*, starring the legendary MR Radha, has been added to the collection of the National Film Archive of India. A rare 35mm print was donated from a private collection, as no original negatives were known to exist. The 1954 film was groundbreaking for its time, tackling social issues like caste discrimination, the stigma of leprosy, and widow remarriage. This acquisition ensures the long-term preservation and future restoration of this culturally significant film. The 1954 Tamil film 'Ratha Kanneer,' starring MR Radha, is now preserved in the NFAI, safeguarding its legacy of tackling caste, leprosy, and widow remarriage. Mumbai, January 2 Tamil film Ratha Kanneer was added to the collection of the National Film Archive of India on Friday. The film was directed by the Krishnan-Panju duo and written by Thiruvarur Thangarasu. Aparna Subramanian, Film Research Officer at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), on Friday, donated a copy of film material, including 8 jumbo reels in 35mm format from her personal collection, to Prakash Magdum, the Managing Director of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), in Pune, according to the Press Release by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The film, featuring MR Radha in the lead role, was pathbreaking for its time and presented perspectives on issues such as caste discrimination, blind faith, and ritualistic practices. It also addressed social stigma around leprosy, depicting the protagonist's transformation from a wealthy, westernised philanderer to a leprosy patient abandoned by society. As for MR Radha, the actor was a theatre legend who brought immense versatility to the role. His performance in the first half, as the sarcastic, westernised rich man, is both funny and chilling, while his transformation into a leper in the second half is described as meticulous and complete. His bent posture, unsynchronised body movements, and distinctive dialogue delivery became legendary, according to the press release by MIB. This film promoted a revolutionary perspective on widow remarriage. In the film's climax, the hero, before his death, asks his wife if she would like to remarry his friend. Many cinemagoers and critics consider Madras Rajagopalan Radhakrishnan's (MR Radha) performance in Ratha Kanneer as one of the greatest in the actor's career. NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum said that despite its immense cultural and historical significance, no film archive in India or internationally possesses a print or original negative of this historic 1954 film. The only versions available today are low-resolution copies circulating on online platforms. Therefore, acquiring this film is crucial for its long-term preservation and accessibility to the public. He appealed to film enthusiasts to come forward and donate films and other memorabilia for preservation at the NFAI, as per the press release by MIB. Aparna Subramanian expressed her delight at donating a print of the film to the NFAI. She said that it truly belongs at the NFAI for preservation, archiving, and future restoration. She explained that she acquired the film from her old circle of film collectors and distributors in South India. - ANI The Union Home Ministry has ordered a significant reshuffle of senior IPS officers from the AGMUT cadre. Mukesh Singh, a 1996-batch officer, has been posted as the new Director General of Police for Ladakh, repatriated from central deputation. He replaces S.D. Singh Jamwal, a 1995-batch officer with expertise in disaster management and bio-terrorism, who has been appointed as DGP of Arunachal Pradesh. Anand Mohan, the former DGP of Arunachal Pradesh, has been transferred to Delhi in this administrative reorganisation. IPS officers Mukesh Singh and S.D. Singh Jamwal have been appointed as DGPs of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, respectively, in a major police reshuffle. Srinagar, Jan 2 Mukesh Singh was on Friday posted as the new DGP of Ladakh, replacing S.D.Singh Jamwal who has been posted as DGP Arunachal Pradesh. An order issued by the Union Home Ministry said, "With the approval of the competent authority, posting of the following IPS officers of AGMUT cadre is ordered with immediate effect and until further orders". Mukesh Singh IPS (AGMUT: 1996) on repatriation from central deputation is posted as DGP Ladakh. S.D. Singh Jamwal IPS (AGMUT:1995), DGP Ladakh, has been posted as DGP Arunachal Pradesh, replacing Anand Mohan (AGMUT:1994), who has been moved to Delhi. Mukesh Singh IPS was born on January 24, 1971, in Bokaro Steel City of Bihar, now in Jharkhand. He is an officer of the erstwhile J&K cadre who has served as IGP (Jammu Zone). He is a B.Tech in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Delhi). He joined the Indian Police Service in 1996 and has headed several sensitive assignments as district superintendent of police at Reasi, Pulwama, Poonch and Jammu during the peak of terror activities. S.D. Singh Jamwal has a PhD in bio-terrorism. He was born on May 3, 1969, in Purani Mandi locality of J&K's Jammu city. He is a senior Indian Police Service officer known for expertise in disaster management (CBRN), particularly biological defence, and for leading initiatives like modernising police stations and promoting community engagement. Appointed to the Ladakh Police Chief role in mid-2023, he has received awards for his disaster response contributions and focuses on training police for complex emergencies, while also overseeing local policing and infrastructure development in Ladakh. Anand Mohan IPS (AGMUT:1994) is known as an inspiring police officer committed to maintaining law and order with commitment and vision. - IANS The National Textiles Ministers' Conference will be held in Guwahati on January 8-9, jointly organized by the Ministry of Textiles and the Assam Government. The conference aims to develop a coordinated strategy to position India as a global textiles hub, targeting a $350 billion industry and $100 billion in exports by 2030. Key sessions will cover infrastructure, exports, technical textiles, and revitalizing traditional crafts, with a special conclave dedicated to unlocking the North-Eastern region's textile potential. The inaugural session will be attended by Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Minister of State Pabitra Margherita. Union & state ministers meet in Guwahati to strategize for a $350B textile industry & $100B exports by 2030, focusing on heritage & innovation. Guwahati, January 4 The National Textiles Ministers' Conference is scheduled to be held in Guwahati on January 8 and 9, with the theme "India's Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation", according to the Ministry of Textiles. Organised jointly by the Ministry of Textiles and the Assam Government, the two-day conference aims to bring together Union and State Ministers of Textiles, senior officials from Union and State Governments, and other stakeholders to deliberate on a coordinated national strategy to position India as a global textiles manufacturing hub. The deliberations align with the national vision of developing a USD 350 billion textile industry and achieving USD 100 billion in textile exports by 2030. The Inaugural Session on January 8 will be attended by the Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita, and other dignitaries. The two-day conference will have sessions focusing on Infrastructure & Investment, Expanding Exports, Competitiveness, Raw Materials & Fibres, New Frontiers, including technical textiles, research & development, and Revitalising Traditional Textiles, with emphasis on handloom and handicrafts for modern markets. Ministers and officials from States and Union Territories across the nation are expected to participate and share best practices, challenges and policy suggestions aimed at strengthening the textile value chain across regions and districts. A conclave on "Strengthening and Empowering the Textiles Sector of the North-Eastern Region of India" will also be held on January 8, with the participation of the Union Minister of Textiles, the Minister of State for Textiles, State Ministers from all North-Eastern States, Members of Parliament, and senior officials. The conclave will focus on silk, handloom and bamboo-based textiles, promotion of women-led enterprises, and branding "Textiles from North-East", aimed at unlocking the region's unique textile strengths and integrating them with national and global value chains. A special exhibition of Indian handlooms and handicrafts from across the nation is also being organised by the office of DC Handlooms and DC Handicrafts. - ANI Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made an unannounced visit to the Janata Dal (United) state office in Patna, generating excitement among party leaders and workers. He reviewed organizational activities, held informal discussions, and personally exchanged New Year greetings with attendees. The visit, which included senior leaders like Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Umesh Kushwaha, helped dispel recent rumors about his health. Nitish Kumar's active engagement follows the NDA's strong performance in the Bihar Assembly elections, where JD(U) alone won 85 seats. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar made an unexpected visit to the JD-U state office, interacting with workers, reviewing activities, and dispelling health speculations. Patna, Jan 2 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made an unexpected visit to the Janata Dal state office in Patna on Friday, creating a buzz among party leaders and workers. His sudden arrival generated excitement across the party headquarters. Upon reaching the JD(U) office, the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar went straight to his chamber, where he reviewed organisational activities and held informal discussions. He later interacted with party workers present at the office, inquiring about their well-being and exchanging New Year greetings. Senior leader and Bihar government minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit. Nitish Kumar also inspected the party office and held conversations with key organisational leaders. The Chief Minister's energetic presence has once again put to rest recent speculation regarding his health. During the recent Bihar Assembly elections, Nitish Kumar had campaigned extensively, addressing rallies and public meetings across the state. The NDA, under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, performed strongly in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly election and secured 202 seats. JD (U) alone won 85 seats in Bihar, the strongest performance after the 2010 assembly election. Besides JD (U), BJP won 89 seats, Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas 19 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) 5 seats and Rashtriya Lok Morcha 4 seats. Even after the formation of the new government, he continues to remain actively involved in both governance and party affairs. He regularly visits one place to review projects every day in Patna or any other district of Bihar. Nitish Kumar's surprise visit infused fresh enthusiasm and confidence among party workers. On the occasion of the New Year, he personally greeted workers, accepted their wishes, and interacted warmly with them, sending a strong message of organisational unity and leadership engagement. - IANS Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi led tributes to former Chief Minister Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab on his death anniversary at the state assembly. In a separate event, he inaugurated a modern Counter Terrorism Training Centre and a new SOG facility capable of training 400 personnel. The CM also launched 86 development projects worth Rs 545 crore for Koraput district, spanning irrigation, health, and infrastructure. He emphasized a stern stance against violence while urging Maoists to surrender and join the mainstream. Odisha CM Mohan Majhi paid homage to former CM Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab, inaugurated a new SOG training centre, and launched development projects worth Rs 545 crore. Bhubaneswar, January 2 Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday paid floral tributes to legendary leader, eminent freedom fighter, and former Chief Minister Dr Harekrushna Mahtab on the 39th anniversary of his death at the Odisha Legislative Assembly premises. The homage was paid in the presence of Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Congress leader Rama Chandra Kadam, and several other members of the State Legislature were also present and offered their tributes, recalling Dr Mahtab's invaluable contribution to Odisha and the nation. Later, Chief Minister Majhi also released the New Year 2026 calendar at the Assembly premises. Earlier, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday inaugurated a new Training and Briefing Centre for the Special Operations Group (SOG) at Chandaka that can train 400 jawans at a time. Additionally, the Chief Minister inaugurated a modern Counter Terrorism Training Centre there. According to an official release, CM Majhi also inaugurated 16 police stations, 70 quarters, office buildings, barracks, armoury, administrative buildings, etc., projects in 16 districts. Stating that violence has no place in a democracy and that the government is committed to cracking down on organisations and individuals involved in violence with utmost severity, the Chief Minister called on the Maoists to surrender, join the mainstream of society, and become the charioteers of development. Earlier, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched 86 development projects worth Rs 545 crore for the Koraput district. In this, 16 projects worth Rs. 24 crore were inaugurated, and the foundation stones of 70 projects worth Rs. 521 crore were laid. These projects included irrigation, health centres, small industries, urban hostels, bridges, roads, Mission Shakti Bhawan, Forest Protection Committee Building, additional classrooms, etc. The Chief Minister said that all these projects would help lead the development of Koraput. - ANI NANJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Pan Qiaoying, a survivor of the Nanjing Massacre, passed away on Thursday at the age of 95, announced the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders on Friday. With her death, the number of living registered survivors of the atrocity has dropped to 23, said the memorial hall in Nanjing, the capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province. The Nanjing Massacre refers to a period of history that started when Japanese troops captured the then-Chinese capital on Dec. 13, 1937. In the space of six weeks, the Japanese invaders killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II. Pan was only six years old in 1937 when Japanese forces entered Nanjing. Hiding inside a kitchen stove, she witnessed Japanese soldiers stab her grandfather, father and cousin to death with bayonets. Multiple registered survivors have passed away in recent years, and thus, the number of those able to share firsthand accounts of the massacre continues to decline. In 2014, China's top legislature designated Dec. 13 as the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre. The Chinese government has also preserved survivors' testimonies, recorded in both written and video transcripts. These documents relating to the massacre were inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2015. The PRAGATI platform has successfully addressed over 3300 projects valued at more than Rs 85 lakh crore, covering 61 government schemes across 36 sectors. Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan highlighted its role in accelerating major welfare programs like One Nation-One Ration Card and Swachh Bharat Mission, though land acquisition remains the most significant challenge. The platform, under direct Prime Ministerial review, has achieved a 71% resolution rate, with one issue resolved every working day on average. This improved coordination has contributed to a 3.6-fold increase in public capital expenditure, rising from Rs 4.26 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs 15.53 lakh crore in the 2025-26 budget estimate. Cabinet Secretary reveals PRAGATI platform resolved 3300+ projects worth Rs 85 lakh crore, accelerating key schemes and infrastructure with PM's direct monitoring. New Delhi, January 2 The PRAGATI Platform has accelerated implementation of projects and major welfare programmes solving over 3300 projects worth over Rs 85 lakh crore covering 61 government schemes resolving grievances across 36 sectors, said TV Somanathan on Friday. These schemes included One Nation-One Ration Card, PM Jan Aarogya Yojna, PM AWAS Yojna, PM SWANIDHI Yojna, Swachh Bharat Mission among others. Issues such as related to Corona, RERA, Banking & Insurance, Matru Vandana, Jan Dhan Yojana were covered, the Secretary said. While addressing the media, Somanathan on the Land Acquisition law said, "Land acquisition is the biggest problem in the Pragati review." However he denied any proposed changes in the existing law saying, "Fundamentaly I don't think any need for change there." He also told that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (RERA) 9 months back. "There we have seen dramatic improvement." PRAGATI has emerged as a key governance platform for accelerating infrastructure development and resolving long-pending administrative bottlenecks through direct monitoring by the Prime Minister. Under PRAGATI projects reviewed by the PM, a total of 382 projects covering 637 packages/sections were taken up across 50 PRAGATI review meetings. These projects recorded 3187 issues, of which 2958 were resolved, reflecting an overall resolution rate of 71 per cent. On average, one issue was resolved every working day, highlighting the effectiveness of the mechanism, as per the data shared by the Cabinet Secretary at the press conference. PRAGATI has also contributed to a sharp increase in public capital expenditure through improved coordination and faster decision-making. Capital outlay rose from Rs 4.26 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs 15.53 lakh crore in 2025-26 (Budget Estimate), representing a 3.6-fold increase, it said. The year-wise trend shows a steady rise in both issues raised and issues resolved. In 2015, 256 issues were raised and 125 resolved, which increased to 3187 issues raised and 2958 resolved by 2025. The majority of resolved issues related to land acquisition (42 per cent), followed by forest, wildlife and environmental clearances, right of way, construction approvals, power and utility matters, law and order, financial issues and other administrative concerns. - ANI Karachi recorded a significant 31.7% decline in road fatalities in the latter half of 2025, credited to data-driven enforcement like the e-challan system and a dedicated accident analysis team. Authorities have implemented stricter regulations for commercial vehicles, including mandatory tracking systems, contributing to a reduction in daily deaths. However, urban planners warn that these enforcement gains are fragile without addressing systemic issues like inadequate public transport, dangerous road design, and rapid urban sprawl. True road safety requires coordinated planning reforms alongside enforcement to tackle the city's deep-rooted mobility crisis. Karachi saw a 31.7% drop in road deaths in 2025 due to e-challans and data analysis, but experts warn deeper mobility crises threaten fragile progress. Karachi, January 2 For most Karachi residents, tragedies in road accidents are part of daily life, this underscores a broader crisis: reckless driving, poor road infrastructure, and weak law enforcement continue to define the city's traffic reality. In 2025, Karachi recorded 803 road fatalities. Yet, official data shows a 31.7% decline in deaths in the second half of the year, with fatalities dropping from 477 in the first six months to 326 in the latter half. Injuries also decreased, from 886 to 642 over the same period, reported Dawn. Authorities credit this improvement to data-driven enforcement, the e-challan system, and the creation of the Karachi Road Accident Analysis Team, which identifies accident-prone areas and recommends preventive measures. Stricter regulations for commercial vehicles, including mandatory tracking systems, have also been implemented. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Peer Muhammad Shah told Dawn that the introduction of digital enforcement has reduced daily fatalities from three to two per day. Four new fitness centers are being set up to ensure dumpers and heavy vehicles comply with safety standards. Despite these gains, experts warn that enforcement alone cannot solve Karachi's deeper mobility issues. Rapid population growth, sprawling settlements, and inadequate public transport have intensified traffic pressure. Roads like University Road face bottlenecks due to BRT construction, while poor street design, that is missing footpaths, faded road markings, and inadequate lighting, continues to endanger pedestrians and motorcyclists. Urban planner Noman Ahmed told Dawn that only systemic changes, such as expanded public transport, safer road designs, and coordinated urban planning, can create lasting improvements. He advocates for large buses connecting neighborhoods and feeder services to BRT lines, along with safer pedestrian infrastructure and a unified transport fare system. Transporters, however, feel enforcement campaigns unfairly target them. Liaquat Mehsud, president of the All Dumper Truck Owners Association, says, "If a dumper causes an accident, investigate and penalize the offender. But holding all operators collectively responsible is unjust." Karachi's recent drop in road fatalities shows that enforcement matters, but without broader planning reforms, these gains may remain fragile. True road safety, experts say, requires addressing both human behavior and the city's structural deficiencies. - ANI A polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan's merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa failed to reach over 935,000 children under five, with officials blaming security challenges and population displacement. The region reported 19 polio cases in 2025, highlighting the acute risk in areas like North Waziristan. Operational support and funding cuts for WHO and UNICEF programs further hampered efforts, leaving displaced children particularly vulnerable. Despite a successful nationwide campaign that vaccinated over 44.6 million children, authorities warn that sustained efforts in high-risk zones are critical to prevent outbreaks. Pakistan's polio campaign missed 935,000 children in merged districts due to security & displacement. 19 cases reported in KP in 2025. Learn the risks. Islamabad, January 2 The polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan's merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fell short of its target, leaving over 935,000 children under five unvaccinated, officials said, citing security challenges and population displacement as key hurdles, The Express Tribune reported. According to The Express Tribune, citing authorities, thousands of families from North and South Waziristan, Bajaur, and other merged districts have migrated to different parts of the country, complicating monitoring and vaccination efforts. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 19 polio cases in 2025, including four each in North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, and Tank; three in Bannu; two in Torghar; and one each in Dera Ismail Khan and Lower Kohistan, as reported by The Express Tribune. Officials noted that staffing and operational support for WHO and UNICEF programmes in the merged districts were reduced last year, while WHO funding cuts also affected campaign coverage, leaving children in these areas at heightened risk. In Sindh, more than 12,000 children under five were reportedly missed during the final polio drive of 2025 in Hyderabad and surrounding areas, according to The Express Tribune. Refusals were recorded mainly in Cantonment areas and municipal towns such as Hussainabad, Preetabad, Qasimabad, and Tando Jam, with absent households and parental refusals cited as primary reasons. Despite these gaps, the nationwide anti-polio campaign successfully vaccinated more than 44.6 million children across Pakistan, according to The Express Tribune. Punjab led with 22.9 million children vaccinated, followed by Sindh with 10.6 million, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 7.15 million, and Balochistan with 2.58 million. Officials said contributions from other regions also added to the national tally. Authorities warned that without sustained vaccination efforts, particularly in displaced and high-risk populations, children in the merged districts remain vulnerable to polio, The Express Tribune reported. - ANI The BJP and Shiv Sena will contest the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation elections separately after failing to reach a consensus on seat-sharing. Shiv Sena senior leader Neelam Gorhe strongly criticized the BJP's offer of only 16 seats, calling it insulting, especially as the party had requested 25. Despite the split, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol stated the contest would remain "friendly." The elections are set for January 15, with results to be declared the following day. BJP and Shiv Sena will fight Pune Municipal Corporation polls independently after failing to agree on seat-sharing. Shiv Sena calls BJP's offer "insulting." Pune, January 3 The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena will contest the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation elections separately following differences over seat-sharing, leaders from both parties said. Union Minister of State (MoS) Murlidhar Mohol said on Friday that while the two parties would fight the civic polls independently, the contest would remain cordial. "BJP and Shiv Sena will contest the Pune Municipal Corporation elections separately, as consensus could not be reached on some seats. Therefore, both parties have decided to fight the polls independently. However, this will be a friendly contest," Mohol said. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena senior leader Neelam Gorhe expressed strong dissatisfaction over the seat-sharing formula offered by the BJP. "It was announced by the party high command in coordination with Devendra Fadnavis that we will go ahead with the Mahayuti. However, we have requested only 25 of the 165 seats. Irrespective of that, we were offered only 15 seats, among which 7 were not even mentioned by us. It is very insulting and condescending for Shiv Sena to take the seats where our eminent workers were denied an opportunity," Gorhe said. "We sent a priority list to the BJP local unit and our high command. After repeated discussions between the 2 parties at the state and central levels, the local unit was firm that it would not give any seats to the Shiv Sena. Although we did not secure a single seat in the Assembly, we put in a lot of effort and hard work. A critical mass of women voters is shifting towards Shiv Sena, and keeping this in mind, we will be taking this campaign forward," Gorhe said. Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the BJP would contest all 29 municipal corporations in the state in alliance with the Shiv Sena. However, for the Pune civic body, the BJP offered 16 of the 165 seats to the Shiv Sena, which the party's local unit rejected. The elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation are scheduled to be held on January 15, while counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on January 16. - ANI The Punjab government has signed an agreement with United India Insurance to launch the universal Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna on January 15. The scheme provides an annual cashless health cover of Rs 10 lakh per family to all state residents, significantly expanding from the previous Rs 5 lakh limited coverage. Enrolment is simplified through Common Service Centres using only Aadhaar and voter ID, with no income restrictions or exclusion criteria. Beneficiaries can access treatment across a network of over 824 empanelled hospitals, including public and private facilities. Punjab's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna offers Rs 10 lakh annual cashless health cover per family to all residents, launching Jan 15 with no income cap. Chandigarh, Jan 2 To roll out the 'Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna' on January 15, the state government on Friday signed a pact with the United India Insurance Company to provide Rs 10 lakh cashless health insurance cover to all families of Punjab. The agreement was signed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) State Health Agency, Sanyam Aggarwal and Executive Director of United India Insurance, Mathew George, in the presence of State Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh. Declaring it a landmark reform, the minister said the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna significantly expanded health protection from the earlier Rs 5 lakh coverage, which was limited to specific categories. "The new scheme aims to provide cashless treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per family per year to all residents of Punjab, including government employees and pensioners," he said. He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal would formally launch this scheme on January 15. The minister emphasised that the scheme is designed for total inclusivity, featuring no income cap or exclusion criteria. "Enrolment has been made simple and accessible through Common Service Centres (CSCs) using only Aadhaar and voter IDs, after which beneficiaries will receive dedicated MMSY health cards. A helpline will be launched soon to facilitate the process," he said. Highlighting the operational framework, the minister said United India Insurance Company would provide coverage of Rs 100,000 per family for all 65 lakh families in the state. "For treatment requirements between Rs 100,000 and Rs 10,00,000, the insurance will be provided by the state health agency on a trust basis," he said. He said the scheme adopts the latest health benefit package, ensuring comprehensive coverage through more than 2,000 selected treatment packages. "Beneficiaries can access secondary and tertiary care across a robust network of 824 empanelled hospitals, which currently includes 212 public hospitals, eight government of India hospitals, and over 600 private hospitals. The number of empanelled hospitals is expected to increase further as the scheme progresses," he added. - IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the alarming rise of "white-collar terrorism," citing the Red Fort terror attack where arrested suspects included doctors. He argued that education systems failing to impart moral values alongside knowledge are fundamentally unsuccessful. Singh stressed that true education aims not just at professional success but at fostering ethics, humanity, and social harmony. His remarks come amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution, underscoring the need for value-based learning in a technologically transforming world. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh cites the Red Fort terror blast involving doctors, warning of "white-collar terrorism" and emphasizing education that builds character. Udaipur, January 2 Flagging alarming trends like "white-collar terrorism" where even highly educated individuals like doctors are involved in criminal activities, as in the suicide car bomb blast near Red Fort in Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday emphasised the importance of an education system that instils "good values and character" alongside knowledge. At least 15 people were killed, and several others were injured in the Red Fort terror attack caused by a suicide car bomber Dr Umar Un Nabi, on November 10, 2025. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested several others, including three more doctors - Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganai, Dr Adeel Ahmed and Dr Shaheen Saeed for their alleged involvement in the blast. "Any education system that does not impart humility, character, and moral values along with knowledge cannot be considered successful... Even highly educated people are involved in criminal activities. Today, alarming trends like white-collar terrorism are emerging, where highly educated individuals act against society and the nation. Who carried out the Delhi bomb blasts? Doctors.... It is essential that, along with knowledge, there be good values and character," Singh said. Addressing the 104th Foundation Day of Bhupal Nobel University in Udaipur, he further stressed that education should aim not only at professional success but also at fostering good conduct, ethics, and a humane personality to promote social harmony. "This forces us to engage in self-reflection. The purpose of education is not merely professional success, but also the development of good conduct, ethics, and a humane personality. This helps promote harmony in society," he stressed He also noted that the country is witnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with technologies like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning transforming lives and work patterns. "We are witnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As a result, the technological landscape is also changing. Artificial intelligence, machine learning and many other technologies are transforming our lives and the way we work," Singh added. - ANI Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended greetings to DRDO on its 68th Foundation Day, praising the organisation's commitment to national security. He highlighted how DRDO's development of indigenous, future-ready technologies is crucial for strategic autonomy and the confidence of the armed forces. Established in 1958, DRDO has grown into India's largest defence research body with a vast network of 52 laboratories. The organisation, staffed by thousands of scientists and personnel, continues to be a cornerstone of India's defence capabilities and technological self-reliance. Defence Minister lauds DRDO scientists for strengthening India's defence preparedness and advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous technology. New Delhi, Jan 1 On the occasion of the 68th Foundation Day of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday extended heartfelt greetings to the scientists and personnel, praising their unwavering commitment, scientific excellence and deep sense of national duty. DRDO is marking its 68th Foundation Day on Thursday. The organisation was established on this day in 1958 to strengthen India and make the country self-reliant in the fields of science and technology, particularly in defence. Taking to X, the Defence Minister said, "On DRDO Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all DRDO scientists, personnel and their families. Their unwavering commitment, scientific excellence and sense of national duty are vital to strengthening India's defence preparedness and advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence." "By developing indigenous, future-ready technologies, DRDO is reinforcing our strategic autonomy and the confidence of our armed forces. I wish the entire DRDO family a year of meaningful breakthroughs and continued service to the nation," Singh added. DRDO was formed in 1958 through the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the Indian Ordnance Factories with the Defence Science Organisation, under the administration of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Later, in 1979, the Defence Research and Development Service (DRDS) was constituted as a service of Group 'A' officers and scientists, functioning directly under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. With a vast network of 52 laboratories, DRDO is engaged in the development of defence technologies across a wide range of critical domains, including aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles and naval systems. Today, it stands as India's largest and most diverse research organisation in the defence sector. The organisation comprises around 5,000 scientists belonging to the DRDS, along with approximately 25,000 other subordinate scientific, technical and supporting personnel, who together contribute to strengthening the country's defence capabilities and technological self-reliance. - IANS Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will unveil portraits of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya at the Delhi Legislative Assembly. The event, expected to draw around 1,000 attendees, will also feature the release of a coffee table book titled "Bharat Mata" commemorating 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram. Speaker Vijender Gupta has coordinated with multiple departments to ensure security and smooth logistics for the program. The ceremony will include a patriotic cultural performance by artists from the Sahitya Kala Parishad. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveils Bharat Ratna portraits of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya at the Delhi Legislative Assembly. New Delhi, Jan 1 Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will unveil portraits of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya at the Delhi Legislative Assembly on January 3, Speaker Vijender Gupta said on Thursday. The portraits will be installed in the Assembly House as a mark of deep respect and as a lasting tribute to the monumental contributions of these two national icons to India's democracy, education, culture and public life, said Gupta. The programme will also witness the release of a coffee table book titled "Bharat Mata", which presents Indian nationalism as expressed through painting, architecture and literature, he said. The publication is dedicated to the creative and artistic expression of India's national consciousness and commemorates 150 years of the composition of the National Song Vande Mataram, he said. In this regard, a high-level meeting was convened by Gupta, with senior officers of various departments, including Delhi Police, said an official statement. During the high-level meeting convened for the preparations of the programme with senior officers of the Delhi Police, Public Works Department, Horticulture Department, Fire Services, Health Department, and officials of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat, the Speaker issued necessary directions to ensure proper arrangements for the smooth conduct of the programme, with special emphasis on security, crowd management, traffic regulation, parking facilities, fire safety and medical preparedness. It was informed that around 1,000 people are expected to attend the programme, and all concerned departments were instructed to maintain close coordination to ensure a safe, orderly and dignified event. The event will also be attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Padma Bhushan Ram Bahadur Rai, Chairman, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Parvesh Sahib Singh, Delhi Minister for Legislative Affairs and Mohan Singh Bisht, Deputy Speaker, Delhi Legislative Assembly. As part of the national observance, artists from Sahitya Kala Parishad will perform a patriotic cultural programme reflecting India's rich artistic and national heritage. - IANS Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to sign the condolence book following the death of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. This follows External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Dhaka to represent India at her funeral and convey official condolences. Both ministers expressed solidarity with Zia's family and the people of Bangladesh, acknowledging her contributions to democracy. The diplomatic gestures underscore India's commitment to strengthening its partnership with Bangladesh, especially following the upcoming democratic transition. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and EAM S Jaishankar convey India's condolences over the death of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia, highlighting bilateral ties. New Delhi, Jan 1 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday visited the High Commission of Bangladesh in New Delhi to express condolences over the death of Bangladesh National Party chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Signing the condolence book, Singh conveyed deep sorrow and extended his thoughts to Khaleda Zia's family and the people of Bangladesh. "Went to the High Commission of Bangladesh in New Delhi. Signed the Condolence Book expressing our profound sorrow at the passing of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Our thoughts are with her family and the people of Bangladesh," the Defence Minister posted on X. Following Singh's visit, Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, took to X, stating, "Honoured to welcome HE Rajnath Singh, Hon Indian Defence Minister at Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi as he conveyed condolences of India and paid homage to former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson (late) Khaleda Zia, in Delhi." Earlier on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar visited Dhaka to represent India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia, the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He conveyed the Indian government's condolences to the BNP Acting Chairperson, Tarique Rahman, on the passing of his mother and former Bangladesh PM. In a post on X, the EAM said that upon arrival in Dhaka, he met with Tarique Rahman and handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the government and people of India. Expressed confidence that Begum Khaleda Zia's vision and values will guide the development of our partnership," he added. EAM Jaishankar acknowledged Zia's contribution to democracy and expressed optimism about strengthening India-Bangladesh ties in the wake of a democratic transition following the upcoming elections. Sharing photos of EAM's meeting with Tarique Rahman, Hamidullah, posted on X stating "HE Dr S Jaishankar Hon. External Affairs Minister, in Dhaka, conveys condolences of the people and Govt of India as Bangladesh mourns passing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, recognised her contribution to democracy and expressed optimism to strengthen India Bangladesh ties following democratic transition in Bangladesh thru the upcoming election (Feb 2026)." Khaleda Zia, a three-time Prime Minister and long-time chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, died early Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness. She was 80. She was laid to rest with full State honours on Wednesday afternoon beside her husband, country's former President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka, according to local media reports. - IANS Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has urged citizens to reaffirm their commitment to peace, harmony, and mutual respect as they enter 2026. He emphasized strengthening bonds of brotherhood and upholding unity in diversity to foster lasting stability in the state. The Governor extended his greetings coinciding with the Gaan-Ngai Festival, a major post-harvest celebration for Kabui and Rongmei Naga communities. He highlighted the festival as a sacred occasion for joy, harmony, and ushering in a hopeful new year. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's New Year message emphasizes peace, unity, and mutual respect while extending greetings for the Gaan-Ngai festival. Imphal, Jan 1 Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has urged the people of the state to collectively reaffirm their commitment to peace, harmony and mutual respect in the New Year. In his New Year greetings, the Governor said that 2026 should be a year of strengthening bonds of brotherhood among all communities and upholding the values of unity in diversity. "As we step into 2026, let us collectively reaffirm our commitment to peace, harmony and mutual respect," Bhalla said. "Let this be a year in which we strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among all communities, uphold the values of unity in diversity, and work together to foster lasting peace and stability in the state," he added. Welcoming the New Year, the Governor expressed hope that the year ahead would usher in greater understanding, prosperity and well-being for all. "May the spirit of cooperation and compassion guide us towards building a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous Manipur," he said. Manipur on Thursday is celebrating the 'Gaan-Ngai Festival', a major post-harvest festival of the Kabui and Rongmei Naga communities. The festival begins with a religious ceremony on the first day, followed by days marked by community feasts, traditional dances and the exchange of gifts. The Governor also extended greetings to the people on the occasion of the 'Gaan-Ngai Festival'. He said that 'Gaan-Ngai' is observed as a post-harvest festival of the winter season and is a sacred occasion involving rituals for the dead, the creation of new fire, grand feasts, traditional dances, games and songs, all dedicated to the Supreme God to ensure prosperity, peace and cultural continuity. "The festival also signifies bidding farewell to the passing year and ushering in a New Year filled with hope, optimism and renewed aspirations," Bhalla observed. According to the Governor, while Gaan-Ngai is essentially an occasion of worship and thanksgiving to the Almighty, it also serves as a time for joy, harmony and happiness. He urged the people to come together to celebrate the Gaan-Ngai Festival in a spirit of friendship, unity and brotherhood, with traditional gaiety and devotion, and to welcome the New Year with renewed commitment towards building a peaceful and prosperous Manipur. - IANS Performers play at the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra's 2026 New Year concert in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Liu Zhenrui/Xinhua) An actress performs at a New Year opera gala held in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Xinhua/Chen Gang) Actors perform at a New Year opera gala held in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Xinhua/Chen Gang) Performers play at the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra's 2026 New Year concert in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Liu Zhenrui/Xinhua) Tourists experience bamboo pole dance at a scenic area in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Chen Wenwu/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting Wuma Street in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Su Qiaojiang/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Wang Zhaobo/Xinhua) People take part in the New Year's Run in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Yuan Hongyan/Xinhua) Children play among the flowers in Gaowang Village in Wuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by He Huawen/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo shows people visiting the snow-covered Zijin Mountain in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Ben Fang/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Wang Zhaobo/Xinhua) People visit an art exhibition in Jianning County, Sanming City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Chen Zhen/Xinhua) A citizen poses for photos with a New Year decoration on a street in Taizhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Jiang Youqing/Xinhua) Citizens read at a library in Hai'an City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrate the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Gu Binbin/Xinhua) Russia's Defence Ministry has firmly denied carrying out a missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, labeling such reports as false information. Instead, Moscow accuses the Ukrainian government of fabricating the claim to divert attention from a deadly drone attack it alleges Ukraine conducted in the Kherson region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned what he describes as a Russian strike on a Kharkiv residential area, reporting significant damage and ongoing rescue efforts. The conflicting narratives highlight an intense information war, with both sides blaming the other for attacks on civilians amid the ongoing conflict. Russia denies striking Kharkiv, calls reports false. Accuses Ukraine of a deadly drone attack on civilians in Kherson as tensions escalate. Moscow, January 3 Russia's Defence Ministry has denied reports of a strike on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, calling the claims false, Sputnik reported. "Information about the alleged strike on the city of Kharkov by the Russian Armed Forces on January 2 of this year is untrue," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said Russian armed forces neither planned nor carried out any missile or air strikes within the city on January 2, Sputnik reported. "The Kiev regime's claims about the alleged 'Russian strike on Kharkov' are intended to distract international attention from the brutal terrorist attack committed by the Ukrainian armed forces against civilians in the settlement of Khorly in the Kherson Region overnight into January 1," the statement read. A day after the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ukrainian drones struck in the Kherson region, which killed 24 people, including a child, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday claimed that two missiles from Moscow struck the city of Kharkiv. In a post on X, Zelenskyy condemned the strike by Russia, saying it targeted a residential area and caused significant damage. "A heinous Russian strike on Kharkiv. Preliminary reports indicate two missiles struck an ordinary residential area. One of the buildings has been severely damaged. A rescue operation is currently underway, with all necessary services on site," Zelenskyy said in a statement. He also noted that the exact number of casualties is yet "unknown". Meanwhile, the Russian MFA, in a statement, said that at least 24 people were killed, including a child and more than 50 were injured after Ukrainian drones struck a cafe and a hotel during New Year celebrations in the Kherson region. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the attack took place in the early hours of 2026 and targeted a location where civilians had gathered to celebrate the New Year. The ministry alleged that the strike was carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), calling it "another terrorist act against civilians" by the Kyiv regime. - ANI Shankh Air is set to commence domestic operations in March 2026, beginning with a fleet of three Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline's vision is to democratize air travel, targeting middle-class passengers by positioning flights as a standard utility rather than a luxury. It plans a phased expansion, aiming to add two more aircraft by mid-2026 and eventually launch international routes by 2028 or 2029. The Chairman emphasizes stable pricing and customer-centric service as the core of its strategy to compete in the aviation market. New airline Shankh Air starts operations in March 2026 with 3 Airbus A320s. It aims to democratize air travel for the middle class and target international routes by 2029. Lucknow, January 2 Shankh Air, an upcoming domestic airline venture, plans to take to the skies by the first quarter of 2026. The airline is scheduled to commence flight operations around March, with a focus on enhancing regional and interstate connectivity, Chairman Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma said on Friday. Shankh Air is one of the three new airlines to start operations in India after the Union Aviation Ministry granted a no-objection certificate (NOC). The other two airlines are Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. Speaking to ANI, Founder and Chairman of Shankh Airlines Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma said, "We are expecting to start our services in the first quarter in March... We are starting with three aircraft, and then we will expand... I have a vision, and I will work on it... The public will be with whoever provides a good service." He stated that the carrier will begin operations with an initial fleet of three Airbus A320 aircraft, currently based in Bulgaria. Two additional aircraft are expected to join the fleet by July or August as part of a phased expansion strategy. Vishwakarma noted that the airline intends to increase its fleet size in the coming years, with a target to launch international operations by 2028 or 2029. He emphasised that expanding the fleet is essential for survival in the aviation sector. The airline aims to serve primarily middle-class passengers, with a vision to democratise air travel. Vishwakarma intends to position air travel as a standard mode of transport rather than a luxury. "I think that I have to remove that hesitation," he said, referring to the fear or reluctance some first-time flyers feel. He compared the aircraft to a "bus", suggesting that if the public views it as a simple utility, more people will utilise the service. The Chairman noted that the difference between train and airfare is often minimal. He noted that ticket prices will remain stable between morning and evening flights to ensure accessibility for the common man. Regarding competition with established players, Vishwakarma maintained a focus on his own operations. "I have my own vision. I will work on my own vision. I have nothing to do with others," he said. He concluded that the airline's success ultimately rests with customers, who depend entirely on the quality of service. - ANI Shatrughan Sinha ushered in the New Year by sharing nostalgic family pictures on social media with a hopeful message for 2026. The veteran actor-politician also honored the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whom he called a mentor and father figure. Prior to this, he hosted a special gathering at his home, attended by close friends and family including Subhash Ghai and his daughter Sonakshi Sinha with her husband Zaheer Iqbal. Sinha further remembered cinematic legend Raj Kapoor with a heartfelt post, capping off a period of celebration and remembrance. Shatrughan Sinha shares New Year wishes with family throwback photos and pays tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Raj Kapoor in heartfelt posts. Mumbai, Jan 1 Veteran actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha has shared glimpses from his New Year celebrations with his family. On Thursday, the veteran actor took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared 2 throwback pictures with his family. He wrote, "May 2026 be filled with love, laughter, peace, prosperity and unforgettable moments. Happy New Year". Earlier, the actor and politician paid his respects to the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He shared a note on social media wishing the late statesman on his birth anniversary. He wrote, "Sincere respects, floral prayers for Bharat Ratan, our former PM, #AtalBihariVajpayee whom I will always remember with an attitude of gratitude, as he was a mentor & father figure to all of us. His oratory skills were par excellence & are truly missed. Great memories to cherish. Profound regards to his family, well wishers & supporters. Long Live Atalji". Prior to this, the veteran actor hosted a meet-up at his place for a "special day". The actor took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a series of pictures from the event. In the pictures, he can be seen with Subhash Ghai, his daughter Sonakshi Sinha, her husband Zaheer Iqbal, and others. He wrote, "It was a great evening just a few days back when my family & close friends came to meet greet & God Bless me for my special day. All time best friend, from FTII, guide from my struggle days, legendary filmmaker @Subhashghai1 his graceful wife Rehana bhabhi, ace filmmaker @rgsippy with his elegant wife @kiranjoneja dear family friends, co- founders #ITA #ShashiRanjan & his charming wife #AnuRanjan filmmaker, scriptwriter #RumiJaffery & his wife, our dear friend, actress & good neighbour #AnjuMahendroo". He also remembered the 'greatest showman' Raj Kapoor on his birth anniversary with a heartfelt social media post. - IANS The Election Commission of India has engaged Oriya interpreters for four gram panchayats in West Midnapore due to a high concentration of Odisha-rooted, Oriya-speaking voters. These voters, settled for generations near the border, submit enumeration forms in Oriya script, creating communication challenges for Bengali-speaking election officials. The translation process significantly extends hearing times compared to other voters. This move comes ahead of the final voter list publication in February and the subsequent announcement of West Bengal's Assembly election dates. ECI appoints Oriya interpreters in West Bengal's border panchayats to assist Odisha-rooted voters during draft voter list hearings. Kolkata, Jan 2 The Election Commission of India has been compelled to engage Oriya interpreters-cum-translators for four gram panchayats -- two each under the Dantan and Mohanpur community development blocks -- in West Midnapore district of West Bengal, for hearings on claims and objections related to the draft voters' list. This is because the majority of voters in these four gram panchayats located close to the West Bengal-Odisha border in the West Midnapore district are predominantly Oriya-speaking. "Even the duly-filled enumeration forms filled by them are in Oriya scripts, thus necessitating the appointment of Oriya interpreters-cum-translators for hearing sessions," a senior official from the CEO's office said. These voters who have their ancestral roots in Odisha, the official said, had been settled in these four gram panchayats under the two community development blocks for generations, and most of them depend on agriculture and animal husbandry for their livelihood. "Often, the new brides coming to these families have their roots in Odisha, and they are conversant with no other language but Oriya. In such a situation, it had become extremely difficult for the Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, and Booth-level Officers to communicate with these voters, who are mainly Bengali-speaking, to interact with these Oriya-speaking voters, and hence the necessity for Oriya interpreters-cum-translators during the hearing sessions," the official from the office of the CEO said. He said that although Oriya-speaking voters or those with ancestral roots in Odisha are scattered in several pockets in both East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts, the concentration of such voters is high in these four gram panchayats under the Dantan and Mohanpur community development blocks. "While verbal interaction with these voters during the hearing session is a matter of inconvenience for the EROs, AEROs, and micro-observers, what is even more difficult and time-consuming is translating the Oriya scripts in their enumeration forms. So the average time consumed for hearings for such voters is much more than that for other voters," the CEO's office insider confirmed. The draft voters' list was published on December 16. The final voters' list will be published on February 14. Soon after that, the ECI will announce the polling dates for the crucial Assembly elections in West Bengal. - IANS Dr Meetu Bhargava has publicly appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to secure the release of her brother, retired Navy Commander Purnendu Tiwary, who remains imprisoned in Qatar. Tiwary was among eight veterans pardoned by Qatar's Emir in 2023, but he was left behind due to a separate travel ban and has since been convicted in a new case. His sister alleges severe health deterioration and criticizes the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Navy for their perceived inaction. The case continues despite high-level diplomatic engagements between India and Qatar. Sister of ex-Navy Commander Purnendu Tiwary urges PM Modi & EAM Jaishankar to intervene as he remains jailed in Qatar despite pardon. New Delhi, Jan 2 In a heartfelt plea, Dr Meetu Bhargava, sister of retired Indian Navy Commander Purnendu Tiwary, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene urgently in her brother's case. Tiwary, who belongs to Gwalior, is one of the eight ex-Navy officers pardoned by Qatar's Emir nearly two years ago. He remains imprisoned in Doha amid a new legal entanglement, sparking renewed concerns over his health and India's diplomatic efforts. Tiwary, 65, was among the veterans arrested in August 2022 on espionage charges while working for a private firm in Qatar. Initially sentenced to death, their penalties were commuted to prison terms by Qatar's Court of Appeal in December 2023, granting them 60 days to appeal. In February 2024, seven officers returned to India following a royal pardon, an outcome credited to PM Modi's personal intervention, as acknowledged by Bhargava at the time. However, Tiwary was left behind due to a travel ban linked to financial irregularities at his employer, Dahra Global Technologies. According to Bhargava's recent X post on December 30, Tiwary has been "dragged" into a secondary case "stitched" from the original, resulting in a six-year sentence for criminal conspiracy and money laundering. He has been in jail for the past month, enduring what she calls "severe ignominy" despite his decorated service and receipt of the President's Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. Bhargava blames the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for "inaction," claiming "they abandoned him without reviewing case details, exacerbating his suffering." Tiwary's health has deteriorated alarmingly, with hypertension, diabetes, and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from prolonged solitary confinement posing life-threatening risks, reports said. Bhargava also appealed to the Chief of Naval Staff, highlighting the Navy's apparent silence on a retired officer's plight, and urged the fraternity to rally for his release. Recent reports indicate Tiwary's re-arrest and conviction, with deportation possible post-sentence. "It is an irony that despite such injustice being meted out to their decorated Naval officer (though retired), no visible action has been initiated by the Naval Top brass of India to cause the release of their retired officer, Cdr Purnendu Tiwary, from Doha jail," she said on her X handle. The MEA has provided no updates on his status, despite ongoing diplomatic ties with Qatar, including the Emir's visit to India in 2025. As of now, neither the PMO nor MEA has responded publicly. - IANS South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has announced plans to restructure the country's overseas diplomatic missions to improve efficiency and focus resources on key regions. The move includes streamlining less effective missions while reinforcing core functions and better coordinating with South Korean public entities abroad. Minister Cho emphasized expanding economic diplomacy and pursuing more summit-level engagements to diversify South Korea's foreign policy outreach. This restructuring follows internal reviews and aligns with efforts to reengage with North Korea while strengthening alliances, particularly with the United States. South Korea's FM vows to restructure overseas diplomatic missions for efficiency, focusing on economic outreach and summit diplomacy amid shifting global dynamics. Seoul, Jan 2 South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun vowed Friday to revamp diplomatic missions overseas in a way that will boost their operational efficiency, as part of efforts to expand and diversify South Korea's foreign policy amid a shifting international landscape. Cho made the remarks in a New Year message to foreign ministry officials, signaling plans to streamline the missions deemed less efficient while reinforcing the functions of those stationed in key regions. "For missions that show limited effectiveness, we will carry out efficient restructuring and reinforce core functions by focusing them on key missions," Cho said in his speech, Yonhap News Agency reported. His remarks followed media reports that the ministry scrapped plans to open new embassies in several countries after President Lee Jae Myung questioned the need for the expansion, reversing an initiative pushed for by the former Yoon Suk Yeol government. Cho called for overseas missions to better coordinate with South Korean public entities operating abroad to ensure the collaboration will produce outcomes benefiting Korean nationals and companies based in the countries. "We will introduce measures to systematically manage performance and service, such as by reinforcing the authority of heads of overseas missions to better oversee locally operating public institutions and selecting officials capable (of overseas assignments)," he said. Cho also pledged to lead the ministry to pursue more summit diplomacy and widen the "economic horizons" of foreign policy. "It has become more important than ever to explore and further expand new economic horizons," he said. "We will strive to promote diplomacy that improves people's livelihoods and revitalizes businesses." "Looking ahead, we will step up summit-level diplomacy and actively engage in diplomacy with key regions to diversify our diplomatic outreach," Cho said. On December 22, Cho Hyun said he would work to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula by seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations, reiterating the government's efforts to reengage with Pyongyang. Cho made the remarks in a keynote speech at an event hosted by the South Korea-US Parliamentarians Union, saying it is time to "deeply reflect on what must be done" to ensure security and peace on the peninsula. "The two summit meetings between South Korea and the United States this year would provide a foundation for those efforts," he said, stressing the importance of "swiftly and properly" negotiating the agreements reached in the joint fact sheet. He added that South Korea should work to bolster deterrence while simultaneously seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations. - IANS South Korea's exports surpassed $700 billion for the first time in 2025, reaching $709.7 billion and making it the world's sixth nation to achieve this milestone. The growth was driven by record semiconductor exports of $173.4 billion and all-time high auto exports of $72 billion. Despite declines in shipments to the U.S. and China due to tariffs, diversification to ASEAN and EU markets supported the historic performance. This resulted in a $78 billion trade surplus, the largest since 2017. South Korea's exports soared to a record $709.7B in 2025, fueled by booming semiconductor and auto sales, achieving its largest trade surplus since 2017. Seoul, January 2 South Korea's outbound shipments surpassed the USD 700 billion mark for the first time in 2025, driven primarily by robust global demand for semiconductors and record automobile sales. According to a report by Pulse, the English service of Maeil Business News Korea, data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Thursday showed that the country's exports grew 3.8 per cent to reach USD 709.7 billion last year. This milestone makes South Korea the sixth nation globally to exceed the USD 700 billion threshold in annual exports. The surge in export volume contributed to a significant improvement in the national trade balance. The trade surplus for 2025 stood at USD 78 billion, representing an increase of USD 26.2 billion from the previous year. This figure marks the largest trade surplus recorded by the country since 2017, when the surplus reached USD 95.2 billion. Sectoral performance was led by the semiconductor industry, which saw exports climb to a record high of USD 173.4 billion. This represents a 22.2 per cent increase compared to the previous year, underscoring the critical role of chips in the country's trade architecture. Additionally, automobile exports reached a new all-time high of USD 72 billion, growing 1.7 per cent year-on-year. The record performance occurred despite shifts in major trade partnerships and the impact of U.S.-led tariffs. While exports to the United States declined by 3.8 per cent to USD 122.9 billion due to tariff effects, and shipments to China fell 1.7 per cent to USD 130.8 billion, South Korean exporters successfully diversified their market reach. Strong demand for hybrid vehicles and used cars helped bolster exports to the European Union and other international markets. Specifically, outbound shipments to ASEAN countries rose by 7.4 per cent, while exports to the EU saw a 3 per cent increase. This strategic market diversification remains a key factor in the country achieving its historic export results. - ANI South Korea's Unification Minister has publicly urged North Korea to return to dialogue, offering to meet "anytime, anywhere, on any agenda" to reduce tensions. He emphasized Seoul's rejection of unification by absorption and pledged support for private-sector exchanges in humanitarian and health fields. The minister also proposed specific cross-border tourism projects as potential areas for cooperation. This call aligns with recent statements from South Korea's foreign minister, who stressed the dual approach of bolstering deterrence while actively seeking diplomatic engagement. South Korea's Unification Minister calls for an end to hostilities, offering unconditional talks on any agenda to ease tensions and promote cooperation. Seoul, Jan 2 South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young urged North Korea to return to dialogue Friday, saying South Korea is ready to talk with the North "on any agenda" to ease inter-Korean tensions. Chung made the remarks in his New Year's message during a ceremony at the government complex in Seoul, stressing that the two Koreas must "end inter-Korean hostilities this year." "The Lee Jae Myung administration, as a sovereign government, will fully support exchanges in the private sector and cooperation in areas such as public health, medical services and humanitarian issues and will not restrict or interfere in such efforts," he said, Yonhap News Agency reported. "We are ready to sit down with North Korea for talks anytime, anywhere and on any agenda to ease inter-Korean tensions," he added. Referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Chung stressed that Seoul does not support the idea of unification by absorption. He also proposed promoting cross-border tourism projects, including projects linked to the Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone on the east coast and the northern city of Samjiyon, near Mount Paektu. On December 22, South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said he would work to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula by seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations, reiterating the government's efforts to reengage with Pyongyang. Cho made the remarks in a keynote speech at an event hosted by the South Korea-US Parliamentarians Union, saying it is time to "deeply reflect on what must be done" to ensure security and peace on the peninsula. "The two summit meetings between South Korea and the United States this year would provide a foundation for those efforts," he said, stressing the importance of "swiftly and properly" negotiating the agreements reached in the joint fact sheet. He added that South Korea should work to bolster deterrence while simultaneously seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations. - IANS Taiwan's National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu publicly thanked the United States for urging restraint following China's recent military exercises near Taiwan. Wu characterized China's large-scale drills as provocative acts of intimidation designed to coerce regional countries. The U.S. State Department reiterated its opposition to unilateral changes in the Taiwan Strait and emphasized commitment to regional stability. Wu's statement underscores Taiwan's strategy of aligning with international partners to counter military pressure and preserve a free Indo-Pacific. Taiwan's NSC head Joseph Wu thanks U.S. for calling for restraint after China's military exercises near Taiwan, highlighting regional tensions. Taipei, January 2 Taiwan's Secretary-General of the National Security Council and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu widely known has publicly thanked the United States for urging restraint following China's latest military exercises near Taiwan and across the wider region. In a post on X.com, Wu said China's recent drills were aimed at intimidation and coercion, warning that such actions are destabilizing for the Indo-Pacific. "China's military exercises toward Taiwan and others in the region were designed to intimidate and coerce countries in the Indo-Pacific. They're provocative and escalatory," he wrote. He expressed appreciation to the US State Department for issuing a statement on New Year's Day calling on Beijing to reduce tensions. Wu's remarks came amid heightened concern in Taipei and among regional partners after the People's Liberation Army conducted large-scale live-fire exercises around Taiwan. The drills involved naval and air forces operating in multiple zones near the island, drawing criticism for raising the risk of miscalculation and threatening civilian air and maritime traffic. By thanking Washington, Wu underscored the importance Taiwan places on international support and coordinated messaging in response to what it views as growing military pressure from Beijing. He noted that clear and consistent calls for restraint from the international community play a critical role in preserving stability and deterring further escalation. The United States, through the State Department, has reiterated its opposition to unilateral efforts to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, including through force or coercion. Washington has also emphasized its commitment to peace and stability in the region, a stance that has been welcomed by Taipei amid rising tensions. Joseph Wu's message reflects Taiwan's broader diplomatic strategy of highlighting shared democratic values and security interests with like-minded partners. As Secretary-General of the National Security Council, he continues to play a key role in shaping Taiwan's security outlook and international engagement at a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty. Regional observers note that statements such as Wu's are intended not only to thank allies but also to signal Taiwan's resolve to work with partners to maintain a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific. - ANI Six states and UTs, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, continue to defy the central government's directive to set the minimum age for Class 1 admission at six years. The mandate, based on the National Education Policy 2020, aims to strengthen early childhood education by placing children aged 3-8 in a foundational learning stage. Despite repeated notices from the Education Ministry, these regions have not aligned their admission norms, while 30 others have complied. This non-compliance threatens the uniform implementation of a key NEP reform designed to improve long-term learning outcomes. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, and Chhattisgarh have not aligned with the national mandate for Class 1 admission at age 6+, per NEP 2020. By Vishu Adhana, New Delhi, January 2 Six States and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala, have yet to implement the 6-year minimum age criterion for admission to Class 1. As many as 30 states and UTs have already aligned their admission norms with the policy, sources told ANI. In 2023, the education ministry issued a directive to states and UTs to admit students to Class 1 only at the age of "6+" years, instead of the earlier practice of "5+" years, as per the provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Some states continue to follow disparate age criteria for Class 1 admissions. "The policy is very clear. Admission to Grade I has to be at six years of age, and States and UTs have been asked to strictly align their admission norms accordingly," a source said. "So far 30 states and UT have implemented the rule, but Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puduchery, Kerala and Chhattisgarh have not implemented the directives yet," the source added. The age criterion is based on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which places children aged three to eight in the foundational stage of schooling. Under the revised 5+3+3+4 structure, the foundational stage includes three years of pre-school education followed by two years of primary schooling. Until the NEP 2020, children aged 3 to 6 were not formally covered under the 10+2 schooling structure. The policy notes that a strong foundation from age three is aimed at improving learning outcomes, development, and overall well-being. In 2024, the centre again wrote to the states and UTs regarding the matter. In the last notice dated February 15, 2024, the Ministry of Education reiterated that the age of admission to Grade 1 should be 6+ years. The notice asked all states and UTs to comply with the directive and take the necessary steps to ensure compliance from the upcoming academic session. - ANI An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 1, 2026 shows a view of the Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block in Tianjin, north China. Located on the south bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, the century-old Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block used to be a neighborhood where many banks clustered. Now, the streets there decorated with festive lights have attracted many tourists for a citywalk during the New Year's Day holiday. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 1, 2026 shows the Astor Hotel Tianjin standing in the Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block in Tianjin, north China. Located on the south bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, the century-old Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block used to be a neighborhood where many banks clustered. Now, the streets there decorated with festive lights have attracted many tourists for a citywalk during the New Year's Day holiday. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Tourists visit the Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 1, 2026. Located on the south bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, the century-old Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block used to be a neighborhood where many banks clustered. Now, the streets there decorated with festive lights have attracted many tourists for a citywalk during the New Year's Day holiday. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Tourists take selfies at the Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 1, 2026. Located on the south bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, the century-old Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block used to be a neighborhood where many banks clustered. Now, the streets there decorated with festive lights have attracted many tourists for a citywalk during the New Year's Day holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Tourists visit the Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 1, 2026. Located on the south bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, the century-old Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block used to be a neighborhood where many banks clustered. Now, the streets there decorated with festive lights have attracted many tourists for a citywalk during the New Year's Day holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ran) A tourist poses for photos at the Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 1, 2026. Located on the south bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, the century-old Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block used to be a neighborhood where many banks clustered. Now, the streets there decorated with festive lights have attracted many tourists for a citywalk during the New Year's Day holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ran) People enjoy meals at a restaurant in the Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 1, 2026. Located on the south bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, the century-old Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block used to be a neighborhood where many banks clustered. Now, the streets there decorated with festive lights have attracted many tourists for a citywalk during the New Year's Day holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ran) A mother reads a book to her son at a library in the Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 2, 2026. Located on the south bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, the century-old Jiefang North Road historical and cultural block used to be a neighborhood where many banks clustered. Now, the streets there decorated with festive lights have attracted many tourists for a citywalk during the New Year's Day holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Benefit extended to lump-sum and consolidated pay workers, who will get 1,000 C and D category employees to receive a 3,000 bonus for the Pongal festival The Tamil Nadu government has announced a special financial package for the Pongal festival. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has sanctioned a 3,000 bonus for C and D category employees and 1,000 for eligible pensioners. A total of 183.86 crore has been allocated to ensure timely disbursement before the celebrations. This move aims to provide relief to lower-income staff and retirees during the festive season. Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin sanctions a 3,000 Pongal bonus for lower-grade employees and 1,000 for pensioners, allocating 183.86 crore for festive relief. Chennai, Jan 1 The Tamil Nadu government has announced a special Pongal bonus for C and D category employees and pensioners for the 202425 financial year, reaffirming its commitment to employee welfare ahead of the harvest festival. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has issued an official order sanctioning additional financial assistance to support government staff and pensioners during the festive season. According to the government order, employees belonging to C and D categories will receive an additional Rs 3,000 as Pongal bonus. In addition, C and D category pensioners, as well as family pensioners, will be granted a special payment of Rs 1,000. The measure is aimed at providing financial relief to lower-grade employees and retired personnel, many of whom depend on fixed incomes to meet household expenses. To implement the scheme, the State government has sanctioned a total allocation of Rs 183.86 crore. This amount will cover the payment of Pongal bonuses to C and D category pensioners, family pensioners, and former village officers who are eligible under the scheme. The Finance Department has been instructed to ensure that the funds are released without delay so that beneficiaries receive the amount well in advance of the festival. In addition to regular employees and pensioners, the government has also extended the benefit to those working on lump-sum and consolidated pay. Such employees will receive a special payment of Rs 1,000 as part of the Pongal package. This move is expected to benefit thousands of temporary and contract workers serving in various government departments and institutions across the State. Officials said the decision reflects the government's continued focus on employee welfare and inclusive growth. By extending financial support to lower-income categories, the government aims to help families manage festival-related expenses and maintain financial stability during the Pongal season. Employee associations have welcomed the announcement, noting that the timely release of the bonus will provide much-needed relief amid rising living costs. With the necessary funds now sanctioned, departments have been instructed to complete the disbursement process at the earliest, ensuring that all eligible beneficiaries receive the Pongal bonus before the festival celebrations begin. - IANS The United Arab Emirates has expressed its full solidarity with Switzerland following a tragic fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed heartfelt condolences for the significant loss of life. The statement affirmed support for the Swiss government and people during this difficult time. It also extended sympathy to the victims' families and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. The UAE expresses condolences and solidarity with Switzerland following a tragic fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort that caused multiple casualties. Abu Dhabi, January 2 The United Arab Emirates has expressed its full solidarity with the Swiss Confederation following the tragic fire in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana, which resulted in a devastating toll of deaths and injuries. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its heartfelt sympathy over the significant loss of life, affirming the UAE's solidarity with the government and people of Switzerland during this difficult time. The Ministry also expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery for all the injured, and conveying its solidarity with all those affected by this painful tragedy. - ANI Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited the Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik with his family, offering prayers for the well-being of all citizens and the nation's progress. He emphasized prayers for farmers, the poor, and women, highlighting a record agricultural production and the government's commitment to doubling farmers' income. Chouhan linked comprehensive village development to realizing the vision of a "Viksit Bharat," endorsing the 'VB-G RAM G' scheme for holistic rural growth. He later participated in a program under this scheme, reiterating the focus on rural infrastructure and inclusive growth. Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan offered prayers at Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, praying for national welfare, farmer prosperity, and holistic village development. Nashik, January 2 Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan offered prayers along with his family at the Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik here on Friday. Speaking after the darshan, Chouhan said, "I prayed to Lord Trimbakeshwar for the welfare of all, for everyone's well-being, and that God's blessings remain upon all." Expressing his wishes for the nation's progress, the Union Minister said he hopes that India continues to move forward at an even faster pace. He also prayed for a better future for farmers, poor families living in villages, and women, stating that it is his heartfelt wish that the lives of 'Ladli sisters', poor households, and farmers continue to improve. Chouhan said that farmers in the country have achieved a record level of production. He added that the government is committed to ensuring that agricultural production increases further in the coming years and that farmers' income rises to more than double. Earlier, the Minister said that this year's Rabi crops are witnessing a bumper harvest and expressed hope that farmers would be blessed with prosperity. Addressing reporters at a gathering in Shirdi, he said the government remains committed to the welfare of farmers, the poor, and village development. The Union Minister stated that the vision of a "Viksit Bharat" can be realised through comprehensive village development. He highlighted the importance of the 'VB-G RAM G' scheme, saying it is capable of achieving holistic development in rural areas. Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "This year's Rabi crops are having a bumper harvest, and we hope that God's blessings will be upon the farmers, bringing them great prosperity. May this year be one of welfare for the poor and development for the villages. The 'Viksit Bharat' and 'VB-G RAM G' scheme is capable and competent in achieving complete village development, and today I am going to participate in a program under this very scheme." Chouhan added that he would participate in a programme under the scheme, reiterating the government's focus on strengthening rural infrastructure, improving livelihoods, and ensuring inclusive growth across villages. - ANI Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually unveiled a statue of Raja Jagat Dev, a revered figure from the Buksa tribal community. He praised the king's life as an example of bravery and devotion to preserving culture and religion. The CM emphasized the government's commitment to tribal welfare through education, healthcare, and cultural documentation. He also announced three local infrastructure projects, including road reconstructions and temple improvements, for the area. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually unveiled a statue of Raja Jagat Dev, honoring the Buksa tribal community's heritage and announcing local development projects. Dehradun, January 2 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday virtually unveiled the statue of Raja Jagat Dev of the Buksa tribal community at Gram Panchayat Roshanpur Dalbaba in the Gadarpur area of Udham Singh Nagar district, according to a release. According to the Uttarakhand CMO, the Chief Minister said that the life of Raja Jagat Dev is an invaluable example of sacrifice, bravery, devotion to religion, and preservation of culture. He said that this event is not merely the unveiling of a statue, but a day to pay tribute to the glorious traditions, culture, and sacrifices of the Buksa tribal community. Despite facing adverse circumstances, Raja Jagat Dev devoted his entire life to protecting religion and culture. His story is not only one of valour, but also a symbol of indomitable self-respect and faith. The Chief Minister further said that members of the Buksa community, residing in various regions including Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, and Kotdwar, continue to keep their culture, traditions, and self-respect alive. He added that the state government is working with full commitment towards the cultural preservation of tribal communities, documentation of their history, and their welfare through initiatives in education, healthcare, housing, and employment. The release further stated that Uttarakhad CM emphasised that research should also be undertaken on the legacy of Raja Jagat Dev so that future generations can draw inspiration from his life and contributions. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also announced three development-related initiatives for the area. These include the construction of a boundary wall, tin shed, flooring, and toilets at the Shri Dalbaba Temple prisr in Gram Sabha Roshanpur; the reconstruction of a 3-kilometer road from Gram Balramnagar to Khempur; and the reconstruction of a 4-kilometer road from Gram Sitapur to ANK Inter College. - ANI The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Kutch witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding worth Rs 8,500 crore with 334 MSME units, signaling massive investor confidence. Ministers highlighted Kutch's remarkable journey from a region plagued by water scarcity to a central industrial hub handling 40% of India's cargo. The conference focused on attracting future investments in sectors like electronic components, green hydrogen, and data centers, aligning with national goals of self-reliance. Officials credited the Prime Minister's vision for transforming development into a public movement, with Kutch now reversing migration trends through industrial growth and improved infrastructure. 334 MSME units sign MoUs worth Rs 8,500 crore at Vibrant Gujarat's Kutch conference, highlighting the region's transformation into a key industrial & logistics hub. Bhuj, January 3 The MoUs worth Rs 8,500 crore were signed with 334 MSME units during the district-level Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference that was held at Gandhidham in Kutch. Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia on Friday inaugurated the conference. Addressing the gathering at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Convention Centre here, the Minister stated that despite natural calamities, the people of Kutch have transformed the region into a centre of development. Backed by the government's vision, Kutch has emerged as a central industrial hub and a model of transformation. According to the minister, once affected by water scarcity and unemployment, Kutch today generates employment for people from across the country and is leading in tourism, agriculture, industry, and renewable energy, while handling 40 per cent of India's cargo. In the programme, investors were invited to partner in Kutch's future growth across sectors, including electronic components, green hydrogen, data centres, and the blue economy. Speaking on the development of Dholera, he praised the Prime Minister's vision on turning challenges into opportunities. He noted that India became a vaccine hub by rapidly developing and delivering vaccines during the COVID period. Similarly, the country is preparing to overcome challenges in the semiconductor and electronics sectors to achieve self-reliance and global leadership. He said that achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat requires self-reliance across all industries. Highlighting Kutch's vast potential, he invited investors to partner in future-focused sectors. He noted that with emerging fields such as AI, quantum technology, and biotechnology, Gujarat has strengthened its readiness through advanced research centres and Excellence labs. Emphasising sustainable development, he also called for the creation of world-class nurseries and urged industries to support efforts to increase green cover in Kutch. Addressing the gathering, Minister of State (MoS) for Higher and Technical Education Trikam Chhanga said that Vibrant Gujarat was launched by the then Chief Minister and the present Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and has now expanded to a district-level organisation. He congratulated the Kutch district administration and local entrepreneurs on the initiative and noted that the Prime Minister had transformed development into a movement and revitalised Kutch. He said that Kutch continues to progress, with improved infrastructure, industrial and technological growth, and port development contributing to a reversal of migration. Recalling Kutch handicraft artisan Pabiben, he said that Kutch, once reliant on handicrafts and cottage industries, is now emerging as an industrial hub, with Vibrant initiatives attracting significant investment and creating employment opportunities. He urged citizens and industrialists to uphold ethical values while contributing to social and economic development. On this occasion, Kutch-Morbi MP Vinodbhai Chavda said that Vibrant Gujarat was launched under the Prime Minister's long-term vision and that Kutch has greatly benefited from it. He noted that thousands of industrial units are now active in sectors such as ports, minerals, and chemicals, creating ample employment and attracting people from other states, which is a matter of pride for Kutch. He added that Kutch is uniquely blessed with a desert, a sea, and hills, and, due to the Chief Minister's sustained efforts, has emerged as a leader in agriculture, industry, and tourism. He urged young entrepreneurs and investors to join the Vibrant programme in line with the Prime Minister's vision of Make in India and Local for Vocal. Chairman of Deendayal Port SK Singh said that Gujarat, especially Kutch, will play a key role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat. Owing to its strategic location and strong connectivity, Kutch is attracting investor interest. He noted that the port and maritime sector will make an essential contribution to this vision, adding that Kandla Port is leading in green hydrogen and shipbuilding. As these sectors expand, he invited investors to participate in the green hydrogen park in Kutch. On this occasion, Kutch Collector Anand Patel said that Vibrant Gujarat, which started as a small initiative to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat, has today grown into a strong platform. He noted that district-level Vibrant programmes and regional conferences will give a new direction to industrial development. He stated that, under the Prime Minister's vision, Kutch has become a land of opportunity. Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce President Mahesh Punj, in his address, stated that under the Prime Minister's development vision, Kutch is emerging as a leader in key sectors, including renewable energy, green hydrogen, ports, chemicals and minerals, and tourism. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for the significant opportunities that have come to Kutch as part of the development. Additionally, DP World Director Parag Kochhar highlighted the importance of the blue economy, noted immense opportunities for port development in Kutch, and provided information on India Mart. Manish Kiri of Kiri Industries stated that Kutch is emerging as Gujarat's economic powerhouse. With the development of green hydrogen, digital infrastructure, seawater-based industries, agriculture, and advanced marine chemical and mineral industries, Kutch's land is emerging as "industrial land" for investors. At the conclusion of the programme, Kutch Management Association President Tejabhai Kangad delivered the vote of thanks. In this programme, Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce participated as the event partner, while Deendayal Port Trust joined as the venue partner. Additionally, FOKIA and Kutch Management Association participated as knowledge partners. This event was attended by District Panchayat President Janaksinh Jadeja, MLAs Kesubhai Patel, Maltiben Maheshwari, Pradyumansingh Jadeja, Aniruddhabhai Dave, former Assembly Speaker Nimaben Acharya, senior leader Devjibhai Varchand, Dhavalbhai Acharya, East Kutch SP Sagar Bagmar, Gandhidham Commissioner Manish Gurwani, GRIT Joint CEO Stuti Charan, ARM Ashish Dhaniya, Joint Commissioner of IndustriesKanak Der, along with a large number of industrialists and students. - ANI The Vibrant Kutch district programme was inaugurated, marking a major push for industrial growth with Memorandums of Understanding worth Rs 8,500 crore signed with 334 MSME units. Ministers highlighted Kutch's transformation from a region known for handicrafts into an emerging industrial powerhouse, leveraging its strategic ports. The vision positions Kutch as a future global centre for renewable energy, green hydrogen, and the blue economy, supported by investments in AI and quantum computing. Officials noted this "Golden Period" is also driving reverse migration, as people return to the district for new employment opportunities. Gujarat's Vibrant Kutch event sees 334 MSMEs sign MoUs worth Rs 8,500 crore, aiming to transform the region into a global hub for renewable energy and manufacturing. Gandhidham, Jan 2 The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference marked another milestone on Friday, with the grand inauguration of the Vibrant Kutch District-Level Programme at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Convention Centre in Gandhidham of Kutch district. The event was inaugurated by the Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia, in the presence of the Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education Trikam B. Chhanga and several prominent dignitaries. During the ceremony, 334 MSME units signed the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 8,500 crore, setting a strong tone for industrial and economic growth in the region. Addressing the gathering, Minister Modhwadia said that the Vibrant Gujarat-Vibrant Kutch programme will infuse new energy into the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He lauded the resilience of the people of Kutch, who, despite natural calamities, have turned the region into a thriving centre of development. He noted that, under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary leadership, Kutch has transformed into a model of progress -- offering employment to lakhs of people across the country. "Kutch has immense potential to emerge as a global hub in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and the blue economy," Minister Modhwadia said. He added that with nearly 40 per cent of India's cargo handled through Kutch's ports, the region is also set to become a key centre for electronics manufacturing, green hydrogen, data centres, and marine-based industries. Highlighting Gujarat's preparedness for the future, Minister Modhwadia said the state is building research and excellence centres in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. Calling this the 'Golden Period of Kutch', the Minister urged industries to actively participate in green initiatives and contribute to increasing the region's green cover. Minister of State Trikam B. Chhanga, in his address, said that the Vibrant Gujarat initiative was first launched by the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, and has now successfully reached district levels. He commended the Kutch administration and entrepreneurs for their contributions to development, noting that challenges such as the 2001 earthquake and unemployment were transformed into opportunities. "Kutch, once known for its handicrafts and cottage industries, is now becoming an industrial powerhouse," he said. The Minister of State also pointed out the trend of reverse migration, with people returning to Kutch for new employment opportunities. BJP Member of Parliament Vinod Chavda praised the Prime Minister Modi's foresight, saying that the Vibrant Gujarat vision has brought remarkable industrial progress to Kutch, especially in ports, minerals, and chemicals. He described Kutch as Gujarat's unique district, blessed with the confluence of desert, sea, and mountains, and urged young entrepreneurs to support the 'Make in India' and 'Vocal for Local' movements. Deendayal Port Chairman S.K. Singh emphasised Kutch's key role in the 'Developed India' Vision, noting that the port is leading advancements in green hydrogen and shipbuilding. Industrialist Manish Kiri described Kutch as the "economic powerhouse of Gujarat", highlighting its potential in digital infrastructure, seawater agriculture, and advanced marine chemical industries. DP World Director Parag Kochar spoke about the significance of the blue economy and the vast opportunities for port development in the region. Kutch District Collector Anand Patel said that Vibrant Gujarat, once a small initiative, has now grown into a "banyan tree" of industrial progress, turning Kutch into the "Land of Opportunity". - IANS Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan arrived in Tamil Nadu for a two-day visit, received by Governor R.N. Ravi and other dignitaries. His visit follows his role as chief guest at the valedictory of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 in Rameswaram. At that event, he emphasized the deep civilisational and spiritual links between Kashi and Tamil Nadu, uniting India for millennia. He stated such cultural exchanges strengthen national integration and align with the vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' and 'Viksit Bharat'. Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan begins a two-day Tamil Nadu visit, emphasizing cultural unity through initiatives like Kashi Tamil Sangamam for national integration. Chennai, January 2 Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan arrived in Tamil Nadu today for a two-day visit to participate in various events in Chennai and Vellore. He was received at Chennai Airport by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, R. N. Ravi; the Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, L. Murugan; the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin; and other dignitaries. Upon arrival, the Vice-President was accorded a Guard of Honour at the airport, marking the commencement of his official visit to the state. Earlier, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan graced the valedictory ceremony of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 as the Chief Guest in Rameswaram on 30 December 2025, according to a release from Special Service and Features. RN Ravi, Governor of Tamil Nadu; Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education; Dr. L. Murugan, Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting; R. Dharmar, Member of Parliament; Nainar Nagendran, MLA, Tamil Nadu, were among the eminent dignitaries present. Speaking at the valedictory ceremony of KTS 4.0, the Vice-President said that this connection is not merely historical, but a profound civilisational and spiritual continuum that has united Bharat for thousands of years. He noted that such exchanges reaffirm India's shared heritage and deepen national integration. Quoting Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, the Vice-President observed that the Kashi Tamil Sangamam reflects the poet's vision of a united, integrated and confident India. He said that Bharati's dream is being realised today through the far-sighted vision and focused initiatives of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Emphasising the Prime Minister's vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, the Vice-President stated that initiatives such as Kashi-Tamil Sangamam strengthen national integration through cultural exchange, shared heritage, and mutual respect. He added that such efforts are guiding the nation steadily towards the goal of Viksit Bharat. - ANI A new socio-political body, the Voice of Buddhist Ladakh, has been formed to represent Buddhist community interests in ongoing negotiations with the Ministry of Home Affairs. It emerged from perceptions of underrepresentation in the High-Powered Committee established to address land, environmental, and cultural issues. While the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance remain primary interlocutors, VBL aims to ensure Buddhist-specific concerns are not overlooked in broader talks. Its immediate outreach to the Lieutenant Governor signals its intent to become a formal stakeholder in policy discussions shaping Ladakh's future. Voice of Buddhist Ladakh forms to ensure community concerns are heard in High-Powered Committee talks with MHA on land, environment, and identity. Leh, January 2 A new socio-political body called the Voice of Buddhist Ladakh has recently been formed in the Union Territory, which will now play a key role in the ongoing negotiations between Ladakh's representatives and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA. To address issues such as protection of land and environment and the preservation of cultural identity the MHA had formed a High-Powered Committee (HPC). The aim was to facilitate structured dialogue between Ladakh's representatives and the MHA. Within a certain section of the Buddhist community there was a perception of being under represented in the HPC which has now resulted in the formation of the VBL. While the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have thus far been recognised as the primary interlocutors with the Centre, the VBL positions itself as a community-specific platform meant to ensure that Buddhist concerns are not diluted in broader consensus-driven frameworks. A day after its formal formation, the Convenor of VBL, Skarma Namtak, along with other members of the newly constituted body, called on the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh on Friday and formally placed their demands before him. The early outreach to the LG signals VBL's intent to position itself as an active stakeholder in the ongoing policy discourse. The unanimous election of Skarma Namtak as Convenor, with a mandate to liaise with the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), Leh Apex Body, HPC, UT Ladakh administration and the MHA, positions VBL as an institutional. If effectively integrated into the dialogue process, VBL could emerge as a key stakeholder influencing decisions on land safeguards, cultural preservation, demographic protection, and employment policies. What remains clear, however, is that with the advent of the Voice of Buddhist Ladakh, the ongoing talks with the MHA are no longer a two-pole dialogue between the Centre and Ladakh's Apex bodies. The negotiating table has expanded. - ANI Sunny Deol became emotional while revealing that his iconic film 'Border' was directly inspired by his father Dharmendra's war classic 'Haqeeqat.' He shared this heartfelt connection at the launch of the new song 'Ghar Kab Aaoge' for the upcoming sequel, 'Border 2.' Deol also reflected on the unexpected impact of the original film, noting it inspired many young viewers to join the armed forces. The song launch was a patriotic event held in Jaisalmer, attended by the cast and BSF jawans, ahead of the film's January 23rd release. Sunny Deol reveals the emotional inspiration behind 'Border,' crediting his father Dharmendra's war film 'Haqeeqat.' Details on the 'Border 2' song launch. Jaisalmer, January 2 Actor Sunny Deol got emotional while remembering the deep emotional connection to the film and shared how it was inspired by his father Dharmendra's iconic war film 'Haqeeqat' at the 'Ghar Kab Aaoge' song launch event of the film 'Border 2' at the frontier Tanot area of Jaisalmer. While adressing the BSF Jawans and the media at the song launch event, Sunny Deol remembered his father Dharmendra's war film 'Haqeeqat', saying that it had a "strong impact" on him as a child, which motivated him to make 'Border'. "I did 'Border' because when I watched my father's (Dharmendra) film 'Haqeeqat', I loved it deeply. I was a child then. So, when I became an actor, I decided to make a film similar to my father's movie. I spoke to J.P. Dutta, and we decided to make a film on the Longewala subject, which is extremely close to our hearts and lives in the hearts of all of you," said Sunny Deol. Sunny Deol reflected on the film Border's impact on youth, saying he never imagined it would inspire young people to join the armed forces. "Wherever I go, I never knew that we would give so much confidence to so many young people that they would choose to join the armed forces. Whenever I meet them, they tell me that after watching my film, they decided to join the army," said Sunny Deol. The makers of Border 2 have released the highly anticipated track 'Ghar Kab Aaoge' at a song launch event held in Longewala-Tanot, Jaisalmer, on Friday. The song launch event, attended by lead cast members Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, Sonu Nigam, Bhushan Kumar, and others, unfolded in the presence of BSF jawans and the army, making it a moment of national pride and collective emotion. The reimagined version of the 'Ghar Kab Aaoge' song was created by Mithoon with the original music composition by Anu Malik. Manoj Muntashir Shukla added the fresh lyrics to the song, which was originally penned by Javed Akhtar. The vocals for the song are performed by Roopkumar Rathod, Sonu Nigam, Arijit Singh, Vishal Mishra, and Diljit Dosanjh. Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 brings together a powerful ensemble led by Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, Mona Singh, Medha Rana, Sonam Bajwa, and Anya Singh. Border 2 is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series, in association with J.P. Dutta's J.P. Films. Backed by a powerful production team including Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, and directed by Anurag Singh. The film is set to release in theatres on January 23. - ANI In a resurfaced IIFA speech, Jackie Shroff emotionally credited filmmaker Subhash Ghai for transforming his life by offering him a hero's role despite his humble background and lack of formal training. Shroff's journey began in a Mumbai chawl, marked by financial hardship and odd jobs before modeling led to his cinematic breakthrough. His raw authenticity in 'Hero' launched a career that weathered ups and downs, evolving from romantic leads to acclaimed character roles in films like 'Parinda' and 'Devdas'. Throughout his stardom, Shroff has remained famously grounded, embracing reinvention while staying true to his roots. Jackie Shroff reveals how Subhash Ghai discovered him and guided his path from Mumbai's chawls to becoming a celebrated Bollywood star. Mumbai, Jan 1 Actor Jackie Shroff, once spoke about how he battled the odds to become an actor, and how filmmaker Subhash Ghai was the catalyst to his journey in cinema. An old video from IIFA has recently surfaced on the Internet, and it shows the actor giving a speech after receiving an honour. He said, "I am a boy from chawl. I used to stay in a slum. I had no idea about acting or I had no idea that I was a South Mumbai kid. Subhash Ghai gave me the offer of being a hero and I became a hero. I don't know how he got me to do this. I don't even know Hindi properly. When I say something, it sounds different. My language is different. I can't speak any language properly. But the way Subhash Ghai guided me in life, made me capable, gave me a podium like this to stand with great actors like Anil Kapoor". "I mean, he is standing in front of you and asking me to say something. I can't say anything, Subhash, I respect you a lot. You made me stand here today. Thank you so much", he added. Jackie Shroff's journey was born in a modest chawl, his early life was marked by financial instability and loss. He dropped out of school early to support his family, taking up odd jobs before being spotted for modeling. Acting was never a planned dream but it became a lifeline. His breakthrough came with 'Hero', where his raw intensity and street-bred authenticity instantly set him apart in a star-driven industry. Success, however, didn't arrive without turbulence. Jackie faced a volatile career graph, box-office failures, and the pressures of sustaining stardom through changing eras of Hindi cinema. Yet he adapted, moving from romantic leads to complex character roles with dignity. Films like 'Parinda', 'Gardish', 'Rangeela', and 'Devdas' showcased his emotional depth and versatility, earning critical acclaim and respect beyond commercial metrics. One of Jackie Shroff's greatest victories is his refusal to shed his roots. Despite fame, he retained his grounded persona, spiritual bent, and unconventional lifestyle. He embraced reinvention long before it became fashionable, working across mainstream and regional cinema. - IANS Denise Van Outens ex-boyfriend Eddie Boxshall is engaged. Eddie Boxshall and Caroline are engaged / Instagram The 52-year-old part-time DJ - who dated the 51-year-old TV presenter for seven years before their romance ended in 2022 - popped the question to personal trainer Caroline during a romantic getaway to Mallorca, Spain, on New Year's Day (01.01.26). Captioning a photo of the smitten couple kissing as Caroline showed off the huge, sparkly diamond ring, Eddie penned: "We did something yesterday #mallorca #1.1.2026 (sic)." Eddie's followers rushed to the upload's comments section to congratulate him and Caroline. Phats and Small member Ben Ofoedu, 53 - who was previously engaged to 63-year-old TV presenter Vanessa Feltz - wrote: "Congratulations bro (sic)." Another follower left: "Yesssss!! Congratulations you two! So happy for you both (sic)." And a third supporter typed: "So pleased for you guys! Congratulations Ed x (sic)." In August 2023, Eddie went Instagram official with Caroline, with a shot of him cuddling up to his flame - who has a strong resemblance to his ex-partner, Denise. And one fan pointed this out in that post's comments section, who said: "Anyone going to state the obvious?" Eddie replied: "Yeah I'm the happiest I've ever been... well spotted!" Commodities trader Eddie dated Denise for seven years, and their romance memorably played out on Channel 4s Celebrity Gogglebox. However, Denise dumped him in January 2022 after she found out that Eddie - who was replaced on her sofa on Celebrity Gogglebox by her close pal, 47-year-old Blue boy band member Duncan James - had sent up to 20 sex texts to other women behind her back on his iPad. In May that year, Eddie - who has two children from a previous relationship, Jordan, 28, and 25 year old Leah - admitted he regretted what he had done on a single night after a few drinks. He told The Sun: "I hurt Denise, I broke her trust, and Im deeply sorry. "Im sitting here to say I hold my hands up to what Ive done wrong. I deeply regret that I sent those messages. "Ive tried to apologise to Denise. Ive sent her untold messages on text, on email, saying that I love her and that Im sorry for what Ive done - that Im embarrassed and Im ashamed. "Ive not been in a good place for six months - Ive even turned to alcohol to help me cope. I knew my actions had broken us. But I still hoped that our seven-year relationship was strong enough to withstand a mistake I made at a very dark time in my life. "As far as Denise is concerned, the trust between us is broken, and I have to respect that. In November 2022, Eddie stressed to the publication that there was no animosity between him and the former The Big Breakfast star. He said: "There is no animosity. Life goes on, the world carries on going round. She's happy. I'm really happy she's moved on. And I wish all the love and luck in the world. "You know, I'm still yet to start dating. I'm looking at career-wise first. Once I'm ready to move on, I'll move on." Denise went on to find love with dancer Jimmy Barba; however, they broke up in late 2023 after an 18-month romance. In June 2025, Denise went public with her new flame, businessman Adam Butler, at the Glastonbury music festival. A South Korean court on Friday issued an additional arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, extending his detention by another six months, Yonhap News Agency reported. Leaders from Singapore, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have expressed sorrow over the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. They praised her role in advancing Bangladesh's parliamentary democracy and market economy, while also highlighting her efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. Indian condolences were formally conveyed earlier in the week, underscoring her regional significance. Khaleda Zia, a dominant political figure who served three terms, passed away at 80 after a prolonged illness. Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India express condolences on the passing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, honoring her democratic legacy. Dhaka, January 2 Leaders of Singapore, Sri Lanka and Nepal expressed their condolences through letters on the pPassing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday expressed condolences and said that the nation's sympathies were with Bangladesh in this period of grief. "Prime Minister Khaleda Zia played an important role in Bangladesh's journey towards parliamentary democracy and a market economy. She was also Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister and a champion for women's education and development. Bilaterally, she was instrumental in strengthening relations between our two countries. Her legacy of dedication and service to her nation will be deeply remembered," he added. Nepal's Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki said that she was saddened to learn the passing of Khaleda Zia. Karki called her demise "an irreparable loss not only to Bangladesh, but also to our region as a whole." "Begum Zia served Bangladesh and its people with dignity and distinction. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy of lifelong public service, with her enduring leadership marking a historic chapter in the democratic journey of Bangladesh. Nepal will remember her with gratitude for the significant role she played in strengthening Nepal-Bangladesh relations, particularly during her three tenures as the Prime Minister," she said. Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Disanayake recounted the strength displayed by Khaleda Zia who led the country through several socio economic challenges. "The late Prime Minister was an outstanding stateswoman who devoted her life to the service of the people of Bangladesh, leading the country through momentous political and socio-economic challenges. A steadfast friend of Sri Lanka, her leadership played a significant role in further strengthening the enduring ties of friendship and cooperation between our two nations," he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed his grief in the form of a letter, which External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday handed over to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in Dhaka and conveyed India's deepest condolences on the death of his mother, former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first woman prime minister, died on December 30 at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. A dominant figure in national politics for decades, she led the country for three terms and played a key role in restoring democracy following years of military rule. - ANI The WTT Youth Contender 2026 commenced in Vadodara with defending champion Divyanshi Bhowmik and compatriot Syndrela Das posting decisive straight-game victories in the U-17 girls' singles group stage. Japan's Miku Matsushima also impressed with two wins, positioning herself well for the knockout rounds. In the boys' events, top seed Ritvik Gupta and local favorite Ved Panchal advanced, with Panchal securing a hard-fought five-set victory. The tournament features competitions from U-11 to U-19, showcasing the next generation of table tennis talent. Defending champ Divyanshi Bhowmik and Syndrela Das begin their U-17 campaigns with commanding wins at the WTT Youth Contender 2026 in Vadodara. Vadodara, January 2 Defending champion Divyanshi Bhowmik, Syndrela Das, Japan's Miku Matsushima and rising star Tanishka Kalbhairav kicked off their U-17 girls singles campaign in the WTT Youth Contender 2026 with comfortable wins in the group stage at the SAMA Indoor Stadium on Friday. The second edition of WTT Youth Contender, which kicked off on Friday, features competitions from U-11 to U-19, with the U-13 and U-17 boys and girls in action on the opening day, according to a release. Divyanshi, who had won both the U-15 and U-17 girls singles titles last year, opened her campaign by blanking compatriot Neeza Kamat 11-4, 11-1, 11-2 in the Group 1 opener, while Syndrela defeated Tania Karmakar 11-6, 11-6, 11-2 in Group 3. Japan's Matsushima took significant strides towards the knockout stage with 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 wins over Swara Karmakar and then defeated Anvi Gupte 11-6, 11-3, 11-8 in Group 2. In the boy's U-17 category, top seed Ritvik Gupta won both his Group 1 matches. Gupta defeated Dhruva Malikarjunan 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 and then got the better of Shreyas Mankeshwar 13-11, 11-6, 11-7. Local boy Ved Panchal also advanced to the knockout stage with three wins from three matches in Group 21. He first defeated Aarav Singhvi 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, then overcame a stiff challenge from Aarav Rathi with a 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6 before beating Nitin Veeraraghavan 12-10, 11-6, 11-7 to top the group. Aditya Das and Sahil Rawat from Groups 2 and 3, respectively, also topped their groups with two victories. In the U-13 boys category, Shaurya Goyal had to work hard for his 10-12, 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 11-6 win over Suchet Dharennavar in Group 1. Divija Paul, the top-ranked player in girls U-13, didn't break much sweat in Group 1 as she registered easy wins. First, she defeated Inaaya 11-8, 11-3, 11-5 and then got the better of Pehel Gupta 11-9, 11-7, 11-2. - ANI YSR Congress Party MP Maddila Gurumoorthy has urgently appealed to the Union government to secure the release of nine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard since October 2025. The fishermen, who hail from Vizianagaram district, inadvertently crossed the international maritime boundary due to navigational errors while operating in the Bay of Bengal. A charge sheet has been filed against them in Bangladesh, prompting both state and central government interventions, including legal aid from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. The MP emphasized the humanitarian crisis, citing the severe mental and financial distress faced by the fishermen's families who depend entirely on traditional fishing for their livelihood. YSRCP MP urges Centre to secure release of 9 Andhra fishermen detained by Bangladesh Coast Guard for inadvertent maritime boundary crossing. Amaravati, Jan 2 YSR Congress Party MP Maddila Gurumoorthy, on Friday, urged the Union government to ensure the safe release of nine fishermen who were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard. In a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the MP said that nine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh were apprehended by the Bangladesh Coast Guard in the mid sea of Bay of Bengal on October 21, 2025 while they were operating a mechanised fishing vessel. The fishermen hail from Vizianagaram district and their families are in distress and undergoing mental agony, he said, and urged the Union government to use their offices to seek the release and safe return of the fishermen. According to Gurumoorthy, the fishermen inadvertently crossed the international maritime boundary near the West Bengal coast due to navigational lapses but were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard. He said that there was no criminal intent involved. He added the fishermen depend entirely on traditional fishing for their livelihood and that their prolonged detention has caused severe mental and financial distress to their families. The YSRCP MP from Tirupati added that Bangladesh is a signatory to international maritime laws and that provisions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea allow for the release of detained fishermen and vessels in such cases. Citing humanitarian concerns, Gurumoorthy appealed to the Centre and the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh to take immediate steps to resolve the issue and ensure the fishermen's early release. The state government had said that eight fishermen from Vizianagaram district were detained by the Bangladesh Navy after their boat allegedly strayed into the neighbouring country's territorial waters. The state government contacted the MEA through the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi to secure the release of the fishermen. A special legal team of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka is providing legal aid for their release. A charge sheet has been filed in Bangladesh against the fishermen, prompting the Andhra Pradesh government to appeal to the Bangladesh Embassy for cooperation to allow continuous contact with the fishermen's families. Union Civil Aviation Minister, K. Ram Mohan Naidu, took up the matter with the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar requesting steps for their swift return. - IANS Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. A tourist poses for photos with a camel adorned in Santa Claus-themed decorations at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) People enjoy the sunrise at a sightseeing platform in Eryuan County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China welcomed the arrival of 2026 at sunrise. (Photo by Luo Xincai/Xinhua) Tourists learn about intangible cultural heritage on a themed train running from Beijing Railway Station to Tianjin North Railway Station, Jan. 1, 2026. The Tianjin Fantasy Express has begun a scheduled round-trip service between Tianjin North Railway Station and Beijing Railway Station since Thursday. The line features 10 distinctively themed carriages integrating art performances, cultural presentations and intangible cultural heritage experience. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan) A child enjoys a scientific experiment at a science museum in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrated the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Chen Bin/Xinhua) Participants compete during a horse racing event held to celebrate the arrival of 2026 in Sandu Shui Autonomous County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) A homeless man lies on the street in San Francisco, the United States, Dec. 31, 2025. (Photo by Zhu Ziyu/Xinhua) This photo shows the illuminated Lujiazui in celebration of the New Year in east China's Shanghai, Dec. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) A citizen holds Bulgarian lev cash to make a payment in Sofia, Bulgaria, Dec. 31, 2025. Bulgaria joined the eurozone and adopted the euro as its official currency on New Year's Day, becoming the 21st member of the euro area. To ensure a smooth transition to the new currency, throughout January, the Bulgarian lev will remain in circulation alongside the euro. Starting Feb. 1, the euro will become the country's sole legal tender. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) Fireworks explode in front of the London Eye in celebration of the New Year in London, Britain, Jan. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ying) A worker works on a wheel production line of a company in Qinhuangdao City, north China's Hebei Province, on Jan. 1, 2026. Some workers from all walks of life have been standing fast at their posts and fulfilling their duties with full dedication on the New Year day. (Photo by Cao Jianxiong/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting Wuma Street in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 1, 2026. People across China celebrated the arrival of 2026 with a wide range of festivities on Thursday, the first day of the year. (Photo by Su Qiaojiang/Xinhua) A tourist plays a "water to ice" game by splashing water into the cold air by the Halha River in the city of Arxan of Hinggan League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 1, 2026. Despite Arxan's frigid winter cold, this geothermally-affected section of the Halha River never freezes, which attracts great amount of tourists in winter. (Photo by Wang Zheng/Xinhua) People strike the bell to greet the New Year at the Big Bell Temple (Dazhongsi) Ancient Bell Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 1, 2026. Various activities were held nationwide to celebrate the New Year. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) Security forces cordon off the scene of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people died and over 110 others were injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) A stacked composite photo taken on Dec. 31, 2025 in Beijing, China, shows the Chinese space station passing in front of the Moon. (Photo by Zhong Yi/Xinhua) Scientists and physicians can better assess precision genome editing technology using a new method made public today by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Significant amounts of time and resources spent improving CRISPR gene editing technology focus on identifying small off-target sites that pose a safety risk, which is also technically challenging. St. Jude researchers addressed the problem by creating Circularization for High-throughput Analysis of Nuclease Genome-wide Effects by Sequencing Base Editors (CHANGE-seq-BE), an unbiased, sensitive and resource-efficient method to find these off-target edits. It outperformed conventional approaches and has already been used to support clinical work. The technique was published in Nature Biotechnology. While traditional genome editing technology uses CRISPR-Cas9 to cut a small segment of DNA from the genome, scientists have continued to develop more precise versions, including base editors, which can find and replace individual DNA base pairs. We developed CHANGE-seq-BE to enable scientists to better understand base editors, an important class of CRISPR precise genome editors. It's a simple and streamlined way to understand the global activity of base editors that enables researchers to select highly specific and active editor and target combinations for research or therapeutics." Shengdar Tsai, PhD, corresponding author, St. Jude Department of Hematology CHANGE-seq-BE is already being adopted to support clinical research. The paper published today includes a case study of an emergency application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a base editor treating CD40L-deficient X-linked Hyper IgM (X-HIGM) syndrome. X-HIGM is a genetic immune disease that base editing may be able to correct. CHANGE-seq-BE was able to confirm 95.4% on-target specificity from the base editor used, with no significant off-target activity, providing valuable safety data to help push forward the patient's treatment. "It was a really exciting application to support an emergency request to the FDA to treat a patient rapidly," Tsai said. "It exemplifies how this method enables rapid understanding of what these editors are doing in the genome and helps advance promising active and specific therapeutics." Combining efficiency with an unbiased approach provides better results Tsai's lab created CHANGE-seq-BE because conventional methods to assess base editors' safety have had to choose between comprehensive coverage and efficient resource use. Some techniques to comprehensively find base editing's off-target activity in an unbiased way require whole genome sequencing, which can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. Alternatively, some techniques pre-select suspected off-targets to perform less sequencing and save resources, but these biased techniques can never detect unexpected off-target edits. The St. Jude scientists designed CHANGE-seq-BE to capture the best of both approaches: a comprehensive solution that would also be resource-efficient. To do so, CHANGE-seq-BE starts with a whole genome, but instead of immediately sequencing it, scientists split the genome into tiny circles of DNA. They then take those circles and expose them to the base editor being tested. Afterward, they treat the DNA with a special enzyme that detects if base editing occurred, opening those - and only those - DNA circles with evidence of base editing into linear strands. The linear strands of DNA are then selectively sequenced, requiring far fewer resources than competing techniques. They optimized it for both major types of base editors (adenine and cytosine base editors). After developing the method, the scientists wanted to know if it truly was both more comprehensive and resource-efficient than conventional approaches, so they tested them head-to-head. "When we directly compared it to other methods, CHANGE-seq-BE found almost all sites nominated by those methods, as well as many that it was exclusively able to detect," Tsai said. "We showed that this unbiased approach was more sensitive while using only about 5% of the sequencing reads." Given the technique's sensitivity, ease of use and efficient resource utilization, others have already begun adopting it. Full experimental protocols and software to enable CHANGE-seq-BE are described in the study, enabling this adoption. For example, in addition to the clinical application reported in the paper, clinical trials at St. Jude and beyond have integrated the technique into their planning, using it as a safety and efficiency evaluation tool. CHANGE-seq-BE was also recently used to characterize the first patient-specific in vivo genome editing treatment. Fundamental research labs investigating base editing have also begun using it to test for off-targets early in their process, better identifying the most promising approaches to pursue than existing screens. These early adopters show the technique's appeal to researchers and clinicians alike, and its promise to push forward the future of base editing. "We've enabled those developing these therapies to quickly understand and find the base editors with the highest potential activity and specificity," Tsai said. "We hope that methods like CHANGE-seq-BE will open the door toward more genome editing therapies being developed for and reaching the patients who need them." 3 arrested for murder of woman near Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 20:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Bilaspur (HP), Jan 2 (PTI) Police here on Friday said they have arrested a father-son duo and another person from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat for allegedly killing a woman near the Naina Devi temple in December. The womans body, with her hands and feet tied with a rope and a scarf around her neck as a noose, was found on the pavement near the temple on December 17. According to police, the main accused in the case had brought the woman to the temple on the pretext of sightseeing, and then the trio allegedly killed her. Police have not yet clarified the motive behind the killing. Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Sandeep Dhawal said that a special team scanned through the CCTV footage to identify the main accused, his father and his friend. Two of the accused were arrested from Unnao and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, and the third was nabbed from Gujarats Surat. All three have been brought to the Kot police station here, the officer said. PTI COR BPL NSD NSD News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 20:00 IST News agency-feeds 3 arrested for murder of woman near Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 7 dead, dozens missing after migrant boat capsizes off Gambia Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 03:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Banjul [Gambia], January 2 (ANI): At least seven people have died, and dozens remain missing after a boat carrying more than 200 passengers capsized along a major migration route off the Gambian coast, Al Jazeera cited local authorities as saying. The Gambian Ministry of Defence stated that the vessel capsized around midnight on Thursday near a village in the North Bank region. Authorities reported that seven bodies have been recovered, and at least 96 people were rescued, many suffering serious injuries, Al Jazeera reported.The Gambian navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation after midnight, deploying multiple naval vessels along with a fishing boat that came to assist, the Ministry of Defence said. The capsized vessel was later located grounded on a sandbank," the statement added. Several of the victims are confirmed to be non-Gambian, and authorities are working to verify their identities, Al Jazeera reported. The Gambia has become a key departure point for migrants and asylum seekers attempting to reach Spains Canary Islands, a main entry to continental Europe, by boat from West Africa. According to the European Union, over 46,000 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands in 2024. More than 10,000 people died trying to make the journey across the Atlantic, marking a 58 per cent increase compared to 2023, rights group Caminando Fronteras reported, Al Jazeera reported. However, irregular migration from West Africa to the EU fell by 60 per cent in the first 11 months of 2025, Al Jazeera reported, citing the Frontex border agency, attributing the decline to stronger preventive measures by countries of departure.Despite the risks, migrants and asylum seekers continue attempting the journey to Europe on fragile and often overcrowded boats. In May last year, a small vessel carrying over 100 people capsized near the Canary Islands, resulting in the deaths of seven women and girls, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 03:15 IST News agency-feeds 7 dead, dozens missing after migrant boat capsizes off Gambia Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Balochistan: Deadly blast in Sibi kills one, injures five, says police Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 04:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Balochistan [Pakistan], January 2 (ANI): An explosion near Chenak Chowk in Balochistans Sibi district on Thursday left one person dead and five others injured, Dawn cited local authorities as saying. Station House Officer (SHO) Ghulam Ali Abro, posted in Sibi, said that the incident was a grenade attack that took place at around 7:05 pm. One person lost his life, and five others were wounded," Dawn quoted the SHO as saying, adding that security personnel and Edhi ambulances reached the scene immediately after receiving information about the blast. He further said that six injured individuals were shifted to a hospital, but one of them died while being taken for treatment.Meanwhile, Sibi region Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Barkat Khosa said that the injured were taken to the Teaching Hospital, while the body of the deceased was handed over to his family, Dawn reported. Police have tightened security in the area, and further investigation is underway," DIG Khosa said.Last month, an eight-year-old child lost his life and five other family members, including two women, were injured after a grenade detonated inside a house in the Wadh area of Balochistans Khuzdar district, Dawn reported. Police said the house was occupied by two families from Sindhs Kashmore district when unidentified attackers threw a hand grenade into the courtyard, killing the child instantly, Dawn reported.Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022, Dawn reported. According to a report by the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), 2025 emerged as the most violent year in the past decade, recording an overall increase of nearly 34 per cent in violence.The country has experienced a continuous escalation in violence over the past five years, beginning in 2021 alongside the Talibans return to power in Afghanistan, Dawn reported. (ANI) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 04:30 IST News agency-feeds Balochistan: Deadly blast in Sibi kills one, injures five, says police Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Delhi govt issues guidelines for state handicrafts awards, hikes prize money Last Updated: January 03, 2026, 00:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI) The Delhi government has issued guidelines for conferring Rajya Shilpkar and Rajya Dakshata Puraskar to promote local handicrafts and recognise master artisans across 24 categories, officials said on Friday. The move aims to promote local handicrafts and artisanship in the national capital. The awards include six Rajya Shilpkar Puraskar, including one exclusively for women, and 18 Rajya Dakshata Puraskar. In October last year, the government announced a threefold increase in prize money and expanded the awards to include women, persons with disability, startups and innovators. Under the revised structure, the Rajya Shilpkar Puraskar carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, up from Rs 30,000 earlier, while the Rajya Dakshata Puraskar carries Rs 75,000, compared to Rs 20,000 previously. According to the guidelines issued by the Industries Department on Thursday, applicants will be required to submit two samples in different categories along with technical details of their work. A two-tier selection process has been prescribed, comprising an initial screening followed by a skill test. The screening committee will shortlist applicants, while the final selection will be made by a state-level committee headed by the secretary of industries. Delhi has a rich heritage in handicrafts, which contributes to employment generation, economic growth, and foreign exchange earnings. The city is known for crafts such as brassware, woodcraft, cloth paintings, papier-mache, lac bangles and jewellery, terracotta and stuffed toys, among others. Officials said there are more than 20,000 registered artisans in the national capital. The Rajya Dakshata Puraskar is conferred once in a lifetime on outstanding master crafts persons in recognition of their contribution to the growth and development of the handicrafts sector and to encourage preservation of traditional crafts and excellence in workmanship. PTI VIT OZ OZ News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 03, 2026, 00:15 IST News agency-feeds Delhi govt issues guidelines for state handicrafts awards, hikes prize money Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Earthquake of magnitude 3.5 hits Bhutan Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 03:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Thimpu [Bhutan], January 2 (ANI): An earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale struck Bhutan on Thursday around 9:52 pm IST, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).The quake occurred at a depth of five kilometres, with its epicentre located at latitude 27.14 North and longitude 89.05 East. EQ of M: 3.5, On: 01/01/2026 21:52:30 IST, Lat: 27.14 N, Long: 89.05 E, Depth: 5 Km, Location: Bhutan," NCS said in a post on X.Further information on the situation is awaited. (ANI) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 03:45 IST News agency-feeds Earthquake of magnitude 3.5 hits Bhutan Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Madhya Pradesh CM suspends two officials amid Indore water contamination crisis Last Updated: January 03, 2026, 04:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 3 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav condemned the negligence of officials in the water contamination crisis in Bhaagirthpura, Indore. He announced strict action against those responsible and named two officials in the case. In a post on X, the CM clarified his stance on the water contamination crisis, saying, The state government will not tolerate negligence in the incident that occurred in Bhaagirthpura, Indore, due to contaminated drinking water. Strict decisions are being taken in this regard."He stated that two individuals have been suspended following the incident.The corporations Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisonia and the in-charge Superintending Engineer of PHE Sanjeev Shrivastava have been suspended. Instructions have also been given to remove Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav," he said. According to Indore district Collector Shivam Verma, five deaths have been officially confirmed so far in the water contamination incident, and the total number of hospitalised patients has risen to 210.He also highlighted that a team of senior doctors was constituted to analyse death figures" reported from various sources, and that, based on their findings, the official figure would be updated.The administration issues the figures on the basis of medical confirmation, and so far, five deaths have occurred in the incident. We have also constituted a team of senior doctors who will analyse death figures, which were received from other sources, such as public representatives or the media, and we will update our official death figure report. Till yesterday, 201 people were admitted, today 9 more people have been admitted, and the number has risen to 210," Verma told ANI. The incident has sparked widespread criticism. Residents have said they no longer trust" the municipal corporation. Speaking to ANI, one resident, Lashkari, said, We had been complaining about dirty water for many days, but no one was listening. My daughter Kanak Lashkari is 15 years old and is admitted to the hospital. My mother is 93 years old. She fell ill on the 24th. She has been treated and is now fine."Now we buy water to drink and for other uses. We take water from the government borewell. Municipal corporation tankers are supplying drinking water, but we are now scared to drink it. We no longer trust it. In the name of development, destruction is being done," he added. (ANI) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 03, 2026, 04:15 IST News agency-feeds Madhya Pradesh CM suspends two officials amid Indore water contamination crisis Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... This photo taken on Jan. 1, 2026 shows sunlight shining on the Meili Snow Mountain in Deqen County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. People across China welcome the arrival of 2026 at sunrise. (Photo by Li Chunlei/Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 1, 2026 shows sunlight shining on the Meili Snow Mountain in Deqen County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. People across China welcome the arrival of 2026 at sunrise. (Photo by Li Chunlei/Xinhua) No shortcut to knowledge, must read every day: Tripura CM Manik Saha Last Updated: January 03, 2026, 01:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Agartala (Tripura) [India], January 3 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Singh Saha has emphasised the importance of reading every day, saying there is no shortcut to success in life and that books play a vital role in personal growth and knowledge.Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 44th Agartala Book Fair at the International Fair Ground in Hapania, CM Saha on Friday said that books serve as a bridge between the physical and the mental and help people understand the unknown. Saha noted that this years book fair theme is Vandemataram.Pen is mightier than the sword. Every day, we are creating a page. We must read books beyond school textbooks. Our brain is the most powerful library. There is no shortcut. We must read every day, and this is the only way to achieve everything. Our children must be encouraged to read books so that their vocabulary strengthens, their writing improves, and their thinking and awareness expand. The more we read, the better it is for us. There is no topic on which people cannot write," said Saha.The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of continuous writing practice, stating that it could eventually be compiled into a book.Agartala Book Fair is recognised across India and the world. Previously, many people from Bangladesh used to come here, but due to the current situation, they are not coming. It is anticipated that this years book sales will surpass last years record. We have decided to adjust the book fair dates and times to align with students exam and study schedules and to increase footfall. A book is a bridge between physical and mental structures, helps us understand the unknown, and leads to knowledge. Books also help people move from darkness to light and find the truth," said Saha.He further said that the earlier tradition of gifting books during programmes had stopped and should be revived.We must revive this tradition in a new way. A book will never betray people. One should set aside dedicated time for reading and make it a habit. Keeping every aspect in mind, we have decided to hold the book fair here at the International Fair Ground in Hapania," he added.Deputy Speaker Ram Prasad Pal, MLA Mina Rani Sarkar, MLA and Mayor Dipak Majumder, Secretary PK Chakraborty, Director of ICA Bimbisar Bhattacharya, former Vice Chancellor of Tripura University, Padma Professor Arunoday Saha, and others were present at the event. (ANI) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 03, 2026, 01:00 IST News agency-feeds No shortcut to knowledge, must read every day: Tripura CM Manik Saha Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Odisha: Forester arrested for misappropriating government funds Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 20:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Bhubaneswar, Jan 2 (PTI) A Forest Department official was arrested in Odisha on Friday for allegedly misappropriating government funds, an officer said. The arrested official allegedly misappropriated over Rs 55 lakh by preparing false muster rolls and vouchers for soil and moisture conservation works at plantation sites in Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi district during 2024-25, he said. The official was arrested by the Vigilance Department, he added. In another case, the former principal and the president of a college were arrested in Jajpur district for allegedly swindling government funds to the tune of Rs 32.07 lakh. Both of them were associated with the Chitalo Degree Mahavidyalaya, the officer said. PTI BBM BBM SOM News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 20:15 IST News agency-feeds Odisha: Forester arrested for misappropriating government funds Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... ICICI Bank Launches Capital Gains Account Scheme To Help Taxpayers Claim Exemptions, Earn Interest Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 12:13 IST Customers can open a Capital Gains Account by visiting an ICICI Bank branch, except rural branches, in line with CGAS rules. The CGAS is particularly useful for taxpayers who are unable to reinvest their long-term capital gains in eligible assets before the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline, but still wish to claim exemption. ICICI Bank has announced the launch of the Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS), a facility that allows taxpayers to park unutilised long-term capital gains or sale proceeds and claim tax exemptions while earning interest on the deposited amount. The launch comes after the government approved ICICI Bank as an authorised institution to accept deposits under the Capital Gains Account Scheme. Effective January 1, 2026, the scheme is available to resident individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs). The bank said the facility will be extended to non-individual entities and non-resident Indians (NRIs) at a later stage. The CGAS is particularly useful for taxpayers who are unable to reinvest their long-term capital gains in eligible assets before the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline, but still wish to claim exemptions under the Income Tax Act. By depositing the gains in a designated CGAS account, taxpayers can retain their exemption eligibility for up to three years, subject to reinvestment conditions. Customers can open a Capital Gains Account by visiting an ICICI Bank branch, except rural branches, in line with CGAS rules. An ICICI Bank spokesperson said, We thank the Government of India for recognising ICICI Bank as an authorised institution for CGAS deposits. With this scheme, customers can park un-invested long term capital gains, earn interest, and claim tax exemptions, while planning reinvestment up to three years. This offering reinforces our commitment to deliver financial solutions that meet evolving customer needs." Under the scheme, customers can choose between two types of accounts. Type A accounts, similar to savings accounts, allow flexible withdrawals linked to approved reinvestment purposes. Type B accounts function like term deposits and can be opened in cumulative or non-cumulative formats for a fixed tenure. Deposits made before the ITR due date can be used to claim exemption on long-term capital gains under relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act. The deposited funds can be temporarily parked for up to three years, during which taxpayers can plan reinvestment without losing the exemption benefit. Interest earned on these accounts is comparable to regular savings accounts or fixed deposits, depending on the account type. The proceeds can later be reinvested in eligible assets such as residential property, agricultural land, or new capital assets of industrial undertakings in non-urban areas or special economic zones, depending on the applicable CGAS provisions. Withdrawals are permitted only against proof of utilisation for the specified purpose. For taxpayers dealing with delayed reinvestment of capital gains, the CGAS provides a structured way to preserve tax benefits while keeping funds interest-bearing until final deployment. Section 54 Exemption On Capital Gains Tax Under the Income Tax Act, taxpayers can save long-term capital gains tax by reinvesting the sale proceeds under specific sections such as Section 54 (sale of a residential house), Section 54F (sale of assets other than a house), Section 54B (sale of agricultural land), Section 54EC (investment in notified bonds), and Section 54D (compulsory acquisition of industrial land or buildings). If the reinvestment cannot be completed before the income tax return filing deadline, the unutilised amount can be deposited in a Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS). This deposit is treated as a valid reinvestment for tax purposes, allowing the taxpayer to claim the exemption on time, provided the funds are eventually used within the specified periodusually two to three years, depending on the section. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 12:13 IST News business banking-finance ICICI Bank Launches Capital Gains Account Scheme To Help Taxpayers Claim Exemptions, Earn Interest Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Electronics Components Manufacturing: Govt Clears 22 Proposals With Investments Of Rs 41,863 Crore Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 13:59 IST The latest approvals include proposals from major players such as Dixon Technologies, Samsung Display Noida, Foxconn (through Yuzhan Technology India) and Hindalco Industries. The approvals mark the third tranche under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Friday cleared 22 fresh proposals under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), involving a projected investment of Rs 41,863 crore and estimated production output of Rs 2,58,152 crore, as the government steps up efforts to deepen Indias electronics manufacturing ecosystem. The latest approvals include proposals from major players such as Dixon Technologies, Samsung Display Noida Pvt Ltd, Foxconn (through Yuzhan Technology India Pvt Ltd) and Hindalco Industries. Collectively, the projects are expected to generate 33,791 direct jobs, according to the ministry. The approvals mark the third tranche under the ECMS. Earlier, MeitY had approved 24 applications involving investments of Rs 12,704 crore. With the latest round, the total scale of commitments under the scheme has expanded significantly. Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw handed over approval letters to the selected companies on Friday. As per a background note issued by the ministry, the newly approved projects cover the manufacturing of 11 target segment products with applications across multiple sectors, including mobile phones, telecom equipment, consumer electronics, strategic electronics, automotive electronics and IT hardware. Geographically, the projects are spread across eight states Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan highlighting the governments push for regionally balanced growth and wider dispersion of electronics manufacturing capacity beyond a few clusters. Of the 11 product categories approved, five relate to core components such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), capacitors, connectors, enclosures and lithium-ion cells. Three projects focus on sub-assemblies, including camera modules, display modules and optical transceivers, while the remaining three are supply-chain inputs such as aluminium extrusion, anode material and laminates. According to the ministry, the latest set of approvals is aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains, cutting import dependence for critical electronic components, and accelerating the development of high-value manufacturing capabilities within the country. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 13:42 IST News business economy Electronics Components Manufacturing: Govt Clears 22 Proposals With Investments Of Rs 41,863 Crore Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Stocks To Watch: ITC, Devyani International, Vodafone Idea, HUDCO, Tata Steel, Zomato, And Others Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 07:54 IST Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like ITC, Devyani International, Vodafone Idea, HUDCO, Tata Steel, Zomato, and others will be in focus on Friday's trade Stocks To Watch Stocks to watch on January 02, 2026: Indian equity markets kicked off the first trading session of the New Year on a muted note, ending the day largely flat. Going ahead, analysts believe the Nifty is likely to gradually break out of its ongoing consolidation phase. According to Ajit Mishra, SVPResearch at Religare Broking, a sustained move above the 26,200 mark could open the door for an upside towards the 26,50026,700 range in the near term. He advised traders to maintain a positive bias and follow a buy-on-dips strategy, with a preference for banking, auto and metal stocks, while adhering to disciplined risk management. Sapphire Foods, Devyani International Sapphire Foods India is set to merge into Devyani International. Under the proposed transaction, Devyani will issue 177 shares for every 100 shares of Sapphire and expects annual synergies of 210225 crore from the second full year of operations of the merged entity. Group company Arctic International will acquire around 18.5% of Sapphire Foods equity from existing promoters, with an option to assign the stake to a mutually agreed financial investor. The merger comes at a time when fast-food franchisees in India are grappling with slowing same-store sales and margin pressures amid high living costs. Vodafone Idea Vodafone Idea said it has received a GST order confirming a penalty of 637.9 crore along with applicable tax demand and interest. The order has been passed by the Office of the Additional Commissioner, Central GST, Ahmedabad South, under Section 74 of the CGST Act, 2017. The company said it does not agree with the order and will explore appropriate legal remedies. ITC Shares of ITC will remain in focus after plunging nearly 10% on Thursday, marking the stocks sharpest single-day fall in almost six years. The decline followed a finance ministry notification raising excise duties on cigarettes to 2,0508,500 per 1,000 sticks, depending on length, effective February 1. The higher excise duty, in addition to the existing 40% GST, has sparked concerns over potential volume impact. HUDCO State-owned Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) said it sanctioned loans worth over 46,000 crore during the third quarter of the current fiscal. Total loan sanctions during AprilDecember of FY26 stood at 1.39 lakh crore, the company said in a regulatory filing. Tata Steel Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director T V Narendran said steel prices in India touched their lowest levels in the past five years during 2025, despite strong domestic demand and supply. Speaking at a New Year event, he noted that the year was challenging due to rising global trade disruptions and protectionist measures adopted by several countries. Zomato Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal said Zomato and Blinkit achieved record delivery volumes on Wednesday, processing over 7.5 million orders in a single day. In a post on X, he said the platforms collectively served more than 6.3 million customers through about 4.5 lakh delivery partners, even as calls for strikes by delivery workers circulated in recent days. Kotak Mahindra Bank Paritosh Kashyap, Whole-time Director and Executive Director at Kotak Mahindra Bank, said the RBIs regulatory approach has consistently focused on ease of doing business and improving customer experience. Speaking to The Financial Express, he said the bank remains focused on SME lending, transaction banking, customer service and retail assets, with SME and transaction banking expected to drive the next phase of growth. TVS Motor TVS Motor ended 2025 as the market leader in Indias electric two-wheeler segment, with a 26% market share in December. The company reported a 44% year-on-year jump in electric scooter sales to 25,039 units during the month, according to Vahan data. Its market share rose from 24% in December 2024, and the iQube maker led the E2W segment in eight of the 12 months in 2025. Bharat Electronics Bharat Electronics (BEL) said it has received additional orders worth 569 crore since its last disclosure on December 29. The orders include communication equipment, medical electronics, instant fire detection and suppression systems, upgrades, spares and services. The company did not disclose the names of the customers. Ola Electric Ola Electric announced an expansion supported by higher service capacity under its in-app Hyperservice initiative. The company said it registered 9,020 units in December, taking its month-on-month market share to 9.3%, compared with 7.2% in November 2025. Its market share for the second half of December rose to nearly 12%, indicating improving demand. Britannia Industries Britannia Industries disclosed that it has received an order from the Office of the Principal Commissioner of CGST & Central Excise, Chennai North Commissionerate. The order pertains to FY201819 to FY202324 and alleges incorrect availment of input tax credit. The total tax demand stands at 108.50 crore, along with an equivalent penalty and applicable interest. RailTel Corporation RailTel Corporation of India said it has received a Letter of Acceptance from the Assam Health Infrastructure Development & Management Society for a project involving procurement, implementation and maintenance of a Hospital Management Information System. The domestic order is valued at 567 crore and is scheduled to be executed by January 31, 2032. RBL Bank RBL Bank informed that its request to temporarily cap foreign shareholding at 24% of total equity on a fully diluted basis has not been acceded to by the RBI and the Government of India under existing rules. The update relates to the proposed preferential investment by Emirates NBD Bank. NMDC NMDC reported iron ore production of 5.40 million tonnes in December 2025, up 14.7% from 4.71 million tonnes a year earlier. Production included 1.52 MT from Karnataka and 3.88 MT from Chhattisgarh. Sales during the month rose to 4.64 MT from 3.91 MT in the year-ago period, with Chhattisgarh contributing 3.21 MT and Karnataka 1.43 MT. 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. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 07:54 IST News business markets Stocks To Watch: ITC, Devyani International, Vodafone Idea, HUDCO, Tata Steel, Zomato, And Others Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Sewer Bacteria Found In Indore's Contaminated Water That Killed At Least 9: Probe Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 10:09 IST Laboratory tests have confirmed that contaminated drinking water was responsible for the vomiting-diarrhoea outbreak in Indore's Bhagirathpura. MP CM Mohan Yadav meets the people affected by the sewer water leak in drinking water. (Pic: X) Amid the ongoing probe into the death of at least 9 people in Madhya Pradeshs Indore, initial reports have confirmed the presence of bacteria that are generally found in sewer water" in the drinking water samples. The laboratory tests have confirmed that contaminated drinking water was responsible for the vomiting-diarrhoea outbreak in the affected area. According to the reports, the tests detected the presence of Vibrio cholerae, Shigella, and E. coli. Bacteria in the contaminated water. Notably, these pathogens are often known to cause severe gastrointestinal infections marked by acute diarrhoea and vomiting. The outbreak was reported from Bhagirathpura, triggering serious concerns over water safety in Indore, a city that has topped Indias cleanliness rankings for eight consecutive years. Contaminated Water Behind Diarrhoea Outbreak According to Indores Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani, the laboratory analysis conducted at a city-based medical college confirmed that contaminated drinking water was the source of the illness. Reportedly, the sewage entered the drinking water supply due to a leakage in an underground pipeline in the area. Officials stated that a major leak was found in the main water supply pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura, at a location where a toilet had reportedly been constructed above the line. The leakage is believed to have led to contamination in the area. Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey, who is heading the probe committee, said the entire drinking water pipeline network in Bhagirathpura is being examined to check for further leakages. After inspections, clean water was restored to households on Thursday, though residents have been advised to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure, he added. Dubey said fresh water samples have been collected and sent for testing, and lessons from the Bhagirathpura incident would be used to frame a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the entire state to prevent similar outbreaks in the future. According to the administration, the residents first complained of foul-smelling water around December 25, although some locals reported that the problem had persisted for weeks before worsening. A total of 14 deaths were initially reported from the area, but officials clarified that nine were directly linked to diarrhoea caused by contaminated water, while the others were due to co-morbidities or unrelated causes. The scale of the outbreak remains significant. Officials said over 2,400 people have reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea so far. A health department survey conducted on Thursday covered 1,714 households and examined 8,571 people, of whom 338 with mild symptoms were treated at home. In the eight days since the outbreak began, 272 patients were admitted to hospitals. Of these, 71 have been discharged, while 201 remain hospitalised, including 32 patients in intensive care units, officials said. NHRC Issues Notice To MP Govt The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the deaths and issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government, citing reports that residents had complained about contaminated water for several days without corrective action. The NHRC stated that the incident raises serious concerns about human rights violations and has requested a detailed report from the Madhya Pradesh chief secretary within two weeks. Authorities On Alert Authorities have intensified surveillance of the citys water supply system to prevent further outbreaks, while continuing to investigate possible lapses by officials and the condition of ageing pipelines. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav termed the outbreak an emergency-like situation" and assured strict action against those responsible. He visited hospitals in Indore to review the condition of patients and later chaired a high-level meeting to assess the situation. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Indore, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 08:42 IST News cities Sewer Bacteria Found In Indore's Contaminated Water That Killed At Least 9: Probe Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... New Twist In Bengaluru Newlywed Death Case, Mans Sister Files FIR, Nine Named Curated By : Local18 Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 18:23 IST In the complaint, it has been alleged that Ganavis family made serious accusations about Soorajs character, which led to his public defamation and severe mental stress Woman's parents have alleged that she was subjected to continuous harassment after marriage over dowry and jewellery demands. The Bengaluru suicide case involving newly married Ganavi has taken a fresh turn, with police registering an FIR against nine people following a complaint from the family of her husband, Sooraj. The case has drawn attention due to the serious allegations being made by both sides. Ganavi, who had married Sooraj on 29 October, died by suicide 5 December. Following her death, allegations were initially raised against Soorajs family, including claims of harassment. As the investigation progressed, Sooraj also died by suicide, further complicating the case. Now, Soorajs sister-in-law has approached the Vidyaranyapura police station in Bengaluru, accusing Ganavis parents and relatives of being responsible for Soorajs death. Based on her complaint, police have registered an FIR against nine members of Ganavis family, including her parents and close relatives. In the complaint, it has been alleged that Ganavis family made serious accusations about Soorajs character, which led to his public defamation and severe mental stress. The complainant has claimed that these allegations pushed Sooraj into taking his own life. It has also been alleged that Sooraj and his family faced threats from Ganavis brothers during this period. The complaint further states that Soorajs mother, Jayanthi, was accused of dowry harassment, an allegation that Soorajs family has denied. According to them, these accusations added to the pressure and distress faced by Sooraj. As part of the investigation, Soorajs family has also raised claims about Ganavis past. They allege that Ganavi was in love with another man, Harsha, before her marriage and wanted to marry him. According to the family, she was married to Sooraj due to pressure from her own family, despite her reluctance. The family has claimed that this issue surfaced during the couples honeymoon in Sri Lanka, when Ganavi reportedly spoke about her past relationship. They allege that the couple returned early from the trip after these conversations. Soorajs family has maintained that he was not responsible for Ganavis suicide and has instead blamed her family circumstances and unresolved personal issues. A separate complaint has also been filed at Sonegaon police station in Nagpur in connection with the case. Police have said that investigations are ongoing, and all allegations from both sides will be examined before drawing any conclusions. (Reporting by Madesh, News18 Kannada, Bengaluru) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 18:23 IST News bengaluru-news New Twist In Bengaluru Newlywed Death Case, Mans Sister Files FIR, Nine Named Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Vacate Order, Property Greed And Contract Killer: How Sons Planned Ex-IAF Officers Murder In Ghaziabad Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 11:10 IST The 58-year-old Yogesh, a retired IAF employee and a native of Uttar Pradeshs Baghpat district, was gunned down by two bike-borne miscreants on December 26. The 58-year-old Yogesh, a retired IAF employee and a native of Uttar Pradeshs Baghpat district, was gunned down by two bike-borne assailants on December 26 (Representative image) What began as a usual family dispute eventually turned fatal as a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel was gunned down by two bike-borne assailants. Five days after the murder, the police, on Thursday, January 1, revealed that it was orchestrated by his sons out of greed for his property. The 58-year-old Yogesh, a retired IAF employee and a native of Uttar Pradeshs Baghpat district, was gunned down by two bike-borne miscreants on December 26, while he was returning to his residence in Ashok Vihar Colony in the Loni Area, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Loni Siddhartha Gautam, as quoted by news agency PTI. According to the police, Yogesh had been trying to get his house vacated by his sons. Out of greed for his property, they allegedly planned his murder with the help of contract killers. They reportedly hired a neighbour, Arvind (32), as a contract killer. Arvind, along with his brother-in-law Naveen, who served as a constable in the Kaushambi district, allegedly carried out the crime, said the report, citing the police. Arvind was arrested on Wednesday evening, December 31. He was produced before the chief judicial magistrates court in Ghaziabad on Thursday, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. During interrogation, Arvind confessed that he and Naveen fired two shots at Yogesh, causing his death," the ACP said, PTI reported. Meanwhile, the constable Naveen and the deceaseds two sons are on the run. A probe has been initiated to nab them, said the police. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Ghaziabad, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 11:06 IST News ghaziabad Vacate Order, Property Greed And Contract Killer: How Sons Planned Ex-IAF Officers Murder In Ghaziabad Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Married Woman Invites Lover Home On New Year's Eve. She Then Cuts His Private Parts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 12:42 IST The victim is currently under treatment at Sion Hospital in Mumbai, and the accused to said to be on the run. Rapid Read The victim is currently under treatment at Sion Hospital in Mumbai, and the accused to said to be on the run.(Representative image/PTI) On the night of December 31, when people gather with loved ones to celebrate and ring in the new year, a 25-year-old married woman invited her 44-year-old married lover to her house on the pretext of offering him New Years sweets. As he came over, the woman allegedly attacked his private parts with a knife, leaving him with grave injuries, NDTV reported. An affair that turned fatal The victim is currently under treatment at Sion Hospital in Mumbai, and the accused to said to be on the run. According to the preliminary investigation, the two are related the accused woman is the sister-in-law of the victims sister. The two had been having an alleged affair for the past six to seven years, said the report. The woman was allegedly forcing the man to leave his wife and get married to her, leading to frequent arguments between the two. Distressed by the pressure, the victim, who had been living with his family in Santa Cruz East for the past 18 years, went to Bihar in November 2025, the report said. However, during his time in Bihar, the woman continued to threaten him over phone calls. After he returned to Mumbai on December 19, he dodged her phone calls and avoided contact with her. On December 31, around 1:30 A.M., the woman invited him over on the pretext of giving him New Years sweets. At that time, according to NDTVs report, the womans children were asleep. She asked the man to take off his pants. As she went into the kitchen, she grabbed a knife and suddenly attacked his private parts. Despite severe injury, the victim rushed back home, where his sons and friends immediately took him to N Desai Hospital before moving to Sion Hospital. As per the doctors, the injury is quite deep and may require surgery, the report mentioned. Meanwhile, the police have registered a case into the matter and a probe has been initiated to nab the accused. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 12:40 IST News mumbai-news Married Woman Invites Lover Home On New Year's Eve. She Then Cuts His Private Parts Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Engineering Education And Assessment Under Pressure In AI Era: IIIT-H Director Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 14:00 IST AI is forcing engineering colleges to move beyond rote learning towards deeper conceptual understanding, says IIIT-H Director. Prof Sandeep K Shukla, Director, IIIT Hyderabad, speaks on how AI is reshaping engineering education and assessment. As artificial intelligence reshapes classrooms, careers and cyber threats alike, engineering institutions are being forced to rethink how they teach, assess and prepare students for an uncertain future. In an exclusive interaction with News18, Prof. Sandeep K. Shukla, Director of International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad, shares his perspective on how AI is transforming engineering education, why traditional assessment models are under pressure, and how institutes must adapt to remain relevant. Prof. Shukla also speaks about IIIT Hyderabads growing role in national cybersecurity through the newly launched Vyuha Labs, the institutes research-driven academic structure, the skills students must develop to survive rapid technological change, and the importance of deep industry partnerships in shaping curriculum and innovation. Here are the edite excerpts from the interview: Q. How should Indian engineering colleges rethink curriculum, skills and assessment in the AI era? Prof Shukla: Technology, especially Generative AI and agentic AI tools, has transformed how students learn and produce work. Today, writing code, essays or even structured answers is easily supported by AI. The real challenge for educators is no longer correctness, but understanding whether a student has truly internalised concepts and can apply them to real-world problems. This has forced a rethink of curriculum design and assessment globally, not just in India. Some institutions are experimenting with allowing AI use in exams and assignments, but require students to submit prompts, ensuring that questions demand conceptual understanding and creative application rather than copy-paste answers. This significantly raises the bar for instructors. There is no single solution yet. However, the direction is clear: moving away from rote learning towards conceptual, experiential and hands-on education, supported by AI. Teaching methods may become more personalised through AI tutors, and assessments may also become adaptive. This is an evolving process, and curricula will need to continuously change as AI capabilities advance. Q. With the launch of Vyuha Labs on campus, IIIT-H has stepped deeper into national cybersecurity. How will this centre help law enforcement and the country tackle rising cybercrime and digital fraud? Prof Shukla: Cybercrime, particularly low-tech fraud driven by social engineering, phishing, fear and greed, is a serious and growing issue in India. While high-end targeted attacks exist, everyday fraud affects common citizens the most. Vyuha Labs focuses on understanding the tactics, techniques and procedures used by cybercriminals. A key initiative is the Cybercrime Navigator, developed by researchers at the lab, which helps investigators map perpetrators methods based on victim narratives and build structured investigation plans. The lab also works on identifying crime trends and hotspots using data analytics, helping authorities design timely awareness campaigns. Another important initiative involves transcribing 1930 cybercrime helpline calls using multilingual speech-to-text technologies developed at IIIT-H, along with converting digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages and documents into analysable text. Additionally, Vyuha Labs plans to conduct training programmes for law enforcement in digital forensics and explore developing indigenous, affordable investigative tools tailored to their needs. Q. How do you balance cutting-edge research with teaching and student outcomes at an institute like IIIT-H? Prof Shukla: IIIT-H is organised around research labs rather than traditional academic departments. Faculty members are active researchers, and they integrate their research directly into teaching. From the second year onwards, all students are associated with a research or translational research centre. These include core research labs like Language Technology, Computer Vision and VLSI, as well as applied centres focused on smart cities, cybersecurity and digital health. This structure ensures early exposure to research, tool development and real-world problem-solving. As a result, a significant proportion of undergraduate students graduate with research publications, making them highly competitive for global postgraduate programmes. While earlier research focused mainly on academic publications, the institute is now increasingly emphasising innovation, IP creation and technology transfer through translational research. ALSO READ: University Of York Mumbai Campus: COO Shares Details On Scholarships, Courses And More Q. What skills do you believe todays students must develop to succeed in a rapidly changing technology landscape? Prof Shukla: Specific technical skills have limited shelf life in todays rapidly evolving environment. What matters most is the ability to continuously learn, reskill and reinvent oneself every few years. Students must develop resilience to change, the ability to adapt without anxiety, and the mindset to stay ahead of emerging trends. For leadership roles in industry, academia or government, strong communication skills, patience, teamwork and listening abilities are crucial. While technical skills remain necessary for short-term employability, it is these transferable human skills that endure and enable long-term success. Q. How important are industry partnerships in shaping curriculum, research and student opportunities at IIIT Hyderabad? Prof Shukla: Industry engagement is critical, especially in engineering education. Curriculum design must be informed by current and near-future industry needs to ensure graduates are employable today, even if they must reskill later. In research, collaboration helps ensure that problems being solved are relevant to industry and government needs rather than purely academic exercises. While some exploratory research is essential, most research must address real-world challenges across short-, medium- and long-term horizons. Strong industry connections help identify meaningful problems, enabling research that leads to practical innovation and impactful technology development. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 13:53 IST News education-career Engineering Education And Assessment Under Pressure In AI Era: IIIT-H Director Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... ADEN/RIYADH, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Saudi warplanes on Friday carried out airstrikes targeting positions held by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen's southeastern oil-rich province of Hadramout, as fierce clashes broke out on the ground, local officials and sources said. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a local military official told Xinhua that the airstrikes coincided with heavy fighting between STC forces and the Saudi-backed Yemeni forces in several areas of the province. A military source with STC forces said that more than three Saudi airstrikes targeted the 37th Brigade base in the al-Khashah area of Hadramout Valley, adding that the strikes caused casualties without providing further details. Separately, Mohammed Abdulmalik, head of the STC in Hadramout, said seven airstrikes hit the al-Khashah camp, killing seven soldiers and wounding over 20. On the other hand, a government official said that STC fighters had ambushed advancing government forces seeking to retake state institutions in the province. The official added that Saudi warplanes intervened to support ground forces and track movements in the area. Earlier in the day, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government announced a military operation against the STC in Hadramout. The province's governor said in a televised speech from Riyadh that the operation aims to restore state control and secure key institutions in the oil-rich region. Meanwhile, STC forces said Friday that they were fully prepared to respond to any military escalation, following the governor's announcement. Mohammed al-Naqeeb, an STC spokesman, said on X that STC forces were on high alert. "Our forces, with their steadfastness, resilience and high readiness, stand prepared to deliver a painful response on all fronts, and will confront and crush the Brotherhood's terrorist militias," al-Naqeeb said. Ahmed Saeed Bin Burik, former governor of Hadramout and deputy head of the STC, on Friday called on residents of Hadramout to support the local Hadrami Elite Forces and southern units amid rising tensions. In a brief statement posted on X, he urged local communities to "stand firmly with their security forces" against what he described as attempts by rival Yemeni forces to advance in the province and reassert control over key oil assets. Also on Friday, Spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition Turki al-Malki announced the deployment of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces in the Arabian Sea to "combat smuggling." "The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have completed their deployment in the Arabian Sea to conduct inspection operations and combat smuggling," he wrote on X. Hadramout, Yemen's largest and key oil-producing province, has seen rising political and military tensions in recent days amid ongoing rivalry between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the STC. Tensions between the two Yemeni factions escalated after the STC seized large swathes of the Hadramout province and the eastern province of Al-Mahrah last month. Saudi Arabia views these areas as a "red line" given their proximity to its border and concentration of Yemen's remaining energy reserves. Yemen has been mired in conflict since 2014, when Houthi forces captured Sanaa and large swathes of the north, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015. Formed in 2017, the United Arab Emirates-sponsored STC seeks self-determination and eventual independence for southern Yemen. Despite joining the Saudi-led coalition and integrating into Yemen's ruling Presidential Leadership Council in 2022, the group continues to push for southern sovereignty, leading to recurring disputes over power-sharing and control of resources. Exam Calendar 2026: When Will JEE, NEET, And Other Major Entrance Exams Be Held This Year? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 12:39 IST From the application process to the exam schedule, knowing the 2026 exam calendar in advance will help students prepare better for exams like JEE, NEET, and CUET. Check out exam schedule for major college entrance exams in India for 2026. (Representative/File Photo) The National Testing Agency (NTA), various consortiums, and IIMs have prepared roadmaps for their major examsJEE, NEET UG, CUET, CLAT, and CAT for 2026. The first major test for engineering students, JEE Main, will commence in January, while May will be a critical month for medical aspirants. For those participating in this season of the major entrance exams, hard work is essential, but having the right information at the right time is equally crucial. From the start of the application process to the issuance of admit cards and exam dates, knowing the 2026 exam calendar in advance will help students prepare better and achieve higher scores in exams like JEE, NEET, and CUET. Exam Schedule 2026 In 2026, millions of students will be preparing for exams like JEE and NEET, alongside their 12th board exams. Additionally, a significant number of students will also take the CUET UG exam. 1. JEE Main 2026 The JEE Main exam is conducted twice a year. Students who clear both stages gain admission to top engineering colleges in the country. The session 1 (January) exam will be held from January 21 to 30, 2026. The result is expected by February 12. Session 2 (April) will be held from April 2 to 9, 2026. The result may be declared by April 20. 2. JEE Advanced 2026 The date for the JEE Advanced 2026 exam, which is held for admission to IITs, has been announced. According to the official notice, the exam will take place on May 17. The application process for JEE Advanced 2026 will be open from April 23 to May 2. IIT Roorkee is responsible for conducting JEE Advanced 2026. Candidates planning to take the exam can view the notice on the official website, jeeadv.ac.in. 3. NEET UG 2026 The NEET UG exam for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in medical colleges across the country is usually held on the first Sunday of May. The application process is likely to start in February-March 2026. 4. CUET UG & PG 2026 Passing the NTAs CUET exam is necessary for admission to Central University, State University, Private University, and Deemed to be University. CUET PG: The exam for post-graduation will begin in mid-March 2026. The registration process has already begun in December 2025. CUET UG: The exam for undergraduate courses will be held between May and June 2026. The application form is expected to be released in March 2026. 5. BITSAT BITSAT is held for admissions to undergraduate programmes at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS). The application window for the 2026 academic session opened on December 15. Applications for the first session are accepted until March 16, while the second session application window will open on April 20, 2026, and close on May 2, 2026. 6. MHT CET The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (MHT CET) scores determine admission to engineering and medical colleges in the state. The state CET Cell has released a tentative exam schedule, with the MAH MHT CET 2026 for the PCM group from April 11 to 19, and for the PCB group from April 21 to 26. 7. AP EAMCET The Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture, and Medical Common Entrance Test (AP EAMCET) is essential for admission into engineering, agriculture, and pharmacy programs across the state. The exams are scheduled for May 12, 13, 14, 15, and 18, 2026, but registration dates are yet to be announced. 8. TS EAMCET Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH) will be administering the Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture, and Medical Common Entrance Test (TG EAMCET) in 2026. The computer-based engineering entrance exams are set for May 9, 10, and 11, while the exams for agriculture and pharmacy courses are scheduled for May 4 and 5. 9. VITEEE The application process for VITEEE 2026 started on October 24, 2025. According to the official VIT website, the tentative deadline to apply is March 31, 2026. The examination is scheduled from April 28 to May 3, 2026. Results will be declared in the second week of May 2026, followed by online counselling during the same period. 10. OJEE The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) will soon release the notification for OJEE 2026 on its official website ojee.nic.in. The registration process is expected to start in the last week of January 2026 and end in March 2026. The exams are anticipated to be held in May. 11. AEEE Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, has commenced the registration process for the AEEE 2026 examination for BTech aspirants. The deadline to apply for Phase 1 is January 15, 2026. Eligible candidates must complete the application form through the official portal, aeee.amrita.edu. Meanwhile, the CLAT exam was held on December 7, 2025 (Sunday) for the academic session 2026 in an offline mode. The results were released on December 17. The CAT exam held for admission to IIMs and other top B-schools was conducted on November with the results announced on December 24. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 12:39 IST News education-career Exam Calendar 2026: When Will JEE, NEET, And Other Major Entrance Exams Be Held This Year? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... MSBTE Winter Semester Result 2025 Declared At msbte.ac.in, How To Download Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 13:40 IST MSBTE Winter Semester Result 2025 Declared: Candidates who took the exam can check their results on the official website at msbte.ac.in. Check direct link to download MSBTE Winter Diploma Result 2025 here. The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has announced the Winter Semester exam results 2025 today, January 2, 2026. Candidates who took the exam can check their results on the official website at msbte.ac.in. The exam is held every year for students who are part of different diploma programmes in Maharashtra. The MSBTE winter diploma theory exams were conducted between November 11 and December 3 in two shifts. Each shift was held for three hours the first shift was conducted from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and the second one from 2 PM to 5 PM. MSBTE Winter Diploma Result 2025: Steps to Check Step 1: Visit the official website at msbte.ac.in. Step 2: Navigate to the result section. Step 3: Click on the result link and provide the required login details. Step 4: The MSBTE Winter Diploma Result 2025 will appear on the screen. Step 5: Download and take a printout for future use. MSBTE Winter Semester Result 2025 Declared: Direct Link To Check MSBTE Winter Diploma Results 2025: Details To Check After obtaining the results online, candidates must thoroughly check all the details. The scorecard will include not only the marks received but also the students name, application number, date of birth, exam subject name, and other important information. It is essential for students to verify the accuracy of all the details, and in case of any discrepancies, they should promptly report to MSBTE for correction. The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) is an autonomous board under the government of Maharashtra, responsible for overseeing technical diploma education in the state. As per the official website, its goal is to improve the quality and employability of diploma graduates. MSBTE offers diploma courses in various fields such as Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Fashion and Clothing Technology, Pharmacy, Food Technology, Digital Electronics, Industrial Electronics, and Travel and Tourism. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 13:41 IST News education-career MSBTE Winter Semester Result 2025 Declared At msbte.ac.in, How To Download Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Will The Degree System Be Abolished? Education Minister Pradhan Highlights Skill Gap Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 18:09 IST The Education Minister emphasised that education's purpose now extends beyond classroom learning to understanding the real needs of the industry. Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the industry now seeks "solutions" rather than just "certificates." (File Photo) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced significant changes to the education system in the country. He stressed the need to move beyond traditional education that only awards degrees. In todays evolving global environment, its insufficient for young people to have just a formal degree; they also need practical skills. The governments goal is to create an education system based on skills, entrepreneurship, and apprenticeship. The Education Minister highlighted that the current education system has long focused solely on books and exams, leading to a substantial gap between industry and academia, reported News18 Hindi. To address this, major reforms are being implemented under the New National Education Policy (NEP). Dharmendra Pradhan pointed to successful models like Zoho and large companies such as TCS to demonstrate how the criteria for assessing talent have shifted. Now, companies prioritise working ability and innovative thinking over degrees. ALSO READ | Bridging The Skills Gap In The Age Of AI: How Can Indias Youth Be Prepared For Todays Jobs? Practical skills are more important than theoretical knowledge The Education Minister emphasised that educations purpose now extends beyond classroom learning to understanding the real needs of the industry. He praised the Zoho Education model in Chennai for prioritising direct skill acquisition over theoretical burdens. When students learn the intricacies of work while studying, they are better equipped for future challenges. Changing industry demands Dharmendra Pradhan noted that the industry now seeks solutions" rather than just certificates." Through the Vikasit Bharat Education Foundation, skill development and apprenticeships are being integrated into the curriculum. This will enable students to gain work experience while continuing their studies. No three-language formula? The Education Minister dismissed the ongoing language debate, emphasising that the real challenge is communication and understanding, not language itself. The three-language formula" in the new education policy aims to ensure children become proficient in their mother tongue as well as other languages. A strong foundational understanding will enable young people to express themselves confidently at a global level. Increasing womens participation To achieve a developed India, Dharmendra Pradhan placed special emphasis on increasing womens participation in the labour force. He believes that a strong economy requires active participation from all segments of society, especially women. Connecting women with digital skills and technology is a priority for the government to achieve this goal. The impact of technology Citing the example of drone technology, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan explained how modern skills are transforming traditional sectors like agriculture. Future advancements such as AI for Education" will further modernise teaching methods. The right combination of technology and labour force will create new employment opportunities. To make India a global leader, we must combine knowledge with understanding" and degrees with skills." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 18:09 IST News education-career Will The Degree System Be Abolished? Education Minister Pradhan Highlights Skill Gap Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Dharmendra Pradhan Speaks In Tamil At Kashi Tamil Sangamam: 'No Language Problem In India' Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 19:29 IST Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the valedictory function of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 in Rameswaram. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Speaks In Tamil At Kashi Tamil Sangamam Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the closing ceremony of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 in Rameswaram, beginning his speech in Tamil, a move seen as a counter to the ruling DMKs language narrative. Pradhan emphasised that Indias unity is enhanced through respect for diversity and the sharing of knowledge. He described the Kashi Tamil Sangamam as a civilisational movement reflecting the countrys enduring cultural unity. The theme, Learn Tamil Tamil Karkalam, highlighted the significance of learning Tamil and exploring Indias ancient wisdom, paying tribute to the nations linguistic and cultural richness. He added that the need for India to move beyond traditional education boundaries and focus on a system based on skills, entrepreneurship, and apprenticeships. He noted that education should not merely confer degrees but also make the youth practically competent and self-reliant. Tamil civilisation is not regional but foundational to Bharats civilisational journey. Therefore, with #TamilKarkalam as this years theme, the Sangamam has not just encouraged learning Tamil but has also opened the gateway to Indias ancient wisdom. Inclusivity and pic.twitter.com/Qdd2GUfoic Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 30, 2025 Dharmendra Pradhan On Language Row On the ongoing language debate, Pradhan clarified that there is no language issue in India or Tamil Nadu, but rather a challenge in understanding and communication. The new National Education Policys three-language formula aims to strengthen childrens foundational skills, enabling them to confidently progress in any language. Speaking on the goal of a developed India, Pradhan stressed the importance of increasing labour force participation, particularly for women, as essential for progress. He noted that a strong, inclusive workforce is crucial for a developed economy. With technological advancements, such as the increasing use of drones in agriculture, the combination of skills and technology is creating new employment and innovation opportunities. He concluded that for a developed economy, both technology and the labour force must be strengthened simultaneously. Future changes in AI for Education will make teaching methods more practical, modern, and aligned with future needs. The Union Minister also noted that major industries like TCS are prioritizing skill-based talent, promoting youth with innovative thinking and entrepreneurial abilities. Aligning with this vision, skill development, entrepreneurship, and apprenticeships are central to the Vikasit Bharat Shiksha Pratishthan. On the ongoing language debate, Pradhan clarified that there is no language issue in India or Tamil Nadu, but rather a challenge in understanding and communication. The new National Education Policys three-language formula aims to strengthen childrens foundational skills, enabling them to confidently progress in any language. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 18:01 IST News india Dharmendra Pradhan Speaks In Tamil At Kashi Tamil Sangamam: 'No Language Problem In India' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'False Narratives': RSS No Paramilitary Organisation Or 'Remote Control', Says Mohan Bhagwat Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 03, 2026, 03:32 IST Bhagwat specifically cautioned against relying on digital platforms like Wikipedia, which he claimed often lack depth or accuracy regarding the Sanghs origins Bhagwat warned that it would be a 'huge mistake' to try and understand the RSS through the lens of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or other affiliated bodies like Vidya Bharti. File image Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat asserted on Friday that the group is not a paramilitary organisation. Speaking before a gathering of prominent citizens in Bhopal, Bhagwat addressed the common public perception that the organisations use of uniforms and physical drills implies a militaristic intent. Bhagwat noted that while the RSS incorporates uniforms, route marches (path sanchalan), and stick exercises (danda) into its daily routine, these activities are designed for character building rather than combat readiness. We wear a uniform, take out marches, and do stick exercises. However, if someone thinks it is a paramilitary organisation, it will be a mistake," he stated. He described the RSS as a unique institution" whose mission is to unite Indian society and imbue citizens with the virtues necessary to ensure the nation never again falls under foreign subjugation. The RSS chief lamented the rise of false narratives" built on superficial information. He specifically cautioned against relying on digital platforms like Wikipedia, which he claimed often lack depth or accuracy regarding the Sanghs origins. Nowadays, people do not go deep to gather the right information. They go to Wikipedia everything is not true out there," he remarked, urging seekers to consult reliable primary sources or visit a local shakha (branch) to experience the organisation firsthand. Reflecting on Indias history during the Sanghs centenary year, Bhagwat pointed out that the country had been defeated by foreign invaders at least eight timeswith the British being the lastdespite the invaders often being materially or morally inferior" to Indians. He framed the RSSs work as a proactive effort to prevent a repeat of this history by rising above selfishness and fostering social cohesion. He clarified that the Sangh was not born as a reaction or opposition to any specific force but as a constructive movement for national resilience. In a significant aside, Bhagwat warned that it would be a huge mistake" to try and understand the RSS through the lens of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or other affiliated bodies like Vidya Bharti. While the RSS is widely viewed as the ideological parent of the ruling party, Bhagwat emphasised that the Sangh does not remote control" its swayamsevaks and maintains a distinct identity focused on social reform rather than electoral competition. Concluding his address, Bhagwat invited critics and observers alike to taste the sugar" by attending a shakha, arguing that two hours of explanation would never match the clarity gained through direct participation. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 03, 2026, 03:32 IST News india 'False Narratives': RSS No Paramilitary Organisation Or 'Remote Control', Says Mohan Bhagwat Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Family Loses 25-Day-Old Baby To Quilt Suffocation. Are You Making The Same Mistake? Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 18:40 IST The mother had fed the baby during the night and, owing to the biting cold, wrapped herself and the newborn inside a thick quilt before going to sleep Rapid Read Rahul Kumar had married Sudha Devi two years ago and the birth of their first child just 25 days ago had brought great joy to the family. (Representational Image) A severe cold spell led to a heartbreaking tragedy in Mirzamurad area of Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi district, where a 25-day-old infant died reportedly due to suffocation inside a quilt on Friday morning. According to family members, the childs mother had fed the baby during the night and, owing to the biting cold, wrapped herself and the newborn inside a thick quilt before going to sleep. When she woke up in the morning, the baby was unresponsive. The family immediately rushed the infant to a private hospital in Mohansarai, where doctors declared the child dead. The incident has plunged Benipur village into grief. Rahul Kumar, a resident of the village, had married Sudha Devi two years ago. The birth of their first child just 25 days earlier had brought great joy to the family. Everyone was very happy when the baby was born. We never imagined such a thing could happen," the grieving father said. The last rites of the infant will be performed on the banks of the Ganga as per Hindu customs. Health experts caution that covering newborns completely with quilts or thick blankets can be extremely dangerous, as it may obstruct breathing. They advise that infants should never be placed under heavy quilts, as they are too small to remove the covering if they begin to suffocate. It is important, they say, to ensure a babys face remains uncovered so they can breathe freely, especially during winter months when families rely on heavy bedding to stay warm. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Varanasi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 18:40 IST News india Family Loses 25-Day-Old Baby To Quilt Suffocation. Are You Making The Same Mistake? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... For The First Time Since Independence, A Public Bus Finally Entered This Himachal Village Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 14:17 IST Tumman village in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, got its first HRTC bus in 78 years. Locals celebrated the historic arrival with joy and excitement Rapid Read The historic arrival of the HRTC bus on December 31, 2025, was met with jubilation as it entered the village, marking a major step in connecting Tumman to the wider region. Nearly 78 years after Indias independence, some remote corners of the country are only now seeing basic infrastructure. One such village is Tumman in the Karsog subdivision of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, which received a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus for the first time. The historic arrival on December 31, 2025, was met with jubilation as the bus entered the village, marking a major step in connecting Tumman to the wider region. A Warm, Festive Welcome The joy of the locals was evident as they celebrated the arrival like a festival. A ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurated the service, the bus was decorated with flower garlands, and sweets were distributed among the villagers. From children to elders, everyone expressed sheer happiness, seeing it as a major step towards the villages development. Relief From Years-Old Challenges Until now, residents of Tumman had to walk long distances or rely on private vehicles for essential tasks, including medical treatment, education, and government work. The start of the bus service is expected to provide relief especially to the elderly, women, and students, saving time, reducing expenses, and making it easier to access emergency services. Successful Trial And Plans For Regular Service HRTC officials confirmed that a trial run on this route was completed successfully. The village lies approximately 15 kilometres from the Ani bus stand. Following final approvals, regular bus service is expected to begin soon. This achievement follows the April 2023 introduction of bus service in Talaihan village, also in Karsog subdivision, after seven decades without public transport. The arrival of the bus in Tumman is seen as another important step in connecting rural areas to the mainstream. Gratitude And Hopes For The Future The villagers expressed their gratitude to the state government and HRTC, noting that the service will significantly contribute to the social and economic development of Tumman. They also expressed hope that in the future, roads, healthcare, and other basic facilities will be further expanded to improve the villages infrastructure and quality of life. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Mandi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 14:17 IST News india For The First Time Since Independence, A Public Bus Finally Entered This Himachal Village Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... From Lucknow To Abroad: Yogi Adityanath Pushes For Grand Celebrations As UP Diwas Goes Global Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 14:13 IST Yogi Adityanath directs UP Diwas celebrations from January 24 to 26 to expand beyond Uttar Pradesh, honoring achievers and featuring events at Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow. CM Adityanath reviewed preparations for the event at a meeting with senior officials on Thursday.(File Photo) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday directed officials to extend the celebrations on Uttar Pradesh Foundation Day, also known as UP Diwas, beyond the state and take it to regions with a large population of migrants from Uttar Pradesh, including Delhi and Maharashtra. UP Diwas will be observed from January 24 to 26. Reviewing the preparations at a meeting attended by Chief Secretary Shashi Prakash Goyal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Prasad and Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna, CM Adityanath also suggested organising celebrations in countries with a significant population of Uttar Pradesh expatriates. The Chief Minister instructed that Governors, Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, Union Ministers and prominent personalities with roots in Uttar Pradesh be invited to UP Diwas events held outside the state. He also said that three to five individuals from Uttar Pradesh living in other states, who have made notable contributions in fields such as entrepreneurship, education, innovation, art, science and administration, should be honoured, The Indian Express reported. It was decided that the main UP Diwas celebrations this year would be held at the newly inaugurated Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow. The Prerna Sthal, featuring statues of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25. Events will also be organised at Noida Shilpgram in Gautam Buddh Nagar and at district headquarters across the state. The CM directed that cultural and theatrical programmes linked to national icons such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Bhagwan Birsa Munda be included. He also called for grand celebrations of Youth Day on January 12, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti on January 23, National Tourism Day and Voters Awareness Day on January 25, and Republic Day on January 26. Competitions in singing, music, dance and theatre will be held at block, municipal and district levels, with selected participants performing at the state-level programme in Lucknow. CM Adityanath also asked officials to felicitate achievers from various sectors and ensure participation of local artists and cultural institutions, and directed Civil Defence to conduct mock drills across districts on January 23. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 14:13 IST News india From Lucknow To Abroad: Yogi Adityanath Pushes For Grand Celebrations As UP Diwas Goes Global Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Himachal College Student Dies After Ragging, Sexual Harassment; Professor, 3 Others Booked Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 17:06 IST A college professor and three students in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala have been booked for ragging and sexual assault of a 19-year-old female student, causing her death. An AI-generated, representative image for protest against ragging (News18) A college professor and three female students at a college in Himachal Pradeshs Dharamshala were booked on charges of ragging and sexual assault of a 19-year-old female student, causing her death. An FIR against the three was registered under Sections 75, 115(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009. It names the college professor and three students in connection with the alleged incident, which reportedly took place in September 2025. According to the complaint lodged by the victims father, the three students allegedly physically assaulted and intimidated his daughter, while the professor subjected her to obscene acts. The father stated that the harassment and intimidation left his daughter extremely frightened and mentally disturbed, resulting in a serious decline in her health. She was initially treated at multiple hospitals in Himachal Pradesh as her condition worsened. Later, she was referred to a hospital in Ludhiana, where she passed away during treatment on December 26, 2025. The complainant explained that the delay in reporting the matter to the police was due to his daughters prolonged critical illness and the familys deep shock following her death. Police officials said that after examining the complaint and conducting a preliminary inquiry, a case was registered against the accused. The ongoing investigation will focus on allegations of ragging, physical assault, intimidation, and sexual misconduct, as well as the sequence of events that allegedly led to the students deteriorating health and death. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Thakur condemned the incident, termed it shameful", and said there had been allegations of police negligence in the case. He also demanded a high-level and impartial investigation into the case, so that justice can be served to the victim. Police officials have assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted to ascertain the circumstances that led to the students death, and those found responsible will face strict legal action. ALSO READ | 8 Complaints Of Ragging, Sexual Harassment Received In Two Years: Odisha Govt News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 12:22 IST News india Himachal College Student Dies After Ragging, Sexual Harassment; Professor, 3 Others Booked Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'India Has Right To Defend Itself From Bad Neighbours': Jaishankar's Stern Warning Over Terrorism Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 13:42 IST EAM Jaishankar asserted Indias right to defend itself from 'bad' neighbours. He stated that terrorism and cooperation cannot coexist. Rapid Read File photo of EAM S Jaishankar (X/@DrSJaishankar) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday delivered a strong message against terrorism, stating that India has every right to defend itself against those neighbours who support terror while simultaneously seeking cooperation from New Delhi. Referring to Pakistan, the External Affairs Minister underlined that good neighbourly relations cannot coexist with continued acts of terrorism. Speaking at an event at IIT Madras, Jaishankar said, But when it comes to bad neighbours who persist with terrorism, India has every right to defend its people and will do whatever is necessary. You cannot request us to share our water with you and also spread terrorism in our country." #WATCH | Tamil Nadu: On being asked about Indias neighbourhood policy, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, You can also have bad neighbours. Unfortunately, we do. When you have bad neighbours, if you look to the one to the west. If a country decides that it will deliberately, pic.twitter.com/8w6dgDHLtc ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2026 Nobody Can Tell Us What We Should Or Shouldnt: EAM Elaborating on Indias neighbourhood policy, the EAM said Indias approach is guided by common sense," distinguishing clearly between cooperative neighbours and hostile ones. You can also have bad neighbours. Unfortunately, we do. When you have bad neighbours, if you look to the one to the west. If a country decides that it will deliberately, persistently, and unrepentantly continue with terrorism, we have a right to defend our people against terrorism. We will exercise that right. How we exercise that right is up to us. Nobody can tell us what we should or should not do. We will do whatever we have to do to defend ourselves," he said. He further linked terrorism with the erosion of trust in regional cooperation, particularly in areas such as water-sharing agreements. Many years ago, we agreed to a water sharing arrangement, but if you had decades of terrorism, there is no good neighbourliness. If there is no good neighbourliness, you dont get the benefits of that good neighbourliness. You cant say, Please share water with me, but I will continue terrorism with you." Thats not reconcilable," Jaishankar added. Jaishankar Highlights Indias Vaccine Support To World During Covid Contrasting this with Indias approach toward friendly neighbours, Jaishankar highlighted New Delhis consistent support during crises. With good neighbours, India invests, helps and shares whether it was vaccines during COVID, fuel and food support during the Ukraine conflict, or the $4 billion assistance to Sri Lanka during its financial crisis. Indias growth is a lifting tide for the region, and most of our neighbours recognise that if India grows, they grow with us," the minister remarked. He also mentioned that he had recently visited Bangladesh to represent India at the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Jaishankar also spoke about Indias broader worldview, referencing the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. When we use this word so casually Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, what is actually the messaging of that word of that term? The term is that we have never considered the world as an inimical or a hostile environment from which we have to defensively protect ourselves," he said, adding that Indian diplomacy today focuses on problem-solving by leveraging strengths, competitiveness, and partnerships. Highlighting Indias global outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, the foreign minister said vaccine diplomacy had an unmatched emotional impact worldwide. In my entire career, I have never seen anything having a greater emotional impact on the rest of the world than giving vaccines," he remarked, recalling how many developing and small island nations depended on India when richer countries stockpiled doses. Concluding his remarks, Jaishankar reflected on Indias civilisational identity and its role in the evolving global order. India is among the very few ancient civilizations that have survived to become major modern nation-states. We carry a deep sense of our past, inherited through our beliefs, language, and culture. Its about rediscovering and expressing our own internal tools and creativity, not in an anti-Western way, but a non-Western one," he said, noting that global diversity would coexist with and reinforce shared democratic values. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 13:08 IST News india 'India Has Right To Defend Itself From Bad Neighbours': Jaishankar's Stern Warning Over Terrorism Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... HEFEI, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Researchers have identified a method to surpass the plasma density limit in experiments with the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), known as the "artificial sun," providing a crucial physical basis for high-density operation in magnetic confinement fusion devices. This research was conducted collaboratively by the institute of plasma physics at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Aix-Marseille University in France, among other institutions. The findings were published in the journal Science Advances on Friday. A tokamak is a toroidal device that employs magnetic confinement to achieve controlled nuclear fusion. It resembles a helical "magnetic racetrack," effectively confining high-temperature plasma to promote fusion reactions. Plasma density, a crucial parameter affecting tokamak performance, directly impacts the rate of fusion reactions. Historically, researchers have acknowledged that plasma density has an upper limit. When this limit is reached, the plasma becomes unstable, escapes magnetic confinement, and releases substantial energy onto the device's inner walls, thereby jeopardizing operational safety. While long-term international fusion research has indicated that the physical processes triggering the density limit occur at the plasma-wall boundary region, the underlying mechanisms have remained unclear. In this study, the Chinese research team developed a self-organized plasma-wall interaction theoretical model. Through this model, they identified the critical role of radiation instability induced by boundary impurities in triggering the density limit, thereby elucidating the underlying mechanism. Building on this theoretical insight, researchers experimentally controlled the plasma to exceed the density limit and successfully guided it into a new "density-free zone." These results mark the first experimental confirmation of such a zone in tokamaks. This innovative work not only provides key insights into understanding the density limit but also establishes an important physical basis for high-density operation in tokamaks, according to the scientists. Inside PRAGATI: The Architecture Behind Indias Infrastructure Turnaround Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 22:54 IST The platform operates through a rigorous five-level escalation mechanism that ensures even the most complex issues reach the highest levels of government for resolution The platform was conceptualised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dismantle the chronic coordination bottlenecks that historically led to massive time and cost overruns in public projects. (Representational image: PTI) In a landmark achievement for Indian governance, the PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) platform has completed its 50th review meeting, marking a decade of transformative, tech-enabled leadership. Launched on March 25, 2015, this ICT-enabled multi-modal platform was conceptualised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dismantle the chronic coordination bottlenecks that historically led to massive time and cost overruns in public projects. By bridging horizontal and vertical gaps between central ministries and state governments, PRAGATI has turned national priorities into measurable ground-level outcomes. The Architecture of Accountability The platform operates through a rigorous five-level escalation mechanism that ensures even the most complex issues reach the highest levels of government for resolution. While regular matters are handled at the ministerial level, projects of national importance facing critical stalls are escalated to Level 5, where the Prime Minister directly reviews them with State Chief Secretaries and Central Secretaries. This is supported by a multi-tier follow-up mechanism overseen by the Cabinet Secretariat and the PMO, ensuring that decisions made during these meetings result in swift, time-bound implementation. A Decade of Impact in Numbers The financial and operational scale of PRAGATI is unprecedented, having accelerated the implementation of over 3,300 projects worth more than Rs 85 lakh crore. Within this ecosystem, 7,156 out of 7,735 raised issues have been successfully resolved, primarily tackling hurdles in land acquisition, environmental clearances, and construction approvals. The platforms reach extends beyond infrastructure, monitoring 61 flagship government schemesincluding PM Jan Aarogya Yojana and Swachh Bharat Missionand addressing citizen grievances across 36 diverse sectors. Sectoral Success and Major Milestones Infrastructure ministries have seen a significant surge in efficiency under this oversight: Railways: Oversaw 427 projects with a 370% decadal growth in capital expenditure, resolving 1,437 specific bottlenecks. Road Transport & Highways: Managed 1,463 projects with a 21-fold increase in capex, resolving 1,968 critical issues. Power: Successfully resolved 803 issues across 416 projects, alongside a 300% growth in financial outlays. Specific long-stalled projects have reached the finish line through PRAGATIs intervention. The Bogibeel Rail-cum-Road Bridge, first approved in 1997, was fast-tracked from 64% progress in 2015 to completion in 2018. Similarly, the Jammu-Srinagar Rail Link and the Navi Mumbai International Airportboth approved decades agoare now on the cusp of final commissioning in 2025, having seen their physical progress jump significantly following prime ministerial reviews. Global Recognition The success of this model has garnered international acclaim, with a December 2024 report from Oxford Universitys Said Business School hailing PRAGATI as a global benchmark. Described as a Single Source of Truth" for real-time monitoring, the study identified the platform as an institution of cooperative federalism and a replicable global best practice for developing economies seeking to drive economic growth through improved public trust and infrastructure delivery. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 22:54 IST News india Inside PRAGATI: The Architecture Behind Indias Infrastructure Turnaround Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... EC-Backed Karnataka Report Counters Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Chori' Charge, Shows 83% Trust In EVMs Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 11:12 IST An EC-backed evaluation in Karnataka has shown high voter turnout and strong public trust in EVMs during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, challenging Gandhis vote chori narrative. LoP in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a press conference, in New Delhi, Wednesday. (PTI) A detailed Election Commissionbacked evaluation in Karnataka has thrown a spanner into Rahul Gandhis vote chori" campaign, indicating high voter turnout and strong public trust in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. To assess how effectively voter awareness efforts worked during the polls, the Election Commission entrusted the Karnataka Monitoring & Evaluation Authority (KMEA) with evaluating the outcomes of the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme. The study, titled Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Evaluation of Endline Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of Citizens, was commissioned by Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar. The survey covered 5,100 respondents across 102 Assembly constituencies in the Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Mysuru divisions, forming one of the most extensive post-election assessments conducted in the state. The findings highlight substantial voter participation and widespread confidence in the electoral process and EVMs. According to the report, 95.75 per cent of respondents said they had voted, while 83.61 per cent expressed confidence in the electoral system and in EVMs. Awareness of the voter list was high at 85.31 per cent, although understanding of online registration, home voting and grievance-redressal mechanisms remained limited. Notably, 83.61 per cent of respondents said they believed EVMs were trustworthy. A large majority of respondents across all divisions trust that EVMs provide accurate results," the study noted. SVEEP, the Election Commissions flagship voter education initiative launched in 2009, aims to improve electoral awareness and participation, particularly among first-time voters, women, youth, persons with disabilities and marginalised groups. Karnataka, which has been proactive in rolling out the programme, saw turnout rise from 68.81 per cent in 2019 to 71.98 per cent in 2024. The KAP survey, supplemented by in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and booth-level case studies, found that voter participation was exceptionally high. EPIC possession was nearly universal at 99.02 per cent. Yet gaps remained in awareness about online registration, home voting, grievance redressal and updating voter details. Only 30.39 per cent of respondents knew the correct date of National Voters Day. Despite concerns over inducements and the influence of money and muscle power, especially in parts of the Kalaburagi division, rural voters largely perceived the election process as fair, attributing this to strong engagement by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Urban youth, however, displayed apathy and scepticism, citing elite dominance and lack of transparency. Importantly, the survey found that trust in EVMs was highest in Kalaburagi, the very region where allegations of vote chori" from Aland first emerged and later became central to Rahul Gandhis campaign narrative. SVEEP participation levels were moderate. Posters and hoardings were the most visible tools, while door-to-door outreach and BLO-led campaigns proved the most effective in driving voter engagement. By contrast, Electoral Literacy Clubs and digital platforms had limited reach, especially among women and SC, ST and tribal communities. The surveys second phase reinforced these findings. Only 18.37 per cent of respondents accessed election-related websites or apps, underscoring low digital engagement. BLO visits remained the primary source of voter enrolment and awareness, cited by 47.21 per cent of respondents. While recognition of the importance of voting was high, concerns regarding inducements persisted. These were often underreported due to fear of retaliation and low confidence in grievance redressal mechanisms. Among persons with disabilities (PwDs), awareness of special outreach campaigns and postal ballot provisions was relatively strong, but infrastructural shortcomings were significant barriers. The absence of separate queues, lack of accessible facilities and transport challenges were among the most commonly reported issues, with women with disabilities facing additional hurdles. Qualitative insights indicated that although voter awareness of electoral procedures has improved, understanding of voter rights and services remains uneven particularly among women, first-time voters, SC, ST, tribal and transgender communities. Information access varied sharply: youth predominantly relied on digital platforms, while rural and older voters depended on BLOs and traditional media. Overall, the findings suggest that while Karnataka has made substantial progress in improving voter awareness and participation, challenges remain in inclusion, last-mile outreach and sustained voter education. At the same time, the high turnout and strong trust indicators present a notable counterpoint to narratives questioning the credibility of the electoral process. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 11:01 IST News india EC-Backed Karnataka Report Counters Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Chori' Charge, Shows 83% Trust In EVMs Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mamdanis Letter To Umar Khalid: What Are The Charges Against Ex-JNU Student In Delhi Riots Case? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 15:54 IST Umar Khalid has been in jail since 2020 under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. File photo of Umar Khalid (Image: PTI) New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote a handwritten note to jailed activist Umar Khalid, expressing solidarity and recalling Umar Khalids reflections on not allowing bitterness to define ones life. The note was delivered to Umar Khalids parents during their visit to the United States in December 2025 and was made public when Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor. In the message addressed to Umar Khalid, Zohran Mamdani wrote that he often thinks of Umar Khalids words on bitterness and the importance of not letting it consume a person. He also mentioned meeting Umar Khalids parents and added that many people were thinking of him. A photograph of the note was shared on social media by Umar Khalids partner Banojyotsna Lahiri. Banojyotsna Lahiri said Umar Khalids parents, Sahiba Khanam and Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, were in the US to visit their daughter ahead of a family wedding. During that trip, they met Zohran Mamdani and spent time with him, following which he wrote the note for Umar Khalid. Umar Khalid has been in jail since 2020 under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He was granted interim bail in December to attend his sisters wedding. Banojyotsna Lahiri said Umar Khalid remained at home during the bail period in compliance with court conditions and returned to jail after spending time with family members. What Is Umar Khalid Accused Of? Umar Khalid, a former student activist, was arrested in September 2020 in connection with the violence that broke out in north-east Delhi in February that year, following protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The prosecution alleges that Umar Khalid was part of a larger conspiracy to incite or plan the violence. He has been charged under multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, along with provisions related to rioting, unlawful assembly, promoting enmity between groups and other offences linked to the riots. Investigating agencies claim Umar Khalid played a role in mobilising protests that later turned violent. Umar Khalid has denied all allegations, saying he has been targeted for his political speech and activism. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 15:54 IST News india Mamdanis Letter To Umar Khalid: What Are The Charges Against Ex-JNU Student In Delhi Riots Case? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Micro-Checking Underway': MP Minister Responds After Indore Water Contamination Kills 8 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 07:16 IST Eight deaths in Indore linked to contaminated water prompt micro-level checks, NHRC notice, and criticism of Kailash Vijayvargiyas remarks; clean water supply restored. Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya (Image: PTI/File) Madhya Pradesh Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Thursday said that micro-level checking is being carried out across the entire colony in Indores Bhagirathpura area and is expected to be completed within 810 days, following the deaths of several people allegedly linked to contaminated water. He noted that water treatment measures had already been initiated earlier after concerns emerged about possible sewage contamination and that the process is continuing. There were possibilities of contamination of water with sewage; therefore, treatment had already begun earlier, and the same treatment continues now. Micro-checking is underway across the entire colony and will take 8 to 10 days", he told reporters. Providing details on the fatalities, Vijayvargiya added, A total of eight deaths have been reported, of which two or three are natural deaths and the remaining, if found in the medical report, will be treated subsequently," he added. BJP MP Shankar Lalwani said that the supply of clean drinking water was restored on Thursday morning. He also informed that water samples from borewells have been sent for testing and that several people who reported mild symptoms were discharged after medical checks, ANI reported. Clean water supply was restored in the morning during our inspection. All the chambers were also cleaned. Seventeen mild cases were reported at the health centre today and were discharged after a primary health check All the borewell water has been sent for sampling, and the results will be available by tomorrow" he said. Meanwhile, JDU leader KC Tyagi expressed concern over the incident, calling it alarming and criticising the ministers remarks. Indore is considered the cleanest city in the country, the deaths due to contaminated water there are concerning, regrettable, and the statement by Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on it is controversial This is an administrative lapse, but Kailash Vijayvargiya should not have made such a light statement." Earlier, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognisance of the contaminated water issue in Indore after reports of multiple deaths. Reportedly, the residents had been complaining about the supply of contaminated water supply for several days, but no action was taken by the authorities," NHRC said in a statement. The NHRC has issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary, seeking a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Indore, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 07:16 IST News india 'Micro-Checking Underway': MP Minister Responds After Indore Water Contamination Kills 8 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Statement That Hides Truth': BJP Slams Chidambaram Over Tamil Nadu-Uttar Pradesh Debt Comparison Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 14:33 IST The BJP hit back at P Chidambaram for calling Tamil Nadu-Uttar Pradesh debt comparisons flawed, accusing him of making a political statement that hides the truth. Congress leader P Chidambaram (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday launched a sharp counterattack against senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram over his criticism of comparisons between Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh based on total debt figures, calling his remarks a political statement that hides the truth." Responding to Chidambarams post on X, Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said that while the former Finance Ministers arguments appeared correct at first glance, they deliberately overlooked crucial aspects of economic governance and capital expenditure. Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has stated that evaluating a states economy based on its total debt is incorrect, that Indias total debt is increasing annually when combined with the total debts of all states, and that comparing Tamil Nadus economy with Uttar Pradeshs economy is wrong." While what he said in detail may seem correct at first glance, this is nothing but a political statement that hides the truth," Narayanan mentioned. He asserted that there was nothing inherently wrong with states taking on debt, arguing that the real issue was how borrowed funds were being utilised. The fundamental principle of economics is that by borrowing for capital expenditures, increasing infrastructure, and thereby enhancing assets, industrial growth will rise, employment opportunities will expand, revenue will increase, and the economy will improve," he added. Narayanan contrasted capital expenditure with what he described as populist schemes," claiming that infrastructure investment was essential for long-term growth. Spending on populist schemes to make the people succeedthat is, to win elections and gain powerby making promises and then repeatedly returning to power will only lead to setbacks," he mentioned. Citing comparative figures, the BJP spokesperson said Uttar Pradesh, which he noted has a population about three times that of Tamil Nadu, had significantly ramped up capital expenditure in recent years. Over the past five years, the Uttar Pradesh government has been increasing capital expenditures in sectors like transportation, energy, and urban development by an average of 30% annually, while Tamil Nadu has increased its capital expenditures by only 1015%," he said. According to Narayanan, Uttar Pradeshs capital expenditure from 202021 to 202425 stood at Rs 4,74,982 crore, compared to Tamil Nadus Rs 1,95,003 crore during the same period. He also referred to longer-term trends, stating that from 2000 to 2015, Uttar Pradeshs capital expenditure was about Rs 7 lakh crore, while Tamil Nadus was around Rs 5 lakh crore. No one can deny or conceal that Tamil Nadu is a more advanced state than Uttar Pradesh and a state with economic strength," he said, adding that states which were previously behind Tamil Nadu were now closing in rapidly" due to higher infrastructure spending. There is no use in dwelling on past glories. The current need is for our state to excel and improve, achieving economic growth with proper planning," Narayanan said. Former Union Finance Minister @PChidambaram_IN P. Chidambaram has stated that evaluating a states economy based solely on its total debt is incorrect, and that Indias total debt, along with the combined debt of all states, increases every year. He has also remarked that Narayanan Thirupathy (@narayanantbjp) January 2, 2026 Chidambaram had earlier strongly defended Tamil Nadus fiscal position and rejected the comparison with Uttar Pradesh, calling it misleading and analytically flawed. In a post on X, the former Union Finance Minister said assessing a states financial health solely on the basis of its total debt ignored broader economic realities. Developed economies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Canada continue to witness an annual increase in their overall public debt," he said, adding that the same trend was visible in India as well. Both the countrys total debt and the combined debt of all states rise every year. This, by itself, is not abnormal," he said. Chidambaram stressed that absolute debt figures were not the correct indicator of fiscal health. The correct indicator for assessing financial health is not the absolute quantum of debt, but the ratio of debt to Gross Domestic Product," he said, calling it the accepted and meaningful yardstick." He noted that Tamil Nadus debt-to-GSDP ratio had remained stable from 202122 through 202526, and further pointed out that fiscal projections showed a steady reduction in the states fiscal deficit, with Tamil Nadu expected to meet the NITI Aayog target of limiting the deficit to three per cent by 202526. This is a commendable achievement and reflects responsible fiscal management," Chidambaram said. The exchange followed controversy triggered by earlier remarks from Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty comparing Tamil Nadus total debt with Uttar Pradeshs, which drew strong reactions from the DMK and prompted Chidambarams intervention to clarify the Congress position and reaffirm confidence in Tamil Nadus fiscal management. ALSO READ | Non-Hindi Speaking People Cannot Pronounce: Chidambaram Slams Govt Over Welfare Bills Name News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 14:31 IST News india 'Statement That Hides Truth': BJP Slams Chidambaram Over Tamil Nadu-Uttar Pradesh Debt Comparison Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Supporters Of Congress Leader, Another MLA Clash In Karnataka's Ballari; One Killed Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 01, 2026, 23:15 IST Police have stepped up security in the area to prevent any further escalation. Minor injuries were reported on both sides and shots were fired in the air. (Representative image) Tension gripped Karnatakas Ballari district after a dispute erupted over the installation of a banner ahead of the unveiling of a Valmiki statue. According to reports, Congress workers attempting to put up the banner were confronted by rival groups, triggering a heated argument. Supporters of Nara Bharath Reddy and Gali Janardhan Reddy allegedly clashed, with the confrontation escalating into pushing, shoving and stone-pelting. Minor injuries were reported on both sides and shots were fired in the air, further heightening tensions. Police have stepped up security in the area to prevent any further escalation. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 01, 2026, 23:15 IST News india Supporters Of Congress Leader, Another MLA Clash In Karnataka's Ballari; One Killed Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... The Dirty Secret Of India's Cleanest City: Inside Indore's Bhagirathpura | Ground Report Curated By : Translation Desk-Local18 Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 09:01 IST A visit by Local18 to Indore's Bhagirathpura area revealed a sorry state of affairs, with narrow lanes near homes overrun by garbage, drain water and unbearable stench Rapid Read Bhagirathpura residents say they have complained to the authorities multiple times, but are sent away with empty assurances each time. (Local18) Despite being crowned as Indias cleanest city for eight years, Indore has been hit by a public health crisis with a vomiting-diarrhoea outbreak claiming multiple lives and affecting over 1,400 people following drinking water contamination. The situation is particularly dire in Bhagirathpura area where some estimates put the death toll at 14, including a six-month-old boy. A visit by Local18 to the area revealed a sorry state of affairs, with narrow lanes near homes overrun by garbage, drain water and unbearable stench. According to the residents of the locality, the draining system of the area has been in disrepair for years. The old municipal drainage lines are located in front, while the residential houses are in the back. As a result, the gutter lines are always blocked, leading to pooling of dirty water. Residents say they have complained to the authorities multiple times, but are sent away with empty assurances each time. Local resident Rohan Purania says the water quality had deteriorated even further in the past month. Sometimes there are bugs in the water, sometimes dirt, and sometimes the water from the Narmada line smells very bad. Sometimes there is a strange chemical smell. Even after complaining, nothing was done," he told Local18, adding that timely action would have saved lives. Another resident says the water supply lasts barely 20 minutes a day. For the first 10 minutes, we have to let the dirty water run out. Then we taste the water to see if its safe to drink. Only then do we fill our tanks and buckets for storage." On Thursday, a lab test confirmed that the vomiting-diarrhoea outbreak was caused by contaminated drinking water, substantiating that a life-threatening drinking water supply system prevails in Madhya Pradeshs commercial capital. Indores Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani told reporters that the laboratory report, prepared by a city-based medical college, confirmed the drinking water was contaminated due to a leakage in a pipeline in the Bhagirathpura area. Officials said a leakage was found in the main drinking water supply pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura at a spot over which a toilet has been constructed. A health department official said that during a survey of 1,714 households in Bhagirathpura on Thursday, 8,571 people were examined. Of them, 338 people showing mild symptoms of vomiting-diarrhoea were given primary treatment at their homes. He stated that in the eight days since the outbreak, 272 patients were admitted to local hospitals, of whom 71 have been discharged so far. At present, 201 patients are admitted in hospitals, including 32 in intensive care units (ICUs), the official added. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Indore, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 09:01 IST News india The Dirty Secret Of India's Cleanest City: Inside Indore's Bhagirathpura | Ground Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mark Your Calendars: Indias Most Anticipated Cultural Festivals Of 2026 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 09:38 IST In 2026, Indias festivals dont just invite you to attend. They invite you to belong, even if only for a few days. The traditional snake boat race transforms the quiet backwaters of Kerala into one of the most thrilling racing tracks. If 2026 is the year you plan to travel with purpose, Indias festival calendar offers a compelling starting point. Across deserts, river islands, mountain valleys and historic cities, the countrys cultural gatherings blur the lines between travel, art and lived experience. From literature festivals that spark ideas to music gatherings rooted in local communities, these events offer more than spectacle. They offer context, connection and memory. Here are ten festivals that deserve a place on your 2026 itinerary. Jaipur Literature Festival January Often called the worlds largest free literary festival, the Jaipur Literature Festival transforms the Pink City into a global meeting ground for writers, thinkers and artists. Panel discussions, debates and book launches unfold against a heritage backdrop, making it as much a cultural immersion as an intellectual one. The 19th edition is scheduled from January 1519, 2026. Goa Carnival February Rooted in Portuguese tradition, the Goa Carnival is a burst of colour, music and theatrical parades. Floats roll through the streets, dancers take over public spaces, and food becomes a central attraction. In 2026, celebrations are expected between February 14 and 17. Rann Utsav Till February 2026 Set against the stark white expanse of the Rann of Kutch, this festival celebrates Gujarats crafts, folk traditions and desert life. Cultural performances, craft bazaars and starlit desert nights make it one of Indias most visually arresting experiences, running until February 28, 2026. KochiMuziris Biennale Till March 2026 Indias premier contemporary art exhibition takes over warehouses, heritage buildings and open spaces across Kochi. Installations and performances explore political, social and cultural themes, offering a deeply immersive art experience until March 31, 2026. International Flower Festival, Sikkim May Gangtok comes alive with rare orchids, rhododendrons and floral showcases during this month-long celebration. Beyond flowers, the festival features cultural performances, conferences and outdoor activities that spotlight Sikkims biodiversity. Hemis Gompa Festival, Ladakh June/July One of Ladakhs most significant Buddhist festivals, Hemis is known for its masked dances, sacred music and the ceremonial unfurling of giant thangkas. The event offers rare insight into Himalayan spiritual traditions. Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race August Keralas famed snake boats cut through Punnamada Lake in dramatic synchrony, powered by hundreds of oarsmen chanting traditional songs. The race is both a sporting event and a cultural celebration. Ziro Music Festival September Hosted by the Apatani community in Arunachal Pradeshs Ziro Valley, this indie music festival blends global sounds with local culture in an intimate, eco-conscious setting. Majuli Music Festival November/December Held on the worlds largest river island, this festival celebrates Assams musical heritage alongside contemporary sounds, framed by the Brahmaputras shifting landscapes. Hornbill Festival, Nagaland December Known as the festival of festivals," Hornbill brings together Nagalands tribes through dance, music, crafts and food. Its a fitting finale to a year rich in cultural discovery. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 09:38 IST News lifestyle events Mark Your Calendars: Indias Most Anticipated Cultural Festivals Of 2026 Tepache, A Fizzy Mexican Drink Made Using Pineapple Peels Is Good For Your Gut Curated By : Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 17:07 IST Tepache can easily replace soda as it is simple to make and uses an item that is mostly discarded to create something that is delicious and healthy. Getty Images If this new years resolution is to cut down on soda and go the healthy way, you need to make Tepache. This is a lightly fermented Mexican drink that uses pineapple scraps and water to turn into something golden, fizzy, healthy and wonderfully refreshing. In Mexico, tepache is traditionally sold by street vendors in clay barrels. This low-waste drink is made by fermenting the peels and core of the pineapple stuff that cant be eaten with piloncillo or brown sugar and spices, creating a tangy yet sweet beverage that has a natural fizz similar to a soda. It is an indigenous drink that is probiotic-rich and perfect for any weather, making it a beautiful way to celebrate pineapples. This drink is similar to kombucha or kefir but uses pineapple and ferments pretty quickly. However, the longer you allow it to ferment, you can increase its alcohol content to around 1-3%. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chef Neha Deepak Shah (@nehadeepakshah) At its heart, tepache is a lesson in zero-waste ingenuity. Instead of throwing away the tough rind and fibrous core, they are soaked in water with unrefined sugar and aromatics like cinnamon and cloves. When sat at room temperature in a cool and dry place, this process takes a few days as the wild yeasts and bacteria present on the fruit and in the air begin to feed on the sugars. Slowly, the liquid transforms to form a lightly sour drink with properties that are good for your gut. Making tepache at home is surprisingly simple. You clean the pineapple well, peel it, and save the skin and core. These go into a glass jar or ceramic pot, covered with water, jaggery, and spices. The vessel is loosely coveredenough to keep dust and insects out but still allow gases to escape. Within 2448 hours, tiny bubbles appear, and a fruity, yeasty aroma develops. The longer it sits, the less sweet and more acidic it becomes, so you can strain and chill it when the taste hits your personal sweettangy spot. In India, where pineapples can be found in the market all throughout the year, tepache can be made at any time of the year. You can also infuse it with local touches add a little black salt, a slice of fresh ginger, some chilli powder or a few sprigs of mint. Served over ice, it makes a vibrant alternative to sugary sodas, and it can even be topped with a splash of sparkling water for extra fizz. For gatherings, serve tepache as a tropical welcome drink or a cocktail mixed in with an alcohol of your choice, like white rum, gin, vodka, etc. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 17:07 IST News lifestyle food Tepache, A Fizzy Mexican Drink Made Using Pineapple Peels Is Good For Your Gut Smokeless Doesn't Man Harmless: The Alarming Impact Of Areca Nut In Indian Youth Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 17:23 IST The immediate danger lof consuming areca nut is its highly addictive nature due to a component called arecoline, which provides a mild, stimulating effect, leading to dependency. Consuming Areca Nuts is a gateway behaviour to chewing gutka The issue begins with perception. Across many parts of the country, especially in Tier 2 and semi-metro cities, areca nut in its various forms is often viewed as a low-risk activity, especially compared to smoking. For adolescents and young adults, this perception of low risk, combined with easy availability and attractive, small packaging, makes it a frequent first choice. Indian data indicates that a significant percentage of young people in the 15 to 23 age group have used areca nut products. Studies on adolescents across the subcontinent reveal alarmingly low awareness regarding the true health hazards. Compounding this, areca nut use can become a gateway behaviour, often leading to the consumption of gutka, a mix that adds crushed tobacco, lime, and other agents, drastically multiplying the danger. This early initiation, often influenced by peer groups and even family members who share the habit, sets up a long-term addiction. Dr Stithi Das, Consultant Radiation Oncology, HCG Hospitals, Cuttack, shares how areca nut is not as harmless as it might appear: The Crippling Impact on Young Health The health consequences of chewing areca nut and gutka are severe, far exceeding the social discomfort of stained teeth. The immediate danger is the highly addictive nature of areca nut due to a component called arecoline, which provides a mild, stimulating effect, leading to dependency. However, the most alarming long-term threat is the link to oral cancer. Oral cancer is a leading cancer among men in India, and smokeless tobacco, including gutka, is a key driver. Long-term use of areca nut, even without added tobacco, is a major cause of a debilitating pre-cancerous condition called Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF). This condition causes progressive stiffness of the mouth, making it difficult to eat, swallow, and eventually, even open the mouth fully. It is a chronic, painful, and generalised disease that carries a high risk of transforming into full-blown cancer. Gutka, by combining the known carcinogens in areca nut with tobacco, significantly elevates this risk for oral, pharyngeal, and oesophagal cancers. Beyond cancer, the ingredients in these products have been linked to serious cardiovascular issues, including a heightened risk of fatal coronary artery disease and stroke, even in young users. Men and young boys are not the only ones partaking in this bad habit. Among women, especially during pregnancy, the habit is associated with severe adverse outcomes for the baby. This is not a harmless indulgence; its a direct assault on the bodys vital systems, threatening the youths most productive years. From Awareness to Action: Empowering Prevention In India, the path forward requires a unified effort from families, educators, and the community. The root of the problem lies in the misconception that smokeless equals safe. We must challenge this cultural acceptance through clear, direct, and emotionally resonant communication that addresses the specific fears of our audience, the potential harm to their children. A Proactive Path: Prevention and Early Action Open Dialogue: Parents must talk to their children about the specific dangers of areca nut and gutka, rather than focusing only on cigarettes or e-cigarettes. The conversation should start early, highlighting that the products are neither mouth fresheners nor safe alternatives. Targeted Education: School- and community-based programmes need to clearly explain the link between these habits and the painful, disfiguring reality of conditions like OSMF and oral cancer. Advocacy and Policy: While some states have taken steps to control the sale of gutka, more consistent and strict enforcement of regulations is crucial to limit the easy access and attractive marketing that targets young consumers. A Future Free from Addiction The rising curve of oral health issues linked to areca nut and gutka among the youth is a warning sign we cannot afford to ignore. Protecting our young generation means arming them with the truth: the sweet, colourful pouch hides a deadly secret. By fostering greater awareness and challenging the long-held myth that chewing is harmless, we can empower our youth to reject this perilous habit. The actionable takeaway is simple: treat every chewable areca nut and gutka product as a significant health hazard. By doing so, you will safeguard your own health and well-being. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 17:23 IST News lifestyle health-and-fitness Smokeless Doesn't Man Harmless: The Alarming Impact Of Areca Nut In Indian Youth PHNOM PENH, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia earned 1.5 billion U.S. dollars from the exports of raw cashew nuts in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent, said a Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC)'s report released on Friday. The report said that the Southeast Asian country exported a total of 1 million tons of the commodity last year, a significant rise of 27 percent year-on-year. CAC's President Uon Silot said almost all the raw cashew nuts were exported to neighboring Vietnam. "2025 was a good year for cashew nut farmers, as we had enjoyed a remarkable rise in both export volume and price," he said. The annual harvest season of cashew nuts was in March and April, and the price of the commodity was between 1,250 and 1,350 dollars per ton during the harvest season, Silot said. He added that the peak price of raw cashew nuts was in October when a ton cost about 2,000 dollars. Cashew is among the country's potential cash crops in addition to rice, rubber, cassava, palm oil, bananas, mangoes, longans, and pepper. According to the CAC, the kingdom has currently planted cashew trees on a total area of around 700,000 hectares in some 10 provinces. Planning A South India Trip In 2026? This Content Creator Shares Rates Places He Has Visited Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 12:03 IST Rory Porter, a content creator, has rated some of the most popular tourist destinations in the southern region of India.alla The tea estates in Munnar are a must-visit when traveling in South India Planning a trip to cities in South India this New Year 2026? A foreign national is gaining significant attention on social media after he shared a video rating some of the popular destinations to visit in the southern region of the country. In a video shared on Instagram, content creator Rory Porter said he has been to India twice in 2025 and suggested some of his top places to visit in South India. Rory Porter believes that those planning a trip to India for the first time should begin their journey in the southern region. He added that they wont regret" the overall experience. The first place in the south that I have been to, I know technically it is not really classed as south of India, but I am gonna go over anyway. It is Goa," Porter said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rory Porter (@roryporter.1) He highlighted that Goa is an absolutely unbelievable place," and has great coastline". You have got cows on the beach, you have got dogs, you have got all sorts of animals. People are super friendly. Food is good," he added. Porter suggested that Goa has really relaxed vibes," and noted that if you are looking looking forward to renting a car or a motorcycle, then this is probably the best place to do it because the roads are much more chilled." Porter admitted that he thoroughly enjoyed" his time in the state and even wished to extend his time and stayed a little bit longer. I am gonna give it a nine out of 10," he said. After Goa, Porter visited Kerala, where he stayed in Alleppey. In the city, Porter enjoyed a houseboat ride and even got to explore the area, besides having various local seafood delicacies. During his stay in Alleppey, Porter said he explored the area on the river itself and stayed there for one night. It was unbelievable. We had some fish cooked by the chef Met some lovely people on the boat and had an overall very, very pleasant experience," he stated. He has given this place a nine out of 10". Post that, he visited Munnar. We then made our way slightly inland to Munnar, which was also beautiful. Lots of plantations. Incredibly green once again. Very friendly people. We actually saw a martial arts show which was really cool," he said. He stayed in Munnar for a night and rated it eight out of 10." Finally, Porter visited Kochi and highlighted that the city was really nice" and clean. He even admired the architecture that remains inspired by the colonial rulers. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and the vibe. Once again, the people are so nice I am going to give Kochi an eight out of 10," he concluded. How Did the Internet React In the comments section of the post, several users praised Porter for his review, while some pointed out that he should have explored more cities in South India. Will go South one day," one person wrote. Another added, Thank you so much for your recommendations. Ill definitely be visiting these places now." A third person wrote, Explore other states in Kerala tooThank you for reviewing Kerala so nice Come again." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 12:03 IST News lifestyle travel Planning A South India Trip In 2026? This Content Creator Shares Rates Places He Has Visited Samantha Ruth Prabhu And Raj Nidimorus Lisbon Edit: Where To Wander, Pause And Unwind Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 10:49 IST Samantha Ruth Prabhu travelled to Lisbon with her husband Raj Nidimoru. Here's a peek inside their romantic getaway. Samantha Ruth Prabhu shares cosy honeymoon moments with Raj Nidimoru from Lisbon, Portugal. As the festivities wind down and the New Year finds its footing, Samantha Ruth Prabhu chose to step away from the noise and into a city that understands restraint. Her recent escape to Lisbon with husband Raj Nidimoru reflects a growing travel philosophy one that favours stillness over schedules and atmosphere over excess. Portugals capital, with its sun-faded facades and gentle pace, offered exactly that. Alfama: Wandering Without A Plan Much of Lisbons charm lies in Alfama, the citys oldest quarter and a natural fit for slow exploration. Cobbled streets curve unpredictably, opening up to small squares, tiled buildings and unexpected viewpoints. Its the kind of neighbourhood where walks stretch longer than intended and discovery happens organically, making it perfect for travellers seeking quiet moments rather than crowded attractions. Belem: History By The Water Lisbons relationship with the sea unfolds beautifully in Belem. Framed by the Tagus River, this historic district balances grandeur with calm. Landmarks like the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower tell stories of Portugals maritime past, while long riverside promenades invite unhurried strolls. A stop for the citys iconic pastel de nata is less a checklist item and more a comforting ritual. Chiado And Bairro Alto: Lisbons Softer Pulse As evening approaches, Lisbon reveals a different rhythm. Chiados historic cafes and bookshops lend an old-world elegance, while nearby Bairro Alto eases into the night with intimate bars and low-lit streets. The mood is social but never overwhelming as the music drifts, conversations linger, and the city feels alive without demanding attention. Seeing The City From Above No Lisbon experience is complete without its viewpoints. From miradouros perched across the city, rooftops spill toward the river in warm shades of terracotta. Tram rides, especially the iconic Tram 28, double as moving postcards, offering glimpses into neighbourhood life and Lisbons dramatic hills. These slow, scenic moments define the citys visual appeal. Food That Comforts, Not Competes Lisbons food culture mirrors its pace. Fresh seafood, rustic Portuguese dishes and relaxed meals anchor the experience. Dining here is unpretentious and deeply satisfying meals meant to be savoured rather than rushed, making it ideal for a post-holiday reset. Samantha Ruth Prabhus Lisbon escape captures the citys appeal perfectly. Just after the New Year, Lisbon feels quieter, more intimate and effortlessly restorative. Its a destination that encourages doing less and in doing so, offers more. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 10:49 IST News lifestyle travel Samantha Ruth Prabhu And Raj Nidimorus Lisbon Edit: Where To Wander, Pause And Unwind Soha Ali Khans New Year Getaway: Inside A Udaipur Wilderness Resort Where Rooms Start At Rs 70K Per Night Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 15:42 IST Soha Ali Khan welcomed the New Year with family at a luxury wilderness resort near Udaipur, where suites start at Rs 70,800 per night. Soha Ali Khan rings in New Year at Udaipur with husband Kunal Kemmu and daughter Inaaya. While many welcomed the New Year amid parties and city lights, Soha Ali Khan chose a quieter, more immersive way to turn the calendar. Swapping crowds for canopy-covered trails, the actor headed to Rajasthan with husband Kunal Kemmu and daughter Inaaya for a slow, nature-led break. Their destination: Chunda Shikar Odui, a secluded wilderness retreat tucked deep into the forests just outside Udaipur, where luxury arrives softly and time seems to loosen its grip. A Forest Stay With A Personal Rhythm A short drive from Udaipur airport, Chunda Shikar Odui feels worlds away from urban Rajasthan. Spread across 150 hectares of woodland and overlooking a calm lake, the property blends raw nature with regal nostalgia. Soha Ali Khans recent social media glimpse into the getaway showed days unfolding gently as they enjoyed local meals without rush, jungle explorations guided by curiosity, and moments of stillness broken only by birdsong and rustling leaves. It was a New Year defined less by celebration and more by connection. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soha (@sakpataudi) Inspired by the legacy of Th. Ghanshyam Singhji of Thana, the resort channels the grandeur of Mewar without tipping into excess. Palatial suites feature hand-painted walls and ceilings, while contemporary comforts ensure an indulgent stay. Every corner feels intentional, from lake-facing bathrooms designed for unhurried soak rituals to balconies that frame the Aravalli hills like living paintings. The experience is immersive rather than performative a luxury that whispers instead of announces itself. Suites, Villas, And The Price Of Privacy The resort offers eight expansive suites, each spanning approximately 900 sq. ft. Designed to host up to three guests, they are ideal for couples or small families seeking privacy amid nature. Price: Rs 70,800 per person for one night, inclusive of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For those craving scale and exclusivity, the 5,000 sq. ft. Villa with Private Pool elevates the experience further. With two bedrooms, a generous living area, scenic balconies, and a private swimming pool overlooking the lake and hills, it accommodates up to six guests. Price: Rs 1,53,400 per person for one night, inclusive of all meals. Experiences That Go Beyond The Ordinary Life at Chunda Shikar Odui is shaped by its surroundings. Guests can venture out on 44 wildlife safaris in search of leopards and jackals, observe migratory birds at Menar Lake, or unwind with boating and fishing sessions. Nature treks, stargazing under unpolluted skies, Marwari horse rides, pottery workshops, and guided village visits add cultural depth, turning the stay into a layered exploration rather than a checklist holiday. Soha Ali Khans Rajasthan escape reflects a growing shift in luxury travel one that values quiet, conservation, and conscious indulgence over spectacle. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 15:42 IST News lifestyle travel Soha Ali Khans New Year Getaway: Inside A Udaipur Wilderness Resort Where Rooms Start At Rs 70K Per Night Where Was Netflix's Stranger Things Filmed? The Real Locations Behind Hawkins Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 12:17 IST Stranger Things may be set in Hawkins, Indiana, but it was filmed across Georgia, Atlanta and Lithuania. Heres where the iconic scenes were shot. Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 was released on November 26. (Photo Credit: X) The setting for Stranger Things on Netflix is the Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana, during the 1980s. However, most of the show was filmed in Georgia. Here is a list of the famous areas where all the iconic Stranger Things places are located. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caleb Heymann (@calebheymann) Seasons 1 And 2: Georgia Despite the town itself being pieced together from various parts of Georgia, the first two seasons produced the Hawkins that everyone fell in love with. Every time the crew arrives, the buildings in Jacksons charming downtown, which include Melvalds and the neighbourhood library, subtly serve as Hawkins landmarks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stranger Things Netflix (@strangerthingstv) East Point is home to the well-known family residences that influenced the early seasons. Except for the Upside Down muck seeping out of several portals, they appear precisely as you remember them. The majority of the interiors were replicated on studio sets, so those Christmas-lit, wallpapered living rooms were likely produced with even more attention to detail and fire safety precautions. Hawkins High and Middle School was filmed in a former Stockbridge school, which must be an ideal location for any abandoned corridor longing for its little moment in the spotlight. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stranger Things Netflix (@strangerthingstv) Given that Hopper hardly completed any paperwork throughout the first two seasons, it is beautifully hilarious that his station was located within Douglasvilles City Hall. The children were actually riding through places like Stone Mountain Park or vast expanses of land surrounding the Georgia International Horse Park while they rode their bikes wildly into the woods. Elevens first burger meal was recorded inside a Lithia Springs cafe, and her first waffle theft occurred at a genuine grocery store in Palmetto. Season 3: Atlanta Everyone was thrown into the fluorescent light of Starcourt Mall in season three, which was shot entirely within Duluths once-bustling Gwinnett Place Mall. With neon, roller-soft ice cream, and stores that havent been seen in the wild in decades, the production crew turned it into a temple to eighties materialism. Even those who lived during the 1980s had an uncontrollable hunger for pretzels when the episodes aired because it seemed so realistic. The Hawkins Community Pool scenes were set in the South Bend Pool, an outdoor pool in Atlanta, where Billy would stride across the deck like a catwalk, turning regular swimmers into confused spectators. Additionally, all of the furious action continued to take place inside the bones of that once-normal shopping centre as the plot descended into secret labs, exploding malls, and interdimensional animals. Nothing destroys a mall more quickly than an enormous carnivorous shadow creature, as season three essentially shows. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stranger Things Netflix (@strangerthingstv) Season 4: Vilnius, Lithuania Hawkins was unable to keep the show under control by the time it reached season four. In Vilnius, Lithuania, a real former jail served as the setting for the filming of Hoppers depressing captivity. A very evocative stand-in for imaginary Siberia was created by filming the freezing airfields and snow-covered exteriors close by. The vibrant California plot, meanwhile, was far from the Pacific shore. Albuquerques suburbs, roller rinks, and desert roads served as a stand-in for sunny suburban California as the Byers new existence took shape. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 12:17 IST News lifestyle travel Where Was Netflix's Stranger Things Filmed? The Real Locations Behind Hawkins Akshaye Khanna Initially Rejected Dhurandhar, Scolded Mukesh Chhabra: Pagal Ho Gaya Hai? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 19:00 IST Mukesh Chhabra recalls how Akshaye Khanna scolded him for offering Dhurandhar before listening to the script for four hours and finally saying yes. Rapid Read Casting director Mukesh Chhabra reveals how convincing Akshaye Khanna to play Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar was a year-long challenge, starting with a scolding and ending after a four-hour script narration. While Ranveer Singh may be the face front and centre on Dhurandhar posters, the conversation around the film has increasingly gravitated towards Akshaye Khanna. In a cast stacked with formidable performers like Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal, many feel it is Khannas chillingly restrained turn as Rehman Dakait that lingers the longest. Quiet, coiled, and unsettling, his performance has emerged as one of the films most talked-about elements. What makes this even more remarkable is how close Dhurandhar came to not having Akshaye Khanna at all. Aditya Thought I Was Being Over-Ambitious" Casting director Mukesh Chhabra recently pulled back the curtain on the arduous journey of assembling Dhurandhars ensemble, revealing that convincing Akshaye Khanna to come on board was a year-long battle of patience and persuasion. By the time Chhabra joined the project, Ranveer Singh was already locked in. In Bollywood, that often means other major actors hesitate, wary of being overshadowed. Chhabra, however, chose to ignore that unspoken hierarchy. He approached every role with equal seriousness whether it was R. Madhavans part or even smaller supporting characters a mindset that initially made director Aditya Dhar uneasy. When Chhabra proposed Akshaye Khanna for Rehman Dakait, the reaction was skeptical. Aditya felt I was being overly ambitious," Chhabra recalled. But I was convinced Akshaye paaji was right for it." From Being Scolded to Being Heard Getting Akshaye Khanna on the phone was just the beginning and not a warm one. I hadnt even watched Chhaava back then," Chhabra admitted. I called him, and the first thing he did was scold me. He said, Paagal ho gaya hai kya?" Khannas reputation for being intensely private and selective proved accurate. But Chhabra persisted, requesting just one thing that the actor listen to the script before saying no. Reluctantly, Khanna agreed to meet, though even that came with hesitation. Living far from Mumbais usual film circuit, he told Chhabra bluntly to specify where exactly the meeting would be. Four Hours That Changed Everything The meeting turned into an unexpectedly long session. Akshaye Khanna sat with Mukesh Chhabra and Aditya Dhar for nearly four hours, quietly listening as the script unfolded. He barely interrupted," Chhabra said. He kept smoking, kept listening." When the narration finally ended, Khanna broke the silence with a reaction no one anticipated. F**k, its very good," he said. Bada maza aayega." Even then, the uncertainty lingered. Two anxious days passed before Chhabras phone rang. He just called and said, Lets do it, bro. That was it." A Performance That Redefined the Film With Dhurandhar now firmly behind him and his performance widely celebrated, Akshaye Khanna shows no signs of slowing down. He has already begun work on his Telugu debut, Mahakali, directed by Puja Kolluru, marking his entry into the Prashanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU). Early glimpses of his transformation into Shukracharya have sparked excitement, once again proving that Khannas choices few and far between continue to shape some of the most compelling characters in contemporary Indian cinema. In a film driven by scale, spectacle, and star power, Dhurandhar ultimately found one of its strongest anchors in an actor who almost walked away before even hearing the story. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 19:00 IST News movies bollywood Akshaye Khanna Initially Rejected Dhurandhar, Scolded Mukesh Chhabra: Pagal Ho Gaya Hai? Border 2: Varun Dhawan Teases Fans With New Pics Ahead Of Ghar Kab Aaoge Song Launch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 10:06 IST Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 brings together Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, Mona Singh, Medha Rana, Sonam Bajwa, and Anya Singh. Border 2: Varun Dhawan Teases Fans With New Pics Ahead Of Ghar Kab Aaoge Song Launch Varun Dhawan, Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty are coming together for much anticipated sequel, Border 2. And to amp up excitement around the upcoming war drama, Varun shared new pictures from the song Ghar Kab Aaoge. The actor dropped new stills on his social media handles, instantly grabbing fans attention. The film is releasing on January 23, 2026. Taking to his Instagram handle, Varun Dhawan shared a series of photos from the song Ghar Kab Aaoge The song is releasing today in Jaisalmer and he was also spotted at the airport. Immediately fans reacted. One of the fans wrote, What a sweet song to start a year with. Another wrote, So freakinnnnn excited." Take a look here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn) Varun Dhawan On Border 2 Recently, Varun Dhawan shared an interesting anecdote, and how he made sure that one dialogue from the film made it to the output. For the same, he took a little help from Sunny Deol. During the shoot, Varun and the films unit heard a war cry from the aspirants at the academy where a part of the film has been shot at. The actor said that a senior officer at the academy roared to awaken the aspirants, and asked, Awaaz kahan tak jaani chaahiye? Lahore tak (Where shall the voice reach? It should reach Lahore)". Talking about the same, Varun told the media, I thought, we must include this bit. If they didnt write it then they wouldnt have added it to the script. I then went to Sunny sir, and said in his ears, Sir, please do this, this is a very big and real moment. Please use this". He further mentioned, Thats why I use it only in teaser. Okay, do it. Then I didnt know if it would work, so I went after Sunny paaji. I mean I cant tell you, I got goosebumps. The one who was the trainer, I mean, what a voice it must have actually reached Lahore, the way it was doing". About the film Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 brings together a powerful ensemble led by Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, Mona Singh, Medha Rana, Sonam Bajwa, and Anya Singh. Border 2 is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series, in association with J.P. Duttas J.P. Films. Backed by a powerful production team including Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, and directed by Anurag Singh. Gear up for this monumental saga of patriotism and courage, as Border 2 storms into cinemas on January 23rd 2026. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 10:06 IST News movies bollywood Border 2: Varun Dhawan Teases Fans With New Pics Ahead Of Ghar Kab Aaoge Song Launch Sunny Deol Gets Emotional Remembering Dharmendra At Border 2 Event: 'I'm A Little Shaken' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 03, 2026, 00:10 IST At a Border 2 event in Jaisalmer, Sunny Deol turned emotional as he revisited memories of Border and shared how Dharmendras Haqeeqat inspired him. Border 2 is scheduled to release on January 22, 2026. (Photo Credit: Instagram) Sunny Deol turned emotional while attending an event for his upcoming film Border 2 in Jaisalmer, where the cast and crew gathered for the launch of the song Ghar Kab Aaoge. The actor spoke candidly about his deep personal connection to the Border franchise and revisited memories from the time he first shot the 1997 war classic. Addressing the audience, Sunny reflected on how Border went on to become more than just a film for him, forming a lasting bond with viewers across generations. The actor also spoke about the inspiration behind choosing the subject, tracing it back to his childhood and his father Dharmendras iconic war film Haqeeqat. Haqeeqat Inspired Me to Do Border Speaking at the event, Sunny said, Kaise hain aap log? Mein aap ke parivaar ka hissa hi hoon, jab se maine Border ki hain. Maine Border ki thi kyuki maine jab apni papa ki film Haqeeqat dekhi thi, woh mujhe bohot pyaari lagi thi. Tab main bohot chhota tha. Jab main actor bana tab maine taay kiya ki main bhi papa jaise ek film karunga. JP Dutta saab ke saath maine baat ki aur hum dono ne decide kiya ki hum iss subject mein film banayenge jo bohot hi pyaara hein so aap sab ke dilo mein basa hua hein (How are you all? I am part of your family, from the time I did Border. I did that film after I saw my fathers film Haqeeqat and was inspired by it. I was very small then. When I became an actor I decided to make a film on a similar subject. JP Dutta and me decided on that story and it has remained in your hearts ever since)." Released in 1964, Haqeeqat was based on the events of the 1962 Sino-Indian War and followed a small platoon of Indian soldiers in Ladakh facing overwhelming odds. Dharmendra played the lead role in the film, which went on to become one of Hindi cinemas most respected war dramas. I Am a Little Shaken During his speech, Sunny also appeared visibly overwhelmed as he addressed the gathering, saying, Main zyada kuch nhi bol paaunga, mera dimaag hila hua hain (I wont be able to say much, I am a little shaken)." Border 2 is the sequel to JP Duttas 1997 blockbuster Border. The upcoming war drama is directed by Anurag Singh and features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. Produced by T-Series in association with JP Duttas J P Films, the film is scheduled to release theatrically on January 23, 2026. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 03, 2026, 00:10 IST News movies bollywood Sunny Deol Gets Emotional Remembering Dharmendra At Border 2 Event: 'I'm A Little Shaken' George Clooney Fires Back At Donald Trump Over Good News Remark On His French Citizenship Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 22:09 IST George Clooney issued a sharp response after Donald Trump mocked his and Amal Clooneys French citizenship. George Clooney has been known for caring about others and helping various communities. (Photo Credit: X) George Clooney has responded after Donald Trump took a swipe at the actor and his wife Amal Clooney following reports that the couple have obtained French citizenship. The former president, 79, addressed the news in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, December 31, reacting to reports that Clooney, 64, Amal, 47, and their eight-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, had become French citizens. Trump described the development as good news" and referred to the couple as two of the worst political prognosticators of all time." Trumps post also included sharp criticism of France, claiming the country is sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden." George Clooneys Sharp Response Clooney addressed Trumps remarks in a statement obtained by PEOPLE on January 2. Responding with irony, the actor said, I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. Well start in November," referencing the upcoming midterm elections. The statement was first shared with The Hollywood Reporter on New Years Day. The exchange adds another chapter to the long-running public feud between Clooney and Trump, with the actor remaining one of the former presidents most outspoken critics in Hollywood. Trump Revives Past Political Attacks In his Truth Social post, Trump also revisited Clooneys July 2024 op-ed for The New York Times, in which the actor urged then-President Joe Biden to step aside following his widely criticized performance during a June 2024 presidential debate. Trump wrote, Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat." The former president further claimed that Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre movies." He wasnt a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics," Trump added, before signing off with, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Clooneys political views have previously put him at odds with Trump. In 2021, following the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, Clooney said on KCRWs The Business podcast that the Trump name would be relegated to the dustbin of history," adding, That name will now forever be associated with insurrection." Amal Clooney, a prominent human rights lawyer, has also been vocal in her criticism, stating in 2019 that Trumps rhetoric toward the media makes honest journalists all over the world more vulnerable to abuse." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA) First Published: January 02, 2026, 22:09 IST News movies hollywood George Clooney Fires Back At Donald Trump Over Good News Remark On His French Citizenship Tommy Lee Jones' Daughter Victoria Found Dead In A San Francisco Hotel On New Year, Probe Underway Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 10:36 IST After Victoria was found dead police were immediately informed. However, her cause of death isn't known as of now. Victoria Jones was 34 and led a private life away from Hollywood. Tommy Lee Jones daughter, Victoria Kafka Jones, was found dead in a San Francisco hotel on New Years Day. As reported by TMZ, the body of the 34-year-old was discovered at around 3 am on January 1. While police were immediately informed, her cause of death isnt known as of now and further investigation is currently underway. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department told the Daily Mail, On 1/1/26 at approximately 3:14 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to a hotel located on the 900 block of Mason street regarding a report of a deceased person." At the scene, officers met with medics, who declared the adult female deceased. The Medical Examiner arrived on scene and conducted an investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD," the statement added. Meanwhile, a source told the Daily Mail that a white female around her mid-30s was found unresponsive and the hotel staff was alerted. CPR was done, but she was pronounced deceased by the emergency/ambulance crew that responded to the scene." The incident has left Tommys fans shocked. However, neither the actor nor his team has reacted to his daughters tragic death as of now. Who Was Tommy Lee Jones Daughter Victoria? Victoria Jones, born in 1991, is the daughter of American actor Tommy Lee Jones and his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. Growing up, she largely remained out of the spotlight as her parents valued privacy over Hollywood exposure. Unlike her famous father, Victoria has opted not to pursue a high-profile acting career, instead choosing to lead a low-key personal life. She occasionally appears at public events with her family, but little verified information about her education or profession is publicly available. Rest in peace, Victoria Kafka Jones! News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 10:36 IST News movies hollywood Tommy Lee Jones' Daughter Victoria Found Dead In A San Francisco Hotel On New Year, Probe Underway Tommy Lee Jones Daughter Victoria Jones Died Of Suspected Overdose, 911 Audio Reveals Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 03, 2026, 04:35 IST Victoria Jones, daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, was found unresponsive at a San Francisco hotel, with dispatch audio indicating a suspected overdose. Victoria Jones was 34 and led a private life away from Hollywood. Victoria Jones, the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, may have died from a drug overdose, according to newly released emergency dispatch audio related to her death. Victoria, who was 34, was found unresponsive at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel in the early hours of Thursday, January 1, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE classified the emergency call as a code 3 for the overdose, color change," suggesting a medical response to a suspected overdose. In such cases, color change" refers to cyanosis, a condition marked by bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin, lips or nails due to low oxygen levels in the blood. According to the Cleveland Clinic, cyanosis is often associated with heart or lung complications. Emergency response and investigation The San Francisco Police Department and San Francisco Fire Department both responded to reports of a medical emergency at the Fairmont Hotel at approximately 2:52 a.m. on January 1. Both departments confirmed to PEOPLE that they arrived at the scene and discovered a deceased individual, who was not publicly identified at the time. A police source later told NBC Bay Area that authorities do not suspect foul play in connection with Victorias death. As of now, the official cause of death has not been determined, and further details are pending the results of the medical examiners investigation. Victoria was the daughter of Tommy Lee Jones, 79, and his ex-wife Kimberlea Cloughley. The former couple also share a son, Austin Jones, who is 43. Past legal troubles and acting work Court records reviewed by PEOPLE indicate that Victoria had been arrested at least twice in the past year. On April 28, 2025, she was taken into custody in Napa County, California, and charged with three misdemeanors: obstructing a peace officer, being under the influence of a controlled substance without a valid prescription, and possession of a controlled substance without a valid prescription. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. Less than two months later, on June 17, Victoria was arrested again in Napa County, this time on a charge of misdemeanor domestic battery. She entered a not guilty plea on July 1. Despite her personal struggles, Victoria also pursued acting, following in her fathers footsteps. She appeared in Men in Black II (2002) and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), both starring Tommy Lee Jones. She also made a brief appearance in an episode of One Tree Hill in 2003. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA) First Published: January 03, 2026, 04:35 IST News movies hollywood Tommy Lee Jones Daughter Victoria Jones Died Of Suspected Overdose, 911 Audio Reveals KAMPALA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A senior Ugandan official on Friday warned the public against the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) as the country heads toward general elections scheduled for Jan. 15, noting that the technology could be exploited by negative elements to sway public opinion. Aminah Zawedde, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance, said in a statement that when used responsibly, AI can expand access to information and strengthen democratic engagement. However, the technology can also be abused to distort the truth, inflame divisions, and undermine public trust, said Zawedde, who also chairs the National AI Taskforce. "We are already witnessing the misuse of AI to create deceptive content, including deepfake images and videos that falsely portray candidates, AI-generated audio that impersonates leaders, and automated accounts that spread false narratives at speed. In some cases, manipulated data is deliberately presented as official election results to undermine confidence in democratic institutions," she said. Zawedde said that while AI itself is not an enemy, its manipulation during elections interferes with citizens' ability to make informed choices. She urged the public to refrain from digitally sharing any unverified or sensational content. Zawedde further warned that although Uganda is still developing a dedicated legal framework for AI, existing laws already apply. "Election-related misconduct remains unlawful whether committed offline or online, and the misuse of AI to mislead or manipulate carries serious consequences," she said. Will Smith Sued For Sexual Harassment, Accused Of 'Deliberately Grooming' Tour Violinist Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 06:28 IST Will Smith faces a lawsuit from violinist Brian King Joseph, who claims he was fired after reporting a sexual assault incident while on the actors tour. Will Smith Sued by Tour Violinist for Sexual Harassment and Wrongful Termination. Hollywood star Will Smith has been named in a lawsuit filed by violinist Brian King Joseph, who alleges he was wrongfully terminated after reporting a disturbing incident that occurred during Smiths Based on a True Story 2025 tour. The civil complaint, filed on Wednesday, December 31, in a Los Angeles court, also names Smiths company, Treyball Studios Management, as a defendant, according to international media. As per the lawsuit, the alleged incident took place in March while the tour was in Las Vegas. Joseph claims that after returning to his hotel roombooked by Smiths companyhe discovered signs that someone had entered without his consent. He alleges that the room contained a sexual message, wipes, a beer bottle, HIV medication bearing another persons name, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to someone else. What Brian King Joseph Alleges In The Lawsuit Joseph states that the note he found in the room read: Brian, Ill be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us [drawn heart]," and was signed Stone F." Alarmed by the situation, he says he immediately reported the incident to hotel security as well as tour management. What Are The Allegations Against Will Smith? However, according to the lawsuit, Joseph was accused of lying and blamed for the incident instead of receiving support. He claims that just days later, he was dismissed from the tour. Management allegedly told him the tour was moving in a different direction," a justification Joseph disputes. He notes that another violinist was hired soon after, which he says indicates he was fired for pretextual" reasons rather than performance-related issues. Beyond wrongful termination, Josephs lawsuit includes serious allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation. He claims that Smith had been grooming and priming" him for further sexual exploitation" since they met in November 2024. According to the filing, the two allegedly began spending increasing amounts of time alone in the months leading up to the tour. Joseph further alleges that Smith once told him, You and I have such a special connection, that I dont have with anyone else." He also points to an earlier incident in which tour management allegedly lost his bag, which contained his hotel room key, calling the circumstances suspicious. In the complaint, Joseph states, The sequence of events" and circumstances of the hotel intrusion all point to a pattern of predatory behavior rather than an isolated incident." The violinist is suing for retaliation, wrongful termination, sexual harassment and intimidation. He is seeking compensation for both financial and personal damages, claiming he made significant investments to prepare for the tour, which ran from July to early September. Joseph also alleges that he now suffers from major physiological damage and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident and his firing. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA) First Published: January 02, 2026, 06:28 IST News movies hollywood Will Smith Sued For Sexual Harassment, Accused Of 'Deliberately Grooming' Tour Violinist BTS Finally Confirms March 20, 2026 Comeback, Ending Nearly 4-Year Hiatus After Military Service Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 03, 2026, 04:04 IST BTS announces March 20, 2026 comeback after nearly four years. The K-pop group reunites following military service, gearing up for a new album. BTS announces their official group comeback on March 20, 2026. Global K-pop phenomenon BTS has officially confirmed its long-awaited comeback, putting an end to a nearly four-year group hiatus. The announcement, shared by BigHit Music on social media, revealed that the seven-member group will return on March 20, 2026, sending fans across the world into a frenzy. Theyre going to light up 2026 like dynamite," fans declared as BigHit Music posted the confirmation on X, formerly Twitter. March 20th comeback confirmed," the company wrote, making the news official after months of speculation and anticipation. The comeback comes after all seven membersRM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and j-hopecompleted South Koreas mandatory military service, a requirement that had placed group activities on hold since 2022. Military service complete, BTS reunites Suga was the final member to wrap up his service, completing his duties in June 2025. The rapper served as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service he reportedly opted for due to a shoulder injury. The remaining six membersRM, Jin, Jimin, V, Jung Kook and j-hopeserved in the South Korean army. BTS strategically staggered their enlistments, allowing individual members to pursue solo music, collaborations and other creative ventures while ensuring the group could reunite as soon as possible. Despite the pause in group activities, BTS remained a dominant force globally, with solo releases from nearly every member topping charts and breaking records. The March 2026 comeback will mark the groups full return to the stage as a unit, something fansknown as ARMYhave been eagerly awaiting. The group had previously hinted at their comeback plans in the summer of 2025, when they teased a world tour and confirmed that a new album would arrive in the spring of 2026. At the time, BTS revealed that work on the album would begin in July 2025. Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each members thoughts and ideas," BTS said in a statement. Were approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started." The upcoming release will be BTS first new group album since 2022s anthology Proof. It will also follow their 2021 Japanese compilation BTS, the Best, and their last studio album Be, which was released in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Seoul, South Korea First Published: January 03, 2026, 04:04 IST News movies korean BTS Finally Confirms March 20, 2026 Comeback, Ending Nearly 4-Year Hiatus After Military Service Ashwath Marimuthu Confirms STR51 With Simbu, No Film With Rajinikanth Yet Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 16:58 IST Ashwath Marimuthu has opened up about his next project, which will feature Silambarasan TR in the lead role. Ashwath is best known for films such as Oh My Kadavule and Dragon. (Photo Credit: X) Director Ashwath Marimuthu recently grabbed attention on social media after reports suggested that he had narrated a story to superstar Rajinikanth for the much-talked-about project Thalaivar173. However, putting an end to the speculation, the filmmaker has now confirmed that his next directorial venture will feature Silambarasan TR in the lead role. The project is tentatively titled STR51. Dragon Director Ashwath Marimuthu to Team Up With Simbu for STR51 Ashwath Marimuthu, best known for films like Oh My Kadavule and Dragon, confirmed the development during a recent roundtable discussion with noted film critic Sudhir Srinivasan. During the conversation, the director revealed that he is actively working on the screenplay for his next film, which will star Silambarasan TR. Sharing details about the project, Ashwath said: No matter who asks, the answer right now is the same, Simbu. I am currently writing the script for the film. He is shooting for Vetrimaaran sirs Arasan, and towards the end of that schedule, we will begin filming our movie in parallel. It will be released next year." Rajinikanths Thalaivar173 Rumours Explained For those unaware, earlier buzz hinted that Ashwath Marimuthu was in discussions with Rajinikanth to direct Thalaivar173. The project was initially announced with director Sundar C at the helm, but the filmmaker later opted out due to prior commitments. While fans are still awaiting an official update, expected around Pongal next year, industry chatter suggests that Parking fame Ramkumar Balakrishnan may take over as the director. Interestingly, Ramkumar was also reportedly in talks to collaborate with Simbu on a separate project earlier. Silambarasan TRs Current Project: Arasan With Vetrimaaran On the work front, Silambarasan TR is currently busy shooting for Arasan, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Vetrimaaran. The upcoming gangster action drama is set within the Vada Chennai cinematic universe and will serve as a spin-off to the cult classic. Vetrimaaran has confirmed that several characters from Vada Chennai will appear in Arasan, further heightening anticipation among fans. The film marks the first collaboration between Simbu and Vetrimaaran, making it one of the most awaited Tamil films in production. Anirudh Ravichander on Board for Arasan Music Adding to the excitement, Arasan will feature music and background score composed by Anirudh Ravichander. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, the combination of Simbu, Vetrimaaran and Anirudh has already generated massive buzz. What to Expect From STR51 With Ashwath Marimuthu Looking ahead, Silambarasan TRs film with Ashwath Marimuthu is being described as a fantasy action romantic entertainer. According to Pinkvilla, Simbu will play a character titled the God of Love, and the director has emphasized that the film will carry the essence of vintage STR moviessomething long-time fans have been eagerly waiting for. With two exciting projects lined up and a unique genre blend in STR51, Silambarasan TRs upcoming lineup promises to be a thrilling phase in his career. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 16:58 IST News movies tamil-cinema Ashwath Marimuthu Confirms STR51 With Simbu, No Film With Rajinikanth Yet Jana Nayagan To Launch Trailer On January 3? Thalapathy Vijay Announces Release Time Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 16:58 IST The latest trailer poster of Jana Nayagan features Thalapathy Vijay in a rugged look with Bobby Deol and Mamitha Baiju in the background. Jana Nayagan trailer will drop on January 3 in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.(Photo Credit: X) Thalapathy Vijays highly anticipated film Jana Nayagan is gearing up to drop its trailer on January 3. The Tamil superstar took to social media to share the trailer poster. He also announced the launch time for the much-awaited trailer, heightening anticipation among fans. In the newly released poster, Thalapathy Vijay was seen in a rugged look, holding a gun in one hand. Bobby Deol and Mamitha Baiju were also seen in the background. Jana Nayagan Trailer Launch Schedule Taking to X, Thalapathy Vijay revealed the massy, power-packed trailer will be released in three languages. #JanaNayaganTrailer #JanNetaTrailer #JanaNayakuduTrailer Tamil, Telugu & Hindi trailers are releasing on Jan 3rd at 6:45 PM," he wrote. For the unversed, Jana Nayagan is expected to be Thalapathy Vijays last film before he fully gets into politics. During an audio launch event in Malaysia, the actor announced his plans to retire from films. When I entered the cinema, I thought I was building a small sand house here. But you all have built me a palace. Fans helped me build a fort Thats why Ive decided to stand for them. For the fans who gave up everything for me, Im giving up cinema itself," the actor said during that time. Jana Nayagan Plot and Cast Directed by H. Vinoth, the Tamil political action thriller Jana Nayagan is expected to revolve around two strong characters a hero who fights for the people and a powerful enemy who thrives on power and control. After crossing paths once in the past, they collide again many years later. The story centres on a childs unspoken fear, which reopens old wounds and draws the protagonist, a former police officer, into a larger struggle that goes beyond personal revenge. In the film, Thalapathy Vijay will essay the role of a police officer, while Pooja Hegde will play the female lead. Bobby Deol will be seen in a powerful negative character. The film also features Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Mamita Baiju and others in prominent roles. Jana Nayagan will hit the theatres on January 9, 2026. Besides its original language, the film will also be released in dubbed Telugu and Hindi audio on the same day. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 16:14 IST News movies tamil-cinema Jana Nayagan To Launch Trailer On January 3? Thalapathy Vijay Announces Release Time Divyanka Tripathi And Vivek Dahiya's New Year Celebration Was All About A Quite Family Time Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 16:56 IST The snaps showed the duo celebrating with some close ones at home and the goofy images proved that they had a lot of fun with each other. Divyanka Tripathi was last seen in The Magic Of Shiri.(Photo Credit: Instagram) Just like every other occasion, Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya celebrated New Years together in the most simplistic manner. They celebrated the day at home and shared candid pictures with their fans wishing them well. The snaps showed the duo celebrating with some close ones at home and the goofy images proved that they had a lot of fun with each other. Along with the pictures, Divyanka wrote, Have a fab 2026 my people." The snaps showed them dressed casually and dancing with each other celebrating the evening. Divyanka Tripathi and husband Vivek Dahiya spent a fantastic day out celebrating Christmas. On this festive occasion, the couple chose to spend quality time together rather than throwing extravagant festivities. Divyanka took to Instagram to provide a glimpse into her ideal day with Vivek Dahiya, which left followers raving. Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiyas Christmas The first photograph showed Divyanka and Vivek smiling with a massive Christmas tree in the background. The duo was seen dressed casually but stylishly as they began to enjoy the festive mood. The decorated tree with huge bows and red-golden wrapped presents provided the ideal setting for the portrait. The following photographs showed the couple enjoying Paul Rudds film Anaconda, which was released in theatres on Christmas Day. Other photographs showed them enjoying a fantastic breakfast buffet, which included French toast, waffles, smoothies, and fruits. Some time ago, she also shared some of the special memories from her birthday. Her carousel began with a collection of photographs of Divyanka celebrating her birthday with her husband and friends. She cut the cake and joyfully took pictures with all of the visitors. In the caption of the post, Divyanka wrote, No stone left unturned to make me smile wider. Thank you, my loved ones, for making a regular birthday feel so special." Praising Viveks efforts, she added, Viv, your surprise planning is so incredible that maybe you can even make a business out of this skill. Also, friends coordinated with Viv and just showed up. Apne to apne hote hain." The actress was most recently seen in The Magic Of Shiri, a JioCinema television series that launched in November 2024. The film, produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Tanveer Bookwala for Jio Studios, also stars Jaaved Jaaferi, Namit Das, Darshan Jariwala, Nishank Verma, and Parmeet Sethi in major parts. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 16:56 IST News movies television Divyanka Tripathi And Vivek Dahiya's New Year Celebration Was All About A Quite Family Time Duffer Brothers Open Up On Will's Coming Out Scene Criticism In Stranger Things 5: 'Proud Of It' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 11:38 IST Stranger Things Season 5 had an audience score rating of 73 per cent before Volume 2. However, it was dropped to 56 per cent after the release. Duffer Brothers proud of Will's coming out scene in Stranger Things 5. Stranger Things creators Duffer Brothers have opened up about the criticism regarding season fives episode seven, in which Will opened up about his sexuality. In a recent interview with Variety, the Duffer Brothers revealed that they did not expect the criticism around the episode and that despite everything, they are proud of it. No is the honest truth. Because it is, as Ross said, something weve been building for a really long time. I always say, Ross and I are many things, but subtle is not one of those things!" Matt Duffer told Variety. Were proud of the episode, and were proud of the scene, and proud of Noah, who gave a really brave, very vulnerable performance. Ive been texting with him a lot, but texting with him specifically after that scene and after that episode aired. And hes in a really good place. Hes very proud of the scene, and were proud of the scene," Ross Duffer added. For the unversed, Season 5 had an audience score rating of 73 per cent before Volume 2. However, it was dropped to 56 per cent after the release. Additionally, the shows penultimate episode, The Bridge in which Will opened up about his sexuality is the worst-rated episode of the entire series. It has a rating of 5.4 at IMDb. The rest of Season 5 have a score of 8.0 or higher. Noah Schnapp On Wills Coming Out Scene Recently, Noah Schnapp also opened up about Will Byers coming-out moment in Stranger Things Season 5. In a social media post, the actor spoke about filming the intense scene, recalling how he spent nearly 12 hours shooting the monologue in one day. He explained, It was endless. It was like a 12-hour day of just that monologue. And we werent even done after the 12-hour day. We came back a week later to reshoot certain parts of the scene for another 12 hours." While it was exhausting, Noah shared that it allowed him to try out different things. I never felt stuck to anything. I got advice from Maya on how to prepare for it, because there were so many lines, more lines than Id ever had before," he shared. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 11:38 IST News movies web-series Duffer Brothers Open Up On Will's Coming Out Scene Criticism In Stranger Things 5: 'Proud Of It' Kirti Kulhari Confirms Relationship With Co-Star Rajeev Siddhartha On New Year 2026, Fans React Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 07:40 IST Four More Shots Please actors Kirti Kulhari and Rajeev Siddhartha have made their relationship Instagram official on New Year! Heres how fans reacted. Rapid Read Kirti Kulhari Confirms Relationship With Four More Shots Please Co-Star Rajeev Siddhartha On New Year 2026 Four More Shots Please co-stars Kirti Kulhari and Rajeev Siddhartha have confirmed their relationship on New Year 2026! While their dating rumours surfaced in November 2025, the co-actors have now made their relationship Instagram official. They shared a lovely post on New Year, a compilation of their love-soaked pictures together. While Kirti plays Anjana Menon in the series, Rajeev plays Mihir Shah, who is romantically paired opposite Siddhi, the character essayed by Maanvi Gagroo. After Kirti and Rajeev confirmed their relationship, fans were quick to react playfully, flooding the comments and tagging Maanvi. Kirti Kulhari Makes Relationship With Rajeev Siddhartha Instagram Official On New Year 2026, Kirti Kulhari and Rajeev Siddhartha took to their Instagram to share their cosy pictures together. The caption of the post read, A picture is worth a thousand words#happynewyear happy2026 everyone." Soon after they shared the post, Maanvi Gagroo commented, Happy new year lovelies." Meanwhile, fans of the show were delighted! Wow You guys looks just beautiful together," wrote one netizen, while another one playfully commented, Too happy for u guyzz ..but yeh bolna hai yeh toh Siddhi ka Pati tha naa." A third comment read, omggggggggg sidddiii pidddiii are u seeing what anj is doingg haha jokes aside im so happy for you guys," while another fan wrote, Anjana and Mihir in parallel unviverse." Check out the post below! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kirti Kulhari (@iamkirtikulhari) Their dating rumours surfaced last month, after fans noticed their sweet notes for each other on social media. The speculation gained momentum after Kirti posted a photo with Rajeev on social media in November. In the picture, she was seen resting her head on his shoulder with an ice pack on her neck, accompanied by the caption, With the #paininmyneck and my #icepack @rajeevsiddhartha." The post sparked curiosity among fans, many of whom began discussing their apparent closeness. Earlier, during Diwali, Kirti shared another photo where she leaned close to Rajeev, writing Happy Diwali love" along with a heart emoji. In another Instagram Story shared last year, the duo were spotted holding hands as Kirti appeared to bid farewell to Rajeev before his travel. For the unversed, Kirti Kulhari was previously married to actor Saahil Sehgal, but the two parted ways in 2021 after five years. Announcing the separation, the actor had issued a statement on social media, stating that the decision was a mutual one, and said she was in a good place emotionally. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 07:40 IST News movies web-series Kirti Kulhari Confirms Relationship With Co-Star Rajeev Siddhartha On New Year 2026, Fans React Global Watch | Pakistan's Silent Coup: How The Army Formalised Its Grip On Power In 2025 Written By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 14:22 IST History will likely judge 2025 as the year Pakistans democratic experiment was decisively rolled backnot by force alone, but by law. While Munirs consolidation of power did not begin in 2025, the past year marked a decisive shift in speed, scale, and ambition. (IMAGE: REUTERS) If Pakistans troubled history reveals anything, it is that military power rarely announces itself with a bang. It creeps, consolidates, and then, suddenly, becomes irreversible. The year 2025 will be remembered as precisely such a moment, when Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir led the military establishment, stopped pretending to rule from behind the curtain, and instead rewrote the rules of the state to formalise its dominance. While Munirs consolidation of power did not begin in 2025, which started unfolding steadily since his appointment as army chief in 2022, the past year marked a decisive shift in speed, scale, and ambition. What had once been an incremental expansion of influence hardened into an overt military power grab, carried out through constitutional engineering, foreign policy usurpation, and the systematic erosion of civilian and judicial authority. By the end of 2025, Pakistan had crossed an institutional Rubicon: democracy remained in form, but not in substance. The most visible marker of this dynamic has been Munirs assumption of an overt role in shaping Pakistans regional policy, where the military has held dominance for decades. Indias Operation Sindoor in early May 2025, which exposed Pakistans strategic vulnerabilities and heightened regional tensions, can be described as its turning point. In its aftermath, it was the army chief who emerged as Pakistans principal broker with its major allies rather than the Shehbaz Sharif-led civilian government. This was demonstrated by Munirs multiple high-profile visits to the United States, China, and Saudi Arabia, which are Pakistans three most consequential external partners. During his first US visit in June, he was hosted at an official luncheon by President Donald Trump, an honour traditionally reserved for heads of state or government. The symbolism of this meeting reflected Trumps recognition of Pakistans real centre of power at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi rather than the prime ministers office in Islamabad. It rendered civilian leaders as spectators, particularly when the Shehbaz Sharif government nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 within two days of Munirs visit. This external validation only emboldened Munirs domestic ambitions. In July 2025, the Shehbaz Sharif government, which remains beholden to the military for power, especially after the controversial 2024 elections, conferred upon Munir the title of Field Marshal. He became the second Pakistani military general after General Ayub Khan, who awarded himself the Field Marshal rank in 1959 following a military coup a year earlier in 1958. Although framed as a ceremonial honour, the Field Marshal rank brings lifetime prestige, ceremonial recognition, and symbolic seniority". If the Field Marshal title was a warning sign, the constitutional overhaul that followed was a full-scale institutional rupture. In November 2025, the government passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Act, building upon changes introduced by the 26th Amendment a year earlier. Together, these amendments amounted to what can only be described as a constitutional coup, and one carried out not by tanks in the streets but through the countrys parliament itself. At the heart of the 27th Amendment was a radical restructuring of Pakistans military command. The amendment abolished the tri-service Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), replacing it with a new office of Commander of Defence Forces (CDF). It consolidated command over the Army, Navy and Air Force within the Pakistan Army only, as it is to be held concurrently by the army chief alone. As such, in one stroke, it paved the way for Munir to become the supreme commander of all armed forces, which he did formally on December 4, thereby eliminating even the modest inter-service checks that previously existed. The amendment went further still. It granted official Field Marshal rank and the President of Pakistan lifelong legal immunity, which effectively foreclosed any future accountability for actions taken during military service. In a country whose history is replete with transgressions by military generals, including dismantling constitutions, this provision is a recipe for Munir to use any means available to extend his hold over power. Perhaps the most alarming development was giving the Pakistan Army Chief increased authority over Pakistans Strategic Command, which oversees the countrys nuclear arsenal, thereby further weakening the already tenuous civilian oversight. This control over nuclear weapons, which represent the ultimate instrument of state power, gives Asim Munir further bandwidth to adopt power consolidation measures. Yet the militarys ambitions did not stop at the executive or security domains. The final and most consequential blow of 2025 was directed at the judiciary, the last institution that had, at times, pushed back against military overreach. Through the same constitutional amendment, the Supreme Courts authority was effectively fractured by the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court. This new body assumed many of the Supreme Courts core constitutional functions, reducing the apex court to a subordinate status. For decades, Pakistans judiciary has been inconsistent, often pliant, and occasionally complicit. But it has also been the sole institution capable of questioning military actions, invalidating unconstitutional measures, or delaying authoritarian consolidation. By bifurcating judicial power, the military establishment neutralised this threat. Taken together, these measures make 2025 not merely another year of political instability, but a watershed in Pakistans democratic decline, with power centralised, personalised, and shielded from scrutiny. As such, the tactics adopted by Munir to consolidate power represent the most sophisticated iteration of power concentration. Unlike past coups, it relied not on abrogating the Constitution but on weaponising it. The result is a hybrid regime where legality masks authoritarianism, and where the military governs without the inconvenience of direct rule. History will likely judge 2025 as the year Pakistans democratic experiment was decisively rolled backnot by force alone, but by law. And once democracy is dismantled clause by clause, restoring it becomes far harder than losing it ever was. The writer is an author and columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed are personal and solely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect News18s views. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 14:21 IST News opinion Global Watch | Pakistan's Silent Coup: How The Army Formalised Its Grip On Power In 2025 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | How PM Modi Leveraged PRAGATI For Futuristic Vikas Written By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 15:43 IST PRAGATI reflects PM Modis development vision, generating over Rs 130 lakh crore in net gains through savings and multipliers, and steering India towards prosperity by 2047. On December 31, 2025, PM Modi chaired the 50th PRAGATI meeting, marking a significant milestone. (PTI) In the pursuit of a Viksit Bharat, a fully developed nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently emphasised proactive governance as a cornerstone of national progress. One of his flagship initiatives, PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation), stands out as a transformative tool that has accelerated infrastructure development, resolved bottlenecks, and fostered cooperative federalism. On December 31, 2025, PM Modi chaired the 50th PRAGATI meeting, marking a significant milestone. In this session, he reviewed five critical infrastructure projects across five states, with a cumulative value exceeding 40,000 crore, in sectors such as roads, railways, power, water, and coal. The meeting also focused on the PM SHRI scheme to elevate educational quality in selected schools, illustrating how PRAGATIs reach now extends beyond physical infrastructure into social development. Following the meeting, PM Modi explained through a series of social media posts how the PRAGATI ecosystem has accelerated projects worth over Rs 85 lakh crore over the past decade. He pointed out the revival of 377 key projects, with 94 per cent of pending issues2,958 out of 3,162successfully resolved, dramatically cutting delays, cost overruns, and coordination failures. Expressing gratitude to officers across the country, he reaffirmed the platforms guiding principle: Reform to simplify, Perform to deliver, Transform to impact," while stressing the integration of technology throughout project lifecycles to eliminate delays. The conceptual roots of PRAGATI trace back to PM Modis time as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001, where initiatives such as SWAGAT, launched in 2003, pioneered video conferencing for real-time grievance redressal and project monitoring. By 2008, this approach had matured into a robust, technology-driven governance model centred on high-impact projects, paving the way for the national platform formally launched on March 25, 2015. Operating as an ICT-enabled system under the Prime Ministers Office, PRAGATI combines real-time data, geospatial insights, drone surveillance, and video conferencing to allow direct prime ministerial intervention. Since inception, PRAGATI has reviewed 377 long-stalled projects, resolving 94 per cent of associated issues and unlocking initiatives valued at over Rs 85 lakh croreroughly $1 trillion. This systematic acceleration has generated immense net financial gains for the nation through substantial cost savings, reduced overruns, and powerful economic multipliers. Before PRAGATI, central sector infrastructure projects (valued above Rs 150 crore) routinely suffered average cost overruns of around 20 per cent in 2014, with delays impacting 51 per cent of projects and averaging 45 months. By 2018, these metrics had improved markedly to 12.5 per cent cost overruns and only 29 per cent delayed projects, a shift largely credited to PRAGATIs rigorous oversight. These financial benefits manifest in multiple ways. By tackling the primary causes of overrunsland acquisition delays in 74 per cent of cases, suboptimal planning in 40 per cent, and material price escalations contributing 6.2 per centPRAGATI has prevented massive wastage. For the Rs 85 lakh crore portfolio alone, a conservative reduction in overruns from 20 per cent to 12.5 per cent translates to savings exceeding Rs 6.375 lakh crore. On a global benchmark where poor project execution wastes 10 per cent of investments, PRAGATIs reforms have likely mitigated over 70 per cent of such losses, yielding potential savings of Rs 5.95 lakh crore from these projects. Moreover, faster completion timelines enable earlier economic returns. Research from the Reserve Bank of India and the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy shows that every rupee invested in infrastructure generates 2.5 to 3.5 rupees in GDP growth. Applied to PRAGATIs Rs 85 lakh crore portfolio, this multiplier produces a gross GDP uplift of Rs 212.5 to Rs 297.5 lakh crore, resulting in a net gain of Rs 127.5 to Rs 212.5 lakh crore after investment costs. Shorter delays have also averted huge revenue losses; for instance, prolonged power project delays such as Barh Stage I previously cost Rs 29,733 crore in forgone earnings. Sectoral improvements further highlight the impact. In railways, where pre-PRAGATI cost overruns averaged 36 per cent and delays affected 54 per cent of projects, interventions expedited long-pending works such as the JammuUdhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, initiated in 1995, and prevented overruns potentially reaching Rs 1.28 lakh crore across comparable initiatives. The power sector saw overruns fall from 18 per cent, with plants such as Gadarwara (sanctioned in 2008) avoiding cumulative losses of Rs 61,100 crore. In roads and highways, despite low overruns of 2 per cent, persistent delays affecting 51 per cent of projects were curtailed, lowering transportation costs and enabling smoother shifts from Rs 10 per tonne by road to Rs 6 per tonne by rail in integrated networks. PRAGATI has breathed new life into several landmark projects. The Bogibeel Bridge in Assam, conceived in 1997, was finally completed, unlocking decades of stalled economic potential in the Northeast. The Navi Mumbai International Airport, planned since 1997, is now finally operational, promising significant GDP growth through aviation multipliers, as also through expansion of residential and commercial avenues around the airport. Modernisation of the Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh, approved in 2007, has bolstered domestic steel capacity while avoiding typical sector delays. Similarly, the LARA Super Thermal Power Project in Chhattisgarh, sanctioned in 2009, now contributes to energy security and reduced import dependence. Through monthly reviews engaging around 500 secretaries and chief secretaries, PRAGATI has instilled unprecedented accountability. An Oxford University study has commended its role in accelerating projects worth hundreds of billions of dollars in earlier phases, driving sustainable growth. With the introduction of PRAGATI 2.0 incorporating AI for predictive analytics, the platform continues to evolve. In essence, PRAGATI embodies PM Modis vision for development, delivering net financial gains surpassing Rs 130 lakh crore through direct savings and amplified multipliers, solidly positioning India on the path to prosperity by 2047. The author is a national spokesperson of the BJP and an acclaimed author. The views expressed are personal and solely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect News18s views. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 15:43 IST News opinion Opinion | How PM Modi Leveraged PRAGATI For Futuristic Vikas Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Indias Security Imperative In 2026: Challenges, Choices, And The Road Ahead Written By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 16:53 IST 2026 will likely present many challenges to Indias well-being India must now prepare itself with full resolution and alacrity for multiple-domain warfare. Representational Image: Ministry of Defence The dawn of each new year generally brings fresh hopes for brighter, peaceful, and more prosperous days ahead. Unfortunately, historically speaking, the opposite is often true. Nevertheless, as change is the only constant, nothing stops a nation or society from striving for improvements in all aspects of human endeavour. India, located in South Asiaone of the most volatile regions of the worlddespite being the largest and most powerful country in this turbulent expanse, also faces many challenges to its security and well-being. Though India has no expansionist tendencies, securing Indias rise in this war-stricken global ecosystem is indeed a formidable challenge. India, GDP-wise, is the fourth-largest economy in the world and is gradually climbing to become the third-largest in the coming years. Yet, by GDP per capita, we are at a dismal position of 136 or so in the world, which is hardly a matter of satisfaction. Thus, the Indian government must assiduously work to ensure that our economy is not tainted by sheer monopolistic orientation and the fruits of growth do get disseminated to our masses, some of whom still live under the poverty line. This year, the government will also have to address the one-sided and unfair tariff strategies by our strategic partner", the US. Indias current handling of its trade ties with the US has been firm and fair, and to ensure our strategic autonomy policy, we should be prepared to weather the storm. On the other hand, India must continue to buy as much oil as it can, at competitive rates, from Russia. For its exports, India must seek new trading partners. Temporary economic losses inflicted by others will have to be absorbed. Anyway, the US too is getting economically isolated to some extent and may soon learn to mend its ways! On the foreign policy front, India did not appear to have achieved significant successes last year. Though we adhered to our strategic autonomy policies, we should have done better in our neighbourhood. As the principal power of South Asia, India has to find ways and means, both overt and covert, to be of significance to all political parties in their respective nations. Even during Operation Sindoor, when India rightly punished terror-exporter Pakistan, most of the nations, even friendly ones, did not come out to praise India or condemn Pakistan forcefully. India may not have received its due from friendly foreign nations, perhaps owing to our inadequacies in shaping the narrative" to the deserved levels. Such lapses must be thoroughly analysed and rectified by the governments agencies, as psychological warfare is of immense importance in todays grey zone warfare concept. The saving grace in our harmonising the neighbourhood has been the warming of relations with the Afghan Taliban regime in Kabul, our assistance to tiny neighbour Sri Lanka during its recent natural calamity, and increasing aid to Bhutan, the Maldives, and Nepal. Such humanitarian efforts must continue in 2026. Trade and connectivity issues must be given greater emphasis with Afghanistan. For decades, India has faced a two-and-a-half-front threat. With the internal security threat from the Naxalites in the Indian hinterland well under control, the credible threat from China and Pakistan, both independently and collectively, remains persistent and is expected to intensify in the coming months. Though the wily Chinese have recently made some friendly gestures, India must not fall into any trap, as at the macro level, the Chinese have not shown any inclination or accommodation regarding the long-outstanding border problems between the two Asian giants. However, without letting our guard down in security preparedness, there will be no harm in discussing and settling contentious issues with them regarding the borders and the huge trade deficit they enjoy over India, amounting to over 100 billion dollars. The Indian government must be firm in its dealings with the Chinese, as some analysts have opined that we appear soft towards them. During the recent four-day kinetic conflict with Pakistan in May 2025, the Chinese brandished their new weaponry against us through their arming of Pakistan, which used Chinese J-10C and JF-17 Thunder jets, PL-15 air-to-air missiles, and HQ-9 air defence systems. The Indian Armed Forces acquitted themselves creditably in these exchanges, causing tremendous harm to the Pakistanis. Our western neighbour, Pakistan, continues with its myopic and self-destructive policies towards India and has intensified its terror exports to India. We thus must be extra careful as regards Pakistan, as it has now also introduced white-collar terrorism" in India, and surprisingly, a few doctors in our border state of J&K have been affected. Pakistans export of radicalisation will have to be effectively neutralised preemptively by further sharpening our grassroots intelligence and ensuring effective coordination between our intelligence agencies and state police forces, as was evident in the November Red Fort blast case. Though Pakistan has been adequately warned against any mischievousness against us, India must be extra vigilant and ready to teach them a lesson if they create any trouble. Indias long-standing policy of strategic restraint must give way to a policy of punitive deterrence towards Pakistan. The de facto ruler of Pakistan, Field Marshal Asim Munir, currently the hot favourite of US President Donald Trump, has been vociferously speaking against India, and his misplaced ambitions will have to be carefully monitored by our security establishment. A serious strategic challenge has crystallised on Indias eastern front, emerging from the political instability and radicalisation afflicting Bangladesh since August 2025 after the ouster of its pro-India PM Sheikh Hasina and her replacement by Mohd Yunus, currently the Interim Adviser to Bangladesh. Mohd Yunus, reportedly an American protege, has been fanning anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh and turning a blind eye to the carnage inflicted on Bangladeshs minority Hindu population, which causes immense political reverberations in India. Additionally, an anti-India China-Pakistan-Bangladesh axis appears to be forming, and Bangladeshs intelligence agency, the Directorate General Forces Intelligence, and Pakistans sinister Inter-Services Intelligence have been plotting together against India in the past few months. Both armies of the two nations have been in liaison with each other recently. It is indeed surprising that Bangladesh Islamists have forgotten the genocide committed by the Pak Army in 1970-71 on the Bangladesh people and the sacrifices made by the Indian Armed Forces in the war to secure Bangladeshs freedom. With radicalisation on the rise in Bangladesh, it is only a matter of time before terrorism or a kinetic threat is posed towards Indias vulnerable Siliguri Corridor bordering Bangladesh. If better sense does not prevail with the Bangladesh administration, India may have to take strong preemptive steps to prevent Bangladeshs likely follies. Hopefully, the elections in Bangladesh in February 2026 will usher in a mature government; otherwise, India will have to contend with a serious challenge from its eastern flank. India must now prepare itself with full resolution and alacrity for multiple-domain warfare and incorporate hi-tech weaponry like UAVs, various types of drones, employ AI and quantum computing, and become fully adept in the nuances of cyber warfare. India must invest in and develop long-range standoff munitions, as was made clear post-Op Sindoor and from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. Importantly, India urgently needs to allocate sufficient capital budgeting for speedy indigenous development and/or acquisition of state-of-the-art weaponry, platforms, air, and naval assets from friendly foreign nations to make up for critical deficiencies in our national arsenal. The Ministry of Defence must take swift steps to induct another eight to ten fifth- and sixth-generation fighter aircraft squadrons and at least ten additional submarines, apart from other critical deficiencies within the Armed Forces. There can never be an alternative to self-reliance to meet overall national security requirements. The government must truly encourage our highly talented private sector with the vast resources of the government, such as DRDO, HAL, and defence public sector undertakings. Leading arms manufacturers from abroad should also be encouraged to set up their gigantic factories in India, both for induction of their arms into the Indian Armed Forces and for export. With two nuclear-armed adversaries confronting India, the government needs to revisit our nuclear preparedness and have a fresh look at our policy of no first use" of nuclear weapons, the safety and security of our nuclear arsenal, their deployment, and diversification of platforms to launch them if necessary. Indias Strategic Forces Command has its work cut out in the coming year for streamlining our nuclear doctrine and readiness. Though India does not covet any nations territory or have imperialistic ambitions, it unquestionably faces many diverse and formidable challenges to its security. 2026 will likely present many challenges to Indias well-being. The government must conceive and strictly implement a whole of nation approach" and take all sections of society to march in unison to ensure Indias rise in the comity of nations. There is no place for divisive and polarising elements in our beautiful, values-driven ancient land. Lets all strive unitedly in 2026 to make India take its rightful place on the global high table. The author is the 1st Chief of Indias Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and is currently involved in writing & lecturing on matters of security, terrorism & environment. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 16:53 IST News opinion Opinion | Indias Security Imperative In 2026: Challenges, Choices, And The Road Ahead Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes carried out Friday a series of airstrikes on several areas in southern Lebanon, according to official and security sources. "Israeli warplanes launched an aerial assault, carrying out a series of violent airstrikes targeting the Aqmata Plain and the outskirts of al-Rayhan in the Jabal al-Rayhan area," Lebanon's official National News Agency reported. It added that a few minutes later, another wave of violent airstrikes hit the area between the village of Ansar and the town of Zrarieh, using multiple air-to-ground missiles. The valleys located between the villages of Kafrwa and Aazza in the Nabatieh District were also subjected to three hostile airstrikes. A source from Lebanese army intelligence, along with eyewitnesses, told Xinhua, "Israeli warplanes carried out about twenty airstrikes today on areas containing sites belonging to Lebanon's Hezbollah." "The Israeli warplanes launched more than 35 air-to-ground missiles, causing massive explosions whose echoes reverberated across most areas of the south," the source added. Meanwhile, Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army's spokesperson, said on X that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out strikes on "terrorist" Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. "The IDF targeted a training compound that was being used by the Radwan Force unit to conduct training for its operatives to plan and carry out terrorist plots against IDF forces and citizens of the State of Israel. The terrorist operatives were undergoing firearms training and instruction in the use of various combat means," Adraee said. A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel has been in force since Nov. 27, 2024. Despite the deal, Israel has continued to carry out occasional strikes in Lebanon, saying they are aimed at eliminating Hezbollah threats. Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 08:56 IST 1 / 5 Pongal is a harvest festival that honours and celebrates the Sun, which sustains agriculture, along with cattle. It is observed with great enthusiasm across Tamil Nadu, and preparations are underway this year as well. The four-day festival includes Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Uzhavar Thirunal. 2 / 5 Traditionally, the Tamil Nadu government announces a gift package to help people celebrate Pongal joyfully. Similar arrangements are also being made in Puducherry for the distribution of the Pongal gift hamper, which usually includes one kilogram of rice, sugar, palm jaggery and other essential items. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 5 The announcement regarding the Pongal gift package for 2026 has now been released. Ration card holders will receive a package containing 4 kg of rice, sugar, green gram, 300 grams of ghee and one litre of sunflower oil. 4 / 5 Additionally, the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department will provide a cash benefit instead of distributing veshtis and sarees to ration cardholders. The amount will be directly credited to the beneficiaries bank accounts. ADVERTISEMENT Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 13:17 IST 1 / 11 Over 500 women have sued a Virginia health system as well as its senior executives on Monday for negligence, claiming that a former doctor, Javaid Perwaiz, performed medically unjustified operations without consent for over a decade. The case against the Chesapeake Regional Medical Center includes allegations of unnecessary C-sections and sterilizations. (Photo: Pexels) 2 / 11 Each of the 510 plaintiffs is seeking $10 million in damages from the medical centre. The Chesapeake Regional Medical Center also stands accused of criminal charges of health care fraud, an indictment that is very rare, according to The New York Times. A conviction can shut down the hospital, making it ineligible for future eligibility in government health plans. (Photo: Official website/chesapeakeregional.com) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 11 The plaintiffs, most of whom are Black, were covered by Medicaid, which is the US governments health plan for the poor. According to federal investigators, many of the patients were in their childbearing years when Perwaiz removed their reproductive organs without their knowledge or under duress, and performed other unnecessary procedures. (Photo: Pexels) 4 / 11 Perwaiz is already serving a 59-year prison term for Medicaid fraud for unnecessary operations. His medical license expired in 2020. Over $20 million was billed in fraudulent claims over a 10-year period, as per the FBI. The agency stated that a jury found the ex-doctor guilty on 52 counts of health care fraud in November 2020. (Photo: Western Tidewater Regional Jail/AP) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 11 Perwaiz pressured patients into having immediate, invasive surgeries that they did not require, such as hysterectomies and dilation and curettage (D&C) surgeries. The more surgeries he did, the more money he collected from Tricare, Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. The former doctor shopped at high-end stores and possessed five luxury cars. (Photo: Pexels) 6 / 11 The lawsuit is significant for the number of plaintiffs who said they were victimised and the naming of individual executives whom the patients claim renewed Perwaizs hospital privileges repeatedly despite repeated reports of abuse by medical staff. The case, which covers a period from 2010-2019, names three senior hospital executives: the current president and chief executive, James Reese Jackson, and two of his predecessors, Wynn Lawton Dixon Jr and Peter Francis Bastone. (Photo: Pexels) ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 11 In the Medicaid fraud case, federal investigators found that Perwaiz had falsely told patients they were either at risk for cancer or had the disease and required surgeries. There is also evidence that he had falsified records to induce early labour at times that were convenient for him. As per the FBI, Perwaiz created duplicate records to claim the need for surgery. (Photo: Pexels) 8 / 11 Perwaiz is also accused of backdating patient consent forms in violation of a Medicaid rule that requires a 30-day waiting period for elective sterilisations. The babies of several of his patients had to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in disproportionate numbers. A whopping 40 per cent of his Medicaid patients ended up having surgery. Of that figure, 42 per cent had multiple surgeries. (Photo: Pexels) ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 11 In 1996, the Virginia Board of Medicine had briefly revoked Perwaizs medical license after he pleaded guilty to tax fraud. The hospitals then-chief executive, Donald S. Buckley, pressed the board to reinstate the license. Not just that, a local obstetrician had warned the state medical board that Perwaiz was performing unnecessary procedures on healthy young women. Federal prosecutors say hospital officials actually reprimanded the doctor who had complained. (Photo: Pexels) 10 / 11 The Chesapeake Regional Medical Centers neonatology group, in 2008, raised concerns about Perwaizs routine delivery of babies early through C-section or elective induction for no medical reason. While there was a series about his abuses in 2014 and 2015, the lawsuit alleged the medical centers internal metrics identified Perwaiz as a top ten performer for doing more procedures each year than some group practices did. (Photo: Pexels) ADVERTISEMENT BJP Gears Up For Nationwide Campaign To Counter Congress On G-RAM-G Scheme Row Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 21:57 IST BJP president JP Nadda has convened a high-level virtual meeting on Saturday to outline a nationwide campaign on the G-RAM-G Bill to counter Congress's "Save MGNREGA" movement. Rapid Read The BJP has planned a nationwide outreach campaign on the G-RAM-G scheme amid the opposition's concerns over replacing MGNREGA (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to launch a nationwide outreach campaign in support of the G-RAM-G scheme, aiming to counter the Congresss proposed Save MGNREGA" movement scheduled to begin on January 5. As part of the strategy, BJP president JP Nadda has convened a high-level meeting on Saturday, which will be attended by chief ministers of BJP and NDA-ruled states, along with state rural development ministers. The meeting will be held via video conference and will also include National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh and National Executive President Nitin Nabin. Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to make a detailed presentation on the objectives and framework of the G-RAM-G scheme, outlining how it aims to strengthen rural infrastructure, generate sustainable employment, and improve transparency in welfare delivery. The G-RAM-G Bill was passed by Parliament in December following extensive discussions, with the government stating that the new legislation is designed to address structural weaknesses in the existing MGNREGA framework. According to the government, the new law focuses on skill-based employment, durable asset creation, timely wage payments, and technology-driven monitoring to reduce leakages and ensure better outcomes for rural communities. Opposition Fury Over G-RAM-G Bill The G-RAM-G Bill, which was passed during the final week of the Winter Session of Parliament, saw strong protests from Opposition parties. The Congress strongly objected to the change in nomenclature, particularly the removal of Mahatma Gandhis name from the scheme, while the Trinamool Congress alleged that the move was aimed at shifting the financial burden onto states already facing fiscal stress. Under the new legislation, the cost-sharing ratio for guaranteed employment between the Centre and the states has been fixed at 60:40. The passage of the Bill witnessed dramatic scenes in Parliament, with the entire Opposition staging a walkout during the Rajya Sabha proceedings on December 18. The TMC also held an overnight protest within the Parliament complex to register its opposition. The Bill has since received the assent of the President of India, clearing the way for its implementation across the country. The BJP plans to counter what it describes as misinformation being spread by the Congress by taking the details of the new law directly to the people. As part of this outreach, the party will organise farmer and labourer interactions, press conferences, seminars, and public meetings across the country. Party leaders said the objective of the campaign is to ensure that citizens clearly understand the intent and benefits of the G-RAM-G initiative, while countering what they term misleading narratives surrounding the legislation. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 21:56 IST News politics BJP Gears Up For Nationwide Campaign To Counter Congress On G-RAM-G Scheme Row Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Revanth Reddy Invokes Kasab To Target KCR; Says He Deserves 'Hanging' For River Water 'Injustice' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 10:33 IST CM Reddy said that it would not be wrong even if his predecessor, K. Chandrashekhar Rao, and his nephew T. Harish Rao were hanged for the injustice caused in irrigation projects. Rapid Read File photo of Telangana CM Revanth Reddy (Image: PTI) Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy took aim at the previous BRS regime, accusing it of causing greater injustice" to the state in irrigation projects than during undivided Andhra Pradesh. CM Reddy said that it would not be wrong even if his predecessor, K Chandrashekhar Rao, and his nephew Harish Rao were hanged" for the injustice caused in irrigation projects. The BRS retaliated, alleging that the Chief Minister wished for the death of its two leaders. CM Revanth Reddy made the remarks during a PowerPoint presentation by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy to ruling Congress leaders on river water issues. Invoking a quote by Telangana poet Kaloji Narayana Rao, he said, We will kick out outsiders who exploit us, and we will bury alive those from our own region if they exploit us", as quoted by news agency PTI. Telangana was established as it had suffered injustice" in undivided Andhra Pradesh, he said. He went on to allege that the state suffered even greater injustice" in the utilisation of Krishna and Godavari river waters during the previous BRS regime. CM Reddy described KCR and Harish Rao who served as irrigation minister during the BRS government as a bigger evil" for Telangana if they echoed the stance of former undivided Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who protested the formation of the state. What Kaloji Narayana Rao said exactly applies to the Chief Minister KCR and Irrigation Minister Harish Rao. I am saying this with authorityit is not wrong even if they are hanged for the injustice in river water issues," Reddy alleged, as reported by the outlet. Invokes Kasab to target KCR CM Revanth Reddy outlined that India is a country where even the 26/11 terrorist Kasab was sentenced to death only after a long and fair trial. If Kasab availed so many facilities, imagine how many KCR would have, he said, adding, Moreover, they earned money and can hire any lawyer". The Chief Minister also accused his predecessor of delaying irrigation projects" and disseminating misinformation" to shield his partys existence. In order to save his party, KCR is spreading lies about water issues. He has falsely claimed that I am tacitly cooperating with the Andhra Pradesh government. Whatever KCR and Harish Rao say is 24-karat false," he said. Earlier, Reddy had invited KCR to attend the ongoing Assembly session for a debate on river water issues and pending irrigation projects. He assured the BRS chief that the state government would be receptive to his suggestions on the issue. The invitation was largely perceived as a veiled attack on the former CM for not attending the assembly session since 2023, when the BRS lost power. BRS responds to Reddys comments Former BRS MLA S Niranjan Reddy hit back at Reddy, saying the Chief Minister was inviting KCR to the Assembly on one hand and wishing for the death of KCR and Harish Rao" on the other. He further accused the Congress party of hurting Telanganas sentiments. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 09:15 IST News politics Revanth Reddy Invokes Kasab To Target KCR; Says He Deserves 'Hanging' For River Water 'Injustice' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Slept Like Kumbhkarna': Rahul Gandhi Slams MP Government Over Indore Water Contamination Deaths Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 15:34 IST Gandhis remark comes amid a water contamination crisis in Madhya Pradeshs Indore, which has so far claimed 10 lives and left over 1,400 people affected. Rapid Read Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi. (Image: PTI/File) Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi trained guns at the Madhya Pradesh government over the water contamination-related deaths in Indore, stating that poison was being distributed instead of water, and the administration kept sleeping like Kumbhkarna". Gandhis remark comes amid a water contamination crisis in Madhya Pradeshs Indore, which has so far claimed 10 lives and left over 1,400 people affected, according to the officials. In a detailed post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, There was no water in Indore poison was distributed instead, while the administration slept like Kumbhakarna. Homes are steeped in mourning, the poor are helpless, and on top of that come arrogant statements from BJP leaders. Those whose hearths have gone cold needed consolation; the government served them arrogance instead". , - , BJP , ; - , Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 2, 2026 The Congress MP also questioned the inaction over complaints about filthy and foul-smelling water by the residents. How did sewage mix into the drinking water? Why wasnt the supply shut off in time? When will action be taken against the responsible officers and leaders?" Rahul Gandhi asked. According to officials, a leakage was found in the main drinking water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura, at a spot over which a toilet has been constructed. The leakage caused the sewage to mix with the drinking water, leading to contamination, said the officials. Gandhi lashes out at Vijayvargiya In a veiled dig at BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Rahul Gandhi emphasised that these are not useless" questions; rather, they are a demand for accountability." Earlier, as a reporter questioned Viajyvargiya about the deaths in Indore, he went seemingly annoyed and asked him to refrain from what he described as useless questions". The BJP leader, however, later apologised for his behaviour and the use of some objectionable words, assuring that he and his team have been working to improve the situation in the affected areas. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the recent instances of death over contaminated cough syrup and reports of newborns dying after being bitten by rats. Madhya Pradesh has now become the epicentre of misgovernance deaths from cough syrup in one place, rats killing children in a government hospital in another, and now deaths from drinking sewage-mixed water. And every time the poor die, Modi ji, as always, remains silent," he added. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 15:34 IST News politics 'Slept Like Kumbhkarna': Rahul Gandhi Slams MP Government Over Indore Water Contamination Deaths Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... BSNL Finally Brings VoWiFi Support For Calls: What Is It And How To Enable It Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 10:21 IST BSNL users across India are now getting VoWi-Fi calling support with compatible phones. Here's how it helps with your calls. BSNL VoWi-Fi support is available for all its users in India. (Photo: AI generated) BSNL users are officially getting Voice over Wi-Fi or VoWiFi support that works for voice calls on the data network for mobile subscribers. Vodafone Idea (Vi), Jio and Airtel have supported the feature for a while and the domestic operator is finally offering the feature for all its users across the country. BSNL says VoWiFi support will allow its users to stay connected even when the networks are not the best in their region. So what is VoWiFi feature and how does it help people with voice calls on the data? Here are the details. What Is BSNL VoWiFi Support BSNL says VoWiFi is an IMS-based service that allows Wi-Fi and mobile networks to interact between each other and deliver clear voice call quality. Having VoWi-Fi supported by an operator means the subscriber can make and receive voice calls and even messages running over the Wi-Fi network near them. This is helpful when you are in dark network spots at home, in offices or even the basement for that matter. VoWi-Fi is a free feature that doesnt need any app to work and is bundled into your device settings by the operator SIM card that you use on your phone. BSNL VoWiFi Feature: How To Enable It Like we mentioned, you dont need a special app on the phone to support the VoWi-Fi feature for voice calls. Heres how you can enable the tool for your device: Go to Settings on your phone Tap on Mobile network Tap on the SIM1 option with your number Scroll down to Wi-Fi calling option Turn on the toggle button to have the VoWi-Fi feature working for your number The VoWiFi feature on BSNL network will be available if you have a phone that supports the technology. You can check in the device settings for that or also head over to the BSNL website to get more details. You will start seeing the Wi-Fi icon next to the network bar at the top of the screen of the phone when you get a call. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 10:21 IST News tech BSNL Finally Brings VoWiFi Support For Calls: What Is It And How To Enable It Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Champagne Socialists: Business Leaders Hit Back As Gig Workers' Strike Fuels Class Debate Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 21:00 IST Deepinder Goyal framed the backlash against the gig economy as a moral and emotional reckoning with class inequality. Delivery workers called nationwide strike on December 31 Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge, launched a scathing attack on those backing the recent gig workers strike, calling them hypocritical elites who, he said, shed crocodile tears" over alleged exploitation while living lives of privilege. Every word is true," Sanjeev Bikhchandani wrote, backing Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyals defence of the gig economy. Without naming anyone directly, he accused what he described as champagne socialists" of posturing about workers rights. It beggars belief that someone who married a film star, had a designer wedding in Udaipur and a first wedding anniversary in the Maldives has the audacity to then talk about exploitation of gig workers," he wrote, adding, Aam Aadmi my foot." Very well written @deepigoyal Every word is true. It beggars belief that a Champagne Socialist who married a film star and had a designer wedding in Udaipur and a first wedding anniversary in Maldives has the audacity to then shed crocodile tears around alleged exploitation of https://t.co/pgcTa0hwKy Sanjeev Bikhchandani (@sbikh) January 2, 2026 Sanjeev Bikhchandanis remarks came in response to a long and widely shared post by Deepinder Goyal who framed the backlash against the gig economy as a moral and emotional reckoning with class inequality rather than a straightforward labour dispute. For centuries, class divides kept the labour of the poor invisible to the rich," Deepinder Goyal wrote, arguing that the gig economy had shattered that invisibility at scale. This is the first time in history that the working class and the consuming class interact face-to-face, transaction after transaction. And that discomfort with our own selves is why we are uncomfortable about the gig economy," he wrote. Deepinder Goyal warned that many of the proposed solutions" were less about dignity and more about restoring invisibility. Ban gig work and you dont solve inequality. You remove livelihoods," he said, adding that over-regulation would push workers back into informal, unprotected cash economies. He said, The rich get their old comfort back. Convenience returns without faces. Guilt dissolves." The sharp exchange unfolded against the backdrop of a large-scale strike by app-based delivery workers across India over New Years Eve. Tens of thousands of workers stayed off the roads, protesting what they described as relentless pressure from platforms, including ultra-fast delivery promises of under 10 minutes in traffic-clogged cities. The workers demanded fair pay, an immediate rollback of aggressive delivery timelines and an end to automated systems that penalise them for delays through ratings and pay cuts. As criticism of quick-commerce and delivery platforms grew online, Akhilesh Mishra of the BlueKraft Digital Foundation weighed in with a historical warning. Drawing parallels with the decline of industrial hubs such as Kanpur, Akhilesh Mishra argued that aggressive pro-worker politics had previously destroyed competitive industries, leaving workers worse off. What happened to Kanpur must not be allowed to happen to Indias tech sector," Akhilesh Mishra wrote, claiming that the gig economy represents one of the first large-scale, made-in-India employment models built for Indian markets. He said, Cripple it and jobs will vanish. The Communists will win. Everyone else will lose." This entire Gig Economy debate reminds me of what they did to Kanpur.Kanpur was THE ONLY industrial town in North India. It produced some of Indias best brands, including a scooter to rival the mighty Bajaj during its peak and other pan-India textile brands. Then the pro Akhilesh Mishra (@amishra77) January 2, 2026 Returning to the broader debate, Deepinder Goyal said the controversy ultimately exposed a deeper truth about Indian society. We arent just debating economics. We are confronting guilt," he wrote, pointing out that a single food order could equal a delivery workers entire days earnings after costs. He said, The doorbell is not the problem. The question is what we do after opening the door." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 21:00 IST News viral Champagne Socialists: Business Leaders Hit Back As Gig Workers' Strike Fuels Class Debate Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... DYK Ramcharitmanas Manuscripts By Tulsidas Still Exist? They Are Preserved In UNESCOs Memory Register Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 13:00 IST UNESCOs recognition of Ramcharitmanas manuscripts highlights the remarkable 450-year journey of Tulsidas epic, of which only the Ayodhya Kand survives today. UNESCOs recognition brings Ramcharitmanas back into focus. (Photo Credit: Instagram) The Ramcharitmanas is not just a religious text but one of the most influential literary works in Indian history. Composed in the 16th century by Goswami Tulsidas in Awadhi, the epic brought the story of Lord Ram out of Sanskrit scholarship and into the everyday lives of people. Recited in homes, temples and public spaces for centuries, it has shaped devotional practice, language and cultural memory across large parts of India. Its verses became oral tradition, moral guide and shared social reference making the survival of even a single original manuscript deeply significant. In May 2024, illustrated manuscripts of the Ramcharitmanas, were inscribed in UNESCOs Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. The recognition came during the 10th MOWCAP meeting held in Mongolia and highlighted the epics cultural and historical significance beyond India. Two manuscripts were submitted for inscription. One is believed to have been authored by Tulsidas himself in the 16th century, while the other is an 18th-century Arabic translation, reflecting how the text travelled across regions and languages. While the UNESCO honour celebrates global recognition, it has also renewed attention on the fragile condition of the original manuscripts back home. Rajapur: where only Ayodhya Kand remains Around 40 kilometres from Chitrakoot lies Rajapur in Uttar Pradesh, the birthplace of Tulsidas. It is here, at the Ramcharit Manas Mandir located on Tulsi Ghat by the Yamuna, that the only surviving original section of the Ramcharitmanas is preserved the Ayodhya Kand. The epic consists of seven kands, but only this single section, spanning 165 handwritten pages, exists in its original form. Written nearly 450 years ago, the manuscript records Lord Rams life in Ayodhya and had deteriorated severely over time due to age and environmental exposure. Here is all about the loss of six kands Historical accounts trace the manuscripts journey through generations. Tulsidas began writing the Ramcharitmanas in Ayodhya on Ram Navami in 1574 and completed it in 1576. Before his death in 1680 at Assi Ghat in Kashi, he handed over the original copy to his chief disciple, Ganpat Ram. According to family accounts, Ganpat Ram brought the manuscript to Rajapur. About 150 years later, a disciple driven by greed stole the manuscript and attempted to flee across the Ganga by boat. When pursued, he threw the manuscript into the river. After days of effort, only the central portion the Ayodhya Kand was recovered. The remaining six kand were lost forever. Preserved, protected and locked away Today, the responsibility of safeguarding the manuscript rests with Ganpat Rams descendants. According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, the eldest among the 11th generation of caretakers, 79-year-old Ramashray Tripathi, says the manuscript underwent chemical treatment in 2004 by teams from the Archaeological Survey of India. The fragile pages were later laminated using Japanese paper to slow further decay. The Ayodhya Kand is now kept inside a vault in Rajapur. As UNESCO recognition brings global attention to the Ramcharitmanas, the surviving pages stand as a reminder of both Indias literary heritage and how close it came to being lost. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 12:33 IST News viral DYK Ramcharitmanas Manuscripts By Tulsidas Still Exist? They Are Preserved In UNESCOs Memory Register Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Ill Slap You: Man Threatens Female Airline Staff In Viral Outburst At US Airport Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 19:29 IST In the footage, the passenger is seen leaning across the counter and placing his hand on a computer screen used by a staff member. The woman asks him to step back, warning that she will call the police if he continues. A chaotic scene unfolded at a major US airport on New Years Eve after a passenger was caught on camera threatening female airline employees during a heated confrontation that quickly went viral on social media. The incident took place at a Southwest Airlines counter at Kansas City International Airport. Videos circulating online showed the man shouting at airline staff, using abusive language and making repeated threats of physical violence as shocked passengers looked on. In the footage, the passenger is seen leaning across the counter and placing his hand on a computer screen used by a staff member. The woman asked him to step back, warning that she will call the police if he continued. This appeared to further enrage the man, who can be heard shouting and threatening to hit the employees. As the situation escalated, other airline staff moved in to shield their colleague, while several passengers intervened to prevent the confrontation from turning violent. Witnesses said travellers urged the man to calm down as tensions spread through the terminal area. Airport officials later said the incident occurred during a security investigation that briefly disrupted operations at the airport. Police and federal agents were called in and travellers were evacuated from parts of the terminal as a precaution. In an update later, authorities said the airport had resumed normal operations after determining that there was no credible security threat. According to social media posts by the person who shared the video, the man was later arrested. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 19:29 IST News viral Ill Slap You: Man Threatens Female Airline Staff In Viral Outburst At US Airport Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Investment Adviser Suggests Flying To Vietnam For Cheaper Cigarettes, Netizens Say 'Stop Smoking' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 16:52 IST Rajat Sharma, a SEBI-registered investment adviser, suggested that people could buy cheaper cigarettes from Vietnam after India hiked excise duties on all cigarettes. Rapid Read India is preparing to hike excise duties on cigarettes from February 1. (Getty Images) As the Indian government prepares to hike excise duties on cigarettes, pushing up prices, an investment adviser has put forward an unusual suggestion: travellers could fly to Vietnam to buy cheaper cigarettes and save taxes. Rajat Sharma, a SEBI-registered investment adviser and a New York Attorney, said on X, Marlboro Lights (Pack of 20) currently costs Rs. 340/- (retail New Delhi). With excise duty hike, this will cost ~ Rs. 400 if the company passes on the excise hike impact fully to the consumer. Fair enough." BUT, in Vietnam the same costs Rs. 120-130. The cost of a return ticket to Ho Chi Minh city from New Delhi is ~ Rs. 21,000," he added, suggesting that people can buy 75 packets of cigarettes to save taxes. So if you smoke regularly, fly down to Vietnam, buy 75 packets of 20 sticks, and fly back. This will cover your airfare. Make the most of it travel and explore, save taxes. Also be thankful that you are not in Australia where the same pack of 20 costs well over Rs. 3000." Marlboro Lights (Pack of 20) currently costs Rs. 340/- (retail New Delhi).With excise duty hike, this will cost ~ Rs. 400 if the company passes on the excise hike impact fully to the consumer. Fair enough. BUT, In Vietnam the same costs Rs. 120-130. The cost of a return Rajat Sharma (@SanaSecurities) January 1, 2026 This idea prompted a few laughs from netizens, but several people highlighted the dangers of smoking. Or you can quit smoking, save tens of lacs of hospitalisation bills, and be much happier too," a user commented. You can see addiction on full display here," another person wrote. Others pointed out that bringing 75 packets of cigarettes would catch the attention of Customs authorities. You cant get more than 5 packets of cigarettes through customs. You can get more but will then have to pay customs duty on them, which considering the travel cost, will work out way more expensive," a user wrote. A fourth wrote said, You can only bring 100 cigs to India duty free. 1500 cigs would be subject to customs duty." This came after the Finance Ministry notified the excise duty of Rs 2,050 Rs 8,500 per 1,000 sticks, depending on the length of the cigarette, from February 1. The duty will be over and above the maximum 40 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate. Shorter cigarettes are likely to see relatively smaller price increases, while longer and premium variants face a much higher tax hit, making price hikes more likely in those categories. Disclaimer: Smoking is injurious to health. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 16:52 IST News viral Investment Adviser Suggests Flying To Vietnam For Cheaper Cigarettes, Netizens Say 'Stop Smoking' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... SYDNEY, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A search and rescue operation is underway for a missing man after a coal mine collapsed in Australia's northeast on Friday afternoon. The police force in the state of Queensland said that emergency services received reports of the collapse at the Curragh Coal Mine, more than 600 km northwest of the state capital of Brisbane, at around 3 p.m. local time on Friday. A police spokesperson quoted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said that initial information indicates one man was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and another man remains unaccounted for. The mine is owned by metallurgical coal producer Coronado Global Resources. Karnataka Headmaster Spends Own Savings For Students First Flight, Wins Internets Love Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 18:51 IST Beyond the flight itself, the trip to Bengaluru included visits to museums, parks and landmarks, offering the students a taste of urban life and learning beyond textbooks A group of 40 people in total, including the students, teachers, midday meal staff embarked on the journey late December 2025. (Image: X) A headmaster in Karnataka has turned a dream into reality for a group of village schoolchildren, spending a significant portion of his own savings to give them their first experience of air travel and broaden their horizons beyond the classroom. Beerappa Andagi, headmaster of the Government Higher Primary School in the remote Bahadduribandi village of Koppal district, personally funded a special flight from Toranagallus Jindal Airport to Bengaluru for 24 selected students. He spent about Rs. 5 lakh from his personal savings to charter the trip, choosing students from Classes 5 to 8 through a merit test designed to reward academic effort in an area where opportunities for experiential learning are rare. A group of 40 people in total, including the students, teachers, midday meal staff and members of the School Development and Monitoring Committee, embarked on the journey late last month. For many of the children, the flight was their first time setting foot on an aircraft, a moment filled with awe and excitement as parents and villagers gathered at the airport to see them off. Beyond the flight itself, the trip to Bengaluru included educational visits to museums, parks and landmarks, offering the students a taste of urban life and learning that extended beyond textbooks. Supporters have praised the tour not only for the joy it brought but for its potential to motivate children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to aim higher. MP Rajashekar Hitnal flagged off the flight and called Andagis gesture an example of how a teachers commitment can leave a lasting impact on young lives. The initiative has since attracted attention on social media and in the wider community, with many highlighting it as a rare and inspiring act of personal sacrifice in support of childrens aspirations. Andagi, who is approaching retirement, has said seeing the childrens excitement and sense of possibility was worth every rupee. For the students who once only watched planes soar overhead, the experience has become a symbol of what might be possible with encouragement and opportunity. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 18:51 IST News viral Karnataka Headmaster Spends Own Savings For Students First Flight, Wins Internets Love Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mumbais Bhendi Bazaar Owes Its Name To Bhindi? Chef Ranveer Brar Has An Answer Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 14:03 IST Ranveer Brar said that Bhendi Bazaar was called initially called behind the bazaar by the British since it was behind Crawford Market. The name Bhendi Bazaar is not connected to bhindi. (Photo Credit: Instagram) Bhendi Bazaar, also called Bhindi Bazaar, is one of Mumbais oldest neighbourhoods. The areas bustling market, old buildings and narrow streets give it a unique charm. But did you know how the name Bhindi Bazaar actually came into being? The term is not linked to okra or bhindi. A short Instagram reel by chef Ranveer Brar sheds light on how Bhendi Bazaar actually got its name. In the video, Ranveer Brar adds spices like turmeric and red chilli powder to some cut okra while explaining how the name Bhindi Bazaar came into existence. According to Brar, many people think that the name is because okra used to be sold there. But that is not the case. Ranveer Brar On How Bhindi Bazaar Got Its Name Brar revealed that the area was originally called behind the bazaar by the British since it was behind Crawford Market. The term proved to be a mouthful for Indians, and the name gradually got shortened to Bhindi Bazaar. As per Outlook Traveller, Bhendi Bazaar served as a residential complex for workers employed in the citys trade activities during British rule. Over time, the area transformed into a densely packed neighbourhood, like Old Delhi, with narrow alleys and old, dilapidated buildings. As Mumbai (then Bombay) became essential for trade, Bhendi Bazaar cemented its reputation as a melting pot of cultures. The area still hosts a significant number of Dawoodi Bohra Muslims, a community that is known for its entrepreneurial spirit. . Advocate Zubair Azmi, who founded the Bhendi Bazaar Research Academy, told the Indian Express in 2024 that the name may have another origin. A significant potter community is said to have once lived and manufactured utensils, called Bhandi" in Marathi, in the area. Azmi said that some people suggest that the areas name may be a corruption of Bhandi Bazaar". How Different Areas Of Mumbai Got Their Names The origin of the names of several prominent areas in Mumbai presents a fascinating study for historians. According to The Quint, the Chor Bazaar market was initially called Shor Bazaar because it was very noisy. But over the years, the name changed to Chor Bazaar. Similarly, the Breach Candy area in South Mumbai was actually called Burj Khadi, which is a mix of Hindi and Arabic. The present name is a case of mispronunciation, and the area does not have any connection with candy. Colaba was initially named Kola-bhat by the Kolis, who were the original inhabitants of the area. The unique names of these areas are a testament to Mumbais long history as a trade and cultural hub. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 13:23 IST News viral Mumbais Bhendi Bazaar Owes Its Name To Bhindi? Chef Ranveer Brar Has An Answer Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Zomato CEOs Comment On Gig Workers Strike Sparks Mega Debate, Many Back Him: Even Tech Industry Doesnt Pay... Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 10:33 IST A social media user reacted, saying, "The tech industry values skill but doesn't pay 40k. Delivery services have low entry barriers and can't pay that much." In his post, Deepinder Goyal explained how quick commerce worked.(Photo Credit: X) Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyals statement on Indias gig economy and delivery services being largely unaffected by calls for a nationwide strike by gig workers on December 31 has sparked debate. Goyal has claimed that Zomato and Blinkit recorded over 75 lakh deliveries on New Years Eve, an all-time high. In a series of posts on X, the Zomato CEO stated that the countrys gig economy system was one of its largest organised job creation engines" and asked people not to get swept up by narratives" that vested interests" were pushing forward about quick commerce and the strike. One thought for everyone: if a system were fundamentally unfair, it would not consistently attract and retain so many people who choose to work within it," the Zomato boss wrote. One more thing. Our 10 minute delivery promise is enabled by the density of stores around your homes. Its not enabled by asking delivery partners to drive fast. Delivery partners dont even have a timer on their app to indicate what was the original time promised to the Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) January 1, 2026 Deepinder Goyal Defends 10-Minute Deliveries In another post, Goyal defended the 10-minute delivery concept, explaining that it was enabled by the density of stores present around consumers and not by asking gig workers to drive fast. Delivery partners dont even have a timer on their app to indicate what was the original time promised to the customer. After you place your order on Blinkit, it is picked and packed within 2.5 minutes. And then the rider drives an average of under 2 km in about 8 minutes. Thats an average of 15kmph," Goyal explained. He did admit that no system was perfect" and vowed to work towards making things better. However, Goyal alleged that the system was being portrayed negatively on social media by individuals who dont understand how our system works and why." One more thing. Our 10 minute delivery promise is enabled by the density of stores around your homes. Its not enabled by asking delivery partners to drive fast. Delivery partners dont even have a timer on their app to indicate what was the original time promised to the Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) January 1, 2026 Justifying a users real minimum wage is Rs 0 comment, Goyal said that literally everyone who has a job wants to get paid more." He added, Everyone thinks they deserve better. At the end of the day, market forces decide how much does someone get paid. Companies reliant on gig economy compete very brutally with each other. Demand is more than the supply, which results in gig incomes being more than what many formal entry level jobs in India pay." Agree. And literally everyone who has a job wants to get paid more. Everyone thinks they deserve better. At the end of the day, market forces decide how much does someone get paid.Companies reliant on gig economy compete very brutally with each other. Demand is more than the https://t.co/sXyViQzz25 Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) January 2, 2026 Users Question Deepinder Goyals Justification Many users, including stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, remained unconvinced by the Zomato chiefs explanation. Kamra promised to never tweet about gig workers again" if Goyal could tell how much hourly payment gig workers received over the past year. How much did they get paid hourly over the last one year. Its just another number you have it, give it & end the debateIf you tell me they were At least paid 50 rupees every hour they were on the app. Ill never tweet about gig workers again https://t.co/CRrEe1bXUd Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 1, 2026 The official account of Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union claimed that the record number of Zomato and Blinkit deliveries was a sign of desperation" as workers could not afford to log out. Dear @deepigoyal ji, Record deliveries dont prove fairnessonly desperation.75 lakh orders were delivered because workers cannot afford to log out, not because the system treats them justly. Choice without security is not a choice. 1/3 https://t.co/fFGVTrC25S pic.twitter.com/jOSNcQwCb9 Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (@TGPWU) January 1, 2026 Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, the Member of Parliament for Mumbai North Central, met with gig workers on December 31 to express her solidarity with their demands. I fully support their right to fair wages and better working conditions. Neither profit nor convenience can be placed above humanity," she said. Met gig workers working for various e-commerce and quick delivery platforms. I fully support their right to fair wages and better working conditions. Neither profit nor convenience can be placed above humanity. #GigWorkers #HumanRights #FairWages pic.twitter.com/AQFtPPNwwy Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) January 1, 2026 Goyal Finds Support On X Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma was among those who defended Deepinder Goyal. The entrepreneur said that delivery services like Blinkit were a modern tech-enabled assembly line for service delivery" and compared them to calling a cab nearby that is 10 minutes away. I wonder why people dont get this?Its like calling a car which is near you/10 mins away. Obviously, it is not the same person who is packing the order & bringing it fatafat. It is a modern tech-enabled assembly line for service delivery! Capitalmind AMC CEO Deepak Shenoy wrote, The point about the delivery folks not participating in the strike is simply because they dont feel oppressed enough. Almost everyone cribs about their job. Even founders do but they dont have anyone to blame. Its ok to feel like you deserve more, but entirely something else to give up your income for that ask." It's sometimes far less than 10m for me, and I don't care, i would easily wait 30m, but the dark store is like 200meters away so they could walk and deliver in 10. The point about the delivery folks not participating in the strike is simply because they don't feel oppressed https://t.co/VHi79ATrz8 Deepak Shenoy (@deepakshenoy) January 1, 2026 Others said that they were not in support of gig workers striking and claimed that people supporting their demands, like stand-up comic Vir Das, were performative jokers". Hope they remain on strike forever and kill the golden goose that's feeding them.Nope, I'm not standing in solidarity with this stupidity. Gig workers can abandon their tasks and go for NREGA instead, I'm sure that's a better opportunity. Meanwhile we app-dependent lazy https://t.co/IrHxtSUiUy Shivam Vahia (@ShivamVahia) January 1, 2026 Some users quoted Goyals statement about the gig economy and said the sector was important because we have no other source of large-scale job creation for hundreds of thousands of people." few realize this "the gig economy is one of Indias largest organised job creation engines"the gig economy in india is important because we have no other source of large scale job creation for hundreds of thousands of people https://t.co/vdu914Fh79 anmol maini (@anmolm_) January 1, 2026 Many said that the wages were dependent on market forces like demand and supply, adding that gig workers traded job stability for flexibility willingly. As a CA I was hoping youd understand 1) wages are dictated by market forces demand & supply2) distorting market forces = rising costs = costs passed onto consumers 3) Gig workers trade job stability for flexibility as a choice. https://t.co/mzhLTOaUHz Abhijit Iyer-Mitra (@Iyervval) January 1, 2026 Talking about the Rs 40,000 salary demands reportedly put forward by the gig workers, one user said that it would mean that expenses would be passed on to the customers, resulting in fewer orders, and ultimately, more layoffs of the workers. Another felt the demand was unreasonable, calling delivery services a side gig" and not a main job. Minimum pay of 40K means more expenses to customer. This will lead to less orders and thus, more layoffs of these workers.Preparation to kill one booming sector of emerging economy. Again, one communist professor of humanities at premier institutions had promoted this idea. https://t.co/9RQ1Y1dbba Harshil () (@MehHarshil) January 1, 2026 Tech industry where skill is important don't even pay 40k. Delivery service is a sector where the barrier to enter is low and they cannot have a pay of 40k.The quick commerce companies can remove the 10 minute delivery to relieve the unnecessary stress. This is a side gig to https://t.co/GtIkdqYfGT Karthik Rangarajan (@karthikRanga92) January 1, 2026 It will be useful to check on the Blinkit app how far the store is from your home. In my case it is 400 metres. That is how I get the delivery in under 10 mins. The riders are not forced to take risks. Very often they are on transport that cannot go at speed and very often they do not even go onto a main road," an individual pointed out. It will be useful to check on the Blinkit app how far the store is from your home. In my case it is 400 metres. That is how I get the delivery in under 10 mins. The riders are not forced to take risks. Very often they are on transport that cannot go at speed and very often they https://t.co/ro9ZYPjRWg Sanjeev Bikhchandani (@sbikh) January 1, 2026 Others expressed their support for Goyals statement and said many delivery workers worked on New Years Eve due to better incentives. I unambiguously support Eternal & peers on this issue. Overwhelming majority of delivery staff worked on NYE because they were better off by doing so. Just as it is on all other days of the year. A disgruntled minority is free to protest for itself but not disrupt the rest. https://t.co/Kif98xZcsh Buggy Human (@SridharanAnand) January 2, 2026 Deepinder, full support to you for standing up against the Uniongiri clearly driven by vested interests. Also respect for Delivery Partners for not giving into Strike Jeevis despite possible threats. All apps were completely unaffected in most of the cities. Darshan Pathak (@darshanpathak) January 1, 2026 One person said that while they were not downplaying the issues faced by gig workers, prosperity cant come before hard work from all factions." Not downplaying the issues of gig workers. But prosperity can't come before hard work from all factions. Always good to be at work, rather than not getting any work. Kunal Gandhi (@kunalvg) January 1, 2026 Deepinder Goyals post and the debate around it highlight how gig workers and the condition of gig workers continue to be a point of contention among many. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 10:16 IST News viral Zomato CEOs Comment On Gig Workers Strike Sparks Mega Debate, Many Back Him: Even Tech Industry Doesnt Pay... Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 7 Killed After Saudi-Led Coalition Launches Airstrikes On UAE-Backed Separatists In Yemen Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 03, 2026, 08:29 IST The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen launched airstrikes against the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), which took control of large parts of the country last month. Rapid Read Supporters of the UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) wave flags of the group in Yemen. (Reuters) At least 20 people were killed in Yemen on Friday after a Saudi Arabia-led coalition attacked UAE-backed separatists who have seized huge swathes of territory, an official for the group said. Several people were also wounded as seven airstrikes hit a camp in Al-Khasah, said Mohammed Abdulmalik, head of the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Wadi Hadramaut and Hadramaut Desert, according to AFP. This came after Yemens Saudi-backed government launched what it called a peaceful operation to take back military operations from the UAE-backed separatists. This marked the latest escalation in Yemen, where a rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who back opposing sides, has escalated since December. Saudi Arabia knowingly misled the international community by announcing a peaceful operation that they never had any intention to keep peaceful," STC senior official Amr Al Bidh told Reuters. Why Is The Fighting Taking Place? The Saudi-led coalition appointed Hadramout Governor Salem Ahmed Saeed al-Khunbashi to take overall command of the Homeland Shield" forces in the eastern province, and granted him full military, security and administrative authority to restore security and order". The governor said it was not a declaration of war, but rather a measure to prevent Hadramout from sliding into chaos. Three Yemeni sources told Reuters that armoured vehicles belonging to the Saudi-backed government have been moving towards the Khasha camp in Hadramout, which has the capacity to house thousands of troops and was taken over by the STC in December. A spokesperson for the STC, Mohammed al-Naqeeb, said later on Friday that forces were on full alert across the region and warned that it was ready to respond forcefully in a post on X. Whos Fighting Who? The UAE supports the STC, which took control of large parts of southern Yemen last month from the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government a move Riyadh viewed as a threat. Last week, the UAE announced it would withdraw its remaining troops from Yemen after Saudi Arabia endorsed a demand for their departure within 24 hours, highlighting one of the sharpest rifts between the two Gulf allies. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels ousted the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government of then-president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi in late 2014. The group remains the dominant military force in the country, controlling the capital Sanaa and Yemens northern highlands. The STC, trained and equipped by the UAE, seeks secession for the southern part of Yemen, which was an independent state until unification with the north in 1990. A previous secession attempt in 1994 was foiled by then-President Ali Abdallah Salehs army. Tensions peaked in December 2025 when the group seized large parts of land in Hadramout and Al Mahra provinces and swept to the borders of Saudi Arabia. (with inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Yemen First Published: January 02, 2026, 18:01 IST News world 7 Killed After Saudi-Led Coalition Launches Airstrikes On UAE-Backed Separatists In Yemen Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... A Red Line: Iran Warns US Against Intervention After Trump Threatens To Rescue Protesters Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 17:24 IST The warning followed Donald Trumps comments on Truth Social, where he cautioned Tehran against cracking down on demonstrators. US President Donald Trump. (File Photo) Iran issued a sharp warning to the United States against any intervention in its internal affairs after Donald Trump said Washington would come to the aid of protesters if Iranian authorities used violence against them. Irans security is a red line," Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding, Any intervening hand nearing Irans security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response." Ali Shamkhani also mocked Washingtons past interventions in the region, saying Iranians were well aware of what American rescue" looked like, referring to US actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Gaza. The warning followed Donald Trumps comments on Truth Social, where he cautioned Tehran against cracking down on demonstrators. Donald Trump said that if Iran violently kills peaceful protesters," the United States would come to their rescue," adding that Washington was locked and loaded." The exchange came as protests over economic hardship entered their sixth day in parts of Iran. Demonstrations have been driven largely by worsening economic conditions, soaring prices and the sharp fall of the national currency. Reports have also noted chants directed against Irans ruling establishment in some areas. At least seven people have been killed so far in incidents linked to the unrest, according to officials and media reports. Iranian authorities have repeatedly accused foreign powers of exploiting economic grievances to stoke instability. Ali Larijani, secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, also accused the US and Israel of fuelling the protests. In a post on X, he warned that American intervention would lead to chaos in the entire region" and harm US interests. He said Iran distinguished between legitimate protesters and what he described as saboteurs," and cautioned that outside interference would escalate tensions. The current unrest is the most significant in Iran since 2022, when nationwide protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, posing one of the toughest challenges to the countrys leadership in recent years. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: January 02, 2026, 17:24 IST News world A Red Line: Iran Warns US Against Intervention After Trump Threatens To Rescue Protesters Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Doctored Images, Desperate Attempt: Pakistans Operation Sindoor Misinfo Push Falls Flat Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 22:05 IST The latest propaganda campaign involves the dissemination of doctored visuals allegedly showing destruction at key Indian airbases India conducted Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam attack. File image/PTI In a qualitative escalation of the ongoing information war, Pakistan has once again turned to social media to circulate misleading and unverified satellite imagery, falsely claiming successful strikes on Indian military facilities during Operation Sindoor. On January 2, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and military sources rejected these assertions as part of a desperate Pakistani effort to rewrite the narrative following the decisive military episode in May 2025. The Anatomy of the Disinformation The latest propaganda campaign involves the dissemination of doctored visuals allegedly showing destruction at key Indian airbases, including those at Amritsar, Pathankot, and Udhampur. Independent verification and authentic satellite imagery have debunked these claims, revealing that the images were either outdated, manipulated, or completely unrelated to recent events: Amritsar Airbase: Misleading images were circulated claiming a direct hit; however, independent satellite data confirms the facility remains secure, with only minor maintenance worksuch as the removal of roof coverings on small munitions shedsvisible. Pathankot and Tibri: Sources in the Indian Army confirmed that these installations remain fully intact, with no signs of structural damage or blast impact, exposing the Pakistani posts as fabrications. Recycled Footage: The Indian Fact Check Unit (FCU) has identified instances where Pakistan recycled old footage, including a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Moga and 2023 Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, falsely presenting them as recent successes in Punjab. Intentionally misleading images are now being circulated as evidence of Pakistani strikes at military facilities in Amritsar, Punjab, India verification confirms no such destruction" is visible at the alleged targets, below are some images correcting this disinformation pic.twitter.com/RYnr1ayxSn Damien Symon (@detresfa_) January 1, 2026 Context: Operation Sindoor 2025 Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces in May 2025 as a retaliatory response to a major terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. During the four-day high-intensity conflict, India conducted precision strikes targeting terrorist launchpads and radar facilities deep inside Pakistan, including locations in Bahawalpur and Muridke. While India maintained that it did not target Pakistani military establishments, recent satellite evidence from January 2026 reveals that several Pakistani airbasessuch as Noor Khan, Bholari, and Jacobabadare still struggling to restore infrastructure damaged during the Indian offensive. The Information Front Analysts suggest that Islamabads reliance on digital smoke and mirrors" is a strategic attempt to shield its military leadership from domestic criticism and project an illusion of a strong counter-response. Since the 2025 conflict, India has proactively countered these narratives through its Fact Check Unit, which has already flagged over 1,400 URLs containing misleading or anti-India content. As the regional standoff continues, New Delhi remains on high alert, maintaining that any genuine threat to Indian sovereignty will be met with a measured and resolute response. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 21:55 IST News world Doctored Images, Desperate Attempt: Pakistans Operation Sindoor Misinfo Push Falls Flat Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... French Government Launches Probe Against X Over Sexually Explicit Deepfakes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 22:40 IST The action comes after thousands of sexually explicit images of women, most of them nude, were widely shared on X over the past few days. Reuters image used for representation The French government has moved to investigate social media platform X following a surge in sexually explicit deepfake images generated using its artificial intelligence tool, Grok, according to a report by BFM TV. In an official statement, the government said it has reported the matter to the public prosecutor and to Pharos, the French platform for reporting illegal online content. Ministers Roland Lescure, Anne Le Henanff and Aurore Berge also confirmed that the issue has been referred to Arcom, citing possible breaches by X of its obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), particularly in preventing and limiting the spread of illegal content, according to a report by BFM TV. The ministers condemn these acts in the strongest possible terms," the statement said. The action comes after thousands of sexually explicit images of women, most of them nude, were widely shared on X over the past few days. According to the report by BFM TV, users requested these images from Grok, the generative AI integrated into the platform and backed by X owner Elon Musk. In many cases, users uploaded a normal photograph of a woman, after which the AI generated altered images placing her in swimsuits or degrading poses without her consent. While the feature itself is not new, French authorities have stressed that such use remains illegal. The Paris Prosecutors Office confirmed that complaints filed by two French members of parliament have led to the expansion of an ongoing investigation into the X platform. We were contacted on January 2, 2026, by two members of parliament, reporting the dissemination of sexually explicit deepfakes, notably featuring minors, generated by Grok," the prosecutors office said, as quoted by BFM TV. These facts have been added to the investigation already opened against persons unknown, based on Article 226-8-1 of the Penal Code." Under French law, the offence of sexually manipulating a persons image without consent is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of 60,000. Users who request such AI-generated images could also face legal consequences, as generating manipulated images through algorithmic processing can lead to up to three years in prison and a 75,000 fine. Socialist MP Arthur Delaporte, in a letter obtained by Tech&Co, argued that the responsibility of platform X could be engaged because it allows the publication of illegal content. He also accused Elon Musk of publicly endorsing Groks behaviour, citing a post in which Musk appeared to mock an AI-generated image. This comes on the same day when the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India issued a formal notice to X, flagging serious lapses in statutory due diligence under the Information Technology Act and IT Rules. The ministry said Grok was being misused to generate obscene, sexually explicit and derogatory content, particularly targeting women and children, and warned of strict action if immediate corrective steps are not taken. Regulators in both France and India have now placed X under increased scrutiny as concerns grow over the unchecked spread of AI-generated abuse online. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 22:40 IST News world French Government Launches Probe Against X Over Sexually Explicit Deepfakes Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... If Radical Left Wins...: Elon Musk Warns, Funds GOP For Midterms As Relationship With Trump Warms Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 11:42 IST Musk is reported to be going all-in for Republicans in the 2026 midterms as his strained relationship with Trump shows signs of repair. Rapid Read Musks warning about a radical left came as reports said he is backing GOP candidates ahead of the 2026 midterms, marking a shift after his feud with Trump. (IMAGE: AFP FILE) Elon Musk on Thursday warned that the United States would cease to be the same country if the radical left" were to win upcoming elections, as reports emerged that the billionaire is backing Republican candidates ahead of the 2026 midterms. America is toast if the radical left wins," Musk wrote on X. They will open the floodgates to illegal immigration and fraud. Wont be America anymore." Musks post echoed claims by conservative commentators that he was going all-in" on funding Republicans in the current cycle. While Musk has not detailed his political spending publicly, allies of both Trump and Musk told Axios in December that they expect him to operate as a conventional Republican mega-donor rather than mount a challenge against the party. The post came amid reporting by the news agency that Musk has begun funding Republican House and Senate campaigns for the 2026 midterm elections, signalling a thaw in his once-strained relationship with President Donald Trump. America is toast if the radical left wins. They will open the floodgates to illegal immigration and fraud. Wont be America anymore. https://t.co/9lppGuSyAV Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2026 According to the report, Musk has recently cut large cheques to support GOP congressional races and has indicated he will continue donating through the 2026 cycle. While the amounts will only be disclosed when campaign finance filings are released next month, the Axios report said that his backing could provide a major boost to Republicans seeking to retain control of Congress. Musk was the single largest donor in the 2024 election cycle, contributing $291.5 million, most of it in support of Trumps re-election bid. His renewed political engagement follows months of tension with Trump after Musk exited the administration in May. The fallout included sharp public criticism from Musk over Trumps flagship spending bill and the withdrawal of a NASA nomination linked to one of Musks allies. Musk had even threatened to form a third political party to challenge Republican incumbents. Relations have since improved. The news outlet reported that Musk dined last month with Vice President JD Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and senior Trump aides, with Vance playing a key role in arranging the meeting. Trump and Musk have also spoken intermittently, and Musk attended a recent White House dinner hosted for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: January 02, 2026, 11:41 IST News world If Radical Left Wins...: Elon Musk Warns, Funds GOP For Midterms As Relationship With Trump Warms Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Investigators Suspect Flashover Caused Blast That Ripped Through Swiss Bar, Death Toll Rises To 47 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 07:56 IST A flashover may have caused the deadly fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Valais canton, raising the death toll to 47 as Swiss authorities continue their investigation. Rapid Read Emergency personnel work at the site of an explosion and fire at the "Le Constellation" bar, where at least 47 people died and others were injured after an explosion tore through a crowded New Years Eve party, according to Swiss police, in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland. (IMAGE: REUTERS) The death toll from a devastating New Years Day fire at a Swiss ski resort has risen to 47, police said, as investigators said a phenomenon known as a flashover" may have triggered the deadly blaze. Authorities said the fire tore through the Le Constellation bar in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, in Valais canton, during New Year celebrations, causing rapid and widespread destruction. During an earlier press conference, Valais canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud said investigators were examining whether a flashover a sudden ignition of all combustible materials in a confined space caused the explosion and ensuing fire. There are a lot of circumstances to clarify, several hypotheses were put forward," Pilloud said. The main theory were prioritising is a flashover that provoked a rapid explosion. Several witnesses have been heard and there are telephones that were recovered to be analysed." She said the exact sequence of events remained unclear and that the investigation was ongoing. According to the US-based National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a flashover occurs when hot gases rise to the ceiling of a room and spread across walls, dramatically increasing temperatures. Once the heat reaches a critical point, all combustible items in the space ignite almost simultaneously. Flashover is when you no longer have objects in the room on fire. The room is on fire," Steve Kerber, Vice President and Executive Director of the Fire Safety Research Institute, told US broadcaster CNN. Swiss authorities have said the incident is not being treated as terror-related. Emergency services responded through the night, deploying multiple ambulances and rescue helicopters to evacuate the injured and secure the site. Le Constellation bar, which can accommodate hundreds of patrons, was reportedly crowded as revellers rang in the New Year. Officials have not yet released details on the identities of the victims. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as forensic teams continue to examine the scene and recovered evidence. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Bern, Switzerland First Published: January 02, 2026, 07:08 IST News world Investigators Suspect Flashover Caused Blast That Ripped Through Swiss Bar, Death Toll Rises To 47 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Iran's Exiled Crown Prince Thanks Donald Trump For Offering To 'Rescue' Iranian Protesters Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 23:35 IST Reza Pahlavi thanked Donald Trump after the latter cautioned Iran against using force to quell protesters, saying the US was "locked and loaded" to come to their rescue. Rapid Read Iran is witnessing intense protests over economic stagnation and the sharp fall of the national currency. (AFP) Irans exiled Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, thanked US President Donald Trump after the latter warned the clerical regime of Iran against using violence against protesters, saying the United States will come to their rescue. Iran is facing intense protests over economic hardship that entered their sixth day in parts of the country. Demonstrations have been driven largely by worsening economic conditions, soaring prices and the sharp fall of the national currency. At least seven people have been killed so far in incidents linked to the unrest, according to officials and media reports. Amid growing volatility, Donald Trump cautioned Tehran against cracking down on demonstrators, saying that if Iran violently kills peaceful protesters," the United States would come to their rescue," adding that Washington was locked and loaded." In response, Pahlavi said on X, President Trump, thank you for your strong leadership and support of my compatriots. This warning you have issued to the criminal leaders of the Islamic Republic gives my people greater strength and hopehope that, at last, a President of the United States is standing firmly by their side." He also promised to boost ties between the US and Iran if the hardline Islamic regime controlled by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is ended. As they risk their lives to end this regimes 46-year reign of chaos and terror, they send me with a responsibility and a message: to seek the relationship Iran once had with America that brought peace and prosperity to the Middle East. I have the plan for stable transition for Iran and the support of my people to get it done. With your leadership of the free world, we can leave a legacy of lasting peace." President Trump, thank you for your strong leadership and support of my compatriots. This warning you have issued to the criminal leaders of the Islamic Republic gives my people greater strength and hopehope that, at last, a President of the United States is standing firmly by https://t.co/1H12Z77uCE pic.twitter.com/G3TyrkJTy6 Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 2, 2026 Earlier, Pahlavi called for the dawn of a new era in Iran" in his New Years message. The current regime has reached the end of the road. It stands at its most fragile: weak, deeply divided, and unable to suppress the courage of a rising nation. The growing protests show this year will be the definitive moment for change," he said. Pahlavi was officially named Crown Prince of Iran in 1967 at the time of his fathers coronation, and is still considered the Crown Prince of Iran in exile, despite the fall of the monarchy in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution, which led to the ouster of his father. He has repeatedly called for regime change in Iran. Irans Response To Trumps Threat Meanwhile, Iran denounced Trumps remarks and called its security a red line". Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said, Any intervening hand nearing Irans security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response." Ali Shamkhani also mocked Washingtons past interventions in the region, saying Iranians were well aware of what American rescue" looked like, referring to US actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Gaza. Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker who serves as the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, accused Israel and the US of stoking the demonstrations. The people of the US should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers," he added. The current unrest is the most significant in Iran since 2022, when nationwide protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, posing one of the toughest challenges to the countrys leadership in recent years. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: January 02, 2026, 23:35 IST News world Iran's Exiled Crown Prince Thanks Donald Trump For Offering To 'Rescue' Iranian Protesters Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Saudi warplanes on Friday carried out airstrikes targeting positions held by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen's southeastern oil-rich province of Hadramout, as fierce clashes broke out on the ground, a military official told Xinhua. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official of STC forces based in Hadramout said that the airstrikes coincided with heavy fighting between STC forces and the Saudi-backed Yemeni forces in several areas of the province. He added that more than three Saudi airstrikes targeted the 37th Brigade base in the al-Khashah area of Hadramout Valley, causing casualties, but he did not provide further details on the number of those killed or wounded. Logon Ke Dil Badal Gaye: Zohran Mamdani Pledges 'New Era For New York At Mayoral Inauguration Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 07:50 IST Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor, promising affordability, progressive reform, and inclusive leadership for all eight and a half million New Yorkers. Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor, promising affordability, progressive reform, and inclusive leadership for all eight and a half million New Yorkers. (Pic: ABC News) Zohran Mamdani of the Democrats was publicly sworn in as the 112th mayor of New York City just after midnight on Thursday, marking the beginning of a new political chapter for the city centred on affordability and progressive reform. Taking the oath on the steps of City Hall before thousands gathered in Lower Manhattan, Mamdani said the election reflected a deeper shift among New Yorkers. Recounting a conversation with a Pakistani woman named Samina, he said the campaign had nurtured something rare in politics. Quoting her words in Urdu, he told the crowd, Logon ke dil badal gaye hai (peoples hearts have changed)." Mamdani said he was humbled by the faith" voters had placed in him and pledged to serve all residents, including those who did not support his candidacy. If you are a New Yorker, I am your mayor," he said. Regardless of whether we agree, I will protect you, celebrate with you, mourn alongside you, and never hide from you." Positioning his leadership within a broader historical tradition, Mamdani invoked former mayors David Dinkins, Bill de Blasio and Fiorello La Guardia, saying each believed New York should belong to more than just the wealthy and well-connected. Rejecting the idea of a divided city, Mamdani said New York should be understood as eight and a half million cities," shaped by different languages, faiths and histories. The authors of this story will speak Pashto and Mandarin, Yiddish and Creole," he said, adding that New Yorkers would worship in mosques, churches, synagogues, gurdwaras, mandirs and temples or not worship at all. I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist," Mamdani said, pushing back against critics who label such politics as radical. Whats radical is a system that gives so much to so few and denies so many the basic necessities of life." Throughout his address, Mamdani stressed that lasting change would not come from City Hall alone. He urged residents to remain engaged beyond election night and described the victory as one that demands daily effort from citizens across the city. Reflecting on long listening sessions held across New York, Mamdani said many residents felt disillusioned with politics but shared a belief that the moment required a new way of exercising power. This city belongs to all who live in it," he said, echoing language from South Africas Freedom Charter. And together, we will tell a new story of our city." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: January 02, 2026, 07:50 IST News world Logon Ke Dil Badal Gaye: Zohran Mamdani Pledges 'New Era For New York At Mayoral Inauguration Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Netherlands Police Face Unprecedented Violence During New Years Eve Celebrations Curated By : Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 10:55 IST Netherlands police faced unprecedented violence on New Years Eve, with attacks in Amsterdam, Breda, and Rotterdam, 2 deaths, Vondelkerk fire, and 250 arrests amid fireworks chaos. Netherlands police faced unprecedented violence on New Years Eve, with attacks in Amsterdam, Breda, and Rotterdam, 2 deaths, Vondelkerk fire, and 250 arrests amid fireworks chaos. (Pic: Getty Images) Police in the Netherlands described facing an unprecedented" level of violence during New Years Eve celebrations as they responded to widespread disorder across the country, officers said. Reports indicated that officers were attacked with fireworks and other explosives in multiple cities, including Amsterdam, Breda and Rotterdam, forcing a significant police response. The chaos coincided with fireworks-related incidents that killed at least two people, a 17-year-old in Nijmegen and a 38-year-old in Aalsmeer, as crowds set off heavy pyrotechnics across the country. In Amsterdam, a fire engulfed the historic Vondelkerk, a 19th-century neo-Gothic church near Vondelpark, causing extensive damage as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Officers also reported numerous attacks against emergency services and firefighters, with petrol bombs and other projectiles thrown at police, prompting around 250 arrests nationwide as authorities worked to restore order. The incidents occurred ahead of a planned nationwide ban on the sale of consumer fireworks starting in 2026, a move aimed at reducing injuries and damage during holiday celebrations after record sales in the lead-up to this years festivities. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Amsterdam, Netherlands First Published: January 02, 2026, 10:55 IST News world Netherlands Police Face Unprecedented Violence During New Years Eve Celebrations Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Kim Jong Un Seen With Daughter At New Year's Celebrations, Fuelling Succession Speculation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 11:12 IST Kim Jong Un appeared with his daughter Kim Ju Ae at key New Year events, drawing fresh attention to her growing public profile. Kim Jong Un with daughter Kim Ju Ae (Photos: AFP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared publicly with his daughter Kim Ju Ae during New Years Day celebrations in Pyongyang, which included a highly symbolic visit to the Kumsusan Palace and the May Day Stadium, moves that have again fuelled speculation about succession in the nuclear-armed state. State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) images showed Kim Ju Ae standing between her parents, Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju, in the main hall of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on January 1. The vast mausoleum houses the embalmed bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, North Koreas founding leader and former ruler, who are revered in state propaganda as eternal leaders," AFP reported. Kims visit to the palace follows a long-standing tradition in which North Korean leaders pay respects at the mausoleum on key dates and anniversaries to reinforce the legitimacy of the countrys dynastic rule. Analysts said the presence of Kim Ju Ae at such a symbolic site was closely watched. According to Reuters, Kim Ju Ae has been featured increasingly prominently in state media over the past three years, fuelling speculation by analysts and South Koreas intelligence agency that she may be positioned as a potential successor. Cheong Seong-chang, vice president at the Sejong Institute think tank, was quoted by Reuters as viewing Ju Aes appearance at the mausoleum as a calculated move by her father ahead of an upcoming ruling party congress at which her succession might be formalised." However, South Korean officials have urged caution. Reuters reported that a spokesperson for South Koreas Unification Ministry declined to comment on Ju Aes appearance, saying it was too early to say she was a successor given her age and the fact that she does not hold an official position. Hong Min, an expert on North Korea at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, told Reuters that the regime had been portraying an image of Kims stable family" by showing his wife and daughter alongside him at major events. He also warned against drawing firm conclusions, saying, Its practically impossible to publicly designate Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to have just turned 13, as the successor when shes not even old enough to join the (Workers) Party." Kim Ju Ae also made a public appearance during New Year celebrations at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang. KCNA photographs showed her accompanying her father during the festivities, hugging children, sitting next to him and holding hands with him. During the celebrations, Kim Jong Un delivered a speech praising what he described as the peoples successes and phenomenal changes" in 2025 and calling for unity ahead of a key Workers Party congress expected to be held in early 2026. Kim Ju Ae was first publicly introduced in 2022, when she accompanied her father to an intercontinental ballistic missile launch. Since then, North Korean state media have referred to her as the beloved child" and a great person of guidance," or hyangdo" in Korean, a term typically reserved for top leaders and their successors. Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to have been born in the early 2010s, has also attended other major state events, including this years New Year celebrations. Despite the growing visibility, North Korea has never officially confirmed Kim Ju Aes age or her status, and the leadership has made no formal announcement regarding succession. ALSO READ | For First Time, North Korea Acknowledges Its Troops Cleared Mines For Russia News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 11:04 IST News world Kim Jong Un Seen With Daughter At New Year's Celebrations, Fuelling Succession Speculation Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Osman Hadi Murder: Leaked Audio Raises Fresh Questions, Casts Shadow On Jamaat-e-Islami | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 14:11 IST A leaked internal exchange has pushed Jamaat-e-Islami into the spotlight, raising new doubts in a volatile investigation that remains far from settled. Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure of the July uprising, died at a hospital in Singapore on Thursday, a week after he was shot at by masked gunmen in Dhaka. (AFP) The killing of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, shot by masked gunmen in Dhaka last month, triggered days of violent unrest across the capital, engulfing parts of the city in arson and mob attacks. Although his death intensified the political volatility in Bangladesh, there is still no clarity on who orchestrated the attack. Now, a leaked conversation, said to have surfaced from inside Jamaat-e-Islami, has cast a shadow on the group, raising serious questions at a time when the investigation is already mired in competing narratives. According to the sources, a one-crore-taka arrangement linked to Hadis killing was allegedly discussed, with 20 lakh meant for the shooter. The leak claims the deal collapsed after an argument, with Jamaat allegedly prepared to pay only 70 lakh, exposing deep internal disputes over money and execution. It further suggests that Hadi was viewed as an obstacle to Jamaats political and organisational interests. The conversation, if authentic, appears to indicate that the act was intended to stir wider unrest, escalate tensions and shift the political narrative. According to the leak, the conversation included references to sending a warning signal" to rival groups. It also alleges that Jamaat was willing to kill someone from the July fighters to aggravate the wider atmosphere. The killer allegedly discussed in the leak was described as someone close to a Jamaat leader, with the planning meeting said to have taken place inside a Jamaat office in Dhaka. What has intensified speculation is the claim that this information has leaked from Jamaats office itself, suggesting internal fissures. The material also mentions that prime accused Faisal Karim Masud, who has publicly denied involvement, was systematically sent abroad to keep him out of the country. The leaked conversation, however, has not been independently verified. Masud has now surfaced in Dubai through a viral video message, contradicting earlier reports in sections of Bangladeshi media that claimed he had fled to India. Masud insisted he was not involved in Hadis killing and said he left Bangladesh legally, dismissing the initial allegations about his presence on Indian soil. The authenticity of his video has not been independently verified. Meanwhile, New Delhi has strongly rejected allegations circulating in Bangladeshi media that the suspected attackers fled into India or had any connection to Indian territory. India maintains that such claims are a false narrative created by extremist elements in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Hadi. India gains nothing from unrest in Bangladesh. Instability in its closest neighbour complicates border management, disrupts trade and connectivity and threatens regional security all outcomes New Delhi has no interest in encouraging. As Bangladesh navigates a volatile political moment, the leaked conversation has added another layer of uncertainty to a case already fraught with conflicting claims and destabilising consequences. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 14:11 IST News world Osman Hadi Murder: Leaked Audio Raises Fresh Questions, Casts Shadow On Jamaat-e-Islami | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Picked Up 2 People, Dropped 3': Passenger Delivers Baby In Indian-Origin Man's Taxi In Canada Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 15:09 IST Hardeep Singh Toor drove the pregnant passenger to a hospital during a stormy weather last week. Both mother and newborn arrived safely at Peter Lougheed Centre. Rapid Read Hardeep Singh Toor drove the couple to the hospital last Saturday. (Image: X/@yegwave) An Indian-origin taxi driver in Canada helped ensure the safe arrival of a baby after a pregnant passenger went into labour during a late-night ride to a hospital, according to local media reports. Hardeep Singh Toor, a Calgary-based cab driver, received a dispatch call last Saturday for what was described as an urgent hospital trip. The request soon turned into a race against time when he realised the couple he picked up were moments away from welcoming their child, Global News reported. It was a pregnant lady, and her companion was helping her get in (the cab). She was in pain," news outlet CTV quoted Toor as saying on Thursday. From the moment he saw the couple, Toor understood the seriousness of the situation. My thought was I should call an ambulancebut looking at the weather, I thought maybe its not the right call," he told CTV. Her body language was telling me she did not have the timeI decided to drive," he added. Baby Born In Taxi Amid Story Weather The journey to the hospital turned into an intense 30-minute ordeal. Toor recalled the drive as nerve-wracking, with shouting and movement in the back seat as traffic signals tested their patience. Amid stormy conditions, icy roads and temperatures plunging to around 23C, he said his sole focus was reaching the hospital safely and quickly, Global News reported. Just a few blocks from the Peter Lougheed Centre, Toor noticed the sudden silence in the back seat. The baby had been born moments before reaching the hospital. I did not stopI was thinking I should get there as soon as possible to get them (to medical attention)," Toor said. Upon arrival, hospital staff rushed out to assist the mother and newborn. When I got there and saw the staff running to the car, I stepped out, I let them do whatever they needed," he added, noting that he was later informed that both the mother and baby were doing well. Reflecting on the experience, Toor, who has been driving a cab for four years, said, Its my first experience getting two people in and three people out," calling it a proud moment." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Canada First Published: January 02, 2026, 15:09 IST News world 'Picked Up 2 People, Dropped 3': Passenger Delivers Baby In Indian-Origin Man's Taxi In Canada Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Spare Us His Crocodile Tears': Trump Shares Editorial Critical Of Putin, Signals Anger Over Ukraine Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 01, 2026, 16:23 IST The editorial rejected Russia's claim about Ukraine's alleged attack on Putin's residence and suggested that Trump should "turn up the heat" against Russia. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE) US President Donald Trump, in an apparent sign of his displeasure with Russian President Vladimir Putin, shared a New York Post op-ed, which criticised the Kremlin for not cooperating with America in securing peace in Ukraine and suggested that Trump should turn up the heat on Moscow. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump shared the editorial, titled Putin attack bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace," without making any additional remarks. The New York Post editorial highlighted the optimism after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, noting that Kyiv compromised on several points of a peace plan, including territorial concessions. Then, on cue, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin chose lies, hatred, and death instead," it read. The article mentioned Russias claim that Ukraine had attacked one of Putins residences, which Kyiv has denied. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russians had no choice but to be more rigid" in negotiations after the alleged drone attack. Its rich that Putin, who has waged a brutal war for nearly four years, believes that any violence in his vicinity merits special outrage. After all, Russia launched 131 drones on Christmas at Kyiv and other cities, killing seven civilians. Civilians. The Kremlin specifically targets apartment buildings and power plants to punish the ordinary people of Ukraine. The Russians kidnap children. They torture and execute prisoners. Further, Moscow has tried repeatedly to assassinate Zelensky. Any attack on Putin is more than justified," it read. The article also rejected Russias claim about Ukraines alleged attack on Putins residence and accused the Russian president of spitting in Americas eye" despite being offered peace. It also highlighted Russias support for Iran, the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, and North Korea. Despite his defiance, Putins actions smack of a deteriorating internal situation. His economy is stagnating. Propaganda is flailing as soldiers return with missing limbs. His victory is neither imminent nor inevitable. Spare us his crocodile tears and turn up the heat," the editorial further mentioned. This came after US intelligence found no evidence that Ukraine had attempted to strike Putin or any of his residences. The CIA assessment, briefed to President Donald Trump by Director John Ratcliffe, concluded that the alleged attack on Putins Novgorod residence did not take place, as per reports. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: January 01, 2026, 16:23 IST News world 'Spare Us His Crocodile Tears': Trump Shares Editorial Critical Of Putin, Signals Anger Over Ukraine Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Telangana Student Jumps Off Apartment In Germany To Escape Fire On New Year's Day, Dies Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 12:09 IST Hruthik Reddy jumped from his apartment in Berlin after a fire broke out. His family mourns and seek MEA's help to facilitate the repatriation of his body. Rapid Read Hruthik Reddy had moved to Germany in 2023. A 25-year-old student from Telangana was killed after he tried to escape a fire that broke out at his apartment in Germanys capital, Berlin, on New Years Day. The deceased student has been identified as Hruthik Reddy, a resident of Malkapur village in Jangaon district. It is learnt that a severe fire broke out at Reddys apartment. While attempting to escape the rapidly spreading blaze and thick smoke, he reportedly jumped from the upper floor of the building, sustaining serious head injuries. Thereafter, he was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment. His family had been looking forward to his homecoming for the Sankranti festival, but the tragic incident has turned the New Year into a time of mourning for them. The incident has left the 25-year-olds family and village community in shock, with grief overshadowing the festive season. Reddy had moved to Germanys Magdeburg in June 2023 to pursue a Masters degree at the University of Europe. He graduated from Vaagdevi College of Engineering in 2022. He had postponed a planned visit home during Dussehra, intending instead to return in the second week of January for the Sankranti festival. Cause Of Fire Under Probe Local authorities in Germany are investigating the cause of the fire. Meanwhile, his family and friends have sought help from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Germany to facilitate the return of his mortal remains for final rites in his village. The incident comes a month after another Telugu student was killed in a house fire in the United States. The victim, Sahaja Reddy Udumala (24) from Jangaon district, died in a house fire in Albany, New York. Udumala had moved to the US in 2021 to pursue higher education. Preliminary reports suggest that the fire started in a nearby building and quickly spread to her residence. She was reportedly asleep at the time and could not escape. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Berlin, Germany First Published: January 02, 2026, 12:09 IST News world Telangana Student Jumps Off Apartment In Germany To Escape Fire On New Year's Day, Dies Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Time Has Come: Baloch Leader Writes To Jaishankar, Seeks India's Support Against Pakistan Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 15:53 IST Mir Yar Baloch also referenced the Hinglaj Mata Temple in Balochistan, describing it as a symbol of long-standing cultural and spiritual links with India. Rapid Read Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking Indias support, warning of Pakistans actions in the region and the growing ChinaPakistan nexus. (IMAGE: News18/X) Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch has written an open letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging India to deepen engagement with what he described as the Republic of Balochistan" and warning of growing threats from the PakistanChina axis. The letter, dated January 1, was shared publicly on X, where Mir Yar Baloch also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking New Delhis attention and support. In the letter, the Baloch representative congratulated the people of India on the New Year and praised the Modi governments security posture, including what he described as decisive action against Pakistan-backed terrorism during last years Operation Sindoor a retaliatory counterterrorism exercise targeting terrorist training camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for the Pahalgam massacre in April 2025. The letter also underscored what Mir Yar Baloch described as deep civilisational links between India and Balochistan, pointing to the Hinglaj Mata Temple (also known as Nani Mandir) in the Hingol National Park as a shared sacred site. He cited the temple as a living symbol of historical, cultural, and spiritual connections between the two regions, arguing that these ties strengthen the case for closer engagement beyond immediate security concerns. Open letter to Honorable Foreign Minister of #Bharat Shri @DrSJaishankar jiFrom,Baloch Representative,Republic of BalochistanState.The Honorable Dr. S. Jaishankar,Minister of External Affairs,Government of Bharat,South Block, Raisina Hill,New Delhi 110011 January https://t.co/WdjaACsG2V pic.twitter.com/IOEusbUsOB Mir Yar Baloch (@miryar_baloch) January 1, 2026 A significant portion of the letter focused on the PakistanChina strategic alliance, which Mir Yar Baloch termed a grave and imminent danger. He warned that the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had entered its final phases" and claimed that China could deploy military forces in Balochistan if local resistance continued to be ignored. Such a development, he argued, would pose a direct security challenge not only to Balochistan but also to India. The appeal comes amid continued unrest in and around Balochistan, where Baloch rights activists have long accused Pakistan of enforced disappearances, military crackdowns, and systematic human rights violations. Over the years, clashes between Pakistani security forces and Baloch separatist groups have intensified, with attacks on infrastructure projects and Chinese-linked assets becoming more frequent. Mir Yar Balochs letter accused Pakistan of decades-long occupation and state-sponsored violence, asserting that the Baloch people had been denied political rights, economic control and self-determination for nearly eight decades. He called for tangible and reciprocal cooperation" with India, arguing that shared threats required substantive action News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Balochistan, Pakistan First Published: January 02, 2026, 15:20 IST News world Time Has Come: Baloch Leader Writes To Jaishankar, Seeks India's Support Against Pakistan Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 8 US Lawmakers Seek Umar Khalid's Bail In Delhi Riots Case; BJP Slams 'Anti-India' Lobby Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 13:18 IST Eight US lawmakers have urged India to grant bail and ensure a fair trial for Umar Khalid, citing his pretrial detention as inconsistent with international legal standards. A file photo of activist Umar Khalid (PTI) Eight US Democratic lawmakers have written to Indias Ambassador in Washington, seeking bail and a fair, timely trial for activist Umar Khalid, who has been in jail for over five years without trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), raising concerns over prolonged pretrial detention and international legal standards. The letter, led by US Representatives Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin, urges Indian authorities to grant Khalid bail and ensure that his trial begins without further delay. Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student, was arrested in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots and has remained incarcerated since then. Besides McGovern and Raskin, the signatories to the letter include Democratic lawmakers Chris Van Hollen, Peter Welch, Pramila Jayapal, Jan Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib and Lloyd Doggett. While underscoring their respect for Indias democratic institutions," the lawmakers questioned how Khalids continued detention without the commencement of trial aligns with international legal norms. They also sought an explanation for why judicial proceedings have not yet begun more than five years after his arrest. In the letter, the lawmakers pressed New Delhi to ensure that Khalid is afforded due process and that his case is heard in a fair and timely manner. They flagged concerns over the prolonged use of pretrial detention under Indias anti-terror law and its implications for civil liberties. McGovern subsequently amplified the appeal through a social media post, stating that he had met Khalids parents in Washington earlier this month. Earlier this month, I met with the parents of Umar Khalid, who has been jailed in India for over five years without trial," McGovern wrote. He added that he and Raskin were leading their colleagues in urging Indian authorities to grant Khalid bail and a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law. Earlier this month, I met with the parents of Umar Khalid, who has been jailed in India for over 5 years without trial. @RepRaskin & I are leading our colleagues to urge that he be granted bail & a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law. pic.twitter.com/tBIbG1aOwc Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) December 30, 2025 Later, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari slammed Rahul Gandhi and alleged that Gandhi and the Congress party want to weaken India, defame its elected government, and dilute its anti-terror laws seem to inevitably converge around him." In an X post, Bhandari listed Rahul Gandhis visits to the United States and threw light on his meetings with those who wrote to the Indian government about different accused persons. He stressed that Rahul Gandhi had met Jan Schakowsky in the US in 2024, and now, the same Jan Schakowsky has written to the government of India for the release of Umar Khalid. Every time an anti-India narrative is peddled abroad, one name keeps recurring in the background: Rahul Gandhi," Bhandari wrote in the X post. HOW THE RAHUL GANDHI ANTI INDIA LOBBY WORKS?2024: Jan Schakowsky meets Rahul Gandhi in the United States along with Anti India Ilhan Omar. January 2025: She reintroduces the Combating International Islamophobia Act", explicitly naming India and alleging crackdowns on pic.twitter.com/1ly4te2Bds Pradeep Bhandari( ) (@pradip103) January 2, 2026 The intervention by the US lawmakers comes even as Indian courts have granted Khalid interim bail on limited occasions. On December 11, a Delhi court granted Khalid interim bail from December 16 to 29 to attend his sisters wedding. According to a PTI report, Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai allowed the interim relief in the case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots. The court directed Khalid to furnish a personal bond of Rs 20,000 along with two sureties of the same amount. During the interim bail period, the court imposed several conditions, including a restriction on the use of social media. Khalid was directed to meet only family members, relatives and friends and to remain at his home or at venues where the wedding ceremonies were scheduled to take place. The court further ordered that Khalid must not contact any witnesses in the case and must share his mobile phone number with the investigating officer. He was also directed to surrender to prison authorities on the evening of December 29. Khalid had earlier been granted interim bail on similar grounds. Last year, he was allowed seven days of interim bail to attend another wedding, and he was also granted comparable relief in 2022. ALSO READ | BJP Slams Digvijaya Singh For Calling Umar Khalid Innocent In Delhi Riots News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 07:04 IST News world 8 US Lawmakers Seek Umar Khalid's Bail In Delhi Riots Case; BJP Slams 'Anti-India' Lobby Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'We're Thinking Of You': NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Writes To Umar Khalid, Sparks Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 02, 2026, 12:34 IST Zohran Mamdani has written a letter to Umar Khalid, expressing solidarity and recalling Khalids reflections on resisting bitterness during prolonged incarceration. File photos of Zohran Mamdani/Umar Khalid (AP/PTI) New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has written a letter to jailed activist and former JNU student Umar Khalid, expressing solidarity and recalling Khalids reflections on resisting bitterness during prolonged incarceration. His letter, however, drew criticism from the Vishva Hindu Parishad. A photograph of the note by Mamdani was shared on social media platform X on Thursday by Khalids friend, Banojyotsna Lahiri, the same day Mamdani was ceremonially sworn in as mayor. In the brief handwritten message addressed to Khalid, Mamdani wrote, Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume ones self. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you." The note was handed over to Khalids parents when Mamdani met them during their visit to the United States in December 2025, according to multiple media reports. Lahiri told Hindustan Times that Khalids parents, Sahiba Khanam and Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, had travelled to the US ahead of the wedding of their youngest daughter to meet another daughter who resides there and was unable to travel to India. They met Mamdani and a few others in the US and spent quite some time with him. Thats when he wrote this note," Lahiri was quoted as saying. She also spoke about Khalids brief period at home during his recent interim bail, granted by a Delhi court to attend his sisters wedding. Umar spent all his time at home as his bail conditions did not allow him to step out. But it went by so fast, as it had the two times earlier when he was out on bail. He had home-cooked food, which his mother often fed him, and he spent a lot of time with his nieces and nephews," Lahiri said. Khalid has since returned to jail after the bail period ended. Later, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal termed the development surprising" and said that he (Mamdani) has only recently become the mayor of New York, and yet hes lecturing India about fair trials." It would be understandable if he spoke out against the racism prevalent in America. Why does he remain silent when our temples are attacked there? Why doesnt he speak up when Hindus are persecuted in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan?" Mamdani claims to be of Indian origin, but his statements clearly reveal his true origins. Did he want to save Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, kind of people, just because they are muslims? The New York Mayor shouldnt think like this," he said. #WATCH | Delhi: On New York mayor Zohran Mamdani penning a note for Umar Khalid, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal says, Its quite surprising that he has only recently become the mayor of New York, and yet hes lecturing India about fair trials. It would be understandable if he pic.twitter.com/O0ADcSxhcd ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2026 Khalid is an accused in the case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots and has been in custody for over five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), with the trial yet to commence. His incarceration has also drawn international attention. In a separate development, eight US Democratic lawmakers recently wrote to Indias Ambassador in Washington, urging Indian authorities to grant Khalid bail and ensure a fair and timely trial. The letter, led by Representatives Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin, raised concerns over prolonged pretrial detention and questioned how Khalids continued incarceration without trial aligns with international legal standards. According to the lawmakers, judicial proceedings have not begun even five years after Khalids arrest. Besides McGovern and Raskin, the letter was signed by Chris Van Hollen, Peter Welch, Pramila Jayapal, Jan Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib and Lloyd Doggett. McGovern later said in a social media post that he had met Khalids parents in Washington earlier this month. A Delhi court granted Khalid interim bail from December 16 to 29, 2025, to attend his sisters wedding, subject to strict conditions including restrictions on movement, use of social media and contact with witnesses. He was directed to surrender before prison authorities on December 29. Khalid has previously been granted similar interim bail in 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, Mamdani, a 34-year-old Indian-origin politician, was sworn in as New York Citys mayor on January 1, becoming the first South Asian and Muslim to hold the office. Mamdani, a Queens state assemblyman, took his oath on a centuries-old Quran and described his election as a symbol of hope and political change. ALSO READ | BJP Slams Digvijaya Singh For Calling Umar Khalid Innocent In Delhi Riots News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: January 02, 2026, 07:39 IST News world 'We're Thinking Of You': NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Writes To Umar Khalid, Sparks Row Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Denise Welch left Coronation Street because she did not want her character Natalie Barnes to change. Denise Welch left Coronation Street because she did not want her character Natalie Barnes to change The 67-year-old actress appeared on the cobbles as the man-eating Rovers Return landlady from 1997 to 2000, and Welch has explained she exited the ITV soap because she did not like that the characterisation of Natalie was beginning to be tinkered with. Speaking at a recent press conference, she said: I played this real scheming b****, but in order for you to stay, sometimes they have to soften the character. It got to the point where they'd softened Natalie to the point that she was Emily Bishop. I said, 'I can't do this anymore. Who is she?', so then they had to sort of crank it up again, and get the line right. Denise is to reprise her Waterloo Road role as supply teacher Steph Haydock in the new series later this month, and the Loose Women panelist explained she agreed to return to the BBC show on the condition that her character had not been changed. She said: There wouldn't have been a point in playing her if she became sort of dull, dowdy and boring. I've never, ever gone back to a role in my whole career. Some people come into different shows, they go away for a few years, they come back. I've never done it. Even so, Denise has insisted the Waterloo Road writers have got the line right, and she is loving it. Denise portrayed Steph from 2006 to 2010, and will be seen again for the first time in 15 years when the new series of Waterloo Road airs on 6 January 2026. In a statement, Denise said: I'm thrilled to see the return of Steph to Waterloo Road. 15 years older, but certainly not wiser. Shell soon show that time has certainly not dulled her shine! Still unmarried but eternally hopeful, Steph is back as a supply teacher. What she is supplying remains to be seen, but I am having a great time stepping back into the shoes of a character I love. Denise is delighted to be reuniting with her former Waterloo Road co-star Jason Merrells, who plays Jack Rimmer in the programme. She added: Its also been great to reunite with some of my old castmates, like Jason Merrells. Steph and Jack go back a long way, but will they move forward?! You'll have to wait and see. SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A total of 122 people, including passengers and crew members, were evacuated Friday as smoke filled the cabin of a passenger jet in South Korea's airport, according to Yonhap news agency. The unidentified smoke flowed into the cabin of a Jin Air aircraft, which was scheduled to fly from the international airport in the country's southern resort island of Jeju to the southeastern port city of Pohang, at around 12:25 p.m. local time (0325 GMT). While boarding was underway, all 122 passengers and crew members were evacuated as an internal alarm went off in the cockpit following the detection of smoke. According to the inspection of the aircraft, the smoke was believed to have been caused by a defect in the auxiliary power unit (APU) located in the tail section of the plane, resulting in overheating. The APU serves as a backup engine that supplies electrical power and air conditioning when the main engines are shut down. Mickey Rourke's latest drama isn't on a movie setit's in landlord-tenant court. The 73-year-old actor is facing eviction from his Los Angeles rental after allegedly falling tens of thousands of dollars behind on rent payments, according to a complaint filed in LA Superior Court. Court records say Rourke was served a three-day notice on Dec. 18 to pay what he owed or leave the property and did neither, the Los Angeles Times reports. At that point, his unpaid rent totaled $59,100, the filing states. Rourke signed a lease in March for the three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home at $5,200 a month, later bumped to $7,000, according to the documents. Mickey Rourke is turning to crowdfunding as he faces eviction. A friend and member of the actor's management team launched a GoFundMe campaign Sunday, with Rourke's approval, per the Hollywood Reporter . "Mickey is facing a very real and urgent situation: the threat of eviction from his home. This fundraiser is being created with Mickey's full permission to help cover immediate housing-related expenses and prevent that from happening," reads the campaign, which has a goal of raising $100,000. As of this writing, more than $47,000 had been donated. The house, a 1920s Spanish-style bungalow once said to have hosted novelist Raymond Chandler, is owned by Eric Goldie, who is asking the court for back rent, attorney fees, and damages. He also wants the rental agreement forfeited, People reports. Lawyers for Goldie were not available for comment, and a representative for Rourke did not respond to media inquiries. The former boxer, born Philip Andre Rourke Jr., was a rising star in the 1980s with roles in Diner, Rumble Fish, 9 Weeks, and The Pope of Greenwich Village, before his career imploded amid personal turmoil. "I lost everything. My house, my wife, my credibility, my career," he told the Times in 2008. He mounted a major comeback with Sin City in 2005 and The Wrestler in 2008, which brought him an Oscar nomination and won him a Golden Globe. More recently, Rourke's public profile has included a short-lived stint on Celebrity Big Brother UK, which he left after producers cited "inappropriate language" and "unacceptable behavior"; his manager has said he is pursuing legal action over what she called a pay dispute and public humiliation. "There's no question that when Big Brother booked Mickey Rourke, they were fully aware of both his public persona and how it aligned with his Hollywood rebel image," she said in a statement at the time, noting the show knew that Rourke's inclusion on the show would be "explosive, controversial and attention-grabbingand that's exactly what they got, and more." He rented the bungalow around the same time he left the show, Fox News reports. Days before assuming the anchor's chair, Tony Dokoupil made a direct appeal to potential viewers of CBS Evening News, assuring them he intends to operate independently of political, corporate, and ownership influenceincluding that of the network's new parent company run by David Ellison. In a video message on Thursday, Dokoupil said people no longer trust legacy media as much as they used to, per the Hollywood Reporter. "So here's my promise to you as long as I sit in this chair: You come first. Not advertisers. Not politicians. Not corporate interests," he said. "And, yes, that does include the corporate owners of CBS. I report for you." TEHRAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Friday warned that any risky action by the United States would make U.S. facilities and troops stationed in the region "legitimate targets" of Iran's response. He made this remark in a post on social media, adding that armed operatives linked to foreign intelligence services were attempting to turn legitimate protests by business owners and various professional groups into violent and armed urban clashes. He stressed that Iran clearly distinguishes between peaceful protesters and foreign mercenaries, saying the country "never confuses protesters with foreign-paid agents." Qalibaf also warned U.S. President Donald Trump that following his recent remarks, any reckless move would trigger a firm response, adding that the Iranian people have always remained united and resolute in the face of "aggression." At least three people were killed and 13 security personnel wounded in clashes during protests in two Iranian provinces, Iranian media reported Thursday. After that, Trump said in a Truth Social post that the United States is ready to take action if Iran "kills peaceful protesters." Earlier on Friday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a post on social media platform X that Iran would not tolerate any form of external interference in its internal affairs, and the Iranian people are capable of resolving their own problems through dialogue and interaction. Witnesses are coming forward to describe the deadly blaze at a Swiss ski resort bar, one of the country's worst tragedies with an estimated 40 dead and 115 injured in the wee hours of New Year's Day. Le Constellation in the Swiss Alps resort of Crans-Montana offered a basement bar with a dance floor, and catered more to locals than tourists, the Guardian reports. Its lack of a cover charge attracted younger revelers, including some under 18. One 18-year-old who went into the bar when he saw smoke, fearing his younger brother was inside, tells the BBC , "I saw people burning ... I found people burning from head to foot, no clothes anymore. It was very shocking." His brother was unhurt. Others describe hundreds of people trying to escape through a narrow exit to the outside, and a resident says he saw videos of people being trampled as they fled. As for the cause of the blaze, it's still unknown, but multiple reports from witnesses indicate a bartender may have been carrying a female server on his shoulders, near the wooden ceiling, and that woman may have had a magnum of champagne in which birthday candles, sparklers, or a flare had been inserted. "In a matter of seconds, the entire ceiling was ablaze. Everything was made of wood," says one woman who was inside at the time. Others speculated charcoal from shisha pipes might have spilled. Either way, combustible gases were quickly produced and ignited so violently and suddenly some believed it had been an explosion; the phenomenon is often referred to as a backdraft or flashover. "The whole ceiling was in flames and the fire spread really fast. It happened in seconds," another woman says. As the bar turned into an inferno, with music still playing, some revelers broke windows to escape, or used sweaters in an attempt to extinguish the flames. A 16-year-old who used a table to push a windowpane out of its casing describes "total chaos," and tells the AP one of his friends did not make it out alive and more are still missing. Switzerland's president says some families are still waiting for news: "Some don't yet know if their children have died." A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while she was hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado on Thursday, in what would be the first fatal attack by one of the predators in the state in more than 25 years, authorities said. Wildlife officers later in the day located two mountain lions in the area and fatally shot the animals, said Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The attack occurred in the mountains south of the small community of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park and considered the gateway to the eastern entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, the AP reports. Shortly before noon, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the woman's body along a remote section of the Crosier Mountain trail, which is on a national forest. The hikers threw rocks at the animal to scare it from the immediate area so they could try to help the woman, Van Hoose said. One of the hikers was a physician who attended to the victim and did not find a pulse, she said. Van Hoose said the search for other mountain lions in the area was ongoing. She said circumstances would dictate whether any additional lions that are found are killed. Sightings of mountain lions are common in the forested area where the suspected attack occurred, but there have not been any recent documented attacks on humans, Van Hoose said. Mountain lion attacks are rare and Colorado's last suspected fatal attack was in 1999, when a 3-year-old was killed. Two years before that, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion and dragged away while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park. UPDATE Jan 2, 2026 6:57 PM CST A missing 4-year-old boy has been found dead in Alabama, around two miles from his father's home. Johnathan Boley's dog, Buck, was found alive next to his body, WIAT reports. Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith said there were no signs of foul play. He said Johnathan apparently wandered off into a wooded area while playing with his brother Wednesday morning, reports AL.com. "Like so many of you across our community, we're devastated by this news," the sheriff said. "Johnathan was an adventurous boy and loved the outdoors." The boy's father, 40-year-old Jameson Kyle Boley, was arrested on charges unrelated to the disappearance after explosives were found during the search. According to court documents, he also faces two counts of chemical endangerment of a child, reports AL.com. Court documents say Johnathan and his 6-year-old brother "had the opportunity" to be exposed to methamphetamine. Jan 2, 2026 5:31 AM CST Authorities in northern Alabama are searching for a 4-year-old boy who vanished from a rural area on New Year's Eve. Johnathan Everett Boley was last seen around 11:30am Wednesday near Highway 195 in a wooded section of Jasper, about 40 miles northwest of Birmingham, state officials said. Sheriff Nick Smith said authorities were told that the boy, described as white with blond hair and blue eyes, was with the family dog when he disappeared, NBC News reports. Johnathan was last seen wearing a yellow Mickey Mouse shirt, black pants, and Paw Patrol shoes. Smith said the father told police the boy is 5 years old, but family members told WTVM that Johnathan is 4. An Ohio dentist's missed shift led authorities to uncover a double killing that has left two young children without their parents and police hunting for a gunman. Officers conducting a welfare check Tuesday morning at the Columbus home of Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife, Monique, 39, found the couple inside with gunshot wounds, ABC News reports. Paramedics pronounced both dead at the scene. WSYX reports that Spencer had multiple gunshot wounds and Monique at least one to the chest. Their two young children were discovered in the home unharmed. The visit was triggered when Tepe didn't show up for work at Athens Dental Depot, prompting his employer to call 911. "He did not show up to work this morning. And we cannot get a hold of him or his family," Dr. Mark Valrose told dispatchers. "He's been reliable, and we cannot get in touch with him, his wife, his family, anybody that lives in that house." Police were first contacted just after 9am, records show. An officer responded but left after getting no answer at the door. Around an hour later, another caller reported hearing children inside. A friend who said he had last spoken to Spencer Tepe told dispatchers that he could see his body next to a bed, the Columbus Dispatch reports. He said he had gone to the home because Tepe wasn't answering his phone. Investigators say there were no obvious signs of forced entry and no weapons were found in the home. Authorities do not believe the deaths were a murder-suicide, WSYX reports, and no suspect has been publicly identified. The couple, married in 2021, were about a month away from their fifth anniversary. A Caribbean cruise turned tragic Thursday morning when a 77-year-old passenger went overboard north of Cuba, prompting an extensive search by the US Coast Guard that was later suspended. The woman was reported overboard from the Holland America Line ship Nieuw Statendam while it was sailing about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, according to Coast Guard officials. The ship's captain and crew began search-and-rescue efforts immediately and coordinated with the Coast Guard, which dispatched a cutter and a helicopter to scan the area, ABC News reports. After roughly eight hours of searching across about 690 square miles, the US Coast Guard Southeast said it halted active efforts "pending the development of new information." No details were released on how the woman went overboard, and her name has not been made public. The cruise line said the search was suspended at sundown, the New York Times reports. The Nieuw Statendam departed Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 27 for a weeklong New Year-themed cruise, WFLA reports. Holland America said the ship's scheduled stop in Key West on Friday was canceled because of the search and that its family assistance team is working with the passenger's relatives. "We are deeply saddened to confirm that while sailing in waters north of Cuba, a guest on Nieuw Statendam went overboard earlier today," the cruise line said, adding that its "thoughts are with the guest's loved ones during this difficult time." " UPDATE Jan 2, 2026 8:37 AM CST Tesla is no longer the world's leading seller of electric vehicles. Numbers reported by Elon Musk's company on Friday came in as expected: Tesla sold 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, reports the AP. Earlier in the day, China's BYD reported selling more than 2.2 million. It's the first time the Chinese automaker has beaten Tesla. Jan 2, 2026 5:47 AM CST The electric car market is on the brink of a milestone shift: China's BYD is poised to unseat Tesla as the world's top seller of EVs, reports the BBC. The company said Thursday that sales of its battery-only vehicles jumped nearly 28% in 2025 to more than 2.25 million, a tally that would put it comfortably ahead of Tesla's expected total. Tesla is due to report its full-year numbers later Friday, but the company last week circulated analysts' projections pointing to around 1.6 million vehicles sold in 2025, per the Wall Street Journal. Viewers tuning in to some of MTV's old-school music channels on New Year's Eve 2025 saw more than a countdownthey saw the format quietly sign off. MTV pulled the plug on its remaining music-only channel on Dec. 31, ending decades of round-the-clock video programming in multiple countries. In the UK, MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live went dark, Rolling Stone reports. MTV Music bowed out with "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles, the first clip ever played when MTV launched in the US on Aug. 1, 1981. Other channels chose different final songs, with MTV 90s calling it a day with the Spice Girls' "Goodbye." Music-only MTV channels, which ended in the US years ago, have also gone dark in countries including Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia, and Brazil, Deadline reports. The move has prompted a familiar question: is MTV itself done? For now, no, People reports. The flagship channels remain on air, continuing to lean on franchises like The Challenge and RuPaul's Drag Race. In the UK, the MTV HD channel remains, with reality shows like Naked Dating UK and Geordie Shore, reports the BBC. MTV was the 49th most-watched US cable network in 2025, ahead of Comedy Central, per Variety. Parent company Paramount hasn't publicly explained why it killed the music-only brands, Rolling Stone reports. But it follows a pattern of cutbacks around Paramount's $8 billion merger with Skydance, completed in August 2025, and earlier decisions to pause the MTV Europe Music Awards and MTV Latin America's MIAW Awards. MTV News was closed in 2023 after 36 years, with executives citing economic pressures. Former MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes, speaking to People in October, said the shift was part of a larger transition. "While it's a bit sad, it's been a bit sad for a while. I think MTV had its time and history that time will never repeat, and it's time to change," she said. "We all change. We have to evolve. And I hope that there's another version of them, just like there's another version of us, us who were part of that we're no longer the same. Why should we expect them to be? The world has changed so much." (MTV's first day also included videos from the Talking Heads, Blondie, and Kate Bush.) A new look from space is raising fresh questions about some of America's biggest dams. Virginia Tech researchers who used data from European weather satellites say they've detected subtle sinking at dozens of high-risk hydropower dams across the United States, including one in Texas that later triggered a "potential failure watch," the Washington Post reports. Geophysicist Mohammad Khorrami told colleagues at a December scientific meeting that satellite data show part of Livingston Dam, north of Houston, has been settling about 8 millimeters a year. The structure is already rated "high hazard potential," meaning a failure could cause deaths and major damage, and is now listed in "unsatisfactory" condition in the National Inventory of Dams. After heavy rains last summer eroded parts of the dam, its owner, the Trinity River Authority, issued a failure watch. Dog owners in seven states are being urged to check their treat stash after a popular biscuit brand was pulled over salmonella concerns. Consumers Supply Distributing of Sioux City, Iowa, has recalled two 4-pound dog biscuit products after federal inspectors found salmonella in finished samples, the FDA says in a fact sheet. The affected items are: No illnesses have been reported, but officials warn that salmonella can sicken both pets and people, per KHOU. Dogs that eat contaminated biscuits may become lethargic or develop diarrhea, fever, vomiting, or abdominal pain, though some may show only reduced appetiteand even symptom-free pets can shed the bacteria. Humans can be exposed by handling contaminated treats or touching surfaces they've contacted. The company has a number for questions: (712) 202-5609. New York City's new mayor had a busy first day. Zohran Mamdani signed a slate of directives Thursday centered on housing and with making a clear break from predecessor Eric Adams, reports the New York Times . At a rent-stabilized building in Brooklyn long plagued by leaks, rusting pipes, and vermin, Mamdani rolled out orders strengthening his office's ability to protect tenants and creating two housing task forces meant to speed construction by finding available city land and cutting red tape. The democratic socialist, who campaigned on affordability and a rent freeze for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments, said the goal was not only to hold the line on rents but to "stand up for tenants" and "get New Yorkers into housing faster." Mamdani also moved swiftly to unwind part of Adams' legacy. One order cancels all executive actions Adams issued after his 2024 federal corruption indictment, which was later dropped. Mamdani argued that was the moment Adams forfeited public trust. Among the revoked directives: one that let federal immigration officials probe criminal activity at Rikers Island, and another that created a City Hall office devoted to blockchain technology, a longtime focus for Adams. A third one rankled Israel in particular. "On his very first day as @NYCMayor, Mamdani shows his true face: he scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel," tweeted Israel's foreign ministry. "This isn't leadership. It's antisemitic gasoline on an open fire." The Adams order had adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism, which it said included "demonizing Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism," per the Guardian. Critics, however, say it was used too broadly to stifle any criticism of Israel. KABUL, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan has inaugurated around 150 cold storage facilities across the country over the past year, local media outlet TOLOnews reported Friday. The facilities, with capacities ranging from 300 to 2,000 tons, currently meet only 20 percent of the nation's demand, underscoring the urgent need for additional storage to preserve agricultural products and reduce post-harvest losses, the report said. To support the sector's growth, the Afghan government has introduced a five-year tax exemption for investors in cold storage projects. The measure is expected to attract more investment and strengthen private-sector participation in the country's agricultural infrastructure, the report added. The shortage of cold storage facilities has been a major factor contributing to the spoilage of agricultural products and the sale of produce at lower prices in local markets, making the expansion a critical step toward enhancing food security in Afghanistan. Authorities in North Carolina say they stopped a planned New Year's Eve attack before it could unfold. Federal prosecutors on Friday announced the arrest of 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, who they say had spent roughly a year planning an assault using knives and hammers, reports CBS News . US Attorney Russ Ferguson told reporters that Sturdivant was "preparing for jihad," and said that "innocent people were going to die" had the plot not been disrupted. According to the FBI's Charlotte field office, Sturdivant was "directly inspired" by the Islamic State group, or ISIS. He has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a federal offense often used in terrorism-related cases. Officials did not immediately detail how investigators first learned of the alleged plot or where, specifically, the attack was intended to take place. Sturdivant came under investigation last month because of social media posts, per the AP. However, he previously caught the FBI's attention in 2022, as a minor, when he had been in contact with an ISIS member in Europe. The case follows a separate alleged New Year's Eve plot on the opposite coast. Last month, authorities in Southern California charged four people described as members of a "radical anti-government group" with planning a series of bomb attacks timed to the holiday. Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams has received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning Jan. 18 in Melbourne. The tournament said Friday that the 45-year-old Williams would make a return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport. Venus Williams had announced in November that she would play in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wild card, two weeks before the Australian Open. The Australian Open said Williams was also entered to play a tournament in Hobart, Australia, a week later and just before play begins at Melbourne Park. She last appeared in Melbourne in 2021 and has finished runner-up in the women's singles twice, reports the AP, losing to Serena in the finals in 2003 and 2017. "I'm excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer," Williams said. "I've had so many incredible memories there, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career." Williams' record at Melbourne Park is 54 wins and 21 losses. This year will be the 22nd time she has appeared in the main draw. The tournament said Williams is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record previously held by Japan's Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round at Melbourne Park in 2015. In late December, Williams married Danish-born model and actor Andrea Preti in Palm Beach, Florida. A yellow Labrador out for a walk with his owner in Rhode Island had to be rescued by firefighters on New Year's Day after he wandered onto a thin layer of ice covering a pond and fell through the center, per the AP . According to the Misquamicut Fire Department, volunteer firefighters and other emergency officials were dispatched early Thursday morning for a water rescue. Once on scene, firefighters saw a dog named Phoenix struggling and unable to move to shore in the slushy, icy water. Members from both the Misquamicut and Watch Hill fire departments donned ice rescue suits, which help protect the body from frigid temperatures, to enter the pond and successfully rescue Phoenix. The National Weather Service reported it was 26 degrees Fahrenheit around 9am on Thursday, with the wind chill dropping the temperature to 14 degrees. "It was the chillest dog I've ever seen in my life," said Steve Howard, deputy chief of the Misquamicut Fire Department, in a phone interview on Friday. "The dog never made a sound. He was pretty chill." While the firefighters were evaluated for possible hypothermia, they did not require treatment. Phoenix was also declared free of injuries, but Howard made sure to check in with his owner later Thursday. "He got a little bit of extra food last night," Howard said. "And he took a little nap." A federal magistrate judge on Friday declined to order the pretrial release of a man charged with planting two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national parties on the eve of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ruled that Brian Cole Jr. must remain jailed before trial, the AP reports, concluding that there are no conditions of release that can reasonably protect the public from the danger that prosecutors say Cole poses. Justice Department prosecutors say Cole confessed to placing pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee headquarters only hours before a mob of President Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol. According to prosecutors, Cole said that he hoped that the explosives would detonate and that "there would be news about it." Sharbaugh wrote that "if the plan had succeeded," the blast could have created "a greater sense of terror on the eve of a high-security Congressional proceeding, causing serious property damage in the heart of Washington, D.C., grievously injuring DNC or RNC staff and other innocent bystanders, or worse." After his arrest last month, Cole told investigators that he believed someone needed to "speak up" for people who believed the 2020 election, which Democrat Joe Biden won, was stolen and that he wanted to target the country's political parties because they were "in charge," according to prosecutors. If convicted of both charges against him, Cole faces up to 10 years of imprisonment on one charge and up to 20 years of imprisonment on a second charge that also carries a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. Iran's political leaders are warning the US that any attempt to shield demonstrators inside the country could trigger widespread military retaliation. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, lashed out Friday at President Trump's Truth Social post pledging to protect "peaceful protesters" if Iranian forces "violently kill" them, saying such intervention would turn "all American centers and forces across the entire region" into potential targets, the Hill reports. "Iranians have always been united and determined to act in the face of an aggressor enemy," Ghalibaf posted on X. The protests in Iran have been going on for nearly a week, initially driven by the collapse of the rial but increasingly featuring anti-government chants. At least seven people have died in related unrest, per the AP. The backdrop includes US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June; Iran responded at the time with a missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts American troops, causing damage but no casualties. Trump, who previously used a "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign against Tehran in 2019 over its crackdown on demonstrators, now insists earlier US strikes "obliterated" Iran's nuclear capabilities but says the country is rebuilding. "They know the consequences," Trump warned this week, per the Hill, adding that any new response "will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time." Still, he has left the door open to fresh talks, including in recent discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago. In a separate statement, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, accused Trump and Israel of using the protests as cover for new attacks and cautioned that US interference could destabilize the region and destroy US interests, urging Americans to "pay attention to the safety of their soldiers." A federal judge in Kentucky has dismissed Louisville's proposed settlement with the US Department of Justice over police changes after the department withdrew its support of the plan. The Justice Department announced in May it was canceling proposed consent decrees with Louisville and Minneapolis that sought to curb police racial bias and abuses after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor that spurred nationwide protests in summer 2020. US District Judge Benjamin Beaton wrote in a ruling Wednesday that "the responsibility to lead the Louisville Metro Police Department in compliance with federal law must remain with the city's elected representatives and the people they serve," the AP reports. A judge in May dismissed Minneapolis' proposed consent decree, which places a federal officer in charge of tracking the progress of changes laid out in the agreement. Justice Department officials under the Biden administration conducted a multiyear investigation in Louisville prompted by the fatal shooting of Taylor and police responses to public protests in 2020. A draft of the investigation was released in early 2023, alleging that the Louisville Police Department "discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities," uses excessive force, and conducts searches based on invalid warrants. New DOJ leaders accused the Biden Justice Department of using flawed legal theories to judge police departments and pursuing costly and burdensome consent decrees. The consent decrees with Louisville and Minneapolis were approved by the Justice Department in the final weeks of the Biden administration, but the settlements had to be approved by a judge. Beaton wrote that his ruling "doesn't prevent the parties from undertaking the hard work of reform themselves." In a statement Friday, a spokesman for Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said he's "committed to ongoing reforms" and "did something no mayor in the country has donehe voluntarily created and implemented" Louisville's own reform plan. Fairbanks, AK (99701) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 15F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers this evening and steady snow likely after midnight. Low around 5F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland official on Friday called for efforts to promote peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and achieve national reunification. Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in a New Year message to people of Taiwan. He extended New Year wishes and sincere greetings to people in Taiwan, as conveyed in the message published in this year's first issue of the "Relations Across Taiwan Strait" magazine. Reiterating the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, Song said that in 2026 the mainland will continue expanding exchanges and cooperation and promoting integrated development across the Strait, while resolutely opposing secessionist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and external interference to maintain peace and stability in the region. "We are ready to engage in dialogue and consultation with political parties, organizations and people from all walks of life in Taiwan concerning cross-Strait relations and national reunification on the basis of the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus," he said. The year 2025 saw cross-Strait relations move forward despite difficulties, with momentum and strength building for national reunification, he said, highlighting greater facilitation for Taiwan residents to travel to the mainland and the significantly increased number of young people and first-time visitors from Taiwan to the mainland. Efforts were stepped up to advance with the high-quality development of the demonstration zone for cross-Strait integrated development and fully implement equal treatment for Taiwan residents and Taiwan enterprises on the mainland, while national sovereignty and territorial integrity were firmly defended, he said. Song called on people across the Strait to take on their historical responsibilities and join hands to oppose secessionism and work for national reunification. EDMONTON, AB, Jan. 1, 2026 /CNW/ - On January 1, 2026, at a 1:47 a.m. count, staff members at Stan Daniels Healing Centre, a minimum-security Section 81 facility, discovered that Shelby Crane was not accounted for. Native Counselling Services of Alberta immediately contacted the Edmonton Police Service and a warrant for the inmate's arrest has been issued. Shelby Crane (CNW Group/Correctional Services of Canada Prairie Region) Shelby Crane is 33 years old, measures 188 cm (62) in height and weighs 109 kg (241 lb). The inmate has a medium complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He has tattoos on the body parts below: Right forearm: Crook and Castle logo, Madusa Right hand: "Marlene" Right upper arm: "Marilyn," "Mya" Left upper arm: Flower-themed sleeve, a lotus, and "Makale" Left hand: "S" Left wrist: cross The inmate is currently serving a sentence of 10 years, six months, and nine days for manslaughter use firearm, possession of weapon for dangerous purposes, and obstruct public/peace officer. Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Shelby Crane is asked to contact the police. Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and Native Counselling Services of Alberta will investigate the circumstances of this incident and are working with the police to locate the offender as quickly as possible. Native Counselling Services of Alberta has given the police all of the information available to help arrest the inmate. Follow us on social media SOURCE Correctional Services of Canada Prairie Region Roxane Braun, Media Relations and Outreach Advisor, Regional Headquarters, Prairies, (306) 514-2203 Departing from the port of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, the Byzantion completed an 11-day transatlantic crossing, a remarkable feat in the middle of winter in the North Atlantic. During the last four days, the crew had to contend with sustained winds, gusts reaching 50 knots, and impressive swells reaching up to 10 meters. Flying the Marshall Islands flag, the tanker docked at Pier 109, operated by Suncor, where it is currently unloading its cargo. The ship will set sail again tomorrow, January 3, bound for a U.S. port. The arrival of this first ship of the year illustrates the strategic importance of liquid bulk for the Port of Montreal. In 2024, this sector accounted for nearly 40% of total tonnage handled, a proportion that is expected to remain stable in 2025. Despite the volatility of global markets, it has shown remarkable stability, with more than 12 million tons handled annually for the past eight years. This illustrates the great diversity of products and the key logistical role that the Port of Montreal plays in maintaining the country's energy security, the reliability of supply chains, and the competitiveness of Canadian businesses. Captain Andrejs Kuharenoks: a first time in Montreal Originally from Latvia, Captain Andrejs Kuharenoks said he was honored to receive this distinction during his first career stopover in Montreal. He emphasized that he will cherish the memory of this ceremony and that this honor will reflect well on the entire crew. As a former deck officer, he always knew he wanted to devote his career to the sea, motivated by the daily challenges, the responsibilities of command, and the demands of life on board. He has been a captain since 2005. The gold-headed cane, engraved with the captain's name and that of his ship, was presented to him this morning by Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the MPA, during a ceremony held aboard the Byzantion. The Montreal Port Authority would also like to acknowledge the work of Central St. Lawrence Corporation pilots Patrick Fortin and Donald Morin, who guided the ship safely to port. Quotes "It is always a powerful symbolic moment to welcome the first ship of the year to the Port of Montreal. The Byzantion marks the start of a new season, at a time when maritime transport is set to play an increasingly important role in Canada's economic exchanges. This first ship also reminds us that we are a great maritime nation, connected to the world by the St. Lawrence River. I would like to pay special tribute to the work of Captain Kuharenoks and his crew, and I am honored to continue this tradition, which has been part of Montreal's maritime history for over 185 years," said Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority. The Honorable Steven MacKinnon, Canada's Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, offered his sincere congratulations to the captain and crew: "Over the past year, we have all been reminded of the importance of maritime transport to Canada's economic resilience. In this context, I would like to congratulate Captain Kuharenoks of the Byzantion and his entire crew for earning this distinction. This iconic gold-headed cane and its long history are a testament to the strategic role played by the Port of Montreal as an important gateway to Canada." Quebec's Minister of Maritime Strategy, Bernard Drainville, also congratulated the captain and his crew: "Behind every arrival at the Port of Montreal, there are women and men who do demanding work to keep our economy moving. The Gold-headed Cane reminds us of this reality and highlights the strategic importance of the St. Lawrence River for Quebec, Canada, and global maritime trade. As a government, we want to support a high-performing, reliable, and humane maritime industry because it is essential to the vitality of our businesses and our supply chains. I sincerely congratulate Captain Kuharenoks and the crew of the Byzantion. Their crossing marks the beginning of a new year of port activity that sustains the entire province of Quebec. "As a major port city, Montreal is pleased to highlight the collaboration between the City and the Port of Montreal. Port activities are essential to the economic development of the city, and it is important to promote maritime culture. That is why, on behalf of the people of Montreal, I would like to warmly congratulate Captain Kuharenoks and the entire crew of the Byzantion, who won this year's Gold-Headed Cane. The presentation of this cane to the first ocean-going vessel to reach the Port of Montreal without stopping at the beginning of the year is the result of a 185-year-old tradition. It is a noteworthy achievement," said Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada. About the tradition of the Gold-Headed Cane The Gold-Headed Cane is presented to the captain of the first ocean-going vessel to reach the Port of Montreal without stopping at the beginning of the new year. Until 1964, the Gold-Headed Cane was presented in the spring to encourage the resumption of shipping, as Montreal was cut off from the world during the long winter months. Since the advent of icebreakers, which allow year-round navigation, the cane has been presented to the captain of the first ocean-going vessel to reach the port without stopping at the beginning of each year, a trophy coveted by captains from many countries. To learn more about this great tradition of the Port of Montreal, click here. About the Port of Montreal Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is the largest container port in Eastern Canada and a diversified transshipment hub that handles all types of cargo: containerized and non-containerized, liquid bulk and dry bulk. The only container port in Quebec, it is a destination port served by the world's largest shipping lines. It is also an intermodal hub with a service offering that is unique in North America, with its own rail network directly on the docks, connected to the two trans-Canadian rail networks. The MPA also operates a cruise terminal. The MPA integrates economic, social, and environmental considerations into its business practices. This commitment is guided by a sustainable development policy, whose guiding principles are involvement, cooperation, and transparency. Port activity supports some 590,000 jobs and nearly $98.5 billion in economic activity in Canada. SOURCE Port of Montreal Infos: Montreal Port Authority, Renee Larouche, Director, communications, [email protected], 514-531-2410 ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-backed Yemeni government on Friday launched a military operation against the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the southeastern oil-rich province of Hadramout, said provincial Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi. In an address broadcast by the state-run television from the Saudi capital Riyadh, the governor said the operation aims to restore state authority and ensure security and stability in the province, particularly around key government institutions and strategic facilities. He said the move came after repeated attempts to contain tensions through dialogue had failed, accusing STC-affiliated forces of "undermining local security arrangements and challenging the authority of the internationally recognized government." He stressed that the operation should not be viewed as a "war" or an attempt at escalation, but rather as a "preventive security step" to neutralize weapons, stop the use of camps to threaten Hadramout's security, and protect the governorate from potential "chaos scenarios." Meanwhile, a military official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that hundreds of vehicles and personnel of the Saudi-backed Yemeni National Shield Forces had departed positions near the Saudi border to participate in the anti-STC operation. No details were provided on the scope of the operation or possible casualties. The STC has not yet commented on the announcement. However, in a previous statement, the council said its forces were on high combat readiness and alert. Hadramout, Yemen's largest province and a key oil-producing region, has witnessed rising political and military tensions in recent days amid ongoing rivalry between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the STC. Tensions between the two factions escalated after the STC seized large swathes of Hadramout and the eastern province of Al-Mahrah last month. Saudi Arabia also considers these areas a "red line" due to their proximity to the Saudi border and their concentration of Yemen's remaining energy reserves. Yemen has been mired in conflict since 2014, when Houthi forces captured Sanaa and large swathes of the north, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015. Formed in 2017, the UAE-sponsored STC seeks self-determination and eventual independence for southern Yemen. Despite joining the Saudi-led coalition and integrating into Yemen's ruling Presidential Leadership Council in 2022, the group continues to push for southern sovereignty, leading to recurring disputes over power-sharing and control of resources. GUANGZHOU, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye has introduced visa-free entry for Chinese citizens who hold ordinary passports and enter for the purpose of tourism or transit. The new policy, effective on Jan. 2, 2026, has ignited interest among Chinese tourists. Under the new policy, Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports will be exempt from visa requirements for tourism and transit purposes. They may stay in Turkiye for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Data from online Chinese travel platform Qunar shows that by 12 p.m. on Friday, searches for flights from Chinese cities to Istanbul had surged 6.3 times from a week earlier. Searches for flights to Antalya had increased 1.3 times, and searches for flights to Izmir had doubled. Data from Trip.com shows that since the visa waiver announcement, the year-on-year growth rate of user interaction with and attention to travel to Turkiye has exceeded 50 percent. Turkiye has been steadily enhancing its travel connectivity with China. In May 2025, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on aviation, raising the frequency of passenger flights from 21 to 49 per week. Turkiye had already been a popular outbound destination for Chinese tourists, and gained noticeable traction throughout 2025, said Yang Han, a researcher at Qunar's big data research institute. "The visa-free entry policy will lower travel barriers," Yang said. "Coupled with the upcoming nine-day Spring Festival holiday in 2026, it is expected to boost demand for travel to Turkiye from Chinese tourists even further during the holiday period." A California man was arrested by Lyndhurst police three days after he fled the scene of a fatal e-bike crash in Burlington County, authorities said. Thair Maroki, 40, of El Cajon, California, was charged with second-degree counts of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Mount Laurel police responded to the 1100 block of Route 73 South at 12:15 a.m. on Monday for a report of an unconscious man lying in the street, authorities said. Officers found Anthony Caprio III, 49, of Magnolia unresponsive near a Rodeway Inn on Rogers Walk Boulevard, police said. He was later declared dead at the scene. Investigators used surveillance recordings of the area to identify a white SUV with California license plates that fled the scene after the collision, authorities said. The SUV was located on Thursday by Lyndhurst police in Bergen County and Maroki was taken into custody, authorities said. Maroki is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Burlington County on Friday and prosecutors said they will request that he be detained. Maroki did not have an attorney listed in court records on Friday. The federal minimum wage has not increased in more than 15 years. But New Jersey just hiked its minimum pay again. New Jerseys minimum wage increased by 43 cents to $15.92 per hour on Jan. 1. That is more than double the federal minimum wage rate, which last increased to $7.25 per hour in 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. However, most states and cities have higher minimum rates that employers are required to pay. The federal government has had multiple political fights over increasing minimum wage nationwide, but each effort has ended in gridlock. New Jerseys latest increase continues a series of hikes that began under Gov. Phil Murphy. The Democrat made a campaign promise in 2017 to increase the minimum wage. When Murphy took office in 2018, the minimum wage was $8.60 an hour. He signed a 2019 law that set annual hikes, aiming to give workers more financial stability. However, New Jerseys minimum wage increase doesnt apply to all industries uniformly. Seasonal and small employers were required to raise their minimum pay at the start of 2026, though their rates remain lower. Their employees minimum wage moved from $14.53 to $15.23 per hour. Who else was affected by the Jan. 1 increases? Agricultural workers saw their minimum wage increase from $13.40 to $14.20 per hour. Home health aides saw their minimum wage go up 43 cents to $18.92 per hour. Tipped workers saw their pay increase from $5.62 to $6.05 per hour. Employers must make up the difference if tips dont reach the state minimum. State Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo called the minimum wage law a major step toward economic equity. The law also calls for more increases based on the consumer price index and data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association expressed concerns about the increase. The market is the best, natural determinant of wages, NJBIA CEO Michele Siekerka said. But the truth is, many entry-level positions already exceeded the $1-per-year increase over the past five years, especially after COVID. Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, an organization of business owners that supports the wage increase, said higher pay benefits everyone. Higher wages strengthen the economy workers have more buying power and businesses see more consumer demand, said Mitch Cahn, a member of the group and owner of Unionwear, a clothing company in Newark. New Jersey-based OceanFirst Financial Corp. has announced a merger with Flushing Financial Corporation that will create a regional bank with $23 billion in assets across New Jersey, Long Island and New York markets. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of this year. OceanFirst is based in Red Bank in Monmouth County and is one of New Jersey largest regional banks. The all-stock transaction values Flushing at $579 million based on OceanFirsts Dec. 26 closing stock price of $19.76, according to a statement by OceanFirst. Investment firm Warburg Pincus has committed to invest $225 million in newly issued equity securities when the merger closes. The combined bank will operate 71 retail branches and hold approximately $17 billion in total loans and $18 billion in total deposits. The deal expands OceanFirsts presence in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan counties. This acquisition represents a natural extension of our proven growth strategy, Christopher Maher, chairman and chief executive officer of OceanFirst said in a statement. We are bringing together two highly complementary organizations, leveraging Flushings 95+ year distribution channel in Long Island and New York alongside OceanFirsts relationship-driven business model and robust products and services. Under the agreement, Flushing stockholders will receive 0.85 shares of OceanFirst common stock for each share of Flushing stock. After the merger closes, former Flushing shareholders are expected to own approximately 30% of the combined company, Warburg Pincus will hold about 12%, and existing OceanFirst shareholders will retain approximately 58%. Maher will serve as chief executive officer of the combined company. John Buran, president and chief executive officer of Flushing, will become non-executive chairman of the board. The board will consist of 17 directors: 10 from OceanFirst, six from Flushing and one from Warburg Pincus. OceanFirst will sell approximately 9.7 million shares of common stock and additional non-voting shares to Warburg Pincus at $19.76 per share. The transaction requires regulatory approvals and shareholder approval from both companies. OceanFirst Bank, founded in 1902 and headquartered in Red Bank, currently has $14.3 billion in assets. Flushing Bank has operated in New York since 1929, serving customers in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Long Island. A man in a Cape May County hotel was taken to a burn center on Friday after a blaze in one of the rooms triggered a response from three area fire departments. The 33-year-old was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia after the fire started around 7:45 a.m. in the Meadowbrook, a motel on Route 147 in Middle Township, local police said. The man was the only person injured in the blaze, Middle Township Police Lt. Jason Sweitzer said. Police did not describe the extent of the mans injuries. It was unclear whether the man was a guest at the motel. The fire was contained to one room on the motels east side. It did not displace any other tenants, police said. Township police are investigating the fire with the county prosecutors office and the fire marshals office LIMA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and seven others missing in an attack on informal miners on New Year's Eve in northern Peru, a local mayor said Thursday. A New Jersey school district wrongly denied a family a school bus to their daughters private Christian school after a dispute over maps of the route, a state administrative law judge says. The parents attorney called the decision a victory for families who choose religious education for their children. The dispute between the family and the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education centers on the distance of the students house from the private school in Bergen County. Under state law, the school district must provide transportation or money for transportation for private school students to their nonpublic school if they live more than 2 miles from their elementary and middle school or 2.5 miles from their high school. However, the school district does not need to provide free busing if the student lives more than 20 miles from the private school. In the Parsippany-Troy Hills case, both the family and board of education officials mapped the route from the childs home in Morris County to Eastern Christian Upper Elementary & Middle School in Wyckoff in Bergen County. The family said the route was under the 20-mile cutoff. But school district officials, using a different route, said the school was over the legal distance. According to state Administrative Law Judge Aurelio Vincitores decision, the boards map was made using only walkways to the school, which is against the rules in the state law. The Board must consider the shortest route using both public roadways and walkways, the judge said in his decision issued on Dec. 8. The districts supervisor of transportation attempted to drive the Google Maps route provided by the family and found the drive took her more than 20 miles to complete, court documents said. Still, the judge sided with the family, relying on their measurements, including one produced by a licensed surveyor. This case exemplifies a troubling pattern we see nationwide: Government officials create arbitrary barriers to deny school choice benefits to families exercising their constitutional right to religious education, said the American Center for Law and Justice, an advocacy group founded by Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson to defend constitutional and religious rights. The group, known as the ACLJ, represented the family in the case. The ACLJ will not allow government bureaucracies to treat Christian families as second-class citizens, said Nathan Moelker, the groups senior associate counsel. Parsippany-Troy Hills school district officials did not immediately respond to a request to comment. The judges decision did not mention any finding of bias by the school district in denying the family transportation to the Christian school. The family will receive $1,177 for each year the child continues to attend a nonpublic school within the 20-mile distance limit to help cover the cost transportation, under the ruling. However, the administrative law judges decision is not final. The decision now moves to state Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer, who has 45 days to either confirm the administrative law judges decision or overturn it. If Dehmer does nothing, the decision will automatically stand. Under New Jerseys system, school districts cover the first $710 of each students transportation costs. The state then provides funding above that threshold. The amount varies depending on whether a district provides buses or gives money directly to families. Parsippany-Troy Hills received $139,600 from the state for nonpublic school student transportation costs for the 2023-2024 school year. Two people, including a 17-year-old, were injured after being shot minutes apart in separate incidents in Newark on Thursday night, officials said. A concerned citizen drove a man to University Hospital after he was shot shortly before 8:40 p.m. near the corner of Isabella and South Orange avenues, Newark police said. The man is in critical condition. At 8:49 p.m., a 17-year-old arrived at the hospital to be treated after being shot in the foot at 200 Georgia King Village. He is in stable condition. Both shootings remain under investigation. No arrests have been made as of Friday morning. A pharmaceutical company based in New Jersey thats known for its FDA-approved treatment for ALS is set to be acquired for $2.5 billion. Tanabe Pharma America, which operates a U.S. headquarters in Jersey City, announced Dec. 22 that it reached an agreement with Japanese pharmaceutical company Shionogi regarding the transfer of global rights to its medication Radicava. As part of the transaction, Tanabe will establish a new U.S. company to manage the Radicava business, which Shionogi will acquire as a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition must still receive regulatory approvals. If all goes according to plan, the sale is expected to close in April 2026. As the company that helped bring RADICAVAto patients in the United States and Canada, we are incredibly proud of the impact this therapy has had on the ALS community, said Yasutoshi Kawakami, president of Tanabe, in a press release. By transitioning the RADICAVAbusiness to Shionogi, we believe the product is well positioned to continue reaching patients and caregivers who rely on it, while Tanabe Pharma America sharpens its focus on advancing future therapies," Kawakami said. Company leaders with Shionogi said the acquisition of Radicava represents a commitment to the treatment of rare diseases. We are very excited to welcome this team and outstanding medicine to our U.S. business. This planned acquisition will solidify our strategic focus in rare disease and immediately add capabilities to ensure long term success in this important category, said President and CEO Nathan McCutcheon in a press release. Going forward, this infrastructure will support future launches in rare disease including Shionogis development programs in Fragile X syndrome, Jordans Syndrome and Pompe disease, McCutcheon said. The company expects the acquisition to boost global sales by approximately $700 million. Radicava is a prescription medication used to treat ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrigs Disease. Its considered a rare disease, affecting less than 30,000 people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cause is unknown and theres no cure. The FDA first approved an IV version of Radicava in 2017 and an oral version in 2022. Its one of only four drugs available to people living with the progressive neurodegenerative disease, according to the ALS Association. A New Jersey appeals court has cleared the way for a Hoboken cannabis company to proceed with a lawsuit against a former mayor who the firm says torpedoed its dispensary application in a political deal. A panel of appeals court judges ruled Tuesday that Natures Touch can move forward with a lawsuit claiming then-Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla intentionally blocked its cannabis dispensary application after a city board endorsed it. The lawsuit says Bhalla blocked the application as a political favor for outgoing Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, whose wife co-owns a competing dispensary. Bhalla has denied any wrongdoing. His attorneys didnt respond to requests to comment on the judges ruling. A spokesperson for Fulop denied the allegations and said the two mayors never spoke about the matter. As has been fully explained and vetted, no one in Mayor Fulops family has ever applied for a cannabis license in Hoboken or anywhere else, making these claims entirely false and undermining any credibility from the start, Kim Wallace-Scalcione, press secretary for Jersey Citys mayors office, said in a statement. Secondly, the tenant who rents space from the building Jaclyn Fulop owns has a lease that is not dependent on any cannabis-related approvals, further discrediting these accusations, Wallace-Scalcione said. The Fulops are not named as defendants in the lawsuit. Fulop announced last year he would not seek another term as Jersey City mayor and take a job as head of Partnership for New York City, a business coalition. Bhalla also opted not to seek a third term as mayor in Hoboken last year. He won a seat in the state Assembly in November. The Hoboken Cannabis Review Board approved the application for the Natures Touch dispensary in 2022, according to court records. But Bhalla didnt sign the required letter of support, effectively killing the application. Weeks later, the board approved an application for another Hoboken dispensary co-owned by Fulops wife, Jaclyn Fulop, according to the complaint. Natures Touch didnt sue the city or Bhalla until May 2024 because thats when the alleged scheme came to light, the company said. Court filings in a separate whistleblower lawsuit filed by former Hoboken official Pantaleo Leo Pellegrini against the city claimed Fulop was extremely upset and very angry about the boards decision to support Natures Touchs application because his wife planned to open a competing dispensary in Hoboken. Bhalla allegedly said he would be quashing Natures Touchs application and, in exchange, Fulop promised to provide legal work for Bhallas private law firm, the lawsuit claims. Bhallas legal team sought to dismiss the cannabis companys case, arguing that Natures Touch filed its claims too late and the allegations lacked merit. The former mayors lawyers said the company could have sued sooner and there wasnt any evidence Bhalla acted improperly. The case now heads back to the lower court. Lawyers for Natures Touch will seek documents and testimony to support their claim that political motivations and personal gain influenced the licensing decision. We want justice, said Vincent Sicari, attorney for Natures Touch. My client just wanted the opportunity to run a business. If in fact its proven that the allegations in the whistleblower complaint and our complaint are true, we want the people involved to step forward, not only pay the damages, but can we finally get a mea culpa? Can we finally get elected officials to say they were wrong and apologize? We need accountability, he added. Some lucky New Jersey couples have a lot more to celebrate than just the new year. The ball had dropped and the red, white and blue confetti was still swirling in Times Square when the first babies began arriving in hospitals across the state. Saint Peters University Hospital in New Brunswick delivered their first baby six minutes into the new year. Gabrielle Faye is the second child of Michelle Baldric and Michael Campellone of Edison, a hospital spokeswoman said. Virtua Voorhees Hospital reported delivering a baby boy at 12:29 a.m. The boy, who weighed 8 pounds and 10 ounces was identified as Landon because the family declined to release his last name. In Newark, Bella Rose Santos arrived at 12:37 a.m. at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Childrens Hospital. Bella weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces to the delight of her parents, Lesly Leonetti and Elvis Santos of Newark. It is the couples first child, a hospital spokesperson said. Weve been waiting a long time for this bundle of joy, Leonetti said from her hospital bed. At 1:05 a.m., Nova Nicole Norton was born in Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Hospital in Montclair. Her parents, Naomi and Ezra Norton, are from Somerset. Nova Nicole Norton was born at 1:05 a.m. at Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair. Nova, the daughter of Naomi and Ezra Norton of Somerset, was the first baby born in 2026 the Hackensack Meridian Health system, a network of 18 hospitals in New Jersey. Courtesy of Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack Meridians CEO, Robert C. Garrett, congratulated the parents and the Mountainside staff for the delivery on New Years. The arrival of the first babies of 2026 is a joyous and exciting moment for all of us at Hackensack Meridian Health. Its a powerful reminder of our mission: to provide the highest quality care to every mother and child, he said. At 1:16 a.m., Xolani Faith Camilo was born in Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck to Samantha Tineo and Ankaury Camilo. Xolani Faith Camilo with her parents Ankaury Camilo and Samantha Tineo. Xolani was born in Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck on New Year's Day. Courtesy of Holy Name Hospital For many people, the new year represents a fresh start and a new beginning. Cole Andrew Allaman was living proof when he came into the world at 1:25 a.m. at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center. His parents, Danee and Steven Allaman are from Lake Hopatcong. Danee and Steven Allaman of Lake Hopatcong with their newborn son, Cole Andrew. The baby was born at 1:25 a.m. on New Year's Day at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center. Courtesy of Atlantic Health At 3:27 a.m. Rhiannon and Jorden Kook-Miller welcomed their 6-pound, 7-ounce baby boy at Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell. The couple named their baby Derek, the hospital said. Dereks arrival had special meaning for the couple. He is considered a rainbow baby a healthy child born after the couple lost a child at birth. Hospital spokeswoman Kate Stier said that after their infant daughter, Mia Madison, ;passed away at birth, the couple in October 2024 donated 300 baby books and crocheted blankets to the Neonatal Intensive Care unit. Derek Kook-Miller with his father, Jorden and mother, Rhiannon, at Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell on New Year's Day. The family is from Florence. Courtesy of Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell These newborns are members of a new cohort dubbed Generation Beta. Demographers consider their predecessor, Generation Alpha, to be the first cohort born in an all-digital world, having never known life without smartphones or social media. Toms River Township Mayor Dan Rodrick abruptly left the years first council meeting on Thursday, in protest of a rule for meetings he considers an assault on transparency, accountability, and the basic principles that define the United States of America. Moments before leaving, Rodrick sparred with David Ciccozzi about rules approved at Thursdays reorganization meeting. Rodricks clash with Ciccozzi, who was chosen as the new council president, followed three new Republican members Harry Aber, Robert Bianchini and Clinton Bradley being sworn in to their first terms. Ciccozzi said the rules are intended to more strongly enforce decorum at council meeting, which have often been the scene of shouting and disruptions among elected officials and the public. Ciccozzi did not respond to an emailed request by NJ Advance Media for comment on Friday. The rules approved through a resolution are designed to prevent council members from interrupting their colleagues while speaking. The rules, the resolution states, allow members to leave meetings early by notifying the council president. Rodrick objected to a part of the rule that prompts an investigation into repeated early departures. The newly approved rule states that repeatedly leaving a meeting early could result in fines of up to $500 or 90 days in jail, according to township ordinances reviewed by NJ Advance Media. These rules are designed to force council members to sit through hours of orchestrated attacksfrom the same small group of political allies and loyalistswho show up meeting after meeting to shout, insult and intimidate, Rodrick said in a public statement midway through the meeting. The goal is not public comment. The goal is exhaustion. The goal is submission. The mayors role in the township meetings is limited to particular circumstances. Under the townships code, the mayor can attend meetings and join discussions about policy. They cannot vote on ordinances and resolutions, except in cases where the councils vote ends in a tie. Rodrick criticized another portion of the rules that could allow the council to censor or bar him from attending meetings over repeated interruptions. Ask yourself - why would anyone want to silence your democratically elected mayor? Rodrick said. In my opinion, its because there are things they do not want you to hear. They dont want me talking about lucrative contracts handed to political insiders. They dont want me asking questions about who benefits and who pays the price. The argument ensued when Ciccozzi pushed back on Rodricks claims, saying aspects of the rules approved Thursday were already in place. Rodrick interrupted Ciccozzi by insisting the rule can impose criminal penalties for leaving early. I never said that, Ciccozzi said. Thats what your rule says youve got to do, Rodrick replied. The disagreement continued for a brief moment before Rodrick said he was preparing to leave the meeting in objection. Im going to leave right now, Rodrick said. You can follow me, call the cops and arrest me. Youre free to leave, Ciccozzi said. So youre not going to arrest me? Rodrick said, to which the council president responded by saying, no. Thomas Nivison, who was elected as council vice president on Thursday, interjected, urging Rodrick to stay. We want you to say, so you can hear public comment, Nivison said. These are the people who elected you. Once Ciccozzi opened the meeting to the public, Rodrick, Aber, and Business Administrator Jon Salonis left the meeting, at which point shouting emerged from the audience. After the meeting, Nivison also pushed back on Rodricks claims. No one is going to be sent to jail, Nivison said, according to the Asbury Park Press. Thats ridiculous. Thursdays dispute isnt the first time Rodrick has sparred with council members regularly scheduled meetings. Toward the end of last year, Rodrick criticized council members for rejecting his request to dissolve the townships municipal utilities authority, which he called a patronage pit over health care benefit policies for its board members. Last month, the mayor ramped up political attacks on public school Superintendent Michael Citta, whom he urged to resign, in a public quarrel that included threats of lawsuits, personal insults, and even an accusation that one school board member was peeping into the home window of the schools chief. President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted the U.S. as the hottest and most respected country in the world since he returned to office. However, Trump still faces significant opposition abroad, including from a surprising number of adults who support Europes growing right-wing populist movements. A new Politico poll of 10,510 people found that a majority of adults in Germany, France and the United Kingdom view the U.S. president negatively. Even those who identified themselves as part of their countrys right-wing populist party are divided on Trump despite his support for their nationalist agendas. In France, supporters of Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally were more likely to hold Trump in poor esteem, with 38% viewing him unfavorably compared with 30% who held a favorable opinion. Alternative for Germany (AfD) supporters were similarly conflicted on Trump 35% had a negative opinion of him, compared to 32% who held a positive view. Nearly one-third, 31.6%, were undecided. Trump fared the best with supporters of Nigel Farages Reform UK party, which was founded in 2018 as the Brexit Party. Among current Reform supporters, 48% held a positive opinion of Trump and 29.6% expressed a negative opinion, according to Politico. Among the general population, a majority of respondents in France (64.8%), Germany (65.8%) and the U.K. (55.2%) held a negative or very negative opinion of Trump. When asked about the impact of Trumps specific policies, such as his sweeping tariffs, about four in 10 National Rally (42.1%) and AfD (39.2%) voters said that the U.S. benefits at the expense of other countries. Reform UK voters were more positive, with 42.8% saying Trumps policies benefit both the U.S. and other countries, according to Politicos survey. President Donald Trumps administration quietly rolled back its costly levies on pasta imported from Italy. Last year, the Commerce Department threatened a 92% antidumping duty on pasta made in Italy by 13 companies that would be on top of the 15% tariff on imported goods from the European Union. The antidumping duty was set to take effect in January, leading Italian pasta makers to warn of higher prices for their U.S. consumers. But now, it appears the U.S. has walked back its proposed duty on imported pasta. According to Italys foreign ministry, the Commerce Departments post-preliminary review of anti-dumping tariffs significantly lowers the previous rates set in September 2025. According to the foreign ministry, the tariff rates have been reduced for the 13 pasta companies. The rates are now 2.26% for La Molisana, 13.98% for Garofalo and 9.09% for the remaining 11 producers, according to the foreign ministry. The re-determination of the tariff levels constitutes an acknowledgment by the US authorities of the constructive cooperation shown by Italian companies. It also confirms the effectiveness of the support provided by the Italian Foreign Ministry and by the Italian Government from the outset, which will continue to be ensured in view of the final determinations, Italys foreign ministry said in a Thursday press release. Trump was mocked on social media for slashing his tariff rates on pasta and other imported goods in recent days. Trump signed a declaration on Wednesday that delayed increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year. TACO Trump caves again. Big talker, MeidasTouch editor-in-chief Ron Filipkowski wrote on X. A liberal account on X wrote: He quietly rolled back a bunch of tariffs on household appliances and, of all things, imported pasta, and is about to take (at a minimum) a partial L in the Supreme Court b/c he does not in fact have some monarchical, unilateral ability to levy tariffs. Despite delaying some tariffs, Trump defended the policy in a Truth Social post on Friday. Tariffs are an overwhelming benefit to our Nation, as they have been incredible for our National Security and Prosperity (like nobody has ever seen before!). Losing our ability to Tariff other countries who treat us unfairly would be a terrible blow to the United States of America, Trump wrote. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A 21-year-old man was killed and his two passengers were injured on New Years Day after a crash on Route 23 in Sussex County, authorities said. Nazar Bilous, of Brooklyn, was driving an SUV south when he ran off the highway shortly before noon at milepost 49.2 in Wantage Township, according to New Jersey State Police. Troopers said Bilous was negotiating a curve when the SUV ran off the road to the right, struck a large rock, re-entered the roadway, then ran off the road to the right again and struck a large tree stump and a tree. Bilous died of his injuries. A 21-year-old passenger in the rear seat was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. A third passenger, seated in front, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, troopers said. The crash remains under investigation. NJ Advance Media Staff Writer Jana Cholakovska contributed to this report. A massive six-alarm blaze ripped through a warehouse in Roselle Park on Thursday evening and caused concerns about air quality for residents in the area. Flames broke out around 4:45 p.m. at a large warehouse-style building located at 140 Valley Road, Roselle Park Mayor Joseph Signorello Jr. told NJ Advance Media Thursday night. Signorello said the building is occupied by Crossfield Products Corp, a company that produces a variety of construction coating, overlay, and fluid-applied flooring materials, according to its website. Five alarm fire aftermath on Valley Road in Roselle Park , NJ on Friday, January 02, 2026 Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media There were a lot of explosions internally, Signorello said. They do make resins, oil-based paints. Nobody got hurt (inside the building). We evacuated the homes across the street. Signorello, who took over as Roselle Park mayor on Dec. 18 after his son, Joseph Signorello III, resigned to become a Union County Commissioner, said there were no reports of injuries among firefighters and emergency personnel. He said a preliminary investigation on the cause of the fire was unclear. In addition to the Roselle Park Fire Department, numerous local fire departments, including Kenilworth, Westfield, Linden, Roselle and Cranford, assisted in the multiple-alarm fire, Signorello said. As of 9:15 p.m., Signorello said in a Facebook post the fire was under control. Im glad to report there were no fatalities,' he said. Authorities asked the public to avoid the area of West Westfield and Valley roads as they contained the multiple-alarm fire. Residents are asked to please avoid the area and residents living in the west end of town are asked to keep windows and doors closed as air quality may be diminished due to heavy smoke, Roselle Park police said in a Thursday evening Facebook post. The aftermath of a warehouse fire on Valley Road in Roselle Park on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media Signorello said Union County hazmat officials were on the scene monitoring for the community and for the fire department personnel on the street. He said the neighboring homes and buildings were not affected by the fire. Please pray for our families in Roselle Park and families in the area, Roselle Park Councilman Gregory Johnson said on social media. BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- China will not accept any attempt to hinder its actions against secessionism or to interfere in its internal affairs by using the pretext of upholding peace across the Taiwan Strait, a defense spokesperson said Friday. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the response to a media query about statements from Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te and several countries including the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines on the recent "Justice Mission-2025" military exercises conducted by the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Light snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. High 26F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Snow this evening will taper off and give way to cloudy skies late. Low 12F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A pilot was killed Friday morning when a light aircraft crashed south of Bloemfontein, South Africa's judicial capital, local authorities said. The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (ARCC), which coordinates aeronautical emergencies across South Africa, was alerted to the incident and immediately dispatched emergency response teams to the scene. Upon arrival, rescuers found the pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, had died, according to the ARCC. Details regarding the aircraft type and the circumstances leading to the crash have not yet been released. The South African Police Service and the South African Civil Aviation Authority's Accident and Incident Investigations Division will conduct a formal investigation to determine the cause. In Focus: The Future of New Orleans. I see so much opportunity. Andrew Blum What do Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell, Prince Andrew, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, Kevin Spacey, Woody Allen, Larry Summers, Steve Bannon, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Peter Thiel, Naomi Campbell, Michael Wolff, Noam Chomsky, and David Brooks have in common? They all have shown up in recent weeks in emails, photos, documents or the files released starting Dec. 19 under the Epstein Files Transparency Act in connection with Jeffrey Epstein. There is no allegation of wrongdoing in what has been released. But being in the Epstein files is not good PR. The Justice Department first released thousands of pages from its investigation into Epstein, the alleged pedophile and sex trafficker; then if said it found 1 million more documents. Epstein died in jail in 2019 after he was indicted, escaping prosecution. Maxwell, a friend of his who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021, is serving a 20-year sentence. Epsteins estate has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to more than 200 survivors of sex abuse and trafficking, according to media reports. Other estimates say there may have been as many as 1,000 victims. They lobbied for release of the files. References to and photos of well-known people in the files were not in context and were undated. The files do not suggest any of them were guilty of anything. But what were they doing with Epstein? Former President Clinton was pictured in several images in a hot tub and swimming in a pool. He also posed with Maxwell and other well-known people connected to Epstein. In the weeks leading up to release of the files, there was speculation that photos of and references to Trump and Epstein together would be few, and others, like Clinton and Epstein together might be more plentiful. Once the files were released, Clinton had the strongest PR pushback, with his spokesperson saying the photographs were more than 20 years old and that Clinton ended his friendship with Epstein when crimes emerged. There are two types of people here, the spokesperson said. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. Were in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. She said Clinton wanted the release of all Epstein files related to him, adding that the DOJ was selectively releasing documents to imply wrongdoing where there is none. "We call on President Trump to direct Attorney General Bondi to immediately release any remaining materials referring to, mentioning, or containing a photograph of Bill Clinton," she added. "The White House hasn't been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton. This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they'll try and hide forever. So, they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be." Summers, the former president of Harvard and Clintons Treasury Secretary, meanwhile, is one of the few high-profile people who has stepped back from public life after an Epstein relationship emerged. Prince Andrew is another, having his title stripped by King Charles. The release of the files culminated weeks of back and forth and comments by Trump, Bondi, Congress, Democrats, and Epstein victims and their families. The records, did, however, contain hundreds of references to Trump. Many are mentions from media reports, but some were more focused on Trump, once a friend of Epsteins. They also contained two subpoenas sent to Mar-a-Lago, where, he once said, Epstein hired away an employee. Epstein mania 2.0 has seen Trump calling MAGA supporters gullible weaklings for believing a radical left hoax that the government withheld Epstein files, and he said Democrats created the files. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein or Maxwell. The DOJ said some of the new material contained false accusations, without specifying which ones it believed were untrue. The files also disclosed that after federal agents arrested Epstein in 2019, they were also apparently trying to contact about 10 people they called potential co-conspirators, according to a redacted email exchange. Trump himself denied any knowledge of Epstein's alleged crimes and said at the time of Epstein's arrest that they hadn't spoken in 15 years; he has also spoken about kicking Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago. All of this from someone who has been featured in pictures and videos with Epstein, and who has been found civilly liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump appealed both Carroll verdicts. Yet Trump seems somehow impervious to any sexual-related PR crisis starting with the NBC grab them by the pussy tape in 2016. So far, the PR winners in the Epstein saga are the victims and members of Congress who pushed for release of the files. Clinton does not look all that good, and Trump and his DOJ look bad for stonewalling their release until forced to by law and public opinion. Getting to the bottom of all this is going to take a while. It will be up to the media, Epstein victims, Congress, the public, and perhaps a special master to review the documents, or a special prosecutor to investigate and figure out what the files truly mean. Naturally, there will continue to be a lot of political maneuvering and PR spin. *** Andrew Blum of AJB Communications is a PR consultant and media trainer who has directed proactive and crisis PR for a wide range of clients and issues, and has done PR for more than 40 authors, professional and financial services firms, NGOs, startups and PR agencies. email: [email protected] or X: @ajbcomms If you'd like to be a featured author on O'Dwyer's, please feel free to reach out to publisher John O'Dwyer at [email protected]. COLOMBO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Port of Colombo recorded its highest container throughput on record in 2025, handling 8.29 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The figure exceeds the 7.79 million TEUs processed in 2024 and consolidates Colombo's position as South Asia's leading container hub. The year-on-year growth was achieved amid volatility in global shipping and trade flows. According to SLPA, the performance was driven by contributions from all terminals operating within the port. Facilities managed by the SLPA continued to handle a substantial share of volumes, supporting both mainline services and feeder operations. Colombo International Container Terminals sustained its role as a deep-water terminal serving ultra-large container vessels, supported by stable berth productivity and yard efficiency. South Asia Gateway Terminals provided consistent services for regional and transshipment cargo, while progress at the Colombo West International Terminal contributed to capacity expansion efforts underway at the port. Colombo's evolution as a modern port dates back to the late 19th century, when construction of the first permanent breakwater transformed the harbour into a sheltered deep-water facility capable of year-round operations. Not a Subscriber? Join O'Dwyer's & Get RFP Access Stop wasting time tracking down RFPs. O'Dwyer's connects you with organizations looking for PR firms & services. Get new business with O'Dwyer's! Join O'Dwyer's Met Eireann has issued Snow and Ice Warnings for Ireland with temperatures to set plummet as a blast of winter weather hits the country. All of the country has been hit with an Ice Warning while a number of areas are also at risk of significant snowfalls. A Status Yellow Snow-Ice warning for Donegal warns that there will be wintry showers with some snow accumulations. This warning is valid from 8pm on Friday until 11am on Saturday. Met Eireann is warning of hazardous travel conditions and poor visibility. A Status Yellow Low Temperature/Ice warning for has been issued for Munster, Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. Met Eireann is warning of temperatures falling to between -2 and -4 degrees in many areas with sharp or severe frost and icy stretches leading to hazardous travel conditions. This warning is from 6pm on Saturday until 11am on Sunday. There is also a Status Yellow Snow-Ice warning for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Connacht and Louth. This warns that there will be wintry showers with some snow accumulations. This warning is valid from 6pm on Saturday until 11am on Sunday. Met Eireann is warning of hazardous travel conditions and poor visibility. There is also a Yellow Snow and Ice Warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry issued by the UK Met Office Weather Warning which warns that wintry showers will become more widespread, bringing some disruption to travel from 3pm on Friday until noon on Saturday. "THE Greater Birr Wind Action Group", recently formed to fight the proposed development of a Wind Farm south of Birr, issued a statement during the Christmas period pointing out a number of reasons why it is opposed to the proposed Ballincor Wind Farm. In recent years the Birr area has become a focal point for international wind developers, with seven wind farms totalling 72 industrial turbines already granted permission or operating around the town. The Ballincor Wind farm, in the Sharavogue area, will entail the construction of 11 mega turbines. The group's statement said it would be wrong to think of Ballincor Wind Farm as a minor issue involving just a small number of landowners and residents in one rural pocket of Offaly; as being just an isolated intervention with contained impacts. It is in fact, they said, a large-scale industrial energy project which will impact the wider Birr hinterland, including roads, ecosystems and communities; therefore we should be paying attention. The Group points out that an 11-turbine wind farm is not simply a collection of turbines placed quietly in fields. It is in fact a major civil engineering project, involving extensive ground excavation, kilometres of internal roads, crane hardstands, deep concrete foundations, drainage works, cabling trenches, substations and compounds. The construction phase typically lasts up to 18 months, sometimes longer. Independent estimates based on Irish Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIARs) suggest that a development of this scale typically involves the excavation and re-handling of over 250,000 tonnes of peat and mineral material, alongside the importation of more than 120,000 tonnes of construction materials stone, concrete, steel and turbine components. These are conservative estimates, remarks the Group statement. All of this material must be moved, and almost all of it is transported by heavy goods vehicles, which translates into thousands of HGV movements on public roads, impacting residents commuting to work, parents on school runs, farmers moving livestock and local businesses relying on access. The Group says that Wind Farm works of this nature typically result in road closures, delays, mud and debris on road surfaces, noise, vibration and increased safety risks. The Ballincor Wind Farm will be very near the Sharavogue Bog Special Area of Conservation (SAC) a protected European site. Peatlands are not inert landscapes; the statement continues, they are living hydrological systems that regulate water flow, store vast quantities of carbon and support specialised plant and animal species. Disturbance through excavation, drainage and compaction can have far-reaching effects, including altered water tables, habitat degradation and increased flood risk not just at the immediate site, but downstream. The Ballincor area also forms part of a broader ecological network used by birds, bats and other wildlife, many of which are protected under EU Directives and are of national conservation concern. While EIARs often conclude that impacts can be 'mitigated', mitigation is typically developer-led and dependent on trust rather than independent verification. Recent commentary at EU level has highlighted concerns that many EIARs are overly desk based, rely on minimal on-site survey days spread over several years, and lack independent verification. Michael McNamara, a Co Clare MEP, challenged the Irish Government's wind energy strategy in the EU Parliament last week. He described the environmental subterfuge going on in Ireland where huge developers submit an environmental impact assessment report which is often cut and pasted from another report designed for a development in another part of the country. The sloppiness and disregard for the authenticity of even the report should spark controversy and concern. For communities, this raises two fundamental questions: are decisions being made on robust evidence or on optimistic assumptions designed to facilitate consent? When developers promise mitigation and investment in an effort to reduce risk, are communities expected to take developers at their word? The Group pointed out that as well as construction and ecology the visual impact of the Ballincor proposal is of regional significance. The proposed turbines would reach approximately 185 metres (600 feet) from ground to blade tip, with blade diameters approaching 160 metres; equivalent to a 60-storey building or 70% of the height of the Eiffel Tower. These are not subtle structures, the statement continued. They are industrial landmarks that will dominate the landscape for decades; visible from miles away, including from Birr, Shinrone, Riverstown and surrounding areas, where ground levels vary only marginally from the turbine base elevations. The statement added that, over time, turbine scale has increased dramatically as developers seek greater output and profit, often at the expense of landscape character and visual amenity. Loss of landscape quality is not a private issue. It affects tourism, recreation, heritage value and the identity of the wider region. It also raises a broader question: who benefits and who bears the cost? Large-scale wind-farm developments in Ireland are typically owned by external developers or investment funds. Profits flow outward, while community benefit funds, where offered, are modest, discretionary and time-limited. Meanwhile, visual dominance, construction disruption, noise, traffic and environmental risk are borne locally and regionally. Perhaps most importantly, Ballincor is not just about Ballincor. It sets a precedent. If a development of this scale proceeds adjacent to a protected bog, with significant construction impacts and reliance on developer-led mitigation, it shapes expectations for future proposals elsewhere in the region. Planning decisions accumulate, and each one alters the baseline against which the next is judged. None of this is an argument against renewable energy. Climate action is essential. But climate action that undermines environmental protection, landscape value, community trust and regional infrastructure is not sustainable. This is why the Greater Birr Wind Action Group is encouraging people across the region to engage, ask questions and inform themselves. An 11 turbine windfarm application will be submitted by RWE in the coming weeks. If you are interested, want to help, or want to know more, join the Greater Birr Wind Action Group on Facebook which is updated regularly. A public information evening will be held in early January in advance of the expected RWE submission for the Ballincor development. This is not just one wind farm and its consequences will not be confined to one place. READ NEXT: Offaly Councillors call for HSE to examine health effects of Wind Farms He did not set his heart to seek God. II Chronicles 12:14 When a leader sins, the name of Heaven is profaned. Babylonian Talmud Yoma 86:a How can Trump do the most harm? By breaking laws, or behaving as if societal norms simply don't matter? Jewish Scriptures, which serve as the theological foundation for Christianity and Islam, suggest that President Donald Trump is comparable to some of the Torah's most memorable leaders - especially several of the kings who ruled over the ancient nation. Lest Trump pleasure in this, this comparison does not reflect praise for the current Commander-in-Chief of the United States, though he undoubtedly would appreciate being mentioned in the same breath as powerful biblical figures. For example, one of them, Saul, the first king of Israel. As history proved, he was judged by G-d to be unfit - too impetuous, too selfish - to serve as king; G-d eventually removed the throne from him. More comparisons may be made between Trump and such individuals as Jeroboam and Rehoboam, sons of King Solomon, whose own reigns as king ended in disgrace; and Korach, leader of the desert rebellion against G-d's selected agents, Moses and Aaron. These men of royalty in time fell from Divine favor; their reputations tarnished. They shared a common trait, one aspect of behavior that betrayed a weakness of character, a fatal flaw that removed them from positions of influence and ruined their legacies - that trait, which Trump shares to an unparalleled degree for a U.S. President, and is certain to leave his reputation in tatters: a contempt for precedent. All of them, the Torah figures and the U.S. President, failed to show respect - rather, they demonstrated blatant disrespect - for the actions that had come to be expected of a nation's highest leader. These kings did not honor precedents; they negated the tradition of obeying customs - those, if not encoded in laws or judicial rulings - that had guided their predecessors. They behaved, technically, within the letter of the law, but violated its intent and spirit. In this vein, Trump's repeated actions have conveyed the message that accepted precedent can be cavalierly disregarded if it stands in the way of one's agenda. A master of plausible deniability, Trump is on firm legal ground in doing this - he does not face impeachment for being a breaker of precedent. Trump recognizes no binding precedents. His tacit assertion: anything that is not explicitly forbidden is permitted, and that "He who saves his country does not violate any law" - a self-serving, myopic attitude that finds no basis in U.S. law or the Constitution, and is sure to end in failure. While the discredited kings of Israel tested G-d's patience, Trump tests the nation's. His MO: by skirting the boundaries of actions that are sanctioned by law, by the Constitution, or by various courts (essentially by thwarting the intention of established legal-political practices and norms of personal behavior), Trump has followed a constant path of behavior. While not outright engaging in constant illegal, unconstitutional, forbidden-by-the-courts actions, he has flouted normative patterns of action, shown contempt for the behavior of previous Presidents, and made clear, that in constantly stalling, bullying and resorting to countless judicial appeals, he considers himself the ultimate arbiter of what is permitted. Just as rebellious Jewish leaders in the era of the Torah paid no attention to G-d or to His prophets - Trump is setting himself above precedent, the national legislature, and the nation's court system. While he presumptuously ignores precedents, he lessens his office's reputation at home and his nation's respect abroad. This is Trump's ultimate shortcoming. Though he sometimes steps over the line of proven illegality, paying no attention to legislative enactments or to court rulings, he has done something more risky to the health of the republic - he has established a culture that regards laws and the Constitution and decisions of various judiciaries as permeable, carrying no more strength than the paper, or parchment, on which they are written. This attitude of hubris permeates downward, empowering a culture of disrespect for tradition; in this Weltanschauung, only unfettered power matters. He essentially does not necessarily break or abrogate precedents - he simply acts as if they do not exist, or do not apply to him. Who's gonna stop me? I make the rules! As King Louis XIV apocryphally said, "I am the state." A familiar path for someone who recognizes no power stronger than his. To paraphrase Lewis Carroll's Humpty Dumpty, the words of a legislative body or of a court's judge mean exactly what he says they mean. In religious terms, Trump, in his secular milieu, has disregarded the concept of minhag Yisroel k'halacha, the customs of the Jewish people rising to the level of mandatory Jewish law. This applies to the wellbeing of any nation. In other words, Trump, and the like-minded members of his administration, have repeatedly ignored accepted ways of governing, and of enforcing the legislation that have prevailed in this country for centuries - and he shows that these precedents have become meaningless and ineffectual. Precedent plays an important part in the country's political life; the framers of the Constitution recognized that not every eventuality in the country's future could be predicted, and they provided the U.S. with a framework for the executive branch to exercise its power with a degree of flexibility, including an implied respect for the precedents of earlier Presidents, and for abiding by the principle of the country's enlightened self-interest. Following George Washington's limit of his time in office to two elected terms, no term limit existed in legislation; Presidents who came after Washington abided by this precedent - until FDR ran, and won, four times; which prompted the adoption of the 22nd Amendment, which formally limits a President to two terms in office. At that point, minhag became halacha, the weight of political legitimacy making a custom functionally, then officially, binding. Trump has followed the spirit of FDR's precedent-shattering action. Trump, of course, has talked of finding a way to subvert the terms of this Amendment. In a like manner, G-d gave members of the Jewish nation that came out of Egypt three millennia ago many guidelines, as well as the ability, over the centuries, to establish new customs when circumstances dictated, even if there is no explicit written source. Both systems depend on unwritten, inherited norms - neither the Torah nor the Constitution could anticipate every crisis, every nuance, every challenge, that might arise. Traditional Judaism places great importance on the value of minhag (Berachot 45a, Eruvin 21b, Menachot 20:b), and on the severity of devaluing its significance and its binding influence on the Jewish people. In fact, one prominent 13th-century commentator, the Rosh, stated (Pesachim 4:3) that a practice accepted by the community is like a vow (neder). The customs that G-d gave the people the power to institute - and once instituted, to perpetuate -- are not minor. They include such taken-for-granted practices as adding a second day of yom tov in the Diaspora, chanting Kol Nidrei on the evening of Yom Kippur, and waiting between meat and dairy meals. This concept does not mandate that any behavior adopted by the Jewish people can automatically become as-commanded and normative - such acts, which are not stated explicitly in the Torah, cannot contradict Torah prohibitions or undermine moral foundations; they must be long-standing, widely and collectively accepted and practiced consistently by a recognized community. Their authority come from continuity and shared trust. If they meet these conditions, innovative customs achieve permanence. In other words, practice creates obligation. Ongoing, unchallenged acceptance of precedents - those that align with constitutional values, and reinforce the separation of powers -- results in behavior that comes to be treated as obligatory instead of optional. Unless, like Trump, a leader rejects precedent. In the political system of the United States, with its centuries-old system of checks and balances, designed to prevent any branch of government from obtaining the level of power commonly found in autocracies, precedent is the secular equivalent of minhag, customs that begin among the people and come to be widely accepted en masse. In the U.S., this type of precedent is largely the purview of the leadership class - and this is the type of precedent that Trump scorns. The secular equivalent in the U.S. government is stare decisis (Latin for "to stand by things decided"), which, strictly speaking, refers to one court accepting another court's precedent-creating decision, which ensures consistency in interpreting law. But it extends to the executive and legislative branches, which accord a similar level of respect to traditions within their own chambers abrogating a form of stare decisis undermines trust in legal predictability as well as respect for leadership, weakening stability and inviting abuse. Judaism offers a large corpus of rabbinical interpretations and prescriptions that put this elasticity into practice, including the comprehensive Shulchan Aruch (the Code of Jewish Law); for the U.S., there are legislation enactions and executive actions. Both systems recognize the vital role that precedent plays. Trump does not. He is, of course, not a Jew - the opinions of Shulchan Aruch do not concern or influence him; but their insights have universal application, in religious or secular settings. This is Trump's sin. He clearly fails to respect the people. Or G-d. Or common decency. Precedent be damned! In acting like this, the President loses his moral authority. In a Jewish context, the power of precedent stems primarily from amcha, the people. In a secular context, precedent is determined primarily by the actions of the elite, the leaders of the various branches of government. In the former, the offence is individual; in the latter, communal. In the former, the lone breaker of precedent is punished; in the latter, the community. Jewish history suggests that it is the men at the highest level of leadership -- who are held to the highest level of accountability -- are the people who bear the most responsibility for showing respect for precedent. The record of men whom the Torah and subsequent Torah scholars consider failures in leadership positions indicates that a flagrant disregard for the guidance of preceding leaders or extant legislation - in the U.S., that would be previous Chief Executives, Congress, and the Supreme Court - ranks with, or arguably ahead of, outright criminality. In other words, the Torah perspective shows, a leader is condemned not only for the laws he breaks, but for his presumptuous attitude about what came before him, about the precedent of earlier leaders, which he considers disposable. For context -- Saul's sin: while defeating the troops of Agag, the king of Amalek, Saul, for the sake of popularity, allowed the king and the king's prime livestock to live (I Samuel 15), putting his pity on the king before G-d's demand for justice; eventually, villainous Haman, Agag's descendant, tried to commit genocide against the Jews of Persia. Saul did not suffer Divine punishment immediately, but G-d withdrew His spirit from Saul, who eventually lost the monarchy to David. Rehoboam's sin (I Kings 12): he rejected the counsel of the country's elders, who reminded him of the requirement for him to rule as a servant leader; he rejected this overriding precedent; he accepted advice only from people who proved their personal loyalty to him; eventually, the united Jewish kingdom became divided. Jeroboam's sin: against the advice of some prophets, following "his own heart" (I Kings 12-13), he created shrines that were nor ordered by G-d in order to consolidate his power; this behavior doomed his dynasty, including the death of his righteous son Aviyah. Then there is the case of King David, who, bucking tradition, ordered a census of the nation (II Samuel 24), which indicated a belief in numerical strength rather than Divine protection. In response, G-d sent a plague; David confessed his error, but his status was diminished in the people's eyes. Because he repented, and accepted G-d's sovereignty, David did not lose his kingship. And Korach, a greedy member of the tribe of Levi? Seeking power, he surrounded himself with people who were loyal to him; then, to expand his wider support while confronting Moses and Aaron, he sanctimoniously lauded the holiness of "all the people" (Numbers 16:3), whom he sought to persuade to rebel against G-d's chosen prophets. While Korach did not obliquely break any Torah commandments, he questioned the very legitimacy of Torah, and of G-d's sovereignty; publicly discredited, he was swallowed by the earth, and many of his rebellious supporters died at G-d's hand. Or Uzziah (aka Azariah), a king of Judah who tried to usurp the duties of the Priests? Contrary to their protests, he entered the Holy Temple to offer incense (II Chronicles 26), which was their prerogative. For violating this institutional boundary, he was struck immediately with biblical leprosy, but continued to serve on the throne. Different consequences for different sins. Consider some other more-contemporary leaders upon whom history now frowns " Said Lenin, "The dictatorship of the proletariat is nothing but power based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws." Said Stalin, in a discussion with Churchill about the future of Eastern Europe near the end of World War II, cautioned by the British leader to consider the views of the Vatican, "How many divisions [of troops] does the Pope have?" Said - supposedly -- President Andrew Jackson, in defiance of a Supreme Court ruling that protected Native American tribes, "[Justice John] Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." A common theme: Might gives right. A belief that Judaism does not share - piety confers right. That is why chazal, the Jewish sages, criticized, and G-d punished (often in a delayed manner, to expose the extent of the sinner's sin or give the sinner a chance to repent), the violators of precedent to an equal, or greater, degree than individuals who chose to break the laws of society. The severe penalty for ignoring accepted tradition, while not clearly breaking a law or ignoring the decision of a court, seems counter-intuitive - isn't the outright violation of legislation or the Constitution a more serious, more dangerous grievance? But chazal do not see it that way; they look at the long-range, society-wide effect of a leader's nefarious actions, which dissolves a society's authority structure and causes legality to be manufactured, rather than transmitted. When this happens, law, whether secular or religious, becomes an instrument of governance, not truth. In Jewish terms, the legitimacy of mesora, received tradition, becomes subsumed by koach, power, replacing consensus with coercion, repressing dissent, making law a relative rather than an absolute value. Hence, Jewish tradition, which accords great strength to established-and-accepted customs, would regard Trump's flouting of precedent, while serving as a country's leader, as a particularly egregious behavior. The Shulchan Aruch (214, 242) makes this clear - it states the conditions in which minhag becomes binding halacha (Jewish law), and it emphasizes that respect for rabbinic authority includes a rabbi's deference to the people's established practice. But chazal cautioned against each generation creating its own customs, fearing that that practice would corrupt the immutable nature of Torah, redefining holy writ to meet the generation's distinct needs. In other words, the reach of minhag has its limits. Are the secular minhagim, the non-binding actions of previous Presidents, tantamount to incumbent behavior that subsequent Presidents have to automatically follow? Obviously, no. The President inherits great discretion about what power he can unilaterally exert. But previous Presidents who established the precedent of doing things like releasing their tax records, or dispatching the National Guard only when public safety was clearly at stake, prioritized what was good for the national interest, demonstrating a willingness to sacrifice that President's short-term desires or political gain in order to foster respect among the people who had elected them. For example... It's not the end of the world if a vainglorious President pressures his toadies at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to add his name to the institution's title, above that of his assassinated predecessor. But it sends a message - that the legislation establishing the Center, specifying that only an act of Congress could change the name, can be overruled by fiat and ego. I can do what I want! Thus, it's no surprise that the President would throw his political weight around to put his name on one of the government's most important cultural institutions. That's his established MO - a precedent he does respect. It's a symbol of his limited mindset. Similarly, it's not a law that the President should treat journalists with respect, or not use his power as a cudgel with which to control or threaten the media, but a President who does this risks endangering or lessening his influence. Along these lines, it's not written-in-stone (or in the Constitution): - that the Department of Justice should cease to operate independently of the White House. - that a candidate for the presidency should take part in his party's public debates. - that a President should ensure a peaceful transition to the administration of his successor. - that a two-term President should not discuss serving a Constitution-barred third term. - that a President should use his power of the pardon judiciously. - that a President must accept membership in NATO. - that a President demand that a foreign country surrender its valuable minerals in order to get U.S. aid. - that a President usurp Congress' budget-making power. - that a President should put his business assets in a blind trust. - that a President should not belittle foreign leaders in public settings. - that a President should not declare a national emergency to enforce his emigration policies. - that a President should not arbitrarily state that a state of war exists without Congress' input. - that a President should not make ad hominem attacks on judges or members of Congress. - that a President should not pressure states to engage in open gerrymandering to favor his party. - that a President should minimize appointing members of his family to important government positions. Trump has arrogantly violated all these norms, breaking not (necessarily) laws, but good-faith precedents. At some point, the ignoring of precedent crosses the line from style into substance, and Trump's style recreates the government in his image. In other words, minhag becomes halacha. The danger: by paying no attention to (or reinterpreting, to his advantage) what earlier administrations had done, by ignoring the past, Trump is putting the country's future in jeopardy. He sets a tone for the nation: that a people's accepted customs can be breezily set aside by elected officials - and unelected appointees - who, unchallenged unless a referendum removes them from office and the voting public turns against them in the next plebiscite, can work to continue their positions of power. And that people who hold leadership positions can; unchallenged, consider established practices disposable for a moment's gain of ego or pocketbook or accumulation of power. Chazal warned, and history has shown, that a society can survive broken laws, but it cannot overcome broken norms. Lest Trump think - assuming that he doesn't seek a third term as President - that, as he has openly wished, that he will be succeeded in the Oval Office, or as leader of the MAGA movement, by one of his sons, or by his Vice President or Secretary-of-State, consider this precedent: Jeroboam, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was succeeded on the throne by his son Nadab, who was assassinated two years into his reign; and no son of Rehoboam, ruler of the Southern Kingdom (Judah), ever became king over a unified Kingdom of Israel. WASHINGTON, DC - The Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival (WSFF) today announced the release of comprehensive new panel submission guidelines, opening the door for advocacy organizations and community groups to propose engaging panel presentations for the upcoming festival. The enhanced guidelines represent a significant step forward in creating a more accessible and transparent submission process while maintaining the festival's commitment to amplifying whistleblower voices and advancing accountability. The newly released guidelines provide detailed information on panel requirements, submission materials, and the review process. Panels must feature three to five panelists engaged in whistleblower advocacy work, with presentations limited to 50 minutes to ensure dynamic, focused discussions. The guidelines emphasize the festival's exclusive focus on advocacy panels-- bringing together whistleblowers actively involved in advocacy or community advocates who support and empower those who speak truth to power. "These enhanced guidelines reflect our commitment to creating a platform where the whistleblower advocacy community can share experiences, strategies, and insights," said Michael McCray, Managing Director, of the Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival. "We want to make it as clear and straightforward as possible for organizations to submit compelling panel proposals that will educate, inspire, and mobilize attendees around critical issues of transparency and accountability." The comprehensive submission package requires organizations to provide panel descriptions, panelist biographies, professional headshots, and a marketing plan outlining how they will promote both their panel and the festival. Each submission undergoes careful review by the WSFF host committee, which evaluates proposals based on relevance to whistleblower advocacy, panelist expertise, potential impact, and overall contribution to a diverse and balanced festival program. Key features of the new submission guidelines include detailed explanations of each required component, clear word limits and technical specifications, information about the panel review process, and guidance on creating effective panel descriptions and marketing plans. The guidelines are designed to support submitters through every step of the process while ensuring the festival maintains the highest standards of programming quality. "Whistleblowers and their advocates are doing essential work to protect the public interest, often at great personal cost," added Marcel Reid, Festival Director. "The WSFF exists to shine a light on these critical voices and create space for meaningful dialogue about how we can better support those who courageously challenge wrongdoing. We're excited to see the innovative and impactful panel proposals that will emerge from this submission process." Organizations and advocacy groups interested in submitting panel proposals are encouraged to review the complete submission guidelines at https://forms.gle/M7meSnYvtHiLoExd9 Submissions will be accepted through May 1, 2026, with selected panels notified by June 10, 2026. The Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival is dedicated to amplifying the voices of whistleblowers and the advocates who support them. Through panel discussions, film screenings, and community engagement, the WSFF champions those who courageously speak truth to power and work to protect the public interest. The festival creates a platform for meaningful dialogue, shared experiences, and collective action in the whistleblower advocacy community, bringing together experts, activists, policymakers, and concerned citizens to advance transparency, accountability, and justice. Portland police have arrested a man suspected of stabbing and robbing a 77-year-old man Thursday morning in a restroom at a Southeast Portland grocery store. The Portland Police Bureau said officers responded to a report of a stabbing at a grocery store in the 3500 block of Southeast 122nd Avenue at about 10 a.m. There is a Safeway on that block. Police said the victim was transported to a hospital with serious knife wounds, but that his injuries dont appear to be life-threatening. Police used witness accounts and TriMet security footage to locate and arrest Christopher E. Woods, 51, of Portland about an hour and a half after the stabbing. Woods was booked on charges of assault and robbery in the first degree, police said. The suspect and victim did not appear to know each other, according to police. Woods was previously convicted of unlawful use of a weapon and attempt to commit assault in the first degree for the 2017 stabbing of a woman at the Lloyd Center/Northeast 11th Avenue MAX platform. He was sentenced to six years in prison. Police are continuing to investigate Thursdays stabbing and are encouraging anyone with information about the incident to e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attn: Major Crimes Unit, and reference case number 26-352. Detectives with the Washington County Sheriffs Office arrested a 36-year-old man on New Years Eve following allegations that he sexually assaulted one person and separately attempted to meet a minor for sex, officials said. Andrew Dwayne Graham, of Ridgefield, Wash., was booked into Washington County Jail on charges including sodomy, strangulation, online sexual corruption of a child and sexual solicitation. Detectives are looking more victims in the case. Washington County Sheriff's Office An adult on Monday reported meeting Graham on a dating app and then being sexually assaulted by him, the sheriffs office said in a statement. This led to detectives messaging Graham while posing as the alleged victim. During those chats, Graham expressed interest in meeting a child to pay for sex, the sheriffs office said. He also offered to bring alcohol and marijuana for the group. A specialized tactical police team arrested Graham on Wednesday in Washington Countys Metzger Park, where he allegedly believed he was meeting the original alleged victim and a minor with plans to take them to a nearby hotel, according to the sheriffs office. Officials said Graham is from Jamaica, has used the name Michael and has lived in Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Florida, as well as Washington. They believe there may be other victims and ask anyone who might have relevant information to call 503-846-2500. For more than a decade, Boriken was the Portland areas only full-time Puerto Rican restaurant, a brightly colored oasis of mondongo, mofongo and guava-stuffed pasteles on Southwest Canyon Road. Those days are now behind us, the Beaverton restaurant announced late last year, with rising food and labor costs to blame. Like many small businesses, we faced immense challenges during the pandemic, but we held on, fueled by our love for this place and for all of you, the restaurant wrote on social media. Despite our best efforts, the lasting impacts of COVID-19 have made it increasingly difficult to continue. When Boriken opened in 2014, customers would travel from as far afield as eastern Oregon or Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington for a taste of owners Awilda Medina Vazquez and Samuel Vazquez menu. There just wasnt any Puerto Rican restaurants in the area, Samuel Vazquez told The Oregonian/OregonLive at the time. Everybodys always expecting the food to be spicy. I always tell them, This is not Mexican food, its Puerto Rican food. Its not going to burn. While pop-ups, food carts and seasonal floating restaurants have occasionally opened with a handful of Puerto Rican dishes on their menus, Boriken was the only full-time Puerto Rican restaurant in the metro area and perhaps all of Oregon for the length of its run. Beyond its signature mofongos goblets of fried, mashed plantain cradling roast pork, chicken, steak, veggies or more Boriken was known for its salt cod fritters, arroz con pollo and mondongo, a hearty tripe stew. Police officers arrested an armed man near the Space Needle during Seattles New Years Eve celebration, the Seattle Police Department said Thursday. At about 7:20 p.m., officers responded to reports of a man holding a shotgun while sitting on a bench near the Pacific Science Center. He was facing the area where spectators were gathering for the fireworks display and holding the gun by the grip, causing alarm to witnesses, according to a news release. The 21-year-old man was carrying a shotgun, a pistol and multiple rounds of ammunition, according to the news release. He was wearing all black clothing and a red hat with WAR written on it. Officers recovered the shotgun and arrested the man, who cooperated with police. He had a valid concealed carry permit, according to the news release. Officers also found the suspects car nearby. Seattle Police Departments Arson Bomb Squad swept the car but did not find any potential weapons or explosives. The man was booked into the King County Jail for alleged unlawful use of weapons, and criminal charges have been referred to the city attorneys office. He was also issued a one-year trespass warning for the Seattle Center. 2026 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, issued a warning to President Donald Trump after he said the U.S. would intervene if the Tehran regime "violently kills peaceful protesters" in the demonstrations roiling the country. The message came after Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. would come to the "rescue" of protesters in such a scenario. "We are locked and loaded and ready to go," Trump added. Larijani, in turn, accused Washington and Israel of stoking protests without providing evidence. He added on X that "Trump should know that intervention by the U.S. in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests." "The people of the U.S. should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers," he added. Moreover, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that "any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut." "The people of Iran properly know the experience of 'being rescued' by Americans: from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza," he said in his own publication on X. At least seven people have died so far in the protests, the biggest since 2022. Sparked by the country's ailing economy, they have spread to rural provinces. AP News noted that the demonstrations have slowed in Tehran but expanded elsewhere. The outlet added that the most intense violence took place in Azna, some 185 miles southwest of Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has signaled willingness to negotiate with protesters but noted there's not much the country can to to stem the depreciation of the rial, of which 1.4 million now are needed to exchange for one dollar. Originally published on Latin Times MOSCOW, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Russian forces struck Ukrainian military-related targets in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian facilities over the past week, Russia's Defense Ministry said Friday. From Sunday to Friday, Russian forces conducted one large-scale strike and six coordinated group strikes using high-precision armaments, including the Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles, it said. The strikes neutralized a range of key targets across Ukraine, including military-industrial enterprises, energy facilities supporting their operations, and transport and port infrastructure backing the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the ministry said. The ministry further said that Russian forces downed a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 fighter aircraft this week, noting that six guided aerial bombs, two Grom tactical missiles, three U.S.-made HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, and 1,662 fixed-wing drones were also destroyed during the period. Oregons huge investments in addiction treatment beds began to pay off in 2025, when hundreds of new beds came online. A 74-bed Portland residential treatment center opened in July in what used to be a high-end hostel. In August, a 40-bed Oregon City youth treatment center that gives summer camp vibes opened. And Washington Countys new 48-bed Beaverton Recovery Center opened in October as part of a new treatment system there. The new facilities address a desperate need in Oregon by providing non-hospital treatment for people addicted to one or more substances who may also have a mental illness diagnosis. There is a separate goal for building safe places to go through withdrawal. But the residential beds fill a critical niche in addiction treatment: 24/7 long-term care until patients are stable enough to live more independently. What were really seeking to do is provide wrap-around care for people who fall through the cracks, said Aja Stoner, senior director for behavioral health at the new Portland facility. In all, 210 new substance use residential treatment beds were opened statewide in 2025. And at least 350 more have been funded and are set to open by the end of 2027, according to the Oregon Health Authority and the governors office. On top of existing resources, that will land the state just over halfway to its goal to have 3,774 addiction treatment beds by 2029. Much of the progress is due to a concentrated effort by Gov. Tina Kotek, who has made fixing the states tattered behavioral health system a top priority. Under her leadership, the Legislature gave bipartisan support to bills that allocated tens of millions in funding and the state health authority has disbursed it to residential addiction treatment projects, nearly all of which have had to find money from multiple sources to build the expensive new facilities. Staff members work in a office space at the 16 x Burnside Recovery Center in Southeast Portland. Mark Graves/The Oregonian It hasnt been easy. Oregons behavioral health system is pushing a boulder up a hill from past underfunding, inconsistent focus, and other entrenched issues that contribute to peoples health and wellness, Kotek wrote The Oregonian/OregonLive in an email. Kotek, a Democrat, is running for a second term in 2026. But despite her efforts and those of many state leaders and behavioral health advocates on both sides of the aisle, that boulder does not appear likely to crest the hill on schedule, according to Koteks behavioral health adviser, Amy Baker. She said Oregons progress will be slowed by the sluggish local economy and federal policy changes that are expected to reduce funding for mental health care. We have a couple other opportunities on the horizon, but were probably not going to hit that number, Baker said of the 3,774 goal. Oregon doesnt have enough beds Oregon has long been short of residential mental health care beds. Like much of the rest of the country, the state emptied its psychiatric hospitals in the 1960s and 70s with an eye to offering mental health care on an outpatient basis in the communities where people lived. That second system never materialized. State leaders failed to invest just as federal financial support waned. After the pandemic, the crisis accelerated. Fentanyl use was rampant, both as a stand-alone addiction and as a sneaky filler in other drugs. Treatment options were scarce and the states collective mental health was at a low point. 19 1 / 19 16 x Burnside Recovery Center 2025Mark Graves Three years later, Oregon still ranks dead last for its rate of mental illness, including substance use disorder, according to Mental Health Americas 2025 report. In Oregon, 30% of adults said they experienced some level of mental illness in the past year. And yet, the same report places Oregon seventh in its ranking of access to care, a jump from 19th in 2022. Rankings, of course, are relative. Oregon has the 13th lowest percentage of people with substance use disorder who need but do not receive treatment, according to the 2025 report. However, the details behind that relatively positive ranking are discouraging: Three-quarters of Oregonians who need treatment dont get it. Sadly, thats two percentage points better than the national average. California ranks last, at 82%. Still, Oregon leaders are finally investing in solutions. And despite evidence that statewide systems for responding to mental health crises and funding substance use recovery remain deeply fractured, progress has been made. But now, federal support is again on the downturn. President Donald Trumps cuts to Medicaid funding that are expected to go into effect in 2027 make meeting the ambitious targets to revamp the states mental health care system seem unlikely, Baker said. While the new facilities will be mostly built by then, there may not be enough money to pay medical staff without sufficient Medicaid reimbursements. State health officials have warned that the new federal mandates could strip coverage from as many as 200,000 Oregonians. The ability to sustain ongoing operations given what the federal government is doing to Medicaid is very worrisome, Baker said. Of particular concern to her is the late 2026 requirement that people qualify for Medicaid every six months, rather than every two years as Oregonians do now. Its hard to build a treatment service continuum. It is very hard if people are going to keep falling on and off Medicaid. Andy Mendenhall, executive director of Central City Concern, said that despite the political headwinds, the work must continue. As it is, he said, too many people are left without the treatment they so badly need, adding to the areas homelessness crisis and overburdening the regions health care system. Thousands need more treatment In 2024, nearly 7,000 people in the tri-county area had some combination of at least two of the following: a meth addiction, a fentanyl addiction or psychosis. Thats according to data from Health Share, which provides insurance for the vast majority of Medicaid-covered patients in the region. Another nearly 20,000 people had just one of those three conditions, according to Health Share. As a group, the people with any of these disorders made up just 9% of everyone on Medicaid that Health Share served in 2024. And yet, they accounted for 29% of the costs and 39% of the hospital admissions that year. Were basically paying for the complications of under-treated, under-managed substance use and homelessness, Mendenhall said. Mendenhalls organization, Central City Concern, is the larger nonprofit behind the new Portland addiction treatment facility known as 16 x Burnside Recovery Center that opened this summer. Stoner and Sarah Spofford, who co-lead 16 x Burnside had been looking for a location for the new facility for almost a year when they got the call from their real estate agent to come see a hostel that was in foreclosure on Southeast 16th Avenue and East Burnside. The cafeteria and lobby area at the 16 x Burnside Recovery Center in Southeast Portland includes tables, chairs and natural light. Mark Graves/The Oregonian Both had worked at Hooper Detoxification Stabilization Center, a Northeast Portland facility also run by Central City Concern, and knew their patients there needed more help if they were going to be successful. They kept seeing people come to Hooper, complete the painful detox process, then land back on the street or in an independent housing unit they were not prepared to maintain. Theyd often cycle back through Hooper again and again with the same result, Stoner said. In 2021, they conducted a survey. About 56% of their Hooper patients needed and requested residential services at discharge. But they were only able to place about 17% of that group in a residential program. Of the people who got denied, about a quarter were too sick for the existing supportive housing programs, but too well for hospital level care. They got the go-ahead from Central City Concern to design a program they thought would fill the gap and then, eventually, found money for it, including about $13 million from the state. One of the great victories of 16 x Burnside, said Mendenhall, is that it was purpose built in partnership with funding from the state, the governors office, Oregon Health Authority, Health Share, CareOregon, Multnomah County and Portland to specifically address people with severe mental illness and substance use disorder. But Stoner and Spofford still needed to find a place to build it, preferably in a central location, close to public transportation and other services. When they walked into the former hostel, they knew they were in the right place. There was a commercial kitchen for preparing meals. The tables and chairs in the former restaurant area could become the dining room. The rooms all came with their own bathrooms and sinks, making them perfect private spaces for people in recovery from both substance use and the trauma of homelessness to get used to living independently again. There were even usable mattresses in most rooms. It was like a fire sale, said Laura Recko, a Central City Concern spokesperson. Everything was still here dishes, food. There were even cornhole things in the hallway. Ryan B., a cook with Central City Concern, stands in the kitchen at the 16 x Burnside Recovery Center in Southeast Portland on May 28, 2025. The facility includes an on-site commercial kitchen to support residents during their stay in the 74-bed treatment program. Mark Graves/The Oregonian Moreover, there were plenty of community spaces for both residents and staff. Sometimes, one of the biggest issues with subsidized housing, especially for people who have been homeless like most of Stoner and Spoffords patients, is the isolation. And staff, who work with people who have incredibly challenging needs, also need space at work to decompress. For that, Stoner and Spofford chose the upper floor and gorgeous rooftop deck. New facility, but staffing struggles Stoner and Spofford designed 16 x Burnside to serve people who also have mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and psychosis. The recovery path is long, said Stoner, who explained most of their patients also need help to regain daily living skills, like grocery shopping and budgeting. The skills training and the stability, she said, it takes a while to gain that and then sustain that. Since 16 x Burnside opened, it has served 135 patients and it is not yet at full capacity. As part of a planned ramp up, Stoner expects all 74 beds to be staffed and filled by the end of January. To get there they need 68 full time staff members, a total they had not quite reached by mid-December. The biggest challenge, she said, has been finding qualified technical assistants to work the overnight shifts necessary to provide round-the-clock care. Indeed, the states behavioral health workforce is currently too small to sufficiently staff even the current system and needs to grow to realize the governors vision for a more functional mental and behavioral health system in Oregon. But for the leaders of the newly opened treatment facilities, it is a relief to be doing something for at least some of the people who need it. At Hooper, we take everyone, we love everyone, Stoner said. And now, they have 16 x Burnside to offer, she said, for people who need support, need to be seen, need to be heard and need to not be forgotten. 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Parenting never remains the same. Each year brings new questions, fresh research, and everyday moments that remind us how challenging and rewarding raising children can be. Over the past year, Parent Herald has shared stories, tips, and insights designed to help families feel a little more confident and less alone. This year-in-review looks back at some of the most important parenting topics we covered in 202the ones that sparked conversation, offered guidance, and reflected what really matters to parents today. A TikTok video involving a new mother in a hospital NICU drew strong reactions this year after she was filmed unplugging her baby's medical monitor to get a nurse's attention for food. In the video, the mom dismissed the alarm as unimportant and asked for a sandwich, prompting widespread concern from viewers who questioned her judgment and awareness of her newborn's fragile condition. The incident quickly went viral and sparked debate about hospital safety, social media boundaries, and parental responsibility during medical emergencies. Healthcare professionals later emphasized that NICU monitors are critical for tracking infants' vital signs and should never be turned off without medical guidance. After facing heavy backlash, the mom reportedly removed her TikTok account. A Wisconsin teenager was arrested far from home after authorities say his mother and stepfather were found dead during a welfare check at their home in the Village of Waukesha. Police stopped the teen late at night in WaKeeney, Kansas, after a traffic violation, and investigators said he was a person of interest. According to reports cited in the case, relatives and school officials grew worried after weeks of little contact and the teen's unexplained absence from classes, along with suspicious messages sent from the stepfather's phone. Prosecutors said the teen was found driving the stepfather's vehicle and was accused of taking a firearm. A California man accused of killing his two young children in 2021 remains unable to stand trial because he is still "incomprehensible," according to his attorneys, as the case nears another key court deadline. Court filings cited in the report say both sides have sought deadline extensions while treatment plans are reviewed, but the next hearing was set for Feb. 18, 2025, and the judge indicated there would be no further delays. The report also says federal records describe repeated self-harm attempts while the defendant is in custody, and that he has been kept under constant observation and medicated against his will. Prosecutors allege he drove from Santa Barbara to Mexico with his two children 2-year-old Kaleo and 10-month-old Roxy and killed them at a ranch in Baja California because of a delusional belief they had "serpent DNA"; their bodies were later found by a farmer, and the children's mother reported them missing before he was arrested at the U.S. border. In Sackets Harbor, New York, a mother and her three children were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and later transferred to the Karnes County Detention Facility in Texas, according to the New York Immigration Coalition. The family was not publicly identified, but advocates said one of the children is a third-grade student, and local school leaders said the children are students in the district. The detentions prompted public criticism from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and immigrant-rights advocates, while Sackets Harbor Central School District Superintendent Jennifer Gaffney called for the family's return. The New York Immigration Coalition said the family had been attending immigration court hearings, and school officials said agents were executing a warrant for someone else when the mother and children were taken into custody; ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and residents planned a local rally. A handwritten sign posted on a Pennsylvania school bus set off backlash and an official response this year after it told students, "Out of respect for English only students there will be NO speaking Spanish on this bus!" The message, attributed to "owner/management," circulated on social media and prompted the Juniata County School District to announce an investigation into what happened. Superintendent Christie L. Holderman said the district took "immediate and appropriate action" and apologized, adding that officials are committed to a safe and respectful environment for students. The district's transportation management partner, Rohrer Bus, said it did not authorize the sign and called its language contrary to the company's values, saying the transportation provider involved was suspended while the incident is investigated. A projected $700,000 budget shortfall in the Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian (BOLD) school district in rural Minnesota has triggered an official investigation after district leaders said they uncovered potential financial irregularities. Superintendent Jim Menton told the school board the deficit was tied to rising costs, payroll discrepancies, and unpaid bills that surfaced as the district reviewed its finances. District officials said some of the unpaid bills included a roughly $90,000 landscaping charge for work completed years earlier, and Olivia police confirmed they are investigating concerns raised by the district. A search warrant cited in reports described a "serious embezzlement/theft" allegation and listed about $11,528 in questionable purchases on a school-issued credit card, including spending at major retailers and restaurants. Teenagers in rural and regional Australia may be missing out on reliable contraception advice and access, a new study suggests, as doctors point to cost, distance, and limited local services as barriers that can contribute to higher rates of unintended pregnancy. Researchers interviewed 18 regional GPs across seven Victorian local government areas with above-average teenage pregnancy rates, and many said teens often have limited knowledge of options and face extra hurdles getting long-acting methods such as implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs). The findings also highlighted gaps inside general practice, including some doctors' uncertainty about whether IUDs are suitable for teenagers and the small number of GPs who routinely provide IUD insertion, prompting calls for better training and incentivesespecially in high-need regions. Authors and medical groups said making clinics feel safe for teens, normalizing contraception conversations, and supporting informed choices could improve care, as Australia continues to grapple with unintended pregnancy (reported as affecting one in four women, with higher rates in rural and younger groups) and as a federal funding package of more than $500 million aims to expand access to long-acting contraception and reduce out-of-pocket costs. Alabama lawmakers advanced a proposal that would require public K-12 schools to start each day with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer described as consistent with "Judeo-Christian" values, with supporters calling it a way to reinforce civic traditions and critics warning it crosses constitutional lines. The measure, House Bill 231, has moved through the House State Government Committee and was headed for debate in the full House, drawing renewed attention to how religion is handled in public schools. Under the bill, school systems that do not comply could face a penalty of losing 25% of their state fundingan outcome opponents said could cost large districts tens of millions of dollars each year, including an estimated $40 million for Birmingham City Schools. The proposal does not require students to participate, but it would require schools to host the prayer; sponsor Rep. Reed Ingram said the intent is to build patriotism, while critics argued the funding threat is excessive and the plan is likely to face legal challenges under the First Amendment. Calls to a national LGBTQ+ youth crisis hotline spiked in Ohio within hours of Gov. Mike DeWine signing House Bill 8 on Jan. 8, 2025, a law critics say could force schools to "out" students to their parents. The Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation reported receiving 579 calls from Ohio that day, compared with a monthly state average of 284 calls, according to a report cited by Parent Herald. Supporters describe H.B. 8 as a "Parents' Bill of Rights" that requires schools to notify parents before lessons involving "sexuality content" and to inform them about changes related to a student's mental, emotional, or physical health. Advocacy groups, including TransOhio and Equality Ohio, said the law could reduce safe spaces for vulnerable students, while DeWine and the Center for Christian Virtue defended it as keeping parents informed; the hotline also reported 82 calls from educators seeking guidance on how to comply. The law was expected to take effect in April. Two men were killed and another was injured in a New Years Day shooting in Philadelphia. The incident occurred at about 11:13 a.m. Thursday along the 7100 block of Oakland Street. Philadelphia police told NBC10 that one man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:55 a.m. Another was taken to a hospital by a private vehicle but was pronounced dead at 11:52 a.m. A third man is currently hospitalized but his condition is unknown at this time. According to 6ABC, the shooting started as the result of an argument. All of the parties involved knew each other and one of the victims stepdaughters was knocked unconcious before the gunfire began. Bullets hit a nearby parked car and the living room of a nearby home. We heard what initially sounded like fireworks, and then realized it was gunshots, and we heard a bunch of screaming to get help, somebody call 911, a neighor, Amy Smith, said to 6ABC. And I looked out my window and it was just extreme chaos. Police are investigating the incident but there is no word on if anyone has been charged yet. Auburn, N.Y. A 2-month-old has a fractured skull after the babys father threw a video game hard drive at the babys mother, Auburn police said. The infant also suffered a brain bleed, police said. The baby was hospitalized, Auburn police said in a news release issued Thursday. Jason L. Brown, 33, of Auburn, New York, faces five charges, including second-degree assault and criminal possession of a firearm. Police found three illegal firearms while searching his home, they said: a Taurus semi-automatic pistol with a loaded magazine and two AR-style rifles, police said. The incident began Tuesday when police responded to Auburn Community Hospital for a report of child abuse, officers said. They discovered the childs father had thrown the hard drive at his girlfriend, but hit their child, whom she was holding at the time, police said in the news release. The child was moved to Upstate University Hospital to treat severe injuries, police said. Police say Brown could face further charges. He has been transported to the Cayuga County Jail for arraignment. Philadelphia police say a man shot and killed his brother in the parking lot of a shopping center earlier this week. The shooting occurred at the Penrose Plaza Shopping Center on Wednesday evening. Philadelphia Police Inspector DF Pace told the Philadelphia Inquirer that when officers arrived at the scene at about 6:10 p.m., they found a 31 year-old-man with two gunshot wounds to his chest. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. The mans 38-year-old brother was taken into custody. Pace told news outlets that police believe the two, who were not identified, got into an argument about money prior to the shooting. UPMC hospital police on Friday charged a patient after an attack against a doctor and four officers in a mental health pod in downtown Harrisburg. Officers who work for the hospitals police department responded to a call for help about 7:49 a.m. Dec. 21 after Yaqub Yousef Nassir became extremely violent and tried to attack a doctor who was examining him in the pod inside the emergency department at 111 South Front Street. When the first two officers arrived, Nassir, 23, had retreated into his room, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed against Nassir. Two officers began an effort to deescalate the violent actions of the defendant, but Nassir attacked the officers, according to the affidavit. Two more officers arrived. The defendant violently punched and kicked all four officers about the head, chest and extremities, requiring all four to get medical attention, the affidavit said. Since Nassir was a patient, he was not arrested at the time. A UMPC lieutenant submitted the affidavit Friday asking for an arrest warrant. The magisterial district judge approved eight charges: four felony aggravated assault and four misdemeanor simple assault. He was not listed as in custody as of Friday afternoon. FRANKFURT, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The total private financial assets owned by German households in 2025 are estimated to be over 10 trillion euros (11.72 trillion U.S. dollars), a new record high, an economist with a German bank disclosed on Friday. According to preliminary calculations, Michael Stapple, an economist at DZ bank, estimated that the financial assets of German households will grow by around six percent to over 10.03 trillion euros for the first time in history. Historical data compiled by the bank showed that German household financial assets have been on the rise for years, given that the savings rate in Germany is known to be high in the world. Analysts said that economic uncertainty, job insecurity, and rising prices have caused many people in Germany to hold back on purchases and conserve their money. The savings rate in Germany stood at 10.3 percent in the first half of 2025, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). An increasing number of German households also opted to invest in stocks, which pushed the benchmark DAX index to historic highs in the past three years. According to DZ Bank, gains in the value of stocks and funds contributed significantly to the wealth accumulation of private households, amounting to 290 billion euros. Stapple predicted that the trend will continue in 2026 when private financial assets are expected to increase by five percent to 10.5 trillion euros. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollar) A violinist and former crew member for Will Smith is suing the acclaimed actor and rapper and his touring company, accusing them of wrongful termination and sexual harassment. Brian King Joseph, who toured with Smith in 2025, filed his lawsuit Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to ABC News. In the complaint, Joseph states that around March 20, while in Las Vegas, someone unlawfully entered his hotel room and left behind wipes, a beer bottle, an earring, a red backpack, HIV medication with another persons name, hospital discharge paperwork for someone Joseph didnt know and a note that said: Brian, Ill be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F. Joseph says he reported the matter to the hotel, the authorities and to Smiths team, expressing concern that someone might return to the hotel room and try to have sex with him. However, a few days afterward, Joseph said he was fired by one of Smiths representatives and accused of making the story up. Joseph also accused Smith in the complaint of deliberately grooming and priming [him] for further sexual exploitation, and that the rapper exhibited a pattern of predatory behavior. Joseph said he suffered PTSD and mental illness because of the firing. He is seeking a trial and compensatory damages, attorneys fees and other relief. Mr. Josephs allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless, Allen B. Grodsky, an attorney for Smith said in a statement. They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light. In a video posted to his Instagram account a week ago, Joseph vaguely alluded to the lawsuit. Earlier this year I was hired to be a performer on a major major tour with somebody who was huge in the industry, he said in the video. So I was excited, you know, proud of myself for getting the opportunity. Unfortunately some things happened. I cant get too into the details of exactly what that was because its already a legal issue right now, but the reason why Im speaking out about this is because getting fired or getting blamed or shamed or threatened or anything like that simply for reporting sexual misconduct or safety threats at work is not okay, he said. I know that theres a lot of other people out there who have been afraid to speak out, and I understand, and if thats you, I see you, he concluded. Popular comedian and actor John Mulrooney has died. He was 67. The Hollywood Reporter said that Mulrooney died suddenly on Monday at his home in Coxsackie, New York. Mulrooney was known for his work as a stand-up comedian, and he hosted Comic Strip Live on Fox. Im just stunned, Steve Van Zandt told the Albany Times-Union. To talk to somebody less than two weeks ago, and he had mentioned what he was dong for Christmas, and he was looking forward to 2026 because had a pretty full calendar. Its all so unexpected, he added. Its all sinking in. Mulrooney became a star in the Albany area via the radio in the late 1990s, per the Times-Union, when he began co-hosting a morning show at WPYX. And, in 2014, he began hosting Mulrooney in the Morning on iHeartRadio. Along with his time hosting Comic Strip Live, Mulrooney appeared on networks such as Showtime, HBO and Comedy Central. The Hollywood Reporter noted that he was a fill-in for Joan Rivers when she fired from Foxs Late Show in 1997, and also guest hosted The Pat Sajak Show on CBS. His list of acting credits included Ryder P.I., The Good Life, and Hardball. Aside from his work as a comedian and actor, the Hollywood Reporter noted that Mulrooney began working as a police officer with the Coxsackie Police Department in 2010 and worked there through 2024. Im in shock at the news that John Mulrooney passed away, Tim Tyrrell wrote on X. We met over thirty years ago at Mix 105 radio in New York City and instantly clicked. Through the years, we have done shows for iHeart, Sirius, Howard 101, and many podcasts. He was an amazing and loyal friend. So many performers and writers looked to John for advice, and he was always willing to help anyone. Rest in peace, Johnny. Victoria Jones, the daughter of Academy Award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, has died. She was 34. Jones was found dead inside of a hallway at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco on Thursday, according to numerous news reports. The San Francisco Fire Department told People that first responders arrived at the hotel at 2:52 a.m. after getting a call about a medical emergency, where they found the body of an unnamed woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Although officials did not identify the woman, NBC Bay Area reported that she is believed to be Victoria Jones. A cause of death is not known, but no foul play is suspected. Victoria Jones is the daughter of Tommy Lee Jones and his first wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. She made her acting debut in 2002s Men in Black and had subsequent performances in 2003s One Tree Hill and in 2005s The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which was directed by her father. Tommy Lee Jones won an Oscar in 1994 for his role in The Fugitive. His other notable film roles include JFK, Men in Black, Lincoln, Coal Miners Daughter, Natural Born Killers and No Country for Old Men. By MATTHEW BROWN, The Associated Press A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while she was hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado on Thursday, in what would be the first fatal attack by one of the predators in the state in more than 25 years, authorities said. Wildlife officers later in the day located two mountain lions in the area and fatally shot the animals, said Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife The attack occurred in the mountains south of the small community of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park. Its considered the gateway to the eastern entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. Shortly before noon, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the womans body along a remote section of the Crosier Mountain trail, which is on a national forest. The hikers threw rocks at the animal to scare it from the area so they could try to help the woman, Van Hoose said. One of the hikers was a physician who attended to the victim and did not find a pulse, she said. Details on the womans injuries and cause of death were not immediately released. Van Hoose said the search for other mountain lions in the area was ongoing. She said circumstances would dictate whether any additional lions that are found are killed. Sightings of mountain lions are common in the forested area where the woman died, but there have not been any recent documented attacks on humans, Van Hoose said. This is a very common time of year to take mountain lion sightings and reports and especially in Larimer County, where this is very good mountain lion habitat, she said. Trails in this area are in pretty remote land, so its wooded, its rocky, theres elevation gains and dips. Mountain lion attacks are rare, and Colorados last suspected fatal attack was in 1999, when a 3-year-old was killed. Two years before that, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion and dragged away while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park. Last year in Northern California two brothers were attacked by a lion that they tried to fight off. One of the brothers was killed. The animals, also known as cougars, catamounts and other names, can weigh 130 pounds and grow to more than six feet long. They eat primarily deer. Colorado has an estimated 3,800-4,400 of the animals, which are classified as a big game species in the state and can be hunted. 2025 has been a mixed bag for the sweeps coin casino industry. While new sweepstakes casinos like Rolla and LoneStar came online, unfortunately, many went offline due to the increased scrutiny. Gold Treasure is the latest sweepstakes casino to turn off its Gold and Sweeps Coins to California and Tennessee players. The move isnt totally striking at this point, as members adjust to states like New York and California totally banning sweepstakes casinos. Since the top sweepstakes casinos have announced leaving Tennessee in late November, it has been a steady drip, and Gold Treasure is the latest site to follow suit. Gold Treasure plans a complete pullout of California and Tennessee on January 1, 2026. It has already sent emails to its members in these states, alerting them of the change. This means members must use their remaining Gold and Sweeps Coins by January 1st. Like Rolla and LoneStar, Gold Treasure first came online in 2025, so it is a short-lived one-year run for California and Tennessee players. Gold Treasure, like other online sweepstakes casinos, is still available in over 30 states. Gold Treasure quickly became popular for its progressive daily login bonus, similar to Crown Coins Casino. It also offers a VIP club with growing jackpot options. The continued scrutiny surrounding sweepstakes casinos A Gold Treasure and other sweepstakes casinos continue to adjust to the growing pressure; more states, like Kentucky and Indiana, are trying to pass similar legislation banning sweepstakes casinos. Massachusetts has submitted legislation to legalize real money online casinos, while banning sweeps casinos. However, it is unclear if House Bill 4431 will ultimately pass. Still, with other states like Florida and even Maine moving to pass legislation against sweepstakes casinos, the tide and mood have shifted. One of the top reasons why more states are trying to ban sweeps casinos is that they are allegedly real-money online casinos in disguise. Members must make a deposit to play at an online casino. However, online sweepstakes casinos dont require a purchase. For example, the McLuck no-deposit bonus offers 7,500 GC and 2.5 SC. The Sweeps Coins are what members use to try to win cash prizes or digital gift cards. The Gold Coins are how sweeps coin casino players enjoy their favorite casino games without making a purchase. A top sweepstakes casino like Wow Vegas offers daily bonuses like the login bonus and leaderboard contests to pick up bonus Gold and Sweeps Coins. Some sites like Lunaland, Crown Coins, and Wow Vegas offer a proprietary Gold Coin, but it works the same way. However, anti-sweepstakes casino advocates are concerned about the Gold Coin purchases. While this is 100% optional, the argument is that members are buying them to earn Sweeps Coins and win cash prizes, which they allege is gambling in disguise. This point of contention came to the surface with a recent class-action lawsuit against Drake and Stake.us. Another reason for pushback against sweeps casinos is that many are unlicensed by a formal American gaming agency. The lack of official oversight is a mounting concern, as well as sweeps casinos dont pay gaming taxes to states like the best online casino sites for real money. Gaming taxes are needed to fund critical state infrastructure, such as public education. A winter weather advisory is in effect until 4 p.m. Friday for northwestern Warren County, where an additional 1 to 3 inches of lake-effect snow is expected. Meanwhile, Erie could see as much as 7 inches of snow. The rest of Pennsylvania could experience scattered snow showers with minimal accumulation. Temperatures this morning started in the single digits in northern regions and low 20s near the Mason-Dixon Line. Daytime highs will range from near 20 degrees in the northwest to the mid-30s in southeastern areas, including the Harrisburg region, with west winds of 10 to 15 mph, gusting to 25 mph. The weekend will bring high temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s. A weak system will move through Saturday night into Sunday, bringing light snow to northern Pennsylvania but nothing to the Harrisburg area. Looking ahead to next week, temperatures will trend higher, reaching the 40s by midweek. Current weather radar A woman mourns with flowers at the scene of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people died and over 110 others were injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) GENEVA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Around 40 people were killed and more than 110 others injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton in southwestern Switzerland, local police said on Thursday. Valais Canton Police Chief Frederic Gisler confirmed the casualty figures at a second press conference held in the afternoon. "We are counting around 40 people who have died and 115 injured, most of them seriously," Gisler told reporters. Those injured, most of them young people, were taken to hospitals in Sion, capital of Valais Canton, as well as in other cities, including Lausanne, Zurich and Geneva, according to police. Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais cantonal government, said some of the injured may later be transferred to hospitals abroad. Local media earlier reported, citing police, that a major fire erupted at a bar in the center of Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve. The alarm was raised shortly after 1:30 a.m. local time, prompting the deployment of dozens of ambulances from several cantons as well as multiple helicopters. President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the country's history. "The government would like to express its condolences to all the relatives," Parmelin said. Flags at the Federal Palace will be flown at half-mast for five days, Parmelin added, stressing that such tragedies must be prevented in the future. Valais Canton Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. The number of people inside the bar at the time of the incident remains unknown, according to media reports. Reynard said the investigation will take time and that identifying the victims is proving challenging. Parmelin postponed his planned New Year's address and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The Valais cantonal administration announced that the canton has declared a state of emergency. A woman walks past a fire truck at the scene of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people died and over 110 others were injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Security forces work at the scene of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people died and over 110 others were injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Security forces cordon off the scene of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people died and over 110 others were injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) A security force works at the scene of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people died and over 110 others were injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Security forces cordon off the scene of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people died and over 110 others were injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) People place candles and flowers to mourn the victims of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people were killed and more than 110 others injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton in southwestern Switzerland, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Candles and flowers to mourn the victims of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort are pictured in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people were killed and more than 110 others injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton in southwestern Switzerland, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Candles and flowers to mourn the victims of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort are pictured in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people were killed and more than 110 others injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton in southwestern Switzerland, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Candles and flowers to mourn the victims of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort are pictured in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people were killed and more than 110 others injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton in southwestern Switzerland, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) This photo taken on Jan. 2, 2026 shows an exterior view of Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Around 40 people were killed and more than 110 others injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton in southwestern Switzerland, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) This photo taken on Jan. 2, 2026 shows an exterior view of Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Around 40 people were killed and more than 110 others injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton in southwestern Switzerland, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Candles and flowers to mourn the victims of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort are pictured in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, Jan. 1, 2026. Around 40 people were killed and more than 110 others injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton in southwestern Switzerland, local police said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 59F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable. OSLO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday evening rebuked renewed talk of acquiring Greenland, saying that Denmark's "closest ally" should not treat another country and its people as something to be bought and owned. Without explicitly naming the United States, Frederiksen said the past year was characterized by "threats, pressure, and condescending talk" from a country she described as Denmark's "closest ally through a lifetime." Speaking from her official residence, Frederiksen addressed a range of issues, including the economy and social welfare, but reserved her tough language for the geopolitical pressures facing the country, particularly concerning the Arctic territory of Greenland. "Now again the conflict over Greenland -- over the Kingdom," Frederiksen said, referring to renewed diplomatic frictions. She criticized the mindset behind the pressure as an outdated view of the world -- "about wanting to take over another country, another people. As if it were something one could buy and own." "We shoulder our responsibility in the world. It is not us seeking any conflict," she said. "But let no one be in doubt: No matter what happens, we will stand firm on what is right and wrong." Her remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the U.S. special envoy to Greenland on Dec. 21, 2025, renewing diplomatic tension between Washington and the Danish Realm. Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in gaining control of Greenland, saying that he would not rule out the use of "military or economic coercion" to achieve that goal. Lauren Leibman is an arts and entertainment reporter with The Post and Courier. She previously covered Georgetown County. An aerial drone photo shows a view of a breakwater at Chancay Port, Peru, on June 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) MEXICO CITY, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Over the past year, Latin America has been seeking stronger cooperation within the Global South to address a changing political landscape marked by a revival of right-wing powers and governance challenges. Against the backdrop of growing external interference and hegemonic pressure, people in the region have been increasingly aware of the significance of safeguarding sovereignty and pursuing strategic autonomy. The idea of unity and cooperation in the Global South has also been gaining momentum. Meanwhile, China, the world's biggest developing country, and Latin American countries have maintained frequent high-level exchanges, steadily strengthened practical cooperation across various fields, and taken solid steps to advance the building of a China-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) community with a shared future. POLITICAL PENDULUM SWINGS TO RIGHT In 2025, the political tensions between the left and the right in Latin America intensified, with the pendulum swinging to the right. In Chile's recent election, the far-right party candidate won the presidential election. In Ecuador the presidential candidate of the right-wing party was re-elected, and Bolivia ended its nearly 20-year history of left-wing governance. Meanwhile, the far-right ruling coalition in Argentina has further expanded its advantage in the parliamentary elections. Analysts said that politics in Latin America has shifted markedly to the right as a result of the interplay of internal and external factors. Domestically, the countries that held elections this year were grappling with sluggish economic growth, limited improvements in living standards, and deteriorating public security leading up to the poll. In this context, right-wing parties have put forward targeted campaign platforms that have resonated with a frustrated electorate. Externally, the resurgence of conservative currents in the West -- reflected in the return of right-wing parties to power in several countries -- has produced a "demonstration effect" across Latin America. Nevertheless, an analysis of the election situation in some LAC countries suggests the traditional ideological division between the "left and right" has gradually weakened. Voters' orientation has become more pragmatic, focusing more on governance capacity and practical solutions to issues such as the economy, employment, public security and people's livelihood. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) predicted that the economy of the LAC would grow 2.4 percent in 2025. The industrial transformation for Latin American countries remained full of challenges due to sustained low economic growth, insufficient internal driving forces, and constraints from external factors such as the intervention by the United States. In 2026, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Brazil and other LAC countries will hold general elections. The election results will not only influence the domestic political trends of these countries, but may also have a profound impact on the regional political landscape and geopolitical pattern. UNITY AGAINST INTERFERENCE Since the start of his second term as U.S. president, Donald Trump has intensified intervention in Latin American affairs. People participate in the opening of the People's Assembly for Peace and Sovereignty of Our America in Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 9, 2025. (Photo by Marcos Salgado/Xinhua) The U.S. National Security Strategy released in December advanced a "Trump corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, calling for restored U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere and a readjustment of the U.S. military presence, which caused widespread alarm across Latin America. In recent months, the United States has deployed large-scale air and naval forces near Venezuela under the pretext of combating "narco-terrorism." Thirty-five "drug trafficking vessels" have been sunk in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing more than 115 people. Venezuela has accused Washington of attempting to force regime change and expand its military presence in the region. The U.S. actions have also drawn opposition from Cuba, Colombia, Brazil and other countries. After returning to the White House, Trump sparked controversy by renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America," repeatedly threatened to "take back" the Panama Canal, implemented harsh deportation policies, re-listed Cuba as a "state sponsor of terrorism," and openly intervened in elections in Argentina and Honduras in support of right-wing forces. Washington's tariff hikes have also weighed heavily on Latin American economies. ECLAC reported that the new tariff measures significantly weaken the region's ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). In the first half of 2025, newly announced FDI projects in Latin America and the Caribbean totaled just 31.37 billion U.S. dollars -- down 53 percent year-on-year and 37 percent below the 2015-2024 average. The United States has repeatedly weaponized tariffs for political purposes. This year, it threatened higher duties on Colombia over migration and counternarcotics issues, and wielded tariff pressure over the legal case involving former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Confronted with unilateralism and hegemonic behavior, Latin American countries have strengthened their resistance to intervention and become more determined to safeguard regional peace and pursue development cooperation and integration. At the April Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit in Honduras, members called for deeper regional integration and joint responses to U.S. tariff and migration pressures. In Ecuador's constitutional referendum in November, more than 60 percent of voters rejected the establishment of foreign military bases, signaling public opposition to possible U.S. military presence in the country. CHINA-LAC COOPERATION OPENS NEW CHAPTER In 2025, China and Latin America maintained close high-level engagement and deepened mutual trust. Heads of state of Latin American countries, including Brazilian President Lula and Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, have visited China, injecting strong momentum into bilateral ties. Multilateral and regional cooperation also advanced. China formally became an observer state to the Andean Community, a move welcomed by member countries eager to expand cooperation. As the CELAC chair, Colombia joined the Belt and Road Initiative, in an apparent bid to strengthen ties with China and diversify diplomacy. An electric and combustion dual-power train manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. awaits departure at the central station in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 19, 2024. (Photo by Jorge Villegas/Xinhua) Eduardo Regalado, a researcher at the International Policy Research Center of Cuba, said the steady growth of China-LAC relations is a driving force for Global South self-reliance, creating trade, financial and technological pathways that benefit the developing world. In December, China released its third Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, laying out goals and priority areas for cooperation under new circumstances. The policy paper said China stands ready to join hands with Latin America and the Caribbean to promote the five programs on solidarity, development, civilization, peace and people-to-people connectivity to advance shared development and revitalization, and write a new chapter in building a China-LAC community with a shared future. Marcos Pires, a professor of political economy at Sao Paulo State University, said the document is widely expected to inject new vitality into China-LAC ties and expand cooperation in technological innovation, the green economy and regional governance. Across the region, Belt and Road cooperation has delivered tangible results. At Peru's Chancay Port, South America's first green smart port, container throughput exceeded 270,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in its first year of operation, while bulk cargo surpassed 1.366 million tons, making it Peru's third-largest port. The project has become a symbol of mutually beneficial China-LAC cooperation and improved regional connectivity. In Cuba, all photovoltaic stations of the 35 MW Chinese-assisted solar project went online, boosting energy security and accelerating the green transition. People-to-people exchanges have grown stronger, injecting new vitality into cultural dialogue. China and LAC countries have jointly advanced the Global Civilization Initiative and successfully held the 8th China-LatAm civilization dialogue. China has granted visa-free access from June 1 to holders of ordinary passports from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay -- boosting travel and mutual understanding. China's high-quality development and high-standard opening-up offer greater cooperation opportunities for Global South nations, helping Latin America advance economic transformation and sustainable development while promoting the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future, said Juan Carlos Capunay, former executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat and former Peruvian ambassador to China. PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 19:00:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 433 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Baker University recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal or protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal or protected health information entrusted to Baker University.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?In December 2024, Baker University became aware of a security incident on its network that resulted in a system outage. Upon detection, Baker University launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to certain files and folders between December 2, 2024, and December 19, 2024. Baker University conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals.The impacted data may include names, dates of birth, Driver's license numbers, financial account information, health insurance information, medical information, passport information, Social Security numbers, student identification numbers, and tax identification numbers.OnDecember 19, 2025, Baker University filed a notice with the Attorney General of Maine and began notifying impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personalinformation or protected health information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Baker University, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 07:00:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 469 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilJanuary 2, 2026to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits 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"). These actions are pending in the United States District Courts for the District of Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia.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 by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court byJanuary 2, 2026 .About the LawsuitsCarMax 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 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 first-filed case is Cap v. CarMax, Inc., No. 25-cv-03602. A subsequent case, Indiana Public Retirement System v. CarMax, Inc., No. 25-cv-01056, was filed in the Eastern District of Virginia.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: 2026-01-02 18:19:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 500 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Catwig LLC, which does business as Victory Disability ("Victory Disability"), recently announced a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Victory Disability.Levi & Korsinsky LLP is investigating claims arising from this data breach. If you would like an attorney to review your potential claim, visit our site here.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?In November 2025, Victory Disability became aware of claims that an unknown party obtained information belonging to the Firm. Upon discovering the incident, Victory Disability initiated an investigation, with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity specialists, to confirm the security of its environment and to determine the validity of these claims. Victory Disability also notified federal law enforcement authorities. The investigation determined that, between October 27, 2025, and November 12, 2025, an unknown party accessed a portion of Victory Disability's environment and may have viewed or copied certain information stored there.The impacted data may include name, contact information (e.g., address, email, or telephone number), and Social Security number. It may also have included your date of birth and/or medical information-such as diagnosis, treatment, medications, and lab results-if you shared this information with Victory in connection with your case.On December 12, 2025, Victory Disability filed a notice with the Attorney General of California and began sending written notification letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal or protected health information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATIONData breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Catwig LLC d/b/a Victory Disability, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 18:19:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 418 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Ellafi Federal Credit Union ("EFCU") recently announced a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to EFCU.Levi & Korsinsky LLP is investigating claims arising from this data breach. If you would like an attorney to review your potential claim, visit our site here.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On October 14, 2025, Ellafi Federal Credit Union became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, EFCU launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that certain files may have been accessed and acquired without authorization.The impacted data may include name, Social Security numbers, credit and/or debit card numbers.On December 27, 2025, EFCU filed a notice with the Attorney General of Maine and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal or protected health information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATIONData breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Ellafi Federal Credit Union, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 18:30:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 426 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Rain Bird Corporation ("Rain Bird") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal information of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Rain Bird.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 25, 2025, Rain Bird became aware of suspicious activity affecting certain portions of its web store. Upon detection, Rain Bird launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident.The investigation determined that there was fraudulent activity potentially associated with payment cards used to perform transactions on the Rain Bird web store between February 11, 2025, and September 5, 2025. Rain Bird conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and to identify affected individuals.The impacted information may include names, credit card numbers, card verification values, and associated access codes.On December 11, 2025, Rain Bird filed a notice with the Attorney General of Maine and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal and protected health information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATIONData breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Rain Bird Corporation, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 18:17:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 426 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / ARC Community Services ("ARC Community") recently announced a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to ARC Community.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On November 4, 2024, ARC Community became aware of a security incident within its network. Upon detection, ARC Community launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to ARC Community's systems and acquired data from its network without authorization.The impacted data may include first and last names, addresses, dates of birth, and one or more of the following: medical record numbers, health information, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account information.On December 4, 2025, ARC Community filed a notice with the office of the New Hampshire Attorney General and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal or protected health information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATIONData breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from ARC Community Services, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 18:45:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 441 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / TriZetto Provider Solutions ("TriZetto") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to TriZetto Provider Solutions.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On October 2, 2025, TriZetto Provider Solutions became aware of a security incident involving unauthorized access to a web portal used by some of its healthcare provider customers. Upon detection, TriZetto promptly secured the web portal and engaged third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate and remediate the incident. The investigation revealed that an unauthorized third party had been accessing historical eligibility transaction reports as early as November 2024, almost a year before detection. The accessed reports contained protected health information of patients from various healthcare providers.The impacted data may include names of patients, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, health insurance member numbers (including Medicare beneficiary numbers), health insurer names, information about the primary insured or beneficiary, and other demographic health and insurance information.On December 11, 2025, TriZetto publicly disclosed the breach and began notifying affected healthcare clients. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from TriZetto Provider Solutions, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 19:50:11 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 331 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Motos America Inc. ("Motos America" or the "Company"), a Nevada corporation, announced that it filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah on December 31, 2025. (Case No. 25-21834).Importantly, the Company's subsidiary dealership entities have not filed bankruptcy and will continue operating in the ordinary course of business without interruption. The Company's dealerships remain viable businesses and will continue to serve customers, operate with existing employees, and maintain relationships with trade creditors and key vendors as usual. The Company has secured debtor-in-possession financing to ensure adequate liquidity and support operations throughout the Chapter 11 process."Motos America's dealership operations are strong and fully open for business," said Vance Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Motos America Inc. "This Chapter 11 filing is limited to the parent company and is intended to address corporate-level debt and related matters following a difficult period in 2025, while positioning the Company for improved stability going forward. In the coming weeks, we expect to present a plan of reorganization to the bankruptcy court, which we believe will allow Motos America to move beyond this challenging period and emerge with a stronger and more sustainable corporate structure, subject to court approval." Motos America will provide additional updates as appropriate.About Motos America Inc.Motos America Inc. is the parent company of a network of motorcycle dealerships. The Company's subsidiary dealership entities are not filing bankruptcy and will continue to operate in the ordinary course of business.ContactVance Harrison President and Chief Executive OfficerMotos America Inc. info@ motosamerica.com Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's restructuring objectives, the anticipated timing and content of any plan of reorganization, and expectations under Chapter 11. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.SOURCE: Motos America Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 06:45:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 478 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NYC Steam Cleaning, a premier provider of advanced textile restoration, has issued a formal health advisory for New York City residents following new findings on "Urban Micro-Grit", a toxic cocktail of subway dust, construction silica, and rubber particulates that accumulates deep within apartment carpets and upholstery.MANHATTAN, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / As New York City enters a high-allergy season, internal data from NYC Steam Cleaning suggests that standard household vacuuming is failing to remove up to 70% of these abrasive particulates. These trapped pollutants act as a "permanent allergen reservoir," recirculating into the breathing zone of high-rise apartments every time a resident walks across the floor."New York City is a unique environment where the outdoors inevitably comes indoors," said a senior technician at NYC Steam Cleaning. "In a Manhattan high-rise, your carpet acts as the largest air filter in your home. When that filter becomes saturated with city soot and road salt, it stops protecting you and starts contributing to poor indoor air quality." The "Subway-to-Sofa" PipelineAccording to the advisory, NYC residents face three specific urban stressors that accelerate carpet degradation and health concerns:The Micro-Grit Effect: Fine particles from NYC's aging transit and infrastructure are tracked indoors, where they settle into the base of carpet fibers.Bio-Aerosol Concentration: In modern, climate-controlled apartments with limited natural ventilation, carpets trap organic pollutants that can lead to "Heavy Air" syndrome.Chemical Dehydration: Residual road salt from city sidewalks chemically alters natural fibers, making them brittle and more likely to release dust into the air.A Scientific Approach to Urban LivingTo combat these conditions, NYC Steam Cleaning has optimized its high-heat, deep steam extraction process. Unlike traditional methods, this "Thermal-Sanitization" protocol reaches temperatures capable of neutralizing microorganisms while flushing out the deep-seated grit that standard vacuums cannot reach."We are moving the conversation beyond aesthetics," the spokesperson added. "Professional steam cleaning in NYC isn't just about removing a stain; it's about a medical-grade reset of your home environment." Educational Initiative for NYC ResidentsIn conjunction with this advisory, NYC Steam Cleaning is launching a city-wide educational initiative, offering free "Home Environment Consultations." Residents can receive a professional assessment of their carpet and upholstery health to identify hidden pollutant buildup before it leads to respiratory discomfort or costly textile replacement.Detailed findings and the 2026 Urban Maintenance Checklist are available at: https://nycsteamcleaning.com/ About NYC Steam CleaningNYC Steam Cleaning is a leading provider of residential and commercial steam cleaning services across the five boroughs. Specializing in eco-friendly, high-performance restoration for carpets, upholstery, and hardwood, the company is dedicated to improving the living standards of New Yorkers through advanced cleaning science.Media Contact:Name: Reuven NoymanTitle: CEOEmail:info@ nycsteamcleaning.comPhone:(888) 245-1199Website: https://nycsteamcleaning.com/ SOURCE: NYC Steam Cleaning PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 00:00:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 408 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 1, 2026 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Freeport-McMoran Inc. ("Freeport" or the "Company") (NYSE:FCX). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Freeport and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until January 12, 2026 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Freeport securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On September 9, 2025, Freeport issued a press release announcing the suspension of mining activities at its Grasberg Block Cave operation in Indonesia, after "a large flow of wet material from a production drawpoint . . . blocked access to certain areas within the mine," trapping seven workers. The press release further stated that mining operations in the area "have been temporarily suspended to prioritize the safe evacuation of the . . . workers." On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $2.80 per share, or 5.99%, to close at $43.87 per share on September 9, 2025.Then, on September 24, 2025, Freeport provided an update on the incident, reporting that two of the seven workers were "fatally injured" and that the remaining five workers "remain missing." The press release further stated that mining operations in the area remained suspended.On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $7.69 per share, or 16.95%, to close at $37.67 per share on September 24, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP Key Points Pfizer's oncology ambitions could start to take shape next year. The drugmaker is also likely to make progress in the weight-loss market. It might take a while longer, but Pfizer is on the path to recovery. 10 stocks we like better than Pfizer Is 2026 the year Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) finally turns things around? The company has been struggling over the past few years due to poor financial results and looming patent cliffs. However, it has also made important moves that might start to pay off, possibly as early as 2026. Are Pfizer's shares worth investing in heading into the new year? To try to answer that question, let's consider two things that might happen to the drugmaker in the next 12 months. 1. Progress in oncology Pfizer has historically had a pretty strong presence in oncology, one of the largest therapeutic areas in the pharmaceutical industry. In the past few years, the company has made significant efforts to expand its presence in this market. It acquired Seagen, a smaller oncology specialist, for $43 billion, thereby gaining access to a substantial pipeline of investigational cancer therapies. Image source: Getty Images. More recently, Pfizer licensed PF-08634404 ("PF'4404"), a highly promising cancer medicine in development, from China-based 3SBio. It recently announced that it's accelerating the development of PF'4404 and has begun multiple studies, including late-stage clinical trials, with additional studies planned. Next year, Pfizer could report solid clinical progress in oncology across PF'4404 and other candidates. We may not get full clinical trial data from phase 3 studies for PF'4404, given that these were recently initiated. However, we could expect to see interim analyses as well as results from early-stage studies. Here's why this is important. Pfizer's work in oncology is a crucial component of its long-term strategy, and positive progress here could jolt the stock. PF'4404 in particular could challenge the world's best-selling cancer drug, Keytruda, in some key markets. There is, therefore, vast potential here. It'll be important for investors to monitor Pfizer's pipeline work in this area. 2. Going after the weight loss market Oncology might be the larger therapeutic area, but weight management has grabbed more attention and is predicted to grow significantly through the end of the decade (and beyond). Pfizer has several anti-obesity candidates in development. One is called PF-07976016, an oral GLP-1 medicine that's undergoing phase 2 studies. There is also MET-097i, which Pfizer acquired through an acquisition, and which recently completed phase 2 clinical trials with flying colors. Via a licensing agreement, the company also recently added YP05002, a GLP-1 asset in phase 1 studies. PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 00:00:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 494 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 1, 2026 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Perrigo Company plc ("Perrigo" or the "Company") (NYSE:PRGO). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Perrigo and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until January 16, 2026 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Perrigo securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On February 27, 2024, Perrigo reported fiscal year 2023 earnings, revealing significant acquisition and integration-related charges, including a purported one-time cash cost of an additional $35 million to $45 million for remediations to address production and facility issues in its infant formula business. The Company also disclosed a 50% decline in earnings per share compared to the prior year due to infant formula remediation actions.On this news, Perrigo's stock price fell $4.87 per share, or 15.14%, to close at $27.30 per share on February 27, 2024.Then, on May 7, 2024, Perrigo released earnings for the first quarter ended March 30, 2024, revealing the significant negative impact of Perrigo's costly actions to augment and strengthen its infant formula business.On this news, Perrigo's stock price fell $3.28 per share, or 9.8%, to close at $30.15 on May 7, 2024.Then, on August 6, 2025, Perrigo issued a press release announcing earnings for the second quarter ended June 28, 2025, revealing the Company's adjusted gross profit decreased $30 million, or 6.9%, due in part to "production variability in infant formula, leading to an increase in product scrap in the quarter." Finally, on November 5, 2025, Perrigo issued a press release, announcing the Company "is initiating a strategic review of its infant formula business" including a "a full range of alternatives." The press release revealed Perrigo is "reassessing the Company's previously announced investment in this business of $240 million." On this news, Perrigo's stock price fell $5.09 per share, or 25.2%, to close at $15.10 per share on November 5, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 00:00:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 550 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 1, 2026 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Primo Brands Corporation ("Primo Brands" or the "Company") (NYSE:PRMB). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Primo Brands and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until January 12, 2026 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Primo Brands securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained atwww.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On June 17, 2024, Primo Water Corporation ("Primo Water") announced entry into a merger agreement (the "Merger") with an affiliate of BlueTriton Brands, Inc. ("BlueTriton"). The two companies touted the synergies of the Merger, stating that the combined company was expected to have "significant financial and operating leverage" and "enhanced distribution capabilities" which would position it "for sustained long-term growth." On November 8, 2024, the companies announced the completion of the Merger and the formation of the combined entity, Primo Brands.On August 7, 2025, Primo Brands announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. On an accompanying earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Robbert Rietbroek acknowledged that "[t]he speed by which we closed facilities and reduced headcount led to disruptions in product supply, delivery, and service." Following these disclosures, Primo Brands' stock price fell $2.41 per share, or 9.13%, to close at $24.00 per share on August 7, 2025.Then, on November 6, 2025, Primo Brands announced Rietbroek's departure as CEO and disclosed that the Company was drastically reducing its full year 2025 net sales and adjusted EBITDA guidance. During a corresponding earnings call, Primo Brands' new CEO Eric Foss admitted that the Company "probably moved too far too fast on some of the various integration work streams" and that "[t]here's no doubt that speed impacted our ability to get through a lot of the warehouse closures and route realignment without disruption." Foss further revealed that Primo Brands had experienced "customer service issues" as well as "integration issues related to the technology move over." On this news, Primo Brands' stock price fell $8.20 per share, or 36.19%, over the following two trading sessions, closing at $14.46 per share on November 7, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 00:17:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 674 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 1, 2026 /WHY: New York, N.Y., January 1, 2026. 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=48531 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. PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 18:17:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 389 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Sax LLP ("Sax") recently announced a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Sax.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On August 7, 2024, Sax became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, Sax launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third-party gained access to Sax's systems.The impacted data may include dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver's license or state identification numbers, and/or passport numbers.On December 22, 2025, Sax filed a notice with the Office of the Maine Attorney General and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information or protected health information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATIONData breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Sax LLP, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-02 18:24:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 463 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / St. Anthony Regional Hospital ("St. Anthony") recently announced it experienced a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to St. Anthony.Levi & Korsinsky LLP is investigating claims arising from this data breach. If you would like an attorney to review your potential claim, visit our site here.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?In August 2024, St. Anthony Regional Hospital became aware of suspicious activity within its computer network. Upon detection, St. Anthony launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity specialists and notified federal law enforcement.The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to St. Anthony's network between August 14, 2024, and August 28, 2024. During this time certain files were accessed or downloaded without authorization.The impacted data may include names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, payment card information, financial account information, billing or claims information, doctor's names, medical device serial numbers, biometric data, prescription information, disability information, patient ID, and health insurance information.On December 29, 2025, St. Anthony Regional Hospital publicly disclosed the incident and began sending notification letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal or protected health information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATIONData breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from St. Anthony Regional Hospital, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP The family of Nigerian content creator and brand influencer Anda Lazywrita Damisa has announced his death. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Lazywrita stunned social media users after a scheduled post announcing his own death appeared on his Instagram page on 29 December 2025. The post was reportedly prepared a day earlier. However, in a joint statement posted on Instagram on 31 December 2025, his family said they were heartbroken by the loss and were still struggling to come to terms with his passing. The family statement read: On behalf of Lazywritas family, we want to thank everyone for the love, prayers, kind messages, and support weve received during this harrowing time, the statement reads. We are heartbroken and still trying to process this loss. We kindly ask for fewer calls and more texts instead; we appreciate your privacy and understanding as we grieve and support one another. Thank you for respecting our space and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Lazywrita In his post, the writer and author shared photographs he said were taken before making his final decision, and he appealed to his family, friends, and followers not to mourn him. Lazywrita stated that he had lived a fulfilled life but felt he no longer had the strength to continue. Lazywrita wrote: Dont cry for me, please o I lived a whole and adventurous life; people who know me can testify. I dont have the energy to continue anymore. Now, I am happy, unburdened and free!!! The only things I regret are not watching the new episodes of Stranger Things and not getting married to the LOML when I had a chance, until she moved on. Shes reading this. Please dont cry and dont shoulder any blame, regardless of everything we went through. Through my happiest and saddest days, you were the best thing that ever happened to me. I want you to live, love, laugh, make babies, and be happy! And yes! These are some of the last nice photos I took. Wouldnt it be nice to hoard them, yeah? Controlled narrative Furthermore, Lazywrita said he deactivated all his social media accounts, retaining only his Instagram page to prevent the spread of false narratives about him after his death. I love you, Nene, Mary, Israel, Wadi, Roy, I would choose you all to be my family over and over and over and over again. You made this journey of life better. I deleted all my socials across all platforms. I have just one left, and I felt my friends and loved ones needed to see this message, so that no false narrative is written, and they know Im doing well and in a better place. I love you all. Kiss kiss. Rest well, Anda, his post also stated. His post drew an outpouring of tributes and sparked widespread concern, as fans, creatives, and industry colleagues flooded the comment section to commiserate and express shock and sadness over the announcement. Many commenters stated that they were unaware of the personal struggles he had battled in private. Comedian Jubril Officer Woos Gbadamosi, media personality Anita Tacha Akide, actor Jide Awobona, and several others took to Lazywritas comment section to offer condolences to his family and pray for his eternal rest. Chris Okafor, founder of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry in Lagos, has announced a decision concerning his role as the presiding pastor amid growing controversies involving his ex-wife, Bessem, and actress Doris Ogala. In 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Ms Ogala accused Okafor of breaking promises of marriage, causing emotional distress, and other allegations. Ms Bessem, his ex-wife, in turn, alleged that he subjected her to physical assault, while denying the claims of adultery Mr Okafor levelled against her. Stepping aside Amid these controversies, Mr Okafor announced during a church service, captured in a video that went viral on Friday, that he has stepped aside as pastor. He said: We have four Sundays in January, so in the whole of these four Sundays, we will be having Pastor Sylvester, Pastor Kelvin, Pastor Oliver and Pastor Shedrack. Its going to be prophetic Sundays; we will have them minister to you, and anoint you every Sunday, thats the instruction. So they will be here, while they are here, I will be resting. It will be time for personal retreat with God, and time for me and my wife to rest. Because, since our wedding, we have not rested. We havent had time; we havent even taken our honeymoon. So, we are stepping aside to pray, were stepping aside to have a retreat and to rest for this January and return better and stronger. Doris kicks In response to the clerics announcement to step down, Ms Ogala, in a video posted on her Instagram page on Thursday, said she did not accept the decision. The actress urged Mr Okafor to come forward and address questions surrounding the death of her younger brother. She further clarified that her pain did not stem from the cleric leaving her for his wife, Pearl, or from the circulation of her nudes. She said, Many people have said that he left me and married another person, that he detained me, that he sent my nude pictures, and that he apologised, so I should let it go. It does not work like that. Chris Okafor should come and explain to me what happened to my brother. Stepping down from the church is not enough. I heard that he stepped down from the altar for one month and handed over to his assistant pastor, but that is not enough for me. Chris Okafor, stepping down from the altar, is not enough. You have to explain to me what happened to my brother the role you played and how my brother was poisoned. I have all the evidence, and I am going to play everything: voice recordings and all the plots. Ms Ogala threatened to reveal what had transpired between Mr Okafor and her late brother if he did not come forward and confess. READ ALSO: Family confirms death of content creator Lazywrita after viral Instagram post You have a long battle coming. No matter what, you had no right to go that far with me. I did nothing to you. People said I should forgive, but what am I leaving behind? If I leave everything, will the money he gives me bring my brother back? This is just the beginning. We have not started yet, Chris. Just hold on. I will be displaying everything. You will tell me what happened to my brother. What offence did he commit? Did he have anything to do with you? Why did you hurt me this much? Stepping down from the altar is not enough for me, she added. A Ghanaian self-acclaimed prophet, Evans Ebo Noah Eshun, has been remanded in police custody by an Adentan Circuit Court in Accra, according to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. PREMIUM TIMES reported that in August 2025, Ebo Noah claimed to have received a divine revelation predicting that the world would end due to continuous three-year rainfall, beginning on 25 December 2025. The 33-year-old said God instructed him to build an ark in preparation for a catastrophic flood. On 24 December 2025, he disclosed that the ark was about 80 per cent complete, insisting it would be the only place of refuge when the disaster struck. However, on Christmas Day, he announced that he received another revelation stating that the anticipated flood would no longer occur, adding that God instead instructed him to build more arks. Psychiatric evaluation Following the failed prophecy, operatives of the Ghana Police Services Special Cyber Vetting Team arrested him on 31 December 2025 in the Weija-Gbawe area of Accra while he was live-streaming online. He was detained over allegations of spreading online disinformation and was later arraigned before the court on Friday. The court ordered that Ebo Noah be remanded in police custody for two weeks. Prosecutors charged him with false communication, deliberately misleading the public, and publishing false news, offences they said contravene Ghanas criminal laws. The court also directed that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital to determine his fitness to stand trial. The assessment is expected to guide further proceedings as investigations continue. The case was subsequently adjourned to 16 January, with the psychiatric report to be submitted before the next hearing. CID speaks Meanwhile, the Director of the Special Investigation Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Seth Sewornu, dismissed Ebo Noahs claims, saying he was not a genuine man of God. In a viral interview with a local media outlet on Thursday, Mr Sewornu stated that Ebo Noah was merely a content creator and had never constructed any boat capable of housing people, contrary to his public assertions. The charges against him are false communication, with intent to put the public into fear and panic. The boat is not for him. He didnt build any boat; its somebody elses boat. He stood beside it and took all those pictures. He enhanced the pictures to show some large ships. Hes a security man at Sicilian school, a private school in Magina. He is not a man of God. He has no church, nothing. He did marketing and supply, HND. He is normal; he is just a fraudster. He said he is just creating content, a content creator. He is currently in custody; he will appear in court tomorrow. He is very calm, and he said he regrets it. I said if he regrets it, dont wait. If you are creating content, you should tell the public that it is just a joke. Mr Sewornu added that several individuals arrived from neighbouring countries to take shelter in the ark, fearing for their lives when the rain commenced. Somebody came from Liberia to come and join the boat, and it is somebodys boat. He just stood by the ship, did the video, and made the boat look as if it were a giant boat. It is a small boat. And go and stand at the company shop and use their tools as if he were the one constructing the boat. So he is in custody. So he is saving the public and causing fear and panic, he said. Cast: Ibrahim Yekini, Akinfolarin Olamide, Kevin Ikeduba, Jumai Sanni, Ogboluke, Irewole Olaniyan, Kemi Apesin, Adeniyi Stephen, Ololu Damilola, Jimoh Uthman Olamilekan, Ojumola Bello, Adegbite Adewale Oluwaseun, Orekoya Keji, Samson Folarin, Victoria Adeboye, Aderoju Olarinre, Taofeek Adewale, Muhammed Aremu, Toyin Emperor, Ko Oluwatosin, Babatunde Bernard Tayo, Yemi Elesho Director: Ibrahim Yekini Run time: Streaming Platform: YouTube After seven intense chapters, the Koleoso saga continues with another emotionally and spiritually charged episode, embodying what is arguably one of the most supernatural narratives in recent times. The seventh instalment portrays a confrontation with destiny, betrayal, and the ghosts of choices made long ago. But with the introduction of new casts and an unexpected twist, this episode has set he tone for the emergence of a new generation of Koleoso followers. Previously on Koleoso In the seventh instalment of the movie, Koleoso (Ibrahim Yekini) and his family have embraced peace to the chagrin of his loyalists. That peace was short-lived as Oshobola (Kemi Apesin) is swindled by Oracle (Kevin Ikeduba). As they embark on a trip to regain what was stolen, Okeoso is tackled by Osowande (Quadri Bakare), a son he didnt know he had. This changes the course of events, causing Koleoso to cut his trip short. Somewhere along the line, Koleoso meets the son he didnt know he had. A new player, Langidi, the spirit that has been kidnapping students, kidnaps Tolani, Efuns friend. The emergence of Esu Odara changed the course of everything, as the Oso family once again embarks on a showdown that leaves them victorious. Plot In this instalment, the Oso family finds itself at odds with itself. Oshobola and Efun are at odds with Koleoso, while their father attempts to reconcile his children. Oracle takes advantage of the crisis in the family and morphs into both sisters with the intention of taking Koleoso down. Once again, his effort was thwarted. Meanwhile, Osowande has been accepted into the family, despite their insistence that he must be enrolled in school. While in school, he saves his classmate from bullies. Grateful, she insists that he must meet her father. Osowande takes his father, Koleoso, along to meet his classmates father, only to discover that he is Oracle. Review Not much has changed since the initial trilogy, which started as a family drama but quickly escalated into spiritual warfare. Initially, the films producers announced the seventh instalment as the finale, but then surprised its fans with another film, in the form of a season 2. The question is why? Although Koleoso part 8 ended on a sound note, the body of the film felt like it was about to collapse under its own weight. The eighth film installation struggled and failed to meet the expectations and standards set by the previous episodes of the film series. While viewers may want to know the outcome of Koleosos son befriending his chief adversarys daughter, it would have made more sense for the producers to end the film series while the ovation was high. Verdict: 6/10 More Pictures: Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has explained his decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the move was guided by prayers, extensive consultations and a desire to reposition the state for peace, unity and development. Mr Mutfwang announced on Friday that he had formally joined the APC after completing his registration and receiving his membership card at the Government House, Rayfield, Jos. In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, the governor said the decision was taken in the best interest of Plateau State and was neither driven by personal ambition nor hostility towards any individual or political group. I am grateful to God for His guidance, as this decision followed prayers, wide consultations, and careful consideration of the best interests of Plateau State, he said. I have embraced the APC as a platform to deepen peace, unity, and development across our dear state. The defection marks a significant political shift for Mr Mutfwang, who rose to prominence within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he built his political career and emerged as governor in 2023. He was elected governor in one of the most contentious electoral contests in the states history. His victory was initially overturned by the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal before being restored by the Supreme Court, a development that reinforced his standing among supporters as a product of a hard-fought political struggle. Notably, the governor had, on several occasions in the past, openly criticised the APC and publicly ruled out joining the party, citing ideological differences and disagreements over governance style. His defection therefore represents a sharp departure from his earlier stance and has generated widespread political debate within and outside Plateau State. Addressing the shift, the governor stressed that his decision was informed by a broader vision of unity and progress rather than partisan loyalty. This decision is not borne out of personal ambition, nor does it signify enmity with anyone, he said, while expressing appreciation to his former associates and supporters who backed his emergence as governor. Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Mr Mutfwang described them as among the most challenging in the states history and urged political actors to prioritise peace and unity ahead of the 2027 general elections. As we look ahead to 2027, I call on all political actors to embrace peace and unity, and I am confident that Plateau State will stand firmly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he said, signalling his support for the president. The governor also reiterated his commitment to inclusive governance beyond partisan considerations, stressing the need to heal long-standing divisions in the state. We have been divided for too long; the time has come to replace bitterness with peace, hatred with love, and division with unity. Plateau must move forward as one people, he said. Mr Mutfwang pledged to work closely with APC leaders, stakeholders and residents of the state to accelerate development and deliver what he described as the dividends of democracy. We have come to add value, not subtract; to build, not divide, he said. His defection is expected to significantly alter the political landscape in Plateau State, where party loyalties have long been sharply contested. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act passed the House in July 2025 with bipartisan support but remains pending in the Senate. Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott confirmed a January 2026 markup session, with floor vote expected Q1-Q2 2026. The legislation would formally divide oversight between the SEC and CFTC, clarifying which assets are commodities (like Bitcoin) versus securities. The GENIUS Act creates a federal framework where banks can issue stablecoins under regulatory oversight. Clear rules mean banks can enter the market with confidence, potentially bringing trillions in banking capital into crypto rails. Signed July 18, 2025, the federal stablecoin framework takes effect either 18 months later (January 2027) or 120 days after regulators finalize implementation rules. If regulators finalize rules by early 2026, implementation could begin by mid-2026. The policies that matter for 2026 aren't last year's headlinesthey're the implementation timelines and pending legislation hitting in early 2026. That's the foundation the Trump administration is setting up ahead of the new year. Whether it translates to significant gains depends on executionbut heres how Bitcoin, XRP, and Solana could benefit if all goes to plan. The setup's there. The Clarity Act awaits a Senate vote in early 2026. The GENIUS Act's stablecoin framework begins implementation. New CFTC Chair Michael Selig, confirmed December 18, is expected to "open the floodgates" for Bitcoin. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins announced Project Crypto in November, promising clearer token rules throughout 2026. The Trump administration spent 2025 building crypto infrastructure. Now comes the payoff. After a year of policy groundworkfrom signing the GENIUS Act in July to appointing new SEC and CFTC leadershipthe stage is set for 2026 to deliver the institutional wave that could drive Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), and XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) to substantial gains. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here . With Bitcoin trading around $88,000, XRP near $1.88, and Solana at $122, investors are positioning for potential 5x gains if regulatory clarity accelerates institutional adoption through 2026. Bitcoin, XRP, and Solana stand to benefit most from upcoming stablecoin implementation, ETF fast-track approvals, and CFTC leadership changes taking effect in early 2026. Trumps 2025 groundwork, including the GENIUS Act and SEC policy shifts, sets the stage for major 2026 catalysts like the Clarity Act Senate vote and state Bitcoin reserve expansions. Story Continues Senate drafts from the Banking and Agriculture Committees propose expanding CFTC authority over digital assets while the SEC retains securities oversight. If passed, it would end years of jurisdictional uncertainty and accelerate institutional entry. When firms know which regulator applies to which asset, they can build compliance programs and launch products without fear of enforcement surprises. New CFTC Leadership Confirmed Michael Selig was confirmed as CFTC Chair on December 18, 2025, in a 53-43 Senate vote. Saga CEO Rebecca Liao told The Block that "The CFTC are actually the most powerful agency out of all the agencies that are touching crypto. The CFTC has the ability to open the floodgates, and the new chair will lead with that motive." The CFTC oversees derivatives marketsfutures, options, and other financial instruments. Expanding CFTC authority means more institutional products like Bitcoin futures ETFs, options contracts, and structured products that pension funds and wealth managers can actually allocate to within their mandates. SEC Project Crypto Rulemakings in 2026 Chairman Atkins gave a landmark speech in November outlining Project Cryptoa plan to develop a clear token taxonomy with recognition that most tokens are not securities. Industry experts expect 2026 to be a year of crypto-related rulemaking from the SEC, providing long-awaited clarity on which assets fall under securities laws. The SEC also approved fast-track listing standards in September, cutting ETF approval windows from 240 days to as little as 75 days. This means assets that would have waited 8 months for approval can now launch in 2.5 months, accelerating the pace at which new crypto products reach institutional investors State Bitcoin Reserves Expanding Texas announced in November that its state-managed fund held $5 million in BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF with plans to invest an additional $5 million directly in BTCa move expected in 2026. Following Texas's lead, Arizona and New Hampshire also passed crypto reserve legislation in 2025, with announcements of actual Bitcoin purchases likely coming in 2026 as part of state treasury strategies. 3 Cryptos That Could 5x in 2026 If Trump Delivers Chinnapong / Shutterstock.com Chinnapong / Shutterstock.com Bitcoin, XRP, and Solana could potentially hit 5x in 2026 if Trump's policy framework delivers. Bitcoin Could Hit $440K if State Reserves Trigger Corporate Wave Bitcoin's trading around $87,000 with a clear regulatory positionalready deemed a commodity by the CFTC, which the Clarity Act would formalize. That commodity status unlocks the derivatives expansion and institutional infrastructure that drives 5x gains. The most prominent catalyst is state Bitcoin reserves scaling in 2026. If collective state reserves hit $1-2 billion through 2026say 10-15 states allocating $50-200 million eachit validates Bitcoin as sovereign infrastructure. Additionally, CFTC Chair Michael Selig is expected to prioritize Bitcoin derivatives. Multiple futures ETFs, options contracts, and structured products could launch in Q1 if Selig moves aggressively. Combined with the Clarity Act's mid-2026 passage formalizing commodity classification, institutions get the regulatory certainty needed for large-scale allocation. The path to $400,000-$500,000roughly 5x from $87,000could happen if everything aligns. More realistic is Bitcoin ending 2026 between $150,000-$200,000 as state reserves trickle in slowly and the Clarity Act faces implementation delays. If macro headwinds dominateFed holds rates high or political pushback stalls reservesBitcoin could retest the $70,000-$80,000 support. XRP's Path to $10 Depends on RLUSD Scaling Under GENIUS Act XRP's trading near $1.86 after its SEC settlement cleared regulatory uncertainty. Approved spot ETFs already crossed $1.25 billion in assets, proving institutional demand exists. The 5x math works as XRP's $112 billion market cap reaching $560 billion is achievablethe catalyst for such a move is RLUSD adoption scaling under the GENIUS Act's stablecoin framework. Ripple's stablecoin launched in late 2025, but real traction comes mid-2026 when banks begin issuing stablecoins under federal regulatory oversight. If RLUSD becomes a preferred settlement layer as banks implement GENIUS Act compliance, XRP benefits as the bridge asset facilitating cross-border flows. Ripple Prime, created through the $1.25 billion Hidden Road acquisition, provides crypto-native institutional trading infrastructure. Combined with the Clarity Act's expected classification of XRP as a commodity, institutions get clean regulatory frameworks for treasury allocation and trading operations. The 5x scenario pushing XRP toward $10 requires 10-15 mid-cap companies adding $50-200 million positions each as regulatory clarity firms up, remaining ETF applications clearing by mid-2026 under Project Crypto's fast-track process, and RLUSD handling billions in monthly settlement volume. If RLUSD adoption is slower than expected or ETF inflows disappoint, XRP more likely trades between $3.50-$6.00 through 2026still strong 90-220% gains but short of 5x. Downside risk comes if banks wait for full GENIUS Act implementation in 2027. Solana's 5x Hinges on Firedancer Delivering 1M TPS Mid-2026 Solana's trading around $122 with the 5x math requiring its $58 billion market cap to hit roughly $290 billionfeasible if it captures institutional settlement flows that Bitcoin and Ethereum can't process efficiently. Firedancer is the make-or-break catalyst. Firedancer launched on mainnet in December 2025 after three years of development by Jump Crypto. The validator client could push throughput from current 2,000-3,000 TPS to potentially 1 million TPSa 300-500x capacity increase. If that works, Solana becomes the only L1 capable of handling institutional trading, payment, and tokenized asset settlement at scale. Banks issuing stablecoins under the GENIUS Act's framework need fast, cheap settlement rails. If Firedancer delivers and Solana proves six months of zero outages through mid-2026, institutions have a viable infrastructure layer for tokenized securities and high-frequency stablecoin transfers. The 5x path to $600-$700 requires Firedancer launching flawlessly in Q1 or Q2, delivering the full 1 million TPS capacity immediately. If Firedancer launches with initial bugs or throughput improvements get phased to 100,000-200,000 TPS by year-end, SOL more likely trades between $200-$300solid 65-145% gains showing progress but not the transformative 5x leap. Data Shows One Habit Doubles Americans Savings And Boosts Retirement Most Americans drastically underestimate how much they need to retire and overestimate how prepared they are. But data shows that people with one habit have more than double the savings of those who dont. And no, its got nothing to do with increasing your income, savings, clipping coupons, or even cutting back on your lifestyle. Its much more straightforward (and powerful) than any of that. Frankly, its shocking more people dont adopt the habit given how easy it is. The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Mr Mutfwang received his APC membership card on Friday at a stakeholders meeting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, marking a major shift in the states political alignment. The governor said his decision to defect was driven by the need for purposeful leadership and clarity of direction, as well as the desire to align Plateau State more closely with the policies and programmes of the federal government to accelerate development and improve service delivery. PREMIUM TIMES reports that Mr Mutfwangs defection comes about two weeks after the national chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, announced that the governor had joined the ruling party. Mr Yilwatda spoke during the partys National Caucus meeting in Abuja on 18 December 2025. With the defection of Governor Mutfwang, the entire North-central region is now governed by the APC, Mr Yilwatda said at the meeting, describing the development as a strategic gain for the ruling party. This newspaper also reported that Mr Mutfwang formally resigned from the PDP in a letter dated 29 December 2025 and addressed to the ward chairman of Ampang West Ward in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State. The governor, who was elected on the PDP platform in 2023, thanked the party for the opportunity it gave him and the support of its members over the years, but said prevailing political realities informed his decision to seek a new platform. His defection adds to a growing list of governors who have recently left the PDP for the APC, further strengthening the ruling partys hold on the North-central geopolitical zone. As Ijebuland prepares to select a successor to the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, debates over the future of the revered stool have shifted from tradition alone to questions of governance, development, and institutional competence. One aspirant, Olawale AdeyemiOriola, believes the next Awujale must combine cultural stewardship with modern leadership skills. In an end of the year interview with reporters, Mr AdeyemiOriola, who is a Prince, said his interest in the Awujale stool is anchored on the need for leadership capable of blending tradition with contemporary governance. Ijebu tradition has always valued wisdom, restraint, and service. But todays Awujale must also understand how institutions work, how to attract development, manage relationships, and protect the long-term interests of the people, he said. He stressed that the stools responsibilities now extend far beyond ceremonial duties, requiring strategic thinking, arbitration skills, and the capacity to engage productively with government, institutions, and global partners. The Awujale must listen carefully, balance competing interests, uphold fairness, and safeguard communal assets. These are the same principles that guide my professional life, he said. A member of the Olufadi/Obanlefa branch of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Mr AdeyemiOriola describes himself as deeply rooted in Ijebu history, while shaped by a global education and professional experience. Resume He holds an Executive LL.M. in Securities and Financial Law from Georgetown University Law Center, a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law, and studied Economics, Finance, and English Literature at Lehman College, City University of New York. His career spans service as Senior Counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and currently as Senior Associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, advising global financial institutions on governance, compliance, and risk management. He is also a partner at The Adomi Group, focusing on fintech, investment, and cultural tourism initiatives across Africa. Prince AdeyemiOriola said his vision for Ijebuland prioritizes economic development, youth empowerment, full electrification, and global promotion of Ijebu culture, all while preserving the Isese tradition and respecting all religions. My commitment is to serve with competence, humility, and loyalty to our traditions, so that the Awujale stool remains a symbol of dignity, unity, and progress, he added. Complicated process The succession process for the Awujale stool has been fraught with tension and legal scrutiny. Oba Adetonas death in July 2025 ended a 65-year reign, and under the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration and Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law of 2021, the next candidate must come from the Fusengbuwa ruling house in rotational order. Efforts by Fusengbuwa to hold a nomination meeting in December 2025 were halted by the Ogun State Government, which cited procedural lapses and ordered a fresh process to avoid potential legal challenges. About 60 princes have expressed interest, while rival claims from the Fidipote ruling houseincluding a high-profile bid by Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1)have intensified scrutiny. The University of Gambia has renamed its School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences after the former President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina. Mr Adesina was honoured in recognition of his contributions to agriculture and food security in Africa. This was disclosed in a statement signed by Victor Oladokun and made available to journalists on Thursday in Lagos. President Adama Barrow unveiled a plaque on Wednesday formally designating the faculty as the Dr Akinwumi Adesina School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the honour celebrates Mr Adesinas leadership during his tenure as AfDB President from 2015 to 2025, when the bank implemented wide-ranging reforms that advanced economic development across the continent. Speaking at the unveiling, Mr Barrow said the renaming reflected The Gambias appreciation of Mr Adesinas visionary leadership and lasting contributions to Africas agricultural transformation. Under Mr Adesinas leadership, the AfDB rolled out the High 5s development agenda, which includes Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Integrate Africa, Industrialise Africa and Improve the Quality of Life of Africans. This, according to bank data, impacted more than 535 million people. During the same period, the Banks capital base grew from $93 billion to $318 billion, the highest in its history, while the institution retained its AAA credit rating and won several global awards. NAN reports that Mr Adesina also spearheaded the Feed Africa Strategy, which provided food security for more than 104 million people and strengthened agricultural productivity across the continent. In The Gambia, the AfDB under Mr Adesina financed the Senegambia Bridge, a landmark project that has significantly reduced travel time between The Gambia and Senegal and boosted trade and regional integration. The decision to rename the faculty was conveyed in a letter dated 27 November 2025, by the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez. Your tenure as President of the African Development Bank has been transformative, driving economic growth, poverty reduction and sustainable development across Africa, Mr Gomez said. He added that Mr Adesinas leadership in launching the Feed Africa Strategy and the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative had revolutionised agricultural productivity and food security. The university stated that the gesture was intended to inspire students to emulate Mr Adesinas vision, determination, and commitment to Africas development. In a letter of appreciation to President Barrow, Mr Adesina described the honour as exceptional. It is with great humility and deep gratitude that I express my appreciation for the renaming of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in my honour, he said. NAN recalls that President Barrow, in 2023, conferred on Adesina The Gambias highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic, in recognition of his contributions to the country and Africa. (NAN) Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) have successfully foiled an attempted incursion by bandits into some communities in the Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State after a prolonged gun battle. The clash, which started late Thursday night and lasted till the early hours of Friday, occurred in Yankwada, Babanduhu and other neighbouring villages in the area. Confirming the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Nigerian Armys spokesperson in Kano, Zubair Babatunde, said the bandits attempted to invade the communities on motorcycles while firing sporadically. Mr Babatunde said the attack was a revenge mission following the loss of some of the bandits fighters to superior military firepower during an earlier encounter last week. According to him, the assailants stormed the affected villages at about 1:00 a.m., prompting a swift response from the troops. The bandits were effectively engaged and dislodged by the military, he said. Mr Babatunde added that the timely intervention of the JTF prevented casualties and significant property damage in the affected communities. READ ALSO: Bauchi commissioner gets bail in money laundering case but still detained over terrorism financing trial He reassured residents of the area of the militarys commitment to protecting lives and property, urging them to continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information. The army spokesperson said the military remained on high alert to prevent further attacks and sustain peace across the state. (NAN) MNT/BRM Two Nigerian newspapers, which published a false story accusing the President of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed, of unethical conduct, have retracted the story and tendered an apology to Mr Mojeed. The two papers The Authority and Peoples Daily had separately published a false report in December claiming that a non-profit organisation, Global Rights Nigeria, accused Mr Mojeed of lacking integrity. But the papers quickly retracted the story and apologised to Mr Mojeed after Global Rights Nigeria said it did not issue a statement, which the papers said they had relied on for the false story. The apology and retraction by The Authority newspaper was signed by its Executive Director, Chuks Akunna and published on the newspapers website. The newspaper described its story as regrettable and phantom. The management of The Authority Newspapers hereby apologises for the regrettable and phantom report that somehow found its way into our website, Mr Akunna said. The newspaper claimed that internal investigations revealed that the login details of its late executive director (publications) were used to post the false story without authorisation. The paper added that there were strong pointers that this mishap was the handiwork of an ex-employee. It stated that it had since blocked access to the compromised login details and was continuing its investigations, while stressing that it holds IPI Nigeria in high esteem and would not participate in any campaign to undermine the institute. We are deeply sorry, the statement concluded. The other newspaper, the Peoples Daily, admitted that the allegations it had earlier published against Mr Mojeed were inaccurate. Detailed fact-check by the Peoples Daily has revealed the allegations attributed to a civil society organisation and other commentators were unsubstantiated, speculative, and did not reflect the true character, professional conduct, or record of Mr Mojeed. We have since established that Mr Musikilu Mojeed has not engaged in any form of unethical journalism, intimidation, racketeering, or financial impropriety as earlier implied in our report, the Peoples Daily stated on its website. The newspaper admitted that its reports did not adequately verify the claims before publication nor offer Mr Mojeed and IPI Nigeria sufficient opportunity to respond, a lapse it described as regrettable. Peoples Daily further clarified that no credible evidence exists to support allegations that Mr Mojeed or Premium Times demanded advertorials, received inducements, or accepted payments from government officials or corporate bodies in exchange for favourable or unfavourable coverage. The investigative reports published by Premium Times under Mr Mojeeds leadership were products of independent journalism carried out in line with global best practices. The paper apologised to Mr Mojeed, IPI Nigeria, and Premium Times for the false report. Global Rights Nigerias rebuttal In its rebuttal, Global Rights Nigeria stated that the publication was fabricated, malicious, and entirely false, insisting that it had never issued any statement accusing the IPI Nigeria president of unethical conduct. It stated that its Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, did not at any time sign, authorise, approve, or endorse the statement in question, and that the organisation did not engage with The Authority newspaper on the matter. Global Rights had demanded an immediate retraction and public apology, warning that it had begun consulting legal advisers and citing Section 375 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act on the publication of defamatory matter known to be false. Mojeeds reaction Immediately after the false report against him and IPI Nigeria surfaced on the Internet, Mr Mojeed wrote to IPI Nigeria members, informing them about it. Mr Mojeed, who linked the false report to the IPI Nigerias recent decision to blacklist two Nigerian governors and the inspector-general of police for their repressive actions against journalists, vowed not to be intimidated by the campaign of calumny. No amount of intimidation, mudslinging, or character assassination will deter IPI Nigeria from its mission. We remain committed to press freedom, journalists safety, ethical journalism, and an improved operating environment for the Nigerian media, Mr Mojeed stated in his communication to the IPI Nigeria members. In December, the IPI Nigeria blacklisted Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun for their attack on the media. Except for Governor Eno, who resorted to a campaign of calumny against the IPI Nigeria, Messrs Bago and Egbetokun have been engaging the IPI Nigeria on how they could be delisted from the organisations Book of Infamy. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all pending defamation suits against individuals who had allegedly made false claims against him. Mr Akpabio gave the directive on Thursday while speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish, Uyo, after listening to a New Year sermon delivered by the parish priest. Although he did not mention any names, one of the prominent cases likely to be affected by the decision is the defamation suit he instituted against Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over allegations of sexual harassment. The senate president explained that the sermon, which centred on forgiveness, love and letting go of past grievances, deeply moved him. I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name. But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitors to withdraw all lawsuits against them, Mr Akpabio said. In 2025, Mr Akpabio had sued Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court over allegations of sexual harassment she made against him. The suit, filed on 25 August by his lawyer, S. I. Ameh, SAN, sought N200 billion in general damages and N500 million as litigation costs. He also demanded a public apology and a formal retraction of the allegations in national newspapers. In addition to that case, Mr Akpabio had filed other defamation suits against the Kogi Central senator over the same allegations. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan has denied the allegations nas filed separate suits against the senate president. Separately, the senate presidents wife, Ekaette Akpabio, also instituted a lawsuit against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, demanding N350 billion in damages for alleged damages to her husbands reputation. The Priests Sermon During the service, the Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish, Aka, Donatus Udoette, urged worshippers to embrace peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. Mr Udoette, who is also the Vicar-General of the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, admonished attendees to let go of past hurts and grievances, stressing that healing and progress come only through forgiveness. You have to let go of the past, no matter what it was. All of us carry some luggage of pain and hurt. You have to let go if you want to move on, he admonished. By mid-2025, Nigerias security situation had drifted far from the early wins of President Bola Tinubus administration. What unfolded instead was a year defined by jihadists infiltration from the Sahel, the re-emergence of mass abductions, and a controversial international episode involving US President Donald Trump that exposed the fragility of Nigerias counter-terrorism diplomacy. Taken together, these developments tanked the gains the Bola Tinubu government had achieved since it came into power in 2023. The developments also show that insecurity remains Nigerias number one governance challenge. Jihadists without borders Perhaps the most alarming security trend of 2025 was the growing sense that Nigerias northern frontiers were more porous and could not be protected from the spillover of violence in the Sahel, where jihadists in the folds of Islamic States and al-Qaeda are expanding their horizons. The arrests of key Ansaru figures signalled concerns about al-Qaedaaligned networks with transnational reach. Unlike the other jihadi groupsBoko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)largely contained in the North-east and the Lake Chad region, Ansarus historical footprint spans north-central and north-western Nigeria, with deep links to cross-border logistics, arms trafficking and illicit trade. While Ansaru struggles to fill the leadership gap created by the arrests, the groups Sahelian allies fighting under the banner of al-Qaeda-linked Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) announced their presence in Nigeria, further blurring Nigerias counterterrorism war. At the same time, security agencies intensified monitoring of Lakurawa fighters and the Sadiku-led Boko Haram faction around Nigerias borders with Benin and Niger. The implication was clear: Nigerias security challenge in 2025 was no longer purely domestic and was increasingly shaped by regional jihadi terror campaigns. President Tinubu acknowledged the transnational nature of Nigerias security crisis in his New Year message and said his administration would work with partners to address the threat. In 2026, our security and intelligence agencies will deepen cooperation with regional and global partners to eliminate all threats to national security, he said. The cost of command losses This security crisis was compounded by the killing of Musa Uba, a brigadier general, one of the most senior military officers lost in combat in recent years. Beyond the immediate operational shock, the incident carried symbolic weight. Analysts believe that high-ranking officer casualties erode troop morale. Mr Ubas death raised difficult questions about intelligence penetration, battlefield exposure, and the adaptability of armed groups that Nigeria continues to fight. Still in the military, President Bola Tinubu sacked some military chiefs. Only the Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, was retained and promoted to the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). However, about a month later, the former CDS, Christopher Musa, was appointed the defence minister, following the resignation of Mohammed Abubakar. Security gains Despite the challenges, 2025 was not without security gains for the Tinubu administration. These included the killing and arrests of several terrorists in the North. The Defence Headquarters, in its 2025 report, said 1,323 suspects were arrested while 1,616 others surrendered in the North-east. Military spokesperson Micheal Onoja told journalists in Abuja on Wednesday that 498 kidnapped victims were rescued as troops recovered arms, vehicles and equipment, alongside N32 million in cash during various operations. This, he said, was in addition to the destruction of terrorist camps in the region. In the North-West, Mr Onoja said troops under Operation Fansan Yamma killed scores of terrorists, arrested 669 suspects, and rescued 966 abducted persons. He added that precision airstrikes on ISIS enclaves in the Bauni Forest, Sokoto State, destroyed key terrorist assembly points without recording civilian casualties. In the North-central region, the defence spokesperson said troops of Operation Enduring Peace killed many terrorists, arrested 822 suspects, rescued 217 abducted victims, and recovered sophisticated weapons. He added that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke also killed many extremists, arrested 459 suspects, and rescued 538 hostages, alongside the recovery of additional arms and ammunition. Killings that defined the year While arrests and battlefield gains defined the governments successes, mass killings defined the years failures. In April 2025, terrorists attacked communities in Benue State, killing over 100 residents in coordinated assaults that overwhelmed local defences and security response. Similar attacks were recorded in parts of Plateau, Zamfara, and Kaduna states, often framed along ethnic or religious lines. In January 2025, suspected ISWAP fighters stormed Dumba, a village on the shores of Lake Chad, killing at least 40 farmers. Trumps evangelism Nigerias security narrative took an unexpected international turn following a dramatic episode involving President Trump, whose public remarks and engagements with American evangelical constituencies framed Nigerias violence primarily through a Christian persecution lens. Calling Nigeria a now-disgraced country, Mr Trump threatened military action in Nigeria if the West African country failed to stop what he described as Christian genocide. However, the Nigerian government disputed his claim, explaining that Nigerians of all backgrounds and faiths are being targeted by armed groups. While not immediately accompanied by direct military action, the episode unsettled Nigerian officials. It risked oversimplifying Nigerias complex security crises into a single religious conflict, potentially inflaming domestic tensions. For the Nigerian government, the concern was not just optics. It was the danger that Nigerias security challenges could be externally instrumentalised for ideological messaging abroad, complicating cooperation and inflaming internal fault lines. What followed Mr Trumps outburst was a series of diplomatic actions by both parties. Then, there was a resurgence of mass abductions that seemed tactical and strategic on the terrorists side. US airstrikes and civilian Impact Weeks after threatening military action in Nigeria, the United States launched airstrikes that targeted Islamic Stateaffiliated terrorists in Sokoto. The operation was publicly confirmed by President Trump and acknowledged by Nigerian authorities. The Nigerian government said President Bola Tinubu approved the strikes and that Nigerian security agencies also provided intelligence used by the US for the strikes. Mr Trump described the targets of the airstrikes as terrorists who have continued to kill Christians in Nigeria. While official statements framed the strikes as precise and coordinated with Nigerian forces, reports emerged of munitions debris landing in civilian areas, including Jabo, a rural community in Sokoto. The incident led to panic. Resurgence of mass abductions If there was one security issue that most visibly undercut the Tinubu governments achievements in 2025, it was the resurgence of mass abductions, particularly school kidnappings and attacks on worship centres. After years of policy declarations and military deployments, armed groups once again demonstrated their ability to seize dozens of civilians. In November alone, there were three mass abductions: two at schools in Kebbi and Niger, and the other at a Church in Kwara State. The political damage was significant. Such abductions are not just crimes; they are symbols of state failure, instantly undoing claims of improved security. Most of the kidnapped victims were later freed, although the government declined to state the conditions that led to their release, with President Tinubu saying, The end justifies the means. Policy Responses and Structural Reforms In response to mounting insecurity, the Tinubu administration pushed several policy and legislative measures in 2025. Some of these include renewed momentum on the state police bill, aimed at decentralising security and empowering sub-national governments. Among other measures, the government also deployed newly trained 7,000 forest guards to reclaim ungoverned forests used by bandits and insurgents. From the North-east to the North-central, terrorists have continued to use forest reserves as hideouts. While these initiatives signalled intent, PREMIUM TIMES will monitor their implementation in 2026 A year that flattened achievements By the close of 2025, Nigerias security landscape told a sobering story. The marginal gains the Tinubu administration citedarrests, killings and dislodging of terroristswere overshadowed by trends it could not easily reverse. Rather than a year of consolidation, 2025 became a reminder that security gains in Nigeria are fragile, reversible, and easily eclipsed by a single mass kidnapping or killings. In that sense, the year, arguably, did not merely challenge the governments winsit flattened them. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has provided an update on the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy, announcing that the exercise has been placed on hold nationwide following an interim court order. The Force recalled that on 15 December 2025, it announced the resumption of enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy, with effect from 2 January 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen public safety and internal security. However, the police disclosed that it was subsequently served with an interim order of court in Suit No. HOR/FHR/M/31/2025, issued on 17 December 2025, restraining it from proceeding with the enforcement of the policy pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or the vacation of the order. In line with its constitutional obligations and respect for judicial authority, the police said it has entered appearance in the matter, raised preliminary objections, and formally applied for the vacation of the interim order. The court has adjourned the case to 20 January 2026 for further proceedings. Accordingly, and strictly in compliance with the subsisting court order, the Nigeria Police Force has placed the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy on hold nationwide, pending the decision of the court, the statement said. READ ALSO: Court issues fresh order restraining police from enforcing tinted glass permit policy The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to upholding the rule of law while carrying out its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property. He noted that the police would continue to deploy lawful, intelligence-driven strategies to tackle security challenges and safeguard public safety across the country. The police assured members of the public that further updates and clear guidance on the tinted glasses permit policy would be communicated as appropriate after the courts determination of the matter, in the overriding interest of public order and national security. The statement was signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, and dated 1 January 2026. The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, who is facing N4.65 billion money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Judge Emeka Nwite granted the commissioner bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties. Mr Adamu and his corporate codefendant, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd, were arraigned on Tuesday on six counts, including conspiracy, money laundering and unlawful acquisition of funds. Fridays ruling may not immediately lead to Mr Adamus release from custody as he remains under another remand order which detained him in the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja till 5 January (Monday). On Wednesday, a day after the commissioner was arraigned on money laundering charges, the EFCC arraigned him and a set of former and serving Bauchi State officials on $9.7 million terrorism financing charges before the same judge, who ordered their detention in prison pending the ruling on their bail application slated for Monday. Arraignment and bail arguments The EFCC arraigned Mr Adamu and his co-defendant earlier on Tuesday, accusing them of N4.65 billion money launderig. The EFCC alleged in the six charges that Mr Adamu, who is the prime suspect, committed the alleged offences in 2023 while he was the branch manager of Polaris Bank in Bauchi. The prosecution alleged that the defendants channeled funds through a series of complex transactions to disguise its illicit origin from an unlawful activity. According to the EFCC, the defendants carried out the fraudulent scheme under the guise of financing the purchase of motorcycles for the Bauchi State Government. It said the motorcycles were never delivered. However, the defendants denied all the charges during the arraignment. Mr Adamus lawyer then presented his bail application, which the EFCC opposed. In opposing the bail request, EFCCs lawyer, Samuel Chime, cited the gravity of the allegations and the need to ensure the defendants presence throughout the trial. In response, the defendants lawyer, Gordy Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that the law gives the court discretionary powers to grant bail. He said Mr Adamus continued detention hindered his ability to perform critical state duties, including overseeing the payment of Bauchi State workers salaries. After their arguments, the trial judge ordered that Mr Adamu be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling on the bail application today, Friday, 2 January. Court grants commissioner bail, sets condtions Delivering ruling on Friday, the judge said the decision to grant or refuse bail is based on different factors, including the evidence against the accused, availability to stand trial, nature and gravity of the offence, likelihood of reoffending, interference with justice, criminal antecedents, and necessity for protective or medical measures. Mr Nwite explained further that the primary consideration in granting Mr Adamu bail was the likelihood of the defendant appearing for trial. In this case, he said, the prosecution has not demonstrated that the applicant will abscond or interfere with witnesses. He granted Mr Adamu bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties. Judge Nwite ordered that the two sureties must own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa districts of Abuja and provide proof of ownership to the court. The judge further directed that Mr Adamu deposit his passport with the court and not travel abroad without permission, and that he and his sureties provide two recent passport photographs. Mr Nwite said the bail conditions were designed to ensure the effective administration of justice. He directed that Mr Adamu remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are fully met. The matter was adjourned to 20 January for commencement of trial. New Years celebrations ended in tragedy in Switzerland on Thursday as a devastating fire tore through Le Constellation, a popular bar at the upscale Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana. Al Jazeera reported that at least 40 people were killed and 115 others injured, making it one of the deadliest incidents in modern Swiss history. The blaze erupted in the early hours of 1 January, with smoke first reported around 1:30 a.m. local time, police authorities told CNN. Families of the missing faced an agonising wait for news of their loved ones on Friday as Swiss officials said identifying those killed in the fire, which includes citizens of multiple countries, could take several days. Witnesses described a scene of panic and chaos as flames rapidly engulfed the basement bar. Revellers screamed and smashed windows in desperate attempts to escape the inferno. People were frantically pushing to get through a small door. We all fell, piled on top of each other, some were burning, and others were dead next to us, 17-year-old Laetitia Place, who was inside the bar during the fire, told Reuters. Another eyewitness, Samuel Rapp, said: People were screaming, and then people lying on the ground, probably dead. They had jackets over their faces. Authorities confirmed that the victims include citizens from multiple countries, including 15 Italians, nine French nationals, and one Australian. Hospitals in French-speaking Switzerland were overwhelmed with burn victims. Valais hospitals ICU reached full capacity, prompting patient transfers to other facilities. University Hospital Zurich is treating 12 patients with burns. Police and Swiss authorities have ruled out a terror attack, saying the tragedy is being treated as a fire incident. Al Jazeera reported Beatrice Pilloud, prosecutor-general of Valais, as saying: Currently, we are favouring a fire. At no time is there any question of an attack. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with initial reports suggesting that sparklers in champagne bottles may have ignited the blaze. However, officials caution that confirming the origin will take time. Officials said they focused on identifying victims, a process expected to take several days due to the severity of burns. Of the 115 people injured in the fire, a significant number have been classified as in a critical condition, said Swiss State Council president Mathias Reynard. Nothing can be told to families unless we are 100 per cent sure. Videos circulating online show panicked crowds fleeing the bar, with some jumping from windows and others trampling one another in the chaos. Emergency response included 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances, and 150 personnel. However, the sheer scale of the disaster overwhelmed local medical facilities. Le Constellation is located in the heart of Crans-Montana, a luxury ski resort approximately 200 kilometres south of Bern. The fire, which Swiss officials described as an embrasement generalise a rapid ignition of combustible gases leading to violent flashovers marks the deadliest fire in Switzerland in decades. The tragedy has drawn international attention, and a vigil was held near the bar Thursday night, with mourners laying flowers, lighting candles, and comforting one another. Piermarco Pani, 18, told Reuters: You think youre safe here, but this can happen anywhere. They were people like us. Swiss authorities continue to investigate the origin of the fire, safety compliance, and the total number of people present during the incident. The local area remains cordoned off, and a temporary no-fly zone has been imposed over Crans-Montana. Key Points Growth at Amazon's cloud computing segment is reaccelerating. Advertising services is the fastest-growing division within Amazon. Yet, the tech giant's stock is at the same valuation level as its peers. 10 stocks we like better than Amazon Amazon had a disappointing 2025, with the stock only rising around 6% while the S&P 500 gained around 18%. That's a sharp underperformance and will have been frustrating for investors since nearly every other big tech company had a much better year. However, thanks to its underperformance, Amazon may be slated to enjoy a much better year ahead. So, could Amazon be the comeback stock of the year in 2026? I've got three reasons why I think that will be the case, and investors should consider adding Amazon to their portfolio as a result. Image source: Amazon. 1. Amazon Web Services is picking up steam Although Amazon Web Services (AWS) may not be the first thing you think of when you hear Amazon, it's the most important in my opinion. AWS is Amazon's cloud computing wing, and is benefiting from two massive tailwinds. First is the general migration to the cloud. Before cloud computing, companies had to host websites on premises and maintain expensive networking equipment. They also had to maintain servers to hold information, and if a server went down, it could have catastrophic consequences. Now, many companies are migrating these workloads to the cloud, and AWS is the largest cloud provider in the market. Cloud computing is also a key part of artificial intelligence, as few companies have the resources to build out their own data centers to house expensive computing equipment. Instead, many are opting to rent computing power from AWS to run these workloads, which is kick-starting a new phase of growth for AWS. In the third quarter, the AWS segment saw revenue rise 20% year over year -- its fastest growth rate in multiple years. This is a big deal for Amazon, as AWS accounted for 66% of operating profits during the quarter. With Amazon's most profitable business unit reaccelerating its growth rate and well-positioned to cash in on two massive trends toward the cloud, it bodes well for Amazon's future. 2. Advertising services are boosting commerce margins Another key part of Amazon's business is advertising. Although Amazon doesn't break out its operating margin as it does with AWS, it's obvious that advertising services have played a key role in boosting Amazon's commerce operating margins over the past few years. Most advertising companies have an operating margin of around 30% to 40%. And so with Amazon's ad services generating $17.7 billion in revenue during Q3, the low end of that range would indicate $5.3 billion in operating profits. The detention of the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and two of his relatives, was extended by five days on Friday, after the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned ruling on their bail application. Trial judge Emeka Nwite, on Friday, scheduled the bail ruling for 7 January (Wednesday) after a hearing. As of Friday morning, Mr Malami, alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Asabe Bashir, had already spent three nights at the Correctional Centre in Kuje, Abuja, following their arraignment on N8.7 billion money laundering charges on 30 December 2025 (Tuesday). After their arraignment, the judge remanded them in prison pending the hearing of their bail application scheduled for Friday. With the bail ruling now scheduled for 7 January, the trio may have to spend at least eight days altogether in prison if their bail application eventually succeeds. The ongoing detention period is separate from the time they had spent in EFCC custody before their arraignment. The family members were brought to court for arraignment on 30 December from EFCC custody. While Mr Malami spent 22 nights in EFCC custody, from the time he was detained on 8 December, his wife and son spent about a week there, between 23 December and when they were arraigned on 30 December. After Fridays bail hearing, the Kuje Correctional Centre officials took the defendants back to custody, where they will remain till 7 January, scheduled for ruling. Bail hearing During the hearing on Friday, EFCCs lawyer Ekele Iheanacho, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), opposed the defendants bail application. But the defence lawyer Joseph Daudu, also a SAN, argued that the offences were bailable and urged the judge to consider Mr Malamis status as a former AGF to grant the defendants bail on self-respect and liberal terms. In his submission, Mr Daudu referenced a ruling delivered earlier on Friday by the same judge granting N500 million bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, who is standing trial for money laundering. Mr Daudu, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, argued that the development in that case showed that the offences his clients were accused of are bailable. According to sections 158 and 162 of the ACJA and your lordships ruling this morning, the court has a firm grasp of the issue. I adopt that ruling, he said. Mr Daudu stressed that the defendants in the referenced case enjoyed the presumption of innocence under section 36(5) of the Nigerian constitution. Their rights to liberty and movement remain intact under the 1999 Constitution, and the conditions for curtailing them are not present here, he said. He also dismissed EFCCs claim that Mr Malami might interfere with witnesses. He described paragraphs 8, 9, and 11 of the counter-affidavit as mere blanket and generic speculative tales by moonlight. He cited precedents to show that speculation alone cannot deny bail. The defence disputed claims in paragraph 10 of the counter-affidavit that the defendants might jump bail, noting the EFCC had previously granted them an administrative bail. A party that granted administrative bail to now oppose a competent courts order; they can grant it, but the court cannot? he asked. He accused the EFCC of disobeying a court order granting the defendants a pre-trial bail. The ruling Mr Daudu referred to relates to a bail granted to Mr Malami by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on 23 December. The court granted the bail in the same conditions earlier set by the EFCC. Both parties disagreed over the conditions. Mr Malami maintained that he had already fulfilled the bail conditions before the EFCC allegedly revoked it. But the EFCC denied revoking the bail and argued that the former minister had yet to meet the conditions for pre-trial release. The applicant was not arraigned until 30 December, Mr Daudu said, adding, yet they (EFCC) disobeyed the order, he said. He urged the court to grant bail, stressing that here in court we know only the law. Prosecutions response Responding to Mr Daudu, the prosecution lawyer, Mr Iheanacho, said the defence failed to contradict the prosecutions evidence of inherent risks in granting bail to the defendants. The law provides that facts not disputed in a counter-affidavit are deemed admitted, he said. He claimed that the defences withdrawal of the further affidavits earlier in the proceedings weakened the bail application. He said it meant that the prosecutions claim that the defendants would interfere with witnesses was not contradicted. Mr Iheanacho said tampering with witnesses undermines a fair trial and that when a defendant shows a willingness to interfere, constraints are necessary. On the ex parte bail order that Mr Daudu claimed EFCC disobeyed, Mr Iheanacho said it had limited relevance, stressing that the current trial is independent and the prosecution must have the chance to argue against bail. Granting administrative bail during investigation is completely different from during trial because the stages are not the same, he said. Hurdle to hearing crossed EFCC prosecutor, Mr Iheanacho, initially stood against the hearing of the application on Friday, saying he received additional filings from the defence just before proceedings started and would need time to respond to them. Responding, Mr Daudu maintained that the case was slated for a definite hearing. He added that he was ready for the hearing despite the fact that his team was only served with the prosecutions counter-affidavit to his clients bail application just Friday morning too. He said he had immediately responded to the prosecutions counter-affidavit and submitted that the request for further adjournment of the hearing was an attempt by the prosecution to unduly extend the defendants detention in prison. You have no right to reply again or seek to further delay the matter. It is unfair because they are already in detention, Mr Daudu said. He then opted not to rely on the newly filed processes again to enable the hearing to proceed. The prosecution did not oppose, and the judge struck out the further affidavits filed by the defence on Friday. After the hearing of the bail application, the judge fixed 7 January for ruling. The charges In the 16 counts brought against them, the EFCC accused them of money laundering involving N8.7 billion worth of suspicious assets. The charges accused the defendants of shady acquisitions and concealment of the origins of the multi-billion-naira worth of assets, in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi. Already, EFCC has traced more than N200 billion worth of assets, including a university, hotel, and residential houses, among others, to Mr Malami in the three locations. The charges described Mr Malamis wife, Ms Bashir, as an employee of a firm linked to the former minister, Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd., which is alleged to have played a key role in the alleged money laundering scheme. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts. EFCC is expected to start calling witnesses after the ruling on bail is delivered. Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, on Thursday, urged residents of the state not to be troubled in the face of rising political tension. Speaking during the New Year crossover service at the Government House Chapel in Port Harcourt, Mr Fubara assured the residents that his administration would not be distracted or intimidated by those beating drums of war in the state. The governors comments followed a recent threat by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to reveal details of the agreement reached between him and Mr Fubara during an emergency rule in the south-southern state. Mr Wike had, on 31 December, threatened to make public the agreement he had reached with Mr Fubara before President Bola Tinubu, as the governor had allegedly breached the agreement. After agreeing on something, you renege. And you think you are a smart politician? You are clever by half, Mr Wike, the immediate governor of Rivers State, stated. Its political noise Speaking during the crossover service, Mr Fubara called on Rivers people to rise above what he termed political noise and intimidation in the state. Drawing lessons from the Bible, the governor urged the residents to listen for the still small voice of God rather than be distracted by threats and provocations from his opponents. He emphasised that prayer, restraint, and peaceful engagement, rather than confrontation, will continue to define his governments approach to leadership and governance in 2026. We do not have the instrument of war; the only thing we have is our knees, and we will continue to pray to God. Do not be troubled by the sounds of war you are hearing, Mr Fubara said. The governor recalled that the first two years of his administration were marked by turbulence and internal challenges that slowed the pace of development. He contended that the state weathered the storm without being overwhelmed, stressing that the survival of Rivers State through the period was proof of divine intervention and collective resilience. He added that the state is entering the New Year with strength, hope, and the assurance that those who trust in God will not be put to shame. The governor also reaffirmed his commitment to peace and political maturity in Rivers State, pledging that any support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections would be based on dialogue, mutual understanding, and respect, rather than coercion or threats. He commended the people of the state and loyal supporters of his administration for their steadfastness and courage, noting that their resilience had helped the government remain focused and stable despite sustained pressure. Fresh political tension in Rivers In the wake of the recent political tension in Rivers, Mr Fubara has faced criticism and accusations from Mr Wike and his allies in the Rivers House of Assembly in recent times. Last month, for instance, Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule, slammed the governor, accusing him of neglecting public primary and secondary schools in the state. Mr Amaewhule had also accused Governor Fubara of deliberately lying about his engagement with the states lawmakers. The speaker had accused Mr Fubara of lying when he said he had not met with them. The lawmakers claimed that they met twice with the governor and other leaders. He also claimed the governor had refused to honour the terms of the peace deal brokered by President Tinubu. Similarly, on 30 December, the Rivers lawmakers announced that they would return the sum of N100,000 credited to their personal bank accounts by the state government, accusing Mr Fubara of authorising the payment without approval from the assembly. The lawmakers stated that they planned to take immediate steps to return the money to the Rivers State Governments account upon discovering the transfers. The Rivers State Government, however, clarified that the fund was a Christmas bonus which was paid to all civil and public office holders in the state, without discrimination. Background Before now, a political crisis in Rivers, triggered by the feud between Governor Fubara and Mr Wike resulted in the declaration of emergency rule in the state by president Tinubu in March 2025. Mr Fubara, who was suspended by Mr Tinubu for six months alongside all elected officials in the state, only returned to office in September of that year after the president declared an end to the emergency rule. This was after President Tinubu brokered a second peace deal in June between Messrs Fubara and Wike alongside their supporters. At least three major markets in Lagos have been affected by separate fire outbreaks within one week during the Yuletide season, causing heavy losses to traders and renewing concerns over fire safety in the states major commercial centres. The latest incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when a fire gutted several shops in a storey shopping complex beside Ikotun Roundabout, Lagos State. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday. Its Director, Margaret Adeseye, said the agency received a distress call at about 12:22 a.m., while firefighters arrived at the scene 10 minutes later. According to her, the fire involved a storey building shopping complex comprising 24 shops of varying sizes, many of which contained electronic goods worth millions of naira. The affected shops and their contents were severely damaged by fire, Ms Adeseye said. She explained that firefighting teams from the Enigbo, Isolo, and Ijegun fire stations deployed foam and water appliances to contain the blaze. At the same time, police officers from the Ikotun Division maintained security at the scene. The fire was successfully extinguished with no casualties recorded, she said, adding that preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was caused by an electrical surge linked to negligence. Oshodi market fire The Ikotun incident occurred less than 72 hours after another fire outbreak gutted parts of Arena Market in the Bolade area of Oshodi. On Tuesday evening, a fire broke out at the Arena Shopping Mall along Agege Motor Road. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a post on X, saying emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene. In a separate statement, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said fire crews from the Bolade, Ilupeju, Ikeja and Alausa fire stations arrived within five minutes and swiftly contained the fire. Ms Adeseye said the fire affected a section of Arena Market consisting of five 40-foot container shops arranged in two rows, bringing the total number of affected shops to 10. No casualty was recorded, while the cause of the fire was not immediately established. Lagos Island plaza tragedy The Great Nigeria Insurance Plaza in the Balogun Market area of Lagos Island was also gutted by fire on 24 December. Recovery operations have continued there. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the fire started on the fourth floor of the 25-storey commercial building on Martins Street before spreading to other floors, adjoining structures and nearby shops. During the inferno, a detached section of the building, estimated at about seven floors, collapsed.In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos State Government said emergency responders were immediately deployed after the fire alert was received. According to the government, teams from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), security agencies and other emergency units have remained at the site, conducting coordinated search, rescue and recovery operations in line with international emergency response protocols. Providing an update on casualties as of Thursday morning, the government said eight males, including a firefighter, were rescued with varying degrees of injuries and taken to hospitals. It added that three males and two females who sustained minor injuries were treated at the scene and discharged. The government also confirmed fatalities, saying one adult female and two adult males were recovered dead from the rubble, while three other persons were reported to have been burnt in the inferno. The state government urged the public, affected families and other stakeholders to exercise restraint and refrain from spreading speculations that could heighten public anxiety or undermine ongoing operations. Emergency responders said recovery efforts were continuing, as relatives and associates of traders continued to search for missing loved ones. Reacting to the incident, the Shitta-Bey family of Lagos, owners of the Great Nigeria Building, expressed sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the victims families. The family said it was cooperating with relevant authorities and noted that the building was adequately insured. Recurring concern Fire outbreaks have remained frequent in major Lagos markets, including Balogun, Mile 12, Ladipo and Oko-Baba, often resulting in significant economic losses and, in some cases, fatalities. Authorities have repeatedly urged traders and property owners to improve electrical safety and fire prevention measures. Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) clashed on Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over control of the courtroom during a hearing in the money laundering trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami. Mr Malami is standing trial along with his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Asabe Bashir, on N8.7 billion money laundering charges that revolve around alleged illegitimate acquisition of assets and concealment of their illicit origins. The EFCC had kept the defendants in a pre-trial detention before it arraigned them before trial judge Emeka Nwite on 30 December (Tuesday). Following the arraignment, the judge ordered the defendants remand in the Kuje Correctional Centre under the supervision of the NCoS and fixed Friday (today) for the hearing of their bail application. The courts decision forced the former AGF and his two family members to pass their first night of the year in prison. The standoff The confrontation between officers of the EFCC and the NCoS ensued during the bail hearing on Friday. Ahead of the proceedings, EFCC officers took over the entrance of the courtroom to control movement in and out. In the process, the anti-corruption agencys officers blocked senior prison officials escorting Mr Malami from gaining entry. Tension further escalated as both sides argued over who should control security in the court. The courtroom standoff unfolded amid a general tense court environment on Friday. Armed EFCC operatives, with their armoured vehicles, took position at the gate of the court complex. EFCC operatives blocked intending attendees of the proceedings, including some senior prison officials and journalists, from gaining entry into the courtroom, saying the courtroom had a limited space that cannot accommodate everyone. But the senior prison officers escorting Mr Malami insisted they must be allowed inside as part of their official duties. The EFCC operatives maintained the case was under its jurisdiction, but prison officials countered that the anti-graft agency had no authority over courtroom arrangements once the prisoner had been handed over to the court. Eyewitnesses said the supremacy battle became so tense at a point that the operatives from both the EFCC and the NCoS reportedly drew guns. The shouting match caused panic, forcing court staff and litigants to take cover. However, normalcy was restored following the intervention of officers from the State Security Service (SSS) and the Chief Security Officer of the Federal High Court. Arraignment and bail hearing PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Malami was arraigned alongside his son and wife on Tuesday (30 December 2025) on 16 counts of money laundering. The EFCC alleged that the defendants set up a money laundering scheme to illegally acquire funds and landed assets in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states, worth billions of naira, and conceal their illicit origins. The defendants, who were brought to the court by EFCC officers for the arraignment on Tuesday, denied all the charges. On Friday, the court heard their bail applications, which the EFCC opposed. Trial judge Emeka Nwite adjourned ruling till 7 January, which amounted to an extension of the defendants detention in prison by additional five days. After Fridays hearing, the prison officials took the defendants back to custody. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered the demolition of the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, following a deadly fire that claimed eight lives there. The governor announced the decision on Friday after visiting the site of the incident earlier on Friday, describing the structure and its surroundings as unsafe. As of today, we have confirmed eight deaths, Mr Sanwo-Olu said in a post on his official X handle Five victims have been identified, while three remain unidentified. Thirteen people have been rescued so far. The governors statement provides the latest official update on the casualty figures. He said emergency responders were still carefully working through the debris, particularly at the rear of the building, to ensure that no one remained trapped. The governor disclosed that an information centre had been established at the site to assist victims and members of the public seeking updates. Officers from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), and other response agencies are stationed there. Mr Sanwo-Olu warned that the entire area remained unsafe and announced the closure of the market around the building, stressing that no business or unauthorised activity should take place at the site. The market is closed, and only first responders are permitted on the site, he said. He described the tragedy as a reminder of the dangers posed by unsafe practices around markets, particularly the improper use of generators and the construction of shops close to electricity transformers, which he said significantly increased risks in the area. Following a comprehensive structural review, the governor said the GNI building would be demolished using the safest possible methods. He added that some surrounding structures would also be removed to prevent further danger. While these are difficult decisions, we must prioritise the safety of lives above all else, he said. The governor expressed sympathy with families who lost loved ones and with residents and business owners affected by the fire, pledging to personally oversee the recovery process. Background The GNI Plaza in the Balogun Market area of Lagos Island was gutted by fire on 24 December, with recovery operations still ongoing. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the fire started on the fourth floor of the 25-storey commercial building before spreading to other floors, adjoining structures and nearby shops. During the inferno, a detached section of the building, estimated at about seven floors, collapsed. In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos State Government said emergency responders were immediately deployed after the fire alert was received. According to the government, teams from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASEMA, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), security agencies and other emergency units have remained at the site, conducting coordinated search, rescue and recovery operations. Providing an update on casualties as of Thursday morning, the government said eight males, including a firefighter, were rescued with varying degrees of injuries and taken to hospitals. It added that three males and two females who sustained minor injuries were treated at the scene and discharged. The government also confirmed fatalities, saying one adult female and two adult males were recovered dead from the rubble, while three other persons were reported to have been burnt in the inferno. Authorities urged the public and affected families to refrain from speculation that could heighten public anxiety or undermine ongoing operations. Emergency responders said recovery efforts were continuing as relatives and associates of traders searched for missing loved ones. Reacting to the incident, the Shitta-Bey family of Lagos, owners of the Great Nigeria Building, expressed sorrow over the tragedy and said the building was adequately insured and that the family was cooperating with relevant authorities. Yuletide tragic fire incidents PREMIUM TIMES reported earlier on Friday that the fire incident at the GNI building was one of the three outbreaks in separate major markets in Lagos within one week during the Yuletide season, renewing concerns over fire safety in the states major commercial centres. One of the two other incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when a fire gutted several shops in a storey shopping complex beside the Ikotun Roundabout, Lagos State. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident on Thursday. Its Director, Margaret Adeseye, said the agency received a distress call at about 12:22 a.m., with firefighters arriving within 10 minutes. According to her, the fire involved a one-storey shopping complex housing 24 shops, many of which contained electronic goods worth millions of naira. Also, 72 hours after the Ikotun incident, another fire outbreak gutted parts of Arena Market in the Bolade area of Oshodi on Tuesday evening. The fire broke out at the Arena Shopping Mall along Agege Motor Road. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a post on X, saying emergency responders were immediately deployed. In a separate statement, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said fire crews from the Bolade, Ilupeju, Ikeja and Alausa fire stations arrived within five minutes and swiftly contained the fire. Ms Adeseye said the blaze affected a section of the market consisting of five 40-foot container shops arranged in two rows, bringing the total number of affected shops to 10. No casualty was recorded, while the cause of the fire was not immediately established. Recurring concern Fire outbreaks have remained frequent in major Lagos markets, including Balogun, Mile 12, Ladipo and Oko-Baba, often resulting in significant economic losses and, in some cases, fatalities. Authorities have repeatedly urged traders and property owners to strengthen electrical safety standards and fire prevention measures. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State has condemned Governor Caleb Mutfwangs decision to defect from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party described it as a betrayal of the mandate freely given to him by the people of the state. In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the partys State Publicity Secretary, Choji Felix, the PDP said it formally received a letter notifying it of Mr Mutfwangs resignation from the party on 2 January. According to the statement, the letter was delivered to the PDP state secretariat through the chairman of the party in Ampang West Ward, Mangu Local Government Area. The PDP accused the governor of abandoning the very party that brought him to power and placing personal ambition above the collective interest of Plateau residents. Governor Mutfwangs action is a slap in the face of the people of Plateau State who trusted him against all odds, the PDP said. It represents a betrayal of the partys ideals and the public mandate freely given to him. The PDP rejected claims that the governor consulted the party before taking the decision, insisting that it was neither informed nor involved at any stage. The party was never consulted by the governor himself, contrary to claims in some quarters, the statement said. There are therefore no justifiable reasons that would constitutionally permit such a decision without vacating the seat in the first instance. Describing the defection as political opportunism, the party said the move undermines the will of the electorate and weakens democratic accountability. The PDP also urged Plateau residents to hold the governor accountable and reject any attempt by him to seek re-election on the platform of another party. We warn the APC in Plateau State against accepting him with open arms, as doing so would make them complicit in the betrayal of the people, the statement added. Despite the development, the PDP reaffirmed its commitment to democratic values, good governance and participation in future elections, urging members and supporters to remain calm and resolute. The PDP remains strong, united and focused, the party said. We will not be deterred by temporary setbacks orchestrated by individuals lacking genuine party loyalty and discipline. Meanwhile, a former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has sought to reassure party members and supporters that the PDP remains stable and united despite Mr Mutfwangs exit. In a separate statement issued by his media consultant, Clinton Garuba, Mr Jang said he had earlier been informed by Governor Mutfwang of his intention to leave the PDP and join the APC, a decision the governor said was taken in what he believed to be the interest of the state. Mr Jang said the Plateau PDP leadership remained firmly positioned to continue playing its role in Nigerias democratic development, stressing that the party would continue to strengthen internal democracy and promote inclusive governance. He urged PDP members and supporters to remain confident and committed, adding that the party would remain focused on its ideals and programmes. While wishing Governor Mutfwang well in his future political endeavours, Mr Jang advised him to remain focused on serving the people of Plateau State. Ultimately, power lies in the hands of the people, the statement quoted the former governor as saying. Kidnappers holding a traditional ruler in Kwara State, his son and some other residents of Ifelodun Local Government Area have demanded a total ransom of 450 million for their release, deepening fears over the worsening security situation in the state. The Punch newspapers, which first reported the development, said the abductors are demanding 150 million for the release of the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, and his son, Olaolu Olaonipekun, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, while a separate 300 million ransom was demanded for eight residents abducted in Adanla-Irese, a suburb of Igbaja. A family member of the traditional ruler, who spoke to The Punch on condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers made contact with the family on Friday. The kidnappers contacted the family this afternoon and told us to bring 150 million to secure the release of Kabiyesi and his son, the source said. The relative said the abduction, which occurred on New Years Eve, has left them traumatised. Since this incident happened, we have not been ourselves. We entered the new year with sorrow and tears. We are calling on the government and security agencies to come to our aid because we dont know what to do, he added. The Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, also confirmed the ransom demands. Yes, it is true. The bandits contacted the family this afternoon and demanded 150 million for the release of Kabiyesi and his son. Only two days ago, 300 million was demanded for the release of the Adanla abductees, he told The Punch. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that gunmen stormed the palace of Mr Olaonipekun in Aafin community, Ile-Ire district of Ifelodun LGA, on 31 December, abducting the traditional ruler and his son after shooting sporadically and overwhelming the local vigilante group. During the attack, the traditional rulers wife, Felicia Olaonipekun, was shot in the arm and later hospitalised. The latest ransom demand also follows the abduction of eight residents of Adanla community on 26 December, when armed men reportedly invaded the area around 7 p.m., firing shots and moving from house to house before taking the victims into the bush. The twin incidents have heightened anxiety across Ifelodun and neighbouring local government areas, including Isin, Edu and parts of Kwara South, where residents say kidnappings have become increasingly frequent. In November 2025, the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile, Kamilu Salami, was abducted from his farm in the same local government area and held for weeks before regaining freedom after negotiations and the payment of ransom, an incident that had earlier drawn statewide concern. When contacted on Friday, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command was not aware of any ransom demand. We are not aware of any requests for ransom to free abducted persons in the state, she said, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, has repeatedly warned that ransom payments encourage criminal activity. The police and other security agencies are working round the clock to rescue abducted persons and rid the state of criminal elements, she said. Leaving the fate of humans to humans seems dangerous, given that we created the atomic bomb, countless wars, the Holocaust and several genocides. We have created religious fundamentalism and pandemics. However, we have also created the most sublime inventions and policies that keep pulling us back from chaos. Maybe, as Hawking hoped, we are still on time to pull ourselves back from the impending precipice. From quite early in life, I picked up the intellectual habit of probing the intellects of great thinkers, and there are a whole tribe of them that I came into contact with right from my secondary to undergraduate and postgraduate days: Socrates, Gandhi, Plato, Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Archimedes, Newton, Thomas More, Ali Mazrui, Copernicus, Leonardo da Vinci, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Simeon Adebo, Awojobi, Pius Okigbo, Aboyade, Mabogunje, Hawkings, Nkrumah, Martin Luther, Billy Dudley, Nelson Mandela, Claude Ake, and so on. The list is unbelievably long. And there is only one reason why these intellects appeal to me. They provide a gateway for me to explore how they achieved their understanding of the world around us, and how possibly one could navigate life, societal dynamics, and social reconstruction as a reform imperative. Take Socrates. He was such a principled and reflective person who chose to drink the hemlock rather than capitulate to the unjust system of his time a democratic system he criticised but which eventually found him guilty, based on the mob framework he found unsalutary about democracy. Platos reaction to the death of his teacher is another lesson on how personal and emotional pain and sense of loss can serve as the moment for philosophical reflexivity and social engineering. This is similar to Martin Luthers challenge to the theological foundations of Catholicism. Socrates, Thomas More, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther are distinctive because of their audacity to speak truth to power, no matter the danger to lives and limbs. Or the need to rethink the fundamental basis of the human society and its multiple institutions and processes. On the other side of the divide, there are the scientists and mathematicians whose fundamental objectives remain the unraveling of the laws of the universe. From Copernicus to Einstein, we have a beautiful trajectory of scientific thinking that keeps wrestling with poking behind the mathematically harmonious dynamics that Pythagoras believed constituted the basic furniture of the universe. We now know more about black holes, the theory of relativity, the theory of everything, quantum mechanics, and there is, at least, an increasing understanding of the cosmos, the spiral galaxy, the Milky Way, the quirky world of quantum physics, and the subatomic universe. All thanks to the geniuses of those who are intent on knowing what the universe is made of, and how that affects and impacts human existence. What about the enormous intellectual excavation of political scientists and theorists, especially on the African continent, from Ake to Mazrui, who are daily labouring to expand our understanding of the epochal human events that have influenced our understanding of ourselves. These are the geniuses and intellects that occupy my intellectual hobby, and also define my circle of friends, which includes Victor Chukwuma, a professor of physics, who is not only one of my sparring partners, but would go as far as nominating me for the prestigious Award of Excellence from the Nigerian Institute of Physics in October 2015, during the Institutes 38th Annual Conference. What interests me in this piece is an engagement with Stephen Hawkings premonitions with some of the issues that are becoming definitive in the way we understand our lives, existence and world. Stephen Hawking was one of the most scientific and philosophically deep minds of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. He was not just a thoroughgoing cosmologist and theoretical physicist, but he was also deeply concerned about the societal impacts and implications of unbridled scientific developments. Hawking was deeply concerned about three key issues that we can no longer gloss over as we manoeuvre our world. He was worried about the fate of humanity in a world that is increasingly going askew. He once asked a most fundamental question: In a world that is in chaos politically, socially and environmentally, how can the human race sustain another 100 years? That is a question all keen observers of the world we live in can relate to, and which is all the more perplexing because, even for Hawking, there was no answer in sight. That question turns on several possibilities that might transform the world in the most terrible ways. Take Hawkings unease about the possibility of an alien invasion. Their attempt to pillage the earth, for him, would have a similar outcome that Christopher Columbus landing in America had annihilation of the Native Indians. There is also the risk of nuclear war, global warming and climate change. From far away space, any contingent meteor or asteroid could slam into earth! Aside climate change, by far the most immediate and terrifying issue humans are confronted with at the moment is the dizzyingly perplexing phenomenon of artificial intelligence (AI). Stephen Hawking was so concerned that in 2015, alongside more than 1,000 other experts and researchers, especially in robotics and artificial intelligence, wrote an open letter presented at the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Argentina. It was borne out of a collective concern about the possibility of AI and especially the dangers inherent in a military artificial intelligence arms race being humanitys biggest existential threat and the possibility of this translating into the end of the human race. These concerns enable us to highlight fundamental philosophical issues that intersects humanity and AI. The emergence of AI, and the very possibility of the arrival of a superintelligent AI, has raised serious existential and ethical questions that bother on the obsolescence of humanity. And this is because the machines are increasingly taking over almost every sphere of human activities and uniqueness. Human dominance, especially in the workplace, is increasingly being challenged as new robotics and intelligent machines keep rolling out to take over hitherto daunting tasks and roles that humans use to be the best at. This threatens a loss of control and extreme economic anxiety arising from the displacement of humans from their means of livelihood. Machines have the capacities to do these works cleanly, efficiently and with triple outputs than what humans can ever hope to achieve. This has several ethical and existential implications. Two are most fundamental. The first is the possibility of AI reproducing the biases and prejudices that have consistently thrown the world out of joint. The second has to do with how AI reproduces the rampant inequality that comes from the deployment of machines and robotics by the wealthy capitalists across the world. This gloomy picture should not prevent us from the most plausible benefits that AI has already introduced into our world. The surest is the collaborative framework that enables humans to get things done faster, optimally and efficiently. In this sense, AI becomes a crucial augmentation of human cognitive capacities. In other words, with AI deployed in the most technical dimensions of human functioning, we can then have sufficient time to pursue more noble assignments and objectives. Collaborating with AI introduces excitingly new paradigms of decision-making in so many spheres of life, from public administration to scholarship and the academics. The challenge is that of embedding human values into AI in ways that speaks to our search for genuinely universal and non-exclusionary valuational frameworks that transcend those that have taken us to countless wars. The significance of all the above, as I see it, has to do with how AI is challenging humans to rethink what it means to be human in this Age. It concerns how AI has radically compromised our self-image of who we truly are as humans. Before the emergence and operation of AI, the human world and activities are roundly embedded within a philosophical framework of humanism humans constitute the centre of the world, and the sole arbiters of its affairs. Now, our vaunted humanistic complacence has become endangered. The dimension of AI that is causing the most existential bafflement and fright is the rate at which it is cancelling what we consider uniquely human, especially in terms of consciousness, intelligence and personhood. When philosophers ask about who a person is, or what personhood consists of, the terms of the discourse have usually been restricted to the context of undeniably humans. However, given the capacity of AI to advance, optimally, the essence of what it means to be humans consciousness and intelligence, for example that debate has to be restructured and reimagined. And there is no other way to restructure it that will not affect our conception of human identity and future. The distinct boundary we have erected between the natural and the artificial or between consciousness and computation no longer seem tenable. Does artificial intelligence qualify as a person? This is one of the most fundamental questions of the twenty-first century. And it is one that we cannot get any easy answers to. And this is because the question is infused by all sorts of theological and existential traps and biases that are the remnants of our humanistic understanding of who humans are, how we got into the world, what our future is, and what we have the capabilities of achieving. Thrown in the place and role of God in human affairs, and you get the sense of how complicated the question becomes. But this does not still take away the unrelenting march of AI in human dynamics. Stephen Hawking was extremely troubled by the possibility of a race of superhumans superintelligent machines evolving with the capacity to determine their own objectives, and even possibly undermining our own future if it contradicts theirs. And for him, the onus of responsibility lies with humans and our capacity to avoid the risks involved. Leaving the fate of humans to humans seems dangerous, given that we created the atomic bomb, countless wars, the Holocaust and several genocides. We have created religious fundamentalism and pandemics. However, we have also created the most sublime inventions and policies that keep pulling us back from chaos. Maybe, as Hawking hoped, we are still on time to pull ourselves back from the impending precipice. Tunji Olaopa, a professor of Public Administration, is the chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission. In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Praise be to Allah, who has honoured the Muslim believers with servitude to Him alone and submission to Him, and has bound their hearts with the bond of allegiance to Him, and has made it obligatory upon them to show mercy to each other and to support one another for His sake. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, who conveyed the Message, fulfilled the mission with which he had been entrusted, and strived in the way of Allah as is His due. May Allah bless him, his family, and his Companions. To proceed: Dear brothers and sisters! Fear Allah, and know that whoever fears Allah, He will protect him from evil in this world and the Hereafter, and He will provide for him a way out of every hardship and grant him relief from every distress. Respected brothers and sisters! Allah the Most High says: They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although some of the disbelievers dislike it. It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it. [Quran, 9:32-33] Respected brothers and sisters! The entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria has unanimously condemned in strong terms the hostility, hatred, hate speech and hate mongering been spread in an alarming vedio and audio recording, circulating on social media that allegedly calls for violence against Nigerian Igbo Muslims, describing it a direct incitement to criminality. In the message, the Igbo Muslim sister, Basirah Ugochi Abdullahi, tried her best to translate the hate speech spewed against certain community simply for practicing the religion of their choices. She raised a serious concern over the safety of Muslims living in South-East. She warns that the situation has escalated and that members of the Muslim community now fear for their lives. She said, this is no longer a matter to be taken lightly, as threats and hostility have increased. She is calling on the relevant security agencies to urgently intervene and ensure the protection of lives and property of the Igbo Muslims. The dangerous audio, which gained widespread attention on TikTok, is attributed to one Igbo man, Maazi Kanayo and reportedly urges members of the Igbo ethnic group to abduct, brutalise, eliminate and bury alive fellow Igbos who practice Islam, while falsely accusing them of abandoning their faith for material gain. The entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria warned that such rhetoric poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines Nigerias constitutional guarantees of life, religious freedom, and peaceful coexistence. Therefore the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria urged Nigerian security agencies to investigate the origin of the vedio and audio and ensure that all those responsible are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law. The Nigerian security agencies must dig into this evil plan and expose the organisers before any bloodshed is carried out by the criminal haters. The Nigerian Muslim Ummah also called on regulatory authorities and social media platforms to take swift action to curb the spread of any content that promotes hatred or threatens communal harmony, and asked political, community, and religious leaders to publicly denounce the incitement to violence and reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence. The freedom of expression does not include incitement to murder, destruction of properties, ethnic cleansing, or religious persecution. So let the Nigerians reject divisive narratives and stand against any attempts to weaponise ethnicity or religion. Lets continue to engage authorities and monitor the situation to ensure that the dangerous rhetoric is addressed before it escalates into unnecessary violence. Dear servants of Allah! As the whole world witnessed, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was the embodiment of compassion, peace, kindness, patience, and mercy. His actions and words continue to inspire millions around the world. For example, in Makkah, there was an elderly woman who despised Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and would throw garbage at him whenever he passed by her house. She did this every day without fail. Despite her actions, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) never reacted with anger or revenge. One day, he noticed that no garbage had been thrown at him. Concerned, he inquired about the woman and learned that she was ill. Instead of feeling relief or satisfaction, he went to visit her. When she saw him, she was surprised and asked why he was there. With kindness, he replied, I heard you were unwell, and I came to see if you needed anything. Overwhelmed by his compassion, the womans heart softened. She realised that he was not an enemy but a man of great character. Eventually, she embraced Islam, acknowledging that only a true Prophet of Allah could possess such patience and kindness. This shows that, even when faced with hatred from enemies, respond with kindness and concern. Kindness has the power to change hearts. The religion of Islam offers powerful guidance on avoiding hate mongering, emphasising unity, compassion, mercy, and the grave spiritual consequences of spreading division. The life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the primary example for all Muslims in dealing with hostility. When faced with extreme persecution, including being driven out of cities and pelted with stones, his response was always one of gentleness and hope for guidance. A famous instance occurred in the city of Taif where, after enduring severe abuse, he refused the Angel of the Mountains offer to crush the people between two mountains, instead praying that Allah would bring from their descendants people who would worship Allah alone. This powerful story illustrates that the Islamic response to hate is mercy and patience, not retaliation in kind. Dear brothers and sisters! Have you heard about the devil of Quraish? Indeed, it was Umair Ibn Wahb al-Jumahi. He was a disbeliever who fought against the Muslims during the Battle of Badr, and his son was taken captive in the hands of the Muslims. Later, he conspired with Safwan Ibn Umayyah to go to Madinah with the intention of deceitfully assassinating the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). When Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, saw Umair brandishing his sword, he was alarmed and shouted, This is the enemy of Allah who provoked us on the Day of Badr and incited the people against us. He then ordered the Companions to be vigilant and cautious of him, ensuring that he would not harm or plot against the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). When Umair entered the presence of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the Prophet (Peace be upon him) informed him of the true reason for his visit and the agreement with Safwan to kill him. At that very moment, Umair realised that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was a truthful Messenger who received revelation from Allah, and as a result, Umair declared his faith in Allah and became Muslim. When Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, saw him embracing Islam, he was delighted and exclaimed, By the One in whose hand is my soul, I hated Umair more than I hated a pig, when he came to us intending to kill the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). But now, I love him more than I love some of my own children. [Narrated by At-Tabarani] Fellow Nigerians! Hatred is described in a powerful Prophetic Hadith as a razor that shaves away, not hair, but ones religion. This analogy serves as a strong warning that allowing hatred to consume the heart erodes faith and good deeds. We are encouraged to remove envy and resentment to achieve true peace and contentment. The Quran teaches a prayer against this. Allah Almighty says: Our Lord, let not hate take root in our hearts. The Quran explicitly commands the Muslim believers to hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided (Quran, 3:103). This Quranic verse highlights social cohesion as a fundamental goal of Islam. Hate speech is seen as working against this goal by creating divisions and alienating people, which in turn weakens the entire community. Promoting love, brotherhood, and harmony among people is the prescribed counter to hate speech and radicalism. The noble Quran advises: Repel that which is evil with that which is better. [Quran, 41:34] This principle guides Muslim believers to respond to hostility with grace and ethics. Do not let your dislike for someone lead you to be unjust towards them. Be just, for that is closer to piety. Lying or creating false stories about someone you dislike is forbidden. And Islam requires truthfulness and encourages a good word (Hadith). Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) taught that even a smile is charity, emphasising the positive power of our interactions. Spreading the greeting of peace (As-salamu alaikum) is a fundamental act that fosters love and unity among people. These teachings emphasise that the believers strength lies in their moral character, patience, and commitment to unity and compassion, even in the face of hate mongering. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) dealt with hostility and hatred through patience, forgiveness, dignity, and prayer for his enemies guidance, consistently choosing mercy over revenge. His approach aimed to win hearts through noble character, as exemplified in several Islamic teachings. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) emphasised that strength lies in controlling anger, not in overpowering others. He himself never shouted or used foul language, even under extreme provocation. The Quranic verse, Repel evil by that deed which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity will become as though he was a devoted friend (Quran, 41:34), was a guiding principle for his actions. Even when in a position of power, he chose forgiveness, famously declaring Today is the day of mercy upon the Conquest of Makkah, granting general amnesty to his former persecutors. Instead of cursing those who harmed him, he prayed for their enlightenment, believing they acted out of ignorance. He maintained his integrity even with his enemies, ensuring the return of their belongings entrusted to him before his migration from Makkah. While the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was resting under a tree, a hostile man seized his sword and asked, Who is going to stop me from killing you now? The Prophet calmly replied, Allah. The man trembled and dropped the sword. The Prophet picked it up and asked the man the same question; the man pleaded for mercy and the Prophet forgave him and let him go free. After the Battle of Uhud, Hind bint Utbah mutilated the body of the Prophets uncle, Hamza. Years later, after the Conquest of Makkah, she came to the Prophet and accepted Islam. He recognised her but did not say anything, displaying a remarkable act of forgiveness and magnanimity. These examples highlight that true strength, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad, lies in mercy, patience, and the power of good character to transform hatred into love and unity. Finally, Allah has commanded the Muslim believers to declare this openly, as He says: Say, O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion. [Quran, 109:1-6] O Allah, honour Islam and Muslims and humiliate our enemies and destroy their enmity. O Allah, support Your servants who strive for Your Cause and for the elevation of Your religion. O Allah, save the weak and oppressed people in Nigeria and everywhere, show compassion to them, empower them, and envelop them in Your mercy. O Allah, defeat the transgressing enemies, destroy them one by one, eliminate them entirely, leave none of them behind, and grant us victory over them with Your Mighty strength. Indeed, You are the Powerful, the Exalted in Might. O Allah, grant success to our leaders, support them in what You love and are pleased with. Guide them towards righteousness and piety. Our Lord, grant us the good of this world and good of the Hereafter and protect us from the torment of the Fire. O Servants of Allah: Remember Allah frequently and glorify Him in the morning and evening, and let our final supplication be: All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds. All praise is due only to The Almighty Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the final Messenger and the seal of Prophets. Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okenes Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217. This Jumuah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Rajab 12, 1447 AH (January 02, 2026). Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, and EY make up the Big Four professional services firms. Emanuele Cremaschi//Getty Images, Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images, Joan Cros/NurPhoto,, Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images. AI took hold in the professional services industry in 2025. From who they hire to what they do, the industry is in a moment of transition. This is what Business Insider learned this year about how the Big Four are embracing AI. The Big Four professional services firms are grappling with AI on two fronts they must both implement the new technology internally and help their clients do the same. They're client zero when it comes to how companies and employees are adapting to the AI future. I've been covering the consulting industry for Business Insider all year, including interviewing execs, landing scoops, and visiting consulting giants' campuses and headquarters. Here are my four key takeaways about how the Big Four approached AI in 2025. 1. The year of the AI agent The Big Four have invested heavily in automation and AI for years, but 2025 was the year those tools went mainstream. Employees across audit, tax, and consulting now routinely use chatbots and agentic AI systems, and clients are increasingly given access as well. Deloitte rolled out Zora AI, an agentic platform built with Nvidia, which offers clients "intelligent digital workers" capable of autonomously completing tasks. The firm also expanded generative AI features in Omnia, its cloud-based audit and assurance platform, and struck a deal with Anthropic in October to deploy Claude AI to its 470,000 employees worldwide. EY launched its own agentic platform, EY.ai, granting 80,000 tax staff access to 150 AI agents for tasks such as data collection, document review, and tax compliance. EY told Business Insider it has advanced 1,000 AI agents into development or production in 2025, with plans to scale to 100,000 by 2028, and is investing more than $1 billion annually in AI platforms and products. PwC introduced its agentic platform, agent OS, in March and has since deployed 25,000 intelligent agents across client operations. A PwC spokesperson told Business Insider that partnerships with companies like Salesforce, CrewAI, and AWS were central to how PWC drove AI-led growth in 2025. KPMG followed in June with KPMG Workbench, an agentic AI platform developed with Microsoft that connects 50 AI agents and chatbots, with nearly 1,000 more in development. In October, it launched KPMG Velocity for advisory work, adding to Clara, its audit platform used by more than 95,000 auditors globally, and the Digital Gateway for tax. The tools aren't foolproof. In October, Deloitte agreed to partially refund the Australian government after errors were discovered in a report that was created in part using AI. Katsina State Governor and Chairman of the Northwest Governors Forum, Dikko Umaru Radda, has congratulated the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, on his 56th birthday. Governor Radda described him as a humble and focused leader. He said Mr Ahmad Aliyu is a people-centred reformer whose 9-Point Smart Agenda is improving security, education, infrastructure, and economic growth in Sokoto State. The leadership of Dr Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto stands out for discipline, humility, and commitment to the welfare of his people. His Smart Agenda is now a practical tool for security, human development, and economic renewal in Sokoto State, Governor Radda said. He noted that Mr Ahmad Aliyu is respected for empowering his deputy and team to deliver results, and for bringing maturity and experience to governance. He recalled his service as Deputy Governor and Executive Secretary of the Police Trust Fund. He praised his courage in tackling insecurity. He mentioned the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps and intelligence-driven security approaches. He added that the AI and Emerging Technologies Advisory Council is also helping security management in the state. He commended the Governor for restoring power and water to public institutions, expanding road projects, improving solar streetlights, and executing many projects without borrowing, describing this as proof of prudence and responsible financial management. Governor Ahmad Aliyu has shown that development can be people-centres, transparent, and accountable. His attention to workers welfare, youth empowerment, and completion of inherited projects shows true statesmanship, Governor Radda added. He also praised the Governors support for digital skills and innovation, saying it is preparing young people for future jobs and stronger local economies. On behalf of the government and people of Katsina State, Governor Radda prayed to Almighty Allah to grant Mr Aliyu more wisdom, good health, and strength in the service of Sokoto State, the APC, and Nigeria. The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, will on Friday formally join the All Progressives Congress, APC, following his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Even though the APC national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, announced a fortnight ago that Mr Mutfwang had joined the APC, the governors spokesperson said the joining will only be formalised on Friday. The governors Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, said in a statement on Thursday that Mr Mutfwang would be officially registered as an APC member at 11 a.m. at the Victoria Gowon Hall, Government House, Rayfield, where he would receive his membership card. Mr Bere said the governor resigned from the PDP in a letter dated 29 December 2025 and addressed to the ward chairman of Ampang West Ward in Mangu Local Government Area. I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect, the governor said in the letter, according to the statement. He added that the decision was taken after careful consideration and was guided by his commitment to purposeful leadership, clarity of direction, and effective service delivery. The governor thanked the PDP for providing him the platform to pursue his political career and expressed appreciation to party members and supporters for their loyalty over the years. Mr Mutfwang said his decision to join the APC was taken in the interest of Plateau State, noting that aligning with the ruling party at the federal level would help accelerate development and deliver greater dividends of democracy to residents of the state. He also reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive governance, unity, and the removal of barriers that hinder collective growth and sustainable development in Plateau State. After receiving his membership card, the governor is expected to proceed to the Plateau State APC secretariat at Kalwa House, Yakubu Gowon Way, Jos, where he will meet with party leaders and members. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the governors resignation from the PDP was announced in a letter dated 29 December 2025 and acknowledged by his ward leadership a day later, about two weeks after an official announcement that he had joined the APC. This newspaper had earlier reported that the national chairman of the APC, Mr Yilwatda, announced Mr Mutfwangs defection on 18 December 2025 during the partys 14th National Caucus meeting at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. With the defection of Governor Mutfwang, the entire North-central region is now governed by the APC, Mr Yilwatda said at the meeting, describing the development as a strategic gain for the ruling party and significant for its national outlook and electoral prospects. Mr Mutfwang joins a growing list of governors who have left the PDP for the APC, including those of Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Enugu states. The Nigerian Army troops conducting ongoing anti-kidnapping operations in Kogi State have rescued five abducted victims and recovered decomposing bodies during a clearance operation in Lokoja Local Government Area. A credible military source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the troops, drawn from Obajana and Kabba patrol bases, projected a fighting patrol to Ankomi village in the Adankolo general area of Lokoja Local Government Area, following credible intelligence. The source said the patrol discovered that the village, previously occupied by bandits, had been destroyed and abandoned. Troops extended the operation to the river line, where three women and two children were intercepted. Preliminary debriefing confirmed they were victims of the Ayetoro Kiri kidnap incident, the source said. Troops further exploited the area and discovered two decomposing bodies suspected to be those of abducted persons. One corpse was evacuated, while efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining remains. The rescued victims are currently receiving medical treatment at Fisayo Hospital, Obajana, while the deceased woman has been deposited at St. Joseph Mortuary in Kabba, Kogi, he said. The source added that debriefing of the rescued victims was ongoing to support efforts to rescue other abductees, noting that the general security situation in the area was calm but unpredictable. According to him, troops morale and fighting efficiency remain satisfactory, and operations to rescue remaining victims are ongoing. (NAN) Public school teachers in Kwara State on Friday protested their exclusion from a 30 per cent peculiar salary allowance recently approved for other categories of state workers, describing the decision as discriminatory and economically damaging. The protest, which took place in Ilorin, followed weeks of discontent after the state government approved the salary increase for core civil servants in December 2025 without extending it to teachers. Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the teachers accused both the state government and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) of failing to protect their welfare amid rising living costs. One of the protesters told Sahara Reporters that the demonstration was as much against the union leadership as it was against the government. We are protesting against the NUT leadership for not representing us effectively. We are demanding that the 30 per cent peculiar allowance approved for other workers should also apply to teachers, the teacher said. Placards displayed during the protest reflected deep economic strain. One read, Economic hardship of Kwara teachers is escalating daily due to poor pay. Implement 30% peculiar allowance in addition to TSA now. Another said, We are tired of surviving on loans just to sustain life. Enough is enough. The protesters converged at the NUT Kwara State Secretariat along Asa Dam Road. Some said the protest was a continuation of an earlier demonstration held on 23 December 2025 over the same issue. An aggrieved teacher, identified only as Olayinka, said teachers felt deliberately sidelined. We are protesting against the inaction and complacency of the NUT leadership, especially the exclusion of teachers from the 30 per cent peculiar allowance that other state workers are already enjoying, he said. Another teacher said the exclusion placed teachers at a clear disadvantage compared to other civil servants. Without including teachers in the 30 per cent allowance, teachers will earn less than other civil servants. What is being referenced for us is 27 per cent, not 30 per cent, the teacher said. He added that the 27 per cent allowance was not a new concession. That 27 per cent is a statutory entitlement for teachers and has been implemented in other states since 2018. It is expected to start here in January, while others received their 30 per cent increase in December, he said. Background to the protest PREMIUM TIMES reports that the teachers grievance is rooted in a state government decision announced in mid-December. On 19 December 2025, the Kwara State Government announced the approval of a 30 per cent salary increase for core civil servants. The decision drew public commendation from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state. In a letter dated 18 December 2025 and signed by its chairperson, Muritala Olayinka, the NLC praised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what it described as a worker-friendly policy. We wish to express our deep appreciation to His Excellencys magnanimity in alleviating the plight of workers through various welfare-driven approvals, especially the recent approval of a 30 per cent peculiar allowance for core civil servants in Kwara State, the letter said. The NLC argued that the administration had outperformed previous governments in workers welfare. His Excellencys performance in the area of workers welfare has, in our considered judgement, surpassed that of previous governments, the union said, adding that the governor had earned widespread praise and recognition since assuming office in 2019. The Congress also cited timely salary payments, promotions, and implementation of the new minimum wage as part of the administrations labour record. However, teachers say the same policy framework has left them behind, triggering what they described as growing frustration and hardship within the education sector. Union distances itself In response to Fridays protest, the NUT Kwara State leadership disowned the action, warning that it neither authorised nor endorsed it. In a statement signed by the state chairperson, Yusuf Agboola, and the deputy secretary-general, Mike Itua, the union stated that it had not directed teachers to protest against the government or any institution. Anyone or group that goes on public protest in Kwara State in the toga of representing public school teachers does so at their own peril, the statement said. The union leadership also commended the state government for approving teacher-related allowances. The NUT Kwara State Wing sincerely appreciates the Government of Kwara State under the leadership of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the thoughtful approval of Teachers Specific Allowances of 27.5 per cent and 21 per cent respectively, the statement added. Despite the unions position, protesting teachers insist they will continue to press for inclusion in the 30 per cent peculiar allowance, warning that the disparity has widened economic inequality among state workers and undermined morale in public schools. A late-night fire outbreak on Thursday claimed the lives of six siblings in Mangu town, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, plunging the community into mourning. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, around the Old Mangu Market area. Family members said the deceased children were aged between four months and 12 years. An uncle of the victims, Umar Babangida, told PREMIUM TIMES that the fire started at about 2 a.m. According to him, the childrens mother sustained severe burns while trying to rescue them and is currently receiving treatment at the Allah Nakowa Hospital in Mangu. The mother and her nine children were watching television until about 11 p.m. Later, the three male children went to sleep, leaving the mother with the six younger ones, Mr Aliyu said. He explained that the exact cause of the fire could not immediately be determined. We cannot categorically say what caused the incident. All we know is that there was a power supply before they went to bed. Around 2:30 a.m., we received a distress call that fire had engulfed the house, he said. Mr Aliyu added that the mother made frantic efforts to bring the children out of the room but was unsuccessful, leading to the injuries she sustained. The mother tried all she could to save her children, but she couldnt. That was how she sustained serious burn wounds, he said. He disclosed that Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the chairman of Mangu Local Government Area have visited the bereaved family to commiserate with them. According to him, the governor urged the family to take solace in the tragedy and promised government support to help rebuild the destroyed house. The governor and our local government chairman have visited us to offer their condolences. We are grateful to everyone who came to our rescue during the incident, Mr Aliyu said. READ ALSO:Plateau State urges collective action to tackle insecurity at Senate public hearing He also praised residents of the area for their show of solidarity, noting that people from different religious backgrounds worked together during the rescue efforts. During the fire outbreak, we saw love from both Muslims and Christians who trooped out in their numbers to help, he added. The President of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed, has vowed that the organisation will not succumb to intimidation while discharging its responsibility of protecting journalists in the country. Let me assure you, dear colleagues, that: No amount of intimidation, mudslinging, or character assassination will deter IPI Nigeria from its mission. We remain committed to press freedom, journalists safety, ethical journalism, and an improved operating environment for the Nigerian media, Mr Mojeed stated in a communication to IPI Nigeria members in December. Mr Mojeed, who is the editor-in-chief of Premium Times, was reacting to a false media report that accused him of unethical conduct. The two papers The Authority and Peoples Daily had published a false report in December claiming that a non-profit organisation, Global Rights Nigeria, accused Mr Mojeed of lacking integrity. However, the papers quickly retracted the story. They apologised to Mr Mojeed after Global Rights Nigeria stated that it had not issued a statement, which the papers claimed they had relied on for the false story. The apology and retraction by The Authority newspaper was signed by its Executive Director, Chuks Akunna and published on the newspapers website. The newspaper described its story as regrettable and phantom. The management of The Authority Newspapers hereby apologises for the regrettable and phantom report that somehow found its way into our website, Mr Akunna said. The newspaper claimed that internal investigations revealed that the login details of its late executive director (publications) were used to post the false story without authorisation. The paper added that there were strong pointers that this mishap was the handiwork of an ex-employee. It stated that it had since blocked access to the compromised login details and was continuing its investigations, while stressing that it holds IPI Nigeria in high esteem and would not participate in any campaign to undermine the institute. We are deeply sorry, the statement concluded. The other newspaper, the Peoples Daily, admitted that the allegations it had earlier published against Mr Mojeed were inaccurate. Detailed fact-check by the Peoples Daily has revealed the allegations attributed to a civil society organisation and other commentators were unsubstantiated, speculative, and did not reflect the true character, professional conduct, or record of Mr Mojeed. We have since established that Mr Musikilu Mojeed has not engaged in any form of unethical journalism, intimidation, racketeering, or financial impropriety as earlier implied in our report, the Peoples Daily stated on its website. Shadowy interests Mr Mojeed, in his communication to IPI Nigeria members, linked the false report to the IPI Nigerias recent decision to blacklist two Nigerian governors and the inspector-general of police for their repressive actions against journalists. Since then, shadowy interests have sought to distract, intimidate, and discredit both the Institute and its leadership through falsehoods, planted commentaries, and coordinated smear narratives, some of them unfortunately laundered through media platforms and proxy voices, he stated. We are conscious that those uncomfortable with scrutiny may seek to use even fellow journalists or commentators as instruments in this campaign. We regard this, regrettably, as part of the cost of principled leadership and service. The IPI Nigeria president said he would take appropriate legal and other steps to defend his integrity, and that he remains focused on the organisations core work and responsibilities. I thank you for your solidarity, vigilance, and continued support. I urge members to rely only on verified information, resist the amplification of falsehoods, and remain united as we confront these challenges together, he said to the IPI Nigeria members. In December, the IPI Nigeria blacklisted Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun for their attack on the media. Except for Governor Eno, who resorted to a campaign of calumny against the IPI Nigeria, Messrs Bago and Egbetokun have been engaging the IPI Nigeria on how they could be delisted from the organisations Book of Infamy. Product Ships January 7, Marking McCoy's 10-Year Anniversary of Daily Pledge of Allegiance KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Country music hitmaker and American patriot Neal McCoy has partnered with Allied Flag, America's premium manufacturer of American-made flags, to launch a limited-edition American Flag celebrating unity, freedom, and patriotism as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. The partnership aligns with a major milestone for McCoy. On January 7, 2026, McCoy will mark the 10-year anniversary of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance live every day to his followers, a commitment he has maintained without missing a single day. Allied Flag will begin shipping the limited-edition flags on January 7 in honor of that anniversary. "The Pledge and the American flag remind us of our shared freedom and what unites us as Americans," said Neal McCoy. "In a time when our country feels divided, the flag remains one symbol that brings us together." McCoy, a two-time Entertainer of the Year and multi-gold and platinum-selling country music artist, is known for using his platform to promote unity and respect for American traditions. His partnership with Allied Flag reflects a shared belief that the American flag transcends politics and represents common ground for all Americans. "Allied Flag was founded on the belief that the American flag is a symbol of freedom that belongs to every American," said Tyler Young, President of Allied Brands. "Neal's decade-long commitment to the Pledge embodies the values our flag represents, and we're honored to partner with him. As part of the partnership, Allied Flag will release a limited-edition Premium American Flag, packaged in a custom-designed box featuring Neal McCoy's name and likeness. Each flag is 100% sourced and made in the United States and crafted to government specifications. The limited-edition flags will be available beginning January 7 at www.AlliedFlag.com and www.NealMcCoy.com. About Allied Flag Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2026, Allied Flag is America's premium manufacturer of 100% American-made flags, proudly crafting every star, stripe, hem, and stitch in the United States to the highest government specifications. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Allied Flag continues its mission to unite Americans under one enduring symbol of freedom, sacrifice, and national pride. More information: www.AlliedFlag.com About Neal McCoy Neal McCoy is a two-time Entertainer of the Year and multi-gold and platinum-selling country music artist widely recognized for his daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, a tradition he began nearly 10 years ago to promote unity and respect for American values. SOURCE Allied Brands FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Ocean Voyages unveils a new Enhanced Explorer's Choice offer, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy Double the Amenities on a limited selection of 2026 voyages. Available for bookings made January 2 through March 31, this enhanced promotion allows all guests on these select itineraries, regardless of stateroom category, to choose two complimentary amenities from a curated menu of premium enhancements, elevating the expedition experience even further. In addition to the enhanced offer, Atlas Ocean Voyages is pleased to announce the return of its standard Explorer's Choice promotion across all remaining 2026 and 2027 voyages. Under the standard offer, guests reserving a stateroom may select one complimentary amenity, while guests booking a suite may choose up to two amenities, allowing for a personalized journey tailored to individual travel preferences. Both the enhanced and standard Explorer's Choice offers may be combined with bonus savings of up to 40% on select voyages, delivering exceptional value across Atlas Ocean Voyages' Polar, Epicurean, and Cultural Expeditions. Explorer's Choice amenities are designed to enhance flexibility and personalization, with options that include air credits for guests arranging their own flights, pre-expedition hotel stays or land programs, and Enhanced Unlimited Wi-Fi for seamless connectivity at sea. Capacity-controlled and combinable with select promotional savings, Explorer's Choice allows guests to prioritize what matters most to their journey while elevating the overall expedition experience. The enhanced Explorer's Choice offer featuring the choice of two amenities is available on a limited number of select 2026 departures and is subject to availability. Featured Expeditions Include: Epicurean Expedition | April 2, 2026 Sailing round-trip from Tenerife, this Epicurean Expedition is hosted by Anna Wilamowska and Luciana Berry, featuring curated culinary programming and immersive shoreside experiences. Highlights include a Table Journey dining experience in Casablanca, combining gourmet cuisine with guided cultural exploration, as well as a complimentary Atlas Immersive Experience in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, featuring live jazz and bolero performance. Adventure Oceanview fares start from $3,633 per person after bonus savings. Cultural Expedition | May 11, 2026 This Northern Europe Cultural Expedition sailing from London to Troms features enrichment led by Resident Astronomer Jonathan Ward, alongside guest entertainers Anne Steele and William Hall. The voyage blends cultural exploration with onboard programming designed to deepen guest engagement both at sea and ashore. Adventure Oceanview fares start from $5,319 per person after bonus savings. Polar Expedition | June 18, 2026 Sailing from Longyearbyen to Oslo, this Arctic Polar Expedition is led by Atlas's experienced Polar Expedition Team, offering Zodiac landings, expedition shore excursions, and scenic cruising throughout the High Arctic. Adventure Oceanview fares start from $7,463 per person after bonus savings. Polar Expedition | July 19, 2026 Sailing from Oslo to Longyearbyen, this Polar Expedition features Atlas's signature expedition experiences, including Zodiac operations and guided shore landings, with select cultural and scenic exploration in ports such as Skagen, Denmark, and Maly, Norway. Adventure Oceanview fares start from $8,723 per person after bonus savings. Epicurean Expedition | July 20, 2026 Sailing from Piraeus (Athens) to Civitavecchia (Rome), this Epicurean Expedition is hosted by Guest Chef Ippy Aiona alongside Mara Papatheodorou, blending regional Mediterranean cuisine with immersive cultural discovery. Adventure Oceanview fares start from $5,709 per person after bonus savings. With the enhanced Double the Amenities benefits on select dates available for bookings made by March 31, 2026, travelers and travel advisors are encouraged to explore individual itineraries to learn more before the offer expires. View all available expeditions here. About Atlas Ocean Voyages Atlas Ocean Voyages is the yacht expedition brand of Mystic Invest Holding. Stylish and intimate expedition yachts featuring less than 100 suites and staterooms offering five-star comfort, from luxurious accommodations and an all-inclusive onboard experience to in-depth excursions. Fares include a Cultural Immersion tour, open bars aboard the ship, including craft beers, specialty coffees, and smoothies, L'OCCITANE bath amenities, an in-room coffee bar, prepaid gratuities, and complimentary emergency medical evacuation insurance. World Navigator was launched in 2021, World Traveller in 2022, and World Voyager joined the fleet in 2023. SOURCE Atlas Ocean Voyages National nonprofit cites game-changing flexibility of 529s in helping families save; new gifting options expand opportunities to save WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CSF, a leading nonprofit helping families save for a lifetime of education, is kicking off the 30th anniversary of Congress' creation of 529 education savings plans with a pledge to continue to raise awareness of their benefits and flexibility for families and learners of all ages. CSF: 30 Years of 529s Chris McGee, Chair of CSF (PRNewsfoto/College Savings Foundation) CSF has been instrumental in collaborating with lawmakers on behalf of the 529 industry and families they serve, to expand the use of 529s beyond traditional four-year college to include career and technical schools, community colleges, professional certifications, and postsecondary credentialing expenses. Accordingly in this milestone year, CSF's annual Conference will focus on the theme "529s: Thirty Years of Stability in a Sea of Change" as it gathers 529 experts from State Treasurers, financial institutions, education associations, and nonprofits on March 3-5, 2026 in Ft. Myers, FL. CSF members represent 96% of the industry. "We are so proud that we have been able to partner with the industry, the government, educators and communities to continually improve upon and adapt 529 education plans to meet the needs of families," said CSF Chair Chris McGee. CSF was founded as the College Savings Foundation in 2001. A compelling multigenerational trend was revealed in CSF's 2025 State of Higher Education Survey of 1,000 parents, ranging from their 20s to their 50s. A significant 25% reported they had used 529 funds for their own educationand are now saving in 529 accounts for their children. This finding shows a legacy of saving as the generation born when 529s were established have families of their own. The popularity of 529s reflects this trend. As of 3Q 2025, 529 savings plans had $561.9 billion in assets under management across more than 16.5 million accounts (excluding prepaids), according to ISS Market Intelligence. In particular, high school students prefer monetary gifts towards their education over material goods. In its survey of 1,000 sophomores, juniors and seniors, CSF found that three quarters would rather receive money for education on special occasions, and of those, 82% want their parents to make it easy for family and friends to contribute directly to their 529 education plan. "With $1.8-trillion in student debt, high school students know that it will take a village to fund the higher education they will need to succeed over their lifetimes," McGee added. 80% of the 1,000 parents responding to CSF's 2025 State of Higher Education survey expect their children will need continuous education to sharpen their skills over the course of their lives; and 51% of parents say they themselves will require additional education or certifications to advance or change careers. 529s' continuous expansion of higher education and career options As CSF's Conference theme, "529s: Thirty Years of Stability in a Sea of Change Today," expresses, 529 plans' earnings can grow tax-free if used for qualified education expenses that now apply to a broad range of options. These include traditional four-year colleges, community colleges, graduate schools, career and technical schools, apprenticeships, and qualified postsecondary credentialing expenses that apply to programs to attain credentials, certifications, or licenses needed for professional advancement. 529s can be used for room and board; computers, books, and technology software; up to $20,000 per year for K-12 education expenses; and up to $10,000 to pay off student loans, with a lifetime limit per beneficiary. In a move that recognized the importance of lifelong saving habits, effective 2024, Congress enabled unused funds in a 529 to be eligible for rollover to a Roth IRA under certain conditions, such as a lifetime limit of $35,000 per beneficiary. This assured parents that unused savings in 529 savings could be used towards the child's retirement, and if invested, receive the benefits of long-term compounding interest. "While most families use their 529 savings for education purposes, this reinforced the value of saving at all stages of life. There is no better tool for parents to help their children acquire personal finance goals and strategies than to sit at the kitchen table. This topic gives children a chance to discuss their hopes and dreams, and get their parents on the same page," McGee said. Early History of 529s In 1996, Congress created Section 529 plans, but earnings were taxed upon withdrawal. In 2001, The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act was passed, which exempted qualified distributions from federal tax, a change that took effect in 2002. Then in 2006, the Pension Protection Act made 529 plans' tax-free withdrawal status permanent. Friends and families are increasingly contributing to a child's 529 accounts as a gift for holiday or special occasion. Reporting CSF members saw more than $750 million in gifting contributions in the first three quarters of 2025. The benefits go back to the opportunities that higher education affords a young person. As one investor in The Edvest 529 College Savings Plan, managed by TIAA-CREF, TFI/Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, said recently, "I've been contributing to my niece's 529 account since she was about eight years old. She's now 20 years old and attending a local technical college. I'm proud to have helped pay for her education so she can hopefully get a good job and support herself." Employers are also seeing the benefit of offering them as options to employees. As only one of many examples, Liz Uzzo, Executive VP and Chief Human Resources Officer at H2M, said about NY's 529 College Savings Program managed by Ascensus Government Savings, "I'm always looking for benefits that truly make a difference in our employees' lives. NY's 529 College Savings Direct Plan has been one of those impactful offerings. It gives our team an easy, tax-advantaged way to save for their children's education, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Providing this voluntary benefit reinforces our commitment to supporting employees not just at work, but in planning for their families' future." About CSF CSF is a Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit organization helping American families achieve their education savings goals for a lifetime. www.collegesavingsfoundation.org Media Contact: Lynthia Romney, RomneyCom, [email protected] 914-589-2140 SOURCE The College Savings Foundation New marketplace calls movers, negotiates prices, and provides fixed quotes at no cost to consumers nationwide NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LocalMovers.com today announced the launch of its moving marketplace. Customers can request quotes from vetted movers, compare competing bids, and book directly with LocalMovers.com. The marketplace is driven by robust research and publicly verifiable data, making it the most comprehensive source on U.S. moving companies. The Problem We Solve Industry best practices recommend getting at least three quotes to avoid unfair pricing and scam movers. The need to repeatedly provide move detailsbuilding access, room-by-room inventory, packing requirementsto each mover is a significant time burden. Even if customers complete thorough inventories and create a shortlist, they are not equipped to estimate the market's best price or negotiate with movers. LocalMovers.com eliminates this time-wasting problem. Users input their specifications once, get matched to vetted providers, and receive accurate, comparable quotes. This also ensures transparent price discovery. We turn a process that used to take 15 hours into one that takes 15 minutes. Technology and Operations AI-Powered Intake: AI automates inventory from video and detects needs from cleaning and storage to utilities setup. AI automates inventory from video and detects needs from cleaning and storage to utilities setup. Clear Pricing: Upfront fixed-price standardized quotes and multiple bids from licensed and insured movers. Upfront fixed-price standardized quotes and multiple bids from licensed and insured movers. Bidding Process: We call 510 movers for you and negotiatefree to customers. Movers pay only when you book. How It Works Tell LocalMovers.com basic details Get competing quotes LocalMovers.com helps you compare, negotiate, and book All steps are supported by real humans you can talk to. By the Numbers 20,000+ moving companies analyzed Over 1 billion data points consolidated 1,000s of vetted movers 50% average savings 515 hours saved per move 1,000s of inbound requests per month Our Story "We set out to build a consumer guide, but as traffic grew, customers asked us to help them move. Today's launch reflects that shiftLocalMovers.com provides a straightforward booking experience founded on years of data and research." Bretton Auerbach, CEO of LocalMovers.com "After growing BuildZoom into a marketplace founded on billions of construction data points, I recognized the same opportunity in moving. LocalMovers.com applies the same playbook: use data transparency to build trust, and digitize and automate the vendor negotiation and bid-gathering process." David Petersen, Co-founder and Chairman of LocalMovers.com; Co-founder of BuildZoom, Flexport, ImportGenius, and Assisted Living Magazine More Details Whether moving down the block or around the world, LocalMovers.com offers free quotes for local and long-distance moves at localmovers.com/get-a-quote. The original version of this announcement is available at localmovers.com/press/online-moving-marketplace-launch Compliance Disclosure LocalMovers.com, Inc. DBA LocalMovers.com is a Delaware C Corporation. The company partners exclusively with licensed, insured movers holding active DOT registration and bonded operating authority. We independently verify each mover's status and insurance through FMCSA public databases before recommending them. LocalMovers.com does not collect deposits or prepayments and earns a small fee paid by the mover only after a successful moveat no cost to the customer. Media Contact Name: Bretton Auerbach Title: CEO LocalMovers.com Phone: +1 (800) 217-9625 Email: [email protected] Address: 14 Wall St, Suite 2080, New York, NY 10005 LocalMovers.com is an online moving marketplace that connects consumers with vetted local and long-distance movers. We are the only service that calls 510 licensed movers on your behalf to negotiate guaranteed fixed-price bids, at no cost to you. Our platform leverages massive performance datasets and AI-driven automation to ensure every customer gets the right mover at the right price. We serve all 50 U.S. states from our New York City headquarters at 14 Wall St, Suite 2080, New York, NY 10005. Learn more at LocalMovers.com. Editorial Note Please style the brand as "LocalMovers.com" (one word, camel case + ".com"). High-resolution logos, infographics on moving industry statistics, and video demos of the platform are available upon request. Correction: The address of LocalMovers.com has been corrected. SOURCE LocalMovers.com K-dramas captivate millions with their charming leads and heartfelt stories, but off-screen, some stars have sparked outrage with behaviors perceived as dismissive or rude toward their devoted fans. While many incidents stem from misunderstandings, exhaustion, or privacy concerns, they've led to public apologies and debates about celebrity-fan boundaries. Here's a roundup of notable cases that made headlines. 1. Park Shin-hye's Alleged Gift Discard at the Airport In 2011, Park Shin-hye, known for hits like "The Heirs" and "Pinocchio," was accused of discarding gifts from fans at an airport after an international event. Reports claimed she left or threw away items handed to her, sparking backlash for appearing ungrateful to supporters who traveled far to meet her. She denied intent, explaining travel logistics made it hard to carry everything and encouraged mailing gifts to her agency, but the incident tarnished her image as fans felt disrespected. 2. Lee Dong-wook's Harsh App Response to a Complaining Fan Lee Dong-wook, star of "Goblin" and "Tale of the Nine-Tailed," faced criticism in a fan interaction on the Universe app. When a subscriber complained about too many notifications, he replied sharply, "Why did you pay then?" and suggested canceling or muting alerts. Fans called it ironic and arrogant, especially given his known reserved personality, leading to discussions about whether celebrities owe politeness in paid platforms. 3. Kim Yoo-jung's Bored Demeanor at a Film Event Child star turned leading lady Kim Yoo-jung (Moon Embracing the Sun, Love in the Moonlight) drew ire in December 2016 during a preview screening for "Because I Love You." Attendees noted her leaning casually, checking her nails, and avoiding eye contact during greetings, interpreting it as disinterest and disrespect. Her agency apologized, attributing it to fatigue from illness, but netizens debated if it showed a lack of appreciation for fans' support. 4. Park Hyung-sik's Detached Behavior on Set and in Interviews Park Hyung-sik (Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, Suits) was called out in 2015 while filming "High Society" for allegedly ignoring fans on set and giving curt, superficial responses to reporters. Media outlets criticized his demeanor as detached and unprofessional, possibly due to immersion in his role. He and his agency issued apologies, citing overload from schedules, and he reaffirmed his gratitude toward fans. 5. Lee Jong-suk's Airport Arm-Jerk Incident In 2014, Lee Jong-suk (Doctor Stranger, W) was photographed jerking his arm away from a fan at an airport who tugged it to hand over a gift. The image went viral, with netizens accusing him of being cold and ignoring the fan's enthusiasm. His agency explained he was rushing for a flight, holding coffee, and mistook the tug for his manager's, but he apologized for the unintended rudeness. 6. Won Bin's Rushed Photo at a Wedding Won Bin, famous for "Autumn in My Heart" and films like "The Man from Nowhere," encountered backlash at a wedding where he was hosting. Fans approached for photos, but one complained he only took a quick shot, prioritizing the bride and groom over extended interactions. He clarified spending 20 minutes with fans amid duties, sparking debates on fan entitlement versus his right to personal time. 7. Bae Suzy's Giggling Acceptance Speech at Awards Bae Suzy (Start-Up, While You Were Sleeping) was criticized in 2013 at the MBC Drama Awards for her Excellence Award speech for "Gu Family Book." Netizens found her swaying, giggling, and seeming unprepared, disrespectful to seniors and fans in attendance. While some defended it as nerves, others saw it as immature and lacking gratitude toward her supporters. 8. Han Ji-hyun Yelling at Paris Fashion Week Audience Han Ji-hyun (The Penthouse series) faced accusations in a recent incident at Paris Fashion Week, where she allegedly yelled at the audience amid speculation of intoxication. Attendees, including fans, perceived it as rude and unprofessional, leading to online backlash and questions about her public conduct. Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) is one of the top cheap stocks under $20 to buy now. On December 12, Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelsen reiterated a Hold rating on Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) on December 12 and set a price target of $19.00. The rating update came after Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) announced on December 11 data in collaboration with The University of Texas Medical Branch, exhibiting the positive effect of smart infusion pump integration with hospital electronic medical records on the bedside productivity of clinicians, patient safety, and programming compliance. The data represented the analysis of over one million intravenous (IV) infusions using Baxters Spectrum IQ large volume infusion pumps (LVP). Is Baxter International Inc. (BAX) the Most Undervalued Healthcare Stock to Buy According to Analysts? Management stated that the evaluation of pre- and post- smart pump EMR integration data revealed a drop in patient safety alerts, along with the time required to program an infusion and resolve a pump alert. The findings thus highlight the potential role of connected infusion therapy to support patient safety and address clinician burnout and compliance. In another development, Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) received a rating update from Morgan Stanley analyst Patrick Wood on December 2, who cut the price target on the stock to $15 from $19 while maintaining an Underweight rating on the shares. The firm told investors that MedTech looks well-positioned on several fronts going into 2026, and believes the upcoming year to have a solid industry setup, supported by major product cycles, trough valuations, and a supportive hospital spending environment. Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) provides a portfolio of essential healthcare products, which includes parenteral nutrition therapies, acute and chronic dialysis therapies, inhaled anesthetics, generic injectable pharmaceuticals, sterile intravenous (IV) solutions, infusion systems and devices, surgical hemostat and sealant products, surgical equipment, smart bed systems, patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies, and respiratory health devices. The companys operations are divided into the following segments: Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Hillrom. While we acknowledge the potential of BAX 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. NEW YORK, Jan. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blending Eastern natural splendor with Western celebration, China's iconic Mount Huangshan illuminated the world-famous NY Times Square during the 2025 New Year's Eve countdown. Amid dazzling lights and cheering crowds, presented as "Mount Huangshan, a Treasure of the World," it revealed cross-cultural beauty and heritage, infusing the celebration with Eastern serenity and grandeur. Throughout the evening, a themed video played on Times Square's giant digital screens, showcasing Huangshan's ethereal peaks rising above seas of clouds, the iconic Guest-Greeting Pine symbolizing enduring welcome, and the timeless beauty of Huizhou villages such as Xidi and Hongcun. The presentation highlighted both the region's natural grandeur and its rich cultural heritage. A Huangshan Representative introduced Mount Huangshan to the media and live audience stating: "Huangshan is not only a shining symbol of China, but also a treasure of the world." "It holds three world-class laurels - UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Global Geopark, and World Biosphere Reserve - standing as both a natural wonder and a source of artistic inspiration," the representative explained. "In 2025, Huangshan was named one of The New York Times '52 Places to Go' and again included on the IUCN Green List, reflecting strong international recognition of its conservation achievements." Huangshan City also preserves a remarkable cultural legacy, with 310 traditional villages, including Xidi and Hongcun, and over 8,000 historical sites, earning its reputation as 'a museum without a roof.' Through smart tourism and internationally friendly scenic initiatives, Huangshan continues to welcome global visitors with greater openness and convenience." "The interplay of light, mist, and rock felt like a masterpiece unfolding in real time - it made me want to see it in person, the images brought a sense of peace and perspective," said Michael Rosen from California. Many viewers called it a moving presentation of Chinese beauty. Huangshan is recognized as the world's first cultural-tourism vertical AI assistant offering multilingual services, China's first International Friendly Scenic Area. With multi-dimensional transportation networks and technology-enabled services, Huangshan is connecting with global visitors in a dynamic way. As the ball descended, Huangshan emerged as a bridge between cultures, a dialogue between ancient nature and modern technology. When fireworks marked the New Year, Huangshan had already become part of this special moment - an open invitation for the world to experience its harmony and hospitality. SOURCE Huangshan City F-Secure Predicts Rising Scam Centers, AI Vulnerabilities, and Synthetic Identity Fraud Will Dominate the Cyber Threat Landscape LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As 2026 begins, global cyber security leader F-Secure's threat intelligence experts are issuing stark warnings about the evolving digital threat landscape. From government crackdowns on international scam operations to AI agents falling victim to fraud, these predictions reveal how criminals are adapting faster than ever and why consumer protection must evolve just as quickly. 1. Scam Centers Become a Defining Cyber Security Battleground in 2026 Prediction by: Megan Squire, Ph.D., U.S. Threat Intelligence Researcher In 2026, industrial-scale scam centers operating out of Southeast Asia will become one of the most visible and politically charged cyber security threats facing the U.S. The newly formed Scam Center Strike Force, a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney's Office, DOJ, FBI, and Secret Service, has already seized more than $400 million in cryptocurrency and dismantled major scam infrastructure linked to Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. "These scam centers represent a massive wealth transfer from American families to organized crime," said Dr. Squire. "Nearly $10 billion is stolen from Americans every year, and what's different now is the coordinated effort to dismantle not just the scammers, but the entire ecosystem that enables them, including U.S.-based internet infrastructure." The threat extends beyond financial loss. Many workers inside these compounds are victims of human trafficking, forced to carry out fraud under coercion. While enforcement is accelerating, experts warn that lasting success will require sustained international cooperation and deeper public-private partnerships to prevent platforms and internet services from being weaponized to commit cybercrime. 2. Agentic AI Redefines Cyber Risk When Software Starts Acting on Our Behalf Prediction by: Timo Laaksonen, President and CEO In 2026, agentic AI will fundamentally reshape the digital threat landscape. These systems will no longer just assist users, but act independently, making decisions, moving money, and interacting with services on our behalf. That shift introduces a new class of cyber risk, where software becomes both the operator and the victim. "When AI systems are trusted to act autonomously, the security challenge changes completely," said Laaksonen. "It's no longer enough to protect people from making bad decisions online. We now have to protect AI systems that make those decisions for them, often at machine speed and without human intuition." Agentic AI lacks the contextual judgment humans rely on to detect manipulation, deception, or social engineering. As adoption accelerates across consumer and business services, attackers will focus on exploiting decision logic rather than user behavior. This makes security, oversight, and clearly defined limits on AI autonomy critical foundations for the next phase of digital life. 3. AI Shopping Assistants Turn Convenience Into a New Scam Surface Prediction by: Abdullah Al Mazed, Head of Protection Concept Lab, and Tony Shepherd, Senior AI & Data Scientist In 2026, AI-powered shopping assistants will become one of the most attractive new targets for online fraud. Agentic browsers and embedded AI tools are already being positioned to automate product discovery, price comparisons, and purchasing across multiple retailers, promising consumers a faster and easier shopping experience. "The convenience is real, but the exposure is growing just as fast," said Mazed. "Shopping assistants operate across untrusted sites, handle sensitive data, and make decisions on behalf of users. That combination creates an ideal environment for scams." These systems can be steered toward fraudulent storefronts that closely mimic legitimate retailers, or manipulated into approving unauthorized purchases. Because AI shopping assistants often operate with elevated permissions across many sites, a single compromise can expose payment credentials and personal data at scale. As adoption grows, securing these tools will require safeguards designed specifically for automated commerce, not retrofitted consumer protections. 4. Synthetic Identity Fraud Reaches Industrial Scale Prediction by: Bill Lott, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Embedded Security In 2026, criminals will increasingly use AI to create synthetic identities by blending stolen real data with fabricated details to form entirely new personas that pass verification checks, open bank accounts, and secure loans. Research already shows individuals willingly selling their identities, giving criminals legitimate credentials to exploit. "AI has made synthetic identity fraud far more convincing and scalable," said Lott. "Criminals can now generate fake documents, bypass video and photo ID checks, and build credit histories that appear legitimate across multiple systems." The impact is already measurable. More than 6.4 million identity theft and fraud reports are estimated to have been sent to the Federal Trade Commission over the last year. Financial institutions face mounting pressure to adopt multi-layered verification capable of detecting these hybrid identities. Meanwhile, individuals who sell their credentials risk legal liability for crimes and debts committed in their name, creating victims on both sides of the fraud. 5. Digital Service Providers Face a Billion-Dollar Cyber Security Moment of Truth Prediction by: Fredrik Torstensson, Chief Partner Business Officer In 2026, digital service providers will face a clear choice: become trusted digital guardians or lose ground in a billion-dollar cyber security market. New research from F-Secure and Omdia shows cyber security has shifted from a value-add to a core consumer expectation, and providers that fail to deliver risk customer churn. "Providers have unmatched scale and trust," said Torstensson. "With scam rates doubling in the past year, consumers now expect their provider to be their first line of defense. This isn't just a growth opportunity. It's a responsibility." The data are decisive. 71% of consumers prefer or would consider security services from their provider's app, and cyber security now ranks as the most likely value-added service people are willing to pay for, alongside speed guarantees. Providers embedding protection into their core apps see 57% higher engagement and stronger brand value. In 2026, cyber security will not be optional. It will define customer loyalty and competitive advantage. The Big Picture Taken together, F-Secure's 2026 predictions point to a single, unavoidable reality: cyber crime is evolving faster than the systems designed to stop it. From industrial-scale scam centers and synthetic identities to AI systems that act, decide, and transact on our behalf, the threat landscape is becoming more automated, more convincing, and more difficult for individuals to navigate alone. The common thread across these risks is scale. Criminals are no longer targeting users one by one. They are exploiting infrastructure, automation, and trust at industrial levels, often faster than human intervention allows. As technology becomes more autonomous, security must become more proactive, embedded, and capable of operating at the same speed. For consumers, this means protection can no longer be optional or reactive. For service providers and platform owners, it means security is now a defining part of the digital experience and a core measure of trust. In 2026, those who treat cyber security as foundational, not an add-on, will be best positioned to protect users and to lead in an increasingly automated world. About F-Secure F-Secure makes every digital moment more secure, for everyone. We deliver brilliantly simple, frictionless security experiences that make life easier for the tens of millions of people we protect and for our more than 200 service provider partners. For over 35 years, we've led the cyber security industry, inspired by a pioneering spirit born out of a shared commitment to do better by working together. PRESS CONTACTS: Meghan Sawyer Public Relations & Social Media Manager, North America [email protected] Joel Latto Public Relations & Social Media Manager, EMEA [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com. https://news.cision.com/f-secure/r/new-year--new-threats-cyber-experts-break-down-5-digital-dangers-in-2026,c4287970 SOURCE F-Secure JUNO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that members of the senior management team will participate in various investor meetings throughout January. They plan to discuss, among other things, long-term growth rate expectations for NextEra Energy. NextEra Energy, Inc. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is one of the largest electric power and energy infrastructure companies in North America and is a leading provider of electricity to American homes and businesses. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy is a Fortune 200 company that owns Florida Power & Light Company, America's largest electric utility, which provides reliable electricity to approximately 12 million people across Florida. NextEra Energy also owns one of the largest energy infrastructure development companies in the U.S., NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. NextEra Energy and its affiliated entities are meeting America's growing energy needs with a diverse mix of energy sources, including natural gas, nuclear, renewable energy and battery storage. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com. Cautionary Statements and Risk Factors That May Affect Future Results for NextEra Energy, Inc. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but instead represent the current expectations of NextEra Energy, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy) regarding future operating results and other future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of NextEra Energy's control. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements concerning long-term growth-rate expectations. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "will," "may result," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "seek," "potential," "projection," "forecast," "predict," "goals," "target," "outlook," "should," "would" or similar words or expressions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. The future results of NextEra Energy and its business and financial condition are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, or may require it to limit or eliminate certain operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this news release and the following: effects of extensive regulation of NextEra Energy's business operations; inability of NextEra Energy to recover in a timely manner any significant amount of costs, a return on certain assets or a reasonable return on invested capital through base rates, cost recovery clauses, other regulatory mechanisms or otherwise; impact of political, regulatory, operational and economic factors on regulatory decisions important to NextEra Energy; effect of any reductions or modifications to, or elimination of, governmental incentives or policies that support clean energy projects or the imposition of additional tax laws, tariffs, duties, policies or other costs or assessments on clean energy or equipment necessary to generate, store or deliver it; impact of new or revised laws, regulations, executive orders, interpretations or constitutional ballot and regulatory initiatives on NextEra Energy; capital expenditures, increased operating costs and various liabilities attributable to environmental laws, regulations and other standards applicable to NextEra Energy; effects on NextEra Energy of federal or state laws or regulations mandating new or additional limits on the production of greenhouse gas emissions; exposure of NextEra Energy to significant and increasing compliance costs and substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions as a result of extensive federal, state and local government regulation of its operations and businesses; effect on NextEra Energy of changes in tax laws, guidance or policies as well as in judgments and estimates used to determine tax-related asset and liability amounts; impact on NextEra Energy of adverse results of litigation; impacts of NextEra Energy of allegations of violations of law; effect on NextEra Energy of failure to proceed with projects under development or inability to complete the construction of (or capital improvements to) electric generation, storage, transmission and distribution facilities, natural gas and oil production and transportation facilities or other facilities on schedule or within budget; impact on development and operating activities of NextEra Energy resulting from risks related to project siting, planning, financing, construction, permitting, governmental approvals and the negotiation of project development agreements, as well as supply chain disruptions; risks involved in the operation and maintenance of electric generation, storage, transmission and distribution facilities, natural gas and oil production and transportation facilities, and other facilities; effect on NextEra Energy of a lack of growth, slower growth or a decline in the number of customers or in customer usage; impact on NextEra Energy of severe weather and other weather conditions; threats of terrorism and catastrophic events that could result from geopolitical factors, terrorism, cyberattacks or other attempts to disrupt NextEra Energy's business or the businesses of third parties; inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage for protection of NextEra Energy against significant losses and risk that insurance coverage does not provide protection against all significant losses; a prolonged period of low natural gas and oil prices, disrupted production or unsuccessful drilling efforts could impact NextEra Energy's natural gas and oil production and transportation operations and cause NextEra Energy to delay or cancel certain natural gas and oil production projects and could result in certain assets becoming impaired; risk of increased operating costs resulting from unfavorable supply costs necessary to provide full energy and capacity requirements services; inability or failure to manage properly or hedge effectively the commodity risk within its portfolio; effect of reductions in the liquidity of energy markets on NextEra Energy's ability to manage operational risks; effectiveness of NextEra Energy's risk management tools associated with its hedging and trading procedures to protect against significant losses, including the effect of unforeseen price variances from historical behavior; impact of unavailability or disruption of power transmission or commodity transportation operations on sale and delivery of power or natural gas; exposure of NextEra Energy to credit and performance risk from customers, hedging counterparties and vendors; failure of counterparties to perform under derivative contracts or of requirement for NextEra Energy to post margin cash collateral under derivative contracts; failure or breach of NextEra Energy's information technology systems; risks to NextEra Energy's retail businesses from compromise of sensitive customer data; losses from volatility in the market values of derivative instruments and limited liquidity in over-the-counter markets; impact of negative publicity; inability to maintain, negotiate or renegotiate acceptable franchise agreements; occurrence of work strikes or stoppages and increasing personnel costs; NextEra Energy's ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions, including the effect of increased competition for acquisitions; environmental, health and financial risks associated with ownership and operation of nuclear generation facilities; liability of NextEra Energy for significant retrospective assessments and/or retrospective insurance premiums in the event of an incident at certain nuclear generation facilities; increased operating and capital expenditures and/or reduced revenues at nuclear generation facilities resulting from orders or new regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; inability to operate any of NextEra Energy's owned nuclear generation units through the end of their respective operating licenses or planned license extensions; effect of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets or actions by third parties in connection with project-specific or other financing arrangements on NextEra Energy's ability to fund its liquidity and capital needs and meet its growth objectives; defaults or noncompliance related to project-specific, limited-recourse financing agreements; inability to maintain current credit ratings; impairment of liquidity from inability of credit providers to fund their credit commitments or to maintain their current credit ratings; poor market performance and other economic factors that could affect NextEra Energy's defined benefit pension plan's funded status; poor market performance and other risks to the asset values of nuclear decommissioning funds; changes in market value and other risks to certain of NextEra Energy's assets and investments; effect of inability of NextEra Energy subsidiaries to pay upstream dividends or repay funds to NextEra Energy or of NextEra Energy's performance under guarantees of subsidiary obligations on NextEra Energy's ability to meet its financial obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock; the fact that the amount and timing of dividends payable on NextEra Energy's common stock, as well as the dividend policy approved by NextEra Energy's board of directors from time to time, and changes to that policy, are within the sole discretion of NextEra Energy's board of directors and, if declared and paid, dividends may be in amounts that are less than might be expected by shareholders; XPLR Infrastructure, LP's inability to access sources of capital on commercially reasonable terms could have an effect on its ability to consummate future acquisitions and on the value of NextEra Energy's limited partner interest in XPLR Operating Partners, LP; effects of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets on the market price of NextEra Energy's common stock; and the ultimate severity and duration of public health crises, epidemics and pandemics, and its effects on NextEra Energy's business. NextEra Energy discusses these and other risks and uncertainties in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, and this news release should be read in conjunction with such SEC filings. The forward-looking statements made in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and NextEra Energy undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc. ROCKWALL, Texas, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- United Vein & Vascular Centers (UVVC), a national leader in minimally invasive vein and vascular care, is proud to announce the official opening of its newest clinic in Rockwall, Texas, expanding access to expert outpatient care across the northeast Dallas area. Beginning today, patients can visit the new facility located at 1005 W Ralph Hall Parkway, Suite 221, Rockwall, TX 75032, for advanced, personalized treatment of vein and vascular conditions. The Rockwall clinic broadens UVVC's growing national network of state-of-the-art centers, providing residents of Rockwall County and surrounding communities with convenient access to comprehensive vein care close to home. At the Rockwall location, patients can expect compassionate, results-driven care delivered through minimally invasive procedures designed to relieve leg pain, improve circulation, and restore comfort and mobility. UVVC's team develops individualized treatment plans using advanced imaging and technology to achieve long-term relief and superior outcomes. Patients at the Rockwall clinic will have access to a full suite of modern procedures, including: Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Heat-based treatment that closes damaged veins to relieve discomfort. VenaSeal Closure System: Non-thermal adhesive procedure that seals diseased veins quickly and comfortably. Varithena: Microfoam therapy that collapses problem veins and restores healthy blood flow. Microphlebectomy: Minimally invasive removal of large varicose veins through small incisions. Sclerotherapy: An injectable treatment that collapses affected veins and reroutes blood flow to healthier vessels. With the opening of the Rockwall clinic, United Vein & Vascular Centers now operates 15 clinics across Texas, expanding its reach and reaffirming its commitment to providing high-quality vein and vascular care throughout the state. For more information or to schedule a consultation at the Rockwall clinic, visit our website or call (800) 952-5954. About United Vein & Vascular Centers United Vein & Vascular Centers provides safe, effective outpatient care for vein and vascular disease at over 50 locations nationwide, including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona and Texas. With state-of-the-art medical technology and board-certified physicians, UVVC remains at the forefront of vein and vascular healthcare. Media contact: Barbara Kramer or Mike Patino [email protected] SOURCE United Vein & Vascular Centers LEESBURG, Va., Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Xenith Solutions is pleased to announce Chad Freeman has joined the company as its new Chief Solutions Engineer, bringing more than two decades of proven technology leadership, mission-focused engineering expertise, and innovation in support of national security customers. Freeman will serve as Xenith's principal technology strategist, shaping enterprise-wide solution architectures, leading modernization initiatives, and driving technical innovation across the Department of War (DoW), Federal Civilian agencies, and the Intelligence Community. Chad Freeman joins Xenith Solutions as Chief Solutions Engineer As Chief Solutions Engineer, Freeman will guide Xenith's technology vision: spanning AI/ML, cyber resiliency, cloud modernization, data engineering, Zero Trust architectures, and edge technologies; ensuring all solutions are secure, mission-aligned, and future-ready. He will also mentor the company's next generation of engineers and solution architects while providing technical leadership across shaping, capture, and proposal efforts. Freeman joins Xenith following an accomplished career leading complex, high-impact programs for the Department of War, start-ups, and large federal integrators. Most recently, he served as Solutions Director for Koverse (acquired by SAIC), where he led the Global Services team and helped scale revenue by driving the expansion of advanced data and mission analytics services. He also oversaw multi-year DoW programs that evolved into national-level mission capabilities, delivering modernization, data transformation, and cloud-based intelligence solutions that advanced warfighter readiness and operational advantage. His earlier roles include Director of Denver Operations at iNovex, and senior engineering positions at Mercury Intelligence Systems and Raytheon, where he led teams building distributed systems, cloud environments, and object-based intelligence architectures. Across his career, Freeman has consistently shaped technical strategy, architected mission-critical solutions, led large engineering teams, and contributed directly to new business growth through proposals, capability development, and customer engagement. CEO Lee Shabe praised the strategic addition of Freeman to the leadership team stating: "Chad brings the rare combination of deep technical mastery, operational mission understanding, and the leadership needed to guide a rapidly scaling technology organization. His experience building mission-aligned, future-focused solutions for national security customers will be invaluable as Xenith continues to expand its footprint in Defense, Federal Civilian, and Intelligence markets. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team." "Xenith Solutions is at an exciting inflection point; driven by innovation, mission purpose, and a commitment to technical excellence," Freeman stated. "I'm honored to help shape the company's technology vision and to partner with our engineers, customers, and leadership team to deliver solutions that truly advance national security missions." Freeman holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Colorado, and dual Bachelor's degrees in Computational Mathematics and Computer Science from Michigan State University. He has also served as a senior engineer, architect, and team leader on numerous classified and mission-critical programs in cloud, cyber, distributed analytics, and intelligence systems. About Xenith Solutions Xenith Solutions, along with its subsidiary TRI-COR Industries (TCI), is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) delivering enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and data engineering solutions that support national defense and homeland security missions. The company's growth is underpinned by ISO 20000, 27000, and 9001 certifications, and CMMI SVC/DEV Level 3 appraisals, ensuring high-quality, mission-ready performance. For more information, visit www.xenithsolutions.com. Media Contact: Communications Office Xenith Solutions LLC Email: [email protected] Phone: (703) 891-2731 Website: www.xenithsolutions.com SOURCE Xenith Solutions DENVER, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Zero Homes, a Colorado-based home electrification marketplace, today announced it has received a prestigious grant award through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Accelerator Program . This highly competitive statewide program supports early-stage companies driving innovation in advanced industries, and Zero Homes was selected as one of the latest recipients for its transformative approach to residential decarbonization and electrification. This grant will support Zero Homes ' mission to accelerate the transition of single-family homes to clean, all-electric systems reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy costs, and improving indoor air quality for Colorado homeowners and beyond. The company's digital-first electrification platform uses advanced remote modeling and design tools to streamline heat pump, electric water heating, and whole-home system upgrades, making sustainable retrofit solutions easier and more affordable for homeowners. "We're honored to be recognized by OEDIT and the Advanced Industries Accelerator Program," said Grant Gunnison, Founder and CEO of Zero Homes. "This grant validates the importance of scaling accessible home electrification solutions. It will help us continue expanding our technology and outreach bringing high-impact electric upgrades to more communities across Colorado and the nation." The OEDIT Advanced Industries Accelerator Program known for fostering groundbreaking technologies that strengthen Colorado's economy awards funding to companies and researchers whose innovations have strong commercial potential and economic impact. Grant recipients span a diverse range of sectors including energy, materials, aerospace, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing. Zero Homes plans to use the grant funding to enhance its remote design and customer experience technology, support deployment partnerships with utilities and contractors, and accelerate hiring in key technical and operational roles. This investment will accelerate the company's growth while contributing to Colorado's leadership in climate tech and clean energy innovation. About Zero Homes Zero Homes is a Denver-based startup building the next generation of digital tools for home electrification. By combining remote home modeling with streamlined contractor coordination, Zero Homes accelerates the design and deployment of heat pump, electric water heater, and whole-home electrification upgrades helping homeowners reduce emissions, lower utility costs, and embrace a clean energy future. Media Contact: Zero Homes Email: [email protected] Phone: 303-848-8606 Website: www.zerohomes.io SOURCE Zero Homes FTSE 100 up 19 points at 9,951 Index earlier broke above 10,000 for first time Last year was Footsie's best year in over a decade 4.45pm: FTSE pulls back from earlier highs The FTSE 100 added 19 points to finish Fridays session at 9,951, retreating from earlier highs above 10,000. Over on Wall Street, stocks were little changed to kick off the first trading day of 2026, with the Nasdaq down 0.2%, the S&P 500 down 0.1%, and the Dow Jones adding 0.2%. 4.03pm: FTSE set to finish below 10,000 It looks like the FTSE should be able to hold onto a solid gain for the first trading day of 2026 and could also bag a new record closing high, having notched a new intraday record of 10,046.25 this morning. Aeroplane parts and trenchcoats are leading the way, ie Rolls-Royce, Melrose Industries and Burberry Group. Utilities and defence companies are also well represented. Meanwhile, across t' pond, it's an uneven scene. The Dow Jones is just above flat and the Russell 2000 small cap index is up 0.5% but the S&P 500 is down 0.1% and the Nasdaq is 0.3% lower. 2.46pm: Next week theme is retail updates While this week has been stop-start for financial markets, next week things get into the swing of a normal working week/grind. After all the Christmas shopping and Boxing Day sales, January is the time when retailers put out trading updates. The first big one will be from Next PLC (LSE:NXT) on Tuesday, then we hear from Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LSE:MKS) and Tesco PLC (LSE:TSCO) on Thursday, and J Sainsbury PLC (LSE:SBRY) on Friday. Sausage roll supremo Greggs PLC (LSE:GRG) is also expected to serve up a statement on Thursday, and student accomodation developer Unite Group PLC (LSE:UTG) on Friday. Clothing chain Next helped lift its shares to an all-time high in the autumn after reporting a third quarter with full-price sales growth of 10.5%, well ahead of the groups 4.5% guidance. Boss Simon Wolfson nudged up full-year pre-tax profit guidance to 1.135 billion, based on expected 7.0% sales growth in the fourth quarter. A track record of conservative forecasting means investors will not be surprised to see another upgrade to the outlook. As for M&S, investors will be hoping for a strong Christmas performance to draw a line under a mixed year, when the shares reached their highest in almost a decade but an April cyberattack threw a large spanner in what had been an impressive turnaround. This crippled online sales, leading to a sharp decline in first-half profits. "Operations are expected to return to full flow by March, sparking hopes that second-half pre-tax profits can rebound above last years 468 million," says analyst Aaron Chiekrie at Hargreaves Lansdown. He says underlying trends in the business "remain positive", with both food and general merchandise continuing to grab market share. "With near-term profit expectations reset, the worst looks to be behind M&S now. But the group has some work to do to rebuild investors confidence, starting with delivering a solid performance in next weeks festive update." As for Sainsbury's, Chiekrie says a good set of first-half results in November, with sales growth of 4.8% ahead of expectations, also come with the group gaining market share. A cost-cutting program is helping offset higher employment costs, with savings partly reinvested to keep food prices down. He thinks investors should have "plenty for Sainsburys to be jolly about when it releases its third-quarter trading update next week", with upgraded retail operating profit guidance of more than 1 billion for the full year looking "within reach". 1.25pm: Wall Street heading higher US tech stocks are set to get Wall Street off to a good start to 2026. Nasdaq futures are up 0.9% ahead of the first trading day of the year. Futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones are pointing to gains of 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Volumes are likely to remain light today, with many investors still on holiday and algo-driven trading expected to dominate. The important question for market analyst Kenny Polcari at SlateStone Wealth, is whats in store for 2026. He says the main themes to ponder as the year goes are as follows: "Midterm elections mean headline risk. History suggests midterm years can bring more chop and sharper pullbacks, even if the longer-term trend can remain constructive. "It could be a potentially landmark year for tech IPOs - with names like SpaceX, OpenAI, Anthropic and Kraken being discussed as 2026 candidates (as usual timing will depend on markets and regulators). We are talking trillions in money raised. As AI moves from 'promise' to needing to demonstrate 'payoff', Polcari says investors "will start demanding proof who is monetizing and who is just spending". A new Fed chair is a certainty, with Jerome Powells term ending in May. However, policy "remains an uncertainty", says Polcari, "and the succession plan will be a real market variable and that will shape the conversations around rates, inflation, growth, and policy." Stock valuations are no longer cheap, he adds, with the S&P is trading around 22 times forward earnings, above longer-term averages, "which means fundamentals matter more". He also mentions "real assets" like energy, precious metals, and alternatives as investors potentially look to diversify from tech, while also paying attention to geopolitical risk. 12.30pm: FTSE milestone a reminder of UK market's attractions The FTSE 100 breaking through the 10,000 mark is a "powerful reminder that the UK market has been more resilient than many give it credit for," says Dan Moczulski, UK MD at eToro. "It shows that British equities are far from stagnant, with a number of domestically listed companies delivering strong results after years of scepticism." "Investors tend to get excited about the next big thing: whether its AI, robotics, or digital assets. But a lot of the brands we come across, or even use ourselves on a daily basis, and perhaps think nothing of, are smashing expectations and deserve a closer look." He points to an eToro retail investor survey showing that just 16% of respondents globally hold exposure to the UK stock market, compared with 44% who are invested in the US. 11.28am: Powerful signal for UK markets The FTSE 100s early rally above the 10,000 milestone is "a powerful signal for UK markets", says analyst Axel Rudolph at IG. It reflects "ongoing confidence in earnings resilience, attractive valuations and the growing appeal of UK equities to international investors at a time when policy headwinds are beginning to ease", he says. He expects the outperformance to continue but be "choppier" in 2026, as it "remains fundamentally supported by globally diversified earnings, strong cash generation and the prospect of a more accommodative Bank of England, suggesting the trend is sustainable even if gains moderate compared to 2025's over 20% advance". "Key catalysts for UK equities in 2026 include continued progress on inflation, measured rate cuts and ongoing productivity improvements, while the main risks centre on heightened geopolitical tensions, an unexpected resurgence in inflation, a sharper slowdown in global growth or a breakdown in earnings delivery that could unsettle sentiment." 10.53am: Footsie gains whittled down The FTSE 100's early gains have been whittled away to 37 points, with the index standing at 9,968. Rachel Reeves (or one of her minions) has celebrated the UK index breaking through 10,000 points for the first time as "a vote of confidence in Britains economy and a strong start to 2026", via a tweet. But the index is back below 10,000, with fallers on the index led by British Land and Auto Trader, both down 1.8%, followed by DCC and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, down 1.7% and 1.6%. While Fresnillo is topping the risers, Endeavour Mining is down 1.45%. The gold price hit a new record at arpimd $4,550 an ounce on Boxing Day before dropping below $4,300 on New Year's Eve. It's back up to $4,398/oz today, up 1.8% on the day. Silver, which is Fresnillo's bigger focus, is up 4.55% to $74.5 per oz today, having hit a high of just under $83 on Boxing Day. For stock market indices it's a similar story in Europe and with US futures. The Footsie is up 0.4% compared to gains of 0.1% for both the German DAX and French CAC 40, down from 0.6% and 0.8% earlier. Across the pond, S&P 500 futures have been up around 0.6% all morning. 10.37am: Grounds for optimism in UK manufacturing The rise in the manufacturing PMI to a 15-month high in December provides grounds for optimism, says economist Elliott Jordan-Doak at Pantheon Macroeconomics. Support came from easing policy uncertainty, the continued phased return to activity after the JLR cyberattack, and improving external demand. Most of the sub-indices of the manufacturing PMI improved in December, notes Jordan-Doak, "providing grounds for optimism that activity can continue to improve over the course of Q1." Export orders drove a chunk of the improvement in December, rising to the highest since July 2024. Details of forward-looking were "mixed", the economist says, with the new orders balance ticking up above 50, while the future output balance dropped slightly but remains high at 72.2. "The gradual improvement in activity appears to be feeding into a recovery in hiring sentiment, with the manufacturing PMIs employment balance rising," he says, hitting its highest since October 2024. "All told, we think the PMI paints a picture of stability within the manufacturing sector. Decembers PMI was likely boosted by some temporary factors such as the phased reopening of businesses following the cyber attack, which will dissipate. "But business confidence amongst manufacturers has improved in recent months in any case, with the trend in the PMI looking upward since Spring 2024. "That said, we think that still-high borrowing costs and ongoing tariff uncertainty will continue to weigh on activity in the sector in 2026, so the PMI will likely hit a ceiling soon. So, we expect output will continue to rise slowly over the coming year." 10.10am: Manufacturing sector sees headwinds ease The UK manufacturing PMI for December came in at a 15-month high of 50.6, up from 50.2 in December but below the 51.2 'flash' reading mid-month. A PMI reading above 50 is generally indicative of growth compared to the previous month. Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, which carries out the PMI survey, said it show evidence of "further signs of growth", with output rising for the third successive month and new order intakes improving slightly for the first time since September 2024. "The domestic market remained a positive spur to growth while new export business, despite having now fallen for almost four consecutive years, took a sizeable stride towards stabilising." He said the month benefited from reduced uncertainty following the Budget, plus further recovery after the Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack. "The start of 2026 will show if growth can be sustained after these temporary boosts subside." Across the Channel, the eurozone manufacturing PMI for December was 48.8, also down from the 49.2 flash reading, mainly due to a similar reading for Germany at 47.0 versus a flash reading of 47.7. France's manufacturing PMI of 50.7 was little changed. 9.45am: FTSE record breaker Its been 171 days since the FTSE 100 hit 9,000 back in July and the previous thousand milestone was back in February 2023. Previously, the fastest jump in blocks of 1,000 was between 5,000 and 6,000, which took 229 days in the late 90s, according to some quick calculations by market analyst Dan Coatsworth at AJ Bell. He says it's "time to break out the champagne as UK stock markets have delivered a New Years treat" by hitting what he calls the "10,000 jackpot". "This is a historic moment and already makes 2026 one of the most significant years for the blue-chip index since its launch in 1984." He feels breaking through the 10,000 level is a gift for Chancellor Rachel Reeves as she has been banging the drum about the merits of investing in her latest Budget. "The FTSE 100s achievements just go to show whats possible when buying UK shares. It also proves to cynics that the UK market is not stuck in the mud, and that the US stock market is not the only place to make money." Coatsworth says the FTSE 100 has beat the flagship US S&P 500 last year thanks to its diverse range of industries, "offering a tonic to investors who started to get the jitters about tech stocks", while also offering value for investors looking for cheaper areas of the market. "Weve seen increased interest from foreign investors looking to diversify their holdings and the FTSE 100 has also shone during the more tumultuous periods thanks to its plethora of defensive-style companies." Gold and silver prices hitting record levels has benefited the likes of Fresnillo and Endeavour Mining, while geopolitical worries and European governments pledging to step up investment in national security has lifted the defence sector, with both sectors key in today's gains. "Lots of people have criticised the UK for being an old economy market, full of boring companies in the banking and natural resources sector," says Coatsworth. "Yes, it lacks the excitement of go-go-growth stocks omnipresent in the US, but boring can also be beautiful when it comes to investing. "The UK is a rich hunting ground for dividends, and it is also full of companies that have slow but steady growth and which are underappreciated engines for wealth creation." 9.10am: FTSE breaks above 10,000 The FTSE 100 has smashed past the 10,000 milestone this morning, rising more than 100 points to record a new all-time high at just over 10,046 a few minutes ago. Precious metals miners and aerospace and defence shares are driving the gains this morning. Fresnillo, Rolls-Royce, Melrose, Babcock and BAE Systems are the top risers, followed by other miners and financials. 8.35am: Intercontinental drift? The FTSE 'heat map' today is showing a glowing red spot at one end, with shares in Intercontinental Hotels Group PLC (LSE:IHG) apparently down over 98%. Even on the company's page on the LSE website, the shares are down not far off 99% at $147.30. But this is becuase in October, the Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza owner announced that it would be changing the currency in which its shares are traded in London from GBP to USD, taking effect from 8am on 2 January 2026, ie today. "The change does not impact the nominal currency of IHG's shares, which will remain in GBP. The change does not impact IHG's London listing in any other way, and has no impact on IHG's ADR listing in New York," it said. 8.10am: FTSE starts 2026 higher The FTSE 100 has started the new year on the front foot, but with markets still largely in holiday mode. Early deals saw the index gain 39 points to just over 9,971, setting a new all-time high and approaching the five-digit milestone. Precious metals miner Fresnillo PLC (LSE:FRES), up 4.5%, is top of the early risers, followed by aerospace parts makers Melrose Industries PLC (LSE:MRO, OTC:MLSPF) and Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.), both up just over 2%. The London equity benchmark closed out 2025 at 9,931.38 points, down 9.3 points on New Year's Eve but up over 1,600 points or 21.51% over the course of the year. There's barely any RNS news out from FTSE companies, though there will be some economic data later this morning in the form of the manufacturing PMI survey for the UK and several other major economies. To summarise the market backdrop, here's a helpful update from analyst August Hyldgaard at Danske Bank. In geopolitics, he notes that US President Trump said the US has escalated attacks on Venezuela with a strike inside the country on a building allegedly connected to drug trafficking. The US also said it struck vessels allegedly carrying drugs in international waters and imposed sanctions on four oil traders. "Following the meeting between US President Trump and Israeli President Netanyahu, Trump said that the United States would back Israeli strikes on Iran if Iran continued with its ballistic missile and nuclear weapon program." Trump said he has heard Iran is "behaving badly" and is looking to restart its nuclear program, while Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran was in an "all-out war" with the US, Israel and Europe. After China began military drills around Taiwan at the start of the week, Hyldgaard noted that Taiwanese markets "reacted very calmly as the drills appear similar to what we have seen several times in the past", though they followed just weeks after the US announced $11.1 billion of arms sale to Taiwan. For the first time, China publicly stated that the goal of the drills is to serve as a warning not only to "separatist forces" within Taiwan, but also for "external interference forces". 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. 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. After President Donald Trump expanded the travel ban he put in place during his first term in the White House to 20 more countries and the Palestinian Authority last December, at least three other nations responded in turn with visa bans for Americans. On Dec. 26, the West African nation of Niger announced that it was "completely and permanently prohibiting the issuance of visas to all U.S. citizens and indefinitely banning entry to its territory for nationals of the United States." After it was included in the list of countries whose citizens are completely banned from entering the U.S. last June, the government of Chad similarly announced that it was acting upon "principles of reciprocity and suspend[ing] the granting of visas to citizens of the United States of America." As of January 2026, 39 countries now face either a full travel ban or restrictions on various types of visas for entering the United States. Burkina Faso and Mali both ban travel from the U.S. The latest country to respond is the West African nation of Burkina Faso. A landlocked nation sharing borders with six other countries, Burkina Faso announced that it had put in place "equivalent visa measures to citizens of the United States of America." While this currently means a full ban on visas necessary to enter the country, Burkina Faso said it "remains committed to mutual respect, the sovereign equality of States, and the principle of reciprocity in its international relations." Related: The world fires back on Trumps new travel ban Due to a decades-old history of war coupled with political violence, Western travel into Burkina Faso remains very low; the U.S. State Department currently keeps it at a level four "do not travel" advisory over "organizations [that] continue to plan and conduct terrorist activities." The latter, along with a high visa overstay rate, were named by the Trump administration as the primary justification for being placed on the travel ban. Mali is one of the African countries that responded to Trump's travel ban with reciprocal measures.Shutterstock Shutterstock "The same conditions and requirements as those imposed by the American authorities" Sharing a southwestern border with Burkina Faso, Mali has also put in place a reciprocal ban on American travel. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation released a statement saying that any U.S. citizens will now also be subject to "the same conditions and requirements as those imposed by the American authorities on Malian citizens entering the United States." More Travel News: If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Washington, Jan 2 : The United States voiced concern over China's largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan, warning that Beijing's actions and rhetoric risk unnecessarily escalating tensions in the region and undermining stability across the Taiwan Strait. Responding to reports of the drills, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said China should step back from military pressure and pursue dialogue. "China's military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily," Pigott said in a statement issued on January 1. "We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue." The statement came as China concluded "Justice Mission 2025," a large-scale military exercise conducted from December 29 to 31 involving coordinated operations by the People's Liberation Army's army, navy, air force, and rocket forces. The drills tested joint combat capabilities in a simulated noose-style blockade around Taiwan, including scenarios focused on sealing off key ports, carrying out precision strikes, and disrupting supply routes. Taiwanese authorities said they detected 77 Chinese military aircraft and 17 naval vessels during the exercise period. Taiwan responded by scrambling fighter jets and implementing defensive measures, including deploying obstacles such as explosive barrels at river mouths, as part of its readiness posture. The scale and timing of the drills prompted concern among several US allies and partners. Governments and institutions in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia expressed unease over rising military pressure in the Taiwan Strait and warned that such actions increase the risk of miscalculation. Beijing described the exercises as a warning to what it called separatist forces and linked them to recent developments in US-Taiwan defense ties, including an $11.1 billion American arms sale to Taipei. Chinese officials have repeatedly characterized military activity around Taiwan as a response to external interference. Reiterating Washington's position, Pigott said, "The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion." US officials have consistently stressed that stability in the Taiwan Strait carries global significance because of its role in international trade, supply chains, and regional security. The latest drills, described as the largest of their kind, have intensified scrutiny of China's military posture toward Taiwan. China's President Xi Jinping, in his New Year's address, reaffirmed the goal of reunification with Taiwan, a message delivered as the exercises concluded. Taiwan's government has rejected Beijing's sovereignty claims and maintains that the island's future can only be determined by its people. Taiwan has been governed separately from mainland China since 1949 and has developed its own democratic political system, military, and economy. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and repeatedily asserted its goal to integrate it with the mainland. In a recent report, the independent Congressional Research Service said tensions involving China's military activities in the Indo-Pacific extend beyond the Taiwan Strait and form part of a broader pattern of coercion and pressure in contested maritime regions. The report notes that US officials have long urged that disputes in the region be settled without coercion and in accordance with international law, while maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight. The CRS report also underscores that the United States, while recognizing the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, continues to operate under long-standing policy frameworks that support peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and oppose the use of force to alter existing arrangements. These policies, the report notes, have guided US engagement in the region for decades and remain central to Washington's approach amid rising regional tensions. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The inaugural function of "Delhi Shabdotsav 2026", a three-day Indian literary and cultural festival, will be held at National Stadium on Friday with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in attendance, an official said. The event will feature over 100 prominent speakers, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Sunil Ambekar, Manmohan Vaidya and Sachchidanand Joshi, along with more than 40 book releases, six cultural performances, and two poets' meets. Earlier, after the poster launch of the event on December 29, CM Gupta was apprised by Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra on the event's schedule and other related campaign activities. CM Gupta wrote on X, "Following the launch of the poster for the 'Delhi Shabdotsav' program, the organisers' team met under the leadership of Cabinet colleague Shri @KapilMishra_IND ji." "From January 2 to 4, esteemed thinkers, writers, and speakers from across the country will participate in 'Delhi Shabdotsav', organised by the Delhi Government and Suruchi Prakashan at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium. During the programme, book releases, cultural presentations, and a poets' conclave will also be held," wrote the Chief Minister on X. On this occasion, the Chief Minister's Cabinet colleague Ashish Sood, MLAs Abhay Verma and Rajkumar Bhatia, along with other distinguished guests, were present. Earlier on Monday, Delhi Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra announced that the Department and a publishing house will jointly organise the country's largest literature and cultural festival, Delhi Shabdotsav, on January 2, 3 and 4 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. "Students from the nearly 40 universities from Delhi NCR will also participate in the cultural event," he said. Mishra said the event will feature programmes like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Bhajan Sandhya, Kavi Sammelan and Somnath Jyotirlinga Darshan. He said the Delhi Chief Minister will inaugurate the festival, while Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma will also attend the event. -- Syndicated from IANS Seoul, Jan 2 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's teenage daughter Ju-ae has paid tribute at the family mausoleum for the first time, accompanied by her father, the North's state media images showed on Friday. Her first known attendance at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the North Korean leader's late father and grandfather lie in state, came amid growing speculation about her presence in the North Korean communist dynasty's potential succession. Kim, his wife and Ju-ae, as well as key party and government officials, visited the family mausoleum on New Year's Day. While the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not mention that Ju-ae visited the family mausoleum, state media photos showed the Kim family standing in the front row. Ju-ae was spotted in the centre, with her parents standing on each side. It marked the first known visit to the family mausoleum by Ju-ae, who first appeared in North Korean state media in 2022. "All the visitors made a firm pledge to fulfill their responsibility and duty in the vanguard of accomplishing the sacred cause for the eternal prosperity and development of the great DPRK and the promotion of the people's well-being, true to the ideas and leadership of Kim Jong Un with single-minded loyalty," the KCNA reported, using the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The mausoleum enshrines the embalmed bodies of the North's founder Kim Il-sung, grandfather of Kim, and Kim Jong-il, a former North Korean leader and Kim's father. Kim Jong-un last visited the family mausoleum on the occasion of New Year's Day in 2023. He paid respects to his father and grandfather on the first day of each year since taking power in 2012 but skipped such visits in 2018, 2024 and 2025, Yonhap news agency reported. When asked about the significance of the visit, Seoul's unification ministry confirmed that it marked Kim's first visit to the family mausoleum with his daughter that was made public. "We are closely watching as it is the first such visit," Chang Yoon-jeong, deputy spokesperson at the ministry, told a regular press briefing on Friday. "We will continue to closely monitor activities by Chairman Kim Jong-un's daughter." On Thursday, Kim attended a large-scale celebratory performance marking the new year in Pyongyang, also accompanied by his wife and daughter. Video footage aired by the state-run Korean Central Television showed Ju-ae seated next to him during the event. Clad in a leather coat matching her father's, she was seen holding his hand and whispering to him as they watched the performance, and kissing him on his cheek after the New Year's countdown ended. Los Angeles, Jan 2 : The United States reported more than 2,000 measles cases in 2025, the highest annual total since 1992, according to the latest data released by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of December 30, a total of 2,065 confirmed measles cases had been reported nationwide, with about 11 per cent of patients requiring hospitalisation. The cases were reported across 44 US jurisdictions, along with a small number of cases among international visitors to the United States, the CDC said. The figure marks the highest yearly tally since 1992, when 2,126 measles cases were confirmed nationwide. According to the CDC, 49 outbreaks were reported in 2025, and outbreak-associated cases accounted for 88 per cent of all confirmed infections. Patients aged 5 to 19 made up the largest share of the cases, representing about 42 per cent of the total. Three confirmed deaths from measles were reported in the United States in 2025, Xinhua news agency reported. Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning "there is no measles spreading within the country and new cases are only found when someone contracts measles abroad and returns to the country," according to the CDC. With surges in measles cases and outbreaks last year, public health experts have warned that the United States could soon lose its elimination status, as Canada did in November 2025. Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can cause severe disease, complications, and even death. Measles can affect anyone but is most common in children. Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body. Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virus. Before the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination, major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year. An estimated 107 500 people died from measles in 2023 a" mostly children under the age of five years, despite the availability of a safe and cost-effective vaccine. Symptoms of measles usually begin 10a"14 days after exposure to the virus. A prominent rash is the most visible symptom. Early symptoms usually last 4a"7 days. They include: Running nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks. The rash begins about 7a"18 days after exposure, usually on the face and upper neck. It spreads over about 3 days, eventually to the hands and feet. It usually lasts 5a"6 days before fading. Seoul, Jan 2 : A joint research team of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and domestic biotechnology firm Neogenlogic has developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that can help produce a whole new type of "personalized" cancer vaccine, the joint team said on Friday. The new AI platform helps identify neoantigens unique to each cancer patient that can train the patient's immune system, and thus prevent recurrence of the illness, reports Yonhap news agency. "Neoantigens -- mutation-derived protein fragments unique to a patient's tumor -- are the 'fingerprints' used by vaccines to train the immune system," the team, led by professor Choi Jung-kyoon of KAIST, said in a press release. "While current vaccines focus almost exclusively on activating cytotoxic T cells for immediate attack, emerging clinical evidence highlights that B cell-mediated immune memory is the key to durable, long-term antitumor responses and the prevention of recurrence," it added. Such findings were published in the Dec. 3 edition of Science Advances, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. According to the research team, its AI model predicts which neoantigens will trigger a "robust B cell response" by learning the structural interaction patterns between mutant peptides and B cell receptors (BCRs). "The study introduces the world's first AI framework capable of predicting B cell immunogenicity alongside T cell responses for the design of personalized cancer vaccines," it said. Professor Choi highlighted the significance of the study in that it provided empirical evidence on the importance of B cells in developing cancer vaccines. "While the academic community was aware that studying B cells is important in developing cancer vaccines, there were no tools to verify the concept," Choi told Yonhap News Agency. Neogenlogic said in a separate release that the new technology has been validated against "large-scale genomic datasets and clinical trial data from global vaccine leaders," adding the new AI framework has also been fully integrated into its proprietary discovery engine DeepNeo. Choi said his team is preparing an investigational new drug (IND) submission with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with plans to enter clinical trials in 2027. "Together with Neogenlogic, we are translating this academic breakthrough into a clinical-grade platform," he added. "Our proprietary AI elevates the scientific rigor of neoantigen selection, moving us from theoretical prediction to systematic clinical application." a"IANS na/ Jaipur, Jan 2 : A large-scale bulldozer drive is underway in Rajasthan's Chomu following notices issued to 20 illegal slaughterhouses in Pathans' Mohalla, with the administration also preparing action against unauthorised constructions. Heavy police deployment has been put in place to maintain law and order, with senior officers monitoring the situation on the ground. Jaipur, Jan 2 (IANS) A large-scale bulldozer drive is underway in Rajasthan's Chomu following notices issued to 20 illegal slaughterhouses in Pathansa Mohalla, with the administration also preparing action against unauthorised constructions. Heavy police deployment has been put in place to maintain law and order, with senior officers monitoring the situation on the ground. The action comes in the wake of a dispute over alleged encroachment near a mosque in Chomu, during which incidents of stone-pelting were reported. Following the violence, the police pasted notices on the houses of 24 accused stone-pelters, directing them to submit their response within three days. The deadline expired on December 31, after which the municipal council was authorised to initiate demolition proceedings. Two companies of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), along with district police forces, remain deployed in the area under the supervision of DCP Hanuman Prasad Meena to prevent any breach of peace. Most of the houses were locked, while residents present at a few locations declined to speak to reporters. Locals expressed mixed reactions; some supported strict action against those involved in violence, while others demanded that innocent residents should not be targeted. Special Police Commissioner, Jaipur, Rahul Prakash, said that efforts are ongoing to identify all those involved in the stone-pelting incident. Nineteen accused have been arrested so far, and more names have surfaced during interrogation. Police collected video footage from the night of the incident, which is being examined to identify additional suspects. Authorities have not ruled out the involvement of people from outside the state, and investigations are underway to ascertain their presence and motive, if any. Sunil Kumar Swami, Assistant Accounts Officer of the Chomu Municipal Council, said that on December 29, the council issued a three-day notice regarding 20 illegal slaughterhouses and four unauthorised constructions. He had stated that if the concerned parties fail to respond, submit valid documents, or remove the illegal structures themselves, the council will proceed with demolition and sealing actions as per rules. Chomu police have arrested the following individuals in connection with the stone-pelting case: Mukhtar Ali (32), Aakib (24), Mohsin Khan (35), Umar Beg (30), Zaheen Khan (19), Haider Ali (28), Sameer (21), Abid (22), Salman (22), Arbaz (26), Kamran (24), Tahir Alam (40), Jabaz (28), Fardeen (24), Shahrukh (19), Faizan Khan (19), Javed Khan (31), Javed Qureshi (23), and Wasim Qureshi (36). The authorities have made it clear that strict action will continue against those involved in violence and illegal activities, while security forces remain on alert to ensure peace in the area. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday chargesheeted three more accused in the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case linked to the proscribed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). In its second supplementary charge sheet, the agency named Anees Fathima, Chan Pasha A, and Dr Nagaraj S. under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act), the Explosive Substances Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Karnataka Prisons Act. The NIA, which took over the investigation from the local police in October 2023, had earlier chargesheeted nine accused in the case, including absconder Junaid Ahmed. The case was originally registered by the Bengaluru City Police in July 2023 following the recovery of arms, ammunition, and digital devices from habitual offenders. Investigations revealed that the accused had allegedly planned to unleash terror in Bengaluru with the intention of disrupting Indiaas sovereignty and security. The activities, aimed at promoting the interests of the LeT, were part of a larger conspiracy to facilitate the escape of T. Naseer, a life convict in multiple terror cases, while he was being escorted from prison to court. Naseer was an undertrial prisoner in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blast cases at the time. Among the three accused chargesheeted on Friday, Anees Fathima has been identified as the mother of the absconding accused Junaid Ahmed. According to the NIA, she provided logistical support and funds to T. Naseer inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Bengaluru. She was also involved in handling hand grenades and walkie-talkies on her sonas instructions and facilitated communication between various accused. NIA investigations further revealed her key role in harbouring the prime accused, Salman Khan, and helping him abscond to Dubai by arranging travel documents. Salman Khan was later extradited to India from the Republic of Rwanda. The second accused, Chan Pasha A., an Assistant Sub-Inspector with the City Armed Reserve (South), Bengaluru City, allegedly received illegal gratification from Salman Khan in exchange for sharing sensitive information related to the escort details of T. Naseer. He had established contact with Naseer while on prisoner escort duty. The third accused, Dr Nagaraj S., a psychiatrist on deputation at the Central Prisons Hospital, Parappana Agrahara, was found to have illegally smuggled mobile phones into the prison and sold them to inmates for cash. One of these phones had reached T. Naseer, who used it to communicate with his co-accused to conspire to promote the terror plot. The NIA said investigations are ongoing and efforts are continuing to trace other absconders in the case, registered as RC-28/2023/NIA/DLI. Mumbai, Jan 2 : Domestic passenger vehicle (PV) wholesales rose around 26 per cent yearaonayear to almost 4,05,000 units in December, driven by sustained demand after the goods and services tax (GST) rationalisation in September and year-end discounts offered by companies. Mumbai, Jan 2 (IANS) Domestic passenger vehicle (PV) wholesales rose around 26 per cent yearonyear to almost 4,05,000 units in December, driven by sustained demand after the goods and services tax (GST) rationalisation in September and year-end discounts offered by companies. Buyers also advanced purchases ahead of automakers' January price hikes which led to the robust surge. For calendar year 2025, wholesales climbed 5.7 per cent yearonyear to a record high of roughly 4.55 million units, industry estimates showed, with December dispatches from manufacturers to dealers up around 26.2 per cent to 407,497 units from 322,965 units a year earlier. Growth for the full year fell behind the December surge as demand stayed muted in the first half, which was boosted by the GST rate cut, said senior industry leaders. Most carmakers posted healthy growth, with companies posting their bestever December sales up even 37 per cent. SUV penetration rose to 55.8 per cent of total PVs from 53.8 per cent in 2024, while small cars showed signs of recovery post GST rate cut. "We need to split 2025 into two halves, a pre-GST and the post GST. it is a combination of these things which has really pepped up the market from the month of October onwards," a senior industry leader said. The ratings agency ICRA, in a recent report, forecasted FY26 wholesale volume growth of 14 per cent, supported by steady demand, GST cuts, new model launches and sustained momentum. The report said that during November three-wheeler sales in India grew 21.3 per cent to 71,999 units, two-wheeler sales jumped 21.2 per cent to 19,44,475 units. It further stated that continued supportive policy reforms and improved market sentiments would drive this growth trajectory well into 2026. Meanwhile, scooter sales grew a robust 29.4 per cent to 7,35,753 units, reflecting strong urban demand. Motorcycle sales increased 17.5 per cent to 11,63,751 units, supported by steady rural and semi-urban buying. IANS aar/na Kollam, Jan 2 : The Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam's mouthpiece Yoganaadam on Friday launched a sharp critique of the controversy triggered over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan offering a ride to Prajapalana Yogam's general secretary Vellappally Natesan in his official car, describing the backlash as a disturbing reminder of entrenched social discrimination. Natesan is the general secretary of the powerful Hindu Ezhava social group and has now come under attack from not just the Congress, but the CPI, the second biggest ally in the ruling Left. In a strongly-worded editorial, the magazine argues that the debate surrounding the Chief Minister's action exposes the "distorted and ugly face of untouchability" that continues to survive in Kerala society, even 78 years after Independence. The ridicule and disparaging commentary that followed the incident, it says, reflect an inability to accept the social recognition accorded to leaders from backward communities. Yoganaadam has also trained its guns on the Communist Party of India (CPI), stating that the Ezhava and other backward communities constitute the backbone of both the CPI(M) and the CPI, but that this historical reality appears to have been forgotten by the CPI's present leadership. The magazine contends that had the person travelling in the Chief Minister's car belonged to an upper caste or a minority community, the issue would not have snowballed into a controversy. The editorial further alleges that there is a deliberate attempt to portray the act of giving Vellappally Natesan a lift as something akin to a grave offence, even "treasonous" in nature. According to the magazine, the criticism stems solely from the fact that a backward community leader was involved, revealing deep-seated social bias. The Muslim League, too, comes in for criticism, with Yoganaadam accusing the party of nurturing ambitions of capturing power by positioning the UDF at the forefront and pushing what it terms "religious governance," encouraged by recent local body election results. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had on Thursday reiterated that there was nothing improper in his action. While reports indicate that sections of the CPI leadership are unhappy, the dissatisfaction is said to be over the Chief Minister's public response rather than the act itself, and is unlikely to be aired openly. CPI(M) leaders have meanwhile maintained that the Chief Minister's decision was a personal matter. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Kolkata, Jan 2 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made the Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) and the BLO Supervisors accountable for ensuring that the voters who have attained the age of 85 or above do not have to appear physically at the hearing centres for attending the sessions on the claims and objections on the draft voters' list. The ECI, at the same time, has also made the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) accountable to ensure that enough awareness drives are conducted in the areas under their respective jurisdictions to make people aware of its decision giving relaxation to post-85-year-old voters from appearing physically to attend the hearing sessions. "In case any post-85 voter has already been served with a hearing notice, the BLOs or BLO Supervisors will have to contact them personally and request them not to come to the hearing centre. In case of such voters, their documents will be verified at their residences," an insider from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, confirmed. The same principle will apply to voters with critical medical conditions. In such cases, whether these voters will be required to attend a hearing or have their documents verified at their residence will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the ERO or AERO concerned. However, sources at the CEO's office confirmed that under no circumstances can the demand from Trinamool Congress for extending the relaxation to post-60 voters be entertained. "Neither the Commission nor the CEO's office has enough strength to do that. So under all practical reasons, the Commission had decided to extend the relaxation only to post-85 voters," the CEO's office insider added. On December 29 last year, the ECI specified the categories of voters in whose cases the hearings will be conducted at their residences only. These categories include post-85-year-old voters, those with critical illness, and differently-abled voters. However, even after these clear instructions from the ECI, there have been instances of such exempted category voters coming to the hearing centres, which prompted some political parties to make a political issue out of it. Amid such controversies, the ECI has now made the EROS and AEROs accountable for ensuring that the voters who have attained the age of 85 or above do not have to appear physically at the hearing centres Bhopal, Jan 2 : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat will be on a two-day visit to Bhopal, beginning Friday, to attend events at two venues - Kushabhau Thakare Convention Centre and Ravindra Bhavan. During the visit, which is part of the 100-year journey of the RSS, Mohan Bhagwat will be addressing the gathering of social and religious leaders, youth, and women in Bhopal in different sessions on January 2 and 3. The RSS chief will hold 'Yuva Samvad' (interaction) and a 'Pramukhjan Goshthi' (interaction with prominent citizens) on Friday, followed by a 'Samajik Sadbhav Baithak' (social harmony meeting) and a 'Shakti Samvad' (interaction with women) the next day (Saturday). According to a senior RSS functionary in Bhopal, youths from all 31 districts of the 'prants' (16 districts as per the administrative structure), who have made notable contributions and achieved distinction in various fields, will participate in the programme. The RSS functionary said that interaction with prominent citizens will be held at an auditorium in Ravindra Bhavan, in which reputed personalities from various fields from the Bhopal division have been invited. Bhagwat will also address a 'Samajik Sadbhav Baithak' that will be organised at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre on Saturday, with participation from prominent members of different communities. This will be Bhagwat's fifth visit to Madhya Pradesh in the past 10 months, according to a statement issued by the RSS office recently. Notably, on Wednesday, Bhagwat urged citizens to rise above divisions of caste, wealth and language, and to treat "everyone as one's own". The RSS chief's comments assume significance when outrage had been growing over the killing of Angel Chakma, a student from Tripura, in Dehradun, following alleged racial abuse. Bhagwat reiterated the need for social unity and equality, stating that the entire country belongs to everyone and that harmony is central to Indiaas identity. Mumbai, Jan 2 : The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Friday attacked the Mahayuti government, saying that BJP leader Kripashankar Singh's assertion that the next Mayor of Mumbai will be from the North Indian/Hindi-speaking community is not an isolated comment but is the "official stance" of the party to dilute the Marathi identity of the city and is a direct attack on Maharashtra's regional pride. The Thackeray camp, in an editorial in the party's mouthpiece 'Saamana', titled "Traitors, Shame on your lives! Mumbai's Mayor will only be Marathi', warned that any attempt to "impose" a non-Marathi mayor on the city would trigger a backlash similar to the historic struggle for the state's formation. "Mumbai belongs to the Marathi manush emotionally, geographically, and historically," it said. The editorial used sharp rhetoric to remind the BJP of Mumbai's history. It stated that Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, earned through the sacrifice of 106 martyrs during the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. "No outsider can stake a claim over Mumbai. This state has already proven that the Mayor of Mumbai will be, and must be, a Marathi Manoos," the editorial asserted. "The BJP has finally spat out its bitterness through Kripashankar's mouth..., but the 'fake' Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) remains silent, licking the boots of Amit Shah. They claim it is Singh's 'personal opinion' to hide their own cowardice. Shame on your lives!" said the editorial. It accused the current state leadership of "tucking their tails" instead of defending the pride of Maharashtra, alleging that they have surrendered Mumbai's interests to their political masters in Delhi. The Thackeray camp alleged that Kripashankar Singh is merely a "pawn" in a larger scheme orchestrated by the BJP leadership in Delhi. It claimed there is a systematic conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra and dilute the influence of the Marathi-speaking population in the city. Addressing Singh's clarification that he meant a "Hindu Mayor", the editorial dismissed the explanation as a cover-up. "Mumbai has always had Hindu mayors, but they were Marathi Hindus. The BJP doesn't want the Marathi Manoos; they only want to protect their vote bank under the guise of religion," the editorial noted. The editorial asserted that the BJP cannot "buy" Mumbai with money and that the city's soul cannot be traded for votes. It urged BJP leaders to visit the Hutatma Smarak (Martyrs' Memorial) at Flora Fountain to understand the blood-soaked history of the city before making such claims. The editorial claimed there is a deliberate plan by the BJP to systematically reduce the influence of Marathi Manoos in the upcoming BMC elections. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said that the citizens of Mumbai would teach a lesson to those playing with the city's identity in the upcoming elections, reiterating that the reins of Mumbai will remain in the hands of the "sons of the soil" and any dreams of a "Hindi-speaking Mayor" would be crushed by the people. Yangon, Jan 2 : Three Indian nationals were repatriated from Myanmar's Myawaddy cyber scam centres through Yangon, the Embassy of India in Yangon informed on Friday, following cooperation with Myanmar authorities and organisations. "With cooperation from Myanmar authorities and organisations, 3 more Indian nationals from Myawaddy scam centres were repatriated via Yangon yesterday. So far, 2171 Indian nationals have been repatriated since July 2022 (1757 since July 2024). We strongly advise against such job offers," the Indian Embassy in Yangon posted on X. Earlier on November 19, at least 125 Indian nationals were repatriated from Thailand's Mae Sot to India aboard a special Indian Air Force (IAF) flight. The Indian nationals deported were detained in Mae Sot after they had entered Thailand from Myanmar's Myawaddy, where they were allegedly working in the cyber scam centres. According to the Indian Embassy in Bangkok, this brought the total number of Indians released from scam centres in Myawaddy - and repatriated through Thailand, since March, to 1500. As part of the Government of India's efforts to secure the repatriation of Indians entrapped in scam-centres in South-East Asia, the Embassy of India in Bangkok and the Consulate of India in Chiang Mai province in Thailand have worked in close coordination with various agencies of the Thai government and Tak Province to facilitate the repatriation of the Indian nationals. "Indian nationals are strongly advised to verify the credentials of foreign employers and check the antecedents of recruiting agents and companies before taking up a job offer overseas. Further, visa-free entry into Thailand for Indian passport holders is meant for tourism and short business purposes only and should not be misused for taking up employment in Thailand," the Embassy of India in Bangkok posted on X. Additionally, 269 Indian nationals, including 11 women, were repatriated a day earlier through Mae Sot by two special flights operated by the IAF. The Indian Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate of India in Chiang Mai, in coordination with various agencies of the Royal Thai Government and the administration of Tak Province, facilitated the repatriation process. Srinagar, Jan 2 : The J&K Crime Branch said on Friday that it has filed a charge sheet against 108 people in a case pertaining to the embezzlement of government funds. A statement by Crime Branch Kashmir said, aThe Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Srinagar of the Crime Branch has submitted the charge sheet in FIR No. 25/2018 under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 201 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act before the Honable Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla." The charge sheet has been filed against 108 accused in connection with a major case involving the embezzlement of government funds and illegal appointments in the Electric Division Sumbal. The accused include 15 Executive Engineers, six Assistant Accounts Officers, one Accounts Assistant, six Head Assistants, four Senior Assistants (including the kingpin Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, son of Sonaullah Malik, a resident of Aragam, Bandipora), four Junior Assistants and one Orderly, all of whom were posted in the Electric Division Sumbal. The charge sheet also names 25 officers and officials of the J&K Bank, Branch Sumbal Sonawari, besides 46 fake employees who were illegally appointed. The case was registered following credible information that the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO), in connivance with other officials of the department and bank officials, fraudulently drew crores of rupees from government accounts and facilitated fake appointments. aInvestigation established large-scale commission of offences, including diversion of government funds. During the investigation, crores of rupees were recovered from the accused kingpin, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik and were later deposited into the Government Treasury. It further emerged that substantial amounts were transferred to multiple bank accounts of the accused, including savings accounts and term deposits, along with accrued interest," the statement said. The government had accorded sanction for prosecution against the accused persons, and accordingly, a charge sheet was submitted before the competent court for judicial adjudication, the statement added. New Delhi, Jan 2 : A poster has been in circulation in Milan, Italy, calling for a lockdown by the pro-Khalistan elements. While one was aware of the presence of Khalistanis in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia, the poster featuring a protest in Italy signals a new shift. Intelligence Bureau officials say that intercepts clearly suggest the Khalistanis are attempting to expand into more countries, thereby increasing the reach of their messaging. There is a clear attempt being made to project a transnational narrative relating to the Khalistan movement. While the broader messaging is all about the creation of a separate Khalistan nation carved out of Punjab, the new poster also speaks about the situation in Bangladesh. The protest or lockdown in Milan is being promoted by Jagroop Singh and Gurpal Singh, who are part of the proscribed outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). This is the group that is heading the propaganda wing of the Khalistan movement. It has been responsible for the various referendums that have been held in Canada, the UK, and Australia. The SFJ is headed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has on many occasions called for the assassination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while also circulating videos in which he has shown the Indian national flag being desecrated. The organisers of this protest have linked the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar with the murder of anti-India student leader, Osman Hadi. The Khalistan elements had blamed the Indian agencies for the killing of Nijjar in Canada. Even after the killing of Hadi, a narrative was built up stating that it was India that was behind the murder. The linking of the two cases by the Khalistani elements clearly shows that they are playing the script written by the ISI. These elements are trying to get the attention of the international audience, to suggest that India has been meddling in the affairs of other countries and carrying out extrajudicial killings. An Intelligence Bureau official said that this is clearly the doing of the ISI. Both the murders of Nijjar and Hadi are clearly an ISI hit job. The ISI was aware that both these persons were anti-India. After carrying out the hit job, the ISI is clearly trying to spread a narrative that India was behind both these murders. The event in Milan is yet to take place, and the agencies are on high-alert to prevent the same. Indian officials say that the expansion into Milan shows how the Khalistan movement is trying to expand. It is also a sign of an evolving strategy. The ISI-backed Khalistanis are aware that the heat on them is rising, especially in Canada and the UK. They have already been making inroads in Australia and now want to enter Italy as well. Officials say that these elements would try to enter other countries as well. They are waging a narrative war against India and hope they will get support from as many countries as possible. Indian Intelligence agencies have found a surge in the number of propaganda materials being circulated on social media. This is the first time that the Khalistanis have brought up the Bangladesh issue. This has been done at the insistence of the ISI, which wants to defame India in as many countries as possible. In the run-up to the elections in Bangladesh, more such attempts would be made, and the ISI would use the Khalistanis even more. The idea is also to create an impression in the minds of the Bangladeshis that all their problems are courtesy of India. New Delhi, Jan 2 : India's first bullet train project has once again come into focus after Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the country is likely to witness the launch of its first high-speed rail service on August 15, 2027. The announcement drew reactions from various political leaders on Friday, who described the project as a major developmental milestone and a matter of national pride. Briefing the media in New Delhi on Thursday, Railways Minister Vaishnaw said that the country's first bullet train project is currently under construction on the MumbaiAhmedabad high-speed rail corridor. He informed that the first operational section of the project is expected to be from Surat to Bilimora, followed by the Vapi to Surat section. The entire corridor spans approximately 508 kilometres and is being developed with Japanese collaboration, incorporating advanced high-speed rail technology. Reacting to the development, JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said the bullet train project should not be seen merely through a political lens. "This may become an issue for the Opposition, but we can ask the same about sending missions to Mars or the Moon. The daily lives of common people are equally important, and many of them will benefit from using the bullet train," he said. Prasad added that such initiatives should be recognised as part of the broader development being undertaken by the government. "Therefore, this should be viewed beyond political debate and recognised as part of the development our government is fostering. Undoubtedly, it is a major achievement for the country that the decision to bring the bullet train to India has been successfully implemented," he said. Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also welcomed the announcement, calling it a moment of pride for the nation. Commenting on the Railways Minister's statement, she said, "It is a matter of pride that the Indian government and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have announced that the country's first bullet train will be operational from August 15." Highlighting the significance of the project, she noted that the MumbaiAhmedabad high-speed rail corridor has been developed in collaboration with Japan using the best available technology. "It is expected to greatly benefit commuters and represents a significant step towards a developed India," she added. The bullet train project is seen as a transformative initiative aimed at modernising India's rail infrastructure, reducing travel time, and boosting economic activity along the corridor. With the government setting a clear timeline, the project is expected to remain a key symbol of India's push towards high-speed, world-class transportation infrastructure. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed January 02 : Lucknow: The first day of the New Year brought long-awaited relief and happiness to Anjana, the daughter of an Indian Army Major, who had been subjected to harassment by land mafia elements. Acting swiftly on the firm instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the police recovered her multi-crore property and arrested the accused within just 24 hours. The case stands as a strong example of the government's zero-tolerance policy against land mafia and its commitment to delivering swift justice, especially to the vulnerable. Anjana, who has been battling schizophrenia after losing her father and siblings, had been living at a rehabilitation centre. On Wednesday, she met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and informed him that her house in Indira Nagar had been illegally occupied by Balram Yadav of Chandauli using forged documents. Assuring her of prompt justice, the Chief Minister directed immediate action. By Thursday morning, Anjana had restored possession of her home. Overcome with emotion, she tearfully said, Thank you, Yogi Uncle. God bless you. Anjana's father, late Bipin Chandra Bhatt, served the nation as a Major in the Indian Army. He owned house number A-418 in Indira Nagar and passed away in 1994. Of his three children, only Anjana survives today. Due to her mental health condition, she was admitted to the Nirvan Rehabilitation Centre in 2016, where she has since been receiving treatment and care. Taking advantage of her vulnerable condition, Balram Yadav and his associate Manoj Kumar Yadav illegally occupied the property, installed their own nameplate, and transferred the house to their names using forged documents. Anjana had lodged a complaint at the local police station on December 6, seeking eviction of the encroachers. When the process was delayed, she sought an audience with the Chief Minister. On December 31 (Wednesday evening), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath personally listened to the ordeal of the soldier's daughter and immediately ordered strict action. Following his directions, the local administration and police launched a swift investigation and restored Anjana's house within 24 hours. Dr Santosh Dubey of the rehabilitation centre said, Anjana had been under their care since 2016. After receiving information about the illegal occupation, the centre assisted her in filing a complaint and later facilitated her meeting with the Chief Minister. The administration acted promptly thereafter. As Anjana stepped into her home on Thursday in the presence of police and army officials, she was overwhelmed with emotion. Tears streamed down her face as she walked through every room, touching the walls. She lit a lamp, broke a coconut, offered flowers, and shared emotional moments with neighbours, recalling memories of her childhood. Expressing heartfelt gratitude, she repeatedly said, Yogi Uncle helped me in my darkest time. God bless him. ACP Ghazipur Anindya Vikram Singh confirmed that the accused, Balwant Kumar Yadav alias Bablu of Narayanpur village, Saiyadraja (Chandauli), and Manoj Kumar Yadav of Daudpur, Kotwali police station area, were arrested on Thursday. New Delhi, Jan 2 : BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday criticised Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, saying that he continues to make false claims about the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Poonawalla said a recent survey published by the Congress-led government in Karnataka itself contradicts Gandhi's claims. Taking to social media platform X, Poonawalla wrote, "Rahul Gandhi keeps lying about ECI and EVMs but here is a fact check by his own government in Karnataka. Most citizens believe elections in India are free and fair, while trust in the electronic voting machines (EVM) has increased, according to a Statewide survey whose findings have been published by the Congress government in Karnataka." Citing the survey findings, Poonawalla said that a majority of respondents across all administrative divisions believe elections in India are conducted freely and fairly. "As many as 84.55 per cent of citizens expressed agreement that elections in India are free and fair," he said. He further pointed out that trust in EVMs has also risen. "The survey found 83.61 per cent of citizens who believed EVMs were trustworthy. In fact, the survey stated that more citizens trusted the EVMs, from 77.9 per cent in 2023 to 83.61 per cent now," he added. The survey covered 5,100 respondents across 102 Assembly constituencies in the administrative divisions of Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru. It was commissioned by Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar and conducted after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The study was an endline survey of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of citizens regarding the electoral process. Its findings were published by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority under the Department of Planning, Programme Monitoring, and Statistics. The survey was carried out by Mysuru-based research organisation GRAAM (Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement). These findings may pose a setback for the Congress party, as Rahul Gandhi has been leading the 'vote chori' (vote theft) campaign against the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, alleging manipulation of elections. Of the total respondents, 56 per cent were women. The survey also reflected mixed opinions on whether women needed to consult male family members or elders before casting their vote. According to the report, 34.57 per cent agreed, and 3.14 per cent strongly agreed with this view, while a larger proportion disagreed (37.86 per cent) or strongly disagreed (13.78 per cent). Goldstream Investment Limited, with a market cap of HK$790.81 million, derives its revenue from Investment Management and Strategic Direct Investments segments. Despite recent negative earnings growth of -15%, the company has managed to maintain high-quality earnings and improve its net profit margin over the past five years. The management team and board are experienced, contributing to strategic stability despite a highly volatile share price in recent months. Goldstream's financial health is bolstered by significant short-term assets exceeding liabilities and being debt-free, which positions it well for potential future opportunities in the capital markets sector. Operations: The company's revenue is derived from two main segments: Investment Management (IM) Business, contributing HK$25.93 million, and Strategic Direct Investments (SDI) Business, generating HK$72.56 million. Overview: Goldstream Investment Limited is an investment holding company involved in investment management and strategic direct investments in China and Hong Kong, with a market cap of HK$790.81 million. Underneath we present a selection of stocks filtered out by our screen. As the Asian markets continue to navigate a complex global landscape, characterized by mixed economic signals and evolving investor sentiment, opportunities for growth remain a focal point. Penny stocks, often associated with smaller or emerging companies, still hold potential for investors seeking affordability and growth. By identifying those with strong financials and clear growth prospects, investors can uncover promising opportunities in this niche sector. Story continues SEHK:1328 Financial Position Analysis as at Jan 2026 Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: Overview: Sino-Entertainment Technology Holdings Limited is an investment holding company that develops, publishes, and operates mobile games in the People's Republic of China, with a market cap of HK$342.40 million. Operations: The company generates CN23.54 million from its mobile game business in the People's Republic of China. Market Cap: HK$342.4M Sino-Entertainment Technology Holdings, with a market cap of HK$342.40 million, faces challenges as it remains unprofitable and has seen losses increase by 47.3% annually over the past five years. Despite being debt-free and having no long-term liabilities, the company has less than a year of cash runway based on its current free cash flow. Its share price is highly volatile compared to most Hong Kong stocks, although its board is experienced with an average tenure of 5.3 years. The company's short-term assets significantly exceed its short-term liabilities, providing some financial buffer amidst uncertainties in profitability growth prospects. SEHK:6933 Debt to Equity History and Analysis as at Jan 2026 Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: Overview: Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, along with its subsidiaries, is involved in the production and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as food products across Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and other international markets; it has a market cap of SGD11.56 billion. Operations: The company's revenue is primarily derived from its Spirits segment at THB119.41 billion, followed by Beer at THB123.56 billion, Non-Alcoholic Beverages at THB65.04 billion, and Food products contributing THB22.04 billion. Market Cap: SGD11.56B Thai Beverage's financial stability is supported by its substantial revenue streams, with spirits and beer being major contributors. Despite a slight decline in net income to THB25.36 billion for 2025, the company maintains a strong position with short-term assets exceeding short-term liabilities. However, its high net debt to equity ratio of 84.9% and lower profit margins compared to last year indicate financial leverage concerns. The company's earnings growth has been negative recently, but forecasts suggest potential improvement at 9.1% annually. Leadership changes aim to enhance governance and risk management, potentially influencing future strategic directions positively amidst current challenges. SGX:Y92 Financial Position Analysis as at Jan 2026 Summing It All Up This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include SEHK:1328 SEHK:6933 and SGX:Y92. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Ballari : , Jan 2 (IANS) Responding to the incidents of violence resulting in the murder of a Congress worker in Ballari, the Karnataka BJP on Friday accused the state government of targeting mining baron and BJP MLA Janardhana Reddy and demanded a probe by a sitting High Court judge regarding the shoot-out. It may be recalled that supporters of MLAs Janardhana Reddy and Bharat Reddy clashed over the installation of banners to celebrate Valmiki Jayanti in front of Janardhana Reddyas residence on Thursday night. Janardhana Reddyas supporters opposed the installation of the banners, resulting in a quarrel that escalated into stone pelting, lathi charge, and firing by both police and private gunmen. In the ensuing chaos, Congress worker Rajashekar sustained a bullet injury and later died. Karnataka BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra alleged, "The incident that occurred yesterday in front of MLA Janardhana Reddyas residence in Ballari is a government-sponsored, premeditated act carried out by Congress goons, and I strongly condemn it." "I urge that adequate security be provided immediately to MLA Janardhana Reddy, former minister Sriramulu, and other key leaders of our party. I also demand that a commission be constituted under the leadership of a sitting High Court judge to investigate the incident," he demanded. "Under the pretext of installing banners for the inauguration of the Maharshi Valmiki statue, this incident was carried out by targeting Janardhana Reddy and his family. Democracy no longer exists in Ballari. With the connivance of the local MLA, his supporters appear to have resorted to criminal acts with the intent of disturbing the peaceful life of civil society and turning the city into one gripped by fear," he claimed. "After Janardhana Reddy rejoined the BJP, the strengthening of party organisation at the local level, and the renewed bonding between Janardhana Reddy and former Deputy CM Sriramulu as in the past, has become intolerable for political miscreants," he said. "Ironically, local police stations have turned into offices of Karnataka Congress party. The local police have become handmaidens of the Congress, and had they taken preventive measures, this criminal act could have been prevented," Vijayendra slammed. BJP State co-incharge Sudhakar Reddy demanded that the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah government must provide adequate security to Reddy. He strongly condemned the violence and expressed concern that the drug mafia has grown in Karnataka. Law and order has completely collapsed, and goonda raj is prevailing in the state. He accused Congress MLAs of going to police stations, threatening officials, and taking the law into their own hands. Reiterating his strong condemnation of the attack on Janardhana Reddy, he demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara immediately arrest the attackers and the anti-social elements behind the incident. He said Siddaramaiah must resolve the issue immediately by providing security to Janardhana Reddy. Failing this, he warned that the government led by Siddaramaiah would be held responsible for any consequences in the future. Tension has escalated in Karnatakaas Ballari district after a Congress worker was shot dead, and the police said that the bullet was fired from a private revolver. The police had earlier stated that it was not clear who fired the fatal shot. In-charge Superintendent of Police (SP) Ranjit Kumar Bandaru stated on Friday that the police have registered four cases in connection so far, including a murder case that has been filed following a complaint by Congress workers. The family of the deceased has filed a complaint against some BJP leaders. Dhaka, Jan 2 : As the law and order situation continues to deteriorate in Bangladesh, the Awami League on Friday expressed grave concern amid accusations by critics over the prevailing climate of total impunity under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. According to the Awami League, on December 27, two elderly men Jamaluddin and Abdul Kayum were brutally killed in their own locality in Bangladesh, despite having never been accused nor convicted of any crime. The party alleged the victims' only "offence" was a family connection to their relative, Mehedi Hasan, who is affiliated with the Bangladesh Student League, the student wing of the Awami League, where he served as a local deputy publicity secretary. Citing observers, the Awami League argued that this is not an isolated incident, but comes against the backdrop of arbitrary mass detentions, attacks on homes and businesses and targeting of citizens solely for their affiliation with the party. "All unfolding in an environment where critics say silence from Western governments and the absence of accountability have emboldened perpetrators," the Awami League stated. Referring to the upcoming February 12 elections, the party said, "An election cannot be free when fear replaces the rule of law. Political affiliation must never become a death sentence." Earlier on Thursday, Awami League media cell stated that Babul Khan, the Organising Secretary of the Awami League from Kalapara Upazila, passed away after being taken to Barishal Medical College Hospital, following a serious illness while in custody at Patuakhali District Jail in Bangladesh. The Awami League attributed his death to police torture under the direct patronage of the "illegal and fascist" Yunus government. The party alleged that after suffering delays and negligence, under the pretext of medical treatment, Khan was eventually transferred to the hospital, where he reportedly passed away on Tuesday. "This was not a natural deathit is part of a chain of planned killing carried out inside the prison. Today, the country's prisons are no longer correctional facilities; they have turned into secret bases for eliminating opposition politicians. An Awami League identity now seems tantamount to a death sentence. Torture after arrest, denial of medical care, and mysterious deathsall are parts of the same blueprint," the Awami League stated. "How many more planned killings will take place inside prisons? How many more Babul Khans must come out as corpses? There is no escaping responsibility. The illegal Yunus government and its repressive police administration must be held accountable for the blood of Babul Khan,' it added. New Delhi, Jan 2 : As Democrat leader Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the first Muslim mayor of America's largest city, placing his hand on the Holy Quran while taking the oath of office, leaders from the JD(U) and Shiv Sena on Friday said that religion should not be politicised. Zohran Mamdani became the mayor of New York City shortly after midnight on Thursday. He took the oath of office at a decommissioned subway station in Manhattan, marking a historic moment in the city's political landscape. Speaking to IANS, JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said that the US Constitution allows individuals to take an oath in accordance with their religious beliefs and faith. "In India too, we follow a similar practice. People are free to take their oaths based on their personal beliefs. This is not an event that should be politicised at a global level," he said. Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also echoed similar sentiments. She said, "Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York, took his oath on three Qurans one belonging to his grandfather, one to his grandmother, and one his personal pocket Quran and no one questions it. It is his prerogative. However, when Hindus take their oath on the Bhagavad Gita, many people raise questions. I believe we should move beyond pseudo-secular politics." She further added that diversity should be respected and welcomed. "To each his own faith must be accepted. This is also a first-of-its-kind event that sets a trend. I do not think religion should be politicised," Shaina NC said. NCP (SP) Rajya Sabha MP Fauzia Khan said that everyone in the world has their own beliefs and practices. "Everyone has the freedom to follow and practise their religion. Nearly half of the world's population is Muslim. Does that mean half the world is orthodox? Holding such narrow-minded views makes it difficult to coexist in a global village," she said. Condemning the criticism, Fauzia Khan added, "Everyone has the right to follow their own religion, irrespective of what it is. If Muslims follow the Quran in their own way, what is wrong with that?" RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said that people across the world take oaths in different ways. "Some take oaths in the name of God, some in the name of Allah, some invoke Jesus, some Waheguru, and some take an oath on the Constitution," he said. Zohran Mamdani has taken the oath of office as the new mayor of New York City in a historic midnight ceremony held at a decommissioned subway station in Manhattan, becoming the first Muslim to lead America's largest city. Mamdani placed his hand on a Quran as he was sworn in, marking a first in the city's political history. "This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime," Mamdani said moments after taking the oath. The 34-year-old Democrat was sworn in by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a close political ally, at the old City Hall subway station, one of the original stops on the city's earliest underground line. The station, renowned for its ornate arched ceilings and historic significance, served as the backdrop for the ceremony, with Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, holding the Quran during the oath. Mamdani is set to be sworn in once again later in the day in a larger public ceremony at City Hall at 1 p.m. local time. That event will be administered by US Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the new mayor's political inspirations, and will be followed by a public block party organised by the incoming administration. The celebration is planned along a stretch of Broadway known as the "Canyon of Heroes", a location traditionally associated with ticker-tape parades. Following the ceremonies, Mamdani and his wife will move from their one-bedroom, rent-stabilised apartment in an outer borough to the official mayoral residence in Manhattan. Ahmedabad, Jan 2 : Gujarat has witnessed record sowing during the ongoing rabi season, with farmers significantly increasing cultivation of key crops such as wheat, gram and maize, encouraged by remunerative prices received last year. The rabi agricultural season, considered crucial after the kharif harvest, is now entering its final phase across the state. Against an average rabi sowing area of 46.43 lakh hectares over the past three years, farmers have already completed sowing across more than 44.74 lakh hectares this season, covering 96 per cent of the normal area. With sowing still underway in some regions, the total acreage is expected to rise further in the coming weeks. Wheat continues to dominate rabi cultivation in Gujarat, contributing significantly to India's overall wheat production. This year, wheat has been sown across 13.24 lakh hectares, the highest among all rabi crops. Overall, cereal crops, including wheat and maize, have covered 14.83 lakh hectares so far. Pulses have also recorded robust growth, particularly gram. Compared to 7.48 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year, gram acreage has increased by 13 per cent to 8.47 lakh hectares this season. In total, pulse crops have registered an 11 per cent rise, covering 8.96 lakh hectares across the state. Sowing of other crops has also remained strong. Spices such as cumin have been cultivated over 3.75 lakh hectares, while oilseeds like mustard have covered 2.78 lakh hectares. Potato cultivation has shown notable growth as well, with acreage rising by 18 per centa"from 1.40 lakh hectares last year to 1.66 lakh hectares this season. Rabi sowing operations are expected to continue until the last week of January. With extensive acreage already under cultivation, Gujarat is likely to see a substantial increase in agricultural output in the coming months, reinforcing the state's position as a key contributor to India's food grain and horticultural production. Hazaribagh, Jan 2 : A late-night dispute between a group of young men turned violent in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, resulting in the brutal murder of a 30-year-old man on Thursday, January 1, police officials said on Friday. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. at Indrapuri Chowk, a busy locality of the city. The deceased has been identified as Suraj Kumar Rana, a resident of Madai Khurd, who worked as a tiles and marble mason. According to family members and eyewitnesses, an argument broke out between some youths returning from a picnic over playing music. The dispute quickly escalated, following which Suraj was forcibly dragged to an area near the Red Cross building and assaulted. Eyewitnesses said the attackers brutally beat Suraj and dragged him towards Lal Kothi Chowk, where he was allegedly attacked with a sword, leaving him critically injured. Local residents, alerted by the commotion, immediately informed the police. On reaching the spot, the police rushed the profusely bleeding victim to Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead around 11 p.m. The incident triggered panic and anger in Indrapuri Chowk and nearby areas, with a large number of people gathering both at the crime scene and the hospital. Police have secured the area, collected evidence and sent the body for post-mortem examination. Preliminary investigation indicates that the murder stemmed from a personal dispute, though all angles are being thoroughly probed. Police officials said several suspects have been detained for questioning, and raids are underway at suspected hideouts to trace and arrest the accused. Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. Suraj Kumar Rana, who was married five years ago, was the sole breadwinner of his family. He is survived by his wife and two young children. The incident has left his family shattered. New Delhi, Jan 2 : In a heartfelt plea, Dr Meetu Bhargava, sister of retired Indian Navy Commander Purnendu Tiwary, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene urgently in her brother's case. Tiwary, who belongs to Gwalior, is one of the eight ex-Navy officers pardoned by Qatar's Emir nearly two years ago. He remains imprisoned in Doha amid a new legal entanglement, sparking renewed concerns over his health and India's diplomatic efforts. Tiwary, 65, was among the veterans arrested in August 2022 on espionage charges while working for a private firm in Qatar. Initially sentenced to death, their penalties were commuted to prison terms by Qatar's Court of Appeal in December 2023, granting them 60 days to appeal. In February 2024, seven officers returned to India following a royal pardon, an outcome credited to PM Modi's personal intervention, as acknowledged by Bhargava at the time. However, Tiwary was left behind due to a travel ban linked to financial irregularities at his employer, Dahra Global Technologies. According to Bhargava's recent X post on December 30, Tiwary has been "dragged" into a secondary case "stitched" from the original, resulting in a six-year sentence for criminal conspiracy and money laundering. He has been in jail for the past month, enduring what she calls "severe ignominy" despite his decorated service and receipt of the President's Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. Bhargava blames the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for "inaction," claiming "they abandoned him without reviewing case details, exacerbating his suffering." Tiwary's health has deteriorated alarmingly, with hypertension, diabetes, and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from prolonged solitary confinement posing life-threatening risks, reports said. Bhargava also appealed to the Chief of Naval Staff, highlighting the Navy's apparent silence on a retired officer's plight, and urged the fraternity to rally for his release. Recent reports indicate Tiwary's re-arrest and conviction, with deportation possible post-sentence. "It is an irony that despite such injustice being meted out to their decorated Naval officer (though retired), no visible action has been initiated by the Naval Top brass of India to cause the release of their retired officer, Cdr Purnendu Tiwary, from Doha jail," she said on her X handle. The MEA has provided no updates on his status, despite ongoing diplomatic ties with Qatar, including the Emir's visit to India in 2025. As of now, neither the PMO nor MEA has responded publicly. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Seoul, Jan 2 : South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun vowed Friday to revamp diplomatic missions overseas in a way that will boost their operational efficiency, as part of efforts to expand and diversify South Korea's foreign policy amid a shifting international landscape. Cho made the remarks in a New Year message to foreign ministry officials, signaling plans to streamline the missions deemed less efficient while reinforcing the functions of those stationed in key regions. "For missions that show limited effectiveness, we will carry out efficient restructuring and reinforce core functions by focusing them on key missions," Cho said in his speech, Yonhap News Agency reported. His remarks followed media reports that the ministry scrapped plans to open new embassies in several countries after President Lee Jae Myung questioned the need for the expansion, reversing an initiative pushed for by the former Yoon Suk Yeol government. Cho called for overseas missions to better coordinate with South Korean public entities operating abroad to ensure the collaboration will produce outcomes benefiting Korean nationals and companies based in the countries. "We will introduce measures to systematically manage performance and service, such as by reinforcing the authority of heads of overseas missions to better oversee locally operating public institutions and selecting officials capable (of overseas assignments)," he said. Cho also pledged to lead the ministry to pursue more summit diplomacy and widen the "economic horizons" of foreign policy. "It has become more important than ever to explore and further expand new economic horizons," he said. "We will strive to promote diplomacy that improves people's livelihoods and revitalizes businesses." "Looking ahead, we will step up summit-level diplomacy and actively engage in diplomacy with key regions to diversify our diplomatic outreach," Cho said. On December 22, Cho Hyun said he would work to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula by seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations, reiterating the government's efforts to reengage with Pyongyang. Cho made the remarks in a keynote speech at an event hosted by the South Korea-US Parliamentarians Union, saying it is time to "deeply reflect on what must be done" to ensure security and peace on the peninsula. "The two summit meetings between South Korea and the United States this year would provide a foundation for those efforts," he said, stressing the importance of "swiftly and properly" negotiating the agreements reached in the joint fact sheet. He added that South Korea should work to bolster deterrence while simultaneously seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations. Seoul, January 2 : The chief of the US Indo-Pacific Command has called for South Korea and the United States to continue to strengthen their combined defence posture in the new year to send a "clear message" to adversaries on the cost of aggression. Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr. made the call in a New Year's message as Washington has urged Seoul and other regional allies to contribute to safeguarding the First Island Chain, a key perimeter for America's preeminence against China in the region. "We must also continue to build a formidable, combined defence, sending a clear message to any adversary that the cost of aggression would be far too great," Paparo said in the message released through the Korea-US Alliance Foundation (KUSAF) and the Korea Defence Veterans Association (KDVA), Yonhap News Agency reported. The remarks by the top INDOPACOM official came after Beijing mobilized Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force personnel in the Taiwan Strait and other areas surrounding Taiwan earlier this week, in what the Chinese military described as a "stern" warning against "separatist forces" and "external interference." In response, the US State Department has urged Beijing to stop its military pressure against Taiwan and engage in "meaningful" dialogue. In the message, Paparo noted how Seoul and Washington have reaffirmed their "ironclad" commitment through bilateral meetings between their leaders, defence chiefs and top military commanders in 2025 and urged the allies to embrace a "path of shared innovation." "Our shared task is to translate this momentum into decisive action that ensures peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and the broader lndo-Pacific region," he said. Meanwhile, US Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson thanked the organizations for helping to uphold the "bond that has guided the Alliance for more than seven decades." "Because of organizations like KUSAF, our Alliance remains strong, relevant, and ready for the challenges ahead," Brunson said. Kabul, Jan 2 : An explosion occurred at the court building in Faryab, creating panic and sparking fresh security concerns in northern Afghanistan, local media reported on Friday. Following the explosion, the emergency responders reached at the site of the incident. The blast took place at the Court of Appeal building in Faryab on Thursday, causing panic in the surrounding area. At the time of the explosion, Taliban officials were holding a security meeting inside the building, indicating that the gathering could have been the target. Some sources have claimed that the explosion occurred due to a rocket strike while others said that it was a planted mine explosion, leading Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported. Health officials said that a number of dead and injured were taken to hospitals, however, the exact casualty figures have not been released yet. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack and Taliban officials have not yet released an official statement about the incident or its aftermath. Last October, nine people were injured after a hand grenade exploded inside a mosque during evening prayers in Afghanistan's Parwan province, according to local officials. The explosion took place during evening prayers in Shinwari district on October 19, Afghanistan's leading news agency Khaama Press reported. Officials said the blast took place after a man accidentally dropped a grenade he was carrying. Nine people suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. According to witnesses, the man who dropped the grenade was a member of the Taliban and also suffered injuries in the explosion. No further details regarding the identity of the suspect or why he was carrying a weapon in the mosque were released by the authorities. The incident took place a week after a similar attack took place in Bamiyan province, when armed men opened fire on worshippers during prayers. New Delhi, Jan 2 : Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government over the deaths linked to contaminated drinking water in Indore, calling the incident a "murder of the right to life" and accusing the administration of negligence, arrogance, and a complete failure of accountability. New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government over the deaths linked to contaminated drinking water in Indore, calling the incident a "murder of the right to life" and accusing the administration of negligence, arrogance, and a complete failure of accountability. In a post on X, LoP Gandhi said, "In Indore, there was no water just poison being distributed, while the administration slumbered like Kumbhakarna." He said mourning had spread from home to home, with the poor left helpless. "Those whose hearths have gone cold needed solace; the government served up hubris instead," he added, criticising statements made by BJP leaders in the aftermath of the tragedy. The Congress leader said residents had repeatedly complained about dirty, foul-smelling water but alleged that authorities failed to act in time. Raising a series of questions, Rahul Gandhi asked how sewage mixed with drinking water, why the supply was not shut off immediately, and when action would be taken against responsible officers and leaders. "These aren't 'freebie' questions they're demands for accountability. Clean water isn't a favour; it's a right to life," he said, holding the BJP's "double-engine government" responsible for the deaths. Indore, often showcased as India's cleanest city for its sanitation achievements, is currently grappling with a serious public health emergency. In the Bhagirathpura locality, residents reported foul-smelling, bitter-tasting, and discoloured water being supplied through municipal pipelines. Soon after consuming the water, people began suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, and high fever, leading to a surge in hospital admissions. The situation quickly escalated into a waterborne disease outbreak. According to officials, at least nine deaths have been confirmed so far, while around 200 patients have been admitted to hospitals for treatment. Preliminary assessments suggest that sewage may have mixed with the drinking water supply due to infrastructure lapses, triggering the crisis. Water contamination is a major global public health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that consuming unsafe water can cause serious illnesses such as bacterial gastroenteritis, cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. Linking the Indore incident to what he described as a broader pattern of misgovernance in Madhya Pradesh, LoP Gandhi said the state has become an "epicenter of administrative failure," citing deaths linked to cough syrup in one place, children dying due to rats in government hospitals in another, and now fatalities caused by sewage-mixed drinking water. He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that "every time the poor die, Modi ji, as always, remains silent." Authorities have launched an investigation into the contamination, while residents continue to demand accountability and assurances of safe drinking water. The US derivatives watchdog is bringing back a familiar face from Bitcoins first leap into regulated markets, as Amir Zaidi returns to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as chief of staff ahead of what Washington calls a pivotal year for crypto rules. The CFTC said on Dec. 31 that Chairman Michael S. Selig appointed Zaidi to the role, after Zaidi spent nearly a decade at the agency before leaving for the private sector. Amir brings to this role deep experience both at the Commission and in the financial services world, Selig said, linking Zaidis track record to the agencys push to shape new rules for digital asset markets. From Market Oversight Chief To Bitcoin Futures Architect Zaidi worked at the CFTC from 2010 to 2019, and he most recently led the Division of Market Oversight, where the agency said he oversaw the certification and deployment of the first federally regulated crypto product, Bitcoin futures. That moment traces back to late 2017, when the CFTC said CME and Cboe Futures Exchange self-certified new Bitcoin futures contracts, opening a path for US-listed trading days later. After leaving government, Zaidi became global head of compliance at broker-dealer TP ICAP, a role the firm announced in 2019 after his tenure at the CFTC. New Chief Of Staff Arrives As Policy Direction Shifts I am excited to return to the CFTC and thank Chairman Selig for appointing me to this important role, Zaidi said, adding that he plans to help carry out the chairmans pro innovation agenda as derivatives markets evolve. Zaidis return lands days after Selig was sworn in as the 16th CFTC chairman, following a Trump nomination in October and Senate confirmation on Dec. 18. Selig has framed the moment as a shift from regulation by enforcement toward clearer rules, and his agency has already moved deeper into crypto plumbing, including steps that have put regulated US venues closer to spot style crypto trading. For crypto markets, the staffing move is another signal that the CFTC expects to sit near the centre of US market structure talks in 2026, with Selig pointing to digital asset legislation moving toward President Trumps desk and a bigger push to keep crypto activity onshore. Read original story Bitcoin Futures Trailblazer Returns To CFTC As Chief Of Staff by Shalini Nagarajan at Cryptonews.com New Delhi, Jan 2 : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday urged the government to pay urgent attention to the rising incidents of AI apps, especially on Elon Musk-led social media platform X, sexualising women. In a letter to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, she asked for "guardrails" to be implemented on AI chatbots like Grok to make social media platforms "a safe space for women". She also urged better education of men, from an early age, to not become sick perverts. "Have sought urgent attention and intervention of the IT Minister to take the issue of increasing incidents of AI apps being prompted to sexualise and undress women by unauthorised use of their images on social media," Chaturvedi shared in a post on social media platform X. "There have to be guardrails put in place by features such as Grok that do not violate women's dignity; big tech firms need to take the onus. And I wish men indulging in such behaviour were educated better at their homes & schools so as to not become such sick perverts in their adulthood," she added. In the letter posted on X, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP called out on an emerging trend on social media, especially on X, where men with fake accounts are misusing the AI Grok feature to post women's photos and pushing out prompts to Grok to minimise their clothing and sexualise them. "It is not just limited to sharing photos through fake accounts but are also targeting women who post their own photos," she said. Calling it "unacceptable and gross misuse of an AI function," Chaturvedi also lashed out at Grok for "enabling this behaviour by adhering to such requests". Chaturvedi called it "breach of women's right to privacy" as well as a "criminal" act. She stated that similar incidents are "going absolutely unchecked" on other platforms. "I write to you as an active member of the Standing Committee on IT & Communication, to urge you as a minister to take this up strongly with X to ensure safeguards are built in their AI apps to make the platform a safe space for women. "Our country cannot be a bystander to women's dignity being violated publicly and digitally with zero consequences under the garb of creativity and innovation condone such prompts. While we welcome AI and its role in making lives easier for the world, we will not allow a proliferation of such demeaning acts towards women," the Rajya Sabha MP said. Bengaluru, Jan 2 : Karnataka Police on Friday arrested two people, including a software professional, in connection with sending abusive comments against jailed actor Darshan's wife, Vijayalaxmi. The accused allegedly made vulgar comments and used abusive language. After the complaint was filed, they deleted the messages. The arrested people have been identified as Nitin, a techie from Davanagere, and Chandru, an autorickshaw driver from Chikkabanavara in Bengaluru. The police arrested them by tracking their IP addresses. Further investigation is underway. It can be recalled that Vijayalaxmi has alleged inaction on the part of the Bengaluru Police regarding her complaint against several social media accounts for posting "abusive comments" against her. However, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh had rejected the allegation and clarified that the investigation was underway. Vijayalaxmi had met Seemanth Kumar Singh on Wednesday, following which she wrote a social media post on the issue. "My complaint has been completely neglected. I believe that the law is the same for everyone, but this experience has made me question that belief. This has come as a surprise to me," she wrote. "Action was initiated within a day in another woman's complaint. When I lodged a complaint, there has been no action, and I have been neglected," she stated. Kannada actress and former Congress MP Ramya, also known as Divya Spandana, had lodged a complaint against Darshan's fans for issuing rape threats to her after she stood with the family of the victim in the fan murder case. The police had acted swiftly in that case and made arrests. On social media, Vijayalaxmi stated, "I have always believed that the system and the law are the same for everyone in our country. But, honestly, this experience has made me question that belief. Even after follow up by my lawyers, there has been no action. Today, I had to personally go and remind them that I am still waiting for my complaint, even to be looked into." "I truly hope this delay isn't because of any external pressure or influence. Justice shouldn't depend on who's involved. And those backing or sheltering such behaviour - may be its time to put that energy into living better lives instead of blindly supporting such actions," she stated. "I am still waiting. And I won't just let this slide," she warned. Last week, Vijayalaxmi filed a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station against several social media accounts for posting abusive comments against her. She submitted a complaint along with photographs against 15 Instagram IDs and more than 150 offensive comments. After lodging the complaint, Vijayalaxmi left the premises without responding to the media. She also filed a complaint at the Bengaluru Police Commissioner's office, submitting screenshots of the hate comments she received along with details of the respective accounts, and urged the authorities to take action. The inspector of the cybercrime division accepted the complaint and assured her of appropriate action. Later, Vijayalaxmi shared an Instagram story regarding the issue. She also posted screenshots of the abusive comments and the accounts that had posted them. New Delhi, Jan 2 : India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's Dhaka visit to attend former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's funeral on Wednesday and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visiting the High Commission in New Delhi to pay respects to the departed leader is significant, given the current situation, observed a leading Bangladesh daily. "The brief visit of India's foreign minister S Jaishankar to Dhaka over the past two days, along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the Bangladesh mission, is significant," said a Prothom Alo analysis. "Since the popular uprising of 5 August 2024, which led to the fall of the Awami League government and Sheikh Hasina's flight to India, relations between the two countries have deteriorated," it added. Earlier, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah had posted on social media 'X' that following Jaishankar's Dhaka visit, India and Bangladesh can look forward to scripting a new chapter in bilateral ties. Incidentally, Hamidullah was summoned back to Dhaka on Monday amid rising bilateral tensions between the two neighbours. "As (India) Hon External Affairs Minister HE Dr @DrSJaishankar left Dhaka following a whirlwind 4-hr visit, #Bangladesh & #India would look forward to script a new chapter in (Bangladesh-India) ties, in shared interests driven by pragmatism and mutual interdependence, as indeed briefly discussed with @bdbnp78 Acting Chair, @trahmanbnp this afternoon," he wrote on Wednesday. The last part was in reference to the External Affairs Minister meeting the deceased former Prime Minister's son Tarique Rahman, who is Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman, and handing him Prime Minister Narendra Modi's condolence letter. Also acknowledging the Defence Minister's visit, Hamidullah wrote the next day, "Honoured to welcome HE @rajnathsingh, Hon (India) Defense Minister at @bdhc_delhi as he conveyed condolences of #India and paid homage to former (Bangladesh) Prime Minister | @bdbnp78 Chairperson (late) #BegumKhaledaZia, in Delhi." Friday's analysis in Prothom Alo appears to echo the High Commissioner's observations on the development, referring to his social media posts. "Yet, barely a week later, Rajnath Singh's visit to the Bangladesh High Commission to pay respects to Khaleda Zia, is significant. In addition to honouring the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, his presence at the High Commission signals that Delhi is taking responsibility for ensuring the highest level of security at the mission," wrote the newspaper's Diplomatic Editor Raheed Ejaz on Friday. The piece, however, failed to mention the violence in Bangladesh and the killings of Hindu and other minority citizens. It rather highlighted demonstrations and protests in India voicing the ongoing atrocities. Violence in Bangladesh has sharply escalated, with Hindu minority citizens facing targeted killings. At least 12 Hindus were murdered in mob lynchings and extrajudicial attacks last month. These incidents have heightened anxiety among minority communities and raised questions about Bangladesh's ability to protect vulnerable groups. The violence undermines social cohesion and democratic transition, especially ahead of the February 12 elections. Authorities often present each killing as an isolated crime, but it reveals how political instability, religious radicalism, and weak institutions converge to leave minorities vulnerable. The Prothom Alo piece, headlined 'Delhi eager to take bilateral relations forward', ended portraying Bangladesh authorities' uncertainty. It recounted that when Touhid Hossain, Adviser for Foreign Affairs of the Interim Government, was asked whether Jaishankar's visit would ease tensions between the two countries, he replied, "You will have to look for the answer in the days ahead. In the coming days, you will see what happens." Dhaka needs to reciprocate, not appear uncertain, passing on the responsibility and response to future. Thiruvananthapuram Jan 2 : Saturday marks a crucial moment for Kerala's Left Front legislator and former Transport Minister Antony Raju, as a trial court in the state capital is set to deliver its verdict in the notorious underwear evidence tampering case, bringing to a close a legal saga that has stretched over three-and-a-half decades. Thiruvananthapuram Jan 2 (IANS) Saturday marks a crucial moment for Keralaas Left Front legislator and former Transport Minister Antony Raju, as a trial court in the state capital is set to deliver its verdict in the notorious underwear evidence tampering case, bringing to a close a legal saga that has stretched over three-and-a-half decades. The verdict comes nearly a year after the Supreme Court in November 2024 set aside a Kerala High Court order that had quashed the criminal proceedings against Raju. The apex court restored the trial courtas decision to take cognisance of the police charge sheet and directed that the long-pending trial be completed within a year. In compliance with the order, Raju appeared before the trial court on December 20, 2024, paving the way for the final judgment. The case dates back to 1990, when Australian national Andrew Salvatore Cervelli was arrested at the Thiruvananthapuram airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 61.5 grams of contraband concealed in his underwear. Raju, then a young lawyer at the start of his political career, appeared as Cervellias counsel. The trial court convicted Cervelli and sentenced him to 10 yearsa imprisonment. However, in a dramatic turn, the Kerala High Court acquitted Cervelli on appeal after finding that the underwear produced as evidence was too small to fit him, raising serious doubts about the prosecution's case. Cervelli subsequently returned to Australia. Years later, following information received from the Australian National Central Bureau, the investigating officer approached the High Court seeking a probe into the alleged tampering of material evidence. This led to the registration of a criminal case in 1994 against Raju and a court clerk. After a prolonged investigation lasting 12 years, the Assistant Commissioner of Police filed a charge sheet in 2006 before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Thiruvananthapuram, accusing Raju of criminal conspiracy, cheating, dishonestly inducing delivery of property, and causing the disappearance of evidence. Raju challenged the proceedings, arguing that the disputed underwear was in the custody of the trial court at the relevant time and that only the court could have initiated action under Section 195(1)(b) of the CrPC. He contended that the police lacked the authority to investigate or file a charge sheet in such a case, rendering the proceedings legally untenable. While the High Court accepted this argument, the Supreme Court disagreed, reviving the prosecution and clearing the way for the verdict that now awaits. For Raju, the outcome could carry significant legal and political ramifications, ending a case that has followed him for most of his public life. --IANS sg/vd January 02 : Bringing refreshed styling and advanced features to the SUV segment, the all-new Kia Seltos has been launched in India. According to Kias official website, the 2026 Seltos is branded with the tagline, Badass forever, and is priced from 10,99,000 (ex-showroom), marking a compelling entry. The new Kia Seltos stands out with Ice Cube LED Projection headlamps, star-map LED DRLs, connected tail lamps, flush door handles, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof for a contemporary exterior look. Inside, the cabin is equipped with a Command Centric Trinity Panoramic display that combines infotainment and driver data, with dual-zone automatic climate control for enhanced comfort. The car offers seamless smartphone integration via KIA CONNECT, over-the-air software updates, improved driving support with advanced Level 2 ADAS, and a vibrant color palette choice, including Frost Blue, Morning Haze, Glacier White Pearl, Gravity Grey, Magma Red, Aurora Black Pearl, Imperial Blue, Ivory Silver Gloss, and Pewter Olive. The variants comprise HTE, HTE(O), HTK, HTK(O), HTX, HTX(A), GTX, and X-Line. At its global premiere held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, the all-new Kia Seltos was unveiled on 2 January, 2026. From the retracting driver seat function to wireless smartphone charging, the updates reinforce Kias promise to combine driver comfort, bold design, and premium features. The rivals of the Kia Seltos 2026 represent the highly competitive SUV segment in India and include the Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Honda Elevate, and MG Astor. Srinagar, Jan 2 : The Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) said on Friday that it has arrested an absconding drug peddler in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar district. A statement issued by the ANTF said, "Continuing its unwavering operation against drug peddlers, Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Kashmir achieved a significant breakthrough by arresting a hardcore woman drug peddler, namely Tamana Ashraf, daughter of Mohammad Ashraf, resident of Batamaloo, Srinagar, involved in FIR No. 10/2023 u/s 8/20 NDPS Act registered at ANTF Jammu and was evading her arrest for the last three years. The woman accused is involved in trafficking more than 7 kgs of charas, which was being sent to Mumbai through Courier Services. The said woman was evading her arrest since the registration of cases in different states across the country; however, due to continuous efforts of ANTF Jammu and Kashmir, she was tactfully apprehended from her residence at Batamaloo, Srinagar, on Thursday. "The relentless efforts of ANTF Jammu and Kashmir and intelligence-led operation resulted in the successful apprehension, showcasing their commitment to curbing narcotics crimes," the statement added. The Jammu and Kashmir Police and the security forces have adopted a holistic approach to tackling terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The anti-terrorist operations by police and the security forces target terrorists, their over ground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers. Drug smugglers, drug peddlers and those involved in hawala money rackets are also on the scanner of the security forces, as it is believed that the funds generated by the unlawful activities are finally used to sustain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The coordinated approach of the joint forces is aimed at dismantling the complete support system of terrorism in the union territory rather than focusing on just the gun-wielding terrorists. The duties, such as checking infiltration, ex-filtration and drug smuggling, are manned by the Army and the BSF. Indore/New Delhi, Jan 2 : Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government over the contaminated water crisis in Indore, accusing the administration of distributing "poison" instead of water while remaining in "deep slumber." In a strongly-worded post on social media platform X, LoP Gandhi described the incident as a grave violation of the right to life, holding the "double-engine government" fully responsible. Gandhi wrote that mourning has enveloped homes in the affected Bhagirathpura area, with the poor left helpless amid arrogant statements from BJP leaders. He highlighted repeated complaints about foul-smelling water that were ignored, questioning how sewage mixed with the drinking supply, why it was not stopped in time, and when action would be taken against responsible officials? "Clean water is not a favour, it is a right to life," he asserted, demanding accountability. The Congress leader linked the crisis to broader "misgovernance" in Madhya Pradesh, terming the state an "epicenter" of administrative failures. He cited previous incidents like deaths from contaminated cough syrup and children dying due to rat bites in government hospitals, alongside the current sewage-laced water tragedy. The outburst comes amid a severe public health emergency in Indore, India's cleanest city for eight years running. Sewage leakage into a main pipeline triggered an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting, affecting over 1,400 people, though official confirmation is restricted to barely 200. The official figures also confirm at least four deaths, though local residents and some reports claim up to 13-14 fatalities, including a six-month-old infant. Around 200 remain hospitalised, with lab tests verifying bacterial contamination. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited victims, announcing compensation and suspending officials. The National Human Rights Commission sought a report, while the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed free treatment and clean water supply via tankers, scheduling further hearings. LoP Gandhi's remarks have intensified political heat, with Opposition parties demanding probes into infrastructure lapses. Authorities are flushing pipelines and advising boiled water use until safety is confirmed. Bhopal, Jan 2 : Senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti has strongly condemned the state government over the contaminated water crisis in Indore, describing the deaths as a profound shame for the administration and calling it a critical test for Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. In a series of posts on social media platform X on Friday, Bharti expressed deep anguish over the incident in the Bhagirathpura area, where sewage mixed with drinking water pipelines led to a diarrhoea outbreak. She highlighted the irony of Indore, repeatedly awarded as India's cleanest city, harbouring such filth and poisoned water that has claimed numerous lives, with the toll continuing to rise. Bharti emphasised that the value of human life cannot be compensated with mere financial aid, stating that families endure lifelong grief. She demanded severe penance, a public apology to victims, and maximum punishment for all responsible parties, from junior officials to top leaders. "Not just the Mayor of Indore, but the entire government and administration stand in the dock of public accountability," she wrote. Questioning the handling of the crisis, Bharti asked why officials, who claimed the lack of control, did not resign and instead continued in their positions while consuming packaged water. "There is no explanation for such sins, only atonement or punishment," she asserted. Bharti, recovering from eye surgery and restricted from public interactions, apologised for not meeting the media but used the platform to tag the BJP leadership and Chief Minister Yadav directly, underscoring the urgency. The crisis has seen conflicting death toll reports; official figures confirm four, but local claims and some sources suggest up to 14-15 fatalities, including infants, with over 1,400 affected and hundreds hospitalised. Lab tests verified bacterial contamination from pipeline leaks near a poorly constructed toilet. Chief Minister Yadav has visited victims, announced compensation, and initiated probes with suspensions. The High Court and NHRC are monitoring the matter and demanding reports. Bengaluru/Ballari, Jan 2 : Commenting on the death of a Congress party worker during a violent clash between the groups of Congress MLA Nara Bharat Reddy and BJP MLA Janardhana Reddy in Karnataka's Ballari city, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that a bullet fired into the air had accidentally hit the man. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Friday, Siddaramaiah said, "There was a conflict over a banner issue. Shots were fired into the air. One of the bullets fired in the air hit Rajashekar, leading to his death. It has to be ascertained from which revolver the bullet was fired. Hence, I have ordered an investigation and sought a report in this regard." "It has to be determined whether the bullet was fired from the revolver of a Congress leader or a BJP leader. A probe has been ordered," the Chief Minister said. According to sources, CM Siddaramaiah expressed his displeasure over the turn of events and refused to speak to MLA Bharat Reddy when other leaders attempted to connect him over the phone. The Chief Minister reportedly said he would not speak to him. He later spoke to former Minister B. Nagendra and asked Kampli MLA Ganesh to visit the spot. ADGP (Law and Order) R. Hitendra, speaking in Ballari, said, "We have seized guns from private gunmen. A total of five guns have been seized from both sides. The police used only tear gas to control the mob. We have recovered bullets from the spot and are investigating." "The dispute over the installation of a banner resulted in a clash between two groups. Four separate cases have been registered in connection with the incident, including a suo motu case by the police. One complaint pertains to the death of the Congress worker. Another complaint has been registered alleging insult to Maharshi Valmiki, and a case has also been filed under Section 307," ADGP Hitendra said. Minister for Housing and Waqf Zameer Ahmad Khan, who is also the Ballari district in-charge minister, said the Chief Minister has expressed his displeasure over the incident and assured that action will be taken against whoever is responsible. "The quarrel began over a small issue and ended with the death of an innocent man. It is wrong to allege that certain leaders were targeted. I am also going to Ballari," he said. Ballari city MLA Nara Bharat Reddy and other MLAs visited the residence of the deceased Congress worker and took part in the final procession and last rites. MLA Bharat Reddy said he would not make any comments until the final rites were completed. "Rajashekar was like my brother. He is no more, and we are in grief," he said. Tension escalated in Karnataka's Ballari district after a Congress worker was shot dead on Thursday night. Police said the bullet was fired from a private revolver, though they had earlier stated that it was not clear who fired the fatal shot. The situation continues to remain tense and volatile in Ballari city. It may be recalled that what began as a dispute over banners in Ballari on Thursday night escalated into a violent clash between two groups allegedly linked to mining baron and MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy and Congress MLA Nara Bharat Reddy. The situation further intensified after Janardhana Reddy alleged that there was a conspiracy to assassinate him, allegedly orchestrated by the family of Congress MLA Bharat Reddy. Following the incident, the police imposed prohibitory orders in the area as a precautionary measure. New Delhi, Jan 2 : Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday virtually oversaw the key breakthrough of a 1.5-km-long tunnel of the bullet train project in Maharashtra's Palghar district from Rail Bhawan in the national capital with chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai!' "The 1.5-km-long mountain tunnel is among the longest in Palghar district and is located between the Virar and Boisar stations on the bullet train route. It is the second tunnel breakthrough in Maharashtra, as the first 5-km-long underground tunnel between Thane and BKC was completed in September 2025," according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Railways. Vaishnaw said, "The bullet train achieves nearly 95 per cent carbon dioxide savings compared to highways. This is a significant point. Many countries have implemented bullet train projects purely for environmental reasons." "South Korea, for instance, has also gained major economic benefits from such projects. Alongside the economic advantages, the environmental benefits are equally substantial. The train reaches city centres directly, minimising disturbance to people and traffic. It passes through areas with high population density," the minister explained. Vaishnaw indicated on Thursday that India is likely to receive its first Bullet Train on August 15, 2027. India's first Bullet Train project spans 508 km between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Of this, 352 km lies in Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and 156 km in Maharashtra. According to the government, the corridor will connect major cities such as Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Vapi, Thane, and Mumbai, and is expected to cut travel time between the two metros to around two hours, significantly boosting inter-city mobility. As per the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL), over 85 per cent of the corridor -- around 465 km -- is being built on elevated viaducts, with 326 km already completed. Vaishnaw on Friday said, "For spans longer than 40 meters, steel bridges are used because they are lighter and can support longer spans with greater strength. That's why bridges with spans ranging from 40 meters up to almost 100-130 meters are all steel bridges." "The prime minister always emphasised learning new methods of working and setting new benchmarks for quality and technology. This project is a great example of that. Traffic cannot be stopped, trains cannot be halted," he added. In November 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a detailed review of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project during his visit to Gujarat, marking a key moment in India's push towards next-generation transport infrastructure. During the visit, the Prime Minister inspected the Surat station -- a structure inspired by the city's globally renowned diamond industry. With a height of 26.3 metres and a built-up area of 58,352 square metres, the station includes three levels: The ground floor for parking and security checks, the concourse level for lounges, restrooms, kiosks and ticketing, and the platform level for passenger boarding. Bitfarms Ltd. announced on Friday that it has agreed to sell its 70-megawatt Paso Pe Bitcoin mining site in Paraguay for up to $30 million, marking its exit from Latin America. The company said it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement with Sympatheia Power Fund, which is managed by Singapore-based Hawksburn Capital. The transaction is expected to close within 60 days, subject to customary closing conditions. Refocus on North American HPC and AI Infrastructure Bitfarms CEO Ben Gagnon said the sale represents a decisive rebalancing of the companys energy portfolio toward North America, allowing capital to be redeployed into higher-return opportunities. This transaction brings forward an estimated two to three years of anticipated free cash flows from operations to be reinvested into our North American HPC and AI energy infrastructure in 2026, Gagnon said in a press release. He added that the sale of the Paso Pe site marks the culmination of a broader effort to exit Latin America and refocus the companys management capital and operational priorities on North American power and infrastructure. Bitfarms Ditches BTC for AI After Shocking $46M Loss Bitfarms said it has increasingly positioned itself as an energy and digital infrastructure company expanding beyond bitcoin mining into high-performance computing and artificial intelligence workloads, which it believes offer more long-term returns on invested capital. In November, the company said it will wind down its Bitcoin operations over 2026 and 2027 after posting a steep $46 million loss in the third quarter, nearly double its $24 million loss during the same period last year. Deal Structure and Payment Timeline Under the terms of the agreement, the buyer will acquire the shares of a single-purpose subsidiary that holds all operating assets related to the Paso Pe project. The proposed transaction values the site at up to $30 million. Bitfarms expects to receive $9 million in cash at closing, which is anticipated in the first quarter of 2026. This amount includes a $1 million non-refundable deposit that has already been paid by the buyer. The company may receive up to an additional $21 million over the ten months following closing, contingent on the achievement of certain payment milestones. The structure of the transaction is expected to improve Bitfarms liquidity profile by accelerating the monetization of the asset while providing short-term financing supported by the operation. Buyer Targets Operational Continuity A representative for Sympatheia Power Fund said the acquisition supports the funds regional expansion strategy in crypto infrastructure and emphasized the importance of a smooth transition. New Delhi, Jan 2 : From protecting personality rights in the digital age to reaffirming access to electricity as a basic human necessity, the Delhi High Court delivered a series of landmark judgments throughout the year. Here is a year-end wrap of some of the most significant High Court rulings. Protecting Personality Rights: The Delhi High Court has taken the lead in protecting personality and publicity rights amid the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and online commercial exploitation. In December, a single-judge bench of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora granted an ad-interim injunction in favour of actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, restraining online marketplaces, AI platforms, websites and unidentified entities from misusing his name, image, voice, likeness and other attributes for commercial gain. In a similar court ruling, the Delhi High Court protected the personality rights of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, directing social media intermediaries and e-commerce platforms to take down unauthorised content and merchandise misusing his identity. In recent months, several public figures -- including actors Nagarjuna, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, filmmaker Karan Johar, podcaster Raj Shamani and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar -- secured similar reliefs. Electricity as a Fundamental Right: Reaffirming the constitutional protection of basic amenities, the Delhi High Court directed BSES Rajdhani Power Limited to restore electricity to a tenant's premises without insisting on an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the landlords. It ruled that electricity is an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 and cannot be denied due to a pending landlord-tenant dispute. The Delhi High Court rejected the argument that the absence of an NOC could justify continued disconnection, observing that possession cannot be termed unlawful until a competent court orders eviction. "No citizen can be expected to live a life devoid of basic necessities such as electricity," it said, while directing restoration through the existing meter and allowing police assistance if required. Unnao rape case -- Sentence Suspension, Public Outcry and SC intervention: One of the most debated rulings of the year came when the Delhi High Court suspended the life sentence of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and granted him bail pending appeal. Though it imposed stringent conditions, the decision triggered widespread criticism and protests. Sengar was not able to walk out of the jail due to a separate conviction linked to the death of the survivor's father. Subsequently, the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the Delhi High Court order, citing "peculiar facts" and clarifying that Sengar would not be released. Mandatory e-KYC for Domain Registrations: In a sweeping 248-page judgment, the Delhi High Court issued stringent directions mandating strict e-KYC verification of domain name registrants, holding that anonymity in registrations had flared up online fraud, phishing and consumer deception. Deciding a batch of suits filed by Dabur India Limited, a single-judge bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh rejected the practice of "privacy by default", observing that masking identities without verification had become a key enabler of financial fraud. The Delhi High Court directed all domain name registrars operating in India to verify registrant details at registration and periodically thereafter, in line with CERT-In norms, and to disclose verified data to authorities within 72 hours when sought. It warned that non-compliance could result in loss of safe harbour protection and even blocking under the IT Act. The judgment also urged the Union government to explore a uniform e-KYC framework, balancing fraud prevention with data protection, while ensuring compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. National Herald Case: The Delhi High Court issued notice to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others on a criminal revision petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging a trial court's refusal to take cognisance of its money laundering complaint in the National Herald case. A single-judge bench of Justice Ravinder Dudeja listed the matter for March 2026, reopening a debate on the scope of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED said that the trial court's order, if allowed to stand, would render the PMLA redundant, asserting that the anti-money laundering law does not prescribe any specific mode for initiating proceedings. The case, involving the alleged acquisition of assets worth more than Rs 2,000 crore, continues to remain one of the most politically sensitive before the Delhi High Court. Relief to Mahua Moitra: In another significant ruling, the Delhi High Court set aside a Lokpal order granting sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a charge sheet against the Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query case. It held that the Lokpal failed to consider the public servant's submissions before granting sanction. Directing reconsideration within one month, the Delhi High Court reaffirmed that statutory safeguards and principles of natural justice cannot be diluted even at the stage of sanction under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act. Reinstatement of HIV-Positive BSF Constable: The Delhi High Court ordered reinstatement of a BSF constable discharged solely for being HIV-positive, holding that the termination violated the HIV/AIDS Act, 2017, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. A bench of Justices C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla observed that there was "not even an attempt" to comply with the statutory mandate requiring an independent medical assessment and consideration of reasonable accommodation. The Delhi High Court held that an HIV-positive employee falls within the definition of a person with disability and is entitled to protection against discrimination. While denying back wages, it granted continuity of service and benefits, reinforcing workplace equality and dignity. Mutual Consent Divorce -- Courts Can Waive Statutory Timelines: In a landmark Full Bench ruling, the Delhi High Court clarified that courts are not bound to mechanically enforce statutory waiting periods in divorce by mutual consent. It held that both the one-year separation requirement and the six-month cooling-off period under the Hindu Marriage Act can be waived in cases of exceptional hardship or depravity. Refusal of Conjugal Relations Constitutes Mental Cruelty: The Delhi High Court upheld a decree of divorce on the ground of mental cruelty, noting that the marriage had remained unconsummated from inception. Relying on documentary evidence and communications, it held that persistent denial of conjugal relations amounted to cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act. Release of Rolex Watch: The Delhi High Court directed the Customs Department to release a seized Rolex watch after authorities failed to issue a mandatory show-cause notice within the statutory period. Holding continued detention "impermissible", it reiterated that bona fide personal effects of travellers are not dutiable imports and that procedural lapses automatically trigger release. The Delhi HC Rejects Bail in 2020 'Larger Conspiracy' Case: The Delhi High Court in September dismissed the bail pleas of student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and several others accused in the 2020 Delhi riots "larger conspiracy" case. A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur had reserved its decision after hearing extensive submissions from the accused and Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police. Opposing bail, the SG said that prolonged incarceration could not justify release, asserting that the accused were part of a "well-orchestrated criminal conspiracy" timed to coincide with the visit of US President Donald Trump in 2020. Terming it a "premeditated attack on the sovereignty of the nation", SG Mehta said the accused were not protesting against a law but planning something sinister. In December, the Supreme Court reserved judgment on petitions challenging the Delhi High Court's order, with the accused facing Unlawful Activities Prevention Act charges and having spent more than five years in custody. Mumbai, Jan 2 : The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshvardhan Sapkal on Friday requested the State Election Commission to register a criminal case against State Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar for an alleged breach of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). aaIn a letter addressed to State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, Sapkal accused the Assembly Speaker of using his constitutional position to intimidate Opposition candidates and utilising government staff for the election campaigns of his relatives. aaThe controversy pertains to the nomination process for the Municipal Corporation elections in the Colaba constituency (Wards 225, 226, and 227). Rahul Narwekaras brother Makrand Narwekar, sister Gauravi Shivalkar, and sister-in-law Harshada Narwekar have filed nominations as BJP candidates. aSapkal alleged that during the filing process around 5:00 PM, Speaker Narwekar was personally present and used police personnel to intimidate Opposition candidates filing nominations to stand in the polls against his family members, obstruct the legal process of submitting nomination forms and pressure the administration to reject or stall Opposition filings. a"For a person holding a high constitutional office to obstruct the electoral process in this manner is a mockery of democracy," Sapkal stated in his letter. aThe state Congress President further alleged a massive misuse of government resources. He claimed that approximately 70 officers and employees from the Speaker's office were actively participating in the election campaign for Speaker Narwekaras relatives. aSapkal has demanded immediate disciplinary action and the registration of cases against these government employees for violating service rules and election protocols. aExpressing concern over the transparency of the upcoming polls, Sapkal urged the State Election Commission to act decisively. a"It is the duty of the Commission to ensure fair, transparent, and fearless elections. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar is behaving as if he is above the law. By resorting to such high-handedness, he is essentially strangling democracy. The SEC must now demonstrate that it has the backbone to uphold the rule of law in Maharashtra," the letter read. aHe has called for an immediate investigation into the conduct of both the Speaker and the police officials present at the nomination centres. Bengaluru, Jan 2 : The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has issued interim recommendations to the state government and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) following the eviction of around 160-170 houses from government land at Kogilu Layout in Yelahanka taluk of Bengaluru city. The interim recommendations were issued by Commission President Sham Bhat and KSHRC member S.K. Ventigodi on December 30, and a copy of the order was released in the public domain on Friday. The Commission directed the government to install tents on vacant government land and provide hot food, clean drinking water, establish a mobile health centre, and arrange alternative shelter and toilet facilities for the affected families. The development is likely to trigger a political debate, with the opposition questioning the governmentas concern for encroachers following the AICC's intervention in the matter, alleging appeasement politics. The interim recommendations have been forwarded to the Chief Secretary to the government of Karnataka and the Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority for necessary action. The Commission stated that it registered four cases related to the eviction carried out on December 21, 2025, and conducted a spot inspection of the area on December 29 to assess the material conditions on the ground. During the visit, the Commission also held hearings with people affected by the eviction. Emphasising that the protection of basic amenities and public safety is essential in a democracy and civil society, the KSHRC said that while development works are necessary in the public interest, the government must ensure that constitutional rights are not violated. These include the right to life, the right to live with dignity, and the right to rehabilitation and compensation, the Commission noted. Stating that no family should be left homeless, the Commission stressed that alternative housing arrangements must be implemented immediately for all families affected by the eviction. As part of its interim recommendations, the KSHRC suggested that temporary shelters be set up on nearby government land to accommodate the displaced families and that hot food be provided at the site. It also recommended the supply of clean drinking water and the establishment of a mobile health centre to address any medical issues faced by the affected persons. Considering the prevailing minimum temperatures in Bengaluru, which range between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius, the Commission further recommended the creation of temporary accommodation and toilet facilities for the homeless families. The Commission directed that the interim recommendations be immediately acted upon after being forwarded to the Chief Secretary to the government of Karnataka and the Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority. Islamabad, Jan 2 : The Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan on Friday condemned the country's Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) for suspending the practising license of lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq, describing the move as a "violation of the principles of justice, the independence of the law, and fundamental human rights". Islamabad, Jan 2 (IANS) The Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan on Friday condemned the country's Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) for suspending the practising license of lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq, describing the move as a "violation of the principles of justice, the independence of the law, and fundamental human rights". The Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) in the Pakistan province on Thursday suspended the practising licence of Mian Ali Ashfaq for representing social media influencer Rajab Butt before a Karachi court amid a strike called by the Karachi Bar Association. The strike was called in protest against the alleged victimisation of the Karachi Bar Association's former librarian, Naseer Muhammad Kalhoro, during which judicial proceedings were strictly prohibited within the city courts' premises, local media reported. "We unequivocally take the position that knocking on the doors of the law is neither a crime nor professional misconduct. The fundamental duty of a lawyer is to provide legal defence to their client, and this principle is recognised in civilised democracies and judicial systems around the world. Punishing any lawyer merely on the basis that they approached the court or defended their client is tantamount to suppressing the freedom of advocacy and weakening the system of justice. Such actions create fear among lawyers and cause severe damage to the public's right to a fair trial," the HRC of Pakistan stated. The rights body asserted that suspending an advocacy license is an extremely "harsh and disproportionate" measure, while the decision raises questions about the autonomy of lawyers and judicial independence in Pakistan. Emphasising that such actions are not in conformity with international human rights standards, the HRC called on the Government of Pakistan, the provincial government in Punjab, and the relevant judicial and legal institutions to immediately review the decision. It added that the protection of lawyers' constitutional and professional rights must be ensured, and bar councils should remain free from political or group pressure. "We will also highlight this matter before international human rights forums and judicial institutions so that the freedom of the law and the right to justice in Pakistan can be protected," the HRC noted. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed grave concern over the reported physical assault on Rajab Butt within the Karachi city court premises and the alleged involvement of members of the legal fraternity. The remarks came after Rajab Butt was reportedly physically assaulted at a sessions court in Karachi on Monday during the proceedings in a case filed against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. "Violence, intimidation and vigilantismparticularly inside courtsundermine the rule of law and the right to due process," the HRCP stated. The rights body urged a prompt and impartial investigation, accountability for all those responsible and effective measures to ensure the safety of litigants, lawyers and court officials in Pakistan. Hyderabad, Jan 2 : Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Friday announced boycott of the ongoing winter session of Telangana Legislative Assembly in protest against what it calls the Speaker's biased conduct and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's undemocratic and rude behavior. BRS MLAs staged a walk-out after Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar denied the party an opportunity to speak after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy intervened during question hour to speak about the project for rejuvenation of Musi River. After coming out of the House, the MLAs staged a protest at Gun Park near the Assembly building. BRS Deputy Leader in Assembly T. Harish Rao told media persons that the party would boycott the rest of the session. He alleged that the way the Legislative Assembly is being conducted is completely contrary to democratic values. He said they made to wait for an hour and a half at the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) and were thus insulted. He claimed that the BAC meeting had decided that the Assembly session would continue for seven days, and then they would meet again to decide the subsequent schedule. Harish Rao said the minutes presented in the Assembly contained false information as it was stated that the duration of the session was left to the Speaker's discretion. He remarked that the Speaker was not conducting the Assembly proceedings as a custodian of the House but was acting unilaterally. "As the opposition, it is our responsibility to question the government on public issues in the Assembly. Our microphones were switched off when we tried to question the government during question hour," he said. Harish Rao asked if Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was not criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament. "Why are they switching off our microphones when we question the Chief Minister here," he asked. He wondered how the Speaker can dictate the Opposition not to criticise the Chief Minister. "If the opposition is not allowed to speak, then why have the Assembly at all? Why were we invited?" he asked. The BRS leader remarked that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's words have become more foul-smelling than the stench of the Musi River. He said before cleaning up the Musi, there is a need to cleanse the Chief Minister's mouth. He alleged that the Chief Minister is engaging in body shaming in the Assembly. "He is behaving like a street thug, not like a Chief Minister. Instead of answering the questions asked in the Assembly, he is rambling on with nonsense, just like he does outside," said Harish Rao. The BRS leader said the Chief Minister spoke outrageously about K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), the leader of the movement that achieved the state of Telangana and who served as Chief Minister for 10 years. Harish Rao was reacting to Chief Minister's remark that it would not be wrong even if KCR is hanged for the injustice caused to the State in utilisation of river waters "We strongly condemn the language used by the Chief Minister against KCR. Revanth Reddy, you are the real traitor to Telangana, the traitor to Telangana's water resources," he said. "We are ready for a discussion on the Musi River. Schedule a short discussion; we will discuss it all day. But how can the Chief Minister come during question hour and speak nonsensically for an hour and a half?" he asked. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed January 02 : Lucknow: Poverty eradication in Uttar Pradesh has moved beyond policy intent to measurable action. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the states Zero Poverty Mission has emerged as a results-driven governance model, combining administrative resolve, technology-enabled delivery and rigorous ground-level verification. The mission is anchored in a clear objective: ensuring that every eligible family is brought within the ambit of government welfare schemes. The comprehensive exercise conducted in two phases demonstrates that the Yogi government is focusing not on numerical targets alone, but on eligibility, transparency and measurable outcomes. Residents of Gosaiganj in Lucknow Ramsagar, Urmila and Ramu stand as living examples of this initiative. Under the mission, they have been provided with housing, drinking water, roads, electricity, ration and other essential facilities. Under the Zero Poverty Mission, deprived families of Ramsagar, Urmila and Ramu in Gosaiyaganj, Lucknow, are being provided with basic amenities including housing, water supply, roads, electricity and food security. Similarly, across the state, marginalized households are being identified and connected to various government schemes. Beneficiaries consistently express appreciation for the initiative, stating that the Zero Poverty Mission goes beyond financial assistance. It represents a comprehensive approach encompassing food security, healthcare, housing, education, water, energy and livelihood opportunities. This campaign marks a decisive step toward positioning Uttar Pradesh as a national model of inclusive development and social security. In the first phase of the Zero Poverty Mission, the state set a target of achieving 100 percent Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) coverage for eligible families under eight major welfare schemes. District-level reports indicate that benefits under the ration scheme have reached 97 percent of eligible households, a significant achievement in ensuring food security. Coverage under the Destitute Women Pension Scheme has reached 87 percent, while 62 percent of eligible beneficiaries have been covered under the Disability Pension Scheme. Additionally, 63 percent of eligible families have been provided health security under the PM/CM Jan Arogya Scheme. Verification of eligibility criteria, identification of duplicate entries and data cleansing are being carried out at a rapid pace for the Old Age Pension Scheme, BOCW Labour Card, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and PM/CM Housing Schemes. The government has made it clear that every deserving beneficiary must be included under welfare schemes under all circumstances. The second phase, launched on October 15, 2025, focuses on door-to-door verification across 16 welfare schemes and is scheduled for completion by January 15' 2026. This phase emphasizes inclusion under essential services such as PM Ujjwala Yojana, sanitation assistance, Jal Jeevan Mission and electricity connections. Based on findings from the survey, large numbers of women are being prepared to be linked with Self-Help Groups under the Livelihood Mission. In the education sector, the process to bring nearly 11,000 children back into the formal education system through re-enrolment has already begun. The Yogi government has established the Chief Minister Helpline 1076 as a strong tool for reviewing welfare schemes. Analysis of grievances and suggestions received through the helpline is being used to ensure that policies align with ground realities and that no eligible family is left behind. Patna, Jan 2 : In a major move aimed at making the functioning of the Bihar Police more effective and responsive, Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar has approved the reorganisation of police zones across the state. The decision is aimed at strengthening crime control, improving law and order monitoring, and expediting the investigation of pending cases. Formal orders regarding the revised police zone structure have been issued by the police headquarters, marking a significant reform in Bihar's policing and security framework. "The primary objective of this reorganisation is to reduce delays and minimise human error in investigations. Under the new system, clear accountability will be fixed for police officers to ensure high-quality investigations, enabling citizens to receive swift and effective justice," DGP Vinay Kumar told the media on Friday. He said the revised police zone structure would enhance operational efficiency and make it easier to monitor complex and sensitive cases, particularly those involving serious crimes. To operationalise the plan, a high-level meeting was held on December 31 between the DGP and senior police officers, during which a detailed framework for the deployment of police inspectors and other officers was prepared. In the coming days, the police department is expected to witness large-scale reshuffles and fresh appointments as part of the reorganisation exercise, aimed at making the force more dynamic and better aligned with ground-level requirements. The DGP said that while crime incidents in the state have declined, there is still scope for improvement. "We strongly believe that only when no incidents of heinous crimes like murder take place in Bihar can we say the situation has fully improved," Kumar said. Highlighting progress in tackling Left Wing Extremism, the DGP noted that Naxal activities in the state have been reduced to almost zero. "Recently, three Naxal operatives surrendered before the Bihar Police along with their weapons. They had not been involved in any Naxal activities for the last four years," he said. Kumar further stated that the state government has put in place a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for surrendered Naxals and their families, including employment opportunities. "We are making efforts to provide all possible assistance through government schemes. Welfare projects are being ensured in Naxal-affected areas so that people there can benefit and move towards mainstream development," he added. The police zone reorganisation is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening law enforcement, enhancing public confidence, and ensuring sustainable peace and development across Bihar. Agartala, Jan 2 : Tripura Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday flagged off a vehicle carrying 1,000 kg of organic white sesame for Anand in Gujarat, marking another milestone in the state's growing organic export sector. After the flag-off ceremony, the Minister said that the consignment had been exported to Media Minds in Anand, Gujarat. He added that an additional 5,000 kg of organic white sesame would be sent to Gujarat soon, citing high demand for the produce. According to Nath, Loknath Organic Farmer Producer Company (FPC), Dhalai Organic FPC, and Yapri Organic FPC jointly procured the sesame directly from farmers to ensure remunerative prices and enhance farmers' income. "The popularity of Tripura's organic products outside the state is steadily increasing. It is encouraging that at the beginning of the New Year we can send such a consignment," the Minister said. He expressed gratitude to the International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA) and Sheel Biotech for their crucial support in facilitating the export. Nath said five organisations are providing training to FPCs on procurement, ensuring fair returns to farmers, and marketing agricultural produce. "While farmers produce quality agricultural items, exporting them to states like Gujarat requires institutional support. That is why the government has promoted FPCs and service providers," the Minister said. He further informed that from 2023-24 till now, organic products worth Rs 5.50 crore have been exported from Tripura to other states and overseas. "Next month, three FPCs from Tripura will participate in BioFach, the world's leading organic food trade fair, in Germany," Nath added. Meanwhile, in a major step towards enhancing agricultural productivity and achieving self-sufficiency in food grain production, the Tripura Agriculture Department has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nagpur-based National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP). The Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister said that the collaboration aims to carry out in-depth research on cultivable land across several districts of the state, paving the way for sustainable farming practices and a stronger agricultural future for Tripura. --IANS sc/dan -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Jan 2 : Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who recently returned to Dhaka after a 17-year exile in the United Kingdom, earned Bangladesh Taka (Tk) 676,000 (Indian Rupees 4,98,414) in the 2025-26 tax year, where his income primarily came from shares and bank fixed deposits, say reports. New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who recently returned to Dhaka after a 17-year exile in the United Kingdom, earned Bangladesh Taka (Tk) 676,000 (Indian Rupees 4,98,414) in the 2025a"26 tax year, where his income primarily came from shares and bank fixed deposits, say reports. He leads an alliance against a coalition comprising the BNPas ally-turned-principal opponent Jamaat-e-Islami in the February 12 general elections. The Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, Md. Shafiqur Rahman, has earned Tk 360,000 (about Rs. 2,65,428) where his declared sources of income were agriculture and donations. The figures were shared by Bangladeshas Prothom Alo newspaper, which analysed the affidavits of the two leaders as published on Bangladeshas Election Commission (EC) website. According to his declared assets, the total value of Tariqueas movable and immovable assets is approximately Tk 19.7 million (about Rs. 1,45,24,810). Of this, the total value of his movable assets, including cash and bank deposits, shares, gold and other precious metals, and furniture, is around Tk 19.3 million. His movable assets comprise just over Tk 3.158 million (Rs. 23,28,393) in cash and bank deposits. He holds shares worth Tk 6.85 million (Rs. 5,050,505). He has fixed deposits in banks amounting to a little over Tk 9.024 million. His savings and other deposits total Tk 120,000. The value of his furniture is approximately Tk 180,000. The value of gold and other metals is stated as Tk 2,950 (at the time of acquisition). His immovable assets include slightly more than two acres of non-agricultural land, with a value of Tk 345,000 at the time of acquisition. In addition, his affidavit notes 2.9 per cent of land received as a gift, the value of which is listed as unknown. There are no loans in the name of Tarique Rahman or his dependants. In the 2025a"26 tax year, he paid Tk 101,453 in income tax. He also does not face any criminal cases against Tarique Rahman, while a total of 77 cases were filed against him since 2004, according to the affidavit, which have been disposed of in stages. Some ended in acquittal, some were withdrawn, while rest were either dismissed, or resulted in his discharge. Incidentally, Tarique was acquitted in the highest number (42) of cases during the tenure of the current interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yusus. In the section on educational qualifications, he has stated that he has passed the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC). He has listed his profession as politics. His declared age is 57. The affidavit enters his medical practitioner wife, Zubaida Rahmanas income in the 2025a"26 tax year as approximately Tk 3.561 million (Rs. 26,25,525), where she paid about Tk 558,000 (Rs. 4,11,413) as income tax. In her income tax statement or return, she declared assets worth a little over Tk 10.53 million, of which, approximately Tk 6.655 million is in cash and bank deposits, Tk 3.5 million is in fixed deposits, and Tk 15,000 is in savings deposits. She has no immovable property. Meanwhile, the 67-year-old Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman had declared his educational qualification as an MBBS degree, with his current profession listed as a physician. His wife, Amena Begum, is a homemaker. The Jamaat leader has immovable and movable assets worth around Tk 15 million. He has no loans in his name. In the 2025a"26 tax year, he paid Tk 30,000 in income tax. Among movable assets, Shafiqur Rahman has approximately Tk 6.076 million in cash. He has deposits of about Tk 490,000 in banks and financial institutions. He holds bonds, debentures, and shares of companies listed and unlisted on the stock exchange worth approximately Tk 2.717 million. Altogether, the total value of his movable assets is approximately Tk 10.274 million (about Rs. 75,75,020). His total immovable assets, including land, home altogether, is valued at Tk 4,725,834. Of his three children, one daughter has assets worth Tk 500,000, another possesses assets worth Tk 1.775 million, while his son has immovable and movable assets worth Tk 30,000. The Jamaat Ameer has mentioned information on 34 cases in his affidavit, of which, two criminal cases are currently stayed by the High Court. In the rest, he was either discharged, or acquitted, or the cases were withdrawn. According to rules, mentioned Prothom Alo, if a candidate provides false information in an affidavit, the nomination can be cancelled, even after being elected, with parliamentary membership annulled. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 2 : The BJP on Friday intensified its attack on the Congress over the Sabarimala gold theft case, asserting that the controversy cannot be resolved without a probe by central agencies and alleging that the Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi, has serious questions to answer. Former BJP state president K. Surendran said the ongoing state-level investigation would not bring out the truth and was being structured to protect politically influential individuals. Surendran recalled that the Kerala High Court had, at the very outset, expressed suspicion over the possible involvement of notorious idol-smuggling syndicates. He said subsequent disclosures by Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and senior legislator Ramesh Chennithala lent credibility to concerns that the stolen gold and artefacts may have entered the international antiquities market. "What was stolen is invaluable. This is not a local crime but an international idol-smuggling racket," Surendran said. The BJP leader placed particular emphasis on what he termed the Congress angle, referring to a photograph of Sonia Gandhi with prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti that surfaced during the course of the investigation. Surendran said there was initially no reason for suspicion, as such interactions could appear routine. However, he accused senior Congress leaders, including Chennithala and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, of gradually retreating from their initial positions once the issue gained public traction. "Why did they step back? Why is there no clear explanation?" he asked. Criticising Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's remarks on Sonia Gandhi as "political manoeuvring," Surendran demanded clarity on who introduced the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti to the Congress leadership. He further alleged that individuals with close familial links to Sonia Gandhi in Italy are involved in the marketing of antiquities, arguing that this alleged international dimension warrants a thorough investigation by central agencies. Surendran claimed that Chennithala may not have fully grasped the implications initially but later "entangled himself" by making partial disclosures. "If he has information, why is he not standing firmly by it?" he asked, accusing the Congress of evasiveness and selective silence. In a sarcastic remark, Surendran said that if the prevailing narrative is that CPI(M) leaders stole the gold, it may have to be amended to suggest that the Congress facilitated its sale. "The Congress has an equal stake in this case and will not walk away unscathed," he said. Surendran also named former Travancore Devaswom Board member K.P. Shankardas as a key figure who, he alleged, enjoys high-level protection and has so far escaped scrutiny. He claimed that arrests of prominent individuals took place only under strict court directives and criticised changes made to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) after the questioning of former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, alleging that officers sympathetic to the CPI (M) were subsequently inducted. All these factors, he said, underline the urgent need for a comprehensive investigation by central agencies. On 30 December 2025, Bitwise Asset Management announced submitting applications to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for 11 new strategy exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Bitwises filings target an array of altcoins, including DeFi leaders like AAVE and UNI, privacy coin ZEC, AI-focused TAO, and others such as CC, ENA, HYPE, NEAR, STRK, SUI, and TRX. Each ETF employs a hybrid approach, blending direct token holdings with ETPs and derivatives to deliver targeted exposure, all while navigating regulatory constraints. Notably, in July 2025, the company scored wins with its Bitwise Crypto Index Fund (BIT) conversion to spot and expedited BTC ETH ETF nods within 45 days. Will this move be able to push Bitwise into altcoin ETFs amid a maturing US regulatory landscape aided by the US President Donald Trump administration? DISCOVER: 16+ New and Upcoming Binance Listings Bitwise ETF Investment Strategy Breakdown: Structure Mirrors Successful Spot BTC, ETH ETFs Pending the SEC green light, the proposed fund aims to launch around 16 March 2026. Moreover, it is expected to unlock billions in institutional capital for the abovementioned tokens. The core strategy for each Bitwise ETF allocates up to 60% of assets directly into the target crypto, purchased via crypto exchanges or OTC counterparties. The remaining 40% flows into ETPs tracking the same token, with derivatives like futures and swaps providing flexible exposure- counted at notional value to meet the minimum 80% investment threshold in related assets. Yes, the structure mirrors successful spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. But it adapts for altcoins lacking US spot approval. Under normal market conditions, funds commit at least 80% of net assets (plus borrowings) to the Applicable Token, its ETPs, or derivatives, prioritizing capital growth. Bitwises filings specify NYSE Arca listing, with tickers and fees TBD. It positions these as the firms largest single-day crypto ETF submission. DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x Read original story Bitwise Files For 11 New Crypto ETFs, Including Uniswap, Sui, Near by Akriti Seth at 99bitcoins.com Indore, Jan 2 : Amid the health crisis in Indore's Bhagirathpura area which came from contaminated water and killed several people, the Madhya Pradesh government, on Friday, took action against senior officials of the city's municipal corporation. The state government has issued a show-cause to the Indore Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav and Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisonia, who has been transferred from Indore with immediate effect. Pradeep Nigam, In-charge Superintendent Engineer of Water distribution department of Indore Municipal Corporation, has also been removed from his post. Meanwhile, the state government has directed the Indore Municipal Corporation to fill the necessary posts with immediate effect. The action from the state government came after the Chief Minister Mohan Yadav chaired a high-level meeting at his residence in Bhopal on Friday, during which, he issued many directions. "I reviewed action being taken by the state government in Indore contaminated drinking water case with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials today and issued necessary directions. I also discussed the report presented by the Additional Chief Secretary of the State Urban Development Department," Chief Minister Yadav said on X. "I directed to issue show-cause notices to Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Additional Commissioner. I directed to remove Additional Commissioner from Indore with immediate effect," the Chief Minister added on X. Indore's contaminated water tragedy that killed several people and over 200 are still admitted in more than 27 hospitals, has raised question on the state administration and Indore Municipal Corporation. Criticism started pouring not only from the Opposition Congress but from the BJP as well, and they are demanding strict action against those found responsible for this tragedy. Veteran BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Uma Bharti raised her concern on Indore's Bhagirathpura incident, saying that contaminated water resulting in the deaths of several people has brought a "shame" and "disgrace" for the entire state administration. In a series of posts on her official social media platform X, Bharti said that "Indore has received awards for being the cleanest city in the country, such ugliness, filth and poisonous water that has swelled so many lives and death toll continues to rise every day." In another X post, the former Chief Minister without mentioning anyone, criticised the state government and said, "Who is saying that our plan didn't work in Indore? And when you are not able to do anything then why you are sitting and drinking Bisleri bottles. There is no explanation for such a sin." Uncertainty over the number of deaths due to the consumption of contaminated water in Indore's Bhagirathpura area still remains a matter of debate and speculations and the state administration and Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav have different views on it. On Friday, Mayor Bhargava said on Friday that he has received information about 10 deaths due to a diarrhoea outbreak caused by contaminated water in the Bhagirathpura area of the city. Bhargava also clarified that the "state's health department has mentioned only four deaths due to the diarrhoea outbreak in Bhagirathpura. However, I have received information about 10 deaths due to this outbreak". According to a fresh health bulletin issued by the Indore district administration on Friday, more than 1,400 people have been affected by vomiting and diarrhoea in Bhagirathpura over the past nine days. "There are total 208 patients admitted in different hospitals in Indore and of them, 27 are being treated in ICUs. While 101 patients were discharged on Friday," according to the state government's report. Jammu, Jan 2 : The Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Friday that it has attached the property of a Pakistan-based terror handler in the Mandi area of the district. A police statement said, "In a decisive legal action against terrorism and anti-national elements operating from across the border, Poonch Police have attached an immovable property belonging to a Pakistan-based terror handler, in compliance with the directions of the Honourable Court." "The attachment has been effected in connection with FIR No. 07/2002 registered at Police Station Mandi under Sections 2/3 of the E&IMCO Act. The attached property comprises 06 Kanal 13.5 Marlas of land, falling under Khasra Nos. 291, 292, 287, 271, 222, 222/1, 221, 186, 180 and 97 (min), situated in Tehsil Mandi, District Poonch, with an assessed value of approximately Rs 13.36 lakh," he said. The attached property belongs to Jamal Lone, alias Jamala, son of Sultan Lone, alias Sultana, resident of Chamber Kanari, Tehsil Mandi, District Poonch, who is presently operating as a Pakistan-based terror handler. The accused had earlier exfiltrated to Pakistan/PoJK and has since been actively involved in activities inimical to the security and sovereignty of the nation. Owing to his continued evasion of the legal process, the accused was declared a Proclaimed Offender by the Hon'ble Court. Despite sustained efforts by Poonch Police to secure his arrest, he remained beyond the reach of law, compelling the Hon'ble Court to order attachment of his immovable property. Acting upon these directions, the attachment was executed by the Poonch Police in close coordination with the Revenue Department, after following all due legal procedures, verification, and documentation. This action forms part of a broader and sustained strategy to dismantle the financial and logistical support structures of terror networks and to ensure that individuals involved in terrorism and anti-national activities are deprived of their resources, it said. "District Police Poonch reiterates its unwavering commitment to act firmly and lawfully against Pakistan-based terror handlers and all elements involved in activities prejudicial to national security, and assures the public that such measures will continue in the interest of peace, public safety, and sovereignty of the nation," the statement added. Bhubaneswar, Jan 2 : The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Police has arrested the main accused in a Rs 40 crore share trading fraud case from West Bengal, a senior official said on Friday. The accused was identified as Amit Mandal, a resident of South Boilapara under Bishnupur police station area in Bankura district of West Bengal. He was arrested on December 31, 2025 in connection with a case registered over the allegations of Sushant Kumar Das of Odisha's Khordha district. Das alleged that the accused Mandal, along with his associates, induced him to invest in share trading by assuring returns of around 3.5 to 7 per cent per month. The accused persons also executed an agreement with Das, apart from issuing post-date cheques (PDCs) to win his confidence. Lured by Mandal and associates, the complainant Das deposited Rs 8.5 lakh during the period 2022-2024. The deposit was taken through the personal accounts of the accused Amit Mandal, who was claiming to have one entity namely "Kalpana Financial Services". Das also alleged that although the returns were paid to the victim for a few months initially, they were later stopped and the accused Mandal absconded. Subsequently, the complainant also came to know that Mandal had also cheated several other people in Odisha, misappropriating deposits worth crores of rupees. The EOW sleuths during the course of investigation ascertained that the accused Mandal along with some of his associates induced the general public to invest with him for Share Trading to get high monthly returns ranging from 3.5 to 7 per cent. In order to induce the general public to give deposit, Mandal in connivance with his agents/associates in Odisha arranged several meetings in different hotels at Angul and Bhubaneswar. The accused Mandal also executed agreements with the depositors apart from issuing PDCs. "The accused Amit Mandal during the period from 2020-2024, by inducing around 500 depositors from Odisha and 100 depositors from West Bengal has collected more than Rs 120 crore. At present, he has to return the invested amount of more than Rs 40 crore. He used to pay the monthly returns from the successive deposits of the depositors. During 2023, the accused failed to pay the returns and falsely assured the depositors that their money will be reinvested in his newly formed company Kalpamit Consultancy Private Limited. But later he absconded, throwing the depositors into despair," the senior EOW official added. Mandal used to collect the deposits in his personal accounts maintained with ICICI and HDFC bank for Share Trading in the name of Kalpana Financial Services, which is purely non-existent. He has also collected some money through the account of Kalpamit Consultancy Private Limited and in the personal account of some of his associates. The Odisha police during the probe found a transaction of Rs 122 crore in the ICICI account of the accused Mandal. New Delhi, Jan 2 : In order to help insulate the output loss on account of higher US tariff rate, India's export profile has seen a case of frontloading and re-routing of exports following the changing tariff environment, a report showed on Friday. India's export basket is undergoing a structural shift in response to 50 per cent US tariffs and the absence of a formal trade deal. For marine products, significant increase in share of exports is observed for countries such as China and Thailand. For electronic goods, the share has risen for UAE while for Gems and Jewellery, it increased significantly for Hong Kong, according to the Bank of Baroda Report. "The shares may be small on an individual basis but cumulatively with more focus on diversification, integration with global supply chains, competitive pricing and improved logistics, a stronger substitution effect may to some extent insulate the negative impact of higher tariff rate of the US, till we have a formal trade deal in place," said Dipanwita Mazumdar, Economist, Bank of Baroda. During the April-August 2025 period, the frontloading of exports to the US happened at a faster pace to get a cost advantage. The next period, September-November 2025, shows some degree of diversification with exports to the rest of the world excluding US picking up and some trimming down of exports to the US. However, US continues to be the exports market, said the report. Going forward, scope for further diversification remains especially for commodities such as readymade garments, gems & jewellery, textiles (excluding readymade garments) and machinery and instruments. "Thus, these sectors hold significance in terms of targeted policy initiatives to boost export competitiveness. This might help to insulate the output loss on account of higher tariff rate," the report noted. Overall, while the US remains a dominant export market, India is gradually building substitution channels through wider geographic outreach to mitigate tariff impact. New Delhi, Jan 2 : An Inter-Departmental Committee, headed by the Union Secretary, Financial Services, M. Nagaraju, met here on Friday to consider the proposals of foreign banks wanting to set up branches in India. The meeting was attended by officials of the member ministries, including Home Affairs and External Affairs, as well as the Department of Commerce and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The meeting was convened to consider proposals received from the RBI in respect of foreign banks keen on opening their branches, representative offices and subsidiaries in India, according to an official statement issued after the meeting. During the meeting, after due deliberations, the Committee recommended the proposals placed before it, the statement said, IDC is a committee wherein the Department of Financial Services (DFS), as the nodal Department, evaluates proposals received from foreign and domestic banks. Before reaching a consensus, the committee consults the proposal with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Department of Commerce, seeking their inputs in the matter from security, political, and economic angles, respectively. Foreign banks in India, regulated by the RBI, include major global players like HSBC, Standard Chartered, Citibank, DBS, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, focusing on corporate clients, NRIs, and trade finance with strong digital platforms, offering global banking access and specialised services. They operate through branches or wholly-owned subsidiaries, significantly impacting India's financial sector despite their smaller asset share. Standard Chartered Bank (UK), known for its extensive network of around 100 branches and strong corporate, commercial, and private banking services, is the largest foreign bank in terms of the number of branches in India. Citibank (USA) is a major player in institutional and corporate banking, and while having sold its retail/credit card business to Axis Bank, it remains a leading foreign bank in India. HSBC (UK) also has a strong presence, offering a wide range of services, including retail, NRI, and investment banking, with roots in India dating back to 1853, while DBS Bank (Singapore) is a prominent digital bank in Asia with a growing presence in India, focusing on corporate and digital banking. Moscow, Jan 2 : The death toll from the "Ukrainian terrorist attack" in Khorly has risen to 28 as a woman hospitalized died in a Crimean hospital, the Russian media reported on Friday. Citing a statement by the Crimean Ministry of Health, RIA Novosti, the state-owned domestic news agency of Russia, reported that a woman hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital in Dzhankoy died on Friday. "Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the woman, who had previously been hospitalized at the Dzhankoy Central District Hospital," the Crimean Ministry of Health's Telegram channel stated. The Russian Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko told RIA Novosti that 27 people, including two minors, were killed in a terrorist attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the village of Khorly in the Kherson region. "On Thursday, Kherson Oblast Governor Volodymyr Saldo announced that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had targetted a drone strike where civilians were celebrating the New Year a" a cafe and hotel on the Black Sea coast in Khorly. Friday and Saturday have been declared days of mourning in the region," the report detailed. The hospital statement mentioned that there are 14 people in medical facilities in the Republic of Crimea who were injured in the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike in the village of Khorly in the Kherson region. "Five children are currently being treated at the Republican Children's Clinical Hospital. Seven adults are hospitalized at Simferopol Clinical Emergency Hospital No. 6, and two more patients are being treated at the N.A. Semashko Republican Clinical Hospital," read the statement. "Doctors assess the condition of two patients, including one child, as serious. The remaining injured are in moderate condition and are receiving all necessary medical care," it added further. Earlier, Gennady Gatilov, the Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, urged the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and the OHCHR to promptly condemn "the terrorist act of the Ukrainian army" in the Kherson Region. "On New Year's Eve, the Kyiv regime led by Zelensky carried out another monstrous attack using UAVs armed with munitions which took aim at civilians in the village of Khorly, Kherson Region," Gatilov said. "While the exact number of those killed and injured in the course of this barbaric attack is still being established, it is already clear that several dozens of people died, including young children," he stressed. "We demand that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Volker Turk and his Office (OHCHR), as well as respective special procedures of the Human Rights Council, condemn publicly and as soon as possible the Kyiv regime's monstrous terrorist attack in the Kherson Region," the diplomat said in his statement posted on the Telegram channel of the mission. Chandigarh, Jan 2 : The Haryana government has formally initiated comprehensive preparations for the digital Census 2027, which will be the first fully digital census to be conducted in the state, officials said on Friday. The first meeting of the state-level census coordination committee was chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi during which detailed administrative, logistical and operational arrangements were reviewed to ensure the smooth and timely conduct of the national exercise. To ensure accuracy, uniformity and credibility of data, the Chief Secretary said that all administrative boundaries in Haryana have been frozen. No changes will be made until the completion of census operations, he added. In line with the Indian government's guidelines, the house-listing and housing census, which constitutes Phase-I of Census 2027, that will commence from May 1. To strengthen preparedness at the district level, a one-day conference of Deputy Commissioners will be convened shortly to sensitise Principal Census Officers about timelines, responsibilities and detailed operational planning. Emphasising the importance of meticulous preparation, the Chief Secretary underlined that strong inter-departmental coordination and timely decision-making will be key to the successful execution of Census 2027 and called upon all departments to extend full cooperation. To ensure continuity and avoid disruption, it has been decided that census functionaries will not be transferred during the census period, and necessary instructions will be issued in this regard. For close monitoring and coordination at the grassroots, Census 2027 will be included as a standing agenda item in monthly district-level review meetings, Chief Secretary Rastogi added. Census Director Lalit Jain told the committee that Census 2027 marks a transformational milestone, as the entire exercise will be conducted in digital mode. Demonstrating Haryana's technological readiness, he said that a 100 per cent digital pre-test using mobile applications was successfully carried out in Panchkula, Hisar and Faridabad, covering a population of more than one lakh. The state completed the pre-test within the stipulated timeframe, for which it received appreciation from the Registrar General of India. For the conduct of census operations, around 60,000 government employees, preferably teachers and other government staff, will be deployed as enumerators and supervisors during the first phase, reflecting the scale and importance of the exercise. The meeting also took note of changes in the administrative and demographic profile of the state since the 2011 Census. For Census 2027, Haryana will have 23 districts as compared to 21 in 2011, while the number of sub-districts has increased from 75 to 94. Statutory towns have increased from 80 to 88, whereas census towns have declined from 74 to 51. Urban agglomerations have increased significantly from 12 to 20. The number of villages now stands at 6,523 compared to 6,841 in 2011. Houselisting blocks, which were 45,361 in 2011, are estimated to be around 51,000 for Census 2027. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The government on Friday said that coal output and dispatches from captive and commercial mines recorded steady growth in the month of December. The coal production stood at 19.48 million tonnes (MT) during this period, while coal dispatches during the month were recorded at 18.02 MT. This represents a year-on-year increase of 5.75 per cent in production compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. During the third quarter (Q3) of FY 202526, cumulative coal production from Captive and Commercial mines reached 54.14 million tonnes (MT), with dispatches recorded at 50.61 MT. The quarter registered a year-on-year growth of 5.35 per cent in production, reflecting sustained operational momentum across the sector, said the Ministry of Coal. Cumulatively, for the financial year 202526 up to December, the sector has demonstrated robust performance, with coal production registering a year-on-year increase of 9.72 per cent and dispatches rising by 6.98 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous financial year. "These encouraging trends reflect improved operational efficiency and more effective utilisation of mining capacity across the sector. The Ministry attributes the sector's improved performance to a series of strategic policy measures, rigorous monitoring and consistent support to stakeholders," it noted. These efforts have been instrumental in expediting operational approvals and expanding production capacities, thereby contributing significantly to the growth in coal output and dispatches. The ministry said it remains focused on creating a stable and performance-driven environment for captive and commercial coal mining. Through continued policy facilitation, close performance monitoring, and coordinated engagement with stakeholders, the Ministry aims to ensure reliable coal availability, support uninterrupted operations across key sectors, and meet the country's growing energy needs, thereby contributing to the long-term national objective of building a Viksit Bharat 2047. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Islamabad, Jan 2 : Hyderabad region of Pakistan's Sindh has not been able to achieve polio-free status in 2025, with over 12,000 children missing vaccination during the final nationwide campaign in 2025, sparking concerns over official negligence and public resistance, local media reported. Continuous indifference by health department officials has once again affected efforts to eliminate polio from the district, according to official sources. As many as 12,092 children aged below the age of five were left unvaccinated even after the last nationwide anti-polio campaign was conducted in 2025 amid the confirmed presence of the virus, Pakistan's leading daily The Express Tribune reported. Health officials said that Hyderabad reported the presence of poliovirus for the 11th consecutive time in 2025. Based on environmental sewage samples collected in Pakistan, Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, revealed that Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was detected in Hyderabad during November, similar to several other cities across the country. According to the report, the persistent presence of the poliovirus poses a threat to health of children and parents were asked to remain vigilant and ensure repeated doses of the polio vaccine for their children and complete immunisation schedules on time to protect them from polio and other preventable diseases. Previously, Hyderabad achieved polio-free status due to effective administrative measures and environmental samples had revealed no trace of the virus. Over the past several years, the lack of effective anti-polio campaigns along with lack of accountability against negligent health officials and field staff has allowed the virus to regain a permanent foothold in the district. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where Wild Poliovirus remains endemic. Polio eradication efforts in Pakistan have slowed down due to challenges like security issues, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. Polio workers have been frequently targetted in attacks in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. A police constable, who was deployed for the security of the polio vaccination team, was shot dead after unidentified assailants opened fire in the Kaahi area of Nizampur in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 15. Police identified the constable as Maqsood (35), a resident of Kheshgi. Police spokesperson said that the incident happened when female health workers were administering polio drops to children in a house, The Express Tribune reported. The attackers fled from the spot after the incident and the authorities launched a search operation to arrest them. Bhopal/Indore, Jan 2 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will chair a high-level virtual meeting with the Mayors of all 16 municipal corporations in the state, Municipal Commissioners, District Collectors and others representatives later on Friday. The sudden meeting was called in view of contaminated water which resulted in a health crisis in Indore, killing several people and more than 200 still being treated in several hospitals across the state. At least 27 out of 208 patients are admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) wards, according to the state government's report on Friday. "Following stern action against those responsible in connection with the tragic incident caused by supply of contaminated water in Indore, we are also taking corrective measures for other places in the state," CM Yadav said on X. He added that all 16 Mayors, Municipal Commissioners, Chairpersons, District Collectors, officials from health and Public Engineering Departments and others will be joining the virtual meeting. "During the meeting, we will review civic system of the entire state and hold discussion for finding out the challenges," he said. Before this impending meeting, CM Yadav held a meeting with senior officials, including Chief Secretary Anurag Jain and several other officials from the Public Health and Family Welfare department and ordered for an action against several municipal officials in Indore. Earlier, Chief Minister Yadav, on Friday, directed to issue a show-cause to the Indore Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav and Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisonia, who has been transferred from Indore with immediate effect. The Chief Minister also suspended Pradeep Nigam, In-charge Superintendent Engineer of Water Distribution Department of the Indore Municipal Corporation. He also directed to fill the necessary posts laying vacant in the Indore Municipal Corporation with immediate effect. "I reviewed action being taken by the state government in Indore contaminated drinking water case with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials today and issued necessary directions. I also discussed the report presented by Additional Chief Secretary of the state Urban Development Department," Chief Minister Yadav said on X. According to the fresh health bulletin shared by Indore health department on Friday evening, more than 1,400 people have been affected by vomiting and diarrhoea in Bhagirathpura over the past nine days. "There are total 208 patients admitted in different hospitals in Indore, and of them, 27 are being treated in ICUs. While 101 patients were discharged on Friday," according to the state government's report. BlackRock deposited BTC and ETH into Coinbase, likely to offload these coins Source: CoinGape BlackRock deposited 1,134 BTC and 7,255 ETH into Coinbase. This follows the outflows the Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs recorded on the last day of 2025. It also comes as $2.2 billion in crypto options expire. The worlds largest asset manager, BlackRock, transferred Bitcoin and Ethereum into Coinbase today, following the outflows that the BTC and ETH ETFs recorded on December 31. This development also comes amid the expiry of $2.2 billion crypto options today, which also has the market on edge. BlackRock Deposits Bitcoin and Ethereum To Coinbase Amid Options Expiry Arkham data shows the asset manager transferred 1,134 BTC ($101 million) and 7,255 ETH ($22 million) to Coinbase, likely to offload these coins. This follows the outflows from the Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs on December 31. SoSoValue data shows that the Bitcoin ETFs recorded a daily net outflow of $348.10 million on the last day of last year, while the Ethereum ETFs saw a daily net outflow of $72.06 million. BlackRocks BTC and ETH ETFs in particular saw outflows of $99.05 million and $21.5 million, respectively. The outflows from these funds continue to add significant selling pressure on Bitcoin and Ethereum. The BTC ETFs have recorded daily net outflows in eight out of the last nine trading days. Similarly, the ETH ETFs have seen outflows in five out of the last six trading days. A recent CryptoQuant analysis warned that sustained outflows from BlackRocks fund and other ETFs could push Bitcoin below the psychological $90,000 level. It also mentioned that a drop below this level could make a move toward the $50,000 range a possibility. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that BlackRocks BTC and ETH transfers come amid the expiry of crypto options today. As CoinGape reported, $2.2 billion in Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana options expire today, with the max pain point for the BTC options at $88,000. Still No Renewed Institutional Demand For BTC On-chain analytics platform Glassnode noted in an X post that the ETF flows still show no renewed demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum. The firm further stated that the 30-day SMA of netflows for both the BTC and ETFs remains negative. Source: Glassnode However, a positive for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market is that BTC long-term holders have stopped selling even as BlackRock and other issuers continue to see outflows from their crypto ETFs. Amid this development, the flagship crypto is again looking to reclaim the psychological $90,000 level. BTC has surged to an intraday high above $89,600 from an intraday low of around $88,300. The total crypto market cap is also up on the day, rising above $3 trillion, with coins like PEPE posting significant gains. Kolkata, Jan 2 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized assets worth Rs 3.60 crore owned by West Bengal Minister incharge of micro, small and medium enterprises and textiles department, Chandranath Sinha, in connection with his alleged involvement in the cash-for-school job case in the state. Sources aware of the development said that a total of 10 properties owned by the minister, his wife, and his son had been confiscated by the ED, and the total market value of the properties is around Rs 3.60 crore. "The valuation has been fixed based on the price prevailing when these properties were registered. However, the current market price of these properties is almost double of what it was at the time of registration. If the minister is unable to give definite proof of the source of funds for purchasing these properties, then the same will be put on auction," said an insider from ED. Sinha, also the West Bengal correctional services department minister, had already been named as an accused in the chargesheet filed by the ED in the school job case. The main charge against him was that he had collected a sum of Rs 12.75 crore from different ineligible candidates, promising them jobs of primary teachers in state-run schools of West Bengal. In the chargesheet, the ED had also claimed that the minister recommended a total of 159 ineligible candidates for jobs of primary teachers, and on average, he collected Rs 8,00,000 from each of these candidates. "There is a need for further questioning of the minister in the matter, and hence there is a need to take him into custody," the central agency insider said. To recall, West Bengal Governor, C.V. Ananda Bose, had approved the ED's chargesheet against Sinha in August last year. The ED officials first secured the name of the Minister from the diary of the middleman and now suspended Trinamool Congress leader Kuntal Ghosh, who was later arrested by the central agency officials. In March 2024, the ED officials conducted a raid and search operations at the minister's residence at Bolpur in Birbhum district. After the raid, the ED officials seized cash worth Rs 41 lakh and a mobile phone from Sinha's residence. Sinha is known to be close to Trinamool Congress strongman and former Trinamool Congress district president in Birbhum, Anubrata Mondal. Jaipur, Jan 2 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that the purpose of education is not limited to professional success alone, but it also aims to shape character, morality, and a humane personality. "This is the core spirit of the Indian philosophy of education, which strengthens harmony and peace in society," said the Union Minister while speaking at a ceremony organised by Vidya Pracharini Sabha and BN Institute on the occasion of their 104th Foundation Day in Udaipur. He said that knowledge without values is incomplete, adding that today, India is emerging as a knowledge economy. "In the Global Innovation Index, India's ranking has improved significantly, from 76 in 2014 to 39 in 2024," he said, adding, "Our universities are no longer just producing skilled human resources; they are also earning global recognition and prestige." The Defence Minister said that teachers are the strongest pillars of any effective education system, adding that this is why the National Education Policy places special emphasis on empowering teachers, making them capable, confident, and autonomous, because empowered teachers are the foundation of a strong India. He said that since ancient times, the Indian knowledge system has been unique, reflecting a harmonious balance between faith and science, the material and the spiritual, action and duty, enjoyment and renunciation. "This balance makes Indian thought not only intellectually rich but also deeply relevant to practical life," he said. The Defence Minister said that India is progressing rapidly and is on track to become one of the top three global economies by 2030. He emphasised that the country has achieved significant self-reliance in the defence sector and weapon manufacturing. "Earlier, India's voice was often ignored globally, but today when India speaks, the world listens," he said. Sharing a personal reflection, Rajnath Singh said that his entry into politics was coincidental and likened it to the phrase 'Har Har Gange', symbolising an unexpected turn in life. He added that despite being in politics, the teacher within him remains alive. He highlighted the importance of the New Education Policy, which places teachers at the centre of nation-building. He said values such as humility, respect, and self-discipline are essential for personal and national growth. "Only those who bow with humility truly rise," he remarked. Rajnath Singh also spoke about the traditions of unity and equality in the Armed Forces, mentioning community meals and the importance of breaking hierarchical barriers to build trust and camaraderie. During the event, MLA Vishvraj Singh Mewar spoke about the historical contribution of the Mewar royal family to education, especially girls' education. Without naming anyone, he called for strict action against those who misuse the names of great historical figures for political purposes. After the programme, the Defence Minister visited the City Palace, where he was welcomed by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, a member of the former royal family. Beijing, Jan 2 : Jailed Chinese journalist Dong YuYu's son Dong Yifu has urged the US, the UK and the Europe to increase diplomatic pressure on China for his father's release, asserting that his father's conviction sets a dangerous precedent. Dong Yifu's statement comes after Beijing High Court in November dismissed an appeal to overturn prison sentence of Dong YuYu. His family termed the case a clear "act of persecution", British media outlet The Independent reported. The case started after Dong YuYu was having lunch with a Japanese diplomat at a hotel in Beijing in 2022, which was a normal meeting for 63-year-old journalist whose work included foreign affairs. However, police officers reached at the restaurant and took him for questioning. Dong YuYu was arrested and charged with spying offences before ultimately being sentenced to seven years in prison and the appeal to overturn his prison sentence has been dismissed by the Beijing High Court. International community has voiced concern over Dong's case and is being viewed as an example of increasing up its control of an already compliant media landscape. Speaking to The Independent, Dong Yifu said, "Anybody just with the most basic sense would know that this whole thing is totally ridiculous." He stated, "The government here really owes everybody, including the Chinese people, an explanation." He said that space for independent expression has steadily reduced under Xi in the past 10 years. Referring to his father, he said, "These are all very mild, very moderate calls for reform. Now even those mild and moderate voices are being silenced." Dong's family has voiced concern over the journalist's health in state security detention centre in Beijing, where he was kept for over three years, before being shifted to No 2 prison in Beijing, a correctional facility where several international inmates are imprisoned. Dong YuYu said, "The facility where he spent the past three years has very little sunlight, very little natural light. So it's taken a toll on his health. And the food, as we know, it's not great, so nutrition is a big concern for us. And also he's very old for a detainee." The Beijing High Court's decision has prompted criticism from rights and press freedom groups, who say the verdict erodes what little remains of free expression in a country that has already put dozens of journalists in prison under Chinese President Xi Jinping. Beh Lih Yi, an Asia-Pacific Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said, "Speaking with diplomats is routine work for journalists, not espionage." She said, "China must release Dong immediately, or it is sending a message to the world that its stated goal of open engagement is empty talk." Dong served as the deputy head of the commentary department at the Guangming Daily, a newspaper once regarded more liberal than other Communist Party outlets. Dong joined the media organisation in 1987 and he regularly published articles calling for constitutional democracy, political reform and official accountability for the past 35 years. Srinagar, Jan 2 : Senior religious leader and chief cleric of Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday that there is not even a bit of change in his conviction while alleging that authorities had put him under house arrest and painful memories of 2025 stay with him in the new year. Mirwaiz Umar took to social media platform 'X' to express his views asserting that he should have today addressed the Friday congregation at the Jamia Masjid, but had been forced by house arrest to put forth his views on the micro-blogging site. "I meet you on the first Friday of the year not in Jama Masjid, as the Mirwaiz should, but on social media, as I have once again been put under arrest! "As another year begins and we look forward to it, painful memories of 2025 stay with us. It was a year marked by tragedy and uncertainty. The horrific Pahalgam attack shook us deeply. "Unequivocally condemned by one and all in the valley, it led to a lot of anxiety among the people. This was followed by another IndiaPakistan war, and a stark reminder of how fragile peace in the region continues to be. "The year-end witnessed another tragedy the massive blast and loss of life in New Delhi. "The year also witnessed the banning of the Awami Action Committee a socio-political institution that reached out to people in need, advocating peace, dialogue and resolution along with Ittihadul Muslimeen, which were part of the Hurriyat Conference. "No public space is available to us, and mediums of communication, including most local media, are not ready to provide any space for voicing expressions of people's demands or views. I do not have the privilege of addressing press conferences. "I cannot move without getting official clearance, and people cannot meet me without seeking permission. My access to the pulpit of Jama Masjid the spiritual heart of Kashmir is also curtailed. "With Hurriyat constituents banned, all offices sealed and institutions closed, leaders and activists either in jails or under constant surveillance, social media remains the only platform that gives some voice and opportunity to connect with people and the outside world. "Let me make it clear, my beliefs and convictions have not changed not even by a comma. Some have criticised this move as a compromise. To them I say, how and for what? They make a strange argument for being provided security. "But it was provided to me since the day of my father's martyrdom 35 years ago. If I did not compromise for it since then, why should I compromise now?", the Mirwaiz said in his long comment. New Delhi, Jan 2 : General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Kharga Corps, Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar, AVSM, VSM, complimented all ranks for their utmost professionalism and operational agility displayed during Operation Sindoor, an official said on Friday. He also conducted an extensive evaluation of the operational readiness of Deep Strikers and lauded the formation for its enhanced preparedness levels and technological absorption, in execution of all Operational tasks. An official of the Western Command of the Indian Army, in a message on social media, shared details of the review conducted by Lt Gen Pushkar. Meanwhile, the 11th Gorkha Rifles commemorates its 79th Raising Day, celebrating a glorious legacy of unmatched bravery, discipline and devotion to duty, said an official of the Central Command of the Indian Army. "The first Regiment raised after Independence, with 3/11 GR being the first battalion raised in Free India, the Regiment has stood as a symbol of courage and steadfast commitment to the Nation," said the official in a social media post. "From historic battlefields to modern challenges, the Gorkha warriors have always exemplified honour, sacrifice and professionalism, carrying forward a proud martial tradition that inspires generations. With deep respect, we salute the indomitable spirit, valour and selfless service of the warriors of 11 GR who continue to guard the Nation with pride," said the statement from the Central Command. At the Southern Command of Indian Army, Maj Gen Vikas Lal assumed command as General Officer Commanding, Pashchim Madhya Pradesh Sub Area, in a solemn ceremony, paying homage to the brave hearts who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation, an official said on social media. "On assuming command, he urged all ranks to remain operationally ready, strengthen logistics and #HADR coordination with civil agencies, and uphold the Army's enduring commitment to Ex-Servicemen, Veterans, Veer Naris and their families," said the official. At the Central Command's headquarters on Thursday, Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, GOC-in-C interacted with troops and commended their professionalism, steadfast dedication and unwavering commitment to the Nation, an official said in a social media statement. "The interaction reflected camaraderie, mission focus and pride in uniform, hallmarks of the timeless ethos of soldiering. Sharing his New Year message, the Army Commander called upon all ranks to step into 2026 with renewed resolve, clarity of purpose and unflinching determination, upholding the highest standards of discipline, integrity and excellence," said the official. Lt Gen Sengupta expressed deep confidence in the capability, spirit and resilience of every soldier under command. "As we move ahead, may the year bring strength, good health and success to all ranks who continue to safeguard the Nation with honour and pride," he said. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The US government's recent announcement of a $1.25 billion financial package for extracting copper and gold from the Reko Diq mining project in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province was seen by state officials as a sign of international confidence in investing in the country. However, for the Baloch population, it feels like yet another moment when the world chooses minerals over human lives, according to an article in EU Today. New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) The US governmentas recent announcement of a $1.25 billion financial package for extracting copper and gold from the Reko Diq mining project in Pakistanas restive Balochistan province was seen by state officials as a sign of international confidence in investing in the country. However, for the Baloch population, it feels like yet another moment when the world chooses minerals over human lives, according to an article in EU Today. The announcement was preceded by visits of Pakistanas army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Washington for meetings with President Donald Trump, where they offered Pakistanas mineral wealth to win US support for their geopolitical game plan. The article points out that Balochistan remains one of the most militarised and politically suppressed regions in South Asia. For decades, Balochistan has witnessed enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, mass arrests, and operations carried out by Pakistanas armed forces that have devastated entire communities. In an environment where human rights are trampled, the claim of consent for large-scale mining projects by the "so-called provincial government" becomes deeply questionable, the article stated. aInternational law is clear: all peoples have the right to self-determination and permanent sovereignty over their natural resources. These principles are meant to prevent exploitation under coercive conditions. Yet in Balochistan, natural wealth - gold, copper, gas, and now, antimony is extracted under heavy military presence, with minimal consultation and little visible benefit for local communities. Agreements reached in fear cannot be called fair; they are imposed, not negotiated," the article observed. The article highlighted that any talk of development has no meaning when people do not have any democratic rights and have to live under the surveillance of a repressive regime. "This is why US and other foreign investments in Reko Diq raise serious ethical concerns. Without binding human rights conditions, transparency, and independent monitoring, such financing risks turning international actors into silent partners in repression," it stated. What is labelled "investment" by governments is seen by many Baloch people as an endorsement of their suffering and driving home the message that "Balochistanas minerals matter more than Baloch lives", the article observed. Jaipur, Jan 2 : Rajasthan BJP MLA Balmukundacharya on Friday commended the police administration for its prompt and decisive action against unruly elements involved in stone-pelting and creating disorder regarding the recent Chomu incident. He stated that such elements deliberately attempted to disturb peace, social harmony, prosperity, and the ongoing development process in Rajasthan. The action taken by the state government and the police, he said, sends a clear message that unlawful activities will not be tolerated under any circumstances. MLA Balmukundacharya emphasised that those who follow rules and regulations will always benefit, while individuals who choose to operate outside the framework of law will face strict action from the administration. He added that maintaining peace and harmony is essential for progress, and any attempt to disrupt the social fabric of the state will be dealt with firmly by the police. Appealing to the public, he urged citizens to actively participate in the development and prosperity of Rajasthan and to make full use of the welfare schemes launched by the central and state governments. According to him, these initiatives are designed to uplift every section of society and ensure inclusive growth. He stressed that cooperation between citizens and the administration is crucial to achieving long-term development goals. Referring to the transformation witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir, MLA Balmukundacharya said that there was a time when stone-pelting incidents were frequent in the region. He said that, however, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, a shift in approach replaced violence with opportunities. He said that by promoting education, skill development, and employment, many youths were encouraged to choose constructive paths. "As a result, Kashmir today is witnessing improvements in education, trade, and overall economic development," he said. He further stated that under the guidance of the central government and the leadership of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, the state has seen historic development work over the past two years. "Infrastructure projects, welfare initiatives, and administrative reforms have strengthened the foundation for future growth," he said. He also warned that if anyone attempts to derail this progress, disturb public order, or violate the law, the administration will respond with firmness and responsibility. Concluding his statement, he reiterated that peace, discipline, and adherence to the rule of law are the keys to a prosperous Rajasthan, and the government remains fully committed to safeguarding these principles. Itanagar, Jan 2 : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. General K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) on Friday, during a discussion with Chief Minister Pema Khandu, highlighted education, health, hydropower and tourism as the four key pillars -- described as the "four wheels" -- driving the state's overall progress. Itanagar, Jan 2 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. General K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) on Friday, during a discussion with Chief Minister Pema Khandu, highlighted education, health, hydropower and tourism as the four key pillars -- described as the "four wheels" -- driving the state's overall progress. The Chief Minister called on the Governor at Lok Bhavan, Itanagar, and they exchanged warm New Year greetings and reaffirmed their shared resolve to work together for the peace, progress, and overall well-being of the state and its people. During the interaction, the Governor shared his broad vision for Arunachal Pradesh in the New Year with the Chief Minister, underscoring a balanced and inclusive development approach. He highlighted four key pillars, education, health, hydropower, and tourism, as the 'four wheels' driving the state's progress. Lt. General Parnaik (Retd.) emphasising the importance of investing in the future, he called for a strong focus on youth development and capacity building, aligned with the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat@2047. The Governor also shared with the Chief Minister on his recent engagements with the Vice President of India, Chandrapuram Ponnusami Radhakrishnan in New Delhi and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and deliberations held during a high-level security review meeting at Lok Bhavan in Itanagar, underlining their relevance to the State's strategic and developmental priorities. Chief Minister Khandu, in turn, apprised the Governor of ongoing developmental initiatives across various districts of the State. He shared insights from his recent district tours and participation in the Dong Sunrise Festival, highlighting grassroots progress, public outreach, and efforts aimed at inclusive growth and cultural promotion across Arunachal Pradesh. State Chief Secretary Manish Gupta separately paid a courtesy call on the Governor at Lok Bhavan. During the interaction, the Governor shared his guidance on strengthening governance and service delivery across key sectors. The Governor advised closer monitoring of developmental projects through the effective use of geospatial technologies, underscoring the need for transparency, timely execution, and evidence-based decision-making. Lt. General Parnaik (Retd.) emphasised the importance of enhancing productivity and competitiveness in both the manufacturing and services sectors. He highlighted the need to accelerate structural transformation by investing in robust infrastructure, improving efficiency, and embracing cutting-edge technologies to drive sustainable and inclusive growth. The Governor discussed the possibilities of exploring practical AI-driven solutions in governance and development, while also stressing the continued scaling and effective utilisation of India's Digital Public Infrastructure to improve outcomes, expand access, and strengthen citizen-centric services across the state. The Chief Secretary apprised the Governor about the ongoing initiatives covering Urban Development issues, hydropower projects status, security of eastern districts and the scheduled meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC). --IANS sc/dan Mumbai, Jan 2 : The Western Naval Command (WNC) on Friday evening issued an update on the ongoing maritime voyage of stitched-ship INSV Kaundinya to Muscat, saying "Under sail, on course". Mumbai, Jan 2 (IANS) The Western Naval Command (WNC) on Friday evening issued an update on the ongoing maritime voyage of stitched-ship INSV Kaundinya to Muscat, saying "Under sail, on course". "#INSVKaundinya continues her passage across open seas guided by wind, skill and India's enduring maritime spirit," said the WNC in a message on social media, which also carried a video clip on the crew in action. On Thursday, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi interacted with the crew. "Extending New Year greetings, Admiral Tripathi commended the crew for their professionalism and the efforts in undertaking this unique voyage rooted in India's maritime past," said a Navy official in a statement. The Navy Chief highlighted that the voyage of INSV Kaundinya is a testament to the Indian Navy's enduring commitment to rekindling national maritime consciousness, said the official. "By reviving the millennia-old shipbuilding and seafaring traditions, the expedition celebrates India's rich maritime heritage and reinforces the nation's historic cultural and commercial links across the #IndianOcean," said the Navy in a social media message. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the crew of INSV Kaundinya on New Year's Eve, lauding their spirit and dedication as the country prepared to welcome 2026. In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said he was delighted to receive a picture from the crew and conveyed his best wishes to them as they marked the New Year while sailing on the high seas. "Delighted to receive this picture from the team of INSV Kaundinya. Heartening to see their enthusiasm. As we are all set to usher in 2026, my special greetings to the INSV Kaundinya team, which is on the high seas. May the rest of their journey also be full of joy and success," PM Modi said. The post was accompanied by an image showing members of the crew standing on the deck of the vessel against the open sea, with the ship's distinctive sail visible in the background. INSV Kaundinya is a traditional sailing vessel inspired by ancient Indian ship designs depicted on historical seals and artefacts. The ship is seen as a representation of India's long maritime tradition and its historic links with seafaring trade routes across the Indian Ocean. The vessel's voyages are aimed at navigation training as well as at highlighting India's civilisational connections with the seas, including maritime trade and cultural exchange. Seoul, Jan 2 : South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young urged North Korea to return to dialogue Friday, saying South Korea is ready to talk with the North "on any agenda" to ease inter-Korean tensions. Chung made the remarks in his New Year's message during a ceremony at the government complex in Seoul, stressing that the two Koreas must "end inter-Korean hostilities this year." "The Lee Jae Myung administration, as a sovereign government, will fully support exchanges in the private sector and cooperation in areas such as public health, medical services and humanitarian issues and will not restrict or interfere in such efforts," he said, Yonhap News Agency reported. "We are ready to sit down with North Korea for talks anytime, anywhere and on any agenda to ease inter-Korean tensions," he added. Referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Chung stressed that Seoul does not support the idea of unification by absorption. He also proposed promoting cross-border tourism projects, including projects linked to the Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone on the east coast and the northern city of Samjiyon, near Mount Paektu. On December 22, South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said he would work to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula by seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations, reiterating the government's efforts to reengage with Pyongyang. Cho made the remarks in a keynote speech at an event hosted by the South Korea-US Parliamentarians Union, saying it is time to "deeply reflect on what must be done" to ensure security and peace on the peninsula. "The two summit meetings between South Korea and the United States this year would provide a foundation for those efforts," he said, stressing the importance of "swiftly and properly" negotiating the agreements reached in the joint fact sheet. He added that South Korea should work to bolster deterrence while simultaneously seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations. A decade ago, when the Via Mizner project featuring the luxury Mandarin Oriental was first announced, it was said that the 2.3 million-square-foot complex would create an "urban oasis" in Boca Raton. But the high-profile project has faced financial headaches, the latest being a December 2025 Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization filing for the unfinished hotel portion of the $1.5 billion project. The hotel is part of Via Mizner, a three-tower project at the northeast corner of Federal Highway and Camino Real, in the heart of downtown Boca. THE DETAILS: Owner of unfinished Mandarin hotel in Boca Raton files for Chapter 11 Since 2024, the 88-unit condo tower has been the subject of several Palm Beach County Circuit Court lawsuits from some pre-construction buyers fed up with the building's delays. These buyers want their deposit money back on units costing millions of dollars each. The Via Mizner entities are affiliated with Mark Gensheimer, the founder and president of Boca Raton-based Penn-Florida Companies, the project's developer. The unfinished Mandarin Oriental hotel in downtown Boca Raton. The hotel's owner has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. Construction delays caused by COVID, partnership lawsuit In the past, Penn-Florida has blamed the condo's construction delays on the COVID-19 pandemic and difficulties obtaining materials, even as several upscale condominiums nearby were announced and built. The pandemic also is being blamed for delays in the hotel's construction. A 2022 report by The Palm Beach Post revealed another reason for the delay: a long-running lawsuit between the project's partners that scared off lenders, according to court documents. The unfinished Mandarin Oriental Residences condominium, left, and the hotel, right. The owner of the hotel property has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The condo is expected to be completed in mid-2026. It's not yet known when the hotel will be finished. At one point in the litigation, a Gensheimer affiliate said the lawsuit had created doubts about his companies' power over decision-making, finances and the "ability to raise capital to complete the Via Mizner project." The lawsuit, first filed in 2016, did not get resolved until 2023. That same year, David Warne, Penn-Florida's chief operating officer, said construction of the hotel and condo would wrap up by the end of 2023. That didn't happen. In July 2024, Albert Piazza, president of development for Penn-Florida, said the condo would be completed by the end of 2025, and the hotel a couple of months after that. Rendering of the Via Mizner project in Boca, which will feature from left, the Mandarin Oriental residences and boutique hotel when completed. An apartment building, already built, is on the right. Some condo buyers grew antsy about delays Some pre-construction condo buyers are tired of waiting for their promised luxury Mandarin Oriental Residences. Starting in mid-2024, a few began suing the developer to recoup deposits on units they said were supposed to be completed as far back as 2020. The first Palm Beach County Circuit Court lawsuit was filed on July 8, 2024, by Michael and Elyse Filon, who sued the condo's parent company, Via Mizner III LLC. The Highland Beach couple sought and ultimately received their $697,500 deposit on a $2.5 million unit. New Delhi/Bareilly, Jan 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Dr Shyam Bihari Lal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Faridpur in Uttar Pradesh, who passed away on Friday after suffering a sudden heart attack. He was 65. Expressing grief over the loss, Prime Minister Modi wrote on X, "I am deeply saddened by the demise of Dr Shyam Bihari Lal Ji, the MLA from Faridpur in Uttar Pradesh. He was a dedicated BJP leader committed to public welfare, and his passing has caused an irreparable loss to the party. In this hour of grief, my deepest condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti!" Dr Lal had earlier attended a meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh's Animal Husbandry Minister Dharampal Singh at the Circuit House in Bareilly. The meeting was held to discuss development projects for the year and was attended by public representatives and senior divisional officers. According to those present, the MLA began feeling unwell during lunch after the meeting, following which his condition deteriorated rapidly. He was rushed to Medicity Hospital on Pilibhit Road, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Forest Minister Arun Saxena, who was also present at the meeting, said Dr Lal's health suddenly worsened during the proceedings. "He was immediately taken to the hospital, but unfortunately, he could not be saved. His demise is a great loss to the party and public life," Saxena said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed deep sorrow over the sudden demise of the senior BJP leader. In a condolence message, the Chief Minister said, "The sudden demise of MLA Dr Shyam Bihari Lal from the Faridpur Assembly constituency of Bareilly district is extremely sad. My humble tribute to him. I extend my condolences to the bereaved family and pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed soul a place at His feet and give strength to the family to bear this immense sorrow." Shyam Bihari Lal was a respected figure in both academic and political circles. A former professor at Rohilkhand University, he was known for his scholarly background and commitment to public service. He was elected as MLA from the Faridpur Assembly constituency for two consecutive terms. Kolkata, Jan 2 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday directed the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, to register FIRs against four electoral officers in the state accused of manipulation in voter enrolment in two Assembly constituencies. Two of the officers against whom FIRs have been ordered are the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of Baruipur East Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district, Debottam Dutta Chowdhury, and the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) of the same constituency, Tathagata Mandal. The other two officers are the ERO of Moyna Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district, Biplob Sarkar, and the AERO of that constituency, Sudipta Das. "Instructions from the ECI headquarters in New Delhi have been conveyed to the office of the CEO, West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, as well as to the district magistrates, who also function as district electoral officers, of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore," a source in the CEO's office said. The development follows an earlier directive issued by the ECI in August last year, when it had instructed the West Bengal authorities to suspend the four electoral officers and also register FIRs against them. However, the state government had only partially implemented that order. While the four officers were suspended, FIRs were not registered. In addition, a contractual data entry operator linked to the case was relieved of his duties. The four officers were accused of tampering with the electoral rolls. On the basis of these allegations, the ECI had directed that all five individuals be suspended and that criminal cases be registered against them. At the time, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had criticised the ECI's directive, accusing the poll body of acting as the "bonded labour of the BJP". She had also asserted that her government would not take action against its employees. Till the filing of this report, there was no reaction from the West Bengal government or the ruling Trinamool Congress on the ECI's latest directive. Patna, Jan 2 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made an unexpected visit to the Janata Dal (United) state office in Patna on Friday, creating a buzz among party leaders and workers. His sudden arrival generated excitement across the party headquarters. Upon reaching the JD(U) office, the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar went straight to his chamber, where he reviewed organisational activities and held informal discussions. He later interacted with party workers present at the office, inquiring about their well-being and exchanging New Year greetings. Senior leader and Bihar government minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit. Nitish Kumar also inspected the party office and held conversations with key organisational leaders. The Chief Ministeras energetic presence has once again put to rest recent speculation regarding his health. During the recent Bihar Assembly elections, Nitish Kumar had campaigned extensively, addressing rallies and public meetings across the state. The NDA, under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, performed strongly in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly election and secured 202 seats. JD (U) alone won 85 seats in Bihar, the strongest performance after the 2010 assembly election. Besides JD (U), BJP won 89 seats, Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas 19 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) 5 seats and Rashtriya Lok Morcha 4 seats. Even after the formation of the new government, he continues to remain actively involved in both governance and party affairs. He regularly visits one place to review projects every day in Patna or any other district of Bihar. Nitish Kumaras surprise visit infused fresh enthusiasm and confidence among party workers. On the occasion of the New Year, he personally greeted workers, accepted their wishes, and interacted warmly with them, sending a strong message of organisational unity and leadership engagement. Amsterdam, Jan 2 : Police has launched investigation into the killing of two teenagers in a shooting incident at a park on New Year's Day in Netherlands' Amsterdam and is still actively looking for suspects who were linked to the incident, local media reported on Friday. No arrests have been made yet after the two teenagers were killed on Brug 721, a bridge covering Christoffel Plantijngracht in the Piet Wiedijkpark. The shooting incident occurred on Thursday at about 11:45 pm (local time), according to the police statement posted on social media, Netherlands-based NL Times reported. In a statement shared regarding the incident, police stated, "Officers immediately responded and found two victims. The victims appeared to have sustained gunshot wounds. The officers immediately administered first aid and began resuscitation on both victims." The two victims were pronounced dead at the spot. The suspect had fled from the spot by the time first responders reached at the site. It was not revealed whether the two victims knew each each other or whether they were involved in a conflict with others. Police cordoned off the site of the incident, where a large number of major crimes detectives and forensic investigators were present overnight. Police officials have not yet released a description of a wanted suspect on any public channels available to them. Earlier on December 15, a man was injured after a shooting incident in Vlaardingenlaan, Netherlands-based newspaper Het Parool reported. A police spokesperson stated that officers found a man with minor injuries, who was taken to the hospital. Following the incident, officers arrested two suspects and the man who was taken to the hospital. According to a police spokesperson, the three arrested men are believed to have been involved in the shooting. Investigation is being conducted on who was responsible for what and the precise circumstances about the shooting incident. Chandigarh, Jan 2 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday batted for starting more international flights from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali, asserting that expanded overseas operations would significantly boost economic activity, tourism and investment across the region. The remarks came as Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) handed over a cheque for Rs 19 crore as interim dividend to the government, a development the Punjab CM cited as evidence of the airport's steady growth. He said stronger global air links from Mohali would ease access for entrepreneurs and traders, generate employment for the state's youth, and position Punjab as a competitive destination for international business and tourism. Interacting with officers of CHIAL, CM Mann said the sustained growth of Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport reflects the strong partnership between the Centre and Punjab governments. "The Punjab government is committed to expand international operations from Mohali to connect the vibrant state with global destinations. It will help in creating new job opportunities for the youth, thereby giving fillip to the economy of Punjab," he added. The Chief Minister said it would help easy movement of the entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists of the region and from across the globe to the state, thereby boosting trade, commerce and economic activity in the region. "Starting more flights from this airport will facilitate the people of the region, besides wooing the leading entrepreneurs across the globe to make huge investments in the state. I hope that it will act as a catalyst to propel industrialisation in the state, besides showcasing Punjab as the most preferred investment destination," he added. Meanwhile, the CHIAL management expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the government for their guidance, support and cooperation, which have driven the airport's development and operational excellence. The dividend for 2025-26 was declared by the CHIAL board on December 12, 2025. Bengaluru, Jan 2 : Karnataka Minister for Higher Education M.C. Sudhakar on Friday said that an announcement on granting menstrual leave for college students would be made if directions are issued by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The Minister made the statement in Bengaluru while responding to a media query on the issue. He said that if the Chief Minister issues directions, the government would announce menstrual leave for female students studying in colleges as well as postgraduate programmes in universities. "Once directions come from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a decision will be taken, and his word will be final," Sudhakar said. It may be recalled that the Karnataka government recently announced one-day menstrual leave for working women, under which women aged between 18 and 52 years are entitled to one day of paid leave every month. The policy provides for a paid holiday to allow women to rest during menstruation and applies to permanent, contractual and outsourced employees. The government order in this regard was issued on November 12, 2025, directing employers to provide a total of 12 paid menstrual leaves annually. However, the Karnataka High Court on December 9 issued an interim order staying the government notification directing registered industrial establishments to provide one-day menstrual leave for working women. The interim order was passed while hearing petitions filed by the Bangalore Hotels Association and the management of Avirata AFL Connectivity Systems Limited, challenging the government notification. Later the same day, the High Court recalled its interim stay on the State government's notification. The matter is scheduled to be relisted after the winter vacation, with the High Court resuming work from January 5. The government notification, issued on November 20, 2025, mandated industrial establishments to provide paid menstrual leave to women employees. The petition seeking to quash the government order stated that the establishments are registered under various labour laws -- including the Factories Act, the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, the Plantations Labour Act, the Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, and the Motor Transport Workers Act -- under which employees are entitled to only 12 days of leave per year. The Karnataka Cabinet had approved the Menstrual Leave Policy, 2025, in October last year, granting women one paid leave per month. Mumbai, Jan 2 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday expressed confidence over MahaYuti's victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, saying that Mumbai's next mayor will be a Marathi and a Hindu. Responding to critics who claim the BJP lacks support among the Marathi-speaking population, Fadnavis dismissed these notions as misconceptions during an interview. "Do not assume that the Marathi vote bank belongs to others and not the BJP. If Marathi voters hadn't supported us, we wouldn't have seen our candidates winning across three consecutive elections," he said. He said that regardless of anyone's claims, the BJP remains the number one party. "Both Marathi and non-Marathi citizens are our voters," he noted. He further emphasised that the soul of the city remains unchanged. "No one can strip Mumbai of its Marathi identity. People may come from everywhere, but the 'Marathipan' of this city is permanent," he said. Fadnavis also took a sharp dig at the newly formed alliance between Raj and Uddhav Thackeray. While mockingly taking "credit" for bringing the brothers togethersomething Balasaheb Thackeray had desiredhe claimed the move had come too late to impact the polls. He argued that if the brothers had united in 2009, the results would have been different. He claimed their combined vote share has diminished significantly, meaning the alliance will not pose a threat to the BJP-Shinde combine. He suggested that the merger of their bases has created more confusion among their respective grassroots workers than strength for their campaign. Highlighting the cultural fabric of the city, CM Fadnavis noted that while the demographics of the workforce in Mumbai have evolved over decades, the traditions remain rooted. "Mumbai's culture, specifically its traditional Ganeshotsav, must be preserved. We will not let the city's direction or heritage waver," he said. He reiterated with the firm declaration that the Mayor of Mumbai will be from the MahaYuti. "He will be Hindu, and he will be Marathi," the Chief Minister reiterated. The upcoming polls feature a restructured political landscape. In a notable shift, estranged brothers Raj Thackeray (MNS) and Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena - UBT) have allied, backed by Sharad Pawar's NCP. On the other side, the ruling Mahayuti consists of the BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, while Ajit Pawar's NCP is contesting independently. Additionally, the Congress has joined forces with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). Mumbai, Jan 2 : Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Chairman of the Mumbai Regional NCP Election Management Committee Nawab Malik on Friday stirred a political debate by claiming that the party is poised to secure the Mayor's post in Mumbai. Addressing his first press conference in over three-and-a-half years, the former minister drew a parallel with national politics, saying: "If a party with a single seat can lead a government in Jharkhand, the NCP can certainly secure the Mayor's post in Mumbai with 30 seats." Malik said the actual strength and influence of the NCP in the city would become clear on January 16. He said the party has fielded 94 candidates across Mumbai, with an emphasis on social inclusivity. The candidates include doctors, lawyers, engineers, vegetable vendors and sanitation workers, Malik said. He added that the party has ensured significant representation for women, Marathi-speaking candidates, North Indians, South Indians, particularly Telugu speakers, and minority communities, including Muslims and Christians. Malik expressed gratitude to NCP National President Ajit Pawar for standing by him, stating that Pawar chose to contest independently rather than yield to pressure from potential allies who opposed Malik's involvement. The NCP leader also raised serious concerns over the conduct of Returning Officers (ROs), alleging that legal procedures were bypassed to favour certain candidates. He said the party would file a formal complaint with the State Election Commission. Malik alleged that in ward 151, a BJP candidate was allowed to contest a reserved seat using a caste certificate issued in Rajasthan instead of Maharashtra, which he termed illegal. In ward 119, he claimed that a candidate from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was cleared to contest despite being a municipal vendor, which he said violates election rules. He further accused officials in M Ward, S Ward and Vikhroli of taking "midnight decisions" to qualify ineligible candidates and warned that such officers could face serious consequences once the matters reach the High Court. "We will write to the Election Commission on these issues. The code of conduct should be strictly implemented, and our complaint must be taken seriously," Malik said. He reiterated that officials responsible for alleged irregularities could lose their jobs if the allegations are upheld in court. Clarifying the party's electoral strategy, Malik said the NCP is contesting independently and taking on different rivals depending on the constituency. "In some places we are fighting the BJP, in others the Shinde-led Shiv Sena or the Congress. We are confident of snatching several seats from the BJP," he said. Hyderabad, Jan 2 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao on Friday accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of spreading falsehoods in the Assembly on the Musi River rejuvenation. Rama Rao alleged that the Chief Minister is using the project as a cover for what he termed the "biggest corruption conspiracy in Telangana's history." KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, said the Chief Minister had no vision whatsoever to cleanse the Musi and remarked that poison runs through every nerve of Revanth Reddy, driven by anger against those questioning his alleged illegal wealth and opposing the Musi project in its present form. KTR also remarked that the language used by the Chief Minister was more foul-smelling than the polluted Musi itself. The BRS leader questioned the credibility of the Chief Minister's claims, asking how Revanth Reddy could announce expenditure figures touching Rs 1.5 lakh crore when the Detailed Project Report (DPR), by the government's own admission, would take at least another year to be prepared. "If the DPR is not ready, how were such massive estimates announced?" he asked, demanding an explanation for why bulldozers were deployed to demolish the homes of the poor even before statutory planning and approvals were in place. The statement alleged that under the guise of Musi 'beautification', the Congress government was preparing for a massive financial loot. KTR accused the government of attempting to hand over key aspects of the project to Mainhardt, a company allegedly blacklisted and facing Red Corner Notices. "How can a firm with such a background be entrusted with a project of this scale?" he asked, calling it a deliberate conspiracy to facilitate corruption. KTR further charged that the Chief Minister had officially declared plans to demolish the houses of over one lakh people living along the Musi and render them homeless. This, he said, exposed the true character of the Congress government. "Congress rule means demolitions, not construction," KTR stated, adding that while illegal guest houses allegedly built by ministers near Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar were left untouched, poor families were being evicted without compassion. Holding the Congress and TDP responsible for decades of neglect, KTR said it was these parties, who ruled the united state for nearly 60 years, that polluted the Musi and turned it into a sewage drain. He pointed out that Revanth Reddy himself had served in both parties and could not disown their legacy. He also blamed previous governments for subjecting Nalgonda district to prolonged suffering due to polluted water and fluoride contamination, asserting that it was only under BRS rule, through Mission Bhagiratha, that the fluoride menace was effectively addressed. KTR challenged the Chief Minister's claim of bringing 20 TMC of Godavari water to the Musi, asking him to clearly state whether that water was from Kaleshwaram. "If it is, he should bow his head and admit it," KTR said, accusing Revanth Reddy of running false propaganda against the Kaleshwaram project while silently depending on it for Musi rejuvenation. The BRS working president alleged that the real objective behind the Musi project was large-scale real estate exploitation. He accused the government of forcibly evicting poor and middle-class residents from valuable lands in central Hyderabad to benefit benamis and loyalists. "For this Chief Minister, governance has been reduced to real estate dealings," he said. KTR said global tenders were earlier invited at minimal cost for Musi rejuvenation, with nine reputed companies submitting detailed designs. A comprehensive master plan was prepared at an estimated cost of about Rs 16,000 crore. "With ready designs in hand, restarting the process makes sense only if commissions are the motive," he alleged, noting that estimates were being arbitrarily escalated from Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 75,000 crore and now to Rs 1.5 lakh crore even before execution began. Indore, Jan 2 : In the wake of the devastating water contamination incident in Indore's Bhagirathpura area, which claimed at least 15 lives and affected nearly 1500 residents with severe diarrhoea and vomiting, the Madhya Pradesh government has undertaken a significant administrative reshuffle in the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) to bolster efficiency and accountability. Following a high-level review meeting on Friday by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, the state government issued orders through the General Administration Department to strengthen the IMC's administrative structure. Key among the changes is the immediate removal of Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisonia (2017 batch IAS), who has been transferred as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development. Sisonia, along with IMC Commissioner Dilip Yadav, faced show-cause notices for alleged oversight failures. To reinforce the corporation's functioning, three senior IAS officers have been appointed as Additional Commissioners simultaneouslya"a move seen as a strong signal to enhance administrative oversight, security arrangements, and monitoring systems to prevent future incidents. Akash Singh (2019 batch IAS), previously CEO of Khargone district, has been posted as Additional Commissioner in IMC. Joining him are Prakhar Singh (2020 batch IAS), former CEO of Alirajpur, and Ashish Kumar Pathak (2020 batch IAS), who was serving as Deputy Transport Commissioner in Indore. This includes two direct recruit IAS officers and one promoted officer, marking a rare triple appointment at this level. Additionally, instructions have been issued to relieve in-charge Superintending Engineer Sanjeev Srivastava of the water supply section and to fill vacant posts in the IMC immediately. Earlier actions included suspending zonal officers and engineers directly linked to the contaminated zone. The tragedy, caused by sewage from a leaking toilet pit at a police check post mixing with the main drinking water supply line, exposed critical lapses in monitoring and infrastructure maintenance. The reshuffle aims to overhaul water supply management and ensure stricter compliance amid ongoing probes, including a three-member committee investigating delays in pipeline repairs despite prior complaints. With lab reports confirming bacterial contamination like E coli, the government vows improved vigilance statewide. a"IANS sktr/uk 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: We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. 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 China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation Ltd ( SGX:G92 ) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Story Continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. 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 2.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.8%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2035 (1 + g) (r g) = US$44m (1 + 2.5%) (5.8% 2.5%) = US$1.3b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$1.3b ( 1 + 5.8%)10= US$759m 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$1.2b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of S$1.7, the company appears about fair value at a 5.4% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. SGX:G92 Discounted Cash Flow January 1st 2026 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 China Aviation Oil (Singapore) as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. 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 China Aviation Oil (Singapore) SWOT Analysis for China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Currently debt free. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Oil and Gas market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Singaporean market. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat No apparent threats visible for G92. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For China Aviation Oil (Singapore), we've compiled three additional elements you should consider: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for China Aviation Oil (Singapore) you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does G92's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other 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 SGX 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. Bengaluru, Jan 2 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that a recent survey conducted under the Election Commission framework has been selectively used to manufacture a misleading narrative to counter allegations of electoral malpractice raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Commenting on the survey and its findings highlighting voter confidence in the electoral process and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said, "Over the last 24 hours, an Election Commission survey has been selectively used to manufacture a misleading narrative -- suggesting that serious concerns about electoral malpractice raised by Rahul Gandhi are somehow 'disproved'." Taking to social media platform X, the Chief Minister said, "This claim collapses the moment the survey is examined honestly." Explaining his position, Siddaramaiah said the nature of the survey itself has been misrepresented. "First, this was not a political opinion poll. It was an end-line administrative evaluation of voter awareness under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programmes, commissioned by the Election Commission of India and conducted in May 2025," he said. He added that the purpose of the survey was to assess voter education efforts, not to certify the integrity of the electoral process or respond to allegations that surfaced months later. "An awareness survey cannot be twisted into a certificate of electoral integrity," he said. The Chief Minister further argued that the timing of the survey was critical. "The survey was conducted in May 2025. Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of organised voter list manipulation 'Vote Chori' in August 2025, based on evidence that emerged after the survey period. Using pre-allegation data to dismiss post-allegation evidence is not fact-checking; it is intellectual sleight of hand," Siddaramaiah said. He also questioned the statistical validity of drawing broad conclusions from the survey. "The survey interviewed 5,100 respondents in a state with over 5.3 crore adult voters less than 0.01 per cent of the electorate. In constituencies such as Bengaluru Central, where allegations of voter list manipulation are most acute, the respondent count runs into mere double digits. Projecting this as a definitive 'people's verdict' is statistically indefensible," he said. Siddaramaiah further flagged what he described as a conflict of interest, noting that the survey was conducted by an NGO, GRAAM, founded by Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, who currently holds a Union government-appointed position and authored a book in 2024 praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "This constitutes a clear conflict of interest, which has been ignored in much of the reportage," he said. The Chief Minister also said Rahul Gandhi's position had been deliberately misrepresented. "He has not questioned democracy or elections. He has sought basic transparency from the Election Commission on voter roll access, surveillance safeguards, EVM scrutiny, and the independence of the Election Commissioner appointment process questions that remain unanswered," Siddaramaiah said. Referring to the Aland case, he said, "'Vote Chori' is not a slogan. It is a chargesheet. In Aland, a Karnataka Police Special Investigation Team filed a 22,000-page chargesheet naming seven accused, including a former BJP MLA, for attempting to illegally delete 5,994 genuine voters using OTP bypass technology." He said the investigation was conducted by the state government despite winning the seat and led to systemic changes by the Election Commission itself. "A limited, pre-event administrative survey cannot bury criminal evidence, chargesheets or unanswered questions," he said, expressing disappointment that sections of the media amplified what he termed a distorted reading of the survey. It may be recalled that the survey, commissioned by Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar, found that a majority of voters believed elections in India are free and fair and that trust in EVMs has increased. The survey covered 5,100 respondents across 102 Assembly segments in the administrative divisions of Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Mysuru. Titled "Lok Sabha Elections 2024 -- Evaluation of Endline Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of Citizens", the survey was monitored by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority under the Department of Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics. The findings stated that while recognition of the importance of each vote (over 81.39 per cent) and trust in the electoral process and EVMs (over 83.61 per cent) were high, concerns over inducements and the influence of money and muscle power persisted, particularly in regions such as Kalaburagi. Kalaburagi is the native place of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Amaravati, Jan 2 : YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP Maddila Gurumoorthy, on Friday, urged the Union government to ensure the safe release of nine fishermen who were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard. In a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the MP said that nine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh were apprehended by the Bangladesh Coast Guard in the mid sea of Bay of Bengal on October 21, 2025 while they were operating a mechanised fishing vessel. The fishermen hail from Vizianagaram district and their families are in distress and undergoing mental agony, he said, and urged the Union government to use their offices to seek the release and safe return of the fishermen. According to Gurumoorthy, the fishermen inadvertently crossed the international maritime boundary near the West Bengal coast due to navigational lapses but were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard. He said that there was no criminal intent involved. He added the fishermen depend entirely on traditional fishing for their livelihood and that their prolonged detention has caused severe mental and financial distress to their families. The YSRCP MP from Tirupati added that Bangladesh is a signatory to international maritime laws and that provisions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea allow for the release of detained fishermen and vessels in such cases. Citing humanitarian concerns, Gurumoorthy appealed to the Centre and the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh to take immediate steps to resolve the issue and ensure the fishermen's early release. The state government had said that eight fishermen from Vizianagaram district were detained by the Bangladesh Navy after their boat allegedly strayed into the neighbouring country's territorial waters. The state government contacted the MEA through the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi to secure the release of the fishermen. A special legal team of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka is providing legal aid for their release. A charge sheet has been filed in Bangladesh against the fishermen, prompting the Andhra Pradesh government to appeal to the Bangladesh Embassy for cooperation to allow continuous contact with the fishermen's families. Union Civil Aviation Minister, K. Ram Mohan Naidu, took up the matter with the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar requesting steps for their swift return. Thane, Jan 2 : Launching a direct offensive against the Shiv Sena-UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray without naming him, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde declared on Friday that while the opposition has "looted" Mumbai, the state government stands as its true "protector". Speaking to reporters in Thane, Eknath Shinde accused the Shiv Sena-UBT Chief of remembering Mumbai and the Marathi community only when elections are around the corner. "Whenever elections approach, some people suddenly develop an affection for Mumbai and the 'Marathi Manoos'," Deputy Chief Minister Shinde remarked. "They (Shiv Sena-UBT) must answer to the public regarding what they have actually done for the city and its people over the years." The Deputy Chief Minister asserted that the Marathi-speaking population was forced out of Mumbai due to the previous administration's policies. He said that the Mahayuti government is now working to bring them back. "Instead of trying to mislead Mumbaikars through emotional appeals, they should showcase their developmental work. Those responsible for the exit of the Marathi man from Mumbai should engage in some soul-searching," he added. He also condemned the criticism directed at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, labeling it as "reprehensible" and "politically motivated". Speaking on the upcoming Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) elections, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde highlighted that seven candidates from the Shiv Sena-BJP-led Mahayuti alliance have been elected unopposed. "This is the beginning of our victory. The people of Thane have set the tone. There is no doubt that on January 15, the saffron flag of the Mahayuti will flutter atop the Thane Municipal Corporation," he said confidently. He noted that several candidates in Kalyan-Dombivli and Jalgaon have also won unopposed, describing these victories as "vouchers of work". He suggested that the Opposition withdraws from the political race when they are certain of a defeat. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde challenged the Opposition to point to a single significant development project completed during their tenure. He listed the state government's achievements, including pothole-free and concretised roads, expansion of the Metro network, completion of the Mumbai Coastal Road and revival of stalled infrastructure projects. He emphasised that Prime Minister Modi aims to make Mumbai a "Global Fintech Hub", which has already attracted massive investments towards Maharashtra. The Deputy Chief Minister accused the Opposition of trying to create a rift among the Hindus by fueling Marathi-Gujarati disputes. "Balasaheb Thackeray never practised such politics. Focus on the politics of development rather than misleading people with emotional issues," he warned. Dhaka, Jan 2 : A leading human rights organisation in Bangladesh has expressed its concerns over escalating violence across the country in 2025, including political and electoral violence, mob attacks and lynchings, harassment of journalists, extrajudicial killings, and violence against women and children. In its latest report, Dhaka-based Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) revealed that at least 168 people were killed and 248 injured in 292 incidents of mob violence and lynching, sparked by allegations of theft, robbery, snatching, dominance assertion, and alleged religious defamation. As per the findings, the report documented that 133 people died and 7,511 were injured in 914 incidents of political violence nationwide last year. This violence, the report said, was fueled by struggles for political dominance, retaliatory attacks, rally-related clashes, disputes over committee formation, election-related violence, extortion, and occupancy conflicts. In the run-up to the 13th national parliamentary election in February, 54 incidents of election resulted in three deaths and 494 injuries, Bangladeshi Bengali daily Bonik Barta reported. Meanwhile, journalists across Bangladesh faced unprecedented violence in 2025, with 539 killed, injured, assaulted, or harassed in 318 incidents. Of these, three journalists were killed, 273 were injured, 57 were assaulted, 83 were threatened, and 17 were arrested, while 107 journalists were accused in 34 cases. The HRSS further expressed concern over extrajudicial killings and deaths in police custody and prisons across Bangladesh. The report revealed that 40 people were killed in operations conducted by law enforcement agencies in 2025. Additionally, 10 people died while fleeing police or due to illness, and another 92 people, including 30 convicts and 62 undertrial detainees, died in jail custody due to illness, suicide, or torture. Highlighting atrocities against women in Bangladesh, the report documented that 2,047 women and girls were subjected to violence in 2025. Among the victims, 828 were raped, including 474 children, while 179 fell victim to gang rape and 28 women were murdered after rape. The violence against women also claimed 10 lives by suicide. Additionally, 414 women faced sexual harassment, 35 were killed due to dowry-related violence, and 383 died as a result of domestic abuse. Among children, 1,371 suffered abuse, with 288 fatalities. HRSS Executive Director Ijajul Islam called for coordinated efforts by the Bangladeshi authorities and society to reinforce the rule of law, democratic processes, and human rights protections. "Without addressing mob violence, custodial deaths, political tension, election-related violence, and restrictions on free expression, the human rights situation could deteriorate further," Bangladeshas leading newspaper, The Business Standard, quoted him as saying. Bangladesh has been witnessing a surge in violence and a deteriorating law and order situation since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government assumed power. Quetta, Jan 2 : Leading Baloch human rights defender, Mir Yar Baloch, on Friday, wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar drawing attention to Pakistan's support for Hamas and its alliance with Iran's revolutionary axis. He alleged that this alignment contributes to cycles of violence that extend far beyond the immediate theatre of conflict, undermining regional stability from the Middle East to South Asia and beyond. The human rights activist asserted that Israel's security challenges, including repeated terrorist attacks and proxy warfare, cannot be separated from this broader network of state-sponsored extremism and geopolitical contestation. In a letter addressed to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mir wrote, "On behalf of the six crore patriotic citizens of the Republic of Balochistan, we extend sincere greetings of the New Year 2026 and respect to the people and leadership of the State of Israel, along with wishes for enduring peace, security, and prosperity." "The Republic of Balochistan recognises the strategic realities facing Israel amid ongoing regional volatility. We acknowledge Pakistan's long-standing political, ideological, and operational support for extremist networks such as Hamas and its strategic alignment with the Islamic Republic of Iran dynamics that have fueled conflict, destabilised multiple regions, and directly threaten both Israeli and broader international security interests," he added. Mir stated that any future political or regime transformation in Iran would remain incomplete and unstable unless the fundamental issue of "internal colonialism" is meaningfully addressed. "Iran's continued political and military domination over non-Persian nations, particularly Balochistan, Kurdistan, and Al-Ahwaz, serves as a persistent source of grievance, unrest, and regional interventionism. These oppressed nations endure systemic denial of basic rights, self-determination, cultural freedom, and political representation under Tehran's centralised authority", he stressed. The human rights activist further stated that the "liberation of Balochistan from Pakistani occupation" would permanently dismantle Pakistan's ability to export terrorism and eliminate a significant conduit of extremist support that threatens both Israeli and global security. "Additionally, a free Balochistan would offer strategic sea access and secure economic pathways for regional commerce extending from the Arabian Sea to Central Asia and beyond, an opportunity that could align with Israel's broader interests in secure trade corridors, energy transit routes, and diversified geopolitical partnerships," he noted. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The buzz over Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and businessman Robert Vadra's son Raihan and his longtime girlfriend Aviva Baig's private ring exchange ceremony at Ranthambore, Rajasthan, got a fresh doze of masala with the couple posting new photo on social media on Friday evening. Within minutes of the couple's photo appearing on social media, it started getting likes and congratulatory messages. Raihan's proud father, Robert Vadra, was among the first ones to react to the picture and confirm their future marriage plans. "My son comes of age and finds his life partner. My heartfelt blessings to them for a life filled with happiness, unwavering togetherness, love, and strength. May they walk this journey hand in hand, growing and thriving together," said Vadra in a message on social media. In the picture, Raihan is seen in a black bandgala and Aviva in a black saree with metallic threadwork that sparkled in the light of dozens of lamps lit in the background. The couple radiated a timeless and regal aura in their coordinated midnight-black ensembles, perfectly blending traditional heritage with modern sophistication. As Raihan had both his hands tucked into trouser pockets and Aviva had her ring hand covered with the other, the two seemed to be in no mood to spill the beans on their speculated engagement through the picture. The picture carried no caption but appeared to be from Ranthambore where the Vadra and Gandhi families had converged to celebrate the New Year on Tuesday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister and party General Secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived at the Ranthambore National Park on Tuesday, amid speculation that Raihan and Aviva may get engaged during this visit. The Gandhi family was scheduled to stay for four days at Sher Bagh, a five-star luxury resort near Ranthambore National Park. During their stay, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were scheduled to spend time at the Sher Bagh resort and visit the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's earlier visits to Ranthambore include private wildlife trips, family stays, and safari outings over multiple years, most recently in late 2025 (September-October), in late 2024, and in 2023 -- demonstrating that Ranthambore is a frequent destination for her personal and family travel. Jaipur, Jan 2 : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the upcoming State Budget for the financial year 2026-27 is being prepared with a clear vision of building a developed, progressive, and leading Rajasthan, government officials said on Friday. Jaipur, Jan 2 (IANS) Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the upcoming State Budget for the financial year 2026a"27 is being prepared with a clear vision of building a developed, progressive, and leading Rajasthan, government officials said on Friday. The state government is ensuring that the budget reflects the hopes, aspirations, and priorities of the common people. To make the budget inclusive, participatory, and comprehensive, the Rajasthan government has actively sought public input. As a result of this initiative, nearly 25,000 budget-related suggestions have already been received through online platforms, demonstrating enthusiastic public participation, Chief Minister officials confirmed. Stakeholders from all sections of society, including common citizens, youth, women, farmers, entrepreneurs, labourers, and non-governmental organisations, are actively contributing their ideas and recommendations to help shape a people-centric budget. The State government has invited citizens to submit their valuable suggestions online through the 'Budget Suggestions' link available on the Finance Department's official website: https://finance.rajasthan.gov.in. Suggestions can be submitted until January 10. The previous two state budgets presented by the Rajasthan government were also focused on the all-round and holistic development of the state. By incorporating public feedback and stakeholder inputs, the stsate government has successfully redefined development and public welfare, ensuring that policies and financial provisions directly address the needs of the people. Through this continued emphasis on public participation, the state government aims to present a budget that is development-oriented, inclusive, and aligned with the vision of a prosperous Rajasthan. Officials said that the upcoming state budget will reflect aspirations of the common people. The public participation is also strengthened through the visionary initiative of Chief Minister Sharma. More than 25,000 budget suggestions have been received online so far and citizens can submit suggestions till January 10 via finance department website, officials added. Hyderabad, Jan 2 : Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a resolution, demanding continuation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) as it is and terming the recently passed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB G RAM G) detrimental to the rights of the poor. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy tabled the resolution, which was passed unanimously by a voice vote. According to the resolution, the new law is against the rights of the poor, against women labourers and violates the spirit of federalism. The resolution noted that MGNREGS was implemented in 2005 by the UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh to provide employment to the rural poor and offer financial security to impoverished families. This Act, aimed at reducing poverty, unemployment, migration, exploitation of unskilled labourers, and wage disparities between men and women, and promoting the development of all sections of society, came into effect on February 2, 2006. The main objective of this Act is to guarantee at least 100 days of employment per year to every rural household and provide a minimum wage. The Chief Minister stated that over the past 20 years, approximately 90 per cent of the beneficiaries of this scheme in the State have been from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes. Of these, 62 per cent were women. Dalits, tribals, persons with disabilities, and members of the most backward tribes, such as Adivasis and Chenchus, and other poor communities have benefited the most. The Chief Minister said that the new law jeopardises the employment guarantee for rural women and vulnerable sections of society who primarily depend on this scheme. The provisions that undermine the spirit of the old employment guarantee scheme will become a curse for the poor. The resolution states that the new law is against the rights of the poor as it undermines the original purpose of the Employment Guarantee Act. It has put an end to the system of preparing work plans according to demand. According to the resolution, the new law is against women labourers. In the currently implemented MGNREGA, approximately 62 per cent of the beneficiaries are women. The limited allocation system incorporated in the new law will reduce the number of workdays. Currently, the Central government fully funds the employment guarantee scheme. Changing the central-state funding ratio to 60:40 through the new law violates the spirit of federalism. This imposes an additional financial burden on the states. The old funding ratio model should be restored, demands the resolution. It also stated that removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from this scheme dilutes the spirit of Gandhi. The mandatory 60-day break during the agricultural season is unjust to landless, poor labourers. The employment guarantee scheme should be continued throughout the year, it added. The resolution states that currently, there is a provision for undertaking 266 types of work under the employment guarantee scheme. The removal of labour-intensive works such as land development in the new law will harm small and marginal farmers, Dalits, and tribals. New Delhi, Jan 2 : Ongoing actions on Imran Khan and his Pakistan TehreekaeaInsaaf (PTI) party may formally be seen as being initiated by the civilian govt, but the sustained operation points to a well-crafted design and execution; a campaign of legal, security, and institutional pressure designed and configured by the all-powerful army. New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) Ongoing actions on Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreeka'ea'Insaaf (PTI) party may formally be seen as being initiated by the civilian govt, but the sustained operation points to a well-crafted design and execution; a campaign of legal, security, and institutional pressure designed and configured by the all-powerful army. Pakistanas military has repeatedly overridden elected governments through coups, constitutional manipulation, and intelligencea'led political engineering. At present, the army has trained its guns on Imran Khan and his political party, including arrests, trials, and restrictions on party activity. Pakistanas history is marked by full military takeovers (1958, 1977, 1999), as well as periods of dominant military influence in politics, governance and foreign policy. The militaryas toolkit has included the removal of governments, the manipulation of party structures, intelligence operations against opponents, and legal or extraa'legal pressure on media and civil society. Institutional levers, including appointments, promotions, and control over security policy, have been used to institutionalise influence across successive governments. Interventions have taken place not only as direct coups, dismissal of assemblies, or states of emergency, but also as legal and administrative restrictions on parties and intelligencea'led political engineering. The Governora'Generalas dismissal of provincial and federal governments and the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in the early 1950s set an early precedent for extraa'constitutional removal of civilian authority and constrained party development. In October 1958, the military removed the civilian leadership, and General Ayub Khan assumed power, imposing martial law, suspending political partiesa normal operations and introducing a controlled political system that limited their influence. He was replaced by General Yahya Khan in 1969, who dissolved the then-existing political structures and postponed elections, a sequence that contributed to the 1971 crisis and the loss of East Pakistan. In another episode, General Zia ula'Haq overthrew Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in July 1977, imposed martial law, banned political activities for extended periods, and used legal and constitutional changes to weaken party structures and civil liberties. Throughout the 1990s, successive civilian governments were dismissed under constitutional provisions by presidents and governors, often with the military and intelligence establishment playing influential behinda'thea'scenes roles; party fragmentation and coa'optation were common. General Pervez Musharraf seized power in October 1999, and his removal of an elected government still hangs in the memories. He suspended parts of the constitution, introduced measures like emergency rule and judicial changes, holding back constitutional protections. He removed judges and curtailed party activities and media freedom. In recent times, since Imran Khanas ouster in April 2022, the relationship between PTI and the security establishment has deteriorated sharply. Following mass protests in May 2023, authorities launched a broad crackdown. Thousands of PTI activists were arrested, military courts and antia'terror laws were used against protesters, and party offices were raided. Imran Khan himself was arrested in August 2023 and has since faced multiple criminal convictions and sentences across several cases, including higha'profile graft and verdicts handed down in 2025. Courts have issued long prison terms; military and antia'terror tribunals have tried PTI supporters, and journalists and commentators linked to the movement have faced severe sentences, even in absentia. The campaign against PTI combined legal prosecution, administrative bans, and security operations to fragment the partyas organisational capacity and deter mass mobilisation. The use of military courts and antia'terror legislation to try civilians has raised concerns among rights groups about due process and the militarisation of law enforcement. At the same time, the armyas public posture a" desperately trying to portray itself as defending state institutions a" has been reinforced by episodes of confrontation with India and by higha'profile promotions that signal institutional consolidation. In the May 2023 unrest, attacks on military installations triggered mass prosecutions and military trials of alleged perpetrators. Imran Khanas multiple convictions and the 2025 Toshakhanaa'II sentence are emblematic of the legal pressure on PTI leadership. Meanwhile, journalists and social media figures linked to PTI have been sentenced in higha'profile cases, curbing dissenting voices. Jaipur, Jan 2 : Rajasthan Police on Friday arrested three smugglers and seized heroin valued at Rs 20 crore, which was being smuggled into Sri Ganganagar, an official said. The official said that the police arrested three smugglers and recovered 4.88 kg of heroin along with the drone. Sri Ganganagar Superintendent of Police (SP) Amrita Duhan disclosed the details of the smuggling operation during a press conference held at Gharsana police station on Friday. According to the SP, the heroin consignment was sent from Pakistan via drone, which crashed at the same location where the drugs were dropped. On the night of January 1, a police team from Rawla police station was conducting routine patrols when they spotted three youths behaving suspiciously near the 15 KND culvert on the canal bank. The suspects were carrying a plastic sack. On seeing the police vehicle, they attempted to flee but were quickly surrounded and apprehended. During the search, police recovered 4 kg 88 grams of heroin packed in three packets and a DJI drone. The arrested accused have been identified as Jagnadeep Singh alias Labbu Singh (26), a resident of Chak 10 K (Anupgarh); Neetu Singh alias Ravneet Singh (21), a resident of Dabli Rathan (Hanumangarh); and Satpal Singh (27), a resident of Chak 04 STR (Gharsana). Police said 1,019 grams of heroin were recovered from Jagnadeep Singh, 2,048 grams from Neetu Singh, and 1,021 grams from Satpal Singh. The drone used for cross-border smuggling was found in Satpalas possession. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against all three accused. Intensive interrogation is underway, and officials expect significant revelations regarding the smuggling network and cross-border links. With the assistance of the Border Security Force (BSF), a large-scale search operation is also being conducted in nearby fields, roads, and suspected hideouts. Following the seizure of such a large quantity of heroin, security agencies have been placed on high alert. In view of the growing use of drones for smuggling in border areas, surveillance and monitoring have been further intensified. On 02 January 2026, the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva handed over the relief supplies collected from Sri Lankan communities and friends across Switzerland to Dr. Sri Rasamanikkam, CEO of AERO Logistics in Zurich who has graciously undertaken to airlift these items to Colombo. These donations include high-pressure cleaning machines, sanitary items, clothing, household essentials, and childrens school bagspractical support that will make a real difference on the ground. Welcome to 2026. Now rinse out that champagne glass and pop some Advil because the tech industrys biggest show of the year, CES, kicks off on Tuesday under the bright lights of Las Vegas. Companies big and small will take over the famed Strip and Las Vegas Convention Center, debuting their latest and greatest offerings, and a good helping of fly-by-night products thatll never see the light of day. More from Yahoo Scout What major tech companies are presenting at CES 2026? What AI innovations will chipmakers showcase at CES? Why are robotics expected to dominate CES 2026? How is the auto industry incorporating AI at CES? While the show officially begins on Jan. 6, the festivities start a few days earlier with events like CES Unveiled and press conferences featuring Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang and AMD (AMD) CEO Lisa Su. And that means you can expect artificial intelligence to be front and center at the trade show. That will include everything from AI-focused PCs to new chips. But robots are looking like theyll steal the spotlight in 2026. Every year CES has a theme. And sometimes you don't know what it is until you get to the show, and everybody's talking about it explained Kinsey Fabrizio, president of the Consumer Technology Association trade organization, which runs CES. But we can tell you right now, robotics is going to be talked about big time at CES. Yahoo Finance will be live and in person in Vegas bringing you all of the latest news and announcements. Heres what were anticipating at CES 2026. What to expect at CES CES has become a kind of battleground for chipmakers and designers to show off their wares to the world right alongside their biggest rivals. Last year, Nvidia was the talk of Las Vegas when Huang held a keynote in front of a massive audience at the Michelob Ultra Arena, debuting the company's newest lineup of gaming chips, a desktop-sized AI rig, and a variety of AI software services and platforms. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addresses participants at the keynote of CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 6, 2025. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images This year, you can expect even more from the company that closed out 2025 with a $4.5 trillion market cap. Huang, who is scheduled to take the stage at 1:00 p.m. PT on Jan. 5 will likely unveil new gaming offerings, as well as a host of AI apps and capabilities. AMDs Su will then host her own keynote a few hours later at 6:30 p.m. PT, giving that companys rebuttal to Nvidias announcements and providing updates on its own gaming and AI products. Jim Johnson, Senior vice president and GM of Intel's (INTC) Client Computing Group, which covers sales of the companys chips for consumer and enterprise PCs, will also hold a keynote at CES 2026 where hes expected to provide updates on Intels Core Ultra Series 3, codenamed Panther Lake, chips. The processors, which Intel initially revealed in October, are the first to use the companys highly anticipated 18A chip technology, and are a key part of its broader turnaround effort. Bhopal, Jan 2 : Hours after issuing show cause notices, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday ordered the immediate suspension of two senior Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) officials and the transfer of the Municipal Commissioner in connection with the contaminated water tragedy in the Bhagirathpura area that has claimed several lives. Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisonia and in-charge Superintendent Engineer of the Public Health Department, Sanjeev Srivastava, have been suspended with immediate effect. Indore Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav has been transferred, officials said. Taking to social media platform X, Chief Minister Yadav stated, "The state government will not tolerate negligence in the incident that occurred in Bhagirathpura in Indore due to contaminated drinking water. Strict actions are being taken in the matter." The decisive action followed a high-level meeting chaired by CM Yadav at his official residence in Bhopal on Thursday, during which show cause notices were issued to the concerned civic officials. The tragedy in Indore's Bhagirathpura locality, where residents consumed contaminated drinking water leading to multiple deaths and illnesses, has triggered widespread outrage and criticism, including from within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti expressed strong anguish over the incident, describing it as a "shame" and "disgrace" for the entire state administration. In a series of posts on X, Bharti highlighted the irony, stating, "Indore has received awards for being the cleanest city in the country, such ugliness, filth and poisonous water that has swelled so many lives and death toll continues to rise every day." Without naming anyone, the veteran leader further criticised the handling of the crisis, saying, "Who is saying that our plan didnat work in Indore? And when you are not able to do anything, then why are you sitting and drinking Bisleri bottles? There is no explanation for such a sin." Uncertainty persists over the exact death toll due to the contaminated water supply in Bhagirathpura, with differing figures being cited by the state administration and Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav, adding to the controversy surrounding the incident. The suspensions and transfer mark the government's attempt to address public anger and demonstrate accountability amid mounting pressure for stringent action against those responsible for the civic lapse. Agartala, Jan 2 : Senior BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha member Tarun Vijay on Friday demanded the strictest punishment for those responsible for the killing of Tripura student Angel Chakma. Chakma, who was brutally assaulted in Dehradun, later succumbed to his injuries on December 26. BJP leader Vijay met the bereaved family of Angel Chakma at their residence in Machmara village of Unakoti district and expressed his condolences. Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA final-year student from Machmara, was allegedly attacked by a racist mob in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on December 9. After battling for his life for 18 days at a hospital, he died on December 26. Strongly condemning the incident, the former MP said the culprits must be awarded exemplary punishment for their "dastardly act", asserting that it would set a precedent and deter similar crimes in the future. Vijay said he had met Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu and Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday and added that the Tripura Chief Minister has held discussions with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on several occasions regarding the case. He also said that Angel Chakma's younger brother, Michael Chakma, should be provided a job in the Tripura government to ensure financial stability for the family. "The deceased was the hope of the family. Providing employment to his younger brother has become imperative, and sincere efforts will be made in this direction," Vijay said. The BJP leader further proposed the setting up of a special Northeast cell within the Uttarakhand Police to address cases of racial abuse and discrimination. BJP leader Vijay said his sole objective in meeting the family was to share their pain and express solidarity on behalf of the people of Uttarakhand. Protests have been held almost every day in Uttarakhand following the incident. Angel Chakma, who belonged to the Chakma tribal community, was allegedly attacked by a group of miscreants who hurled racial slurs at him. He was the son of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan. Meanwhile, BJP ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP) leader Rajeshwar Debbarma said the party is demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrators and the invocation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. TMP supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, criticising the Uttarakhand government and police, alleged that attempts were being made to dilute the racial nature of the crime. "The attackers branded Angel as 'Chinki', 'Chinese' and 'Momo' and brutally assaulted him, even as his father, a BSF soldier, was guarding the borders and protecting the country," Pradyot Debbarma said in a video message. The incident sparked widespread outrage across the Northeastern region, with Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha and Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, and several organisations condemning the assault as a "horrific hate crime". Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Tripura Congress President Ashish Kumar Saha, the National People's Party, the North East Students' Organisation (NESO), the All India Chakma Students' Union (AICSU), the Manipuri Students' Federation, the Tripura Tribal Students' Union, and several other organisations also condemned the killing and demanded strict punishment for those involved. Aizawl, Jan 2 : Assam Rifles have highly addictive methamphetamine tablets valued at over Rs 33.18 crore by arresting a drug peddler on Friday, officials said. A defence spokesman said that acting on credible intelligence inputs related to narcotics trafficking near India-Myanmar border, Assam Rifles conducted joint operation with Mizoram Police at Kaifang areas of Saitual district in Mizoram on Friday. During the operation, unusual movement was detected near the suspected location, he said. A swift and thorough search resulted in recovery of 11.062 kg of Methamphetamine tablets, a psychotropic substance with an estimated international market value of Rs 33.186 crore. The seized contraband and a vehicle were handed over to Mizoram Police for detailed investigation and further legal action. The drug peddler, identified as Hasan Ali, resident of Badarpur district in southern Assam was also apprehended in the operation and he was also handed over to Mizoram police for taking legal action under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985. The methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba or party tablets, containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine, also called the acrazy druga, are banned in India. The swift and decisive action by Assam Rifles is a testament to their steadfast commitment and vigilance in curbing drug trafficking activities, an Assam Rifles statement said. It said that this operation reinforces the ongoing collective efforts to protect the youth of Mizoram from harmful effects of narcotics and maintain peace and security in the region. Mizoram shares 510 km and 318 km unfenced border with Myanmar and Bangladesh, respectively. Myanmar's Chin state is a hub for the smuggling of varied drugs, exotic wildlife animals and many other contraband through six Mizoram districts -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual and Serchhip. Business Deuce Studio Drives Breakthrough Rebrand for White Rabbit Pizza Co, Delivering Major Retail Wins and Category-Beating Growth London, UK Deuce Studio, a London-based branding and design agency, has successfully led the rebrand of White Rabbit Pizza Co, a dedicated gluten-free Italian food manufacturer, helping the brand secure major new retail listings and achieve rapid post-launch growth. Founded with a clear mission to create gluten-free pizzas that are genuinely delicious not merely good for gluten-free White Rabbit Pizza Co has always challenged the compromises typically associated with free-from food. However, as the brand matured, it became clear that its visual identity and brand positioning no longer reflected the quality, ambition, or mainstream appeal of the product itself. Deuce Studio was appointed to deliver a full rebrand, designed to elevate White Rabbit Pizza Co from a niche gluten-free option to a confident, premium challenger brand capable of competing head-to-head with traditional pizza products. The rebrand focused on clarifying the brands purpose, sharpening its Italian food credentials, and creating a visual identity that communicated taste, craft, and credibility without leaning on tired free-from cues. The result was a brand that appealed equally to gluten-free consumers and shoppers simply looking for great-tasting pizza. The impact of the rebrand has been immediate and commercially significant. Following the relaunch, White Rabbit Pizza Co secured two major new stockist wins with Tesco and Morrisons, dramatically widening the brands national distribution and placing it in front of a far broader consumer audience. These listings mark a major milestone for the business and validate the strength of the new brand positioning at retail level. In addition to expanded distribution, the rebrand has driven strong financial performance. Since relaunch, White Rabbit Pizza Co has achieved 25% growth, outperforming the wider gluten-free category by a factor of five. At a time when the category itself continues to grow steadily, White Rabbits accelerated performance highlights the power of strategic branding to unlock commercial momentum. Speaking on the project, Deuce Studio commented that the goal was never to simply refresh the brand, but to fundamentally reposition it. White Rabbit already had a brilliant product and a clear point of view. Our job was to make sure the brand did it justice to help it stand confidently on shelf, speak to a wider audience, and support ambitious retail growth. The results speak for themselves. The rebrand demonstrates how thoughtful, strategy-led design can act as a catalyst for real business outcomes, particularly in competitive FMCG categories where differentiation is critical. White Rabbit Pizza Cos success story reinforces the idea that gluten-free no longer needs to be framed as a compromise. With the right brand foundations in place, it can compete and win on taste, quality, and desirability alone. ENDS About Deuce Studio Deuce Studio Brand Design Agency London based, is well known as a branding and design agency working with ambitious brands to create clarity, distinction, and commercial impact through strategy-led creative. About White Rabbit Pizza Co White Rabbit Pizza Co is a dedicated gluten-free bakery, founded to make pizzas that are genuinely delicious, proving that gluten-free food doesnt have to settle for second best. Deuce Studio Contact Us: 020 7459 4943 info@deucestudio.com Address: 116 Pill Box, 115 Coventry Road, London, E2 6GG Technology CEO Eygpt & Dubai, UAE - October 15, 2025 MenuRqmi and FasterCapital announced a strategic partnership today under FasterCapitals Equitypilot program to accelerate deployment of MenuRqmis integrated Restaurant Management System across the MENA region. The collaboration targets Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Gulf markets, leveraging FasterCapitals capital, mentorship and gotomarket resources to scale the solution rapidly to thousands of restaurants. Market opportunity & problem The Middle East restaurant market is large and rapidly digitizing, with an estimated TAM of 297,000 restaurants and a SAM of 175,000 across key markets. Operators face fragmented technology stacks, costly POS solutions, and limited digital menu/mobile app options creating inefficiencies in ordering, table management and customer engagement. Competitive offerings often separate digital menus, POS, and apps, leaving a white space for a unified, private-appcentric platform that reduces costs and operational complexity. Startup solution & differentiation MenuRqmi delivers the first allinone system combining a digital menu, builtin POS and a private mobile app for each restaurantenabling unlimited menu items, QR codes and tablet devices per location. The platform reduces setup time and perbranch costs while improving order accuracy and customer retention. Early commercial models project ARR potential across a 35,000restaurant SOM, with packaged pricing (Basic, Pro, Advanced) aligned for scalability. MenuRqmis defensible position comes from delivering a turnkey private app per restaurant and tightly integrated POS features currently unmet by incumbents. FasterCapital partnership value Through the Equitypilot program, FasterCapital provides tailored seed capital, product and UX mentorship, cloud and dev resources, introductions to regional channel partners and fundraising support. FasterCapitals selective vetting and portfolio track record validate MenuRqmis productmarket fit and accelerate commercialization. The collaboration targets measurable milestones over 1218 months: pilot rollouts in Riyadh and Dubai, platform localization, and channel expansion across GCC and Egypt. Executive quotes Hesham Zreik: We invest in teams solving industry pain points with scalable tech and clear unit economics. MenuRqmis integrated approach addresses a major gap in hospitality tech and aligns with our Equitypilot thesis rapid productization and regional scale, said Hesham Zreik, Investment Lead at FasterCapital. Mostafa Yassin, CEO of MenuRqmi, said: This partnership fasttracks our mission to give every restaurant a private branded app plus POS and digital menu at a fraction of current costs. FasterCapitals operational support and investor network will help us reach thousands of branches across MENA, improve margins for operators, and elevate guest experiences. Growth trajectory & future plans Nearterm priorities include completing pilots in Riyadh and Jeddah, completing Arabic and English localization, expanding sales partnerships in the UAE and Kuwait, and launching a reseller program. MenuRqmi expects to raise a seed round within 912 months to fund product development and market expansion, targeting 35,000 serviceable restaurants within three years. About MenuRqmi MenuRqmi is a restaurant technology company offering an integrated Restaurant Management System that bundles a digital menu, built-in POS and a private mobile app for each restaurant. Founded to simplify operations and lower digitization costs, MenuRqmi targets restaurants across GCC and Egypt to drive efficiency and revenue growth CEO: Mostafa Yassin About FasterCapital FasterCapital is a global venture builder and online incubator dedicated to co-funding and co-founding innovative startups. Established in 2014, we are now #1 venture builder in terms of the number of startups that we have helped, money invested and money raised. It supports startups worldwide through various programs, including funding assistance, business development, and technical support. The Equitypilot program is designed to help early-stage startups build scalable solutions with mentorship, strategic guidance, and network support. Arts Composer Saeed Zarei Karyani Announces New Musical Projects and Upcoming Releases Saeed Zarei Karyani, an emerging composer and music producer, has officially announced the upcoming release of a new collection of musical works. The project, which has been in development over the past several months, features a diverse range of compositions that showcase his evolving style in contemporary music. Karyanis latest work focuses on the intersection of [Insert Genre, e.g., Neoclassical and Electronic] elements, prioritizing intricate arrangements and high-fidelity sound design. As a composer, Karyani has taken a meticulous approach to this project, overseeing every stage of production from initial melodic sketches to the final mastering process. Artistic Vision and Production In this new series of releases, Karyani emphasizes the importance of emotional resonance and technical precision. Speaking on the production process, he noted that the objective was to create a soundscape that bridges the gap between traditional instrumentation and modern synthesis. The upcoming releases are expected to be available on all major global streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Key Highlights: Instagram / Haley Ferguson The Bachelor alum Haley Ferguson has announced she and husband Oula Palve are expecting their second child together. As of December 2025, new laws came into effect making Hainan a separate customs zone and consolidating a favorable regulatory environment in the southernmost province of China. The move contrasts with the current global trend of protectionism, as many countries move to tighten trade rules and investment controls. Hainan is now effectively the world's largest free trade port by area. Encompassing over 35,000 square kilometers, it is roughly fifty times bigger than Singapore and even slightly bigger than Belgium. China is attempting to offer a solution for the "growing uncertainties in the global economy" and trying to replicate the success of Singapore, with a free trade port the size of a European nation. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the launch of "special customs operations" is not merely a policy tweak but a fundamental restructuring of how the island province interacts with international markets. The unique framework, instituted by the Chinese Communist Party, could make Hainan the most business-friendly jurisdiction in the world. Related This is not the first time the state-led economy, described as a socialist market economy, takes a page from the capitalist playbook to boost its global dominance. Special economic zones (SEZs) have been successfully implemented in China since the late 1970s, as part of the countrys economic open-door policy. These SEZs allow Beijing to experiment with capitalist mechanisms, in limited areas, while maintaining broader state control over the economy. In 2020, the CCP unveiled a comprehensive plan to shift Hainan from a mere special economic zone to a strategic hub designed to rival Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. Creating a completely separate trade and investment system for the province was the objective until the end of 2025. Going forward, the party projects that Hainan will reach "institutional maturity" by 2035 and achieve a strong global influence by the middle of the century. First line open, second line controlled The province comprises Hainan Island and various smaller islands in the South China Sea, and now operates under a two-line customs system designed for greater openness while maintaining domestic security. The first line marks the boundary between Hainan and the global economy, where most trade barriers have been removed. Under the new legislation, the majority of goods can enter the province freely, with a significantly expanded list of zero-tariff imports covering raw materials, equipment and consumer products. With 7.64 million seats, the Mumbai-Delhi route in 2025 was the eighth busiest route in the world. Photograph: ANI Photo It is among the top 10 busiest routes in the world in terms of the number of seats and flights. And it is on this lucrative route that the Air India group, which came from behind, has overtaken IndiGo -- the airline that lords over the Indian skies with a 65 per cent share of the aviation sweepstakes -- to grab the top slot. The intense competition has also helped push airfares down on the route in 2025 compared with the previous year. According to the latest data from aviation analytics firm OAG, with 7.64 million seats, the Mumbai-Delhi route in 2025 was the eighth busiest route in the world, bigger than the likes of Beijing-Shanghai Hongqiao. Not only that, in 2025, according to OAG global research, there were only eight domestic routes in the world that had an average daily frequency of 100 or more flights a day, or simply more than four flights every hour. Doing the honours on this list was just one route from India, between Mumbai and Delhi. It ranked seventh in the pecking order, with as many as 107 flights being deployed on the route on an average day. The sheer volume potential on this route has led to tough competition, with the Air India group (Air India and Air India Express) successfully challenging IndiGo's domination. According to data from Cirium, in December 2025, with 341,202 seats on the route, Air India and Air India Express together controlled over 48.8 per cent of the capacity. In contrast, IndiGo was in second spot, with a 38.8 per cent share and 271,052 seats. The remaining capacity is deployed mainly by Akasa Air and SpiceJet. In contrast, IndiGo trimmed its capacity in December by 6,820 seats. The Air India group has clearly pushed the pedal on the Mumbai-Delhi route by doubling the number of Air India Express flights from 63 in December 2024 to 124, and by adding another 46 Air India flights on the route. Even airlines like Akasa Air have upped the ante -- increasing seat capacity by over 33 per cent in December over the previous year -- while SpiceJet raised capacity by 23 per cent. What is interesting is that the growing competition has helped bring down airfares. OAG research reckons that average airfares on this route were at $66 in 2025, dropping by 7 per cent from 2024 levels due to the intensity of competition. However, aviation experts say demand on this route -- which connects the commercial capital with the administrative capital -- still provides scope for more capacity. Mumbai, however, has been constrained by the fact that the Adani-run Mumbai International Airport was capacity-limited and, in fact, lost its No 2 position in terms of flyers carried to Bengaluru this year. But with the new Navi Mumbai airport up and running (also under the Adani group), the route is expected to see many more flight deployments from the summer season. High-flying battle With 7.64 million seats in 2025, Mumbai-Delhi was the eighth busiest route in the world It is the only route in India with an average of over 100 flights a day; there are only eight domestic routes globally in this category The Air India group now has the largest seat capacity on this route; IndiGo is at No. 2. Akasa has expanded capacity by 33 per cent Intense competition has seen average airfares fall by 7 per cent in 2025 over the previous year Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff 'The first time India has seen two consecutive blockbuster IPO years.' Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff India's initial public offering, or IPO, market has entered a whole new orbit. Consider this: Nearly Rs 3.4 trillion has been mobilised through mainboard IPOs -- large, mature companies going public for the first time -- in just the past two years (2024-2025). That's more than half of the Rs 6 trillion raised in the 35-year period between 1989 and 2023. What's more, the juggernaut shows little sign of slowing. Companies have filed draft papers for IPOs worth Rs 3.5 trillion, excluding mega issues from Reliance Jio, Flipkart, and the National Stock Exchange, which are expected this year. Another $1 billion-plus (about Rs 8,979 crore) listing may include PhonePe, Manipal Hospitals, and Zepto. Investment bankers now see annual mobilisation of Rs 1.5 trillion to Rs 2 trillion as the new normal. This boom has defied bouts of market volatility, pull-out by foreign investors, a weakening rupee, and even underwhelming listings. The primary market appears unstoppable. "We expect foreign investors to add to the strong domestic institutional flow in 2026, driving India's IPO volumes to exceed the record levels of the last two years," says Sunil Khaitan, head of India Financing Group, Goldman Sachs, adding, "There will be several multi-billion-dollar IPOs across financial services, consumer, and technology-focused sectors." What's driving the frenzy Analysts attribute the IPO enthusiasm to a deepening equity culture, the steady channelling of household savings into markets -- estimated at over Rs 5 trillion annually -- and sustained faith in India's growth story. Companies from a wide mix of sectors -- renewable energy, financial services, consumer goods, industrial manufacturing, and technology -- tapped investors this year, reflecting both breadth and depth in the deal flow. "This has been a great year for the primary market," says Neha Agarwal, managing director and head of equity capital markets at JM Financial, an investment banking firm. "The IPO rush has been driven by entrepreneurial energy, investor appetite, and abundant institutional liquidity." According to her, investors have grown more discerning. "They now back companies with credible governance and scalable business models. The focus is shifting from listing-day pops to long-term wealth creation." Domestic liquidity supercycle A defining theme of 2025 was the rise of domestic institutional investors (DIIs) as foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turned sellers. "The IPO market's strength was anchored by a domestic liquidity supercycle," says Om Ghawalkar, market analyst at Share.Market, a stock broking and investment platform from PhonePe Wealth. "Sustained mutual fund inflows created a deep reservoir of capital that supported new issues, regardless of global volatility." Data from the Association of Mutual Funds of India (Amfi) shows equity mutual funds drew net inflows of Rs 3.22 trillion in the first 11 months of 2025, complemented by steady deployment from pension and insurance funds and direct retail flows. "DIIs have been a key stabiliser for both primary and secondary markets," says Abhinav Bharti, head of India equity capital markets at JPMorgan. "Beyond mutual funds, insurance companies and pension funds are now exerting far more influence than ever before." Even FPIs, despite selling in the secondary market, participated selectively in IPOs -- a sign of confidence in the quality of issuances, says Pranjal Srivastava, partner-Investment Banking at Centrum Capital, a financial services group. According to Prime Database, which is focused on capital markets, nearly 250 draft red herring prospectuses were filed with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) this year. Together, these were worth over Rs 3.4 trillion, compared with 157 filings in 2024, aggregating Rs 2.8 trillion. The filings of 2024-2025 together are poised to feed a strong 2026 pipeline. "New-age tech firms are driving much of the momentum, with about 20 startups preparing to go public," says Bharti. From lull to frenzy The year didn't start strong. "In early 2025 -- around March and April -- there was barely any IPO activity," says Pranav Haldea, managing director, Prime Database. "Volatility from late 2024, triggered by tariff-related worries, had dampened sentiment. The revival began only after May as markets stabilised." Smaller issuers tested the waters first, paving the way for larger ones. By mid-year, mega deals from consumption and financial sectors reignited momentum, making the second half one of the most active in India's capital market history. "This is the first time India has seen two consecutive blockbuster IPO years," Haldea says. "Earlier, a strong IPO year was usually followed by a long lull. That cycle seems to have been broken." A sophisticated market Regulatory tightening by Sebi on disclosures, governance norms, and valuations ensures that only credible, scaled-up companies now reach the market. "Unlike the 1990s or early 2000s, when weak and opaque issuers dominated, the quality of supply today is far more robust," Haldea says. The market now comprises a mix of family businesses deleveraging, startups offering investor exits, and multinationals deepening their India play. Investors -- institutional and retail alike -- enjoy more diverse choices, even as valuation discipline tightens. Uneven but resilient returns Despite record fundraising, IPO returns were mixed. Some marquee names -- Meesho, LG Electronics, and Groww -- delivered strong post-listing performance, while several mid-sized firms traded below issue price. "Even as small- and midcap stocks faltered, listing gains kept investors engaged," says Centrum's Srivastava. The mature retail investors are, however, beginning to look beyond grey-market hype. "Fomo (fear of missing out) still drives oversubscriptions," Ghawalkar says. "But lock-in expiries next year may test liquidity. Understanding why a company is raising funds will be key." Retail revolution If there is one force that defines India's IPO era, it is retail participation. Roughly 15 to 20 per cent of Indian households now invest in equities or mutual funds -- still far lower than Brazil's 40 to 45 per cent or the US's 50 to 60 per cent, implying ample headroom for growth. Retail participation in IPOs has doubled since 2019, with marquee issues drawing a million applications at ease. The ubiquity of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and digital trading platforms allows for IPO subscriptions in a matter of seconds. This "financialisation of savings" has created a virtuous cycle -- IPO exits provide liquidity to early investors, which, in turn, fuels fresh startup funding and a self-sustaining pipeline of issuers. While the IPO boom is seen extending, experts caution against letting exuberance get ahead of fundamentals. "If valuation discipline and issuer quality remain intact," says Haldea, "the next five years could be a golden era for India's primary market." Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Kindly note that this image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo Security agencies in Kerala have arrested a 25-year-old man from Assam on suspicion of using social media platforms to spread extremist ideology, raising concerns over online radicalisation and cross-border links. The arrest was made within the jurisdiction of the Kaipamangalam police station in Thrissur district. The Assam native has been been living in the area for nearly two years and was employed with a private firm. Police said he was taken into custody following specific intelligence inputs and a preliminary verification of his online activities. Investigators allege that the man had shared posts on social media that promoted religious hatred and showed an inclination towards extremist and terrorist ideology. Police claim that he was in contact with individuals based outside India, including Bangladesh, through phone calls and multiple social media platforms. During initial investigations, officials further alleged that digital and technical analysis revealed attempts by the man to procure AK-47 rifles from Pakistan. Authorities said this information emerged after examining electronic data following his arrest. Police have seized electronic devices from the man and are conducting a detailed analysis to ascertain the nature and extent of his online activities, his overseas contacts, and any possible links to extremist networks. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India, said governing authorities have the responsibility to control religious fanatics, while condemning recent attacks against Christians across the country. IMAGE: Supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India Baselios Marthoma Mathews III. Photograph: Courtesy Facebook. Speaking at an event held at a church in Karukachal here on Thursday, the Church head said there was an urgent need for sensitisation against frequent attacks on religious minorities, allegedly by organisations such as Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which he described as feeder organisations of the RSS. "After attacks on nuns and priests, and on Christmas celebrations outside churches, it is only a matter of time before attacks occur inside. We must be prepared for even prayers within churches to come under attack," he said. He said all religions convey messages of truth, justice and love, but every religion also has fanatics. "In any country, it is the responsibility of the governing authorities to control such religious fanatics, irrespective of the community or religion they belong to," he said. Referring to constitutional provisions, Mathews said the Indian Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to follow and practise their religion. "There is no difference between majority and minority religions in this regard. All religions have equal rights to exist, to be followed, practised and propagated," he said. He added that the Constitution also gives all religions the right to construct places of worship and practise their faith freely. "When those governing the country do not raise their voice or condemn such incidents, Christians and other minorities will view it as part of a larger plan. Silence will be seen as tacit approval of these acts," he said. The Church head likened slogans branding Christianity as a foreign religion in India to US President Donald Trump's slogan that America is for Americans. "When people claim that 80 per cent of Indians are Hindus and that other religions should not be allowed to exist, those who know history understand the misconception behind such arguments," he said. Leaders of the Christian community condemned various attacks held during the Christmas season, including the arrest of a CSI priest in Maharashtra. UDF and LDF political fronts also raised concerns about the attacks, demanding action from the central government. Meanwhile, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar met Baselios Marthoma Mathews III at the Orthodox Church headquarters in Kottayam on Friday morning. He was accompanied by BJP leaders Anoop Antony and Shone George. The leaders arrived at the headquarters around 10.30 am and left after the meeting at about 11 am. A disturbing video showing an on-duty woman constable being assaulted and having her clothes torn during an anti-mining protest in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district has surfaced on social media, triggering outrage. Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident so far, and efforts are being made to identify others involved in the crime, police said on Friday. The incident took place on December 27 in the Tamnar block when a protest by residents of 14 villages against a coal mining project turned violent. According to police, a woman constable was left alone among the mob in a field, where she was assaulted. In the video that surfaced on social media on Thursday, the constable is seen lying on the ground, crying and pleading for mercy as two men rip her clothes off and question her presence at the protest site. She is heard crying continuously with folded hands and repeatedly requesting them to let her go. "Don't tear, bhai. I will not do anything. I did not hit anyone," she says. One of the accused is seen pulling her torn clothes, while another films the assault and later threatens her with a sandal and screams at her. Two of the alleged molesters, both local residents, were arrested and, based on their statements and digital evidence, more people involved in the incident are being identified, Inspector General of Police, Bilaspur Range, Sanjeev Shukla said. The accused have been booked on charges of molestation, attempt to murder, loot and other offences, he said, adding that further investigation is underway. A blurred video of the assault was shared on Facebook by the All India Mahila Congress on Friday. The video of a female police constable being assaulted and having her clothes torn in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, is extremely disturbing. If even female police officers are not safe, what hope is there for ordinary citizens? 'It is clear that the double-engine BJP government has completely failed on the fronts of women's safety and law and order," it wrote. State Congress communication head Sushil Anand Shukla described the episode as horrifying and shameful, and said the government must introspect on why anger against the police and administration was growing among the masses. He claimed people were losing faith in the system. Clashes broke out last week between police and locals near Libra village where the latter had been protesting since December 12, demanding cancellation of the public hearing held for the proposed Gare Pelma Sector-I coal block allotted to Jindal Power Limited. The locals fear loss of livelihood, community displacement and other difficulties due to mining in the area. Several policemen, including two officials, were injured after protesters allegedly resorted to stone-pelting. The mob allegedly set ablaze a police bus, a jeep and an ambulance, besides damaging several other government vehicles. Protesters also stormed the coal handling plant of Jindal Power near Libra village and torched a conveyor belt, two tractors and other vehicles, while vandalising office premises. Villagers had claimed that the situation turned tense after police attempted to remove protesters from the demonstration site. During the violence, a group of women allegedly assaulted Station House Officer of Tamnar police station Kamla Pusam, causing her injuries. A day after the violence, the Raigarh administration said it had initiated the cancellation process of the public hearing held for the project. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country, wherein highly-educated people are engaging in anti-social and anti-national activities. IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visits DRDO headquarter on the occasion of 68th Foundation Day, in New Delhi, January 1, 2026. Photograph: PIB Photo Gallery/ANI Photo Singh pointed at the November 10 car bomb blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, where the perpetrators were found to be doctors. "Today, an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country. Highly-educated people are working against society and the country," Singh said at the 104th foundation day event of Bhupal Nobles' University in Udaipur. "The perpetrators of the (Delhi) bomb blast were doctors -- those who write 'Rx' on prescriptions, yet have RDX in their hands. This highlights the need for knowledge to be accompanied by values and character," the defence minister said. The purpose of education is not only professional success but also the development of morality, ethics and human character, he said. The explosives-laden i20 car that detonated outside the Red Fort on November 10, killing 15 people, was driven by Dr Umar-un-Nabi. The probe unravelled a 'white-collar' terror module, leading to the arrests of three doctors -- Muzammil Ganai, Adeel Rather and Shaheena Saeed -- among others. Singh also said that many defence startups are doing remarkable work in the country. "I am confident that in the next 15-20 years, India will become fully self-reliant in weapons," the defence minister said. He also said that artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies are transforming people's lives and work, and they must be used positively to drive India's development. India is the world's fourth-largest economy, which is on track to become the third-largest by 2030, Singh said, noting that universities have a big role to play in this journey. He also emphasised the importance of understanding the delicate balance between self-respect and ego, and urged people not to cross the fine line between the two. "While the feeling of self-respect is important, it should never transform into arrogance," Singh said. 'The sleeper variant is designed for long-distance journeys, with modern berths, improved interiors and enhanced safety features.' IMAGE: A view of the prototype rake of a Vande Bharat Sleeper during a trial run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central railway station. Photographs: ANI Photo The New Year has brought another major boost for Assam, with the country's first Vande Bharat sleeper train set to operate from Guwahati to Kolkata, strengthening long-distance rail connectivity from the north east. The sleeper version of the Vande Bharat Express will run between Guwahati and Howrah. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the train in the coming days, with the inauguration likely around January 17-18, railway sources said. Officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway said the Guwahati-Kolkata sector was selected keeping in mind high passenger demand and the need for a comfortable overnight travel option. "This will be the first Vande Bharat sleeper service in the country, and Guwahati has been chosen as the originating station considering the strategic and passenger importance of the north east," a Northeast Frontier Railway official said. Another railway official said the new train would significantly enhance passenger comfort. "The sleeper variant is designed for long-distance journeys, with modern berths, improved interiors and enhanced safety features. It will offer a premium yet practical option for overnight travel between Assam and Kolkata," the official said. Fares for the service are expected to be competitive. The 3AC fare from Guwahati to Howrah is likely to be around Rs 2,300, including food. The 2AC fare may be approximately Rs 3,000, while First AC tickets are expected to cost around Rs 3,600. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the development and expressed his gratitude to the Centre. 'I express my gratitude to Adarniya @narendramodiji for approving India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Guwahati-Kolkata which will greatly cater to passengers of both states,' Sarma posted on X. Once operational, the train is expected to be a game-changer for passengers travelling between Assam and eastern India, further cementing Guwahati's role as the rail hub of the region. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Three students of a government college in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala have been booked for ragging and voluntarily causing hurt, while a professor has been booked for sexual harassment of a 19-year-old student who died on December 26, the police said on Friday. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The student died during treatment at a Ludhiana hospital on December 26 and the case was registered on Thursday following a complaint by the father of the victim. In his complaint, the deceased student's father alleged that his daughter was beaten by three seniors, Harshita, Aakriti and Komolika, on September 18, 2025, while a college professor, Ashok Kumar, indulged in obscene acts with her. Due to the beating and harassment, the student was hospitalised and died during treatment, the complaint said. The father of the deceased woman alleged that following these incidents, his daughter went into severe mental stress and fear, leading to a rapid deterioration in her health. He said the complaint could not be lodged earlier as his daughter was traumatised and had to be hospitalised. A case under sections 75 (sexual harassment), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 3(5) (common intention) of BNS and Section 3 of Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of) Ragging Act 2009 has been registered and investigations are underway, the police said. Confirming that a case has been registered, Kangra superintendent of police Ashok Ratan said that all the allegations are being thoroughly investigated. Medical records, video evidence and statements of all concerned are being examined, he said. The case gained momentum after a video allegedly recorded by the student before her death went viral on social media. In the video, the victim accused the professor of indecent acts, mental harassment and intimidation when she protested against his behaviour. The police said that a complaint was initially received through the Chief Minister's Sankalp Seva Helpline and an investigation team but the student's statement could not be recorded as she was unwell at the time. The police later recorded the statement of the victim's father. Preliminary investigations by the police pointed out that the deceased student was enrolled in the college in 2024. She allegedly faced ragging by some students and failed her BA first year examination. She subsequently stopped attending college after the results were declared in July 2025. Her name was struck off the college rolls on August 21, 2025. She is believed to have visited the college again in September seeking admission, where she was informed that she would be admitted to the second year only if she cleared the re-evaluation, failing which she would have to re-enrol in the first year. Meanwhile, the accused professor has denied all allegations levelled against him. Some teachers have come in support of the professor. He said that the student had studied under him in a previous academic session and was not his student in the current session. ABVP state secretary Nancy Atal said that the accused should be brought to book to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has written a note for activist Umar Khalid, recalling his words on 'bitterness' and the importance of not letting it consume one's self. IMAGE: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Photograph: Dave Sanders/Pool via Reuters The note was posted on X by Khalid's partner Banojyotsna Lahiri. 'When prisons try to isolate, words travel. Zohran Mamdani writes to Umar Khalid,' the caption accompanying the note said. 'Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume one's self. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you,' the handwritten note signed by Mamdani said. Khalid and few others have been booked under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly being the 'masterminds' of the February 2020 Delhi riots, which left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured. Meanwhile, a group of US lawmakers has written to Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra urging that Khalid be granted bail and a 'fair, timely trial in accordance with international law'. US Representatives Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin are among eight lawmakers who wrote to Kwatra expressing 'our continued concern regarding the prolonged pre-trial detention of individuals charged in connection with the February 2020 violence in Delhi', including Khalid. 'The US and India share a long standing strategic partnership that has historically been rooted in democratic values, constitutional governance and strong people-to-people ties,' the letter said adding that as the world's largest democracies, both nations have an interest in protecting and upholding freedom, the rule of law, human rights and pluralism. 'It is in this spirit' that the lawmakers said they are raising their concerns regarding Khalid's detention. The lawmakers claimed that human rights organisations, legal experts and global media have raised questions about the fairness of the investigation and legal process related to Khalid's detention. He 'has been detained without bail for five years for charges levied under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which independent human rights experts have warned may contravene international standards of equality before the law, due process and proportionality'. The US Representatives further added that they understand that these matters are presently under consideration before the Supreme Court of India and welcomed the news that Khalid received temporary bail to attend his sister's wedding. They urged that Khalid be granted bail and released for the duration of the court's proceedings. "With respect for India's democratic institutions and its role as a key partner of the US, we request that your Government share the steps being taken to ensure that the judicial proceedings against Khalid and those of his co-accused who remain in detention comport with international standards," the lawmakers said. In early December, the 2025 updates of Chinas National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) were finalised with a total of 114 drugs, including Western drugs and traditional Chinese medicines, being newly introduced. Among the newly listed products, 50 are Class 1 innovative drugs, meaning that they have not been marketed anywhere in the world before receiving marketing authorisation in China. Apart from the NRDL annual update, the most significant change is the introduction of the countrys first Commercial Insurance Innovative Drug List, which includes a total of 19 high-cost innovative drugs targeting diseases across cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and rare genetic disorders. The 2025 NRDL and the Commercial Insurance Innovative Drug List will take effect from 1 January 2026. In Nation Healthcare Security Administrations (NHSAs) announcement for the 2025 NRDL, the governments support for improving the accessibility of innovative drugs with significant clinical value was highlighted. Unlike previous annual NRDL updates, the NHSA did not disclose the average price reduction rate on the price for the newly listed drugs. This may mark a turning point for Chinas drug reimbursement policy, as lowering drug costs would not be weighted as significantly as it was for the NHSA to form the countrys medical health insurance benefit packages. This tendency can be observed in public drug procurement as well. In the 11th round of the centralised drug procurement scheme, the National Joint Drug Procurement Office stated that the winning bids were decided based on a comprehensive evaluation that takes drug quality, price, stable supply, and clinical needs into account, instead of highly prioritising products with the lowest costs. As a result, the average price gap between winning bids became smaller. Imported drugs with a high number of domestic competitors still face barriers to being listed on the NRDL. For example, no imported PD-1 inhibitors have been listed on the NRDL and the Commercial Insurance Innovative Drug List. The director of the Medical Services Management Department of the NHSA, Huang Xinyu, explained that there are about 10 PD-1 inhibitors listed on the NRDL. The primary reason that no new PD-1 inhibitor was added to the 2025 NRDL is due to very high price. Imported drugs without, or with limited, domestic competitors have made progress and are more likely to be listed on the NRDL. These include Eli Lilly's (US) Jaypirca (pirtobrutinib) as the only non-covalent (reversible) Brutons tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor available in China for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and AstraZenecas (UK) Fasenra (benralizumab) as the only available interleukin (IL)-5 Receptor alpha (IL-5R) to deplete eosinophils (EOS) in severe asthma. Notably, Eli Lillys GLP-1/GIP agonist Mounjaro (tirzepatide) was added to the NRDL for type 2 diabetes. Its competitor, Novo Nordisks (Denmark) Ozempic (semaglutide), was already listed on the 2023 NRDL for the same indication. Based on an administration notification issued by the NHSA in 2020, named Temporary Measures for Basic Medical Insurance Drug Management, the NRDL should not include treatments for lifestyle purposes, including weight loss. Therefore, patients would need to seek private health insurance, if any, for the reimbursement of the two active ingredients to be used for weight loss. Under fire over the death of at least four persons due to water contamination in Bhagirathpura area in Indore, the Madhya Pradesh government on Friday shunted out the Indore municipal commissioner and suspended two senior officials. IMAGE: Youth Congress workers stage a protest against Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya over the deaths and hospitalisation of people due to suspected water contamination in Indore, at Lower Lake, in Bhopal, January 2, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo The health crisis was now under control due to the emergency measures taken, and there was "no abnormal increase in fresh cases," the BJP government told the High Court earlier in the day. In a post on X following a review meeting on the issue, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said his government will not tolerate any laxity which might have led to the tragedy, and strict action was being taken. He had ordered the "removal" (transfer) of municipal commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav, and the suspension of additional municipal commissioner Rohit Sissoniya and in-charge superintendent engineer of Public Health Engineering department Sanjeev Shrivastava, the CM said. Earlier on Friday, the government submitted a 40-page status report before the High Court, in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ritesh Inani. The outbreak of diarrheal illness due to contaminated water supply is now under effective control, with continuous minute to minute monitoring in place to prevent any resurgence, the government said. Out of the 294 patients admitted across various facilities since the outbreak began, 93 patients have been successfully treated and discharged. Out of the remaining 201 patients, 32 were at present admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, the report said. The report put the death toll due to the diarrheal outbreak at four, but Mayor of Indore Pushyamitra Bhargava said he had received information about 10 deaths. On the ground, a joint survey team comprising officials from the district administration, municipal corporation and the Health Department is conducting door to door screenings. These teams are identifying new cases and distributing preventive ORS sachets and Zinc tablets to residents to stop symptoms from escalating. The report countered the allegation in the PIL that victims were left unaided, and highlighted a directive issued on December 30 which mandated that all private hospitals must provide entirely free treatment, including diagnostics and medicines, to all affected persons, not refuse admission to any patient from the affected area, and above all charge no fees, with the State Government guaranteeing full reimbursement to the private facilities. While acknowledging that "no amount of monetary assistance can ever compensate for the loss of human life," the state has distributed ex gratia assistance of Rs 2,00,000 to the families of the deceased as an immediate supportive measure. During the review meeting, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had ordered issuance of show-cause notices to the municipal commissioner and additional commissioner. Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti targeted her party's government over the deaths, asking it to do a "severe atonement" for the "sin", and seeking "maximum punishment to all the culprits - from bottom to top". Terming the episode as chief minister Yadav's "testing time" as it has "tarnished" the state, the former CM said an apology was owed to the victims. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP's "double-engine" government in Madhya Pradesh over the tragedy, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is always silent whenever poor die. Gandhi alleged that Madhya Pradesh has become the epicentre of misgovernance and cited various instances of casualties reportedly due to cough syrups, poor hygiene at government hospitals and now due to contaminated water. "Every home is filled with mourning, the poor are helpless - and on top of that, BJP leaders are making arrogant statements. Those who lost their lives and livelihoods needed solace; the government offered arrogance," he said. Senior MP cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Thursday triggered a controversy after he used an objectionable word on camera -- ghanta (loosely translating to nonsense) -- when questioned by a TV journalist about the water contamination incident. In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said PM Modi keeps talking about his government's Jal Jeevan Mission, but was silent on deaths caused by contaminated water in Indore, the country's "cleanest city". Hospitals across India celebrated the arrival of New Year's babies on January 1, 2026. From Mumbai's Nowrosjee Wadia maternity hospital to Agartala's Indira Gandhi memorial hospital, healthcare workers welcomed the first newborns of the year with joy and care. These heartwarming moments capture the beginning of new lives and new hopes as India rings in 2026. IMAGE: Nurses pose for a photograph with the newborn babies, born on January 1, 2026, at the Nowrosjee Wadia maternity hospital in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: The Wadia hospital in Mumbai welcomes the first newborns of 2026, here and below. Photograph: Sahil Salvi Photograph: Sahil Salvi Photograph: Sahil Salvi IMAGE: Nurses take care of newborn babies born on January 1, 2026 at Indira Gandhi memorial hospital in Agartala. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: A nurse gives a newborn baby, born on January 1, 2026, to her mother at the Indira Gandhi memorial hospital in Agartala. Photograph: ANI Photo Photographs curated and Feature Presentation by Manisha Kotian/Rediff The Indian Army's Romeo Force has intensified search and surveillance operations in the Pir Panjal ranges of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir amid heavy snowfall in the region. Operations are being conducted at altitudes above 13,000 feet despite heavy snowfall, extreme cold, and challenging terrain. All photographs: ANI Video Grab The Romeo Force, in coordination with the Special Operations Group Poonch, intensified a night search operation in the Jhullas and Mangnar areas of Poonch district. The Indian Army has also intensified counter-terrorism operations in the Kishtwar and Doda districts. On December 31, 2025, the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir police were conducting operations in the frozen forests and hidden mountain caves of Doda to root out potential threats before winter fully sets in. Undeterred by freezing temperatures, treacherous terrain and heavy snowfall, army units expanded their operational reach into higher and snowbound areas to pursue and neutralise Pakistani terrorists attempting to exploit the harsh season for concealment. Traditionally, the onset of Chillai Kalan, the harshest phase of Kashmir's winter, spanning from December 21 to January 31, ushers in a temporary lull in terrorist activities, as communication routes close and heavy snowfall isolates mountain regions. However, this winter has marked a decisive shift in the operational approach of the Indian Army and other security forces. Instead of reducing activities, sources have said the army has adopted a proactive winter posture, establishing temporary bases and surveillance posts deep within snow-covered areas to maintain continuous pressure on potential terrorist hideouts. Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff Feature Presentation: Mahipal Soni/Rediff Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party's double-engine government in Madhya Pradesh after at least 10 people died allegedly due to contaminated water in Indore and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is always silent whenever poor die. IMAGE: Congress Madhya Pradesh president Jitu Patwari meets a patient who fell ill after consuming contaminated water, in Indore. Photograph: ANI Video Grab Gandhi alleged that Madhya Pradesh has become the epicentre of misgovernance and cited various instances of casualties reportedly due to cough syrups, poor hygiene at government hospitals and now due to contaminated water. 'Not water, but poison was distributed in Indore, and the administration remained in deep slumber,' he said in a post on X in Hindi. 'Every home is filled with mourning, the poor are helpless -- and on top of that, BJP leaders are making arrogant statements. Those who lost their lives and livelihoods needed solace; the government offered arrogance,' he said. Senior MP cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Thursday triggered a controversy after he used an objectionable word on camera -- ghanta (loosely translating to nonsense) -- when questioned by a TV journalist about the water contamination incident. Gandhi, in his post, asked why complaints were not heard when people repeatedly complained about dirty, smelly water. 'How did sewage get mixed with the drinking water? Why wasn't the supply stopped in time? When will action be taken against the responsible officers and leaders?' the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha asked. 'These aren't trivial questions -- they demand accountability. Clean water isn't a favour, it's a right to life. And the BJP's double engine government, its negligent administration, and insensitive leadership are solely responsible for the destruction of this right,' he said. 'Madhya Pradesh has now become the epicentre of misgovernance -- deaths from cough syrup, rats killing children in government hospitals, and now deaths from drinking sewage-contaminated water. And whenever the poor die, Modi ji remains silent, as always,' Gandhi alleged. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava on Friday said he has received information about 10 deaths due to a diarrhoea outbreak caused by contaminated water in the Bhagirathpura area of the city. However, local residents have claimed that 14 individuals, including a six-month-old infant, have died due to the health crisis. The health department has not confirmed this claim. Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani said on Thursday that laboratory test reports from a city medical college had confirmed that the drinking water from the locality was contaminated due to a leakage in a pipeline. The CMHO, however, did not share the detailed findings of the report. Administrative officials have also been avoiding giving clear information about it. Officials said a leakage was found in the main drinking water supply pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura, at a spot over which a toilet has been constructed. They claimed the leakage led to contamination of the water supply. More than 1,400 people have been affected by vomiting and diarrhoea in Bhagirathpura over the past nine days. A 22-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district by the brothers of a married woman after they objected to him speaking to her over the phone, police said on Thursday. The accused allegedly lured the man, Palaram, from Hanumangarh, on the pretext of a New Year party and assaulted him in a secluded area, they said. Sadar Station House Officer (SHO) Subhash Chandra said three accused have been detained and are being questioned. Further investigation is underway. According to police, the accused, along with their friends, took the victim to a party on December 31 night, where they allegedly made him consume alcohol. After he became intoxicated, he was beaten with pipes, the SHO said. When his condition deteriorated, the accused tried to take him to a hospital, but he died on the way. They then abandoned his body inside a car and fled away, police said. The body was found in a parked car near Sector-17 on the Hanumangarh-Sri Ganganagar highway on Thursday. Acting on information from passers-by, the police shifted the body to the district hospital mortuary. A group of United States lawmakers has written a letter to Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, urging a fair and timely trial for activist Umar Khalid in 'accordance with international law'. Photograph: ANI Photo US Representatives Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin are among eight lawmakers who have expressed concern regarding the 'prolonged pre-trial detention of individuals charged in connection with the February 2020 violence in Delhi', including Khalid. Khalid and a few others have been booked under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly being the 'masterminds' of the Delhi riots, which left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured. "The US and India share a long-standing strategic partnership that has historically been rooted in democratic values, constitutional governance and strong people-to-people ties," the letter said, adding that as the world's largest democracies, both nations have an interest in protecting and upholding freedom, the rule of law, human rights and pluralism. 'It is in this spirit' that the lawmakers said they are raising their concerns regarding Khalid's detention. The lawmakers claimed that human rights organisations, legal experts and global media have raised questions about the fairness of the investigation and legal process related to Khalid's detention. He 'has been detained without bail for five years for charges levied under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which independent human rights experts have warned may contravene international standards of equality before the law, due process and proportionality'. The US Representatives further added that they understand that these matters are presently under consideration before the Supreme Court of India and welcomed the news that Khalid received temporary bail to attend his sister's wedding. They urged that Khalid should be granted bail and released for the duration of the court's proceedings. 'With respect for India's democratic institutions and its role as a key partner of the US, we request that your Government share the steps being taken to ensure that the judicial proceedings against Khalid and those of his co-accused who remain in detention comport with international standards,' the lawmakers said. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also written a note for Khalid, recalling his words on 'bitterness' and the importance of not letting it 'consume one's self'. The note was posted on X by Khalid's partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri. 'Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume one's self. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you,' the handwritten note signed by Mamdani said. The United States has warned China against escalating tensions as Taiwan detected multiple Chinese naval vessels, official ships and balloons operating around the island amid Beijing's large-scale live-fire military drills. IMAGE: Explosive barrels placed by Taiwan military as part of a series of emergency combat readiness drills, in response to China conducting military drills around Taiwan, in Taipei, on December 31, 2025. Photograph: Ann Wang/Reuters China's recent military exercises have heightened strains between Taipei and Beijing, prompting Washington, DC to call on China to reduce its military pressure campaign against Taiwan, Focus Taiwan reported. "China's military actions and statements toward Taiwan and other regional actors unnecessarily raise tensions," US State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on Thursday, according to Focus Taiwan. "We call on Beijing to show restraint, halt its military intimidation of Taiwan, and pursue meaningful dialogue instead." Pigott added that the US remains committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo through force or coercion. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said it detected six People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, one official ship and two Chinese balloons operating around Taiwan's territorial waters as of 6 am on Friday. The MND said Taiwan's armed forces monitored the situation and responded accordingly. Earlier on Thursday, Taiwan detected three sorties of Chinese military aircraft, 17 PLAN vessels and eight official ships operating around its waters. Of the three aircraft sorties, one crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwans southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), the MND said in a post on X. The developments come amid Chinas two-day large-scale military exercise, which concluded on December 31 and involved extensive naval and air deployments around Taiwan. The drills, conducted across five maritime areas and airspace surrounding the island, were described by the PLA as a 'stern warning' to so-called Taiwan independence forces, Focus Taiwan reported. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence earlier said the PLA launched 27 rockets on the second day of the drills, with 10 landing in waters within Taiwan's 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone, marking the closest Chinese live-fire activity ever recorded near the island. China's actions have drawn sharp international criticism, with the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines voicing serious concern over the exercises. The European External Action Service warned that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are vital to global security and prosperity. Meanwhile, Taiwan's National Security Council Secretary-General and former foreign minister Joseph Wu thanked the United States for urging restraint following China's latest military exercises. In a post on X, Wu said China's drills were aimed at intimidation and coercion and warned that such actions are destabilising for the Indo-Pacific. Wu's remarks came amid heightened concern in Taipei and among regional partners over the risk of miscalculation and threats to civilian air and maritime traffic arising from China's live-fire exercises around Taiwan. US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said that the United States is "locked and loaded" to respond if Iranian authorities use violence against peaceful protesters, as demonstrations over worsening economic conditions spread across multiple provinces in Iran. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Courtesy @WhiteHouse/X In a Truth Social Post, Trump wrote, "If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" This comes as people in Iran continue to protest against rising prices and economic hardship pouring into the streets across several provinces in Iran, with some protests escalating into fatal confrontations with security forces, CNN reported. Protesters reportedly clashed with police, hurled stones at officers and torched vehicles, according to Fars News Agency. The outlet alleged that some armed "disturbers" exploited the gatherings. Without offering proof, Fars claimed authorities later seized firearms from several individuals. Earlier, at least two people were killed during clashes between dozens of protesters and police in Lordegan county in the southwestern Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Fars reported. It was not immediately clear whether those killed were protesters or security personnel. Unconfirmed videos shared online appeared to show demonstrators throwing stones at uniformed police in the area. Fars alleged that protesters targeted the governor's office, banks and other state buildings, CNN reported. The earliest reported fatality linked to the unrest occurred on Wednesday night, when a member of Iran's Basij paramilitary force was killed and 13 others injured in the city of Kuhdasht in Lorestan province, according to state-affiliated media. Fars News Agency aired footage showing a police officer receiving medical care after allegedly being set on fire by protesters. The Basij paramilitary force is frequently deployed by authorities to quell demonstrations. Twenty people were detained during the protests, the prosecutor of Kuhdasht said on Thursday, according to state-run Tasnim News Agency. In Malard county, west of Tehran, officials arrested 30 individuals for "disturbing public order," Fars reported. County official Mansour Saleki was quoted as saying those detained were "misusing the lawful right to protest." He added that several of those arrested had travelled from nearby counties. Shop owners, bazaar traders and university students joined demonstrations in several Iranian cities this week, chanting slogans against the government over economic hardship after the national currency plunged to historic lows. The unrest marks the largest demonstrations since the nationwide protests of 2022, which erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody following her arrest for allegedly violating Iran's headscarf rules. The US State Department said in a post on X on Wednesday that it was alarmed by reports of protesters facing "intimidation, violence and arrests," urging Iranian authorities to halt the crackdown. "First the bazaars. Then the students. Now the entire country. Iranians stand together. Different lives, one demand: respect our voices and our rights," the State Department wrote in a Farsi-language post. Though still limited in scope, the protests signal the latest phase of mounting public dissatisfaction in Iran, as citizens increasingly reclaim public spaces and personal freedoms through spontaneous and uncoordinated acts of resistance. A 25-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday for allegedly chopping off her lover's private parts with a sharp weapon after he refused to marry her, a Mumbai police official said. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Pexels.com The incident took place in the woman's house in Jamblipada in Kalina in Santacruz East in the early hours of the day, the official added. "The 42-year-old victim and the accused have been in a relationship for around seven years. However, he would refuse every time she asked him to marry her. She invited him for New Year celebrations at her house and, in the early hours of Thursday, attacked him with a sharp weapon and chopped off his private parts," the official said. "The seriously injured victim managed to escape and alerted his brother, who rushed him to VN Desai Hospital. The woman was arrested under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions for causing grievous hurt by dangerous means, criminal intimidation and other offences," he added. Indian-origin politician Zohran Mamdani vowed to govern 'expansively and audaciously' and deliver an agenda of affordability for New Yorkers as he thanked his family from 'Kampala to Dilli' after being sworn-in as the 112th Mayor of New York City. IMAGE: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacts during his inauguration ceremony in New York City, US, January 1, 2026. Photograph: Jeenah Moon Mamdani was administered the oath of office by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont at a ceremonial inauguration outside City Hall on Thursday, the seat of New York City government, on New Year's day. He was formally sworn-in as New York City's 112th Mayor by New York Attorney General Letitia James at a private ceremony held at the turn of the new year on December 31 in an old subway station in New York. He became the first South Asian and Muslim elected to helm the largest city in the US. In his nearly 25 minute speech to New Yorkers after taking the oath of office Thursday, Mamdani said that 'beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed. But never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try'. He vowed that under his administration, City Hall will 'deliver an agenda of safety, affordability, and abundance, where government looks and lives like the people it represents, never flinches in the fight against corporate greed, and refuses to cower before challenges that others have deemed too complicated'. Indian-descent Mamdani is the son of renowned filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani. He was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda and moved to New York City with his family when he was 7. Mamdani became a naturalized US citizen only recently in 2018. Mamdani thanked his parents, who were present for the swearing-in ceremony, as well as his wife Rama Duwaji for their support. He also expressed gratitude to his family from Uganda to India. "Thank you to my parents, Mama and Baba, for raising me, for teaching me how to be in this world, and for having brought me to this city. Thank you to my family, from Kampala to Dilli. And thank you to my wife, Rama, for being my best friend, and for always showing me the beauty in everyday things," he said. Thousands of Mamdani's supporters, from youth to the elderly, braved freezing temperatures on January 1 and stood for hours outside and near City Hall, cheering him and celebrating his victory and inauguration at a block party organised on the occasion. They said the New Year was ushering in an era of hope and promise as the new Mamdani administration begins its term in the city. The supporters wore merchandise such as pins, hats and T-shirts emblazoned with Mamdani's name and images. Mamdani also sounded a note of unity as he addressed the eight and a half million New Yorkers, saying together, they will tell a new story of the city. "This will not be a tale of one city, governed only by the one percent. Nor will it be a tale of two cities, the rich versus the poor. It will be a tale of eight and a half million cities, each of them a New Yorker with hopes and fears, each a universe, each of them woven together." "The authors of this story will speak Pashto and Mandarin, Yiddish and Creole. They will pray in mosques, at shul, at church, at Gurdwaras and Mandirs and temples. And many will not pray at all." "Few of these eight and a half million will fit into neat and easy boxes. Some will be voters from Hillside Avenue or Fordham Road who supported President Trump a year before they voted for me, tired of being failed by their party's establishment," Mamdani said. "The majority will not use the language that we often expect from those who wield influence. I welcome the change. For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty," he said. This was the only reference to Trump that he made in his entire speech. Mamdani had registered a decisive and historic win at the polls in November as he defeated Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and political heavyweight former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent candidate and received US President Donald Trump's endorsement only on the eve of the election. In a fiery victory speech, Mamdani had challenged Trump on immigration, heralded the toppling of 'political dynasty' and said his election symbolises 'hope' over tyranny and 'big money' as he cited former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to assert that the city has stepped out from the 'old into the new'. Mamdani had invoked Nehru as he spoke about ushering in a new era in New York City politics. "Standing before you, I think of the words of Jawaharlal Nehru: 'A moment comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance'." "Tonight we have stepped out from the old into the new. So let us speak now, with clarity and conviction that cannot be misunderstood, about what this new age will deliver, and for whom," he had said. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Chinese artificial intelligence unicorn Moonshot AI has raised US$500 million in its recent Series C funding round, according to a report, as start-up rivals MiniMax Group and Zhipu AI gear up for their initial public offerings (IPOs). Moonshot AI, developer of the highly lauded Kimi AI models, saw IDG Capital lay out US$150 million to lead the latest financing round, with existing stakeholders Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings also participating, Chinese technology news outlet LatePost reported on Wednesday. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. The fresh injection of capital pushed Moonshot AI's valuation to US$4.3 billion, according to the report. The company now holds more than 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) in cash reserves, LatePost reported, citing an internal letter by founder and CEO Yang Zhilin dated Wednesday. 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. That financial war chest helped explain why Moonshot AI did not pursue a public listing like fellow "AI tigers" MiniMax and Zhipu AI. Moonshot AI was "in no rush for an IPO in the short term", Yang said in the internal letter. The firm, however, did not rule out a potential listing in the future. The Beijing-based company declined to comment on the report. Moonshot AI founder and CEO Yang Zhilin. Photo: Future Publishing via Getty Images alt=Moonshot AI founder and CEO Yang Zhilin. Photo: Future Publishing via Getty Images> The firm's major competitors, MiniMax and Zhipu AI, planned to raise HK$4.19 billion (US$538 million) and HK$4.35 billion, respectively, by going public in Hong Kong. A US government report recently singled out Moonshot AI as evidence of the "growing depth" of China's AI industry. Beyond DeepSeek, a growing number of Chinese companies were now developing world-leading "open-weight" AI models, according to a report earlier this month by the Centre for AI Standards and Innovation at the US Department of Commerce. The report evaluated Moonshot AI's flagship Kimi K2 Thinking model, released in November, which outperformed OpenAI's GPT-5 and Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4.5 in several benchmarks, eliciting high praise from industry experts on social media. Kimi K2 Thinking has helped increase Moonshot AI's application programming interface revenue fourfold in overseas markets from September to November, according to Yang's internal letter cited in the LatePost report. The number of global paying users also grew 170 per cent month on month during that period. Year in Review Bobservations Year in Review: There is another way, Garvey death demands a change of course IT specialist Ihar Karatkou is in the middle of a five-year sentence at Corrective Colony No. 2, a prison in Babruysk, southeast of Minsk. Why? He donated the equivalent of about $10 to the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, a unit of Belarusian volunteers fighting on Kyiv's side in the Russian war against Ukraine. Vasil Hrachykha was also sentenced to five years in prison earlier this year, but his whereabouts are unknown. He fought with the Kalinouski Regiment for a few weeks in May-June 2022, according to the regiment and the Belarusian Prosecutor-General's Office. A state television report showed a man purported to be Hrachykha being detained in an unidentified swampy area by armed officers of the KGB, the Belarusian security agency, and taken away by helicopter with a bag over his head. Karatkou, 37, and Hrachykha, 44, are among about 200 Belarusians whom activists say have been handed prison terms after being convicted of violating a law against "participation or preparing to participate in hostilities on foreign soil" as well as recruiting for, training for, and financing such activities, among other things. Many of them, including Karatkou and Hrachykha, are on the list of people prominent Belarusian human rights group Vyasna has designated as political prisoners under authoritarian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. In December, there were more than 1,130 names on that list -- even after a series of prisoner releases that analysts say is part of an effort by Lukashenko to improve ties with the West despite his government's support for Russia in its war on Ukraine and an ongoing state crackdown that started as a brutal police response to mass protests over an August 2020 election that extended his rule. Millions in Belarus and beyond dismissed the vote as a sham. On December 13, Belarus freed 123 prisoners in a US-brokered release, including some prominent opposition figures, after Washington indicated it was lifting sanctions on Belarusian fertilizer exports. 'I Can't Stand To Watch' Among those released was Alyaksey Kaplich. In March 2025, the day after he turned 18, he set out to travel to Ukraine to fight on Kyiv's side but was detained at the airport in Minsk before he could board a flight to Tbilisi, the first leg of an abortive journey to the front. Former Belarusian Prisoner On Why He Wants To Join The Ukrainian Army by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:27 0:00 They put "a sack over my head, handcuffs, and drove me in a minibus, lying down" with the boots of a special forces officer pressing on his back and legs, Kaplich told RFE/RL in an interview in Vilnius on December 22. Kaplich, who learned in 2020 that he is a second cousin of exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was convicted in the summer and sentenced to two years in prison. Now that he is free, he plans to make the trip to Ukraine and join a unit there. "I can't stand to watch how theybomb and kill -- intentionally kill -- peaceful civilians," Kaplich told RFE/RL when asked why he wants to fight against the Russian invasion. "I just can't watch it anymore." Russia denies it targets civilians despite mounting civilian casualties and many direct hits by drones, missiles, and guided bombs on apartment buildings, shopping malls, and other civilian facilities -- often far from the front lines -- since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. It was unclear whether any other prisoners convicted of planning to fight in Ukraine or otherwise supporting its defense were among those released along with Kaplich and 122 others. "No individuals who had directly participated in hostilities as members of armed forces were released on December 13," Maryna Kasinerava, a representative of the human rights group Dissidentby, told RFE/RL. 'Mercenaries Fighting For Russia Are Not Prosecuted' Belarusian citizens and permanent residents are prohibited from participating in foreign armed formations on any side in a war or taking part in armed conflicts without state authorization. The relevant statute also outlaws "recruiting, training, preparation" and "financing or other material support for such activity." However, Kasinerava says, the law is applied selectively. "Mercenaries fighting for Russia are not prosecuted in Belarus," she said. By contrast, she said, those linked to Ukraine may face systematic repression, including pressure on relatives, violence, and in some cases torture. An example is Dzianis Urbanovich, who has been fighting in Ukraine since the early in the full-scale war. He said his father in Belarus has repeatedly had his home searched and was forced to write an appeal to his son to return, and security forces have also visited other relatives and friends. Under Lukashenko, Belarus is Russia's close military ally and has backed Moscow's war against Ukraine, providing logistical support and echoing Kremlin threats toward NATO. Yet since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, hundreds of Belarusians have crossed into Ukraine to fight on Kyiv's side. "Punishing and sentencing people who fought for Ukraine is more likely Lukashenko's own decision than the result of pressure from the Kremlin," said Artsyom Shraybman, a Belarusian political analyst who lives abroad. 'Arbitrary' Imprisonment "Lukashenko understands these people are very ideological and principled in being anti-Russian -- and, by extension, very likely anti-regime," said Shraybman, a nonresident scholar at the Berlin-based Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, meaning the state assumes they oppose Lukashenko and the authorities under him. Belarusian state media have highlighted several alleged cases of support for Ukraine. Twenty-year-old Danila Harasim appeared in a film aired by the ONT television channel accused of photographing military equipment in late 2023 and passing the images on to Ukrainian intelligence, as well as attempting to join the Kalinouski Regiment. The broadcast claimed he planned to sabotage a train and said he faced charges including attempted treason. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Rights groups say Belarusian volunteers have been tried in absentia under so-called special proceedings, with at least 10 people believed to have been sentenced while abroad. At least 15 others were convicted for allegedly attempting to go to war. Only a handful of people are known to have been detained and convicted inside Belarus specifically for fighting for Ukraine. Those cases have resulted in terms ranging from five to 13 years in prison. "This offense under the Criminal Code is not classified as a serious crime and provides for alternative penalties to imprisonment," said Paval Sapelka, a lawyer with Vyasna. "However, largely for political reasons, imprisonment is being applied arbitrarily." In his comments to RFE/RL in Vilnius, Kaplich said he hoped for the swift release of Vasil Verameychyk, a former deputy battalion commander in the Kalinouski Regiment who was subsequently declared a "threat to national security" by Lithuania and banned from entering that country. He was also not allowed into Ukraine for unknown reasons when he tried to return there. Verameychyk traveled to Vietnam, where he was detained and handed over to Belarus. He was then tried on 12 criminal charges and sentenced to 13 years in a maximum-security prison. Belarusian human rights groups, which largely operate in exile, continue to hope for the release of more people in the future. "We will keep documenting all political prisoners, including those who supported or fought for Ukraine. We hope everyone will be released and the repression will end," Kasinerava said. They spent their childhoods counting victims, listening to detonations and military helicopters, hearing stories of horrors, and speaking their first words as refugees. December 2025 marked 30 years since the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina ended. Over the same period, Chechnya endured two devastating wars, while the Taliban disappeared from power in Afghanistan only to return two decades later. Generations born as the world emerged from the Cold War came of age in states whose instability would mark them forever. From Bosnia to Chechnya to Afghanistan, RFE/RL spoke with three people whose lives were shaped by the conflicts that defined their childhoods. Bosnia's Dayton Generation Nermin Mameledzija was born just months before the signing of the Dayton peace agreement that ended the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a conflict that killed around 100,000 people. His parents had fled to Germany from their hometown of Turbe, and Nermin spent his first years there before the family returned to Bosnia. "We really had a fairy-tale childhood," Nermin, 30, told RFE/RL from Braunschweig, Germany. "The neighborhood raised us, they gave you a slice of bread and you were gone all day." However, although he grew up in peacetime Turbe, a small town in central Bosnia, the country around him remained damaged and divided. The divisions left by Dayton became clear in elementary school. He attended a system of "two schools under one roof," where children were separated by ethnicity despite following almost identical curriculums. After university, Nermin returned to Germany. He has never worked in Bosnia. "What pushed me away from Bosnia was the injustice. For everything you need connections, you have to work your way around things," he said. Bosnia-Herzegovina ranks as the second-most corrupt country in Europe, according to Transparency International. And a UN Population Fund study shows that every second citizen aged 18 to 29 is considering moving elsewhere. When RFE/RL spoke to Nermin five years ago on the 25th anniversary of the peace accords, he hoped he would not become one of them. He was a final-year dentistry student at the time and wanted a job in Bosnia so that "Austria or Germany wouldn't get a fully trained worker." "I would never give up my passport. That's the last thing that ties me to Bosnia," he says now. "Bosnia gave me everything. But everyone has the right to decide what they want and where they want to be." Today, when he speaks to his family online, neither of his sisters lives in Bosnia, either. 'I Still Feel Vulnerable' -- Scarred By Chechen Conflict Some 3,000 kilometers from Sarajevo as it was emerging from war, residents of Grozny were taking shelter in basements. When the First Chechen War ended in August 1996, 8-year-old Hava returned to her family's apartment to find it burned down. She would spend several weeks living in a cellar as bombs fell over the Chechen capital. Three years later, the Second Chechen War began. Hava's family fled, taking refuge in her grandmother's village. They returned to Grozny after four years to find a devastated city still under a state of emergency. "When you're a child you're isolated from everything," she told RFE/RL. "You understand what's happening, and then you play stupid games where you count military planes or helicopters you saw that day and compete with friends over who saw more." Jasminko Halilovic of the War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo suggests such behaviors are attempts by children to impose order on chaos. "Counting detonations, collecting shrapnel, building shelters out of pillows -- all of these can be interpreted as attempts to regain control over a world that has become unpredictable," he said. Hava, who asked that her surname not be published, remembers days without water or electricity, nights under curfew, and doing homework by gas lamp. More than 25,000 people were killed in the Second Chechen War, with thousands still unaccounted for. Since 2007, the Russian region has been ruled by Ramzan Kadyrov, widely accused of human rights abuses. The United States sanctioned him in 2020. Now working as a researcher in Serbia, Hava has not lived in Chechnya for two years but says she would return if corruption eased and reforms were introduced. "Russia has to change for me to return to Chechnya," she said. "And it has to change in a way that would positively reflect on Chechnya." Although the war ended years ago, she believes her generation has never known true stability. "I still feel vulnerable because I can't go back, and I am in another country trying to figure out how things work," she said. 'School Seemed Like A Dream' In Afghanistan When the Taliban first captured Kabul in 1996, Nilofar Ebrahemi was 3 years old and wore boys' clothes. "My parents dressed me as a boy, maybe because they wanted more sons or maybe because of the security situation," she said. Nilofar only came to understand she was a girl when a religious teacher told her to wear a head scarf at age 8. "I wasn't who I was," she said. "I never played with dolls, with girls. I never cried because my father told me I had to be brave like a boy." Under the Taliban, no one in her family could work. Sometimes they could not even afford tea and drank boiled water instead. Her mother, who wore a burqa, was once whipped, and Nilofar was banned from school. "School seemed like a dream," she said. "I remember just wonderingwhether there were places in the world where girls went to school or if all children were like us." She learned to count and write from her father, who believed children must be ready for better times. Nilofar finally entered school after 2001, when US forces began the war against the Taliban as Hamid Karzai emerged as Afghanistan's interim leader and later became president. Life remained dangerous. "There would be an explosion one day, in the morning the blood would be washed off the street, and then people would continue crossing. It became completely normal," she said. Nilofar graduated from university, earned a scholarship for a master's degree in India, and returned in late 2020 to teach at a private university. She also freelanced in media and worked on climate projects. This lasted only six months. Everything changed in August 2021, when US and allied forces withdrew after nearly 20 years and the Taliban returned to power. Restrictions on women soon erased most of her rights. She could no longer work, study, or move freely. "I am a woman who studied, who planned doctoral studies, who wanted to work, and all of it was destroyed," she said. Her passport had expired, and when she renewed it, it was too late to flee. In Kabul, she ran a tailoring project for women until "a man who looked like Taliban intelligence officer showed me his gun and simply said, 'Do you see this?'" Nilofar is now in Tehran seeking a visa for Europe. Embassies ask for proof that the situation back home is bad for women, she said, though "the whole world knows what is happening in Afghanistan." If her application is rejected, she must return. "I don't know what will happen to me," she said. She sometimes envies uneducated women. "They stayed at home both then and now," she said. "I fought to study, to work, and spent all that time only to end up with nothing." Dreams Of Home Thirty years after Dayton, the Bosnia that shaped Nermin's childhood still struggles to change. He says, though, that he would still like to go back eventually, despite having a wife in Germany and much better options for pursuing a specialization in oral surgery. Hava also dreams of returning to Chechnya one day. "I dream of having a small house in the mountains and maybe a guesthouse for touristsa few chickens, cats, and maybe a goat," she said. Nilofar's dream of studying in Afghanistan came true briefly, until the Taliban's return took it away again. Now she only hopes to leave behind a country "where women live as if in a cage." Nearly three decades ago, a 1996 UN report on children and conflict warned that many would grow up "deprived of material and emotional needs." with "the entire fabric of their societiestorn to pieces." Its words still echo today in the lives of Nermin, Hava, and Nilofar. With contributions from RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service and RFE/RL's Radio Azadi The chief of Ukraine's military intelligence agency will be Volodymyr Zelenskyy's new top political adviser, the Ukrainian president announced, elevating a shadowy figure who is credited with some of the country's more audacious wartime endeavors. The nomination of Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov as head of the presidential office came as Zelenskyy tries to move beyond a snowballing corruption scandal that had resulted in the sacking of his longtime adviser, Andriy Yermak. In a social media post released on January 2, just hours after his nomination first appeared publicly, Budanov -- who heads the military intelligence agency known as HUR -- said he would accept the new position. "It is an honor and a responsibility, at a historic time for Ukraine, to focus on critically important issues of the strategic security of our state," he said in a Telegram post. "Kyrylo has specialized experience in these areas and sufficient strength to deliver results," Zelenskyy wrote in his own announcement. 'The Man Without A Smile' The 39-year-old Budanov, sometimes referred to in Ukrainian media as "the man without a smile," will move into the critical post at a key moment for Ukraine as negotiations to try to end Russia's nearly four-year war intensify. Yermak, a longtime confidant of Zelenskyy, had been a key negotiator in peace talks -- first and foremost with the United States. Those talks accelerated in November when President Donald Trump's administration released a peace plan that was seen as heavily favorable to Russia. Zelenskyy and his advisers have sought to push back on the US-led peace plan. Just prior to the New Year, Zelenskyy traveled to Florida to speak with Trump, a meeting that from Ukraine's perspective appeared to be mostly successful. Back home, however, Yermak was caught up in a major corruption scandal, arguably the worst since Zelenskyy became president in 2019. After weeks of damning headlines, Yermak tendered his resignation at the end of November, which Zelenskyy, who has not been implicated in the energy sector kickback schemes, accepted. Role In Kerch Bridge Attack Naming Budanov as his chief of staff undercuts the possibility of Budanov challenging Zelenskyy in any possible presidential election, something that has come into focus in recent months. A veteran of the war against Russia's shadow invasion in 2014, Budanov was appointed as head of the HUR in August 2020. Since then he has overseen some of Ukraine's most audacious intelligence operations during Russia's all-out invasion. Reportedly a member of a CIA-trained commando unit known as Unit 2245, Budanov is credited with orchestrating the October 2022 bombing of the Kerch Strait Bridge that links the Russian mainland to the Russian-occupied Crimea Peninsula. The bridge was damaged and later repaired. The Kremlin blamed the HUR. He claims to have been the target of at least 10 assassination attempts, and his wife has also allegedly been targeted. This week, Budanov revealed what appeared to be an elaborate ruse involving the death of an anti-Russian, neo-Nazi commander of a militia that had staged raids into Russia. Ukrainian officials on December 27 announced the killing of the commander, Denis Nikitin; Russia had issued a $500,000 reward for his capture or killing. Four days later, however, Budanov and Nikitin appeared in an official video in which they said the killing was a ruse aimed at obtaining the Russian reward and that Nikitin was in fact still alive. Budanov will be replaced by Oleh Ivashchenko, the current head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Zelenskyy said. Separately, vowing changes to Defense Ministry operations, Zelenskyy nominated the country's digital transformation minister, Mykhaylo Fedorov, to take over the ministry. Fedorov, 34, had led the government's digitalization projects since the early years of Zelenskyy's presidency. The current defense minister, Denys Shmyhal, a former prime minister who has held the post since July, will remain in the government, changing his role once again. Neither Fedorov nor Shmyhal has publicly commented on Zelenskyy's announcement. We recently published 10 Stocks on Jim Cramers Radar. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer's radar. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) was the final restaurant stock that Jim Cramer discussed in this show. The firms shares are among the worst performers in its group as they are down by 37.8% year-to-date. Two notable dips are behind the performance, with the latest coming in October when Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)s stock tumbled by 18%. The dip occurred after the firms third-quarter earnings report, which saw it cut its full-year same-store sales guidance for the third consecutive quarter. Several analysts have discussed Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)s stock in December. For instance, Evercore ISI reiterated an Outperform rating on the shares and a $45 share price target. The financial firm pointed out that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)s same-store sales trends had only grown modestly. It also increased the EPS estimate to $1.19 from $1.17. Goldman Sachs kept a Buy rating and a $45 share price target this month as it appreciated Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)s upcoming High Protein Menu. Cramer remarked that while the firms CEO was doing everything right, the market was simply too tough: Chipotle (CMG) CEO's Doing Everything He Can, Says Jim Cramer Copyright: bhofack2 / 123RF Stock Photo And they are, theyve got a very lower price protein offerings, Scott Boatright doing everything he can. But, in the end, cattle. . .they have the same gestation period as humans. Five thousand, how many, they slaughter a day, there are five thousand cattle. While we acknowledge the potential of CMG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, 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. Sean McCarthaigh One of the countrys largest special schools for children with learning disabilities has been ordered to pay 40,000 to a teacher who felt forced to resign over the schools inadequate response to a complaint she had made about being bullied by a colleague. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that the teacher, Susan Quain, had been constructively dismissed by the board of management of Catherine McAuley Special School, Limerick. The WRC said a delay of almost five years in investigating Ms Quains complaint of bullying against a colleague identified only as Ms A was inexcusable and unacceptable and represented a clear violation of fair procedures by the school. It claimed some assertions made by the school against Ms Quain were at the very least disrespectful". The WRC noted that the school had suggested the teacher might be categorised as a serial compulsive complainer when she had raised valid concerns. Ms Quain resigned her job in September 2024 after 15 years working at the school. The teacher claimed she was unable to return to work due to the impact of the unchecked behaviour of Ms A and the failure of the schools principal Greg Browne and board of management to deal with her complaints. The WRC said the conduct of the school on how it dealt with such complaints was so unreasonable as to make the continuation of her employment intolerable". Counsel for the school, Cathal McGreal BL, had argued that Ms Quains claim of unfair dismissal was fundamentally misconceived". Mr McGreal claimed the teacher had already made up her mind to leave her job several months before her actual resignation at a time when she had not actually worked in the school for around four years. 'Entrenched' He claimed the case was not one of bullying but two work colleagues who had fallen out and whose positions became entrenched". However, WRC adjudication officer Ewa Sobanska said the schools response to Ms Quains concerns was lacking to such an extent that she was justified in resigning from her job. Ms Sobanska said the complainant had utilised procedures available to her and had given the school every opportunity to address her concerns. It is clear, however, that the complainants serious concerns were never addressed appropriately by the respondent, said Ms Sobanska. She rejected the schools claim that it had no control over the time taken by an external investigator, barrister Tiernan Lowey, to complete a report on Ms Quains complaint. Ms Sobanska said the delay and the manner in which the investigation was conducted was sufficient to undermine the confidence and trust the teacher had in the school. She also expressed concern that the school had not offered any clarification as to why it had not taken any formal disciplinary procedure that had been recommended after a finding against Ms A. The WRC official said it was also suggested that additional training would be provided to staff but there was no evidence that such training had been provided. Ms Sobanska said the school was also incorrect to state that Ms Quain was precluded from undertaking work while she was on an approved career break. She added that it was somewhat unrealistic for the school to suggest the teacher had no intention of returning to work because she had sought alternative employment as a means of financial support. Ms Sobanska said it would be unsurprising if Ms Quain had not considered her employment options having been left waiting for years for an investigation of her complaint to be concluded. The WRC adjudicator said she accepted that some unsatisfactory attempts were made to deal with the complaint about Ms A when it was first made by Ms Quain in March 2019. Staff meetings Ms Quain claimed she was bullied and harassed very publicly, including at staff meetings, over carrying out her duties as the schools designated liaison person with responsibility for overseeing child protection and welfare concerns. Ms Sobanska said it also seemed the school took no meaningful action in relation to two other complaints by Ms Quain including one that Ms A was not following child protection procedures. The other complaint was made against the school principal Greg Browne in August 2023 over his alleged failure to investigate Ms Quains concerns about Ms A. The WRC heard that Ms Quain had also made complaints about the same issue to Teaching Council and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Ms Sobanska said she disagreed with the schools view that it had to conclude one matter before moving to the next one. She also claimed that the schools suggestion that it could not address these matters due to the passage of time supported Ms Quains view that there had been an unreasonable delay in the case. Evidence The teacher also claimed every effort was made to prevent her from accessing the final report into her complaint about bullying which was only released to her in September 2024 after she engaged legal representation and several months after it had been given to Ms A. In evidence, principal Greg Browne told the WRC that there were periods where Ms A was absent from the school where nobody could do anything. However, the principal denied that the schools board of management had deliberately delayed the investigation process. The chairperson of the board, Michele Dunleavy, expressed frustration at the delay in completing the investigation. Under cross-examination, Michele Dunleavy admitted she could have overlooked some correspondence from Ms Quain about her complaint against the principal but insisted it had never been intentionally ignored. Olivia Kelleher A father of two who appeared in court in Cork on Friday, charged in connection with an 800,000 drugs and cash seizure, allegedly told gardai that he had made around three drug runs from Dublin to Cork since last October, transporting around 1 million of drugs per trip. Christopher McCudden of Robin Hill, Sandyford Road, Dublin 14, appeared before Cork District Court, where he was charged with eight offences. He faces three charges of possession of drugs for sale or supply, three charges involving simple possession of drugs, and two charges of money laundering. Mr McCudden (38) and Michael Pineda (35) of Douglas in Cork were arrested on December 30th, 2025, at Maryborough Ridge in Cork city. They were taken to garda stations for questioning after gardai allegedly observed a drugs transaction between the pair. Gardai seized 700,000 of cocaine, 60,000 of cannabis and 40,000 in cash. Follow up searches in Dublin led to the seizure of an additional 10,000 of cannabis and 4,000 in cash. Det Garda Eoghan OMahony said that Mr McCudden was caught red handed with the drugs in a van by gardai. Five kilos of cocaine were found in his Ford Transit van and an additional three kilos of cannabis were located in a tyre alignment machine in the vehicle. 40,000 in cash was also in the van. He stated Mr McCudden was dressed in high vis clothes and driving a work van with a logo for a company which does not exist. Gardai also maintain that the van was modified to allow for the concealment of drugs. Det Garda OMahony told Judge Catherine Ryan that Mr McCudden made certain admissions during his garda interviews. He said that the accused claimed that he had brought 10-15 kilos of cocaine in a van to Cork every month since October 2025. Each van contained one million euro in drugs. Det Garda OMahony said gardai believed it was a sophisticated operation and that Mr McCudden was a trusted member of an organised crime group. An objection to bail was made in the case of Mr McCudden arising out of the nature and seriousness of the charges and the possibility of further charges. Det Garda OMahony said that Mr McCudden represented a flight risk. He cited the ties of the accused to Northern Ireland. He also said that Mr McCudden had booked a holiday to Spain. He was set to fly to Alicante next week. However, Defence solicitor Donal Daly said that his client had booked a five day break to Alicante to stay with a friend who now lives there. He further stated that his client was a big man who made no effort to flee when arrested by gardai. He added that Mr McCudden was prepared to abide by all of the bail conditions set down by the court. Mr McCudden refuted suggestions by gardai that he would leave the jurisdiction if he was granted bail. He insisted that he wanted to be there for his family in order to make things right. He denied that the van had been modified. He said that he made the drugs run from Dublin to Cork three or four times. Mr McCudden accepted that he was up to no good when he was arrested by gardai. He claimed that he only got involved in the drugs runs because of debts. Free legal aid was assigned because Mr McCudden is a recipient of social welfare. Judge Ryan granted bail in the case with an independent surety of 10,000 and a cash lodgement of 5,000. Mr McCudden also has to surrender his passport, sign on daily at Dundrum Garda Station and reside at the address of his mother in Sandyford Road. He also has to obey a curfew and provide a mobile phone number to gardai on which he can be contacted 24/7. Mr McCudden was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear before Cork District Court again on January 8th next. Meanwhile, Det Garda Robert Kennedy gave evidence in relation to Michael Pineda of Castletreasure Grove, Douglas in Cork. He said that Mr Pineda made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution at the Togher Garda station in Cork city. There was no objection to bail in the case once Mr Pineda abides bail conditions set down by the court. This includes that he sign on at his local garda station, provide a mobile number to gardai on which can be contacted on 24/7, and resides at his home address. Mr Pineda of Castletreasure Grove, Douglas, Cork is charged with six offences. He is charged with two counts of sale and supply of drugs, two counts of possession of drugs and two counts of money laundering. It was claimed that Mr Pineda had fled the scene at Maryborough Ridge in Cork by foot on December 30th. However, he was apprehended by gardai. The court heard that gardai had observed Mr McCudden hand over a Supervalu plastic bag containing five kilos of cocaine to Mr Pineda. Mr Pineda was remanded on bail to appear before Cork District Court on April 2nd for DPP directions. By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association Mike Nesbitt is to step down as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). Mr Nesbitt said he was stepping down to allow the UUP to select a new politician to lead it into the next elections in 2027, and signalled an intention to retire after the current Assembly term. The Strangford MLA and health minister became UUP leader in 2024 for a second time after previous leader Doug Beattie quit following a dispute with party officers. I would not be comfortably seeking a vote knowing that privately I was intending to retire during the mandate Mike Nesbitt Mr Nesbitt, a former broadcast journalist, had previously been party leader between between 2012 and 2017 but quit following a difficult Assembly election result. He is the first person to lead the party twice. The next Northern Ireland Assembly elections must be held by May 2027. In a statement, Mr Nesbitt said: The next five-year mandate stretches to May 2032, the month I hope to celebrate my 75th birthday. Thats a commitment to full-time politics I just do not feel I can make. And I would not be comfortably seeking a vote knowing that privately I was intending to retire during the mandate. Mike Nesbitt speaking at the UUP party conference in October (UUP/PA) He added: I retook the leadership to do a short-term job of getting the party match-fit for the forthcoming election campaign. That job is now done so the time is right to select the politician who will lead us into the May 2027 polls promoting our brand of confident, responsible unionism. Born in Belfast, Mr Nesbitt became a household name in Northern Ireland through his broadcasting career. After leaving UTV in 2006, he went on to be appointed Commissioner of Victims and Survivors in 2008. Mr Nesbitt switched lanes to politics in 2010, running unsuccessfully to become MP for Strangford, before becoming elected as an MLA for the same constituency in 2011, and the next year became the leader of the UUP. After decisively winning the UUP leadership following a contest with John McCallister, Mr Nesbitt became the first leader who was not a member of the Orange Order. The UUP said it would outline the process for leadership selection ensuring an inclusive, engaging and seamless transition. Party chairman, Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard, said: We are deeply grateful to Mike for his decades of service and unwavering dedication to improving our society. Gardai have arrested a man in connection with their investigation into a serious assault at Barrack Street, Ballaghadereen, on January 1st. The man, aged in his 40s, is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a station in the Garda North Western Region. Gardai say investigations are ongoing. Earlier this afternoon gardai issued an appeal for witnesses into the "serious assault" in the early hours of Thursday, January 1st. The incident occurred on Barrack Street at around 1 a.m.. A male, aged in his 30s, was brought to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, where he remains in a critical condition. A senior investigating officer has been appointed and an incident room has been established at Castlerea Garda Station. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact them. In many cases, a Chapter 11 bankruptcy does not mean the end for a restaurant chain. That's at least partially because brand names have value, and as long as the finances can be worked out with creditors, there will usually be more investors willing to get behind a Red Lobster comeback than those who might attempt to launch a novel seafood chain. A successful Chapter 11 reorganization can streamline operations, reduce expenses, and establish a more sustainable financial structure, giving the restaurant a second chance at success. That's what happened with Red Lobster. "In 2024, Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing financial strain from rising labor costs, unfavorable lease agreements, and supply chain issues, including losses from an 'all-you-can-eat' shrimp promotion. The filing allowed the company to restructure its debt, renegotiate leases, close underperforming locations, and secure financial support, enabling continued operations and a path toward long-term recovery," Toast reported. Brand names matter, whether the original operator survives or a new one takes over. Think about how hard it is to build a brand in todays world, Greg Portell, lead partner in the global consumer practice of consulting firm Kearney, told Retail Dive. Its really difficult. The name itself tends to be the valuable asset in an IP portfolio." That makes it surprising that Don Pablo's, once the second-largest full-service Mexican chain in the United States behind Chi-Chi's, remains a relic of the past with no open locations. Don Pablo's was a '90s success story "During its heyday, it served 20 states with over 100 locations, which made it the closest competitor to Chi-Chi's. The first Don Pablo's location appeared in Texas in the mid-'80s, and due to its success, it started growing from there so much so that seven years after its conception, it was already gaining traction with 10 stores," Newsbreak reported. Don Pablo's was famous for its use of high-quality ingredients in its tacos, burritos, fajitas, salads, and more. That was a stark contrast to Taco Bell, the brand most Americans associated with Mexican food at the time. It was also an affordable sit-down option, likely at least partially because meat portions at Mexican restaurants are supplemented by much cheaper ingredients, including rice and beans. "By 1995, Don Pablo's had grown to 51 locations across Texas, New Mexico, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, and Maryland. This number had nearly doubled by 1998 when those looking for tasty Tex-Mex could choose from 96 Don Pablo's restaurants," according to The Takeout. Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey said authorities are inspecting the entire pipeline network and have supplied clean water to households as a stop-gap measure while advising residents to boil water before use. File Photo. Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey said authorities are inspecting the entire pipeline network. Indias Cleanest City, Indore, Hit by Diarrhoea Outbreak; 1,400 Affected, 8 Dead Advertisement Ranked Indias cleanest city eight times, Indore is facing a severe public health crisis as a major diarrhoea outbreak linked to contaminated drinking water has affected over 1,400 people and killed at least eight. A laboratory test conducted by a city-based medical college confirmed that the outbreak was caused by contamination in the drinking water supply in the Bhagirathpura area of the Madhya Pradesh commercial hub. According to the citys Chief Medical and Health Officer, Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani, the contamination stemmed from a leak in the main water pipeline near a police outpost where a toilet has been constructed, allowing sewage to enter the potable water system. Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey said authorities are inspecting the entire pipeline network and have supplied clean water to households as a stop-gap measure while advising residents to boil water before use. He said samples have been sent for further testing, and a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the state will be issued to prevent similar incidents. Advertisement A door-to-door health survey examined 8,571 people across 1,714 households; 338 with mild symptoms received primary treatment at home. As per health department officials, 272 patients were hospitalised during the eight-day outbreak, with 201 still admitted, including 32 in intensive care units. Authorities are under pressure to improve water safety and infrastructure in a city long celebrated for cleanliness. Source: Times of India Indore Collector Shivam Verma said initial reports indicate bacterial contamination, adding that 13 more patients were admitted to hospitals, survey teams were conducting door-to-door checks, and chlorine tablets were being distributed. File Photo. Residents were advised not to use tap water for drinking and to rely on tankers or boiled water. Indore Water Crisis: 10 Dead, 1,400 Fall Ill; CM Mohan Yadav Takes Action Advertisement The water crisis in Indores Bhagirathpura area has claimed at least 10 lives, while more than 1,400 people have been affected by vomiting and diarrhoea. Contaminated drinking water triggered a major public health crisis in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, amid public outrage and criticism from opposition leaders, said he had ordered strict action against erring civic officials. He wrote in a post on X that he had directed the Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Additional Commissioner to issue show-cause notices, immediately remove the Additional Commissioner from Indore, and relieve the in-charge Superintending Engineer of the Water Distribution Works Department. He added that necessary positions in the Indore Municipal Corporation were to be filled without delay. Chief Medical and Health Officer of Indore, Madhav Prasad Hasani, told ANI that senior doctors and district administration officials were continuously monitoring the situation to ensure proper treatment for affected patients. He said, Currently, senior doctors and district administration officials are continuously monitoring the situation at the hospitals and keeping a check that proper treatment is being ensured to the patients. According to records,four deaths have occurred so far , though we will revise and update if we receive additional data and evidence in this regard. Advertisement Indore Collector Shivam Verma said initial reports indicate bacterial contamination, adding that 13 more patients were admitted to hospitals, survey teams were conducting door-to-door checks, and chlorine tablets were being distributed. Indore Municipal Corporation Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisoniya confirmed bacteria were found in 26 of 50 water samples collected four days ago. Residents were advised not to use tap water for drinking and to rely on tankers or boiled water. The health department said 272 patients had been admitted, with 71 discharged and at least 32 in intensive care. Source: Hindustan Times The rules clarify that eligible gig or platform workers include those engaged directly by an aggregator or through an associate, holding or subsidiary company, a limited liability partnership, or a third party. File Photo. The government also mandates the registration of unorganised workers on the Centre's designated portal. Gig Workers in India Could Get Social Security After Just 90 Days of Work Advertisement On December 30, 2025, the Union labour ministry said in a notification that it had released draft rules proposing that gig and platform workers must be engaged for a minimum of 90 days in a financial year with an aggregator to become eligible for social security benefits under the Centres framework. Workers engaged with more than one aggregator will need at least 120 days of engagement in a year to qualify for the norms. The ministry explained that the draft defines a worker as engaged on any calendar day if they earn income for work performed for an aggregator on that day, irrespective of the earnings. Engagement days are counted cumulatively across multiple aggregators; for instance, working with three aggregators on the same day would count as three engagement days. The rules clarify that eligible gig or platform workers include those engaged directly by an aggregator or through an associate, holding or subsidiary company, a limited liability partnership, or a third party. Advertisement The notification was issued a day before a strike by gig and platform workers on New Years Eve, when workers demanded higher payouts and improved conditions. The government also mandates the registration of unorganised workers on the Centres designated portal, where each registered worker will receive a digital identity card with a photo and specified details. The labour ministry has already begun registration on the e-Shram portal, which serves as the national database for unorganised workers and a gateway to accessing social security benefits. Source: Hindustan Times Advertisement The ban is set to remain in force for two months from the date of issuance unless it is withdrawn earlier or extended as per law. File Photo. The SDM's order said that the decision follows inputs from police and security agencies about rising threats in sensitive zones. Trekking, Camping Banned in Anantnags High-Altitude Areas Over Security Concerns Advertisement On Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir Government banned trekking, camping, hiking and similar outdoor activities in several high-altitude and forested areas of Kokernag, citing security concerns in the Anantnag district. This is as per an official order issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The SDMs order said that the decision follows inputs from police and security agencies about rising threats in sensitive zones. Recent incidents involving attempts by certain individuals to cross police checkpoints during late-night hours have raised serious public safety issues. Invoking powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the order states that unrestricted movement and outdoor activities in the areas of Margan Top, Chauhar Nag and Sinthan Top could adversely impact public safety and security and are therefore prohibited with immediate effect, the district administration said. Advertisement The Station House Officer (SHO) of Larnoo has been tasked with ensuring strict implementation and monitoring at checkpoints, and the public has been directed to comply with the order; violations will attract legal action. The ban is set to remain in force for two months from the date of issuance unless it is withdrawn earlier or extended as per law, the order added. Source: The Tribune Advertisement Bathinda to Get Continuous Water Supply as Mann Govt Sanctions INR 26 Crore Project Under AMRUT 2.0 The initiative promises modern, sustainable infrastructure with advanced technology to ensure efficient water distribution and conservation. Bathinda to Get Continuous Water Supply as Mann Govt Sanctions INR 26 Crore Project Under AMRUT 2.0 Advertisement As the Mann Government moves to address long-standing water supply challenges, Bathindas residents are witnessing relief with this transformative move. The Punjab government aims to ensure every citizen of Bathinda has access to clean and uninterrupted water with an outlay of INR 26 crore under the AMRUT 2.0 (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0) initiative. Many parts of the city faced issues with water scarcity and poor-quality water for many years, affecting daily life and dignity. The INR 26 crore water supply projects are designed to lay pipelines and to guarantee access to clean water becomes a basic, assured right for every resident. Mayor Padamjeet Singh Mehta laid the foundation stone for this significant project in Amarpura Basti. The initiative promises modern, sustainable infrastructure with advanced technology to ensure efficient water distribution and conservation. This approach ensures Bathindas water supply system will serve residents reliably for generations. Advertisement Mayor Mehta emphasised that areas such as Model Town Phase 4-5 and Amarpura Basti have historically faced water scarcity, often relying on borrowed water. Under the INR 26 crore project, two water tanks will be constructed, one in Amarpura Basti and another in Model Town Phase 4-5, each with a capacity of 2 lakh gallons. Additionally, 63,000 metres of pipelines will provide new connections to approximately 8,600 households, benefiting around 35,000 residents directly. Mayor Mehta thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh, noting that their guidance has enhanced Bathindas infrastructure and improved public welfare. He highlighted that the foundation stone is the beginning of a new chapter in providing clean and reliable drinking water to areas that have long grappled with shortages. The INR 26 crore investment is expected to enhance public health by reducing waterborne diseases such as dysentery and typhoid, while supporting childrens physical and mental development. Beyond the infrastructure, the project reinforces public confidence in the governments commitment towards addressing essential needs and improving citizens lives. Advertisement This initiative is a significant step towards making Bathinda a water secure city. The Mann Governments focus on sustainable infrastructure, public health, and long-term development demonstrates a vision to position Punjab among Indias most facility-rich states. Bathinda residents can look forward to a future of clean water, better health, and improved quality of life with this project a tangible outcome of the governments dedication towards public welfare. MRSAFPI Honours 8 Defence Officers Commissioned in 2025 He further said that the Punjab Government provides robust support to the institute. MRSAFPI Honours 8 Defence Officers Commissioned in 2025 The Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI) organised a ceremony to acknowledge the accomplishments of its alumni by presenting Achiever Awards to eight newly commissioned officers. This initiative is in line with the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab governments resolve to nurture the aspirations of the young people in the state. Advertisement The Achiever Award ceremony honoured eight AFPIANs, who joined the Defence Services in 2025. Out of these, seven officers were commissioned during NovemberDecember 2025, while the remaining one officer was commissioned in March 2025. During the interaction session, the officers shared their experiences at pre-commissioning training academies with the cadets currently undergoing training, encouraging them to bring glory to the State and the Nation. Mr Aman Arora, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister, congratulated the eight awardees and remarked that their achievements would inspire Punjabs youth to serve the nation with dignity and add to the states pride. Director MRSAFPI, Major General Ajay H. Chauhan, VSM (Retd), extended his congratulations to the young officers on their commissioning and expressed confidence that the foundation laid during their training at MRSAFPI would continue to serve as a strong platform for excellence in their professional military careers. He further said that the Punjab Government provides robust support to the institute, and under the leadership of CM Shri Bhagwant Singh Mann and Cabinet Minister Mr Aman Arora, many opportunities are being created for Punjabs youth to join the Defence Forces. Advertisement Established in 2011, the institution has made a significant contribution to the Defence Forces. So far, 278 cadets from MRSAFPI have joined the NDA and other training academies; out of these, 186 have been commissioned as officers. At the time of going to press, 10 more cadets have received joining letters for the NDA and other academies, while 47 cadets are preparing to appear for their Service Selection Board (SSB) interviews. Punjab Govt Cracks Down on Private Hospitals to Safeguard Families' Rights After Patient Deaths Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that compassion, dignity, and transparency must be central to health services. Punjab Govt Cracks Down on Private Hospitals to Safeguard Families Rights After Patient Deaths Advertisement The CM Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has announced strict, citizen-friendly norms for private hospitals in Punjab. These measures aim at protecting patients rights and ensuring humane practices across the states health sector. Under new orders from the Health Department, all private hospitals must now have a mortuary facility to ensure that deceased patients are treated with respect and dignity. This provision aims to prevent situations where families in times of grief face issues in retrieving the bodies of their loved ones. A key directive requires hospitals to hand over dead bodies to families even if hospital bills are unpaid. This rule protects families from potential harassment during moments of grief. The government introduced this guideline after reports came out of some private hospitals allegedly exploiting families in sensitive circumstances, such as a patients death. Health Department officials emphasised that these steps reflect the Mann governments commitment to a people-centric healthcare system. Advertisement Private hospitals are also required to display clear notice boards outlining patients and families rights. These boards must be placed in prominent areas to increase awareness, ensure accountability, and enable people to assert their rights against any malpractice. In cases of unclaimed or unidentified bodies, the district administration will assume responsibility for performing last rites. Local administration, police, and health department officials will coordinate to ensure these deceased individuals receive a dignified farewell. This initiative highlights the governments emphasis on social responsibility and human values. Additional monitoring teams will be deployed in private hospitals to ensure compliance with these norms. Regular inspections will be conducted, and strict action will be taken against institutions violating these regulations. The Health Department also plans to introduce a helpline where citizens can report grievances directly. Advertisement Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that compassion, dignity, and transparency must be central to health services. He assured that private hospitals will be held accountable, and the government will continue its efforts to guarantee quality healthcare for all, including the poorest, without any discrimination. Further enhancements planned by the government are a robust complaint system, improved emergency care standards, and better coordination between public and private health facilities. District health officers have been instructed to ensure private hospitals in their regions comply with these guidelines, with the impact to be reviewed in the upcoming months. Health sector experts and social workers have appreciated the guidelines, noting that such measures could have prevented past cases where unpaid bills delayed the release of bodies to families. They praised the governments move as an important step toward protecting human values in healthcare. Advertisement The Aam Aadmi Party government, with the help of this initiative, has set a benchmark in Punjab for making health services more accountable, transparent, and compassionate. These norms could serve as a model for the rest of the country by prioritising patients rights and dignity. a Relief for 50 Villages as Mann Govt Takes Up Mehangowal Bridge Reconstruction According to experts, improved infrastructure will raise living standards in rural Punjab and may also help reduce youth migration. Relief for 50 Villages as Mann Govt Takes Up Mehangowal Bridge Reconstruction Advertisement The CM Bhagwant Mann-led government has initiated reconstruction work on a long-neglected bridge to address long-pending infrastructure issues in Punjabs Mehangowal region. The bridge was in a dilapidated condition for decades and is expected to restore safe connectivity for residents of nearly 50 villages who have been facing daily risks due to its damaged state. Officials from the local administration said that the project will significantly improve connectivity while ensuring safer and smoother travel for thousands of villagers. The construction of the bridge highlights the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments people-centric governance approach in Punjab. The damaged bridge compelled villagers to take lengthy alternative routes for routine travel for many years. Local residents said the bridges condition severely disrupted emergency services, particularly ambulance movement. On multiple occasions, delays in reaching hospitals reportedly led to loss of life and property. The Mann government has provided a solution to a persisting problem by prioritising the reconstruction work. Residents from Mehangowal and surrounding villages have praised the initiative and expressed appreciation for Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns intervention. Members of the local panchayat said that despite repeated demands, previous governments failed to address the issue. They said the AAP government committed itself to strengthening rural infrastructure, and the bridge project is a meaningful step in fulfilling that promise. The project is expected to contribute to the regions economic growth along with facilitating ease in transportation. Advertisement Government sources confirmed that the bridge is being constructed using modern technology and high-quality materials to ensure durability for long-term usage. The construction work is progressing swiftly and is expected to be completed within the designated timeframe. The project has also generated employment opportunities for local contractors and labourers, supporting the local economy. Authorities have further assured that all environmental norms are being strictly followed during construction. According to government sources, the Punjab government has placed strong emphasis on rural infrastructure development in recent months. It has launched several initiatives to improve essential services such as roads, bridges, electricity, and water supply in rural areas. The Mehangowal bridge reconstruction is part of this broader development strategy. According to experts, improved infrastructure will raise living standards in rural Punjab and may also help reduce youth migration. Local villagers said that the old bridge became completely unusable during the monsoon season, cutting off access for thousands of people. Students faced challenges reaching schools, while farmers struggled to transport agricultural produce to markets. The new bridge is expected to address these challenges comprehensively. Residents said the project reflects the Mann governments pro-people governance, which, as per them, is now evident at the grassroots level. Women and elderly citizens, in particular, have welcomed the initiative due to improved safety and accessibility. Advertisement The local AAP MLA said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has placed development of every village and citizen at the centre of governance. He said that the bridge is not just a physical structure but also the aspirations of people from 50 villages. He added that the Punjab government is committed to narrowing the rural-urban divide and that several similar projects are planned in the future. Social activists also have appreciated the initiative and described it as evidence of a government attentive to grassroots concerns. A local teacher said that despite decades of appeals, previous administrations failed to act, but the current government responded decisively. Youth from the area have also welcomed the project on social media, calling it a constructive step toward Punjabs development. The Mehangowal bridge project is not only an infrastructure initiative but also an expression of the Mann governments vision of equitable development. Residents are now awaiting the projects completion with optimism and hope for continued public welfare initiatives, reinforcing the belief that responsive governance accelerates development. An era is coming to an end as billionaire investor Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Chief Executive Officer effective December 31, 2025. As announced earlier, Buffett, who headed the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate since 1965, will be succeeded by Greg Abel when he takes the reins on January 1, 2026. Buffett will remain the Chairman of the Board of Directors, concluding his six-decade leadership of the company. Abel, 62, joined Berkshire Hathaway's Board of Directors in January 2018 as vice chair - non-insurance operations. He has been with Berkshire for 25 years and was identified as Buffett's likely replacement in 2021. In a November letter to the shareholders, Buffett said that Abel has more than met the high expectations he had for him when first thought about him being Berkshire's next CEO. "He understands many of our businesses and personnel far better than I now do, and he is a very fast learner about matters many CEOs don't even consider. I can't think of a CEO, a management consultant, an academic, a member of government - you name it - that I would select over Greg to handle your savings and mine," Buffett stated. Buffett leaves behind $382 billion cash reserve in the firm which he moulded through a 60-year career. Berkshire Hathaway now owns dozens of companies, including insurer Geico, battery maker Duracell and restaurant chain Dairy Queen. Buffett recently said he is "going quiet" at Berkshire, but will continue talking about Berkshire through his annual Thanksgiving message. The 95-year-old investment legend, who is known as the "Oracle of Omaha," has always been an inspiration to millions of investors around the world with his principles and wisdom, still continuing to guide CEOs and executives how to run their businesses. During much of his life, he was among the top 10 richest people in the world. In the Forbs World's Billionaires List 2025, Buffett was ranked 6th with a wealth of $154 billion. According to Forbes, his real-time net worth as of December 31 is $149 billion, ranking 9 in the world today. Being one of the most successful investors of all times, Buffett also pledged to donate 99% of his wealth to the world causes with the creation of the Giving Pledge in 2010 along with Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. The initiative motivates world's other richest people to promise to donate majority of their wealth to charitable causes. So far, he has given away nearly $65 billion, mostly through the Gates Foundation and his kids' foundations. Since the beginning of the initiative, more than 250 of the world's wealthiest philanthropists from 30 countries have joined together in this promise. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is included among the 7 Best Fortune 500 Dividend Stocks to Invest in Now. Citigroup (C) Approves the Sale of its Russian Unit to Renaissance Capital Kritchanut/Shutterstock.com Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is a leading global bank for institutions with cross-border needs, a global provider in wealth management, and a U.S. personal bank. On December 29, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) said its board approved the sale of its Russian unit, AO Citibank, to Renaissance Capital. The transaction is expected to result in a pre-tax loss of about $1.2 billion, largely tied to currency translation. An SEC filing said the deal is slated to close in the first half of 2026. Citigroup has weighed an exit from Russia for several years as US and EU sanctions intensified. Other lenders have taken similar steps. Earlier this year, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. received approval to sell its Russian business. The pullback began even before Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. That year, Citigroup said it would wind down consumer and local commercial banking in the country and halt nearly all institutional banking services. What remained were operations needed to meet certain legal and regulatory obligations, according to the bank. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) later reached an agreement with RenCap, one of Russias oldest investment banks, to sell the rest of its operations. In November, Putin signed an order allowing the deal to proceed. The bank said the loss is largely due to currency-translation adjustments and cautioned that the figure could change if currency markets move. Citigroup made the following statement: The overall divestiture of the remaining business operations is expected to provide a benefit to Citis CET1 Capital, primarily driven by the deconsolidation of associated risk-weighted assets. While we acknowledge the potential of C 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 Crude Oil Stocks to Buy for Dividends and 11 Best Performing Energy Stocks in 2025. Disclosure: None. European stocks kicked off the first trading session of 2026 on a firm note, with mining and energy stocks leading the surge. The U.S. dollar started the new year on a weak note, holding near 98 on Fed rate-cut expectations, concerns about the U.S. economic outlook and anxiety about Fed independence. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.6 percent at 595.43 after rallying 17 percent last year in its biggest annual gain since 2021 amid resilient economic growth and the prospect of higher fiscal spending in the region. The German DAX and France's CAC 40 both rose around 0.4 percent, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 surged 0.9 percent, led by commodity-related stocks. Anglo American, Antofagasta, Glencore and BP Plc all jumped around 2 percent while Shell traded 1.2 percent higher. Skanska AB shares rose 1 percent. The construction company has signed an additional contract with an existing client to build a data center in USA. In economic news, PMI figures from across the continent will be in the spotlight later today. Earlier today, Nationwide's data showed that U.K. house prices dropped unexpectedly in December. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Oil eased on the first trading day of 2026 after capping its biggest annual drop since 2020. Benchmark Brent crude futures were down 0.2 percent at $60.74 a barrel, with an upcoming OPEC+ meeting and geopolitical concerns in focus. WTI crude futures dipped 0.2 percent to $57.30. Traders weighed potential supply concerns against escalating geopolitical tensions. Traders await Sunday's virtual meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) for direction, given persistent supply concerns. It is expected that the group will uphold its November decision to pause further production increases amid concerns that the global market is already slipping into oversupply. On the geopolitical front, Russia claimed that Ukraine has killed at least 24 people, including a child, in a drone attack on a hotel and cafe in a Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's southern Kherson region, where New Year celebrations were taking place. Ukraine maintained it does not target civilians. Elsewhere, the U.S. Treasury Department has reportedly imposed sanctions on four oil traders operating in Venezuela, as well as associated crude tankers allegedly part of a so-called "shadow fleet." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis The United States has urged China to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue. China's military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily, according to Thomas Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State. The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion, he added. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The U.S. government has sanctioned four companies for operating in Venezuela's oil sector and identified four associated oil tankers as blocked property. The companies sanctioned by U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control are Corniola Limited, Krape Myrtle Co Ltd, Winky International Limited, and Aries Global Investment Ltd. The blocked oil tankers are Nord Star, Rosalind, Della and Valiant. The Trump Administration is blocking those oil tankers, which are part of the shadow fleet serving Venezuela, and continue to provide financial resources that fuel President Nicolas Maduro's regime. Maduro's regime increasingly depends on a shadow fleet of worldwide vessels to facilitate sanctionable activity, including sanctions evasion, and to generate revenue for its destabilizing operations, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said in a press release. "President Trump has been clear: We will not allow the illegitimate Maduro regime to profit from exporting oil while it floods the United States with deadly drugs," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "The Treasury Department will continue to implement President Trump's campaign of pressure on Maduro's regime." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News U.S. and partner forces have killed seven operatives of Islamic State and captured 18 others in a ten-day large-scale series of air strikes in Syria. U.S. Central Command said that during 11 missions conducted between December 20 and 29 four ISIS weapons caches were destroyed. These operations followed the launch of Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19 when U.S. and Jordanian forces struck more than 70 targets with more than 100 precision munitions. The massive strike, executed by dozens of fighter aircraft, attacked helicopters and artillery, destroyed ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites across central Syria. "We will not relent," said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM. "We are steadfast in commitment to working with regional partners to root out the ISIS threat posed to U.S. and regional security." "Continuing to hunt down terrorist operatives, eliminate ISIS networks, and work with partners to prevent an ISIS resurgence makes America, the region, and the world safer," said Cooper. In 2025, Islamic State conspired at least 11 plots or attacks against targets in the United States, according to CENTCOM. In response, U.S. and partner forces in Syria have conducted operations during the last 12 months that resulted in the death of more than 20 terrorists and the arrest of 300 others. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) has closed the sales account for the month of December 2025 with a total of 5,807 units sold in the country. The company has big ambitions to turn around its image in the country. There will be a product onslaught from Honda with as many as 10 new launches by 2030. For the month of December 2025, Honda Cars India Ltd sold a total of 8,159 units. This was a combined number including both domestic sales and exports. When compared to the 9,460 units sold in December 2024, there was a 13.75% YoY decline in total sales, losing 1,301 units in volume YoY. Lets break down these numbers further. Honda Cars Sales Dec 2025 For the month of December 2025, Honda Cars India Ltd sold a total of 8,159 units. Splitting this number further, we can see that Honda sold 5,807 units in the domestic market and shipped 2,352 units to global markets including Japan. Notable exports to Japan include WR-V SUV, which is sold in India as Elevate. The 5,807 units sold in the domestic market registered a 3.64% YoY growth over 5,603 units sold in December 2024, yielding a 3.64% YoY growth and a 204 units volume growth. Exports, however, saw a sharp decline of 39.02% YoY over 3,857 units shipped in December 2025, leading to a volume loss of 1,505 units. Monthly sales analysis for the domestic market yielded interesting results for Honda Cars India Ltd. The 5,807 units sold in December 2025 ensured that there was a 3.64% YoY growth when compared to the 5,603 units sold in December 2024. This led to a volume growth of 204 units YoY. When compared to the 5,204 units sold in November 2025, Honda witnessed a positive 11.59% MoM growth, which led to a volume gain of 603 units. The company currently has three vehicles in its portfolio. The lineup starts with Amaze which recently scored 5 Stars in BNCAP crash test, City sedan which is set to get a facelift and Elevate SUV which recently got a special Adventure Edition. Q4 CY25 Sales In Q4 of CY25, Honda sold a total of 25,865 units, which garnered a stern 14.54% YoY decline in sales when compared to 20,266 units sold last year in December 2024. Breaking up the numbers, we can see that 17,405 of them were sold in the domestic market with 7.74% YoY growth and 8,460 units were shipped to global markets leading to a 40.05% MoM decline. Crypto exchange Coinbase is aiming to scale up its stablecoin offerings and increase onchain adoption worldwide in 2026, according to CEO and founder Brian Armstrong. In New Years Day tweet, Armstrong declared that the companys overarching aim is to make Coinbase the #1 financial app in the world. The post unpacked how Coinbase aims to move closer to this goal in 2026, with the company focusing on scaling stablecoins and payments, while also expanding its presence globally in crypto, equities, prediction markets and commodities. Armstrong also affirmed that the exchange will be making major investments in automation and product quality, and that it will harness its Ethereum layer-2 network Base and Base App to bring the world onchain. The post follows a similar New Years Eve update from David Duong, Coinbases Global Head of Investment Research, who argued that regulatory clarity and institutional adoption are converging to make crypto part of the financial core. Duong also highlighted the role of spot crypto ETFs, stablecoins and tokenization in driving growth and adoption, suggesting that these factors will combine in 2026 as ETF approval timelines compress, stablecoins take a larger role in delivery-vs-payment (DvP) structures, and tokenized collateral is recognized more broadly across traditional transactions. These remarks also come a couple of months after Coinbase posted better-than-expected Q3 financial results, which reported a 26% quarter-on-quarter increase in revenue, at $1.9 billion. September also brought news that the exchange is considering launching a native token for Base, although it clarified that there is no definite timeline for any such potential launch. Coinbase Beats Q3 Forecasts as Transaction Revenue Jumps to $1 Billion How achievable are Coinbases goals? While Coinbase did have a positive 2025, some industry commentators suggest that Brian Armstrongs latest tweet may have been intentionally hyperbolic, and should be taken perhaps more as a long-term strategy than as goals for this year. Coinbases aims are directionally sound but overstate near-term feasibility; true adoption hinges on solving real problems, not just moving users onchain for its own sake, said Anndy Lian, an intergovernmental blockchain advisor and currently the Chief Digital Advisor at the Mongolia Productivity Organization. Speaking to Decrypt, Lian agreed that Coinbase is a critical onramp for retail and institutions, but that its stated aim of bringing the world onchain oversimplifies the drawn-out process of adoption. Benghazi, Libya (PANA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Libyan government appointed by eastern-based House of Representatives has announced the unconditional release of all Libyan citizens detained in Chad Corn prices are slipping another 1 to 1 cents to start the final trade day of the year. Futures slid into the Tuesday close, with contracts down 1 to 3 cents across most front months. Open interest was up 7,881 contracts on Tuesday. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was down another penny at $3.98 3/4. The market will be closed on Thursday for New Years Day, with a hard open at 8:30 am CST on Friday. USDA will release their Export Sales report this morning, with traders looking for between 1-2 MMT in corn sales in the week of 12/18. More News from Barchart Brazils December exports are expected to total 6.35 MMT according to ANEC, steady with the previous estimate. Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.40 1/2, down 1 3/4 cents, currently down 1 1/4 cents Nearby Cash was $3.98 3/4, down 1 cents, May 26 Corn closed at $4.48 1/2, down 2 1/4 cents, currently down 1 cent Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.54 1/2, down 2 1/2 cents, currently down 1 cent 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 AMERICAS Colombia Expected Council Action In January 2026, the Security Council is expected to hold its quarterly meeting on Colombia. Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Miroslav Jenca will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-Generals latest 90-day report on the mission (S/2025/849), which was circulated to Council members on 26 December 2025 and covers the period from 27 September 2025. The verification missions mandate expires on 31 October 2026. Key Recent Developments On 26 November 2025, Colombia marked the ninth anniversary of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace concluded in 2016 between the government of Colombia and the former rebel group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejercito del Pueblo (FARC-EP). This milestone comes amid a complex environment for the implementation of the peace agreement and the UNs support for the process, against the backdrop of the electoral period in Colombia and a recent modification of the verification missions mandate. On 31 October 2025, the Security Council renewed the verification missions mandate for another year through resolution 2798, which received 13 votes in favour and two abstentions (Russia and the US). The resolution removed two tasks that had been previously assigned to the mission: verification of compliance with the restorative sentences handed down by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP)the judicial component of the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Non-Repetition established by the 2016 agreementas well as monitoring implementation of the agreements ethnic chapter. The negotiations on the mandate renewal were the most difficult since the verification mission was established in 2017. The US demanded the removal of these tasks, apparently conveying its readiness to veto the verification missions mandate if they were maintained, while most other Council members strongly advocated for their retention. (For more information, see our 30 October 2025 Whats in Blue story.) Jenca emphasised in a 4 November 2025 interview the importance of the renewal of the verification missions mandate to carry out the tasks on monitoring implementation of the rural reform chapter, the reincorporation of former FARC-EP combatants, and personal and collective security guarantees. He added that ethnic communities are relevant to all these provisions and therefore the mission will continue working with ethnic groupsnow without some of the spaces that Security Council resolution 2798 took away from us. The removal of the missions task relating to the SJP came shortly after the Court announced in mid-September 2025 its first restorative sentences. (In accordance with the peace agreement, those who acknowledge responsibility for crimes committed during the conflict will receive restorative sentences aimed at providing redress to victims, while those who refuse are subject to the Colombian penal code and may face imprisonment of up to 20 years.) International interlocutors had anticipated the handing down of sentences to begin as far back as 2021; in that year, the Council expanded the verification missions mandate through resolution 2574 of 11 May to verify compliance with the restorative sentences. In a 31 October 2025 statement, the SJP said that although the Councils decision presents certain challenges, it will not jeopardise the Courts ability to verify compliance with the sentences it hands down. In this regard, the statement noted that the SJP, in cooperation with the verification mission, has developed over the past few years a rigorous mechanism that combines fieldwork with advanced technology to record information that can confirm the carrying out of activities decreed by the restorative sentences, including the search for missing persons and humanitarian demining. As reflected in Council members statements after the adoption of resolution 2798, the majority of the Council continues to support the full implementation of the 2016 peace agreement. Resolution 2798 requests the Secretary-General to ensure coordination and efficiencies, including by ensuring that other activities in the country are carried out by the most appropriate UN system entity. This provision alludes to other UN entities potentially having a role in efforts relating to the tasks removed from the verification missions mandate. Some early discussions have begun in this regard, including in a 6 November 2025 meeting between the SJPs President, Judge Alejandro Ramelli, and representatives of the UN system in Colombia. The SJP continued advancing its work in the last quarter of 2025. On 19 December 2025, the Court concluded its first transitional adversarial trial, imposing a sentence of 20 years in prison on a retired colonel, after he denied his responsibility and was found guilty of killings and forced disappearances presented as combat casualties during the conflict. With eight months remaining in the term of Colombian President Gustavo Petro Urrego, which ends in August 2026, his administration continues to take actions and decisions relevant to the implementation of the peace agreement. In November 2025, the government announced that it will elevate the Peace Implementation Unit to the category of a Presidential Advisory Office. This decision came after Colombias Constitutional Court issued a ruling in September 2025 determining that the entity currently overseeing implementation of the 2016 peace agreement lacks the independence, resources, and political clout necessary to fulfill its mission, which has prevented it from guaranteeing the security of signatories to the agreement, among other things. Signatories to the peace agreement have been advocating for at least two years for the establishment of such an office and for the appointment of a high-level official to oversee implementation. Also in November 2025, the government secured Senate approval of a bill that extended the timeframe for implementation of the development programmes with a territorial focus (PDETs in their Spanish acronym) until 2037. (PDETs are a tool created by the peace agreement aimed at facilitating investments and enhancing state presence in regions most affected by armed conflict, poverty, and illicit economies.) Violence remains a persistent challenge across various regions in the country. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that, between January and November 2025, 1.6 million people were affected by violence and armed conflict, triple the number from 2024. At least 148,000 people were confined and 93,438 were displaced in 2025, exceeding historical figures monitored by OCHA since 2008. The severe escalation in the north-eastern region of Catatumbo in January 2025 was a significant factor in the increased numbers, with the region accounting for one third of all people displaced nationwide. OCHA has also noted an increase in grave violations against children for the fifth consecutive year, with forced recruitment and use of children by armed groups in combat and support roles, particularly from indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, eroding community resilience. It has further warned of an escalation of attacks by non-state armed groups using drones and explosive devices. Human Rights-Related Developments At the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent presented a full report of its 15-24 May 2024 visit to Colombia. In the report, the Working Group provides an overview of the current legal, institutional, and policy framework and measures taken to prevent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance faced by people of African descent in Colombia. Its findings highlighted that, despite the positive measures and noticeable efforts undertaken by Colombia, the prevalence of racial discrimination in the country persists and hampers the full recognition of people of African descent and their integration into society. At multiple levels, Afro-descendant communities, as the Working Group indicated, experience a lack of recognition, as they are often subjected to statistical invisibility by state institutions, met with structural barriers, including institutional racism, as well as denied full enjoyment of certain economic, social, and cultural rights. Key Issues and Options A key issue is how tasks no longer in the Councils remitverification of compliance with the SJPs restorative sentences and monitoring of implementation of the ethnic chapter of the peace agreementwill be addressed. Member states that wish to support such processes need to take into account some considerations. For instance, the 2016 agreement envisioned a role for the verification mission in monitoring compliance with the sentences handed down by the SJP, but not for other UN entities. Therefore, approval from both signatory parties (the government and the former FARC) will be required in order to give other entities that role. Furthermore, many UN bodies in Colombia have experienced budget cuts in light of the UNs liquidity crisis and will require additional funding to be able to undertake new tasks. Member states can seek to engage with relevant actors to address such issues bilaterally. These issues could also be discussed by Council members and other stakeholders in an informal interactive dialogue (IID), a closed informal meeting format that could allow for a frank exchange. In a similar vein, OCHA highlighted in its 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview that humanitarian needs continue growing in the country while capacities and resources are diminishing. The potential spillover effects of the heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela may further compound the situation. (For background, see our 23 December 2025 Whats in Blue story.) Colombia already hosts nearly three million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, numbers that can grow if the situation in Venezuela escalates. At the meeting on Colombia in January 2026, some Council members can choose to call on donors to enhance their support for humanitarian efforts in the country. As Januarys meeting will be the last before the March 2026 congressional elections, Council members could emphasise in their statements the urgent need to use mechanisms outlined in the peace agreement, such as the Comprehensive Security System for the Exercise of Politics (SISEP), to facilitate the secure conduct of elections. They can also encourage the government to continue prioritising implementation of the peace agreement in the remainder of its term, including by putting in place structures that can help facilitate continuity in the next administration, such as elevating the entity in charge of implementation to a presidential office. Council Dynamics Colombia had previously been considered a file that enjoyed Council consensus in support for the peace process and for the verification missions work. However, the strains in the bilateral relationship between Colombia and the US since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025 have created significant challenges in the Councils engagement on the file. (For background on the deteriorating bilateral relationship, see the brief on Colombia in our October 2025 Monthly Forecast.) These difficult dynamics were evident in the contentious negotiations on resolution 2798, and in the fact that Council members have not adopted any press statements on Colombia in 2025, although it had previously been the practice to do so after every quarterly meeting. The recent developments could also signal future difficult dynamics as Colombia joins the Council as a non-permanent member for 2026-2027. In early December 2025, the US indicated its intention to convene meetings in Washington with the four other new membersBahrain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Latvia, and Liberiato discuss future cooperation at the Security Council, while excluding Colombia. The advent of the four other incoming members may also affect Council dynamics on the Colombia file. Among the Council members that finished their term in 2025, Guyana played a strong role as part of the A3 Plus grouping (together with then-members Algeria and Sierra Leone and current member Somalia) in highlighting issues affecting indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities and stressing the need to implement the 2016 agreements ethnic chapter. It remains to be seen if the new A3 grouping (the DRC, Liberia, and Somalia) will take a similar approach. The UK is the penholder on Colombia. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON COLOMBIA EUROPE Cyprus Expected Council Action In January, the Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) ahead of its 31 January 2026 expiry. Earlier in the month, Security Council members are expected to receive a briefing in consultations on the situation in Cyprus by Special Representative and Head of UNFICYP Khassim Diagne. Key Recent Developments Over the past six months, UN efforts to sustain momentum on the Cyprus issue have continued through a series of high-level engagements aimed at advancing the implementation of confidence-building measures (CBMs), despite the persistence of longstanding disagreements regarding the parameters of a settlement. Although political divisions remain, both sides have participated in a number of high-level, UN-facilitated informal meetings, marking the most sustained period of dialogue since the breakdown of talks in 2017. Following the informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader formatbringing together the two Cypriot leaders and the three guarantor Powers (Greece, Turkiye, and the UK)held in Geneva on 1718 March of this year, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened another informal meeting in the same format on 1617 July in New York with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and then Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. During the meeting, the parties reviewed progress on the CBMs agreed earlier in the year, but did not reach agreement on several key outstanding issues, including the opening of new crossing points. According to the Secretary-General, four of the six agreed initiatives have been achieved. These include the establishment of a technical committee on youth; initiatives related to the environment and climate change, including impacts on mining areas; the restoration of cemeteries; and an agreement on demining, which is to be finalised once remaining technical details are resolved. Discussions were expected to continue on the remaining two initiatives, namely the opening of four crossing points and the development of solar energy in the buffer zone. In addition, the leaders reached a common understanding on the establishment of a consultative body for civil society engagement, the exchange of cultural artefacts, an initiative on air quality monitoring, and measures to address microplastic pollution. In early September, the Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy on Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, travelled to the island for consultations in advance of anticipated leader-level engagement during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly. On 27 September, Guterres held a trilateral meeting in New York with Christodoulides and Tatar, after which he indicated that his Personal Envoy would conduct further consultations to support preparations for a future informal meeting in a broader format. On 3 September, Guterres appointed Khassim Diagne as his Special Representative and Head of UNFICYP, succeeding Colin Stewart, who left the post in August. On 19 October, Tufan Erhurman won the Turkish Cypriot leadership election, replacing Ersin Tatar. Erhurman, who campaigned on a platform advocating a return to negotiations based on a federal solution, secured a decisive victory, receiving 62.8 percent of the vote. Following the election, however, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his support for a two-state approach. In a speech delivered on 3 November to the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Erdogan called on participants to further support the Turkish Cypriots fight for rights, freedom and justice, which is based on a two-state solution. On 20 November, Christodoulides and Erhurman met under UN auspices at the UN residence in the buffer zone, with the Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy, Holguin, participating virtually. During the meeting, Erhurman presented a 10-point proposal aimed at fostering conditions conducive to the launch of a new negotiating process. The proposals included measures to enhance youth interaction between the two communities; a joint visit by the two leaders to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in the buffer zone; addressing property-related arrests; and establishing direct communication channels between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot security forces. In addition, Erhurman presented a separate four-point proposal for relaunching formal negotiations towards a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue. This approach reportedly envisaged, inter alia, acceptance of political equality by the Greek Cypriot side, the conduct of negotiations within a defined timeframe, the preservation of all past agreements, and a UN guarantee that embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots would be lifted should the Greek Cypriot side withdraw from negotiations. According to the UN press briefing by Spokesman for the Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric on 20 November, the leaders expressed readiness to work towards another informal meeting in a broader format to be convened by the Secretary-General. On 11 December, the Personal Envoy returned to the island and convened a joint meeting with Christodoulides and Erhurman. According to a press statement by the UN Spokesperson in Cyprus, the leaders agreed to accelerate work on practical CBMs, including the opening of new crossing points, the granting of access to EU markets of halloumi/hellim by producers from both communities, and the completion of the long-delayed pipeline associated with the Mia Milia/Haspolat water treatment plant, as well as measures to improve the functionality of existing crossing points. A report in line with the Secretary-Generals UN80 initiative, which was issued on 18 September 2025, proposed structural and programme realignments for the Office of the Special Adviser on Cyprus, including functional streamlining through greater use of support services shared with UNFICYP. In this context, the proposed 2026 programme budget reflects a reduction of $1.2 million (37.7 percent) for the Office, including the proposed abolishment of eight posts, among them the Special Adviser at the Under-Secretary-General level. The elimination of the Special Adviser post is attributed to the absence of formal negotiations since 2017 and the appointment of the Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy on Cyprus to follow up on initiatives agreed in Geneva in March 2025. Notwithstanding these adjustments, the Office is expected to continue supporting political engagement, CBMs, and the work of bicommunal technical committees. These changes are taking place against the backdrop of the broader UN liquidity crisis, which may affect funding for UNFICYP and the Good Offices in Cyprus. Human Rights-Related Developments In a 9 September press release, UN experts expressed grave concern over reports of exploitative recruitment and employment practices against migrant workers at a citrus farm in the northern part of Cyprus. The UN experts received information that such workers were subjected to threats, coercion, and violence by company-controlled intermediaries who engaged in direct acts of violence as well as by company officials who used their influence to make public threats. Despite complaints raised by these workers, Turkish Cypriot authorities had not carried out thorough investigations or implemented effective accountability measures against the alleged perpetrators. The UN experts urged the authorities to conduct effective investigations into allegations of trafficking in persons and access to remedies, as well as to ensure compensation for the victims affected. At the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries presented a full report of its 16-24 January 2025 visit to Cyprus. While acknowledging the positive strides the country has made in regulating private security companies in the maritime context, the Working Group stressed the importance of applying the same high standards and scrutiny to those operating on land. Among other recommendations, it called on Cyprus to consider establishing an independent, proper oversight body or mechanism to oversee these private security actors and ensure that they are not engaged in human rights violations and abuses. Key Issues and Options Since the collapse of the 2017 talks in Crans-Montana, the key issue for the Security Council has been the absence of sustained progress towards resuming a formal political process. While the leader-level meeting on 11 December under the facilitation of the Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy suggests a renewed willingness to pursue practical cooperation, Holguin has acknowledged that further work is needed before an informal meeting in a broader format can be convened. Against this backdrop, an option for the Council, in the context of the upcoming renewal of UNFICYPs mandate (which expires on 31 January 2026), would be to use the resolution to encourage the parties to build on recent engagements and to avoid steps that could undermine the political climate, including actions that heighten tensions in the buffer zone. The Council could also consider inviting Holguin to brief members during the consultations on Cyprus on her assessment of whether conditions are emerging for a broader-format meeting. Another option would be to hold such a discussion in an informal interactive dialogue (IID) format, a closed, informal meeting that could allow for a frank exchange of views with Holguin and both Cypriot leaders. In addition, Council members may wish to consider the potential implications of the proposed UN80-related budgetary and staffing adjustments affecting the Office of the Special Adviser on Cyprus, as well as the possible impact of the broader UN liquidity situation on UNFICYP and the Secretary-Generals Good Offices in Cyprus. While the Secretariat has indicated that the Office will continue to deliver on its core political mandate through a streamlined structure, some members may seek greater clarity on how these financial and structural constraints could affect political engagement, support for CBMs and the implementation of UNFICYPs mandate ahead of the missions renewal. In this context, the Council could request a briefing from the Secretariat to assess any potential operational or mandate-related implications. Council Dynamics Cyprus remains a low-intensity issue on the Councils agenda. Permanent members with a vested interest in Cyprus include France, Russia, and the UK, which also serves as the penholder on the issue. Greece, which was elected on 6 June 2024 to serve as a non-permanent member of the Security Council from 2025 to 2026, is a key stakeholder in relation to UNFICYP and one of the three guarantor powers. While the Council is united in its support for UNFICYP and a political process based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation (BBF) with political equality, members diverge on the conditions and timeframe for the unification talks. Some members have previously supported a comprehensive strategic review of the mission and timed benchmarks for an exit strategy tied to the political process. Russia has been adamant that there should be no external interference or attempts to impose solutions or timelines that might influence the peace talks. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON CYPRUS AMERICAS Haiti Expected Council Action In January, the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) prior to its expiration on 31 January. The Council is also expected to hold its 90-day briefing on the situation in Haiti. Special Representative and Head of BINUH Carlos Ruiz Massieu is expected to brief the Council on recent developments in the country and on the Secretary-Generals latest report on BINUH. Closed consultations are expected to follow the briefing. Background and Key Recent Developments After the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, Haiti descended into a multidimensional crisis characterised by political deadlock, extreme violence, and dire humanitarian conditions. Armed gangs have overrun an estimated 90 percent of Port-au-Prince, the capital, employing tactics including murder, kidnapping, and sexual violence amid widespread impunity. In recent months, the gangs have expanded their reach beyond the capital, including to parts of the Artibonite and Centre departments. Armed attacks in late November and early December 2025 resulted in several casualties and triggered large-scale displacement in the Lower Artibonite. The Secretary-Generals latest BINUH report, issued in October 2025, indicates that intentional homicides in the Artibonite and Centre departments increased by 210 percent, totalling 1,303 victims between January and August 2025, compared to 419 during the same period in 2024. In December 2025, a significant rift emerged within the Viv Ansanm gang coalition over a dispute about the continued use of kidnappings. According to media reports, clashes among gang members broke out in Port-au-Prince on 9 December 2025 following accusations from the leader of Viv Ansanm that one of the members of the coalition had ignored his order to halt kidnappings. The clashes reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities, including children, and raised concerns about further violence. According to BINUH, between 1 July and 30 September 2025, at least 1,247 people were killed, and 710 were injured in Haiti. Security force operations were responsible for 61 percent of those killed or injured. Gang attacks accounted for approximately 30 percent of casualties, while nine percent resulted from actions by self-defence groups targeting alleged gang affiliates. Kidnapping and sexual violence figures remained high during the same period. The high rate of casualties among people not involved in gang activities during anti-gang operations remains a source of concern. The most recent BINUH report notes that 22 percent of casualties during such operations were residents struck by stray bullets at home or during daily activities. It adds that some security officers have continued to summarily execute individuals suspected of gang links. Since March 2025, a Haitian National Police (HNP) task force has been operating drones targeted at gang members with the support of US private military contractors. The BINUH report provides casualty figures related to drone operations in the country. Between 1 March and 20 September 2025, drone operations resulted in the deaths of at least 547 people, of whom 527 were suspected gang members and 20 members of the population, including 11 children. According to a recent update by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, most of these drone strikes are likely unlawful under international human rights law. On 30 September 2025, the Security Council adopted resolution 2793, authorising UN member states to transition the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti into a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) for an initial period of 12 months. Like the MSS, the GSF is not a UN mission. At the same time, the resolution requests that the Secretary-General establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide support to the GSF, among other entities. While the transition to the GSF is authorised on the understanding that the cost of personnel will be borne by voluntary contributions, UNSOH will be funded through peacekeeping assessed contributions. The GSFs mandate represents a clear shift from the MSS missions model. While the MSS mission focused on supporting and training the HNP, the GSF has been mandated to conduct counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs independently or in cooperation with the HNP and Haitian armed forces. It also authorised a personnel ceiling of 5,550, compared to the 2,500 envisaged (but never achieved) under the MSS missions concept of operations. In August 2025, the formation of a Standing Group of Partners for the GSFcomprising the Bahamas, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kenya, and the USwas announced. On 2 December 2025, the group appointed Jack Christofides, who has held several leadership roles in the UN, as GSF Special Representative. At a 9 December 2025 force generation conference for the GSF held at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN in New York on behalf of the Standing Group of Partners, several countries announced personnel and funding commitments, including Chad and Bangladesh, which committed 1,500 personnel each. According to reporting by the Miami Herald, prior to the meeting, several countries expressed concern about making commitments without a clear agreement on how the mission would operate, and on a US directive that focused mainly on killing gang members, many of whom are youth. Similar concerns arose among Council members during the negotiations on resolution 2793 regarding the forceful posture of the GSF and the fact that, according to UN estimates, 30 to 50 percent of gang members are children. On the political front, the future of the transition remains uncertain, with a potential political vacuum following the expiration of the mandate of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) on 7 February. On 1 December 2025, the TPC approved an electoral decree establishing the rules for the general elections, with the first round of legislative and presidential polling expected in August according to a draft calendar submitted by the Provisional Electoral Council to the TPC in November 2025. Under a May 2024 Decree, the TPCs mandate cannot be extended. In October 2025, the Haitian transitional authorities scrapped plans for a previously announced constitutional referendum. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with children being particularly affected. According to a 10 December 2025 UNICEF update, approximately 1.4 million people are internally displaced in Haiti, including over 741,000 children. Some 5.7 million people face high levels of acute food insecurity, including 1.2 million children under 5 years of age. Among other concernssuch as the disruption of the health and education systems, and the resurgence of choleraUNICEF notes that [h]undreds of thousands of Haitians, including unaccompanied and separated children, are being returned from the Dominican Republic, often without documentation or support, and face risks of homelessness, hunger, violence, exploitation and de facto statelessness. On 26 November 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the end of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, effective on 3 February. The decision, which is estimated to affect around 340,000 people, was taken following the DHS determination that there are no extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti that prevent Haitian nationals from safely returning to the country. Human Rights-Related Developments On 2 October 2025, Turk updated the UN Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti. He emphasised that the rising violence and violations of human rights in Haiti have pushed the country to the breaking point. More than 16,000 people have been killed in armed violence since 1 January 2022, when the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights began monitoring incidents of gang-related violence in the country. Turk urged accountability for human rights violations and abuses and stressed the need to address impunity and corruption as well as poverty and inequality. He also called for supporting programmes to protect survivors of sexual violence and support the reintegration of children formerly associated with gangs. Turk noted the importance of ensuring that efforts to restore security are rooted in human rights. He urged the Haitian authorities to investigate all allegations of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, and ensure perpetrators, regardless of affiliation, are brought to justice. Turk underscored the importance of robust human rights safeguards underpinning the activities of the GSF and called on all member states to implement the Security Councils arms embargo on Haiti. Women, Peace and Security In a 3 November 2025 statement, the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls warned that the systematic exclusion of women from leadership and decision-making in Haiti and the high incidence of sexual violence are deepening insecurity and obstructing pathways to peace. They stressed that, despite commitments to gender equality, women remain sidelined from key political bodies and processes that determine their safety, rights, and future. Regarding resolution 2793, the statement said that, while the resolution acknowledges the impact of violence on women and girls, it does not include concrete measures to ensure their leadership or to integrate gender perspectives across the security and governance agenda. The Working Group called on the Haitian authorities and international partners to take immediate steps to uphold the rights of Haitian women and girls, including ensuring womens participation across political, security, transitional justice and recovery efforts. Key Issues and Options The central task for the Security Council in January is to renew BINUHs mandate. Protecting the mandates integrity in the current climate of violence and uncertainty and ensuring that the mission has the resources to carry out its mandated tasks is an important issue for the Council. One option is to extend BINUHs mandate for one year retaining its functions as established in resolution 2476, which in 2019 established the mission, and in successive mandate renewals, including supporting a Haitian-led and Haitian-owned political process, good governance, human rights, child protection, community violence reduction, gender equality, protection from sexual and gender-based violence, and HNP capacity and institutional development. As new leadership and personnel for the GSF are expected in the coming months, an additional issue for the Security Council will be how to ensure it receives comprehensive and timely information on the GSFs deployment, oversight arrangements, and operational conduct. Resolution 2793 requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council on the implementation of the resolution as part of his regular reporting on Haiti. The resolution also requested the GSF Special Representative, in coordination with the government of Haiti and the UN, to keep the Security Council abreast of relevant developments and inform on the concept of operations, indicative financial needs to be funded by voluntary contributions, and a force generation plan. Should Council members wish to complement this information, one option would be to invite Christofides at an appropriate time to brief the Council on such issues as mission composition, funding arrangements, and measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse and the excessive use of force. Council Dynamics Council members are united in their concern about Haitis multidimensional crisis and generally agree on the need to tackle escalating gang violence and its impact on the Haitian population. Views also converge on the continuing need for a sanctions regime and the importance of a Haitian-led political solution that addresses both security and socioeconomic challenges. At the same time, positions have differed among Council members on how to appropriately respond to the security situation in Haiti. The US was the main architect of the transition from the MSS mission to the GSF. China and Russia broke silence during the negotiation of resolution 2793 and, together with Pakistan, abstained in the vote, citing concerns about issues such as rules of engagement, sources of funding, troop composition, oversight and accountability. While these concerns were shared by many other members, the A3 Plus grouping (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana) and European members of the Council opted for negotiating the inclusion of language on human rights, child protection, and Haitian sovereignty into the text in an attempt to mitigate these concerns. Differences among Council members also emerged during the negotiations on the renewal of the 2653 Haiti sanctions regime in October 2025. While the co-penholders (US and Panama) initially proposed to add four names to the sanctions list, Russia opposed the listing of political figures, leading to the final version of the resolution only adding two names to the sanctions list. China and the A3 Plus sought to strengthen language on the arms embargo. While the co-penholders accommodated several of these requests, proposed references to record the type, quantity, and serial number of weapons and ammunition seized and photographing all items and relevant markings and headstamps were not included. (The majority of weapons trafficked into Haiti come from the US.) Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON HAITI In Hindsight: The Security Council in 2025 and the Year Ahead In 2025, divisions in the Security Council continued to constrain the bodys ability to address some of the more dire security crises confronting the world. Dynamics in the Council shifted over the year as the new US administrations policy positions became clearer. Key resolutions were adopted on Gaza and Haiti, although their implementation poses significant challenges. The Council adopted a resolution on Ukraine that had little impact on the worsening situation in the country, and it likewise struggled to gain traction on other entrenched crises in Sudan and Myanmar. An unusually high number of unexpected crisis situationsranging from conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand and between India and Pakistan to a coup in Guinea-Bissau and tensions between the US and Venezuelawere the focus of some attention. Syria is one issue where the Council demonstrated considerable unity in 2025, and the country now has an opportunity to build a brighter future after years of civil war. In 2026, the Council will have to address several critical issues. Among these are the future of peace operations, the implementation of resolutions on Gaza and Haiti, and the impact of the UNs liquidity crisis on its work. It will also need to make a crucial recommendation to the General Assembly on who should lead the UN as its next Secretary-General. These and other issues with important bearing on international peace and security point to a year ahead with both challenges and opportunities. Declining Outcomes and Voting Patterns Demonstrate Deep Divisions The 44 resolutions adopted in 2025 continue a downward trend in output for the fifth straight yearcompared to 46 in 2024, 50 in 2023, 54 in 2022, and 57 in 2021. It also marks the lowest number of resolutions since 1991 (42). In addition, only 61.4 percent of the resolutions adopted in 2025 had the support of all 15 Council members. This is less than the 65.2 percent adopted unanimously in 2024, and it represents a low level of unanimity for the post-Cold War period, including in the prior decade. For example, between 2014 and 2023, the Council adopted 83.9 percent of its resolutions (494 of 589) unanimously.[1] In 2025, the Council adopted eight presidential statements, one more than 2024 (seven) and two more than 2023 (six). Presidential statements, which require the support of all 15 Council members to be adopted, focused on the following issues in 2025: political developments in Lebanon, as well as the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon; counter-terrorism, especially in Africa; the 2025 review of the UNs peacebuilding architecture; violence against civilians in Latakia and Tartus, Syria; conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes; violence against civilians in Suweida, Syria; the importance of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; and the 30th anniversary of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Notwithstanding the slight uptick in the number of presidential statements over the past two years, the eight adopted in 2025 are still very low in comparison with the average annual output of presidential statements in recent decades. For example, in the decade from 2011-2020, the Council adopted a total of 220 presidential statements (an average of 22 per year), and the six adopted in 2023 were the lowest number since the Council began using its current documentation for presidential statements in 1994. Council members issued 34 press statements in 2025. Unlike resolutions and presidential statements, press statements are not formal documents of the Security Council. Nonetheless, they reflect the collective will of Council members, and like presidential statements, require unanimity to be adopted. The number of press statements has declined considerably in recent years. Last year there were 43, and in 2023 there were 34, the same as in 2025. However, in the decade from 2013-2022, the Council issued a total of 879 press statements, or an average of 87.9 per year. The low number of outcomes (resolutions, presidential statements, and press statements) reflects the difficulty that the Council has had in reaching agreement. On some of the most violent conflicts, for example, the Councils output has been limited, its voice largely muted by difficult dynamics. There was only one product on the war in Ukraine in 2025: resolution 2774 of 24 February, a short text imploring a swift end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Similarly, only one formal outcome was adopted on the war in Gaza, resolution 2803 of 17 November, which endorsed the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, welcomed the establishment of a Board of Peace (BoP) as a transitional administration with international legal personality, and authorised the BoP to establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. Both these resolutions were adopted non-unanimously: all five of the Councils European members (Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, and the UK) abstained on resolution 2774, while China and Russia abstained on resolution 2803. While it is notable that Council members agreed to six press statements on Sudan in 2025, the Council has not been able to adopt a formal outcome in response to the dire security and humanitarian situation in Darfur and other parts of the country in 2025. The only formal outcome on Sudan in 2025 was the renewal of the Panel of Experts of the 1591 Sanctions Committee. Similarly, efforts to pursue a resolution or presidential statement for several months in 2025 on the civil war in Myanmar were stymied, largely due to resistance from China and Russia; Council members were only able to muster one press statement in response to this conflict during the year. Besides the two vetoes on the war in Gaza, two other vetoes were cast in 2025: both on amendments on draft resolutions on the war in Ukraine. This is a decrease from the eight vetoes on seven draft resolutions in 2024, which were the highest number of vetoes and vetoed draft resolutions in any year since 1986. The 2025 vetoes reveal interesting trends in Council dynamics. The US vetoed the two draft resolutions on Gaza, which is not surprising, but both were penned by all ten elected members (E10) of the Security Council. This reflects the growing sense of identity among the E10 members, who, in recent years, have demonstrated the ability to collaborate to try to break impasses on difficult issues. In this regard, their collective effort to pen draft resolutions on Gaza in June and September, while unsuccessful, was the continuation of a working method developed in 2024, when the E10 collectively drafted resolution 2728, which demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Notwithstanding the US vetoes, both draft resolutions had the support of the other 14 members of the Council. In February, Russia vetoed two amendments on US-authored resolution 2774, which implored a swift end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The European members (Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, and the UK), collectively known as the E5, were disappointed that the text omitted any reference to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. One of the vetoed amendments, which was proposed by the E5, reaffirmed the Councils commitment to Ukraines sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The second, also proposed by the E5, urged a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter and the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of states. The US also introduced its draft resolution in the General Assembly, where it was adopted earlier that day with amendments that were not in the Councils resolution, including a reference to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters. The Role of the US A new US administration brought significant changes in US policy to the Security Council. On some thematic files, the US now shares positions closer to China and Russia than its traditional P5 allies, France and the UK. The US has opposed the Councils work on climate change, peace and security and certain aspects of the women, peace and security (WPS) agendaseeking (often successfully) to remove references to climate change and gender in negotiations on Council outcomes. In many cases, it has also successfully advocated for caveating references to international humanitarian law with the qualifier as applicable in outcomes. The US played a decisive role in some of the key decisions the Council made in 2025. It co-penned resolution 2793 on Haiti with Panama. Adopted on 30 September, this resolution authorised UN member states to transition the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti into a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) for an initial period of 12 months and requested that the Secretary-General establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH). In addition, on 17 November, the Council adopted the US-authored resolution 2803, which endorsed the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, welcomed the establishment of a Board of Peace (BoP), and authorised the BoP to establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. These resolutions were not without controversy, however. Resolution 2793 was adopted with three abstentions (China, Pakistan, and Russia), while there were two abstentions (China and Russia) on resolution 2803. These members expressed significant misgivings about both resolutions; some other members who supported them nonetheless had concerns, including about how they would be implemented. With regard to Haiti, Council members noted the support of countries in the region for resolution 2793. However, some raised questions about the composition of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), its financing, its rules of engagement, and its concept of operationswhile emphasising the importance of its strict adherence to international law. With regard to Gaza, some Council members welcomed the USs 20-point plan and noted the support of the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries for resolution 2803 in their explanations of vote on this resolution. However, concerns were expressed by a number of members about issues such as the composition of the ISF in Gaza, its terms of reference, and what they perceived as insufficient attention accorded to the Palestinian role in the future of Gaza. Whither Peace Operations? The UNs liquidity crisis has resulted in significant austerity measures that have affected much of the UNs work in 2025, including the peacekeeping operations that the Council mandates and oversees. A major factor contributing to the resource-constrained environment for peacekeeping is the significant arrears in assessed contributions. Notable in this regard are the significant arrears of three permanent members: the US, China, and Russia, who are assessed to contribute 26.1584 percent, 23.7851 percent, and 2.4898 percent of the UN peacekeeping budget, respectively. As at 15 November, the US owed $2.370 billion, China $697 million, and Russia $193 million. Contingency measures are starting to be carried out, including a 15 percent cut in expenditures for peacekeeping operations and the repatriation of 25 percent of uniformed personnel that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced in a 10 October letter to UN staff. The US, in particular, exercised significant influence on the mandates of UN peace operations in 2025. It often pushed for shorter-term extensions of missions than had previously been the norm, as with the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UMMHA) in July. At times, it requested reporting on the potential transition of peace operations. This was the case, for example, in the negotiations on the mandate renewals of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in November. In one instance, the US advocated for the outright closure of a mission, the UN Interim Force for Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mandate was extended for a final time until 31 December 2026 through the adoption of resolution 2790 on 28 August 2025. In the case of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, the US position led to a considerable reduction of the missions tasks. When the Council renewed the verification mission through resolution 2798 of 31 October 2025, it removed two of the missions tasksverifying compliance with the restorative sentences handed by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) and monitoring implementation of the 2016 peace agreements ethnic chapterat the request of the US. In 2025, in contrast to most Council members, the US was unwilling to co-finance the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) through UN-assessed contributions as outlined in resolution 2719 of 21 December 2023, a position also held by the previous US administration.[2] This has generated concerns about the future financial viability of the mission, as reflected in the 15 December 2025 communique of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC). A positive development in 2025 was the Peacekeeping Trio Initiative spearheaded by three elected membersDenmark, Pakistan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK)who sought to highlight this issue as a key priority of their Security Council terms. The three countries organised a series of informal roundtables to facilitate discussions on various aspects of peacekeeping, most importantly the ongoing review of peace operations, which is being conducted by the UN Secretariat and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. Denmark, Pakistan, and the ROK also coordinated among themselves in organising formal meetings in the Council during their monthly presidencies in March, July, and September, respectively, to discuss issues around the future of peacekeeping at a time when peacekeeping is facing significant challenges. Other Thematic Initiatives Several other important thematic initiatives affected the Councils work in 2025. On 22 July, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2788 on strengthening mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes. The resolution reaffirms the Councils commitment to making frequent use of the UN Charters pacific settlement tools and requests the Secretary-General to report on its implementation by July 2026. On 26 November, the Security Council and the General Assembly adopted substantively identical resolutions on the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR). The twin draft resolutions, unanimously adopted in the Security Council as resolution 2805, affirm that the latest PBAR aims to enhance the implementation and impact of UN peacebuilding activities at the field level. They also restate the UNs long-standing commitment to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace, emphasising that these efforts rely on the mutually reinforcing contributions of development, human rights, and peace and security initiatives. Another notable thematic development in 2025 was the Security Councils unanimous adoption of resolution 2807 on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) on 12 December. The resolution, which was co-authored by Guyana and Sierra Leone, aims to promote engagement by member states, the Security Council, and other UN entities on the YPS agenda. Among other things, it decides to continue the consideration of the YPS agenda in the Councils work, including through open debates to discuss the Secretary-Generals biennial reports on YPS submitted pursuant to resolution 2535 of 14 July 2020. Council members supportive of the bodys work on women, peace and security and climate, peace and security continued to promote these issues, notwithstanding difficult political headwinds. In 2025, nine Council membersDenmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the ROK, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the UKsought to give continuity to some aspect of the Shared Commitments on the WPS initiative, which was started in 2021 by Ireland, Kenya, and Mexico. In 2025, participants in this initiative held regular WPS-focused press stakeouts, which are designed to enhance the visibility of the Councils discussions on WPS.[3] In 2025, nine Council members (Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the ROK, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the UK) were climate, peace and security pledgers, striving to address the effects of climate change on international peace and security in the Council. The pledgers held seven stakeouts prior to formal Council meetings in 2025, delivering joint statements highlighting the relevance of climate change to the topic of the meeting.[4] The Informal Expert Group of members of the Security Council on Climate, Peace and Security conducted a visiting mission to the Chadian part of the Lake Chad Basin from 7-12 December. During the visit, the delegationconsisting of Slovenia, Guyana, the ROK, Denmark, France, Greece, Sierra Leone, and the UKmet with relevant stakeholders to discuss localised impacts of climate change on peace and security across Chad and the broader region. The Impact of the Delay in the Appointment of Subsidiary Body Chairs In 2025, agreement on the appointment of the chairs of subsidiary bodies was not reached until 29 Maythe longest period with no subsidiary body chairs and vice-chairs since this decision was first recorded in a presidential note in 1979. As a result of the delay, contingency measures had to be developed whereby Council presidents handled urgent responsibilities of subsidiary body chairs during their presidencies until chair appointments were finalised, unless another member objected. In rare instances, Council presidents were able to process requests for exemptions to measures imposed by sanctions regimes, brief the Council on the work of subsidiary bodies, and facilitate the publication of reports of experts assisting sanctions committees. (For more on the impact of the delay in appointing subsidiary body chairs, please see our May 2025 In Hindsight.) Following the appointment of the chairs, the Council had to play catch-up at the subsidiary body level for the remainder of the year. This challenge was highlighted during the briefings of the outgoing chairs of subsidiary bodies on 17 December 2025. In this regard, Ambassador Amar Bendjama (Algeria), who chaired the 2745 Central African Republic (CAR) Sanctions Committee and the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee, observed that operating in a condensed timeframe created significant operational consequences, hindering strategic planning and engagement with member states and creating scheduling conflicts between subsidiary body meetings and Security Council activities. At the time of writing, agreement on the subsidiary body chairs for 2026 had yet to be finalised. The Year Ahead Several major crises will continue to confront the Council in 2026. There are more conflicts confronting the world now than at any point since the end of World War II. This raises significant questions regarding how a divided Council will be able to muster the political will needed to mitigate violence and support political solutions in Myanmar, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen, and West Africa, among other items on its agenda. Unanticipated crises will surely arise as well, as they did, for example, with respect to India and Pakistan and Thailand and Cambodia in 2025. In 2026, a host of complex challenges are likely to be linked to the implementation of resolutions 2793 and 2803 on Haiti and Gaza, respectively. An important issue to consider in the coming year is how robustly the Council will be able to exercise its oversight role with respect to the implementation of these resolutions. Reporting requirements to the Council are outlined in both texts, which could provide the Council with useful information to facilitate this oversight role.[5] In 2026, the Security Councils role on Ukraine will depend on whether a peace agreement is reached. If that happens, it is possible that the Council could have a role in monitoring its implementation. If there is no agreement, the Council is likely to continue to be hamstrung on this issue by the involvement of one of its permanent members (that is, Russia). Council members are likely to maintain their unity in 2026 around the need to support the political transition in Syria, the site of a Council visiting mission in December. One issue that they will continue to watch closely is the threat of intercommunal violence in the country, which was a source of considerable concern to the Council in 2025. Another pressing issue for the Council in 2026 will be its engagement with peace operations, considering the austerity crisis facing the UN and the US administrations highly critical view of UN peace operations. The recommendations from the Secretariats review of UN peace operations, expected to be finalised early this year, may inform Council members deliberations on the future of peace operations. One open question in 2026 is how the Council will engage on the Non-Proliferation file with respect to the implementation of resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Irans nuclear programme. In September 2025, the E3 parties to the JCPOAFrance, Germany, and the UKtriggered the snapback mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran that the JCPOA and resolution 2231 had suspended. China and Russia have contested the E3s legal and procedural standing to activate the mechanism and argued that all sanctions were permanently lifted on 18 October 2025, when the JCPOA and resolution 2231 were originally set to expire. Several Council members maintain that UN sanctions measures on Iran have been reactivated and that the Security Councils 1737 Sanctions Committee and its supporting Panel of Experts (PoE) have been restored. Council members are also expected to devote considerable time and effort in 2026 to engaging with candidates and conducting straw polls for a new Secretary-General, especially in the second half of the year. The Councils recommendation to the General Assembly for the appointment of the next Secretary-General will be one of the most important decisions it makes in 2026. As international peace and security difficulties mount, criticisms of the UN system, including the Security Council, abound, some justified, others less so. In this context, multilateral institutions need to work with member states to solve political, security, and economic crises that transcend borders and strike at the most vulnerable. It is precisely at these moments that the world needs a more effective Security Council. Security Council Report looks forward to continuing to report on the efforts of Council members striving to rise to the challenge of maintaining international peace and security in an increasingly troubled world. [1] United Nations, Highlights of Security Council Practice in 2023 Voting, (https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/highlights-2023-D10) [2] Resolution 2719 determines that AU-led peace support operations authorised by the Council (such as AUSSOM) should have access to UN-assessed contributions up to 75 percent of their annual budgets. [3] These were held in relation to formal Council meetings on Afghanistan (10 March), Haiti (21 April), South Sudan (16 April), Yemen (14 May), the DRC (27 June), West Africa (7 August), conflict-related sexual violence (19 August), Afghanistan (17 September), WPS (6 October) and South Sudan (11 November). [4] Stake outs were held prior to meetings on Yemen (6 March), the Great Lakes region (16 April), the protection of civilians (22 May), Libya (24 June), South Sudan (18 August), UN peace operations (9 September) and West Africa and the Sahel (18 December). [5] Resolution 2793 requests the UN Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of the resolution as part of his regular reports on Haiti. It also requests the GSF Special Representative, in coordination with the Haitian government and the UN, to develop a strategy and metrics for measuring success of the mission and concrete timebound objectives, with benchmarks towards an end-state, to be presented to the Council within nine months of the resolutions adoption. Resolution 2803 specified that the BoP would operate in a manner consistent with relevant international legal principles and requested it to submit a written report to the Security Council every six months. Overview In January 2026, Somalia will hold the presidency of the Security Council. Somalia intends to organise one signature event, an open debate titled Reaffirming international rule of law: pathways to reinvigorating peace, justice, and multilateralism under the Promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security agenda item. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to chair the meeting. Possible briefers include Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf; and the Founding President of the African Institute of International Law, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf. Somalia intends to convene the quarterly open debate on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (MEPQ) at ministerial level. Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali is expected to chair the meeting. Additional Middle Eastern issues anticipated in January are: Yemen , the monthly meeting; mandate renewal of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA); and renewal of the monthly reporting requirement on Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, originally mandated by Security Council resolution 2722 in January 2024. Syria , meetings on political and humanitarian issues, and on the chemical weapons track. Issues in the Americas that will be featured in Januarys programme of work are: Colombia , the quarterly briefing on the work of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia; and Haiti , the quarterly briefing on the work of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and renewal of BINUHs mandate. The only meeting on an African issue scheduled for the month is the semi-annual briefing from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the Courts Darfur-related activities. The Council also expects to renew the mandate of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), which expires on 31 January, through an exchange of letters with the Secretary-General. Regarding European issues, Council members are scheduled to hold their semi-annual consultations on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and to vote on a resolution renewing the missions mandate, which expires on 31 January. A private meeting with UNFICYP troop-contributing countries is also expected ahead of the vote on the renewal resolution. Council members will also receive a briefing in consultations on the work of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA). Additional meetings on these and other issuesincluding Ukraine, Sudan, and Venezuelamay be scheduled during the month depending on developments. THEMATIC ISSUES Rule of Law Expected Council Action In January, Somalia is organising an open debate on Reaffirming international rule of law: pathways to reinvigorating peace, justice, and multilateralism under the Promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security agenda item. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and former judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Abdulqawi Yusuf are possible briefers. The meeting will be the signature event of Somalias presidency. Background The Council held its first thematic debate on the rule of law in 2003. It has since held debates focusing on the rule of law on several occasions. During an open debate held on 19 January 2012, the Council received a briefing from then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his report on the rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies. In a presidential statement adopted during that debate, the Council recognised that sustainable peace requires an integrated approach that strengthens the coherence among political, security, development, human rights, and rule of law activities. On 19 February 2014, the Council convened for an open debate on the rule of law in peacekeeping operations. Two days later, the Council adopted a presidential statement underlining the importance of peacekeeping operations and special political missions supporting efforts to strengthen rule of law institutions in host countries within the scope of their mandates. On 18 December 2020, the Council held an open debate on the Promotion and strengthening of the rule of law: Strengthening the cooperation between the Security Council and the International Court of Justice. A presidential statement adopted on 21 December 2020 recognised the positive contribution of the ICJ to the rule of law at the international level, as well as its key role in adjudicating disputes, defusing tensions, and restoring peaceful relations among states. On 12 January 2023, the Council held an open debate on the Promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security: the rule of law among nations. According to a concept note for the meeting, it was intended to provide an opportunity to have a deeper discussion on how to take action, under the UN framework, to ensure international peace and security through the promotion of the rule of law and to reaffirm the meaning and role of the rule of law among nations and the common understanding that the rules to which all member states have agreed must be observed by all. Open debates on issues related to the rule of law have also been convened in recent years under the Maintenance of international peace and security agenda item. On 17 May 2018, the Council convened for an open debate on the Maintenance of international peace and security: Upholding international law within the context of the maintenance of international peace and security. On 9 January 2020, the Council held an open debate on the topic Maintenance of international peace and security: Upholding the UN Charter. A presidential statement was adopted at the meeting, which, among other matters, called on member states to fully comply with the Charter and to raise public awareness of its importance in the maintenance of international peace and security. Key Issues and Options Key issues that might be raised during the open debate include: the role played by the rule of law in efforts to maintain international peace and security, including the work undertaken by peace operations related to the rule of law; the importance of compliance with international law and the need for accountability when violations occur; the relationship between the ICJ and the Council and the possibility of Council enforcement of ICJ judgments pursuant to Article 94 of the UN Charter; and the right of self-defence recognised in Article 51 of the UN Charter, the scope of that right, and reports to the Council regarding action taken in self-defence. Somalia could choose to produce a chairs summary capturing the main themes of the open debate and circulate it as an official UN document. Members could also consider whether there is a need to hold a follow-up meeting that specifically focuses on a particular issue raised during the open debate. Council Dynamics Council members regularly emphasise the importance of the rule of law and highlight the role that it can play in maintaining international peace and security. Several Council members support references to the need to uphold international humanitarian law in Council outcomes, although the US has sought to qualify this language with the term as applicable in negotiations. The prevailing difficult dynamics among Council members may mean that some members choose in the open debate to focus on specific issues that have proven particularly divisive, such as the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON THE RULE OF LAW Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) is one of the Unstoppable Technology Stocks to Buy. The stock has risen more than 70% over the past 6-months and analysts still see 11.09% upside during the next 12-months. 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Status Update since our December Forecast Iraq On 2 December, the Security Council held an open briefing on the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (S/PV.10055). Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNAMI, Mohamed Al Hassan, briefed the Council on the Secretary-Generals final reports on UNAMI (S/2025/757) and the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-party nationals and missing Kuwaiti property (S/2025/756). Iraq and Kuwait participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. Visiting Mission to Lebanon and Syria From 2 to 7 December 2025, the Security Council travelled to Syria and Lebanon on an official visiting mission. The Council spent one day (4 December) in Damascus, Syria, marking the first time the Council visited the country. Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the UN, Samuel Zbogar, said that the Councils objective during the visit to Damascus was to build trust. Council members met with multiple relevant interlocutors and stakeholders, including high-level government officials, UN country team officials, representatives from civil society and transitional justice and accountability mechanisms, and local and religious leaders. In Beirut, the Council delegation held meetings with Lebanese authorities, including President Joseph Aoun, Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The Council also met with the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Rodolphe Haykal, and the Chair of the Cessation of Hostilities Mechanism, US Lieutenant General Joseph Clearfield. In addition, the Council travelled to Naqoura, where it received a briefing by Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Major General Diodato Abagnara and visited a nearby UNIFIL position. It seems that during their various engagements, Council members expressed support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon, and for the full implementation of resolution 1701. Members also apparently expressed support for the November 2024 cessation-of-hostilities arrangement between Israel and Lebanon and discussed the Lebanese governments commitment to ensuring a state monopoly over arms throughout the territory of Lebanon. It seems that Council members further emphasised the importance of respecting the safety and security of peacekeepers and discussed issues such as strengthening of the LAF, economic and institutional reforms, and the reconstruction of southern Lebanon. On 18 December, the Council held a briefing on the visit, in which Zbogar delivered a statement on behalf of the co-leads of the mission, Algeria, Denmark and Slovenia (S/PV.10071). Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) On 8 December, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, in her capacity as the current Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), briefed the Security Council on the organisations activities (S/PV.10056). Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon chaired the meeting. Guinea-Bissau On 8 December, Council members held closed consultations on Guinea-Bissau. Council member Sierra Leone requested the meeting, citing the recent unconstitutional change of government in the country and the suspension of the electoral process. The Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, briefed at the meeting. It seems that Denmark and Sierra Leone, the co-penholders on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), proposed a draft press statement on the situation in Guinea-Bissau. Although several Council members supported the initiative, Russia apparently expressed reservations, arguing that at the time there was no reliable information about the situation and that the Council should not rush to judgment. Denmark and Sierra Leone then circulated press elements during the consultations, but agreement was not possible due to Russias position. Ukraine On 9 December, the Security Council held an open briefing on Ukraine (S/PV.10057). Council members Denmark, France, Greece, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Slovenia, and the UK requested the meeting, citing the rising numbers of civilian casualties in Ukraine, ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure in the country as winter is setting in, and the urgent need for a ceasefire. Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon chaired the meeting. The briefers at the meeting were Kayoko Gotoh, the Officer-in-Charge for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas at the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO); Joyce Msuya, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs; and Tomaz Lovrencic, the Director of the non-profit organisation ITF Enhancing Human Security. Youth, Peace and Security On 9 December, Security Council members held an informal interactive dialogue (IID) on youth, peace and security (YPS) with members of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). Council member Slovenia organised the meeting, which featured a briefing by Awa Dabo, Director and Deputy Head of the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO). The PBCs Chair, Ambassador Ricklef Beutin (Germany), and its vice chairs (Brazil, Japan, Morocco, and Poland) also participated in the meeting. On 12 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2807 on YPS. The resolution, which was authored by Guyana and Sierra Leone, aims to promote engagement by member states, the Security Council, and other UN entities on the YPS agenda. Among other things, it decides to continue the consideration of the YPS agenda in the Councils work, including through open debates to discuss the Secretary-Generals biennial reports on YPS submitted pursuant to resolution 2535 of 14 July 2020. Afghanistan On 10 December 2025, the Security Council held an open briefing on Afghanistan (S/PV.10058). The briefers were: Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Georgette Gagnon; Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher; and Founder and Executive Director of the Window for Hope Network Negina Yari. Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon chaired the meeting. Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Kazakhstan participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. Closed consultations were held following the open briefing. International Criminal Tribunals On 10 December 2025, the Council held its semi-annual debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The IRMCTs president, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, and its chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, briefed (S/PV.10059). They also met with the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals prior to the debate. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Rwanda, and Serbia participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. UNOCA (Central Africa) On 11 December, the Security Council held a briefing and consultations on the Secretary-Generals semi-annual report on the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and the implementation of the UNs regional strategy to combat the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) (S/PV.10060). Special Representative and Head of UNOCA Abdou Abarry and Regional Head of Advocacy for the Norwegian Refugee Council Christelle Hure briefed. Democratic Republic of the Congo On 12 December, the Security Council held a briefing and consultations on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the work of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (S/PV.10063). Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and International President of Medecins Sans Frontieres Javid Abdelmoneim briefed. Additionally, the Chair of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu (Sierra Leone), briefed on the Committees work. Burundi, the DRC, and Rwanda participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. On 19 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2808 renewing MONUSCOs mandate until 20 December 2026 (S/PV.10075). Somalia On 12 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2806, renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts (PoE) assisting the 2713 Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee until 31 December 2026 and expressing its intention to review its mandate by 30 November 2026 (S/PV.10064). The resolution also renews until 30 November 2026 the authorisation for maritime interdiction to enforce the embargo on illicit arms imports, the charcoal exports ban, and the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) components ban. On 23 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2809, extending the authorisation of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) for another year, until 31 December 2026 (S/PV.10078). UNDOF (Golan) Council members held consultations on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on 12 December. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed. On 29 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2811 renewing the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) for six months, until 30 June 2026. Leadership for Peace On 15 December 2025, the Security Council convened for an open debate on Leadership for Peace under the Maintenance of international peace and security agenda item (S/PV.10067). The briefers were former UN Secretary-General and member of The Elders, Ban Ki-moon, and Anjali K. Dayal, Associate Professor in International Politics at Fordham University. Ban underscored that UN leadership must more confidently reassert its active political role in diplomacy for peace, including mediating and settling crises, adding that member states need to support this role and avoid situations in which political settlements are dictated solely by powerful countries. He also argued that the next Secretary-General should be empowered by a single seven-year term, noting that two five-year terms risk making the office overly dependent on the Councils permanent members for renewal. In her briefing, Dayal emphasised that the most important characteristic of a Secretary-General is the ability, by both position and disposition, to place greater value on tomorrow than on immediate advantages, in order to make the conference room more attractive than the battlefield. Sudan On 16 December, Security Council members held an informal interactive dialogue (IID) on the situation in Sudan. The UK, as penholder, and Denmark convened the meeting against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in the country. Council members received briefings from several key regional and international actors during the IID. The briefers were the UN Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra; the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) High-Level Panel on Sudan Mohamed Ibn Chambas; the European Union (EU) Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber; and the Head of Sudan and Horn of Africa Affairs at the League of Arab States (LAS), Zeid Al Sabban. Cherinet Hariffo, the Permanent Observer of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to the UN, also briefed, alongside a representative of the US, who spoke on behalf of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)collectively referred to as the Quad countries. On 22 December, the Council held an open briefing to discuss the situation in Sudan (S/PV.10077). The briefers were Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Director of the Crisis Response Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Edem Wosornu, and Cameron Hudson, a political risk consultant. Sudans Transitional Prime Minister, Kamil Eltayeb Idris, participated under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. Central African Republic On 17 December, Ambassador Amar Bendjama (Algeria), the Chair of the 2745 Sanctions Committee concerning the Central African Republic (CAR), briefed the Security Council on the Committees work (S/PV.10069). Briefing by the Outgoing Chairs of the Security Councils Subsidiary Bodies On 17 December 2025, the outgoing chairs of the Councils subsidiary bodies held their customary briefing on their experiences (S/PV10070). The Council was briefed by the following representatives of the five members who completed their two-year terms on the Council at the end of 2025: Ambassador Amar Bendjama (Algeria) on the 2745 Central African Republic (CAR) Sanctions Committee and the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee. Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana)on the 2653 Haiti Sanctions Committee and the 2048 Guinea-Bissau Sanctions Committee. Ambassador Sangjin Kim (Republic of Korea [ROK]) on the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee; the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee; and the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations. Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu (Sierra Leone)on the 1533 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Sanctions Committee; the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee; and the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar (Slovenia)on the 1518 Iraq Sanctions Committee. West Africa and the Sahel On 18 December, the Security Council held an open briefing on West Africa and the Sahel (S/PV.10073). Deputy Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Barrie Freeman, briefed the Council on the Secretary-Generals latest report on the activities of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), which was published on 28 November and covers developments from 1 August (S/2025/771). Closed consultations followed the open briefing. Libya On 19 December, the Council held its regular bi-monthly briefing on Libya (S/PV.10074). Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Hanna Serwaa Tetteh briefed on recent political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country and on the latest Secretary-Generals report (S/2025/792). Ambassador Mohamed Rabi Yusuf (Somalia), Chair of the Libya Sanctions Committee, briefed on the Committees activities. Myanmar On 22 December, the Council convened for a private meeting on Myanmar. Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar Julie Bishop and Special Envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chair on Myanmar Tan Sri Othman Hashim briefed. The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the UK, the penholder on the file, requested the meeting. Ahead of the meeting, Council members were negotiating a draft press statement regarding the 10 December airstrike that struck a hospital in Rakhine state, killing at least 34 people and injuring dozens more. It appears that the press statement was blocked by China and Russia. Non-Proliferation On 23 December 2025, the Security Council held a briefing under the Non-Proliferation agenda item to discuss the implementation of resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Irans nuclear programme (S/PV.10079). The meeting was requested by Denmark, France, Greece, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Slovenia, the UK, and the US, with support from Panama. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Council on the Secretary-Generals latest report on the implementation of resolution 2231, which is dated 15 December 2025 and covers developments since the previous report of 19 June 2025. Following the adoption of the agenda, China and Russia raised a point of order objecting to the agenda item under which the meeting was held, reiterating their argument that resolution 2231 has expired and that the Council has therefore concluded its consideration of the Iranian nuclear file. France and the UK took the floor to counter those claims, maintaining their position that most provisions of resolution 2231 remain in effect due to the invocation of its snapback mechanism. Venezuela On 23 December, the Security Council held an open briefing under the Threats to international peace and security agenda item to discuss recent developments relating to Venezuela (S/PV.10080). The meeting was requested by Venezuela in a 17 December letter, citing the escalating situation around the country. China and Russia supported the meeting request. The Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), Mohamed Khaled Khiari, briefed at the meeting. Counter-Terrorism On 29 December, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2810, which extended the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) until 5 January 2029. Emerging Threats On 29 December, Council members participated in an Arria-formula meeting convened by Russia on Risks and challenges emanating from uncontrolled use of low earth orbit satellites. The briefers included Alexey Borodin, the Director-General of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications, and Victor Strelets, Expert of the National Research Centre for Telecommunication in Moscow. Bosnia and Herzegovina On 29 December, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2025/8) marking the 30th anniversary of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), also known as the Dayton Peace Agreement. Slovenia authored the presidential statement, which acknowledges this milestone and the progress that BiH has achieved since the signing of the Agreement and its Annexes in 1995. Israels Recognition of Somaliland On 29 December, the Security Council held an open briefing under the Threats to international peace and security agenda item to discuss Israels 27 December 2025 decision to recognise Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia (S/PV.10084). The A3 Plus grouping (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana) requested the meeting. China, Pakistan, and Russia supported the meeting request. The Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), Mohamed Khaled Khiari, briefed at the meeting. MIDDLE EAST Syria Expected Council Action In January, the Security Council is expected to hold two meetings on Syria: one on political and humanitarian issues, and another on the chemical weapons track. Background and Key Recent Developments 8 December marked Syrias one-year anniversary since rebel forcesled by now interim President Ahmed al-Sharaaousted the Bashar al-Assad government. Mass celebrations occurred in some of Syrias most populous cities, including Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs. In a speech to the nation, Sharaa vowed to build a better future for Syria, highlighting progress made on regional and international reintegration, economic recovery, and security sector reform (SSR), while reaffirming the interim governments commitment to transitional justice, accountability, and the search for missing persons. Celebrations for the 8 December anniversary were reportedly banned by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) in areas under their control in northeast Syria due to security concerns. On 7 December, Mazloum Abdithe General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the armed wing of the DAANESreaffirmed his commitment to the 10 March Agreement between the interim government and the SDF, which aims to see the SDF integrate into the new governments state institutions by the end of the year. Implementation of the agreement has been difficult, however, as the SDF has called for a secular, decentralised statesticking points for Damascus. In a 7 December statement, the DAANES criticised the interim governments actions in the past year for lacking inclusivity and undermining national unity, and called for a comprehensive national dialogue. From 2 to 7 December, the Council held a visiting mission to Lebanon and Syria. The Council spent one day (4 December) in Damascus, Syria (the first time the Council had visited the country) and then travelled to Lebanon, where members spent two days (5 and 6 December). On 18 December, the Council held a briefing on the visit, in which Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the UN Samuel Zbogar, president of the Council in December, delivered a statement on behalf of the co-leads of the mission, Algeria, Denmark, and Slovenia. Zbogar said that the mission had a clear objective of building trust among the international community, the Council and the Syrian interim government. Despite being in Damascus for only a day, Council members had a busy agenda, meeting multiple relevant interlocutors and stakeholders, including high-level government officials, UN country team officials, and representatives from civil society, transitional justice and accountability mechanisms, and local and religious leaders. (For more information, see our 17 December Whats in Blue story.) On 1 December, US President Donald Trump expressed the US satisfaction with, and support for, steps being taken by the Syrian interim government and Sharaa. He stressed the importance of Israel engaging in dialogue with Syria and that there are no actions that interfere with Syrias transition. The following day (2 December), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a deal with Syria was possible but reiterated Israels demand that Syria establish a demilitarised area from Damascus to the current buffer zone, which was established by the Israeli-Syrian 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. Following Assads ouster, Israeli forces took control of the buffer zone and expanded into territory in Golan, southern Syria, in violation of the 1974 agreement. Sharaa has sharply criticised Israeli actions, warning that such demands could lead to a dangerous place, and has called for Israel to withdraw its forces and respect the 1974 agreement. US-brokered discussions for a security pact between the two countries have reportedly faced challenges due to these conflicting positions. On 28 November, an Israeli incursion into the town of Beit Jinn in southern Syria reportedly killed at least 13 people, including women and children, and wounded 25. That same day, the Syrian Permanent Representative to the UN Ibrahim Olabi sent identical letters to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, condemning the attack as a fully-fledged war crime. In the Councils 18 December briefing on Syria, the Permanent Representative of Israel Danny Danon said that the operation targeted terrorists from the Al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya groupthe Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhoodwhich were planning attacks against Israeli civilians. He also claimed that there is growing proof that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) are trying to build up in Syria. Danon underlined that Israel will not allow Syria to become a haven for terrorists and that it is Syrias responsibility to prevent these activities. Speaking in the same meeting, Olabi called into question the facts presented by Danon, and argued that it is Israel which is preventing Syrian authorities from exerting full control and responsibility over Syrian territory through their demands. US and Syrian authorities have continued their nascent cooperation on counterterrorism operations. On 5 December, US Central Command Commander (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper issued a statement praising Syrian forces for interdicting multiple weapons shipments intended for Lebanese Hezbollah, affirming a shared interest in ensuring its disarmament and the Middle Easts peace and stability. Additionally, according to a 30 November CENTCOM statement, between 24 and 27 November, forces from CENTCOM and the Syrian Ministry of Interior located and destroyed more than 15 sites containing [Islamic State in Syria and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh)] weapons caches in southern Syria. On 13 December, CENTCOM said that an ambush by an ISIL gunman killed two US military personnel and one US civilian interpreter, and injured three other US military personnel and two Syrian security personnel. The attack took place in Palmyra in central Syria, and the next day the Syrian Interior Ministry and a US official reportedly said that the gunmanwho was killed during the attackwas a member of the governments security forces, who was slated for dismissal for his extremist views. Trump vowed serious retaliation against the group, and on 19 December, US forces carried out strikes on more than 70 ISIL targets across central Syria. Terrorism is also fuelling intercommunal tensions in Syria. On 26 December an explosion in an Alawite mosque in the city of Homs reportedly killed at least eight people and injured 20 more. Ansar al-Sunnaan apparent splinter group of ISILclaimed responsibility for the attack. On 28 December, protests took place in coastal areas, including in Latakia and Tartous, in which Alawite demonstrators demanded security and political guarantees for their minority. Clashes then reportedly broke out between the protestors and interim-government supporters and security forces, in which at least four people were killed and more than 100 injured. On 17 December, the US Congress repealed the 2019 Caesar Civilian Protection Act, legislation which had imposed heavy sanctions on Syria to penalise the Assad government and has continued to undermine the countrys economic recovery following his ouster. Trump is expected to sign it into law soon. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)s 24 November 2024 report on the implementation of resolution 2118 of 27 September 2013 (which required the verification and destruction of Syrias chemical weapons stockpiles) says that on 23 October, the OPCW Secretariat re-established a continuous presence of the OPCW Mission in [Syria]. The Secretariat also deployed an Office of Special Missions (OSM) team. Established on 1 June, the OSM was set up to coordinate all the Secretariats activities and implement the OPCWs mandate in Syriawith the aim of establishing a long-term presence of the OPCW in Syria. The report also details an increase in visits to chemical weapons-related locations by the Secretariat since March 2025, facilitated and supported by the Syrian authorities. In her briefing at the 18 December meeting on Syria, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, had three requests for the Council and the international community: diplomacy to de-escalate and resolve ongoing flashpoints and prevent fighting; mobilising investment into development, so that Syria can transition from relying on humanitarian aid to recovery and reconstruction efforts; and support for humanitarian assistance in the near term. Msuya pointed out that the Syria humanitarian appeal for 2025 remained only 30 percent funded, a shortfall which, unless reversed, will cause reduction or disruptions to aid and hinder future recovery efforts. Briefing at the same meeting, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said that the UN seeks to establish the Special Envoys office in Syria to support Syrias transition with greater impact. On 29 December, the Council adopted resolution 2811, extending for six months the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) until 30 June 2026. (For more information, see the brief on UNDOF [Golan] in our December 2025 Monthly Forecast.) Human Rights-Related Developments On 7 December, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (COI) delivered a press statement on the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime. In the press statement, the COI commended the interim authorities for their efforts to address the crimes, violations, and abuses inflicted during previous decades. At the same time, it highlighted that many challenges lie ahead in Syrias transition, amid the continuing insecurity and violence still afflicting many communities, alongside unresolved conflicts, including repeated Israeli military operations. In a 5 December press briefing note, Thameen Al-Kheetan, the Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stressed the need for more concrete steps to stop human rights violations and abuses in the country. Key Issues and Options A key issue for the Council is to ensure that Syrias interim government pursues a credible, transparent, and inclusive political process, while navigating a fraught security context compounded by intercommunal tensions, terrorism, and external interference. Central to this issue are Damascus efforts in pursuing disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) efforts, and in fostering social cohesion and transitional justice, including accountability and reconciliation. The UNs future role in Syria is another key issue for the Council. Based on an integrated strategic assessment internal report prepared by the UN Secretariat, the Secretary-General has considered what types of UN presence in Syria would be most suitable to meet the countrys current needs. Following up on their recent mission to Damascus, Council members could convene an Informal Interactive Dialogue (IID) with the participation of Syria and relevant UN entities to discuss the most viable options for future UN and Council engagement in Syria and appropriate support for Syrias transition. Another issue is the need to start minimising the countrys reliance on humanitarian aid through support and investment in recovery and development. Council members could consider holding a public briefing focused on the countrys need for support on reconstruction and economic rehabilitation, featuring briefings from representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank. Council Dynamics Council members are aligned on the need for the Syrian authorities to advance an inclusive, Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political process based on the key principles of resolution 2254. They broadly agree that the threat of intercommunal violence cannot be addressed without advancing inclusive accountability measures, DDR and SSR efforts, together with a credible political process in the country. The Councils December visit to Damascus represented an important signal of unified support to Syrias transition, following years of division on the Syria file. Earlier in 2025, the US and Russia worked together on the 14 March presidential statement following violence perpetrated in Latakia and Tartous, while Denmark authored the 10 August presidential statement in response to violence in Suweida. There is broad agreement among Council members that the new Syrian government requires international support to rebuild the country and its crippled economy, including through the easing of unilateral sanctions, with several Council members already having taken steps to ease unilateral sanctions on Syria. The Council lifted some of its sanctions impacting the Syrian interim government, through the adoption of resolution 2799 of 6 November, which removed Sharaa and Syrian Interior Minister Anas Hassan Khattab from the 1267/1989/2253 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) and Al-Qaida sanctions list. Israels presence and military activities in Syria remain a contentious issue for Council members. Most members believe Israels actions are fostering instability in Syria and that it must comply with the 1974 Agreement. In contrast, the US has predominantly characterised Israels actions as defensive in nature or tied to ensuring its national security and has pushed back against attempts by other members to introduce language criticising Israeli actions in Syria in recent Council products. Many Council members also agree on the need for the Syrian interim government to take decisive measures to address the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and ISIL/Daesh. China has been particularly vocal in calling on Damascus to take a stronger stance on FTFs in the country, some of whom have reportedly been integrated into the Syrian armed forces. Several FTFs constitute part of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, which China considers a terrorist organisation and is also listed under the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL/Daesh and Al-Qaida sanctions regime. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SYRIA The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question Expected Council Action In January, the Security Council will hold its quarterly open debate on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (MEPQ). Somaliathe Council president for Januaryintends to convene the meeting at ministerial level. Key Recent Developments The war in Gaza entered a pivotal new phase on 8 October, when Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire as the first stage of the US-proposed peace framework known as the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. The ceasefire agreement called for Hamas to release the remaining hostages that it was holding in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees, a partial withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza, and an increase in humanitarian aid into the territory. At the time of writing, Hamas had released all living hostages and the remains of all but one of the deceased hostages, while Israel had released Palestinian detainees at the agreed ratio and redeployed to an initial withdrawal line. According to the Secretary-Generals latest quarterly report on the implementation of resolution 2334 of 23 December 2016, which covers the period from 20 September to 2 December, the partial withdrawal leaves the IDF in control of an estimated 53 to 58 percent of Gazas territory. The ceasefire remains fragile and has been interrupted by intermittent violence, with each side accusing the other of violating the agreement. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing local health authorities as at 18 December, 394 Palestinians have been killed by the IDF since the ceasefire came into effect, as the total Palestinian death toll since 7 October 2023 passed 70,000. On 13 December, Israel assassinated a high-level Hamas commander in a missile strike, reportedly prompting a rebuke from the US, which deemed the strike a ceasefire violation. On its part, Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately delaying the return of hostages. According to the Secretary-Generals report on the implementation of resolution 2334, humanitarian conditions in Gaza have improved during the ceasefire but remain catastrophic, marked by widespread destruction, forced displacement, and collapsed essential services and critical infrastructure. In a situation update dated 11 December, OCHA reported that the volume of aid collected at border crossings by the UN and its partners in the two months since the ceasefire went into effect had increased by 67 percent compared with the preceding two months. OCHA stressed, however, that humanitarian access in Gazawhich has faced frigid winter conditions and life-threatening rainstorms in recent weeksremains constrained by insecurity, customs clearance challenges, the limited number of partners authorised by Israeli authorities to deliver cargo, delays and denials of cargo at operational crossings, and limited routes available for transporting humanitarian supplies. In its latest assessment published on 19 December, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) found that improved humanitarian access had offset the famine conditions previously declared in parts of Gaza but that the food security situation remains severe, with over 500,000 people facing emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4) and more than 100,000 still experiencing catastrophe/famine (IPC Phase 5). On 8 December, the UN launched a $4.06 billion flash appeal for the OPT, allocating 92 percent of the required funds for the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip. On 17 December, the OPT Humanitarian Country Team issued a statement expressing serious concern about the new registration process for international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) that Israel introduced in March. According to the statement, the process fundamentally jeopardizes the continuation of humanitarian operations throughout the OPT, relying on vague, arbitrary, and highly politicized criteria that impose requirements that humanitarian organisations cannot meet without violating international legal obligations or compromising core humanitarian principles. The statement said that dozens of INGOs face deregistration under the framework by 31 December 2025, followed by the forced closure of operations within 60 days, which would have a catastrophic impact on access to essential and basic services in Gaza. The second stage of the Comprehensive Plan calls for the decommissioning of Hamas weapons; the further withdrawal of the IDF, which will progressively hand over security responsibility for Gaza to an International Stabilization Force (ISF); and the establishment of an interim technocratic government in Gaza comprising Palestinian and international experts under the oversight of a Board of Peace (BoP), which will be chaired by US President Donald Trump. This body is to eventually cede control of Gaza to a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA), at which point the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood. On 17 November, the Security Council adopted resolution 2803, welcoming the establishment of the BoP for a two-year period, authorising the body to establish the ISF, and requesting it to submit a written biannual report to the Council on its progress. The resolution, which was penned by the US, received 13 votes in favour and two abstentions (China and Russia). On 10 December, Trump said that the BoP will consist of heads of state who will be named early next year. Media reports have indicated that the US aims to deploy the ISF after the establishment of the BoP and will appoint a two-star general to lead the force, although it will not participate with its own troops. Countries such as Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and Turkiye have previously signalled an interest in contributing to the force, but these talks have reportedly been complicated by uncertainty surrounding its mandate and whether it will be expected to militarily engage Hamas, which has continued to express opposition to total disarmament. Meanwhile, Hamas and the PA have reportedly agreed on a shortlist of candidates to serve on the technocratic governance committee envisioned by the Comprehensive Plan. In the occupied West Bank, settlement expansion, settler violence, and Israeli military operations have continued to accelerate. According to the Secretary-Generals quarterly report on resolution 2334, Israeli authorities advanced or approved over 6,310 housing units during the reporting period, while settlement activity in 2025 reached its highest levels since the UN began systematically tracking it in 2017. Notably, on 21 December, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the approval of 19 new settlementsa move that he said was intended to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state and which was subsequently condemned by numerous countries. The Secretary-Generals report also states that settler violence reached its highest levels recorded in recent years, averaging five incidents per day in 2025many in the context of the annual olive harvest, which is a key source of income and livelihood for Palestinians in the West Bank. Additionally, Israeli security forces killed 38 Palestinians during the reporting period while continuing the large-scale military operation that began in January and has involved extensive demolitions of Palestinian homes and civilian infrastructure in refugee camps, displacing tens of thousands of people. Two Israelis were killed by Palestinians during the reporting period, according to the Secretary-Generals report. Recent weeks have also seen notable developments regarding the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Israel has accused UNRWA of complicity with Hamas, a charge that the Agency strongly denies and which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rejected in a 22 October advisory opinion that found that Israel, as an occupying power, is obligated to allow UN agencies, including UNRWA, to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza. On 5 December, the General Assembly adopted a resolution that commended UNRWA for its provision of vital assistance to the Palestinian refugees and renewed its mandate until 30 June 2029. On 8 December, Israel raided UNRWAs East Jerusalem compound, reportedly replacing its UN flag with an Israeli flag and seizing Agency property. On 12 December, the General Assembly adopted a resolution welcoming the ICJs 22 October advisory opinion. During the Security Councils most recent meeting on MEPQ, held on 16 December, several Council members welcomed that resolution while condemning Israels 8 December raid, which some described as a violation of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN. Human Rights-Related Developments On 27 November, the President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Jurg Lauber (Switzerland), announced the appointment of Srinivasan Muralidhar (India), Florence Mumba (Zambia), and Chris Sidoti (Australia) as members of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, and Israel. At the 80th session of the UN General Assembly Fourth Committee, Jayantha Jayasuriya, the Chair of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, presented the Special Committees latest report on the human rights and humanitarian situation in the OPT and the occupied Syrian Golan. Highlighting the reports findings, Jayasuriya said that Israel is pursuing a systematic policy of territorial expansion through settlement, military occupation, and eventual annexation. Settlers, often acting alongside Israeli security forces, have attacked Palestinian civilians, leading to widespread deaths, injuries, home demolitions, and land confiscations. Underscoring the need for decisive action from the international community, Jayasuriya urged member states to consider imposing political and economic sanctions and a full arms embargo until Israel ceases violating the Palestinian and other peoples human rights and withdraws fully from all occupied territories in the region. Women, Peace and Security In a 17 October update on the situation of women and girls in Gaza, UN Women highlighted that the ceasefire may have paused the fighting, but it has not ended the crisis. The update noted that for two years, women and girls in Gaza were killed at a rate of roughly two every hour, and that their needs remain at an all-time high. Among other things, the update noted that one in seven families in Gaza is led by a woman and highlighted the need for nutrition and shelter support, including in the context of the winter season. UN Women also stressed the importance for Gazas future of centring the needs of women and girls and including womens organisations in the humanitarian response and reconstruction efforts. UN Women urged member states to scale up funding and called on all parties to uphold the ceasefire fully and without delay. Key Issues and Options After two years of devastating war in Gaza and the collapse of two previous ceasefires, the adoption of resolution 2803 represents the Security Councils most assertive engagement with the conflict so far. An immediate issue for the Council is to ensure that both parties fully abide by their ceasefire obligations under phase one of the Comprehensive Plan that resolution 2803 endorsed. This includes sustaining the cessation of hostilities, lifting remaining restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and securing the return of the last remaining hostage. In the medium term, another key issue is to support efforts to advance to the second stage of the Comprehensive Plan in a manner consistent with international law. Important questions in this regard concern the objective, timeline, and sequencing of the transitional framework established by resolution 2803, including the composition and terms of reference of the BoP and technocratic governance committee; the mandate of the ISF; and the benchmarks for PA reform, none of which have been clearly defined. To receive more information about these issues, Council members could request briefings by representatives of the BoP, ISF, or other actors involved in preparations at Januarys open debate. They could also consider conducting a visiting mission to Israel and the OPT, including to the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that the US has established in Israel to support implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. Longer-term issues include supporting Gazas reconstruction and development, promoting accountability for international crimes committed during the war, and reviving a credible political process toward the realisation of the two-state solution. To this end, Council members could contribute to the dedicated reconstruction trust fund that resolution 2803 requested the World Bank and other international financial institutions to establish. They could also consider measures to facilitate transitional justice processes, including by requesting the Secretary-General to provide strategic recommendations for post-conflict accountability and reconciliation mechanisms. Additionally, Council members could consult with the broader UN membership to ensure that efforts to implement the Comprehensive Plan align with other international frameworks to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict, including the New York Declaration that the General Assembly endorsed in September. Council and Wider Dynamics The adoption of resolution 2803 marked a rare moment of convergence in the international communitys engagement on Gaza, driven by regional backing for the US-brokered Comprehensive Plan and the priority that many Council members placed on consolidating the ceasefire and easing the humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave. In their explanations of vote, several members that voted in favour emphasised that their decision had been influenced by the support that the PA and key Arab and Muslim states had expressed for the resolution, as well as their expectation that the transitional framework that it established would lead to unified Palestinian governance in the OPT and ultimately to a two-state outcome. At the same time, the debate revealed significant underlying fault lines that are likely to shape Council dynamics moving forward. Explaining their abstentions, China and Russia cited concerns over insufficient clarity on the mandate, oversight, and legal basis of the BoP and the ISF, as well as the absence of an explicit reaffirmation of the two-state solution. Despite their favourable vote, several other membersincluding Algeria, Denmark, Pakistan, Slovenia, and Somaliaalso signalled unease over ambiguities in the resolution, particularly regarding timelines for Israeli withdrawal, the role of the UN and the PA during the transition, and safeguards against fragmentation of the OPT. At Januarys open debate, many members are expected to press for closer Council oversight of implementation of the resolution, and long-standing divisions will likely persist over how assertively the Council should engage on accountability and final status issues beyond Gazas stabilisation. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION UN DOCUMENTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION ASIA UNRCCA (Central Asia) Expected Council Action In January, Kaha Imnadze, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), is expected to brief Security Council members on the UNRCCAs work in closed consultations. Key Recent Developments Imnadze last briefed Council members on 10 July 2025, in closed consultations. Among other matters, he provided an update on the UNRCCAs activities pertaining to counter-terrorism, transboundary water management, border demarcation, and the women, peace and security, and youth, peace and security agendas. Imnadze also covered the border agreements between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and among Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. On 16 November 2025, the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan signed and exchanged ratification instruments for a treaty relating to the junction point of the three countries national borders. The treaty, which took two decades to negotiate, was signed on 31 March 2025 during a trilateral summit held in Khujand, Tajikistan. The summit followed the 13 March 2025 ratification of an agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which resolved the long-running border dispute between the two countries. Disputes regarding the border have sometimes erupted into violence, including in September 2022, when dozens of civilians were killed and thousands more displaced during clashes between Kyrgyz and Tajik security forces. There has been increased interest from a number of member states in pursuing closer ties with Central Asia, sparking increased diplomatic competition in the region. On 7 November 2025, the C5+1, a diplomatic platform comprising the five Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) and the US, issued a joint statement marking the formats tenth anniversary and agreeing to take a series of steps intended to promote economic activities and engagement. On the same day, the US Department of State issued statements highlighting closer business relations between the US and each Central Asian state. These statements came a day after US President Donald Trump hosted leaders from all the C5 countries at the White House. Kazakhstan also announced that it would become the first Central Asian state to join the Abraham Accords ahead of the meeting with Trump. In early October 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to Central Asia for a three-day visit, which included the Russia-Central Asia summit with leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The participants in the Russia-Central Asia summit adopted a communique, in which the leaders agreed to work on matters such as transport and logistics corridors, counter-terrorism, illegal migration, and drug trafficking, as well as a joint action plan for 2025 to 2027. From 19 to 22 November 2025, Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi travelled to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan for meetings with his counterparts from each country. The visit followed the second China-Central Asia summit, which was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and took place in mid-June 2025. Among other matters, Xi reportedly pledged during the summit that China would provide 1.5 billion yuan ($208.86 million) in grant assistance to Central Asian states to support livelihood and development projects. On 11 July 2025, the European Union (EU) and the five Central Asian countries held the 12th EU-Central Asia High-Level Political and Security Dialogue in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. According to an EU statement, the participants discussed global and regional security challenges arising from Russias invasion of Ukraine, as well as the situations in the Middle East and Afghanistan, and also took stock of efforts to implement the joint roadmap for deepening ties between the EU and Central Asia. The Taliban has continued to seek closer ties with Central Asian states after seizing power in Afghanistan in August 2021. On 15 November 2025, a delegation of Tajik officials arrived in Kabul for a series of meetings with representatives of the Taliban. According to media reports, the talks focused on diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation, and regional security. Snap parliamentary elections were held in Kyrgyzstan on 30 November 2025. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) election observers reportedly concluded that while the elections were efficiently run, they were nonetheless stifled by a restrictive campaign environment in which fundamental freedoms were increasingly limited. Candidates affiliated with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov won the majority of seats at the polls, which were originally due to take place by November 2026. Kyrgyzstan is one of two candidates for the Asia-Pacific seat on the Security Council for the 2027-2028 term. On 1 December, Chinese and Tajik authorities announced that five Chinese nationals were killed and another five injured in Tajikistan during attacks that were launched from Afghanistan. On 3 December, Taliban officials announced that they had arrested two people in connection with the attacks. From 18 to 24 September 2025, Imnadze visited the border regions of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to observe the dynamics of cross-border cooperation between the three countries. He held meetings with local authorities, border services, and representatives of civil society and commended the progress made since the border agreement was signed. Between 13 and 16 October 2025, the UNRCCA and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) convened the fifth regional conference on the counter-terrorism early warning network for Central Asia. During his opening remarks, Imnadze highlighted the strong interest of member states in the initiative. On 11 December, Imnadze met with OSCE Secretary-General Feridun Sinirlioglu in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. They discussed cooperation between the UNRCCA and the OSCE in relation to security and stability in Central Asia, including joint efforts aimed at promoting preventive diplomacy. On 16 November 2025, Imnadze participated in the seventh consultative meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia in Tashkent, where he conveyed a message from the Secretary-General that commended Central Asias dedication to multilateralism, among other matters. Central Asian heads of state were joined by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, as Azerbaijan has become a fully-fledged member of the format. Key Issues and Options Determining how to make the best use of the UNRCCAs expertise in preventive diplomacy and deciding whether there is anything the Council can do to support its efforts are both issues for Council members. An option for the Council would be to hold an open briefing on the work of the UNRCCA, which would give members an opportunity to publicly express their support and raise awareness of its activities. Closed consultations could then be held after the open briefing to allow for a more interactive and frank exchange with Imnadze. Alternatively, the Council could hold a debate in order to give Central Asian states the chance to discuss the UNRCCAs work in public. Currently, the norm is for UNRCCA meetings to be held solely in closed consultations. The situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Central Asia is another issue for the Council. A representative of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) could be invited to participate in the closed consultations and provide information on developments in the country that might affect Central Asia. Members could also choose to issue a press statement highlighting the importance of the UNRCCAs work and the role it plays in the region. Council Dynamics Council members are generally supportive of the UNRCCA and consider it to be an important tool for promoting cooperation and diplomatic engagement in Central Asia. Before the middle of 2018, Council members regularly issued press statements expressing support for the UNRCCA and its work and encouraging increased cooperation and coordination among the Central Asian countries, the UNRCCA, and relevant regional organisations. Council members have not been able to agree on a press statement for the last seven years, however, owing to disagreements among the permanent members about including references to specific regional organisations, including the CIS, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON UNRCCA MIDDLE EAST Yemen Expected Council Action In January, the Security Council will hold its monthly briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and an official from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are expected to brief on political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country. The Council is also expected to renew the mandate of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), which expires on 28 January, and the monthly reporting requirement on Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, originally mandated by Security Council resolution 2722, which expires on 15 January. Background and Key Recent Developments In December, intra-Yemeni tensions escalated, creating greater uncertainty in an already fragile country. On 2 December, the Southern Transitional Council (STC)a separatist group from south Yemen, reportedly backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE)launched an offensive which expanded its control over the eastern oil-rich governorate of Hadramout following brief clashes with forces aligned with the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC). By 8 December, the STC had also advanced into the eastern governorate of Al-Mahra and claimed to have control over all of Yemens southern governorates. The executive body of Yemens internationally recognised government, the PLC, was established in 2022, with the support of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to unify Yemens diverse political groups and steer the countrys transition out of civil war. Progress towards this aim has stalled, however, as the Houthisan Iran-backed rebel group which opposes the Yemeni governmenthave entrenched its control over northern Yemen, while concurrently the various factions that constitute the PLC are mired by internal division. The STC also forms part of the PLC, and its leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, is one of the government bodys vice presidents. However, since the STCs creation in 2017, its goal has been to establish an independent state in south Yemen, in contrast with some other members of the PLC, who favour a unified Yemen. South Yemen was an independent state prior to unification with the north in 1990. In a 3 December statement, the STC said that its operation in Hadramout aimed to prevent the governorates exploitation by the Houthis for smuggling purposes and the activities of terrorist groups, such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) and Al-Qaida. According to the STCs website, during a 10 December meeting, Zubaidi said that the groups expansion of control over the south-eastern governorates is the starting point and that the next objective must be [the Houth-controlled capital] Sanaawhether through peace or war. The group has also reportedly told Western diplomats that Yemens 1990 unity was over. During an 8 December meeting with ambassadors of the states sponsoring the political process, PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi said that the STCs unilateral actions violate the agreed terms of the transitional phase, undermine the PLCs authority and threaten the political process. He called on the international community to reject such challenges to the governments authority and to exert pressure on the STC to withdraw its forces from Hadramout and Al-Mahra. On 9 December, a Saudi delegation reportedly called for the withdrawal of STC forces during a visit to Hadramout. According to media reports, the STC has been warned of the possibility of direct airstrikes by Saudi forces, as Saudi troops have gathered on the Yemeni border. The developments in Hadramout and Al-Mahra were discussed at a 9 December meeting in Riyadh between UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg, Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaya Zindani, Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed al Jaber, UAE Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed al-Zaabi, representatives of the permanent five members of the Security Council (P5) and other diplomats. Grundberg called on all actors to exercise restraint and de-escalate through dialogue, emphasising the need to allow space for discussions that support the stability of Yemen. On 17 December, the Council held its monthly meeting on Yemen. The meeting was only held in closed consultations, apparently to avoid discussing the politically sensitive recent developments in an open setting. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres briefed Council members, following his visit to the region, including Saudi Arabia and Oman. Grundberg and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya also briefed in the closed session. Following his briefing, the Secretary-General held a press encounter in which he expressed concern at dramatic new developments in eastern Yemen, emphasising that unilateral actions will not clear a path to peace and that a full resumption of hostilities could have serious ramifications on regional peace and security. He urged all parties to exercise restraint and de-escalate tensions through dialogue, while calling for the preservation of Yemens sovereignty and territorial integrity. Council members issued a press statement on 23 December that referred to ongoing escalations and recent developments in Yemen as not conducive to progress, called for de-escalation, and encouraged enhanced diplomatic efforts, while underlining Council members support for efforts toward a political settlement. The statement also reaffirmed Council members strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Yemen, and to the [PLC] and the Government of Yemen. The Houthis continue to arbitrarily detain personnel from the UN, non-governmental (NGO) and civil society organisations, and diplomatic missions. A 19 December statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General strongly condemned the arbitrary detention on 18 December of a further [ten UN] personnel by the [Houthis], bringing the total number of UN detained personnel to 69. Furthermore, a 9 December statement by the Spokesperson condemned the referral of UN personnel to the Houthi special criminal court and called on the Houthis to rescind the decision and work towards the immediate release of all those detained. In his 17 December press encounter, the Secretary-General said that three UN personnel had been referred to the court on charges related to their performance of UN official duties. The Council members 23 December press statement also reaffirmed the members condemnation of the detentions and reiterated their demand for the release of all those detained by the Houthis. On 3 December, the Houthis reportedly released nine crew members whom they had detained following the attack and sinking of the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated MV Eternity C on 7 July. Since the 8 October announcement of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis have not conducted any further attacks against Israel or vessels in the Red Sea, after almost two years of tit-for-tat attacks between the Houthis and Israel following the start of the Gaza war. Key Issues and Options A key issue for the Council is how to help mitigate the risk of an escalation of hostilities in Yemen, which could see a resumption of full-scale conflict. Volatile dynamics within the PLC, the potential resurgence of conflict between the Houthis and political factions in south Yemen, and the Houthis involvement in regional dynamics all pose a risk to the security and stability of the country. Amid shifting domestic and regional dynamics, Council members could consider convening an informal interactive dialogue (IID) with regional stakeholders, countries supporting the Yemen political process, and the Special Envoy, to discuss the implications of the latest developments on the UNs efforts to facilitate an inclusive negotiated political settlement to end the Yemeni conflict. Commitments to a set of confidence-building measures were made by the parties in December 2023; however, discussions aimed at establishing a roadmap to peace, which would have seen the implementation of these commitments, stalled following the Houthis escalatory reaction to the Gaza war in October 2023. As the Houthis continue to arbitrarily detain UN personnel and are referring them to their special criminal court, Council members could consider adopting a humanitarian resolution that demands that the Houthis rescind the referrals to the court, immediately and unconditionally release all personnel detained, and cease further obstruction to the delivery of UN humanitarian assistance in Yemen. The need to ensure the protection and safety of navigation and shipping in the Red Sea is another important issue that requires maintaining pressure on the Houthis to avoid resuming attacks on merchant ships and global supply chains. One option for the Council is to extend for a further six months the monthly reporting requirement for the Secretary-General on attacks by the Houthis on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea prior to its expiration on 15 January. Another key issue for the Council is the future viability of UNMHA, in view of its mandate expiration on 28 January 2026. Pursuant to resolution 2786 (adopted on 14 July), on 25 November, the Secretary-General submitted to the Council a review of the mission, including potential adjustments which could improve efficiencies and structural coherence across [UN] missions in Yemen. The review presents three options for the Council to consider. One option is to streamline the mission by removing its physical patrolling capacity. The two other options would involve shutting down the mission and augmenting the Office of the Special Envoy to take on relevant core tasks previously covered by the mission in support of the Hodeidah Agreement, either by maintaining a small presence in Hodeidah focused on these tasks, or by closing any full-time UN political presence in Hodeidah and making use of the existing locations of the Office of the Special Envoy. The review also notes that the Houthis have indicated that a withdrawal of the UN political presence from Hodeidah would be considered a formal declaration of the cancellation of the Hodeidah Agreement. Council members are likely to carefully consider the implications of the respective options and decide on UNMHAs future during the negotiations on its renewal in January. Council Dynamics Despite being critical of the Houthis, most Council members have maintained their support for an inclusive intra-Yemeni political process and continue to call for advancing mediation efforts between the conflict parties, including a resumption of dialogue and a peace process under UN auspices. Recent developments in southeast Yemen, however, undermine the PLCs legitimacy and further complicate efforts to attain a political settlement. There is also general agreement on the need to restore freedom of navigation and security in the Red Sea. Negotiations on the sanctions regime renewal in November also highlighted long-standing differences among the five permanent Council members regarding the Houthis. (For more information, see our 13 November Whats in Blue story). France, the UK, and the US have argued that the Council needs to respond to the worsening situation in Yemen through increased pressure on the Houthiswhom they believe are obstructing a political process in Yemenincluding through the strengthening of the Yemen sanctions regime. The US has adopted a particularly hawkish position on the Houthis, unilaterally sanctioning the group and accusing Iran of supporting it. Conversely, China and Russia have expressed concerns that resolution 2801, which renewed the 2140 Yemen sanctions regime until 14 November 2026, facilitates the potential for expanding the Yemen sanctions regime and establishing maritime interdictions in the future. The two members, who abstained on this resolution, argued that this would escalate tensions and push the parties further away from a political settlement. China and Russia have also criticised foreign military action in Yemen, claiming that such actions further degrade the situation. In this regard, Israel, the UK, and the US have all conducted strikes targeting Houthi infrastructure since the beginning of the Red Sea crisis. Diverging positions also exist on the question of UNMHAs future. The US has stressed that it is time to sunset the mission, whereas other Council members, including Russia and China, have expressed support for the missions value, highlighting its stabilising role in the Hodeidah region. The UK is the penholder on Yemen. Greece and the US are the co-penholders on the Red Sea crisis. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON YEMEN Jubilee Metals announced the completed sale of its South African chrome and platinum group metals operations on Friday, marking a strategic shift to focus exclusively on its copper business in Zambia. The company said the disposal of its South African Chrome and PGM Operations to One Chrome had now completed following the satisfaction of all conditions. Under the terms of the original transaction, Jubilee expected to receive the second cash instalment of $10m from One Chrome in the coming days. Following completion of the sale, Jubilee said it was now solely focused on its Zambian copper operations. The group retained its investment in the Tjate platinum project in South Africa, but said it continued to explore options to monetise this asset. Chief executive Leon Coetzer said the transaction had been delivered in line with expectations. I am pleased to report that we have executed this transaction within the timelines stipulated when first announced, he said. Looking ahead, Coetzer said the focus would be firmly on growth in copper. I am excited to lead our remaining executive and Zambian copper team in replicating this success through our copper business and look forward to a year of delivering significant growth in our copper operations. At 1142 GMT, shares in Jubilee Metals Group were up 4.41% at 3.55p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Ministers are poised to allow homes in England to be built without carbon-cutting technology in what experts have said is a climbdown after pressure from housebuilders. The future homes standard (FHS), due to be published in January, will regulate how all homes are built and is expected to enforce tough new regulations such as mandating solar panels on nearly all houses and high standards of insulation and heat pumps in most cases. But the Guardian has learned that the regulations are unlikely to stipulate that homes must be fitted with batteries, despite the strong advantages of combining renewable power generation with energy storage. - Guardian Railway leaders should think afresh about outsourcing contracts and try to run services better, the rail minister has said, as union research indicated six major private suppliers made 150m in profits last year. Rail unions are campaigning to end the widespread outsourcing of jobs such as cleaning, security and catering, arguing that staff employed by third-party companies have worse conditions and that profits could be reinvested in the railway. Analysis by the RMT union estimated that six of the biggest UK outsourcing facilities management companies in rail Mitie, OCS, Bidvest Noonan, Churchill, Carlisle and ABM have profit margins on contracts averaging 11%, aggregating profits of 152m in the past year across the national railway and the London Underground. - Guardian. The US has scrapped plans to hit Italian pasta makers with punitive tariffs, marking a victory for Europes Trump whisperer Giorgia Meloni. Italys foreign ministry said on Thursday that Washington had agreed to lower a proposed 92pc duty on several well-known Italian pasta brands. It said tariffs would now be far below the level previously announced. US President Donald Trump, unveiled plans in September to impose a new anti-dumping duty on two of Italys biggest pasta producers, La Molisana and Garofalo, with dozens of other pasta companies also in the firing line. The 92% levy which was set to come into force from January 1 would have been on top of the 15% tariff already in place, with Washington having accused producers of selling their pasta in the US at unfairly low prices. - Telegraph Britains two big pharmaceutical companies and Larry Ellisons Oxford institute are among a group of organisations pressing Rachel Reeves to speed up delivery of infrastructure in the OxCam supercluster, where delays to the promised East West Rail line are causing concern. The chancellor has made the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, a technology and life sciences hub, a key part of the governments attempts to grow the economy, vowing to create Europes Silicon Valley. However, a report from the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster, backed by 46 organisations including universities, listed companies and investors, is urging Reeves to move quicker on delivering infrastructure commitments and a projected 78bn boost to the economy by 2035. - The Times Poor sales have reportedly forced Apple to cut production of the Vision Pro headset that it had hoped would herald a new era in spatial computing. The tech company also reduced marketing for Vision Pro by more than 95% last year, according to the market intelligence group Sensor Tower in figures reported by the Financial Times. Apple continues to sell iPhones, iPads and laptops in the millions each quarter, but analysts say sales of Vision Pro headsets, which cost at least 3,199 ($3,499) each, have been sluggish. - Financial Times Poet and novelist DeLana R.A. Dameron, "whose work spoke with aching honesty about the Black experience in the modern South, and who moonlighted as a competitive horsewoman from her farm in South Carolina," died on November 29, the New York Times reported. She was 40. Dameron's debut poetry collection, How God Ends Us (2009), won the South Carolina Poetry Book Prize. Redwood Court (2024), her first book of prose, is a collection of linked stories. Novelist Charmaine Wilkerson praised the author for doing "a beautiful job weaving in local vernacular and casting a fresh gaze on an engaging, though flawed, cast of characters." Reese Witherspoon selected Redwood Court for her book club. Dameron intended those books, as well as another volume of poetry, Weary Kingdom (2017), "to be the start of a 10-book cycle exploring everyday Black life in and around Columbia, her hometown," the Times noted, adding that she drew inspiration from playwright August Wilson's 10-play cycle set in different decades of the 20th century. "She was a world builder," said Maya Millett, her editor at Random House, Dameron "wanted her cycle to encompass a variety of forms: poetry, novels, even children's literature. (She wrote a picture book about her horse Shadrach, which is currently in production.)," the Times noted. "I believe my project as a writer who is also Black and Southern is to document the experience of Black, Southern folks across multiple generations," she said in an interview last year with the website Indyweek. Dameron returned to South Carolina in 2019 after 13 years in New York City. She started taking riding lessons, and, with her husband, Curtis John, purchased a farm, Saloma Acres, near Columbia in 2021. Within a few years she was riding competitively. She also made the farm "a public space, hosting events like theater productions and movie nights. Among the cultural groups she brought to the farm was the Luminal Theater, an organization, run by Mr. John, which shows Black-made independent films on a screen assembled in a field," the Times wrote. "Her intention was to make sure that Black people felt comfortable in nature and were connected to the land," said Renee Watson, a writer and friend. "She was very good at gathering folks and making sure that everyone felt welcomed." From her poem "When Mama died, I lost my air": When Mama died, I lost my air. Hit with an anvil of grief. In dreams, the rains came. Streets filled with sorrow. I'm standing with Thomas at the bridge edge seeking relief. The sound of her voice is fleeting. Time is a thief-- she will never return to me. Thomas says not to follow his lead. Don't hold onto it. It's heavy. This anvil of grief. Sarah Adams and Adrian Shwaiko have taken over Old Professor's Bookshop in Belfast, Maine, from previous owner Craig Olson, the Midcoast Villager reported. The acquisition officially took place in September, with Olson staying on for a month to teach Shwaiko and Adams the ins-and-outs of running a bookstore. Olson took over the store in 2022, after the death of George Siscoe, who founded the shop in 2008. While Old Professor's remains primarily a used and rare bookstore, Adams and Shwaiko have started selling new titles through the shop's website and doing special orders. They've also added what they call "curiosities," which are nonbook items ranging from loose leaf tea to furniture. Prior to buying the bookstore, neither had any experience in bookselling, though they were both avid readers. They first considered buying a bookstore after hearing that there was a deal in place to buy a local bookstore that might fall through. That sale ended up closing before Shwaiko and Adams could get involved, and they started asking around about the possibility of buying a different store. Eventually, a bookseller friend told them that Olson might be interested in selling. Adams told the Midcoast Villager that although it all felt a bit nerve-wracking at first, she and Schwaiko have started to settle in and enjoy it. "It sounds really dreamy and idyllic, and I think like we're finally getting to a point where, most days, I can be like, yeah, yeah, it is." A US federal judge threw out a crypto investor lawsuit against Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks, ending a case that tried to pin Voyager Digitals collapse on celebrity-style promotion and team marketing. Judge Roy K. Altman of the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida said in an order dated Friday that the plaintiffs failed to establish personal jurisdiction over Cuban and the team, and the court lacked a sufficient connection between Florida and the alleged promotion. Cubans Personal Investment Remarks Drew Legal Scrutiny The suit, filed in 2022, argued that Cuban pushed fans toward Voyagers interest-bearing accounts after he said at an Oct. 2021 Mavericks news conference that he had personally invested in the company. It also pointed to a Mavericks post that offered $100 in Bitcoin to customers who downloaded Voyagers app, opened an account, deposited $100, and made one trade. Cubans lawyers argued the Florida court had no jurisdiction over Cuban or the team, and said he warned people to be careful with their money. Voyager Once Held Billions Before 2022 Bankruptcy Brown Rudnick, which represented Cuban and the Mavericks, said Judge Altman dismissed the case without prejudice after years of litigation and jurisdictional discovery, adding that nationwide promotions did not amount to purposeful targeting of Florida residents under the states long arm statute and due process limits. We couldnt be more pleased with the absolute right result, Steve Best, lead counsel for Cuban and the Mavericks, reportedly told ESPN. I suspect that the plaintiffs will consider filing in another jurisdiction. I look forward to defending Mark and the Mavericks in any jurisdiction in this country. Mark doesnt settle when he believes he is on the right side of the law. The case sits within a broader wave of lawsuits aimed at athletes and celebrities who promoted crypto platforms that later failed, including Voyager, which filed for bankruptcy in July 2022. Voyager reportedly held more than $5B in assets in 2021 and counted nearly 3.5M investors before its collapse. Cuban has since sold his majority stake in the Mavericks to casino magnate Miriam Adelson. Read original story Crypto Promotion Lawsuit Against Billionaire Mark Cuban and Dallas Mavericks Tossed by Shalini Nagarajan at Cryptonews.com Millions of Google Play users will soon start receiving payouts from a $700 million settlement over alleged anticompetitive practices, the U.S. Department of Justice has noted. According to New York Attorney General Letitia James, payments could arrive as soon as this spring. When big corporations use their monopoly power to stifle competition and raise costs, consumers pay the price, said James, who co-led a bipartisan coalition in suing Google in 2021, alleging that the brand unlawfully maintained a monopoly over mobile app distribution and in-app payment processing for Android devices, and used its monopoly power to charge consumers as much as 30% in fees for purchasing apps and making in-app purchases. For years, Google took advantage of its control over its app store to overcharge its customers and box out competing developers, James continued in a press release. I urge all New Yorkers who may be eligible for restitution to follow the settlement instructions to ensure they get their money back. The United States District Court for the District of Columbia will hold a hearing on April 30, 2026, to consider whether to approve the settlement. If approved, the majority of the settlement funds will be used to pay consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023. Google is also ordered to make changes to stop its anticompetitive practices. Heres what consumers need to know: Affected consumers may not have to do anything to receive a payment from the settlement fund. The settlement fund will make the majority of payments automatically, and no claim form is necessary in most cases. Consumers will receive an email from PayPal or a text from Venmo notifying them of their incoming payment at the email address or mobile phone number associated with their Google Play account. If that email address or phone number is also associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then the payment will be made directly to that account. If that email address or phone number does not match an email address or phone number associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then consumers have the option to create a new account or direct the payment to a PayPal or Venmo account at another email address or phone number. There will be a supplemental claims process after the automatic payments process is complete for consumers who do not have an existing PayPal or Venmo account and do not want to sign up for PayPal or Venmo. If consumers would like to be notified by email when the supplemental claims process starts, they may submit their name, email address, and mobile phone number on the settlement website. Consumers who do not want to receive payment from the settlement fund and want to bring their own case against Google must submit a request to be excluded online or in writing by February 19, 2026. Consumers who want to object to the settlement should file a written objection by that same date. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New data from the city Health Department highlights longstanding disparities across Staten Island, with residents of some neighborhoods living longer, healthier lives than those living elsewhere. On Tuesday, the city Health Department released its Annual Summary of Vital Statistics for 2023, providing an in-depth look at various key health indicators across the city, including pregnancy outcomes, infant mortality, life expectancy, premature death rate, drug-related death rate and more. The Health Departments annual vital statistics contain a wealth of information on major drivers of New York Citys health, and we use the data to inform our programs and policies to promote and protect the health of all New Yorkers, said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. The report provides citywide data, as well as breakdowns by community district, which on Staten Island offer insights into differences on the North Shore, South Shore and in Mid-Island. Heres a look at how various health outcomes differed across Staten Island. Pregnancy outcomes All three sections of Staten Island fell below the citywide average for birth rate per 1,000 population, which was 11.9. The North Shore had the highest birth rate in the borough at 10.3 births per 1,000, followed by the South Shore at 9.5 and Mid-Island at 9.4. In regard to teen pregnancy, roughly 2.1% of all citywide births were to teenage mothers, with the North Shore exceeding the number at 3.4%, and Mid-Island and the South Shore falling well below that number at 1.1% and 0.4%, respectively. Infant mortality The infant mortality rate, defined as the number of infants who die before their first birthday, across New York City was roughly 4.2 deaths per 1,000 births. Both Mid-Island and the North Shore recorded rates above the citywide average, at 6.4 and 5.2 deaths per 1,000 births, respectively. The South Shore, however, had a rate significantly lower than the citywide average at 2.9 deaths per 1,000 births. Life expectancy The life expectancy at birth across the five boroughs was 82.6 years in 2023, the highest ever reported in New York City. All three sections of Staten Island had life expectancies below the citywide average, with Mid-Island at 82.2 years, the South Shore at 81.1 years and the North Shore at 80 years. Premature death rate The citywide premature death rate, defined as deaths before the age of 65, was 209.2 deaths per 100,000 population. The North Shore saw a higher rate of premature deaths than the city as a whole with a rate of 239.8 deaths per 100,000, while the South Shore and Mid-Island had rates below the citywide average at 172.4 and 151.4, respectively. Drug-related death rate The drug-related death rate across New York City was 28.6 deaths per 100,000 population, with two sections of Staten Island reporting rates above the citywide average. On the North Shore, the drug-related death rate was 39.3 deaths per 100,000, while the South Shore had a rate of 29.1. Mid-Island was the only section of Staten Island with a rate below the citywide average, with 20.6 drug-related deaths per 100,000 residents. Authorities are investigating the death of Victoria Jones, the daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, who was found unresponsive inside a luxury San Francisco hotel, in the early hours of Jan. 1. Officials are saying there were no immediate signs of foul play as they seek the publics help in determining how she came to be on the 14th floor of the Fairmont Hotel. However, questions remain about the circumstances leading up to her death. As investigators work to piece together what happened, attention has shifted to Jones final hours as well as her life and relationship with her father. A hotel guest alerted staff after noticing Jones appeared impaired, according to the Daily Mail. Employees said the 34-year-old was unresponsive and began CPR while emergency crews were summoned. The San Francisco Fire Department said it received a call for medical assistance at 2:52 a.m. Paramedics attempted lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The source said authorities observed no visible injuries, and police reported no drug paraphernalia was found. Authorities also said there were no indications that she may have taken her own life, raising questions questions about how she ended up on the 14th floor. Investigators have not determined whether Victoria Jones was staying at the hotel, according to a source cited by the Daily Mail. Tokyo Film festival President of Jury Tommy Lee Jones, center, waves for fans with his daughter Victoria Jones, left, and Jury Zhao Wei during opening ceremony of the Tokyo Film Festival in Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) ASSOCIATED PRESS The news of her death has drawn an outpouring of sympathy from fans, who have remembered her both for her acting work and her close bond with the Oscar-winning actor. Victoria was the daughter of Tommy Lee Jones and his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley, whom the actor was married to from 1981 to 1996. She began acting at a young age, appearing in films alongside her father. Jones daughter made her film debut in 2002 with a brief appearance in her fathers movie Men in Black II. She later took on several small roles as a child actor, including an episode of One Tree Hill in 2005 and a part that same year in the Western The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which was directed by her father. While she did not continue acting into adulthood, she occasionally appeared alongside Jones at public events. In 2017, she joined him on the red carpet at the ArcLight Hollywood for the premiere of Just Getting Started, which also starred Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo. Later that year, she accompanied him to the opening of the Tokyo International Film Festival, where he served as president of the international competition jury. Tokyo Film festival President of Jury Tommy Lee Jones, third from right, speaks beside his daughter Victoria, fourth from right, and juries, Zhao Wei of China, second from right, Reza Mirkarimi of Iran, right, Martin Provost of France, second from left, and Masatoshi Nagase of Japan during opening ceremony of the Tokyo Film Festival in Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) ASSOCIATED PRESS PRIOR ARRESTS However, Victoria Jones has had previous encounters with law enforcement, leading up to her death, according to Page Six. Court documents reviewed by Page Six show she was arrested on multiple occasions in Napa County in 2025. In April, she was taken into custody on allegations including obstructing an officer, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possessing a narcotic. She entered not-guilty pleas in that case. She was arrested again in June on suspicion of domestic battery and domestic violence involving an elderly victim and also pleaded not guilty. Records also show Jones was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, in June 2011 on a theft charge involving property valued between $50 and $500. That case was later dismissed. San Francisco police have asked anyone with information related to her death to contact the department. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The non-profit Person Centered Care Services recently raised over $100,000 to help support various Staten Island schools through its 2025 Holiday Drive. 14 years ago, we started with one class, and it has expanded to almost 700 students, said Nicole Donnelly of Person Centered Care Services, referring to the annual campaign. The kids love it year after year, they truly are so happy to see what they open up and rip into, and its just so much fun to see their excitement. The 2025 campaign was supported by individual donors, community partners, and local businesses, expanding the drives reach across the Islands schools. The organization received funds from the Staten Island Foundations Diamond Matching Grant. The foundation matched donations two-to-one, helping the organization expand the Holiday Drive and other programs to be more inclusive and accessible to participants. The funds were used to provide students with holiday gifts, classroom supplies, and items they had specifically requested, creating a meaningful and inclusive experience for both students and staff. Organization members visited local P37R and P373R sites across Staten Island, including: PS 36, PS 57, Morris Intermediate School (I.S. 61); PS 48; PS 861; PS 58, and Early Explorers Campus. Person Centered Care Services recently celebrated its 25th anniversary as a nonprofit and has grown the Holiday Drive into one of its largest community initiatives. The annual drive is organized each year by members of the organizations Day Habilitation program, which supports adults with disabilities. Participants help plan, fundraise, shop, wrap, and deliver gifts. The annual drive is organized each year by members of the Person Centered Care Services Day Habilitation program, which supports adults with disabilities. Pictured here is a member of the program giving a gift to a student. (Courtesy of Person Centered Care Services) Founded in 2001, Person Centered Care Services provides supportive and collaborative services to individuals with disabilities and their families throughout the Tristate area. Programs include education, employment, housing, training, and advocacy initiatives. Person Centered Care Services staff members said planning for the 2026 Holiday Drive is already underway, and they expressed appreciation to all donors, volunteers, school partners, and supporters who participated in the 2025 event. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A solar panel company accused in multiple lawsuits of deceptive business practices has extended a settlement offer to one Staten Island homeowner, months after being ordered to reimburse a different plaintiff in a similar case, according to recently obtained documents. The company, which has gone by ATTYX LLC and Sunco Capitol, noted in those same documents that the offer comes as multiple other solar panel companies across the U.S. have filed for bankruptcy in recent months amid what experts describe as a topsy-turvy industry. ATTYX was ordered last summer to reimburse a New Springville couple who were claiming false promises and the misrepresentation of costs, public records show. Through arbitration, it was decided that ATTYX LLC would restore the couples roof to its original condition, while footing the bill for $26,500 for their lawyer fees. The company has denied any wrongdoing in that case in court documents, arguing the homeowners knowingly and willingly signed and then breached their agreement. Judge ordered inperson appearance In late September, an attorney for the New Springville couple notified the court that ATTYX had still not fully paid the fines and sanctions. Staten Island-based lawyer Gary DeFilippo brought a motion to hold ATTYX/Sunco President Grant Young in contempt for allegedly refusing to comply with the courts orders. Attorneys for ATTYX argued that the company was having financial difficulties due to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Judge Ronald Castorina responded, " Im going to give you a big beautiful decision." He went on to rule: ...defendant ATTYX, LLC, formally known as Sunco is adjudged in civil contempt... according to a court transcript. Castorina then ordered Young to fly to New York and appear in court in person. They wanted to do it by Zoom, and I was asked if I consented, said DeFilippo. I said no. In October while appearing in court per the judges orders the defendants paid the plaintiffs in full. No longer BBB accredited The Utah-based company describes itself online as a home improvement services provider offering roofing, solar panels and Central HVAC. According to a 2024 article published by Utah Business, the company delivers excellence and sustainability, and is designed to meet the diverse needs of all homeowners and discover personalized solutions for any budget. The companys current standing with the Better Business Bureau, however, suggests otherwise. As of December, the company was not accredited by the the consumer protection agency, which cited complaints for ATTYX LLCs headquarters and corporate-owned locations. Lawsuits mounting against solar companies On Staten Island alone, there are multiple ongoing cases against ATTYX, court records show. DeFilippo said he has seven ongoing lawsuits across New York City against the company. At least one plaintiff in a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court has accused the company of targeting homeowners based on race, age and income, court documents show. Litigation, meanwhile, is occurring nationwide as well, said DeFilippo, who said he has consulted with homeowners and attorneys in the Carolinas and as far as Hawaii. Lawyer urges research Reputable solar panel companies continue to operate and save homeowners money on their electric bills, according to experts in the field including the SolarReviews website, which tracks customer reviews nationwide. In offering advice to anyone considering solar panels, DeFilippo said there are two things to research and look out for: the monthly cost to finance the panels versus the average going rate in the state and the country; and whether the number of panels purchased are enough to power the house. In the case of the Staten Island couple he represented, their court filings alleged they were billed more than $360 per month for the solar panel system, in addition to another several hundred dollars for a Con Edison bill due to the panels lack of efficiency. According to DeFilippo, this should never happen. There are people paying an average of $100 per month for solar panel systems through one company, and getting very low Con Edison bills, said DeFilippo. S.I. couple recounts alleged dealings with ATTYX in court docs The plaintiffs in the Staten Island case, Leonard and Rhonda Policastri, claimed that what started as talk of big savings instead resulted in a pile of bills. Over the course of multiple consultations in 2022, a sales rep for the company, Mitchell Sims, told the couple they qualified for state rebates and incentives, and that the solar panels would essentially eliminate their Con Edison bill, their lawsuit alleged. The salesman, the couples court filings allege, stated the panels would produce enough energy to power their entire house and allow them to install a heater in their pool, buy an electric stove and purchase an electric car. The plaintiffs said those claim were not true. In March 2023, ATTYXs contractors put up the panels, which did not generate nearly enough power for the house, the lawsuit argued. DeFilippo submitted that further research indicated it would take 16 panels to sufficiently power the property and reduce, not eliminate, Con Edison bills. At the arbitration hearing, Leonard Policastri, 66, a school bus driver, testified that he told Sims that a different company had previously been to his house and determined there wasnt enough room for the number of panels needed, so they declined to install the system. But Sims, he said, convinced him, explaining that ATTYX had the greatest and best panels. Two years after the panels were installed and after multiple failed attempts by the company to resolve the stated concerns, the couple had not seen relief in their electric bills as promised, DeFilippo said. And as the Policastris electric bills and loan payment requests were piling up, Sims was still promoting the solar panel system in online videos. In one video, which has since been taken down, a high-energy Sims referred to himself as the roof man of New York. Are you sick of that crazy Con Edison electric bill? enticed Sims. Im here to help you. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The first babies born on Staten Island in 2026 were welcomed into the world just minutes apart. At 2:27 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, Sahar Irfan and Usman Janjua of Dubai welcomed their first child, Muhammad Usman, at Richmond University Medical Center. We are welcoming 2026 with immense gratitude as we celebrate the birth of our first-born son, Muhammad Usman, Irfan said. Special thanks to Dr. Jeanette Voice and her entire staff for their exceptional care and support in making my delivery the easiest. The baby boy weighed in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 19 inches long, according to the West Brighton hospital. And minutes before, at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, Baby Boy Gold, who has not yet been given a full name, was born to a Brooklyn couple. He arrived at 2:23 a.m. weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces and measuring 19 inches long, the hospital reported. President Donald Trump savaged frequent critic George Clooney in a New Years Eve post on Truth Social. But the Academy Award winner surprisingly replied that theres one thing that he agrees with the president on, Fox News reported. Trump in his post called Clooney an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics. Trump said that the Hollywood A-lister wasnt a movie star at all and has generated more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. Trump lit into Clooney after it was reported that Clooney and his wife, human rights attorney Amal Clooney, had been granted French citizenship. The president wrote: Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden. Trump also referenced the New York Times op-ed written by Clooney last year that called on then-President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 White House race. Trump wrote: Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat. Biden dropped out of the 2024 race and was replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president. Trump won the general election. When asked by Fox Digital for a response, Clooney sent this statement: I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. Well start in November. President Donald Trump has finally addressed the persistent bruising seen on his hands and the sometimes rampant speculation that he is in ill health. Trump directly addressed the rumors about his health, telling the Wall Street Journal that the bruises and concealing makeup seen on his hands are the result of minor cuts and a daily aspirin regimen. The president said he has maintained the aspirin regimen for 25 years and is reluctant to give it up. Trump said, Im a little superstitious about taking a reduced amount of aspirin. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart, the president said. The president acknowledged that he takes a larger dose of aspirin a day than whats recommended by his doctors. Theyd rather have me take the smaller one, Trump said of the dosage. I take the larger one, but Ive done it for years, and what it does do is it causes bruising. Trump said that he has used concealing makeup on his hand to cover up minor cuts, including one he sustained from now-Attorney General Pam Bondis oversized diamond ring during the Republican National Convention in 2024. Yes, there was a slight little cut, Trump said of the injury, which he sustained while high-fiving Bondi at the convention. The White House previously said that Trumps hands also become bruised because of the large number of people he shakes hands with during the course of his duties. The president told the Journal that the makeup was easy to put on, takes about 10 seconds. My health is perfect, Trump added. The White House told the Journal that the president is in exceptional health. In July it was revealed that Trump, 79 suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a common circulatory condition for people his age. Trump in the Journal interview also pushed back at reports that he has fallen asleep or has struggled to stay awake during public events and cabinet meetings. The president said, Sometimes theyll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and theyll catch me with the blink. The Trump administration during both its terms has prioritized its efforts on reviving the coal industry by introducing a series of policy changes and executive actions intended to boost coal leasing and production on federal lands. Yet, despite these political moves, coals trajectory in the U.S. energy market has followed a different path, shaped more by economic realities than government intervention. Market forces, particularly the rise of cheaper and cleaner energy sources, continue to undermine coal development. Coal once formed the backbone of American electricity production, with its usage steadily rising. However, since peaking in the early 2000s, coal-fired power has sharply declined. In 1950, coal was the dominant source of electricity across the grid, but by 2023, it accounted for only 9% of the nations total energy consumption. [caption id="attachment_246815" align="alignleft" width="239"] John L. Watson[/caption] A recent manifestation of the malaise is that the federal government rejected the recent low-ball bid from the sole bidder (Navajo Transitional Energy Co.) to acquire 167 million tons of coal on federal public lands in Montana. The company bid $186,000 (less than a penny per ton). The failed lease sale would have been the biggest federal government coal sale in more than a decade. The failed Montana coal lease sale vividly demonstrates the lack of interest for coal among utilities generating electricity throughout the country. They are turning to cheaper natural gas and renewables. In spite of the administrations interest in reviving the coal industry, economists say federal attempts to boost coal are not going to reverse its years-long decline. Actions During President Trumps First Term (20172021) In its first term, the Trump administration tried to reverse the coal policies of the Obama administration through various actions, including: Ending the Federal Coal Leasing Moratorium. A 2016 moratorium, which temporarily halted new coal leases on federal lands to allow for an environmental review, was lifted in March 2017. This Trump administration change reinstated the ability for companies to acquire new leases. Rescinding New Valuation Rules. The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) repealed new rules that calculated royalties for coal extracted from federal land based on the sales price, rather than a lower figure. This move effectively reduced the cost for mining companies to extract coal. Actions During Trumps Second Term (2025present) President Trumps second administration has continued and expanded the pro-coal policies of his first term. In April 2025, Trump signed a series of executive orders to boost the coal industry. These orders declare that coal is essential to our national and economic security and direct federal agencies to take several actions, such as: Advertisement CultureCelebrityCelebrity life Clooney takes swipe at Trump after dig over French citizenship Chris Hook January 2, 2026 10:21am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A George Clooney has hit back at comments from US President Donald Trump seemingly celebrating Clooney and his wife Amals adoption of French citizenship, with the actor saying he also wanted to make America great again and that would start with the US midterm elections in November. This week it emerged that the US-born Hollywood star, his human rights lawyer wife and their twins Ella and Alexander had become naturalised French citizens, after flagging the move in an October Esquire interview in which he said he was worried about raising our kids in LA, in the culture of Hollywood. Amal Clooney and George Clooney at the premiere of Jay Kelly at the Venice International Film Festival in August last year. Getty Images The French government said the couple were granted citizenship because they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to Frances international influence and cultural outreach. George Clooney is not reported to have lost his US citizenship, nor Amal Clooney her British and Lebanese citizenship. On Thursday (AEDT), Trump responded to the reports with a post on his Truth Social website. Advertisement Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, Trump wrote. In a long post, Trump also took aim at the stars intervention in the 2024 presidential race, in which Clooney withdrew support for then-incumbent and Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive for a New Years Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida this week. AP Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasnt a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! On Friday (AEDT) Clooney responded to Trumps post with a brief statement to Fox News. Advertisement Related Article Celebrity life Totally mediocre: Trump lashes Clooney after star granted French citizenship I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. Well start in November. Clooney appeared to be referencing the US midterm elections, during which all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and a third of the Senate will be up for a vote, potentially giving the Democrats the opportunity to take control of the House once more. Earlier war of words The current spat between Cooney and Trump follows an earlier incident last year in which Clooney made remarks about the democratic role of the media on an episode of US network CBS 60 Minutes during an interview to promote the stage version of his and Grant Heslovs 2005 film, Good Night, and Good Luck. Advertisement Related Article Opinion World markets Buckle up for a volatile year of Trump-Xi bromance, Taiwan and Kim In the stage version, Clooney plays veteran CBS journalist Edward Murrow, who took on influential US senator Joseph McCarthy, at the height of the red scare during the 1950s. When the other three estates fail, when the judiciary and the executive and the legislative branches fail us, the fourth estate has to succeed, Clooney told 60 Minutes. Governments dont like the freedom of the press. They never have. Trump responded on Truth Social asking why CBS would do a puff piece on a second-rate movie star and failed political pundit. Clooney then said he was not fazed. Advertisement Related Article US politics George Clooney claps back at Donald Trump as verbal spat continues I dont care. Ive known Donald Trump for a long time. My job is not to please the president of the United States. My job is to try and tell the truth when I can and when I have the opportunity. About that time, CBS was settling a lawsuit with Trump amid its parent company Paramounts bid to be acquired by Sundance, which was later approved. This week in a new Variety interview to promote his film Jay Kelly, Clooney took aim at CBS and the US ABC network for settling lawsuits brought by the president. If CBS and ABC had challenged those lawsuits and said, Go f--- yourself, we wouldnt be where we are in the country, Clooney told Variety. Must-see movies, interviews and all the latest from the world of film delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our Screening Room newsletter. Advertisement CultureMusicLive music The day bagpipers stormed Fed Square ... with a little help from AC/DC Karl Quinn January 3, 2026 5:10am 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 From strange scenes at an underworld kingpins funeral to a visceral portrait of a killer, these are The Ages defining images of 2025. See all stories . AC/DCs first Australian tour in a decade and who knows, possibly their last was a genuine cultural moment for Melbourne. There were the two big nights at the MCG in November, in which Angus Young proved beyond all doubt that a 70-year-old schoolboy is still one of the very best shredders in the business. There was a spin-off free gig at Federation Square for support act Amyl and the Sniffers, which ought to have been a victory lap for the all-conquering hometown heroes, fresh off a Grammy nomination. But, instead, it made headlines for all the wrong reasons when hundreds of people rushed the fences, sparking fears of a crowd crush, and the gig was cancelled before the band could take the stage. Hundreds of pipers were piping in Melbournes Federation Square to break a world record in honour of AC/DC. Justin McManus Still, they managed to enhance their local legend status by donating their fee for the show to pay for drinks at seven rocknroll friendly pubs around town. A couple of days before that, though, Federation Square (in collaboration with the ABC and City of Melbourne) successfully staged one of the more spectacular and heartwarming events of the year, as hundreds of bagpipers played along to Its a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna RocknRoll). Advertisement They were attempting to set a new world record for a massed performance on one of musics most, er, divisive instruments. The previous record was 333 players, set in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2012. Organisers claim they had 374 players at Federation Square, and a new record was duly set. Thousands more watched on as the pipers representing a vast range of age, gender and ethnicities, but most wearing the kilts, waistcoats, white shirts and ties of their associated bands played in unison (mostly) the bagpipe sections of the song. A more Melbourne moment you would struggle to find. Loading Brothers Angus and Malcolm Young founded AC/DC in Sydney, and recorded the song there in December 1975, but Long Way will forever be associated with our city. For starters, the band had relocated here in 1974, with former Fremantle rocker Bon Scott now on lead vocals. They lived in a share house at 6 Lansdowne Road, St Kilda East, along with a couple of their roadies, and the place became notorious as a wild party hangout. Advertisement Most indelibly, in April 1976 they performed Long Way on the back of a flatbed truck as they travelled down Swanston Street for a film clip (a second version was shot with them performing in City Square). The clip was shot for Countdown, at the urging of Molly Meldrum. The idea to have them performing on the back of a truck came from director Paul Drane. Bagpipes to me says Moomba, Drane said to Channel 9 news a few years back, explaining his inspiration. What do you do in Moomba? You put people on the back of a truck. The whole thing reportedly cost about $300 to shoot, but the exposure for the band, for the city, and arguably for bagpiping well, thats been priceless. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement LifestyleLife & relationshipsHolidays Opinion Do you forget what day it is? Lucky you Malcolm Knox Journalist, author and columnist January 3, 2026 5:00am January 3, 2026 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 Overheard at a coffee caravan in a country coastal town: What day of the week is it? I never know at this time of year. Who cares? Thats why were on holidays. Aint that the truth? Aside from religionists who mustnt forget their day of worship and newspaper columnists on deadline, the week after Christmas means freedom from knowing what day it is. Freedom from Monday blues, from Tuesday traffic, from the Wednesday hump. Saturday night isnt even on Saturday, its on New Years Eve, and the hangover might as well be on a Thursday. Who cares? Illustration by Dionne Gain End-of-year holidays are a time for contemplating how much of the holiday spirit you would like to import into the rest of the year. Night-time walks. Time in nature. Beach cricket. Card and board games with the family. No TV. More (or less) exercise. No phone reception. Turkey, prawns, fruitcake. And to fully fantasise: not knowing what day of the week it is. Advertisement Unlike the day, the month or the year, the seven-day week has no natural reason for being. Its not governed by the sun or the moon. Its origins and continuance lie in religion and power. In his book The Week: A History of the Unnatural Rhythms That Made Us Who We Are, the American historian David Henkin writes that the seven-day week originated with the Roman empire, so thats another thing they left us along with the roads and the aqueducts. The Romans lined up weekdays with the seven visible planets, but that was only an arbitrary way of co-ordinating their labour force and record-keeping, and if theyd been able to see Neptune and Pluto we might have a nine-day week. Lost in a book and timelessly lost. Istock Also spreading were the monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity, Islam which organised a week around a single day of rest and observance of rituals. Henkin researched diaries from the industrial revolution and found that along with work being organised into units of seven days, people were increasingly remembering that certain events happened on a Monday, a Friday and so on, instead of by the date. From the 1950s came the week-shaping schedules dictated by television, by government-regulated schooling, and by new religions like spectator sports. And so here we are, toiling under the yoke of Monday-to-Sunday except for this one blessed week when we forget when to put the bins out. But is the seven-day dictatorship really a tyranny? Do we really want a whole year of the week after Christmas? The weeks fly by too fast, but is it an alternative not to have a week at all? Do we want to aspire to the weekless condition of early childhood, late-life oblivion, chronic addlement, destitution or infirmity where one day is pretty much the same as the next? Is a perpetual holiday all its cracked up to be? Advertisement The seven-day week is also, increasingly, not so much a lever of authority as a protection against it. Im pretty sure Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos dont know or care what day of the week it is, and they act as if their employees shouldnt care either. The bleeding of work time into rest time is in such full flow that Australia has needed to legislate a right to disconnect law, which should be completely uncontroversial but isnt. Many large employers have long agitated against weekend penalty rates and would be very happy to collapse the days of the week into a more manageable blur. Related Article Opinion Work/life balance Guilty of these holiday habits? You might not be switching off after all Tim Duggan Work columnist Artificial intelligence is unlikely to see any logic in a seven-day week. Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google, sees a future where AI liberates us all to sit around on beanbags coming up with brilliant innovations like an 8 billion-strong Google brainstorming team. Or maybe AI is just going to take jobs and replace them with nothing but a universal basic income and the beanbags. I dont see too many people relishing the idea. The seven-day week has come under attack before. Previous attempts to end it have been exercises of power hiding behind principles of rationality, accountancy or ideology. When Josef Stalin was imposing his Five-Year Plans on the people of the Soviet Union, the week was reconstituted into five-, six- and even 10-day blocks, to get more productivity out of the proletariat and to stagger their rest days more efficiently. Post-Revolution France tried a 10-day week to break the churches and to install a new religion of decimalisation. David Henkin writes about a global proposal in the 1930s for an International Fixed Calendar, which reorganised the year into 13 months of 28 days each, perfectly aligned so that every date was the same day every year. The Soviet and French models ultimately failed for reasons of politics, while the International Fixed Calendar was rejected by the League of Nations in 1937 presumably because it was just a bit too spectrummy. Advertisement Enforcing new calendars from above has had a short lifespan, but an organic evolution towards a more shapeless week is observable in our world. The last remnants of a weekly television schedule will have completely lost their hold within the next decade. The digital economy, offering and demanding everything everywhere all at once, will continue to dissolve the seven-day week from the inside, and the Musks and Bezoses will no doubt dream of manipulating the sun and the earth so that they can replace the 24-hour day with a more commercially attractive proposition. The sales pitch will be that they are turning life into one big holiday; the reality will be that we were not careful enough of what we wished for. Related Article Beach and island holidays The 14 beach and island escapes to visit in 2026, before everyone else Maybe were in a Stockholm syndrome relationship with our seven-day week, dependent on our captor, but as the people at the coffee caravan eventually agreed, it beats the alternative. Ill have a double-shot flat white and a kilo of beans, the customer said before remarking, to no one in particular, Im going to need it to get through this week. Malcolm Knox is a journalist, author and regular columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. In a sparsely populated part of the state, Sajid and Naveed Akram filmed themselves firing high-powered weapons in the weeks before the December 14 massacre. This masthead has tracked them there. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Among the isolated backblocks of NSWs Southern Tablelands, it is easy to disappear. Indistinguishable gravel roads stretch on for kilometres; tracks are swallowed up by thick scrub; driveway gates are padlocked twice for good measure; rolling hills shield those beyond them from prying eyes; and cars seldom pass on the winding roads that lead to the many hobby farms in the area. For those seeking an escape, the sparsely populated region offers refuge. For Naveed and Sajid Akram, such isolation offered an opportunity to hone the skills they would allegedly use to carry out Australias worst terror attack. It was in late October that the father and son travelled to an isolated property in the area and allegedly undertook what police say was tactical training as part of their preparation for the December 14 attack at Bondi Beach in which 15 people were killed and dozens were injured. Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in a shootout with police. Naveed Akram, 24, who survived being shot in the abdomen, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act. Using satellite images and photographs of the father and son released by the Local Court of NSW, this masthead has tracked the Akrams to the property, about an hour from Goulburn, revealing for the first time a major part of the pairs alleged planning in the months before the Bondi Beach massacre. Exclusive images of the property reveal the Akrams were shooting near several structures including a caravan, a small transportable building and a shipping container which appear to be equipped for long-term stays. A rainwater tank and an outdoor toilet are located near the structures, the images show. Advertisement Images of the property, captured from above, show several features identified as featuring in the court-released photograph of Sajid Akram, including Tree A, recognisable by its distinctive limbs, the gate now closed, traffic cones atop the fence posts, a patch of dirt, and a hill. The gate seen in the image of Akram is used to access a small yard enclosing the caravan. Several sources provided information used to verify the location where the court-released images were captured, on the condition of anonymity owing to safety concerns. The images of the father and son, among few seen of the pair before the attack on Jewish families at the Chanukah by the Sea event, were contained in a police facts sheet made public after media outlets advocated for its release. The images were taken from videos allegedly found on the father and sons phones, which police seized in the hours after the attack. The videos show the pair firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner during firearms training they allegedly did on the property, according to the facts sheet. Advertisement Police in the days after the December 14 massacre searched the property where the Akrams allegedly trained. They were expected to return this week to conduct a second search. It is unclear if anything linked to the Akrams was found at the property during the initial search. In October, a local farmer briefly crossed paths with the Akrams when they were visiting the property, weeks before they visited the Philippines. They were polite and said little. The image of Naveed Akram, also released by the court, shows the 24-year-old firing a similar shotgun to the one used by his father. Matching the trees on the ridge behind Naveed Akram with those captured in images of the property, this masthead has verified that the 24-year-old was standing in a similar location to his father when he was filmed firing his weapon. Both Tree B and Tree C are identifiable in images compared with the court-released photograph of Naveed Akram by their distinctive foliage. Tree C is also identifiable by its relative position to Tree B. Advertisement The location where the Akrams allegedly trained was one of several lots sold by a developer more than a decade ago after a larger property was subdivided. Several landowners use a shared track on the property, which is accessed via a padlocked gate. The Akrams told the owner of the plot they allegedly trained on that they were friends, rather than father and son, and they were given access to the sprawling block in October to shoot feral animals. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the landowner, who has co-operated with police. The landowner did not know the Akrams by name when contacted by authorities in the days after the massacre, but identified the pair when shown a photograph by police as having used the property for shooting. For legal reasons, this masthead has chosen not to reveal the exact location of the property. Several larger properties in the area owned by local farming families for generations have been subdivided and sold in the past few decades. In the years since, Sydney-based families have purchased properties in the area. Locals say gunshots can constantly be heard on weekends and during holiday periods, when visitors flock to the area to hunt and camp. Shooting in the area is so heavy on some days that locals choose to stay indoors and off the roads for fear of being struck by a stray bullet. Advertisement Sajid Akram wielding a shotgun at Bondi Beach as he is tackled by Ahmed al Ahmed. Sajid and Naveed Akram (in black trousers) at Bondi Beach on December 14. Images captured during the Bondi massacre show the Akrams using several high-powered weapons, including what appears to be a similar shotgun to those seen in the court-released images. Sajid Akram can be seen shooting a similar-looking shotgun before he is disarmed by hero bystander Ahmed al Ahmed. According to the police facts sheet outlining the case against Naveed Akram, the father and son had amassed an arsenal of six firearms, including two single-barrel shotguns. On Monday, Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett said the Akrams allegedly acted alone and were not part of a larger terrorist cell. As authorities continue to piece together the Akrams movements in the months and years before the massacre, families of the pairs alleged victims are calling for a royal commission into the rise of antisemitism in Australia and failings that led to the mass killing. Advertisement Advertisement Rescue teams have scaled back their search on Saturday morning for a Nepalese man swept out to sea at Coogee Beach on New Years Day, while colleagues praised the missing man as a top guy. For two days, helicopters, several boats, a drone and surf lifesavers assisted divers in scouring nearby waters for Sushan Khadka, a student and bartender at the Coogee Pavilion in his 20s, who arrived in Australia about four years ago from Nepal. The search continues for a swimmer missing after being swept out to sea at Coogee on New Years morning. Sitthixay Ditthavong Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said on Friday the significant show of force at Coogee was focused on finding Khadka alive. Investigators dropped green dye marker at the southern end of Coogee about 10am, as several divers tracked the currents while lifesavers on jet-skis crisscrossed the ocean. Advertisement But the search was scaled back on Saturday morning to foot patrols along the shoreline. A staff member at Coogee Pavilion, who asked not to be named, said Khadka was a top guy. Its really hard to process, with the search still going on. Awful. He was dedicated, a top guy. Khadka was among three people caught in a powerful rip after 6am on Thursday. The other two were rescued by off-duty lifesavers, while a police constable ran into the water fully clothed to try to save the submerged man as nearby swimmers attempted to keep him afloat. A police officer and another rescuer dive into the ocean at Coogee Beach. Nine News Rescuers were unable to bring him to shore, triggering a large search that continued into Thursday evening and was complicated by extreme surf conditions. Advertisement The rescue shocked hundreds of onlookers gathered by the Coogee foreshore to welcome the new year, as some swimmers were treated for shock after returning to the sand. The Nepalese consulate confirmed it had been in contact with Khadkas family after he went missing, and said it was monitoring the situation. It came as a 45-year-old woman drowned on a NSW Mid North Coast beach on Thursday afternoon, while a 25-year-old woman was found dead after being pulled into the water near Maroubra Beach in the early hours of the new year. Melissa Austin, 45, was pulled from the water at Dunbogan Beach, south of Port Macquarie, shortly before 3pm on Thursday. She could not be revived despite treatment from paramedics and police. Advertisement The body of the 25-year-old woman, who is believed to be a Chinese national, was discovered about 5am on Thursday, about an hour after she was struck by a wave and knocked into the Mahon rock pool before being pulled into the ocean. The death in Maroubra came one day after a man died at Palm Beach after his small boat flipped in large swell and landed on nearby rocks shortly after midday. A 14-year-old boy who was a passenger on the boat remains missing and a search for him continued on Thursday afternoon. Police scaled back search efforts for the teenager on Friday morning, with maritime and police sweep searches the sole response on Palm Beach. Another man who was on the boat was hospitalised after he was discovered on a nearby rock platform with significant injuries to his left leg. He was winched from the rocks by a rescue helicopter. Mahon Pool, Maroubra, on New Years morning. Sitthixay Ditthavong Advertisement Authorities believe there were three people in the boat at the time of the accident, but were unable to confirm any relationship between the trio. Pearce said surf lifesavers were monitoring two serious incidents in the Wollongong area on Friday afternoon, as he urged people to exercise caution in the surf over the New Year period. NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib thanked agencies and volunteers who responded to the spate of incidents. Many have already been working long hours in very challenging and unpredictable conditions, Dib said. I cannot stress enough that people should follow advice of emergency services and stay out of the water when beaches are closed. Advertisement Waves on the Sydney coastline were reaching over three metres on Thursday, according to meteorologist Jiwon Park, who forecast the swell to ease on Friday. Sydney is currently reporting the highest waves [but] these conditions can hit all over the coast, Park said. Pearce was concerned that NSW had entered a horrific period as he lamented what appeared to be four separate drowning deaths on Wednesday and Thursday. We were hoping to start the year [with] a fantastic, fresh start; 2025 was extremely tumultuous for all the emergency services, he said. Advertisement A man died and a teenager is missing after a boat flipped near Palm Beach on Wednesday. Today I cant stand here and say happy new year because there are families whose lives are irreparably damaged from the last 24 hours. The conditions continued to pose a threat to beachgoers on Thursday, including four people who got in trouble in the water at Narrawallee Inlet on the states South Coast about noon. A woman in her 50s was taken to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital in Nowra, with other patients taken to the smaller Milton Hospital, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said. A man in his 40s who jumped off a jetty at Shoal Bay in the Hunter region about 12.30pm was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious condition with back and spine injuries. Advertisement Surf lifesavers have performed 85 rescues since Christmas Day, a spike that Pearce said had caught everyone off guard. Fire and Rescue NSW was undertaking a separate rescue on Friday afternoon after a man, thought to be in his 80s, fell off a cliff next to Parriwi Road in Mosman. The man was conscious and clinging to a steep slope while emergency crews arrived around 5pm. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app. Advertisement NationalNSWSydney councils The swan-shaped boats ruffling a Sydney councils feathers Ellie Busby January 2, 2026 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 Imported from Michigan for $10,000 each, the swan pedal boats have glided gracefully over the water at Lake Parramatta for eight years. The local council believes they have become a safety risk. The City of Parramatta Council has terminated the licence of a pedal boat company operating at Lake Parramatta after ongoing safety concerns were identified, including the inconsistent use of safety vests. Families enjoying the swan pedal boats on Lake Parramatta, which have been popular for a number of years. Louie Douvis Parramatta Rowboats provides a range of for-hire boats for visitors to Lake Parramatta, including rowboats, kayaks and canoes. The man behind the company, Greg Gordon, also runs a similar boat-hire business in Lane Cove National Park, which has operated there for more than 30 years. The decision to terminate the Parramatta Rowboats licence was made in the confidential session of the councils December meeting, with only independent councillor Kellie Darley and Dr Judy Greenwood of the Greens voting against it. Advertisement The safety of the community is our number one priority, which is why council has made the decision to transition out of the contract with the existing Lake Parramatta watercraft operator, a City of Parramatta spokesperson said. Council has actively worked with the operator over an extended period to improve safety standards; however, there have been increasing concerns including the inconsistent use of safety vests, adequate training of staff and lifeguards needing to assist people on hired watercraft away from the swimming area. Parramatta Council has terminated the Parramatta Rowboat licence over safety concerns. Louie Douvis But Gordon disputes the safety concerns, saying his company was audited by Safe Work Australia and found to comply with all standards. Safety is our number one priority and this is reflected in our safety record, he said. Advertisement Some of the allegations of inconsistent lifejacket use are reported by lifeguards who are mistaking private owners for our customers, and we do not have control over private people. Those visiting Lake Parramatta are allowed to use their own kayaks, canoes and other non-motorised watercraft. There have been no reports of serious injuries to users of the boats but concerns for the safety of people visiting Lake Parramatta have grown ever since 2024, when two young men drowned a week apart while swimming at the lake. Parramatta Rowboats will operate up to the end of January, with Parramatta Council to commence an expression-of-interest process early in 2026 to find a replacement watercraft-hire operator. We know that the hired watercraft are a much-loved attraction at Lake Parramatta and we will be working as quickly as possible to get a new operator on board, the spokesperson said. Advertisement The lake, which spans 10.5 hectares, reopened for the 2025-26 swimming season in October. In 2024 the lake received a $1.4 million upgrade, which included the creation of a sandy beach within the swimming area and the installation of a formal lifeguard viewing platform. The Sydney Morning Herald has a bureau in the heart of Parramatta. Email parramatta@smh.com.au with news tips. Advertisement Updated NationalWACourts WA man sentenced over horror kidnap of two little boys from their beds Rebecca Peppiatt January 2, 2026 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 A Perth court has heard for the first time the horrifying details of how a WA man took two boys from their beds while they were sleeping in a rural WA town in 2023, leading a judge to compare the offence to that of the abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith. Jonathon Richard Anthony, 36, was sentenced in Perth District Court on Friday over the incident, in which he donned a wig and a mask before entering the home of a neighbour in the early hours of the morning to lift eight-year-old James Uzice out of his bed. The shocking moment a child was abducted from his house in Moora was captured on CCTV. 9 News Perth Anthony took the child back to his Moora home and told him to stay there or he would kill him, before going back for his 12-year-old brother, Fabiano. The court heard how Fabiano resisted as Anthony half-carried and half-walked him out of the house in the early hours of March 31, eventually escaping and raising the alarm. Advertisement CCTV cameras at the boys home captured the incident as it unfolded. The police and a small community came together to search for James, who was located three hours later in Anthonys house after they heard him screaming, help me, help me, Im in here. James and Fabiano were kidnapped from their Moora home. 9 News Perth In that time Anthony had plied him with beer and when the boy begged to go to the bathroom he was told no and that he could just p--- himself. The entire interaction was captured by Anthonys own CCTV cameras, later watched by sentencing judge Seamus Rafferty. Advertisement This was every parents worst nightmare, he said. I can see from that boys face just how terrified he is. Jonathan Richard Anthony can be seen entering the property. Nine News Perth It would have been an unbelievably terrifying ordeal for the child the impact would be significant on that feeling of safety and feeling vulnerable and the parents who would have felt they did not properly protect their children. State prosecutors told the court it was like something straight from the movies or a TV show as the case was compared to that of the abduction of Cleo Smith, who was taken from a campsite near Carnarvon in November 2021. Advertisement Terrence Kelly was sentenced to over 13 years in jail for the four-year-olds abduction, after she was found alive by police 18 days following her disappearance. James and Fabianos father, Steven Uzice, previously told 9 News Perth how Fabiano came into the house and said, my brother is missing, someone tried to drag me out. James was detained for three hours. 9 News Perth After James was found, the distraught dad told him, now youre safe, daddys here. Nobody can hurt you, he told 9 News Perth at the time. Its like a shock, you know I didnt expect something like that to happen in a little community. Advertisement On Friday, Rafferty told the court it would be an affront to justice not to sentence Anthony to a term of imprisonment over the incident, despite hearing that he was suffering from schizophrenia and the effects of cannabis and butane abuse, leading to a psychosis. Related Article Updated Crime Brave and courageous: Police reveal how 12-year-old boy led them to abducted brother Anthony, who later pleaded guilty to seven charges in relation to the incident, told police that he was in the middle of a paranoid delusion and believed aliens were everywhere and that he needed to save the children. He was then charged with two counts of person who forcibly/fraudulently detains a child, one count of deprivation of liberty, two counts of aggravated burglary, one count of disguising to commit a crime, and one count of indecently recording a child. He was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison, backdated to March 2023 when he was arrested, and will be eligible for parole in March 2029. A lifetime restraining order was also granted to protect both of the boys from Anthony. Advertisement Analysis NationalDiagnosing Murder When rubbish science sends the innocent to jail Michael Bachelard January 3, 2026 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 In a courtroom drama, the moment the hero lawyer stands to begin their cross-examination, the room falls silent with expectation. Fixing their opponent with a steely gaze, they quietly set about dismembering the testimony, character and credibility of someone whose evidence just minutes earlier seemed unassailable. In a flourish, the case is turned on its head. Actual trials, I hate to report, are less dramatic and rarely as satisfying. But the mechanism is true to life. Justice and science are a difficult mix. Matt Absalom-Wong Cross-examination is said in legal circles to be the greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth. In contested cases, courts rely heavily on a barristers ability to test character, tease out facts and unveil falsehoods. Advertisement Ken Crispin was just such a barrister, then a director of public prosecutions, then a judge in the ACT. And as a judge, in 2001, he wrote an extraordinary, prescient judgment in a trial over shaken baby syndrome which eviscerated the prosecution evidence. The scientific proof of the syndrome, Crispin wrote, was based largely on anecdote, theory and unreliable confessions. I interviewed him for a forthcoming bonus episode of my podcast, Diagnosing Murder, and our conversation turned to how difficult it was even for a whip-smart practitioner such as himself to properly cross-examine scientists. Lindy Chamberlain was convicted over the death of her baby, Azaria, on the basis of seven pieces of scientific evidence. Six of them were wrong. Michael Raynor As a barrister, Crispin appeared in the 1986 royal commission investigating the wrongful conviction of Lindy Chamberlain. He wrote a book about it and decades later is still outraged at the forensic chicanery involved in her prosecution. There were major errors in six out of seven pieces of scientific evidence used against her. Proving it, though, wasnt easy. We subpoenaed one bundle of documents from one witness and the first page consisted of a series of statements in point form and the points consisted in part of English words and in part of symbols, he tells me. Advertisement It took me 12 hours with a professor of immunochemistry to work my way through the document and understand exactly what the witness was saying and what might be wrong with it. [After that], in almost any case in which expert evidence was to be given, I would try to persuade my instructing solicitors to engage an independent expert who could advise me, not just the court, so that Id know what questions to ask, Crispin says. It is simply chilling to read of the hundreds of exonerations (through subsequent DNA testing) of individuals wrongfully convicted ... on the basis of junk science. Former Victorian Appeal Court judge Chris Maxwell That costs money that many defendants cant afford. But even if they can, the challenge remains to convey that information to a judge and jury. Judges usually know very little about the case at all until it starts, says Crispin. Traditionally, they derive all of their evidence from the witnesses in the case so if there are any problems in the evidence, the courts are almost entirely dependent upon the cross-examination of the counsel to bring out those errors. Advertisement How good are barristers at doing this? Barristers vary from pretty hopeless to absolutely brilliant, with most of them more or less in the middle, being honest tradespeople trying their best, Crispin says. Former Supreme Court judge Ken Crispin says judges are responding to what happens in court not to the deeper issue of whther the scientific evidence presented has no proper basis. Louie Douvis If all this sounds dispiriting, it gets worse. Pretty much every scientific technique you saw on CSI to identify a perp bite-mark evidence, blood-spray patterns, hair microscopy, voice spectrometry, lie-detector tests are junk science. None of these was ever widely used in Australia, but it took a systematic review of forensic science in the United States to discredit them entirely. Even fingerprint matching which does work, and has been used in Australia since the early 1900s is prone to user error. Advertisement Professor Gary Edmond, the director of the program in expertise, evidence and law at the University of NSW, tells me about an experiment in which researchers asked fingerprint experts to judge whether two sets of prints matched. CSI: Dont believe a word of it. It wallows in junk science. Paramount+ But there was a catch. The same experts had previously matched the same prints in earlier court cases. To test the consistency of these findings, the researchers dropped subtle suggestions to their experts that the prints would likely not match. The result? Most of the fingerprint examiners in that cohort reversed their opinion, Edmond says. What it shows is that, even on an objective test, experts are as susceptible to the power of suggestion as the rest of us. Its an effect that happens at levels that youre not aware of, and you cant train your way out of it, Edmond says. Advertisement Science makes experiments double-blind to eliminate these biases. But in courts, says Edmond, biasing information is built in from where the defendant sits to who hires the expert. Many scientists, including police traffic reconstruction experts and forensic doctors, actually work for the state and appear exclusively for the prosecution. The expectation on them is pretty clear. Think fingerprints are foolproof? Think again. And to juries, their evidence carries great weight. They are presented as having special knowledge, and are the only witnesses permitted to offer an opinion. A cross-examiner needs to be at the top of their game to successfully challenge this expertise. Even if they do, the jury must be focused enough to comprehend the significance of the questioning and the significance of the answers, Edmond says. Almost a decade ago, all this led to one of our most eminent judges, Chris Maxwell, to a revelation. It is simply chilling to read of the hundreds of exonerations (through subsequent DNA testing) of individuals wrongfully convicted in US courts, and imprisoned, on the basis of junk science, Maxwell said in a speech to a law reform conference in 2017. Advertisement The problem, he thought, was the scientific illiteracy of the participants in the trial. As for judges, he echoed Crispins point: They tend to be insulated from, and practically incapable of, engaging with scientific knowledge and the best scientific advice. Jurist Chris Maxwell says the scientific illiteracy of the participants in the trial all too often gives rise to miscarriages of justice. Two cases prompted Maxwells revelation. One was R v Klamo a shaken baby case. The expert witness in that case made it clear that the evidence presented could not establish beyond reasonable doubt that the childs death had been caused deliberately. But the jury either misunderstood or ignored his evidence and found the man guilty anyway. Klamo spent a year in jail until the Court of Appeal, with Maxwell writing the key judgment, set him free. The misunderstood expert was Professor Stephen Cordner the former long-time head of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. Cordner told the Diagnosing Murder podcast that when he read Maxwells judgment, I thought, Thank God. Somebody understood what I said. Advertisement He added: That is the type of involvement that sears the soul. This is such serious stuff. People go to jail So theres nothing quite like that to focus the attention. That case prompted Cordner to take a harder look at shaken baby cases. He now wants an inquiry into the scientific basis for the diagnosis because convictions rely too heavily on the views of the states small group of forensic doctors. And they (for largely admirable reasons) have an immovable view of what globally is highly contested science. Emiturus Professor Stephen Cordner, an expert in forensic medicine, wants a public review into shaken baby syndrome. Jason South As for Maxwell, he was worried enough to write a new Supreme Court practice note instructing all lawyers on how to deal with expert evidence. In June 2025, that note got a significant update. The judge behind the update was Justice Kristen Walker who has her own experience of a major shaken baby case. Advertisement Walker was the dissenting judge in a Victorian appeal in 2021 that hammered out the scientific arguments around shaken baby syndrome. Walker thought the appellant, Jesse Vinaccia, should be released immediately because his conviction was unsound. But she was outvoted. Her two fellow judges preferred the forensic doctors assurances, Vinaccia stayed in prison, and a precedent was set. Related Article Listen Diagnosing Murder Listen to Diagnosing Murder Episode 1 Walkers updated note on expert evidence now demands that where scientific, medical or technical evidence is led, the prosecution or defence should ensure it is repeatable, reproducible and accurate. Good science, in other words. A recent judgment of the New Jersey Supreme Court, also in a baby-shaking case, found this kind of scientific proof was a bedrock of the legal system because only evidence that is sufficiently reliable may be presented to the jurors. Their inquiry into that case found shaken baby syndrome was conjecture. Australia, though as the Australian Academy of Science has repeatedly pointed out has no such reliability standard. So does the Victorian Supreme Courts new practice note establish one? Advertisement Not really. A defence lawyer working in the field, Holly Boylan who had a client acquitted of child homicide in a shaken baby case last year says the practice note, while admirable, is unenforceable. Its a statement of expectations, but doesnt dictate what happens if those expectations are not met, Boylan says. The blockage is a High Court case which, in 1998, said questions of the reliability of any evidence, including scientific evidence, was up to juries to decide. In practice, it means judges are rarely permitted to stop juries hearing expert evidence even if its based on dodgy science. Thats the law. And, as Boylan says, the law trumps a rule. Advertisement So were back where we began relying on the knowledge, competence and eloquence of barristers and the intelligence and receptiveness of juries. Related Article Exclusive Diagnosing Murder Australian court ruling in shaken baby case was ignorant and embarrassing Our system is good. It gets it right most of the time 90 per cent of the time, indeed probably more. But all of us should find it disturbing that, when we get it wrong, people whove done nothing wrong end up serving time in prison. In Maxwells words, thats chilling. It should, as Cordner said, sear the soul. Surely, the least we should demand of courts is that our juries are not being fed junk. In need of some good news? The Greater Good newsletter delivers stories to your inbox to brighten your outlook. Sign up here. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Diagnosing Murder Analysis Michael Bachelard is a senior writer and former deputy editor and investigations editor of The Age. He has worked in Canberra, Melbourne and Jakarta, has written two books and won multiple awards for journalism, including the Gold Walkley. or email. Connect via X Advertisement PoliticsFederalPolitical leadership Sussan Ley says Ukraine occupied by Soviet Union Nick Newling Updated January 2, 2026 3:18pm ,first published 3:12pm 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 Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has accidentally said the government should support the illegal occupation of Ukraine by the Soviet Union in an awkward slip of the tongue, 34 years after the USSR was formally dissolved. At a press conference in Albury on Friday, Ley was questioned on the provision of 49 Australian Abrams tanks, donated for use on the frontlines in Ukraine, and responded by saying the government needed to support Ukraine against the USSR. Loading However, Ley said the government should support the occupation of Ukraine, rather than the defence of the nation currently fighting Russia, and then used the name of the old Cold War superpower. The government should always stand ready to support the illegal occupation of Ukraine by the USSR, by the Soviet Union, and unfortunately, its taken too long to provide this support in the form of the Abrams tanks, Ley said. Advertisement We will always stand there to encourage the government and push the government to do more and to do more sooner, she said. A spokesperson for Leys office said the Liberal leader had erred, intending to reference Russia, not the former Soviet Union, when she called for more support for Ukraine. The official transcript was amended later in the day to read: The government should always stand ready to support illegal occupation of Ukraine by [Russia]. Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union until the USSR was dissolved on December 26, 1991. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the fall of the Soviet Union as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century, with many interpreting his comments as a stated desire to see the union reformed. Advertisement Putins illegal incursion into Ukraine on February 22, 2022 has been observed as an attempt at reclaiming territory lost by Moscow in 1991. Related Article Opinion Russia-Ukraine war Does Australia still stand with Ukraine? The reality no longer matches the rhetoric Vasyl Myroshnychenko Ukrainian ambassador While politicians are often well rehearsed on their talking points, minor gaffes do occasionally occur. In early 2025, one of Labors most experienced media hands, then-employment minister Murray Watt, misspoke and told Sevens Sunrise that he believed the date of Australia Day should be changed, a significant shift government policy. Asked Should the day stay or should the date change? Watt said: No, I think the date should change Eddy. Thats exactly the position of the government. He immediately corrected himself, saying: Weve said repeatedly we dont want to change the date, and Im not surprised to see that percentage of people in Australia say we should keep the date in place. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Central Coast house values are nearly at a pandemic-era high, as buyers look for affordable housing and a relaxed beach lifestyle within a commutable distance to Sydney. The house market in the Central Coast is up 45.1 per cent over five years to reach a median price of $1,063,372, Cotality data to the end of November shows. Sunrise at Umina Beach on the Central Coast. House values in the region are nearly at a pandemic-era high, Credit: Istock The cost to buy the median house on the Central Coast is now inching closer to its April 2022 record of $1,067,901, after jumping 6.1 per cent over the past year. The big boom in housing values across the Central Coast, like with most major regional centres, happened between early 2020 and many markets found a high in early 2022 just before interest rates started rising, Cotality head of Australian research Eliza Owen said. JBS N.V. (NYSE:JBS) is one of the top cheap stocks under $20 to buy now. JBS N.V. (NYSE:JBS) reported on December 12 that JBS Pork Australia officially announced the completion of a two-year project to build brand-new housing for their breeding herd, with the sheds measuring 25,000 m2 total in size. Management stated that the new facility represents a considerable expansion of JBS Pork Australias farming capability, delivering a number of benefits that bolster biosecurity, enhance animal welfare outcomes, and support growth across global and domestic markets experiencing growing demand of high-quality Australian pork. Sysco Corporation (SYY): A Reliable Choice for a Dividend Stock Portfolio in Retirement The initiative marks the largest upgrade in the history of the site, which was established in 1963, with the new facilitys climate-controlled features boosting the safety and well being of the 57 employed staff. The modern housing and animal facilities, along with the ventilation infrastructure, ensure optimised pig welfare and care. It is one of the most significant pork producers in the country, and contributes around 5% of Australias fresh pork supply. In a separate development, JBS N.V. (NYSE:JBS) received a rating update from Grupo Santander analyst Guilherme Palhares on December 11, who upgraded the stock to Outperform from Neutral and set a $17 price target. Barclays analyst Benjamin Theurer also revised their rating on the stock on December 8, reaffirming a Buy rating on JBS N.V. (NYSE:JBS) and setting a $22 price target. JBS N.V. (NYSE:JBS) is a food company that sells pork, beef, lamb meat, and poultry products. The company offers its products to club stores, supermarkets, other retail distributors, and foodservice companies. While we acknowledge the potential of JBS 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. I was going to the races first up thinking it would win. It was working that good, I was thinking this is a stakes horse every day of the week, so I was happy with the run but disappointed he didnt win. Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith. Credit: Getty Images He can definitely go better than where hes at. Im a bit disappointed looking at his form, the way its all turned out. We couldnt scratch from the wide gate in the Meteorite because of the conditions of the race, so he went around with no hope from the bad gate. The start before at Randwick he missed the start after rearing up in the gates, so his form should be better than it is. Last start he went back to the inside and it probably wasnt ideal. I think hes better getting to the outside, but he needed the run, too. I wouldnt be surprised if he won on Saturday. Ill be disappointed if he doesnt run top three. If he can win a race or two, we can give him a little break and hell be super next prep. Smith, meanwhile, was hoping for another scratching in the 10th race, a benchmark 78 over 2000m, to get Placid Pearl a start. The four-year-old mare, a $10 hope, has finished third in midweek grade her past two starts and has gate one on Saturday. Shes going good, said Smith, who will likely start long-shot Subarctic ($61) in the race. Id like to get her in there from the good gate and shed be close to the mark. I think she will make a nice stayer in the future, once she gets up over a bit further. She just gets a bit hot at the moment. Smith said Idle Flyer was ticking over well ahead of an autumn return but exciting sprinter Lyles would miss the carnival because of a hoof injury. He said stable star Headwall, which missed a potential Everest shot because of injury, had a month of recovery to go and was a late autumn prospect. Stanley keen to stake claim Apprentice Will Stanley is focused on making the most of probably one of the better books Ive had in town on Saturday at Randwick. The three-kilogram claimer, who has 11 metropolitan winners, picked up the ride on Highway Handicap favourite Navy Buoy ($3.30), which won an identical race at the track under Tommy Berry two weeks ago by three and a half lengths. Stanleys claim means the Paul Snowden-trained four-year-old carries just half a kilogram more, and the draw in three helps his chances to again dictate terms out front. Thats a good pick-up, Stanley said. He won pretty well the other. He jumped, led and gave them something to chase and was too good. Id say that would be the plan again, but Ill have to talk to Paul. The 22-year-old, who moved from Orange to join the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle in late 2024, also has two rides each for top trainer Ciaron Maher and the Richard and Will Freedman stable. Will Stanley after winning on Flying Embers for John Thompson. Credit: Getty Images He partners last-start Nowra Cup winner Rolling Magic ($8) in the fifth and Magnatear ($7), which won at Randwick November 4, in the seventh for the Freedmans. Rolling Magic, hes a tough old horse, Stanley said. He puts himself in a race and gives himself every chance to win, and taking the weight off is always going to help him. Magnatear is a tough old horse as well and is quite a quality galloper. He won last start quite well and the start before he got beat by a nice horse in Vivy Air and he was beaten only two lengths. He rides Covert Thinking ($19), a mare he has won on three times in five attempts, in the fourth and Raf Attack ($61) in the 10th for Maher. Shes had to step up in grade this prep but both runs back have been really good, he said of Covert Thinking. She just needs a bit of sting out of the track. Australias United Cup preparations have hit a bump, with top-ranked womens player Maya Joint battling illness ahead of Saturday nights opening round. Joint missed media and team commitments on Friday and was under doctors orders to rest, to give herself the best chance of being fit for her scheduled match with Norways Malene Helgo. Australian Maya Joint has been given doctors orders to rest ahead of her first match on Saturday. Credit: AP Team captain Lleyton Hewitt said he was confident Joint would be able to play, but that the team would reassess closer to the match. I havent spoken to her because shes resting, so [shes] just trying to get as much sleep and rest as possible today, Hewitt said. Advertisement WorldEuropeSwitzerland It could have been me: Australian teens narrow miss as Swiss nightclub burned David Crowe January 3, 2026 9:59am 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 Crans-Montana: The teenagers who come to lay flowers know they are the lucky ones who were spared the blaze that brought death in the night to their friends. One girl doubles over in grief as she lights a candle at the mound of flowers on the street corner near Le Constellation nightclub, where at least 40 people perished in the flames. Yaron Lavy knows local teenagers who are yet to be accounted for. Fairfax Here, in the Swiss resort town of Crans-Montana, parents walk with their weeping children to place flowers at the memorial to those who died in the early hours of New Years Day. Yaron Lavy, 17, knows he could have been inside the club when the fire spread about 1.30am on Thursday, trapping young revellers in the basement bar. Advertisement I was lucky because of a glass of water, he tells me. Related Article Updated Fire We followed all safety rules, say Swiss bar owners after deadly inferno Lavy, whose family is from Melbourne and is now based in Crans-Montana, was on his way to Le Constellation with his friends but chose to stop at a nearby hotel for a glass of water. That decision may have saved his life. Divided on where to go and whether to stay out, his crew never made it to the popular nightclub, where he had been drinking just two nights earlier. When Lavy saw a message telling him of the fire at Le Constellation, he tried to call friends he knew were at the club. None replied. He headed to the club. Straight away, I came here as fast as I could, even if I couldnt do anything, he says. Advertisement I got to the front, and I just saw all these people, all the ambulances, all the fire trucks, and I was just traumatised. How could this happen on one of the best days of the year? There are conflicting accounts of the start of the fire, but most suggest it began at 1.30am and that emergency services were at the scene quickly. But it took hours for ambulance workers to help all of those on the street outside the club, and some witnesses report hearing screams until 4.30am. Social media footage shows the Le Constellation nightclub ablaze. X/@tyroneking36852 One witness described using curtains to wrap the victims to keep them warm after they emerged into the shivering cold in their burnt clothing some of them so burnt they had no clothing left. Lavy, who was raised in Melbourne but studies in the nearby city of Lausanne and comes to Crans-Montana for Christmas most years, knows local teenagers who were involved. Advertisement Related Article Analysis Tragedy It happened in seconds: How a night of youthful joy turned into tragedy One is a young man who is listed as missing, another is a young girl who is in hospital awaiting treatment. He mentions two sisters who are both missing, and another young girl in hospital. He is surprised, however, when I tell him that an Australian is among the injured and their family is receiving consular help. He is not aware of any Australians caught in the fire. Lavy arrived too late to help people out of the burning club, but he met one young man who dragged four or five people out of the building. One local man, Paolo Campolo, a financial analyst, is being hailed a hero for racing to the club when his teenage daughter called him to tell him of the fire. Advertisement Campolo, 55, is recovering from smoke inhalation. Speaking to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero from hospital, he said he heard victims begging for help in several languages. I pulled kids out with my bare hands, he told the newspaper. One after the other. They were alive but injured, many of them seriously. Flavio Casella, 18, arrived at the club after the fire to witness victims emerging in a cloud of smoke and gas. There were people on the ground screaming for help, he tells me on the street outside the club, now cordoned off by police. There were people helping before the ambulance and the firefighters and the police came, but you couldnt go too close because of the gas. Advertisement We were shocked we never thought something like this could happen. Casella, a student from Rome on a short visit to the ski resort with Italian friends, could have been in Le Constellation that night. He was on his way there when his group met Swiss friends and chose to go to a different bar. By the time they returned to Le Constellation, it was ablaze. The Swiss authorities know that local volunteers made all the difference in helping people get out of the fire. Mathias Reynard, the head of the Valais regional government, which includes Crans-Montana, told Swiss radio station RTS on Friday that the heroic actions showed the solidarity of the community. Advertisement In the first minutes, it was citizens and in large part young people who saved lives with their courage, he said. As the hours pass, however, families are painfully aware of the lives that could not be saved. Some parents are posting photographs of their teenage children on social media in the hope that others can tell them what happened to their family members that night. Mourners gather to leave flowers for the victims of the fire. Getty Images Adding to the pain is the fact that Swiss police expect to take several days to identify some victims because the burns are so severe. Advertisement Some of the survivors have been placed into induced comas, and many have third-degree burns. One mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, has been searching hospitals for her son, Arthur. The 16-year-old sent her a message from Le Constellation to wish her a happy New Year, but she has not heard from him since. I dont know how severe his burns are, I dont know if hes recognisable, she told Reuters. All I want is to find my child. All I want is to find my son. Standing at the flower memorial on Friday, Lavy says he wishes he could have done more to help. He also feels that he escaped the fate that has devastated others. Advertisement It could have been me, he says. All because of a glass of water. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. Advertisement Analysis WorldMiddle EastMiddle East tensions Trump trapped as tensions between two powerful allies burst into the open Vivian Nereim January 3, 2026 9:00am 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 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: As Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, rose to power a decade ago, officials and pundits in Washington sometimes compared him to the de facto ruler of the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both royals presented themselves as authoritarian reformers. In 2015, they teamed up in Yemen, launching a disastrous military intervention to beat back Iran-supported rebels, and later joined forces in a bitter political dispute against their neighbour Qatar. But today, the two men are increasingly at odds, leading their oil-rich Persian Gulf countries into confrontation and competition with each other in the Middle East, Africa and beyond. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, and the UAEs Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2021. AP On Tuesday, long-simmering tensions burst into the open as a Saudi-led airstrike targeted a UAE shipment as it arrived in Yemen, with the accusation that the UAE was sending weapons to a separatist group. Advertisement It was the dramatic climax of a spat between the one-time partners, who now support opposing groups in Yemen and Sudan, have pursued differing oil policies and acted against each other in economic and trade matters. Because of the vast global influence of Saudi Arabia and the UAE as major energy exporters, with enormous sovereign wealth and diplomatic sway the rift has the potential to move markets, derail investments and disrupt sensitive negotiations around the world. This frame grab from video broadcast by Saudi state television on December 30 shows what the kingdom describes as a shipment of weapons and armoured vehicles coming from the UAE, at Mukalla, Yemen. AP For Washington, the rupture has the makings of a serious headache. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent Tuesday working the phones with his Saudi and UAE counterparts. Both countries have made extravagant promises to pour money into the United States, and they are key players from whom US President Donald Trump hopes to win support for his Middle East policies, including in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Advertisement No one in the Gulf wants to see another Gulf crisis, so everyone has an interest in containing this, said Yasmine Farouk, the director of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula project for the International Crisis Group. Still, a fundamental schism remains. In his early years, Crown Prince Mohammed pursued an aggressive foreign policy, mounting the bombing campaign in Yemen within months of being appointed defence minister. But he has since looked to subdue regional conflicts in pursuit of his economic agenda at home. In contrast, the UAE has become a regional maverick with what appear to be imperial ambitions. During the first Trump administration, it helped engineer a series of agreements through which the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco normalised ties with Israel, shattering a long-standing policy among many Arab countries. Advertisement The UAE government has also taken an increasingly active role outside the region and has invested heavily in Africa. In recent months, the country has faced international outcry over its alleged role in Sudan. It has been accused of backing the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force that is fighting the Sudanese military in a devastating civil war. During a visit to the United States in November, Crown Prince Mohammed pressed US President Donald Trump to help bring about a peace deal in Sudan. Bloomberg UAE officials previously denied that they provided support to the group, though the evidence is well documented. Saudi Arabia has backed the Sudanese military and hosted peace talks between the two sides. During a visit to the United States in November, Crown Prince Mohammed pressed Trump to help bring about a peace deal in Sudan. The potential involvement of the Trump administration would compound the international pressure on the UAE over Sudan. Advertisement Someones giving them the money and someones giving them the weapons, Rubio said in November, referring to the players in Sudan. And we know who they are. In recent years, the UAE has been allocating its growing financial and military tools to fulfil its geo-economic ambitions by projecting its influence, Farouk said, while Saudi Arabia has focused on containing and managing regional crises. Someones giving them the money and someones giving them the weapons. And we know who they are. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio We are an influential country in the region, senior UAE official Anwar Gargash said in an interview with CNN in November. Maybe somebody doesnt like it. But matter of fact, we are. And, as a result, I think we have a regional view on what we want to see in countries around us. Bader Al-Saif, an assistant professor at Kuwait University, described the fault lines between the countries as a difference in worldviews. Advertisement Analysts and diplomats say that the actions of Sheikh Mohammed of the UAE appear to be ideologically driven, including by his opposition to political Islamism, which he views as a threat to the region. The Saudi crown prince, by contrast, is a ruthless pragmatist, willing to shift his political positions as needed. Their differing mindsets and strong personalities seemed to make collision inevitable at some point. In 2019, the UAE offered support to a separatist group in Yemen, the Southern Transitional Council, which began openly fighting the Yemeni government. AP The first public indication that something was amiss came in 2019. As the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen faced growing international pressure over widespread death, hunger and disease in the country, the UAE withdrew most of its forces. But it also offered support to a separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council, which began openly fighting the Yemeni government. Advertisement Soon after, economic competition between the two countries heated up. Crown Prince Mohammeds plans to turn Saudi Arabia into a global hub for business, artificial intelligence and tourism pose a potential threat to Dubai, the UAEs major financial and aviation hub. Saudi and UAE officials often say that competition between them is friendly and beneficial for everyone. Yet in 2021, the Saudi government began pressing international companies to relocate their regional headquarters from Dubai to Riyadh, the Saudi capital and threatened to cut off access to lucrative government contracts for firms that did not comply. Crown Prince Mohammeds plans to turn Saudi Arabia into a global hub for business, artificial intelligence and tourism pose a potential threat to Dubai, the UAEs major financial and aviation hub. Bloomberg The countries fiercest clashes have been in Yemen, the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula. In December, the separatists swept through southern and eastern Yemen, seizing control of vast swaths of oil-rich territory in regions where Saudi Arabia had long held sway, and stating their intention to form a breakaway state. Advertisement Why the UAE supports the group is unclear, but analysts speculate that the UAE leadership could be attracted to the idea of holding sway in Yemeni port cities located on crucial global trade routes. UAE officials say they merely stand by Yemenis rights to security and self-determination. Saudi officials described the separatist groups recent moves as a security threat to the kingdom, which shares a long and porous border with Yemen. On Tuesday, when Saudi-led forces in Yemen bombed the UAE shipment, saying it contained arms bound for the separatists, the Saudi Foreign Ministry accused the UAE of pressuring the group into mounting their recent offensive. Trump and UAEs Sheikh Mohammed during the US presidents Gulf visit in May. Getty Images The UAE government denied that and said the shipment did not contain weapons, but hours later it announced that it would withdraw its remaining military forces from Yemen of its own volition. In the aftermath of the airstrike, Saudi and UAE commentators, who typically profess brotherly respect for each others countries, began shooting verbal salvos. Advertisement The allegation that the UAE had threatened Saudi security was unfortunate and untrue, Dhahi Khalfan, the outspoken deputy police chief of Dubai, wrote on social media. Then he criticised Crown Prince Mohammed, albeit subtly lavishing praise on a former Saudi ruler, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, whose memory is often invoked by Saudi critics of the prince. The memory of former Saudi ruler King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (pictured) is often invoked by Saudi critics of the crown prince. May God have mercy on King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and grant him the highest levels of paradise, Khalfan wrote. It is in the darkest of nights that the full moon is missed. Saudi social media influencers insinuated that the UAE government was acting opportunistically and had delusions of grandeur. Advertisement Punching above ones weight is one thing. Believing it makes you a regional power is another, wrote Saud AlDossary, son of the kingdoms media minister. Al-Saif expressed hope that the rifts emergence out in the open will accelerate a resolution, or at least a clearer modus vivendi. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. PHILIPSBURG:--- As of 2026, Erik Spek has officially joined HaVen as co-owner. Since October 2025, he has already been part of HaVen as Managing Director. With the formalization of his ownership, the co-directorship with Erik van Engelen is now officially confirmed. Erik Spek (1973) began his career at Arthur Andersen in Rotterdam and continued at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sint Maarten and Curacao. There, he gained extensive experience in accountancy and in supporting companies in the region and Suriname. After gaining 11 years of experience at major accounting firms in the Netherlands, Sint Maarten, and Curacao, Erik transitioned to the banking sector, where he held several roles at DVB Bank over 14 years in Curacao, Singapore, and the Netherlands. He started as Team Head in the back office in Curacao, leading an accounting team. After several years in this role, he went on to hold various positions within DVB, building expertise in credit, portfolio management, and financial analysis. He later served as Financial Controller at COUNT Energy Trading in Rotterdam. With his broad background in accountancy, controlling, and international finance, Erik Spek now applies his knowledge and experience to further shape the growth of HaVen in Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Suriname, and the Netherlands. At HaVen, we are building a firm that is close to entrepreneurs while maintaining an international perspective. Returning to the islands feels like a natural step. Together with Erik van Engelen and our team, I look forward to shaping the next phase of HaVens growth in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Erik Spek, Co-Owner HaVen Audit, Accounting & Consultancy China military drills near Taiwan 'unnecessarily' raise tensions: US Washington, United States, Jan 2 (AFP) Jan 02, 2026 Chinese war games around Taiwan "unnecessarily" spiked tensions in the region, the US State Department said Thursday, calling on Beijing to "cease its military pressure." "China's military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily. We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. Beijing launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets, navy ships and coastguard vessels on Monday and Tuesday to encircle Taiwan, saying the drills simulated a blockade of the self-ruled island's main ports. Taipei condemned the exercises as "highly provocative." China claims that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has refused to rule out using force to annex it. "The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion," Pigott said. China again defended the drills as "legitimate" on Friday, and warned countries to "stop stirring up trouble on the Taiwan Strait issue." "We urge relevant countries and institutions to strictly abide by the one-China principle," a Chinese defence ministry spokesman said in a statement responding to calls for restraint, including from the United States. US President Donald Trump said Monday he was not concerned about China's live-fire drills, appearing to brush aside the possibility of counterpart Xi Jinping ordering an invasion. "I have a great relationship with President Xi. And he hasn't told me anything about it," Trump told reporters when asked about the exercises. "I don't believe he's going to be doing it," Trump said in apparent reference to an invasion. Beijing's show of force came after the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan. The United States has been committed for decades to ensuring Taiwan's self-defense, while staying ambiguous on whether the US military would intervene in an invasion. China's latest exercises were the sixth major round of maneuvers since 2022 when a visit to Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi enraged Beijing. CORRECTED: Seven killed as Saudi coalition strikes UAE-backed forces in Yemen Mukalla, Yemen, Jan 2 (AFP) Jan 02, 2026 Air strikes killed seven separatist fighters in Yemen on Friday, according to an official with the group, as a Saudi-led coalition hit back against a sweeping advance by the UAE-backed Southern Transition Council, threatening a major confrontation. The deaths are the first from coalition fire since the secessionist STC seized swathes of Hadramawt and Mahra provinces last month. Following the strikes, a military spokesman for the STC said it was in a "decisive and existential" war with Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, characterising it as a fight against radical Islamism -- a longtime preoccupation of the UAE. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have for years supported rival factions in Yemen's government-run territories, but the STC's offensive has angered Riyadh and left the oil-rich Gulf powers at loggerheads. Mohammed Abdulmalik, head of the STC in Wadi Hadramaut and Hadramaut Desert, said seven air strikes hit the Al-Khasha camp, killing seven and wounding more than 20. Further strikes targeted other sites in the same region, he added. The air raids came shortly after pro-Saudi forces launched a campaign to "peacefully" take control of military sites in Hadramawt. "This operation is not a declaration of war, nor an attempt to escalate tensions," Hadramawt governor Salem Al-Khanbashi, also leader of the province's Saudi-backed local forces, was quoted as saying by the Saba Net news agency. "This operation does not target any political or social group," he said, adding that it "aims to peacefully and systematically hand over military sites". Saudi sources confirmed the strikes were carried out by the Saudi-led coalition, which also nominally includes the UAE and was formed in 2015 to fight the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen's north. A source close to the Saudi military warned: "It will not stop until the Southern Transitional Council withdraws from the two governorates." The STC seized much of Hadramawt, bordering Saudi Arabia, and neighbouring Mahra last month. - Rival factions - Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are rival powerbrokers in Yemen's government-run areas. The wealthy Gulf powers formed the backbone of the military coalition aimed at dislodging the Houthis, who forced the government from the capital Sanaa in 2014 and seized Yemen's most populated areas. But after a brutal, decade-long civil war, the Houthis remain in place and the Saudis and Emiratis are backing different factions in the government-held territories. Amr Al Bidh, foreign affairs representative for the STC, accused Riyadh of having "knowingly misled the international community by announcing a 'peaceful operation' that they never had any intention to keep peaceful". "This was evidenced by the fact that they launched 7 airstrikes minutes later," he posted on X. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly urged the STC to withdraw from the recently conquered territories. After the Saudi-led coalition bombed an alleged Emirati weapons shipment on Tuesday, the UAE's defence ministry said it would withdraw its remaining troops in Yemen. - Flights grounded - The Yemeni government comprises a fractious coalition of groups including the STC, united by their opposition to the Houthis. The STC's advance has raised the possibility that South Yemen, a separate state from 1967 to 1990, might declare independence, while dealing a hammer blow to slow-moving peace negotiations with the Houthis. Also on Friday, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed AlJabir, said the STC had blocked a Saudi delegation from landing at Aden airport, accusing the group of "intransigence". On Thursday, Yemen's STC-controlled transport ministry denounced a Saudi demand that all planes to and from the UAE make a stop in Saudi Arabia for security checks. According to the Flightradar24 tracking website, no planes have taken off or landed at Aden airport for more than 24 hours, although the ministry did not officially announce its closure. Seven killed as Saudi coalition strikes UAE-backed forces in Yemen Mukalla, Yemen, Jan 2 (AFP) Jan 02, 2026 Air strikes killed seven separatist fighters in Yemen on Friday, an official with the group said, as a Saudi-led coalition hit back against a sweeping advance by the UAE-backed Southern Transition Council and Abu Dhabi called for calm. The deaths are the first from coalition fire since the secessionist STC seized swathes of Hadramawt and Mahra provinces last month. Other strikes hit the airport and military base in Hadramawt's Seiyun city on Friday, an STC source and witnesses said. A military spokesman for the STC said it was in a "decisive and existential" war with Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, characterising it as a fight against radical Islamism -- a longtime preoccupation of the UAE. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have for years supported rival factions in Yemen's government-run territories, but the STC's offensive has angered Riyadh and left the oil-rich Gulf powers at loggerheads. The UAE said after the strikes on Friday that it sought de-escalation and that its last forces had left Yemen. "The UAE concluded the presence of its counterterrorism forces," a government official said, adding Abu Dhabi "remains committed to dialogue, de-escalation, and internationally supported processes as the only sustainable path to peace". Mohammed Abdulmalik, head of the STC in Wadi Hadramaut and Hadramaut Desert, said seven air strikes earlier hit the Al-Khasha camp, killing seven and wounding more than 20. Further strikes targeted other sites in the same region, he added. At Seiyun, the major city seized at the start of the separatists' campaign, air strikes rocked the airport and military base, an STC military source and separate eyewitnesses told AFP. The air raids came shortly after pro-Saudi forces launched a campaign to "peacefully" take control of military sites in Hadramawt. "This operation is not a declaration of war," Hadramawt governor Salem Al-Khanbashi, also leader of the province's Saudi-backed local forces, was quoted as saying by the Saba Net news agency. "This operation does not target any political or social group," he said, adding that it "aims to peacefully and systematically hand over military sites". Saudi sources confirmed the air strikes were carried out by the Saudi-led coalition, which also nominally includes the UAE and was formed in 2015 to fight the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen's north. A source close to the Saudi military warned: "It will not stop until the Southern Transitional Council withdraws from the two governorates." The STC seized much of resource-rich Hadramawt, bordering Saudi Arabia, and neighbouring Mahra on the Omani frontier last month. - Rival factions - Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are rival powerbrokers in Yemen's government-run areas. The wealthy Gulf powers formed the backbone of the military coalition aimed at dislodging the Houthis, who forced the government from the capital Sanaa in 2014 and seized Yemen's most populated areas. But after a brutal, decade-long civil war, the Houthis remain in place and the Saudis and Emiratis are backing different factions in the government-held territories. Amr Al Bidh, foreign affairs representative for the STC, accused Riyadh of having "knowingly misled the international community by announcing a 'peaceful operation' that they never had any intention to keep peaceful". "This was evidenced by the fact that they launched 7 airstrikes minutes later," he posted on X. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly urged the STC to withdraw from the recently conquered territories. The UAE had first announced its intention to withdraw its remaining troops in Yemen after the Saudi-led coalition bombed an alleged Emirati weapons shipment on Tuesday. - Flights grounded - The Yemeni government comprises a fractious coalition of groups including the STC, united by their opposition to the Houthis. The STC's advance has raised the possibility that South Yemen, a separate state from 1967 to 1990, might declare independence, while dealing a hammer blow to slow-moving peace negotiations with the Houthis. Also on Friday, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Jabir, said the STC had blocked a Saudi delegation from landing at Aden airport, accusing the group of "intransigence". On Thursday, Yemen's STC-controlled transport ministry denounced a Saudi demand that all planes to and from the UAE make a stop in Saudi Arabia for security checks. According to the Flightradar24 tracking website, no planes have taken off or landed at Aden airport for more than 24 hours, although the ministry did not officially announce its closure. Yemen separatists announce two-year independence transition in shock move Mukalla, Yemen, Jan 2 (AFP) Jan 02, 2026 Yemen's UAE-backed separatists announced a two-year transition to an independent state on Friday after seizing swathes of territory in a lightning offensive that triggered deadly airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition. The surprise announcement means Yemen, which was divided into North and South from 1967 to 1990, could again be split by January 2028. The separatists plan to call the new country "South Arabia". Southern Transitional Council (STC) president Aidaros Alzubidi said the transitional phase would include dialogue with Yemen's north -- controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels -- and a referendum on independence. But on a day when seven separatist fighters died in airstrikes, he warned the group would declare independence "immediately" if there was no dialogue or if southern Yemen again came under attack. "We announce the commencement of a transitional phase lasting two years, and the Council calls on the international community to sponsor dialogue between the concerned parties in the South and the North," Alzubidi said in a televised address. "This constitutional declaration shall be considered immediately and directly effective before that date if the call is not heeded or if the people of the South, their land, or their forces are subjected to any military attacks," he added. STC forces grabbed much of resource-rich Hadramawt, bordering Saudi Arabia, and neighbouring Mahra province on the Omani frontier, in a largely unopposed advance last month. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have for years supported rival factions in Yemen's fractured government territories. But the STC's offensive has angered Riyadh and left the oil-rich Gulf powers at loggerheads. - 'Existential' war - Following repeated warnings and airstrikes on an alleged UAE weapons shipment this week, the Saudi-led coalition targeted military bases and an airport in an escalated attack on Friday. Mohammed Abdulmalik, head of the STC in Wadi Hadramaut and Hadramaut Desert, said seven air strikes hit the Al-Khasha military camp, killing seven and wounding more than 20. Further strikes targeted other sites in the region and the airport and military base in Seiyun, an STC military source and eyewitnesses told AFP. The deaths are the first from coalition fire since the STC's campaign began. The group's military spokesman said it was in an "existential" war with Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, characterising it as a fight against radical Islamism -- a longtime preoccupation of the UAE. The air raids came shortly after pro-Saudi forces launched a campaign to "peacefully" take control of military sites in Hadramawt. "This operation is not a declaration of war, nor an attempt to escalate tensions," Hadramawt governor Salem Al-Khanbashi, also leader of the province's Saudi-backed forces, was quoted as saying by the Saba Net news agency. Saudi sources confirmed the strikes were carried out by the Saudi-led coalition, which also nominally includes the UAE and was formed in 2015 in a vain attempt to dislodge the Houthi rebels in Yemen's north. A source close to the Saudi military warned the strikes "will not stop until the Southern Transitional Council withdraws from the two governorates". - Rival factions - The wealthy Gulf states formed the backbone of the military coalition aimed at ousting the Houthis, who forced the government from the capital Sanaa in 2014 and seized areas including most of Yemen's population. But after a brutal, decade-long civil war, the Houthis remain in place and the Saudis and Emiratis are backing different factions in the government-held territories. The Yemeni government, based in Aden, comprises a fractious coalition of groups including the STC, united by their opposition to the Houthis. The UAE, which withdrew most of its troops from Yemen in 2019, pledged to pull out the remainder after Tuesday's coalition airstrikes on its shipment at Mukalla port, despite denying it contained weapons. On Friday, a UAE government official confirmed all troops had left, adding that Abu Dhabi "remains committed to dialogue, de-escalation, and internationally supported processes as the only sustainable path to peace". As the pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index hovers near record highs, buoyed by optimism about future earnings and economic prospects, investors are increasingly focused on opportunities within the region's dividend stocks. In this context, selecting a robust dividend stock involves considering factors such as stable cash flows and strong balance sheets, which can provide resilience amid fluctuating market sentiments. Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Europe Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Zurich Insurance Group (SWX:ZURN) 4.09% Telekom Austria (WBAG:TKA) 4.44% Les Docks des Petroles d'Ambes -SA (ENXTPA:DPAM) 5.57% Holcim (SWX:HOLN) 3.99% HEXPOL (OM:HPOL B) 4.78% freenet (XTRA:FNTN) 6.31% Evolution (OM:EVO) 4.81% DKSH Holding (SWX:DKSH) 4.09% Cembra Money Bank (SWX:CMBN) 4.28% Bravida Holding (OM:BRAV) 4.18% Click here to see the full list of 191 stocks from our Top European Dividend Stocks screener. Let's take a closer look at a couple of our picks from the screened companies. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: Etablissements Maurel & Prom S.A. is involved in the exploration and production of oil, gas, and hydrocarbons across Gabon, Tanzania, Angola, and Venezuela with a market cap of 1.10 billion. Operations: Etablissements Maurel & Prom S.A. generates its revenue primarily from the Production segment, which accounts for $554.05 million, while the Drilling segment contributes $22.23 million. Dividend Yield: 5.6% Etablissements Maurel & Prom's dividend yield is among the top 25% in France, yet its track record is unstable with volatile payments over seven years. The payout ratio of 28.9% suggests dividends are well-covered by earnings, though cash flow coverage at 76.1% indicates potential strain. The stock trades significantly below estimated fair value, presenting a relative bargain despite declining sales and earnings forecasts. Recent expansion into Colombia may impact future cash flows and dividend sustainability positively or negatively depending on execution success. ENXTPA:MAU Dividend History as at Jan 2026 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: Sparebanken Mre, along with its subsidiaries, offers banking services to both retail and corporate clients in Norway and has a market capitalization of NOK5.80 billion. Allow Google Search To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to enable search. See our privacy policy for more information. Allow and Continue Just as well Skyscanner has us sorted, then. The flight aggregator has crunched some numbers and found that, while 62 per cent of Brits think their return flights are going to cost more than 150 this year, there are some destinations that dont break the bank and there are ten which offer average return flight prices of less than 136. During her reign, five official coinage portraits of the monarch appeared on the UKs circulating coins. The design features Elizabeth IIs cypher as well as depicting St Edwards Crown, surrounded by foliage based on the ironwork of the East Door of St Georges Chapel where the late Queen is buried. Kent Police said Albert Matraxhiu, 28, of Orange Hill Road, Edgware, north London, has been charged with death by dangerous driving, intention to pervert the course of justice, driving with no insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, failure to stop after an accident, and failure to report an accident. 16th Air Force airmen in the 616th Operations Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The operations center is 16th Air Forces Information Warfare Command and Control unit consisting of experts in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electromagnetic spectrum, cyber and information operations. Sharon Singleton/16th Air Force Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths Pentagon shakeup, which has already gutted two Army headquarters in San Antonio, has led the Air Force to scuttle a plan to elevate the status of its cyber and intelligence hub on Lackland Air Force Base. A pending decision on the plan had been cited as a reason for delaying consideration of Port San Antonios proposal to build the unit a new $1 billion-plus facility to replace its crumbling 71-year-old headquarters. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While no missions or people will leave San Antonio because of the decision against elevating Air Forces Cyber into a so-called component command, it leaves the information warfare hub and its 4,850 local workers wondering if it will get new facilities for work thats important to national security. The current headquarters is plagued with troubled heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, shifting floors and cracked walls. The move could have brought a more senior commander, additional jobs and cut out a layer of bureaucracy between its leaders and the services top brass. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Despite the delays and policy questions, the head of Port San Antonio remains undeterred in his vision to create a new home for Air Forces Cyber, also known as 16th Air Force, on the Southwest Side tech campus. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A conceptual rendering of a 16th Air Force campus proposed at Port San Antonio. At far left, the existing Boeing Center at Tech Port can be seen. At center right in white is what the Port is now calling Innovation Tower, a new office building its working to develop. Port San Antonio These things will eventually work themselves out, Jim Perschbach, Port San Antonios president and CEO, said last month. From our perspective, it doesnt really impact us. The port, he said, is ready to build a new cyber campus for the military in whichever form it may take. But the back and forth has only slowed the notoriously slow processes to get new military infrastructure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The shift is another effect of Trump administration policy changes under Hegseths defense department that are impacting Texas. Last month, the Army said most of its soldiers and civilians working at Army North and Army South on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston would be leaving for Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as part of a reorganization creating a new Western Hemisphere Command. 22 months Since at least February 2024, Perschbach has been pitching the idea to use a public-private partnership with the Pentagon to build a campus for Air Forces Cyber and its partner agencies on the site formerly known as Kelly Air Force Base. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hes said, and Texas elected officials have appeared to agree, that the plan to use an intergovernmental support agreement to fund and construct the facility could save taxpayers as much as $1.4 billion on a new headquarters. Jim Perschbach, president and CEO of Port San Antonio, speaks during a panel discussion about the future of mobility. Jessica Phelps/Staff photographer The Air Force was interested, discussing the matter at meetings in Washington and responding in writing to Texas congressmen last August that it expected to complete its review that November. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At the time, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez warned the Air Force to decide quickly, saying the time for waiting is over, likely an effort to get it done before the Trump administration would shakeup policies from the Biden era. The men and women performing one of the nations most important missions deserve an updated work environment and time is of the essence, the San Antonio Republican said at the time. I worry the Air Forces ongoing organization restructure will delay their strategic plan for future installations, thus leaving the decision in limbo for years to come. But November 2024 came and went with discussions halted amid the decision-making doldrums before a new administration took over. The Air Force had remained mum on a new Air Forces Cyber campus since President Donald Trump took office a year ago. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Earlier last year, Texas lawmakers tried to sweeten the deal with the promise of $50 million to help fund construction of the campus if the military agreed to move it to the port. Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed that proposal. Caught in the middle Looming in the background of discussions over the future of the 16th Air Force is a larger debate on the future of how the military organizes its cyber forces. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders in September at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Congress has mandated a study into creating a new military branch focused on cyber but at least two former leaders of U.S. Cyber Command have argued that would take too long, create unnecessary bureaucracy and confusion. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Former spy agency chief retired Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh, said reforms to the militarys cyber forces rolled out by Hegseth last year need more time. He was sacked from his job as head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command in April after far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer recommended his ouster to Trump. CYBER DRAMA:Trump fires spy chief with San Antonio ties after Laura Loomer meeting We should start with the steps that can be done aggressively with the least cost and the most rapid return, he said in testimony to the National Academies committee conducting the study, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. We want to be focused on producing more tooth and not focused on growing bureaucracy. Hegseths rejiggering of Pentagon policies also led the Air Force to abandon much of its Biden-era plan to reorganize the force to be better prepared for war against Russia or China. Some of the decisions were implemented but many remained to be carried out. Advertisement Article continues below this ad US Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh testifies during a 2024 Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing in Washington. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Last month, the service updated the status of its so-called reoptimization, laying out which measures would be continued or terminated. It said that since the programs announcement in March 2024, fluctuations in priorities, resources, and methods have led to significant changes. Among those terminated were several moves to elevate other commands, but Air Forces Cyber was missing from the list. But the service has since confirmed it will maintain its status as whats known as a numbered Air Force. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For his part, a hopeful Perschbach said his conversations with the Air Force continue. Hes looking forward to working with Michael Borders, the nominated Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy Installations and Environment, who is awaiting Senate confirmation. Were optimistic that well have a relatively early conversation with him, Perschbach said. He is the the owner of a lot of these decisions. Julianna Duennes Russ is a breaking and trending news reporter at the Austin American-Statesman. She covered business as a Dow Jones intern for the San Antonio Express-News and has bylines with the Associated Press and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She holds Bachelors degrees in journalism, international affairs and comparative literature from the University of Georgia, where she also earned a certificate in sports media. When shes not writing, you can find Julianna strolling Zilker Park or cuddling with her orange cat, Colby. Reach out to her at julianna.russ@statesman.com with news or notes. Round Rock police have arrested two new suspects in the New Year's shooting that injured five people outside the Platinum Event Center. Villalpando, Rob (CMG-Austin)/Austin American-Statesman Round Rock police are searching for a suspect or suspects in a shooting that left five teens wounded at a New Year's Eve party. The shooting happened at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday during a fight in the parking lot of the Platinum Event Center at 1611 Chisholm Trail Road, Melanie Forcier, a police spokeswoman, said Friday. Five people under the age of 17 received wound that were not life-threatening and were taken to hospitals, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Officials have said three of the victims are from Pflugerville and two from Austin. Forcier said police are still investigating the motive for the shooting. A representative for the event center declined to comment on Friday. Police have said there was evidence of underage drinking at the private party, which was promoted via a flyer posted on social media, police said. They said the shooting is likely an isolated incident. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source There is no prior history at the event center of shootings or other criminal events, Forcier said. The 2025 Doomsday Clock time is displayed a year ago when the The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists at the United States Institute of Peace set it to 89 seconds to midnight, is a symbol for how close humanity is to a global catastrophe. What will the board, looking back at 2025, say on Jan. 27, 2026? Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images Were once again approaching the annual resetting of the Doomsday Clock. Last January, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a group of very smart people, moved the hands of their metaphorical clock to 89 seconds to midnight, where midnight represents doomsday, apocalypse, Armageddon, extinction, or whatever you want to call it. 89 seconds! Thats the closest to midnight the clock has ever stood. What will the board, looking back at 2025, say on Jan. 27, 2026? Advertisement Article continues below this ad You can dismiss this timepiece trope as a gimmick, but youd do so at your own intellectual risk. The Bulletin and its clock started with Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer and the other scientists who were genius enough to invent nuclear weapons and wise enough to regret their invention. To prod citizens and leaders into changing course, they came up with this metaphor of an existential countdown. At the outset, in 1947, they set the hands at 7 minutes to midnight. It would take decades for the board to start factoring in climate change, biotechnology and pandemics, artificial intelligence and disinformation, and all the other dangers that today, underneath and beyond the headlines, menace our species in ways that we barely understand. The new and salient worry at the time was of course the use of fission to destroy entire cities (two were already in ashes), and potentially whole civilizations. And so the clock began filtering world events, like a scientific fan that winnows substance from trivia. In 1949, after the Soviets joined the U.S. as a nuclear power, the hands moved to 3 minutes. In 1953 they stood at 2, after tests of the first thermonuclear bomb (in which a Hiroshima-style fission blast is merely the trigger for a vastly larger fusion burst, in effect a sun burning on earth). Humanity seemed to keep hurtling toward midnight, with more countries getting nukes, and even more pursuing them. In 1962, the world came close to atomic holocaust during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That gaze into the abyss, though, had a positive effect: It stirred world leaders into action. During the 1960s, the Partial Test Ban Treaty ended most nuclear testing above ground. Almost all countries adopted the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, under which nations without nukes pledged never to make them, and the five legitimate nuclear powers promised to start disarming. In the early 1970s, the U.S. and the Soviet Union inked the first bilateral treaties to limit their two-way arms race. Between 1963 and 1972, the clocks hands moved between 12 and 10 minutes to midnight not great, but better. SIGN UP FOR THE AUSTIN ANGLE and get Statesman commentaries in your inbox But world affairs went in the wrong direction again. India got the bomb, and Pakistan would later follow suit. The two superpowers, far from disarming as the NPT obliged them to do, kept upgrading their arsenals, with demonic innovations such as MIRVs (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles). Detente gave way to confrontation, and by 1984, the clock stood at 3 minutes. Then the Cold War began thawing. In 1988, the clock went back to 6 minutes, after the U.S. and the Soviet Union signed the first treaty ever to ban an entire category of nuclear weapons (those mounted on intermediate-range missiles). In 1990, it hit 10 minutes, after the Berlin Wall crumbled, and with it the Iron Curtain. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 1991, the clock touched 17 minutes, the farthest from midnight it has ever been. Intellectuals celebrated the end of history and the apparent dawn of pacific and liberal democracy for all humanity. At long last, the superpowers junked thousands of their nukes, as they had implicitly promised in the NPT. And they stopped all explosive testing of nukes, even underground. The era of good feelings didnt last long, though. By the late 1990s, both India and Pakistan tested fission bombs. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, caused anxiety that loose nukes might fall into the hands of non-state actors with nothing to lose. North Korea tested its first warhead, becoming the ninth nuclear power. And climate change joined the boards, and worlds, worry list. It threatens catastrophe first gradually, then suddenly: by damaging ecosystems; causing floods, storms and droughts (and thus famines); and seeding more pestilence, as species come into contact with new organisms and the thawing permafrost burps out pathogens frozen for millennia. By 2007, the clock was at 5 minutes to midnight; in 2015 at 3. In 2020, during the first administration of Donald Trump and a pandemic, the board switched to quoting the time in seconds: 100 to midnight. It identified yet another threat in the form of cyber-enabled information warfare. Memes, disinformation and conspiracy theories now spread like viruses, confusing, distracting and polarizing societies and making them unable to respond to the existential challenges posed by nukes and the climate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad President Donald Trump addresses the nation June 21, 2025 about U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, as seen on a television screen in the White House press briefing room. The strike set back Iran's efforts to build a bomb, but other Trump actions increased the risk of nuclear proliferation, Andreas Kluth writes. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images In 2023, the clock moved to 90 seconds to midnight, after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and broke the ultimate taboo of the nuclear age by threatening to use nukes. And this year, it ticked forward another second. Trump was not the reason he had been inaugurated only a week before the announcement. It was instead the urgency of all the existing threats, and the specter of hidden feedback loops and possible cascades associated with our emerging polycrisis. And now, one year on? It seems to me that every threat the Bulletin described in 2025 has gotten more dire. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nuclear risk, which was relatively easy to comprehend during the Cold War, is now diffuse. The last arms-control treaty between the U.S. and Russia expires in February, and both countries are modernizing their arsenals, with new warheads, bombers, missiles and submarines. China is adding to its stockpile to catch up with the big two. North Korea is arming; Pakistan and India are always close to fighting, and sometimes at it. Worse yet, artificial intelligence threatens to make many kinds of weapons autonomous and shrink decision times in a nuclear crisis to minutes the insanity of the resulting psychological stresses has even made it to Hollywood. Trump has probably made one part of the problem better, if only temporarily: He bombed Irans nuclear facilities, setting back its efforts to build a bomb. But he has also increased the risk of general proliferation (and of the NPT's slow death), by disdaining America's traditional allies and making them doubt the U.S. nuclear umbrella that allegedly protects them. From Europe to Asia and the Middle East, more countries are now considering going nuclear, just as experts are advising them. Trump also appears close to breaking another nuclear taboo, the moratorium on explosive testing. If the U.S. were to detonate nukes again, China, Russia and other countries would follow suit. And all major nuclear powers are designing new, more maneuverable and faster missiles to deliver death on earth, while looking to outer space as the next domain of warfare. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Meanwhile, greenhouse gas emissions keep increasing and the weather is getting more destructive. And yet America, the world largest emitter historically and the second-largest (after China) currently, has officially lost interest. As the new National Security Strategy puts it, We reject the disastrous climate change and Net Zero ideologies. The Trump administration boycotted the 30th climate conference of the United Nations in 2025 and will formally exit the Paris Agreement, a treaty to control global warming, on Jan. 27, 2026 the very day when the Doomsday Clock will be reset. Also in January, the U.S. will formally quit the World Health Organization, whose role is in part to look out for, and save us from, the next pandemic. At home, Trump has put antivaxxers and quacks in charge of public health. That segues to the other threat the Bulletin worried about last time: misinformation and disinformation. They are potent threat multipliers, John Mecklin, the editor, wrote, because they blur the line between truth and falsehood. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Since he said that, the blurring seems to have made us all but blind. The board will make its own decision about the clock. If you ask me, it feels like one minute to midnight or less. Bob Kafka chants with demonstrators at a 2023 May Day Workers Rights rally on the south steps of the Texas Capitol, when he and others urged lawmakers to increase the minimum pay for at-home caregivers. Aaron Martinez/Austin American-Statesman It was late at night in May 2024 and Bob Kafka and a crop of protesters were getting into good trouble outside the Governors Mansion, chanting slogans and waving signs at the occasional honking car. The bright green poster taped to Kafkas wheelchair said: Gov. Abbott / Come on out / we wont bite. Midway through what would become a 44-hour vigil the latest attempt to highlight the states pitifully low pay for the caregivers for disabled Texans I asked if Kafka expected any run-ins with police. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More Information Remembering Bob Kafka Disability rights advocate Bob Kafka died Dec. 26, 2025. He is survived by his longtime partner, Stephanie Thomas; sister Tina Darlow of New Jersey; and numerous nieces and nephews. Details about his memorial service will be posted on the ADAPT website at ADAPTofTexas.org. For information about ADAPT's efforts over the years, visit ADAPTmuseum.net. I doubt theyre going to send out the Army, he told me, almost with an air of disappointment. He had seen the media attention and public pressure from his 30-plus protest-related arrests over the past 40 years. Were poor disabled people. Its David and Goliath. Maybe. But like historys greatest underdog, Kafka was exceptionally skilled at facing down behemoths in Kafkas case, government systems that stacked the deck against people with disabilities. And with Kafkas recent death at age 79, after complications from pneumonia, we lost a champion for the disabled who was a giant in his own right. As an organizer with ADAPT and other disability rights groups, Kafka was a fixture around the Texas Capitol, on protest lines and occasionally in the nations capital. Instantly recognizable with his distinctive mane and full beard, Kafka was equally adept at political theater and the policy mechanics needed to turn protest into law. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He was instrumental in establishing the Money Follows the Person programs, first in Texas and then later at the federal level, which provide funding for people to hire at-home caregivers instead of being forced to stay in state-funded nursing homes. That alone vastly improved the lives of roughly 50,000 Texans while also saving money by providing more cost-effective care. When the National Center for Civil and Human Rights opened a decade ago in Atlanta, a life-size panel featured Kafka as the face of disability rights. Kafka was a New York native and Vietnam veteran who earned his degree in economics from the University of Houston. Had he not broken his neck in a 1973 car accident, he might have flourished in finance. Instead, on crutches and later in his wheelchair, Kafka worked to open a world that had been unfairly closed off to people with disabilities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ADAPT members Bob Kafka and Shirley Kopecky demonstrate in 1986 in downtown Houston in an effort to get the city's transit system to buy buses with wheelchair lifts. Eventually the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act required transit systems to become accessible to all. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive Transportation was the obvious starting point. With his longtime partner, Stephanie Thomas, he led protests in the 1980s demanding transit systems add wheelchair lifts to public buses. The irony was exquisite: People in wheelchairs were arrested for blocking buses they were unable to ride, then taken to jail in buses. At that time, it was just so acceptable for people with disabilities to have crummy second-class choices in life, said Thomas, who also uses a wheelchair. Nobody thought anything of the fact that almost every business was not accessible. The curb cuts were so few you had to memorize routes to get around. And you knew the very few places you could go out to dinner because they were the only ones with a ramp. You could keep that list in your head because it was such a tiny list. The Americans with Disabilities Act which passed in 1990, after Kafka helped organize efforts bringing hundreds of protesters from around the country to the U.S. Capitol reset norms. Public transit and businesses serving the general public must be accessible to people with disabilities, even if compliance has been uneven. Advertisement Article continues below this ad By the time Dennis Borel was hired in 2000 as executive director of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities a group Kafka co-founded in 1978 Kafka was already a legend. He had a lifetime record of achievement already done, Borel told me this week. ADAPT organizer Bob Kafka gets his handcuffs adjusted Feb. 2, 1999 as he and other protesters were arrested for blocking the front gate at the Governor's Mansion. Kafka had more than 30 protest-related arrests over his decades of advocacy for disability rights. Lynne Dobson/Austin American-Statesman And that was before Kafka played a central role in establishing the Money Follows the Person programs. The U.S. Supreme Courts landmark Olmstead decision in 1999 found that states cannot force people to stay isolated in nursing homes if theyre able to receive home-based care. Kafka immediately grasped what the ruling demanded in practice. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bob was the guy who said, If thats true, then youve got to figure out a way to relocate people from institutions. If theres no support to do that, then you will still have a de facto institutionalized population, Borel said. Kafka wasn't just working on policy. He was working with individuals. He was helping people get out of nursing homes, Borel said. He was helping people get apartments. I met Kafka during the latter years of his activism, when his focus was on raising the state pay for caregivers really, a direct continuation of implementing Olmstead. Caregivers in Texas now make an average of $13 an hour, less than what many retail and restaurant jobs pay. The low pay fuels a dire shortage of caregivers, which means some Texans have no choice but the institutional care that undermines their freedom and dignity. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Over the past decade, Kafka also launched an effort to get more people with disabilities participating as voters a crucial step to building political power. Then, in May, he underwent surgery that entailed months of bed rest. Thomas said Kafkas body grew weak, and he developed back-to-back cases of pneumonia. He was admitted to the hospital in late October, then a rehabilitation facility, then returned home Dec. 26 with hospice care. The couple had been inseparable for more than 40 years, from their first date at a bluegrass concert to their decades of side-by-side advocacy. From the very beginning, it was like we were meant for each other, Thomas told me. I don't know how to describe it. We just knew. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She was lying next to him and felt him take his last breath Dec. 26. As word of Kafkas death spread, the condolences poured in. Everyone who met Kafka had a story, and countless others were living better lives because of his work. Nancy Crowther, an ADAPT organizer who uses a wheelchair, told me how Kafkas sense of humor infused their protests. One year, when they were especially disappointed with the sour spending priorities in Senate Bill 1, they scattered lemons all over the Texas Capitol grounds with SB 1 written on them. Other years, ADAPT identified the worst states in the nation for providing caregiver services and sent bedpan trophies to the winners. But she said Kafkas most enduring work is reflected in the life she has now, as a disabled person with access to her community. Crowther had a career, lives in her own home, visits with her neighbors and shops in stores where shes treated like any other customer. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He made me more knowledgeable, she said. Im living the life he dreamt and he wanted, and Im able to serve as an example of yes, this can work. But Kafka knew plenty of battles remained. Its why he ended his emails the same way: Onward to Bridget Grumet is the Statesman's Editorial Page Editor. Reach her at bgrumet@statesman.com. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As Europes STOXX Europe 600 Index nears record highs amid positive sentiment about future earnings and economic prospects, investors are increasingly focused on growth opportunities within the region. In this environment, companies with high insider ownership can be particularly appealing, as they often signal confidence from those closest to the business in its long-term potential. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Europe Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Warimpex Finanz- und Beteiligungs (WBAG:WXF) 25.9% 100.6% S.M.A.I.O (ENXTPA:ALSMA) 16.1% 72.8% Redelfi (BIT:RDF) 12.4% 39.1% MilDef Group (OM:MILDEF) 13.7% 83% Magnora (OB:MGN) 10.4% 75.1% KebNi (OM:KEBNI B) 36.3% 61.2% DNO (OB:DNO) 13.5% 97.5% CTT Systems (OM:CTT) 17.5% 52% Circus (XTRA:CA1) 24.1% 66.1% Bonesupport Holding (OM:BONEX) 10.4% 49.7% Click here to see the full list of 209 stocks from our Fast Growing European Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Nordic Semiconductor ASA is a fabless semiconductor company that develops and sells integrated circuits for short- and long-range wireless applications across Europe, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific, with a market cap of NOK26.27 billion. Operations: The company's revenue is primarily derived from the design and sale of integrated circuits and related solutions, amounting to $648.30 million. Insider Ownership: 10.4% Nordic Semiconductor's recent product developments, including the nRF9151 SMA Development Kit, position it well in the cellular IoT and satellite communication markets. Despite a modest net income of US$0.85 million for Q3 2025, earnings are expected to grow significantly at 41.63% per year over the next three years, outpacing both revenue growth and market averages in Norway. Insider activity indicates more buying than selling recently, reflecting confidence despite low forecasted return on equity at 10.5%. OB:NOD Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jan 2026 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Swedencare AB (publ) and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture, market, and sell animal healthcare products for cats, dogs, and horses across North America, Europe, and internationally with a market cap of SEK6.14 billion. Operations: Revenue segments for Swedencare AB (publ) include SEK599.80 million from Europe, SEK682.50 million from Production, and SEK1.62 billion from North America. (Clockwise from top-left) U.S. Sen. John Cornyn; Gov. Greg Abbott; Attorney General Ken Paxton; U.S. Rep. Al Green; Texas state Rep. James Talarico; U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Kirk Sides, Houston Chronicle; Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle; Talia Sprague and Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press; Jay Janner, Austin-American Statesman Next years midterm elections are high-stakes, with control of Congress and the direction of national policy under President Donald Trump on the line. But where do Texas races factor in? And with every statewide office up for election, where should you turn your attention? Advertisement Article continues below this ad The party opposing the president historically makes gains in midterm elections, which could mean a good cycle for Democrats. For some political observers, these elections hearken back to the 2018 midterm in which opposition to Trump and enthusiasm for then-Senate candidate Beto ORourke helped Democrats flip Texas and U.S. House seats, as well as state appeals courts. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Texas Republicans have taken steps to blunt those traditional midterm dynamics, redrawing congressional maps in an unusual mid-cycle move to shore up vulnerable seats, and investing early in competitive races. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here are the races to watch most closely: Senate U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has represented Texas for over two decades, but this year, hes confronting his first serious GOP primary challenge as an incumbent. Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, of Houston, are vying to unseat him. Paxtons run for higher office comes as his political influence has reached an all-time high, his confidence reinvigorated and staying power validated by the Texas Senate acquitting him of impeachment over corruption allegations in 2023. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Paxton is focusing on his alignment with Trump and touting his record in taking on Democratic administrations in the courtroom. Hunt is pitching himself as an alternative to both Cornyn and Paxton, arguing that Republicans need a candidate who can appeal to the partys base without the long record of controversies and establishment baggage. The Democratic race also has drama, with U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and James Talarico of Austin competing for the nomination. Early polling places Crockett slightly ahead of Talarico, bolstered by strong support from Black voters, but only by single digits, with Talarico maintaining an edge on her with white and Latino voters. Crockett, who has made a name for herself as a progressive firebrand, is taking a markedly different tack than Talarico, focusing on energizing Democrats particularly voters who may not typically turn out. Talarico, a state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, has instead cast a wider net, pitching himself as a unifier for independents and Republicans who share his frustration with the unfettered power of billionaires. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Why it matters:This is the hottest federal race in the state, and with the odds stacked in their favor this midterm and Cornyns approval ratings underwhelming, Democrats see an opening. Attorney General With Paxton running for U.S. Senate, this seat is wide open and its drawing competitive primaries, particularly on the GOP side where the race is set to be one of the most-watched. The candidates in that race include: U.S. Rep Chip Roy, a Republican who represents a Hill Country district; Aaron Reitz, who formerly worked for Paxton and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz; and former state Sens. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On the Democratic side, state Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas, former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski and Tony Box, a former FBI agent and federal prosecutor, are competing for the nomination. Why it matters:Historically, the attorney generals office has been a leader among Republican states in suing Democratic administrations and wielding great power over the direction of national policy, and the winner of this race is likely to be no different. Governor Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is running for a record fourth term, dominating fundraising and the GOP field. Texas does not have term limits on governors, and no one has ever won four before. If Abbott is successful, hell surpass Rick Perrys 14 years in the Governors mansion. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Democrats are waging their own countereffort, with state Rep. Gina Hinojosa emerging as the leading contender. Hinojosa is a progressive state representative from Austin who has deep ties to the statewide party, with her father Gilberto having served as chair for a dozen years. Why it matters:No Democrat has won a statewide race since 1994, making the governors contest a key gauge of the minority partys political strength. Comptroller After long-time Republican Glenn Hegar stepped down in mid-2025 to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, the Texas comptrollers office will be an open seat in 2026 with the states new school voucher rollout on the line. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Among the competitors looking to take over the role is Kelly Hancock, a former state senator from North Texas who is already serving as acting comptroller and has the backing of Abbott. He will face off against former state Sen. Don Huffines, who previously challenged Abbott for governor, and Railroad Commission Chair Christi Craddick. The race for comptroller, who manages the states finances, among other duties, is typically low-key but has heated up as all three candidates are promising to shape the office in a more conservative way and smoothly roll-out and set rules for Abbotts voucher program. If Huffines, who has been a foil to Abbott in the past, were to win this race, he and the governor would likely lock horns over the way the voucher program is handled. On the Democratic side, state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, entrepreneur Savant Moore and finance professional Michael Lange are competing for the nomination. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Why it matters: As Texas chief financial officer, the comptroller holds the power to certify the state budget and influence major spending decisions. Its not often there is an open seat in such an important statewide role, and this particular post has not been vacant in more than a decade. TX-18 (Houston) Houstons 18th Congressional District, the historically Black district long represented by the late Sheila Jackson Lee and most recently by the late Sylvester Turner, is being condensed by Republicans with the neighboring 9th District setting up a generational showdown in March between two up-and-coming Democrats and the 9ths 79-year-old representative, Al Green. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Councilmember Amanda Edwards, both Democrats, are currently in a Jan. 31 runoff to finish out Turners term. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There wont be any rest for the winner, who will have to keep campaigning ahead of the March 3 primary. The runoff will determine who gets to finish Turners term under the old map, while the primary will determine who runs in the general election for the term starting in 2027 under the new map. Green has announced hes running in the 18th for the 2027 term. Why it matters:Abbott has slow-played filling the seat after Turners death early this year, meaning the 18th hasnt had a voice in Congress for close to a year. The primary will decide whether voters are more interested in keeping a veteran lawmaker like Green in Congress or if its time for a new voice in Menefee or Edwards. Other new Congressional seats Elsewhere, Republicans targeted several other Democratic-held districts and made them more competitive. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Those include two South Texas seats TX-28 and TX-34 where Republicans appear to be trying to capitalize on the partys recent gains in the region, as well as North Texass 32nd District, which sets up a high-profile race involving Rep. Julie Johnson and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred. In Central Texas, TX-35 and TX-37 were reconfigured so that incumbents Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett were drawn into the same district, reducing Democratic seats in the Austin-San Antonio corridor. Doggett had said late this year that he would be retiring if the new map was upheld, freeing up Casar to run in the 37th district and leaving the 35th an open seat that has already drawn a crowded field. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The groups misfortune elicited a flurry of commentary and speculation on social-media platforms like X. If nothing else, it has helped to highlight the risks that investors can face in the rapidly growing U.S. options market. In interviews on podcasts, Chau said he had calculated the chances of a total loss to be vanishingly small, and that the strategy could still be profitable even if only a small number of trades actually panned out. In digital advertisements circulating on social-media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, Chau and his team had characterized the strategy as a reliable way for investors to generate income with just five minutes of trading a day. On Christmas Eve, I experienced a catastrophic financial loss in the stock market. The loss happened suddenly and completely changed my circumstances overnight, the page read . The page was created to benefit a Texas man named Wardell Audie Wright. When contacted by MarketWatch, Wright confirmed that he had created the page and that he was part of Chaus trading group. Some members of Chaus group lost hundreds of thousands of dollars most of their life savings according to account statements reviewed by MarketWatch. One member launched a GoFundMe page soliciting donations to help cover basic living expenses. After a streak of mounting losses, Chau and his followers risked it all on Christmas Eve and saw the last of their capital wiped out as the S&P 500 SPX tallied a record closing high. The fatal flaw what finally caused Chau and his crew to lose most or all of their trading capital was his use of the Martingale betting system. In the Martingale system, the bettor doubles down after each loss, hoping to recoup their money and then some. A strategy that had reliably produced winnings for the trader whose real name is David Chau and his group of roughly 1,000 investors went awry just before Christmas, saddling them with what was, by one count, a $50 million loss. The options trader known as Captain Condor and his acolytes experienced a wipeout last week that incinerated tens of millions of dollars and cost some investors their life savings. Story Continues The U.S. options industry is on track for a sixth straight year of record activity in 2026, according to data from the Options Clearing Corporation, or OCC. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, retail investors have increasingly become involved in trading derivatives such as options. Derivatives are sophisticated financial products initially developed to help professional investors and businesspeople manage financial risks. Contracts nearing expiration, including risky zero days until expiry options known as 0DTEs have proved particularly popular with the retail crowd, industry experts told MarketWatch. While overall options trading volume has grown rapidly over the past few years, volume in short-dated contracts has climbed even more quickly. The Iron Condor After grabbing the attention of the options market by placing big trades using contracts on the cusp of expiration on an almost daily basis, the 32-year-old Chau in April confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that he was the trader behind the strategy. Chau and his tight-knit group of traders became known for a signature strategy that, experts said, made their positions stand out in the market. Prior to this public revelation, options industry veteran Brent Kochuba, founder of trading analytics firm SpotGamma, had speculated about the existence of a trader nicknamed Captain Condor for more than a year. The strategy from which Chaus Captain Condor nickname was derived involved an options play known as an Iron Condor. Chau and his group applied the strategy in a way that would pay off if the S&P 500 index SPX remained within a predetermined range at the time the options expired. When trading Iron Condors, an investor uses multiple contracts to clearly define the potential gain, and the potential loss, from the trade. But according to Kochuba and others, Chaus application of the Martingale betting system supercharged the risk. It ultimately proved to be the groups undoing, Kochuba said. By Kochubas count, the group suffered a loss of more than $30 million on Christmas Eve after selling more than 90,000 Iron Condor spreads. Each spread involved four separate options contracts. Kochuba estimated the groups total losses for the week at more than $50 million. In a post on X published on Christmas Day, Chau said this was the first time his strategy had failed since he started trading it in May 2022. In a nutshell, yes we are hurt but I dont fing give up. We will regroup and try again, Chau said in the post. David has acknowledged the recent event publicly and is currently rebuilding his models. He is not providing further comment at this time, a representative for Chau said when reached for comment by MarketWatch. Chau said during a recent podcast appearance that his group had grown to include more than 1,000 traders. Newcomers agreed to pay an annual membership fee of $5,500 for access to Chaus trade alerts, which were distributed via a group Slack channel, according to a membership contract and screenshots of the channel reviewed by MarketWatch. One trader who had been a member of the group for about a year told MarketWatch that the strategy had been reliably profitable prior to the wipeout, although he also acknowledged that the group had narrowly avoided a few blowups. One clause in the contract also stipulated that members stay quiet about details of the groups trades. Options market veterans who spoke with MarketWatch said they were surprised the trading style remained profitable for as long as it did. It works incredibly well until all of a sudden you lose everything. And thats exactly what happened, SpotGammas Kochuba said in an interview with MarketWatch. Some members of Chaus group were novice investors who discovered it through advertisements on social-media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, two people familiar with the business told MarketWatch. Their first real terminal event At times, Chaus positions were so large that the hedging required to manage them could move the market in his favor, said Daniel Roos, a longtime options market professional and founder of VolSignals, a company specializing in options analytics. But the predictability of Chaus strategy, as well as a perfect storm created by a sharp drop in implied volatility during one of the least active periods of the year for stock trading, helped accelerate its undoing. Gauges of implied volatility like the Cboe Volatility Index VIX measure how volatile investors expect the S&P 500 will be over the coming month, using information gleaned from the options market. The index fell to its lowest level in more than a year last week. This is their first real terminal event, said Roos, who has been monitoring trades put on by Chaus group for more than a year. This is the first time, even by his own words, that it has been a quote, unquote, blowout. Chau started employing his trading strategy around the time that Cboe Global Markets Inc. CBOE, one of the biggest operators of U.S. options exchanges, expanded its offerings of weekly contracts tied to the S&P 500, allowing investors to trade 0DTEs linked to the index every day of the week. Previously, weekly S&P 500 options only expired on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Investors can also trade 0DTEs tied to other popular indexes and index-tracking exchange-traded funds. In an appearance on the Chris Voss Show podcast earlier this year, Chau said that his groups trades were at times even larger than the positions put on by the JPMorgan options whale a fund run by J.P. Morgan Asset Management that sells options to generate income for its investors. Like the JPMorgan trades, Chaus trades carried fingerprints that made them detectable by traders with access to the right data and analytical tools, Kochuba said. Dmitriy Muravyev, an associate professor of finance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has studied retail investors options trading activities and found that, on average, they lose money. Yet the broader U.S. options industry has boomed since the advent of commission-free trading offered by platforms like Robinhood Markets Inc. HOOD and its competitors. Many retail investors developed a taste for trading options during the pandemic, when millions of Americans were stuck at home with little to do. Data from the OCC showed that nearly 14 billion contracts tied to stocks, ETFs or equity indexes like the S&P 500 had changed hands in 2025 as of the end of November, surpassing last years total. For Chau and members of his investing club, the ability to more easily trade these complex options strategies offered the promise of outsize returns. However, the margin for error is, at times, razor thin. Most Read from MarketWatch State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code As the pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index edges closer to record highs amid positive sentiment about future earnings and economic conditions, investors are increasingly attentive to the potential of small-cap stocks within this dynamic market landscape. In this environment, identifying promising stocks involves looking for companies with solid fundamentals and growth prospects that align well with emerging economic trends. Top 10 Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals In Europe Name Debt To Equity Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Health Rating FRoSTA 5.37% 4.80% 13.56% Caisse Regionale de Credit Agricole Mutuel Brie Picardie Societe cooperative 37.61% 3.36% 6.34% Freetrailer Group 38.17% 23.13% 31.09% Inmocemento 28.68% 4.15% 33.84% Envirotainer 43.54% -23.63% nan Inversiones Doalca SOCIMI 13.10% 6.72% 3.11% Darwin 3.03% 50.55% 46377.71% Practic NA 4.86% 6.64% MCH Group 126.04% 19.05% 60.90% Alantra Partners 11.36% -6.39% -33.69% Click here to see the full list of 299 stocks from our European Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener. Here's a peek at a few of the choices from the screener. Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Paul Hartmann AG is a company that manufactures and sells medical and care products across various regions including Germany, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas with a market capitalization of approximately 816.90 million. Operations: With a market cap of approximately 816.90 million, PHH2 generates revenue primarily from its segments: Incontinence Management (773.61 million), Wound Care (619.14 million), Infection Management (523.34 million), and Complementary divisions (510.39 million). With a price-to-earnings ratio of 10x, Paul Hartmann appears undervalued compared to the German market's 18.2x, suggesting potential for value seekers. Despite a challenging five-year period with earnings declining by 9.5% annually, recent performance shows promise as earnings surged by 36.9% last year, outpacing the Medical Equipment industry's growth of 13.1%. The company's interest payments are well covered by EBIT at a robust 7.2 times coverage, indicating solid financial health amidst rising debt-to-equity from 11.1% to 32.7% over five years; however, its net debt to equity remains satisfactory at 19%. DB:PHH2 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jan 2026 Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Nolato AB (publ) is a company that develops, manufactures, and sells plastic, silicone, and thermoplastic elastomer products across Europe, Asia, North America, and internationally with a market cap of approximately SEK16.65 billion. How Can Streaming Publishers Predict Where Pirates Will Strike Next? Curtailing streaming piracy can be a bit like a game of whack-a-mole, whether its anticipating where the leaking or leeching will come from on a premium live event, or predicting which content pirates are most likely to target. EZDRM Co-Founder Olga Kornienko has helped a broad swath of clients try to get in pirates heads and stay one or more steps ahead of their attacks, and in this discussion with Integration Therapys Rebecca Avery from Decembers Streaming Media Connect 2025, she discusses pirate strategy and psychology as shes observed it over the years and practical ways to make sense of it and use of it. If They Like It, Theyll Leak It Acknowledging Kornienkos breadth of experience with piracy and the wide range of publishers whose privacy-prevention efforts EZDRM supports, Avery asks, Is there any pattern that you're seeing across all of these different clients about what kind of content or what kind of content that pirates are going after? Content is king. Whatever is popular at the moment or whatever people need." Kornienko explains, is the best predictor of where pirates will strike. "I was on a panel in March of 2020, and the conversation was around the fact that as the pandemic was setting in, everybody wanted to see the movie Contagion, because we were hypothetically going into this world. So that was the thing that was most pirated at that point in time." As the pandemic dragged on, she continues, "when we started to see the reality of what was happening to us, people switched gears and decided to watch Harry Potter. That was super popular and super-pirated because of the fact that people just couldn't get access to it and they wanted to escape the land of Contagion. So I think it's a question of what people are trying to watch and what people are trying, what's popular." In other cases it's less obvious why a particular piece of content would be stolen. "We've had customers contact us and say, 'Hey, we just found one of our educational videos on YouTube. How did it get there?' And then you start digging to see what could have happened, where it could have leaked from, and so on and so forth. And even though it's not content like a Super Bowl or a Lady Gaga concert, somebody out there just didn't want to pay the money for it, so they decided to figure out how to hack it and then it gets leaked. So I think it really doesn't matter. As long as somebody wants to watch it, they will try to leak it." The Psychology of Casual Piracy "You just need one bad actor, I guess," Avery says. "But as far as patterns, it's almost like you could hire a pirate psychologist to figure out where they're going to go depending on the world context." "When we're talking about piracy in general, I think everybody has committed some version of casual piracy where we connected to a VPN to watch a piece of content that we technically shouldn't be watching because we're currently on a business trip in Singapore and we just can't get to our own content and things like that," Kornienko concedes. "Is that piracy because I'm going through a VPN? Absolutely. Do I technically have rights to watch it because I live in the US? Also true. So I think that kind of content is pirated as well. And I think that, like you said, as piracy psychologists, we need to figure out why people pirate. And off of that, either make the content available or figure out a commercial model that makes people less likely to pirate content and so on and so forth." Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles View From the Top: EZDRM | Thinking Security for 2026 As 2025 comes to a close, we can see that the landscape is presenting new growth opportunities in revenue security. Without losing sight of our core values of future-facing innovation and ease of use, we can respond with media solution architectures that offer a more sophisticated baseline for the video services business. EZDRMs Olga Kornienko Talks C2PA, Content Authenticity, and DRM at Streaming Media 2025 In a candid interview at Streaming Media 2025, EZDRM COO and co-founder Olga Kornienko and Future Frames producer Doug Daulton trade helpful analogies in discussing the growing importance of content provenance in the age of generative AI and deepfakes, as well as the role that the C2PA standard and DRM providers like EZDRM can play in protecting content authenticity and content creators' rights in a changing media landscape. Casual Streaming Piracy and the Cost of Chasing it At Streaming Media NYC, I had the opportunity to moderate a panel around stream security. It's probably the fifth or sixth time that I've done so in the last decade, but an interesting dichotomy popped up during the prep meeting with panelists, and again while we were on stage during the live session. The concept was "casual piracy" and how it differed from "professional piracy" in both intent and scale. Companies and Suppliers Mentioned USS Nimitz arrives at its homeport of Bremerton on Naval Base Kitsap, Wash., Dec. 16, 2025, following a nine-month deployment to Asia and the Middle East. The carrier is scheduled to be decommissioned beginning in 2026. (Gary Warner/Stars and Stripes) A pair of nuclear reactors that have propelled a U.S. Navy supercarrier to hot spots around the world for half a century could end up repurposed to power a data center in Tennessee. HGP Intelligent Energy, based in Dallas, has proposed to the Department of Energy that the two Westinghouse A4W naval fission pressurized water reactors on the USS Nimitz be sent to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory after they are removed from the carrier during its upcoming decommissioning, deactivation and defueling. Oak Ridge is a key U.S. government center for nuclear energy research. The reactors could generate up to 520 megawatts of power, which HGP said in a letter to the Department of Energy could be used to boost energy for power-hungry data centers at the heart of the booming artificial intelligence industry. HGP Intelligent Energy filed a letter with the White Houses Genesis Mission Office, which President Donald Trump created by executive order in November to leverage artificial intelligence on a scale and pace equal to the Manhattan Project, which produced the first atomic bomb in World War II. The proposal was first reported by Bloomberg News. HGP said that reusing and adapting the Nimitz nuclear reactors would cost between $1 million and $4 million per megawatt of generating power. A 2024 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said a new large reactor built from the ground up would cost between $8 and $10 million per megawatt. The new Interpretive Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee includes exhibits on the areas role in developing the atomic bombs that ended World War II and scientific research since that time. Oak Ridge is the proposed site for repurposed nuclear aircraft carrier reactors that would power data centers. (Leon Roberts/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) As part of the plan, HGP said it would cost up to $2.1 billion in private funds to create the system to use the naval reactors. The company stated it plans to apply for a loan guarantee from the Energy Department. If the Nimitz project succeeds, reactors from future decommissioned aircraft carriers, submarines and other sources could be used for data centers. The Nimitz arrived at its homeport of Bremerton, Wash., in December at the end of the final deployment of its career. The Navys oldest carrier was commissioned in May 1975. The first of the 10 Nimitz-class carriers already has orders to sail soon to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia to begin its retirement. Huntington Ingalls Industries has received a $33.5 million contract to continue planning for the carriers decommissioning, deactivation and defueling. This process has not been previously done on a ship the size of the Nimitz. HIIs Newport News Shipbuilding facility in Virginia would be responsible for eventually removing the two reactors. Marine Insight, a maritime industry publication, said this week that the process is expected to take five phases, with each step requiring up to 10 years, at an eventual price tag of $1 billion. The Navy currently has a protocol for smaller reactors from Los Angeles-class submarines retired since the late 1990s. The reactors are wrapped in radioactive-shielded containers, sent on a barge from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, then out to the Pacific Ocean and finally up the Columbia River to a port that transports the containers to a radioactive materials burial trench at the Hanford Nuclear Site in eastern Washington. The Navy is still working on plans to dispose of or reuse the power plants on Nimitz-class carriers. Each ship has two reactors that generate 140,000 shaft horsepower, with each reactor driving two propeller shafts. The reactors also generate about 100 megawatts of electricity for use on the ship. USS Nimitz is the first of the supercarrier class named for it to be slated for decommissioning. Earlier plans to also decommission the second-oldest carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, were delayed from 2026 until the early 2030s. The Navy has said the process for decommissioning and disposing of the Nimitz will serve as the template for future retirements as the Nimitz carriers and their reactors reach their planned half-century service lives. The carriers are to be replaced by the new USS Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Wash., is undergoing a major shore systems electrical upgrade to eventually homeport USS John F. Kennedy, the second Ford-class carrier, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2027. The USNS Cesar Chavez conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the amphibious assault ship USS Essex in the Gulf of Oman in November 2021. (John McGovern/U.S. Navy) A U.S. Navy cargo ship rang in the new year by rescuing three stranded fishermen from a disabled vessel in the South China Sea. The dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez saved the three, later identified as citizens of the Philippines, after spotting them adrift aboard their fishing boat, the U.S. 7th Fleet said Friday in a news release. The fishermen left an unspecified port on Dec. 27, but the following day they were left adrift after heavy seas flooded their engine. They survived the next four days on rationed food and water before the Cesar Chavez spotted them, according to the release. A medical checkup on board the Cesar Chavez found the three in good health., according to 7th Fleet. The United States ultimately coordinated with Philippine officials to return the fishermen. Professional and vigilant watch standing procedures enabled the crew to locate and recover the distressed fishermen quickly and safely. Cesar Chavez conducts routine logistics and resupply missions in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet, the release stated. A spokesperson for the U.S. 7th Fleet did not immediately respond to phone and email requests for comment. The 689-foot Cesar Chavez, launched in May 2012, delivers ammunition, food, repair parts, stores and small quantities of fuel to customers at sea, according to the Navy. A screengrab from a video posted by U.S. Southern Command on X, showing one alleged drug boat that was part of a convoy of three ships destroyed by the command on Tuesday as part of Operation Southern Spear. Two other ships were struck on Wednesday. (U.S. Southern Command via X) The Pentagons campaign against suspected drug traffickers in 2025, led by U.S. Southern Command, resulted in 35 known strikes that killed at least 115 since it began in early September. The death toll jumped in 2025s final days when U.S. Southern Command reported striking two alleged drug trafficking boats on New Years Eve, killing five, a day after it struck three boats in a convoy, killing three. Three alleged narco-terrorists were killed in the first vessel struck on New Years Eve, and two were killed on the second. SOUTHCOM, which oversees part of Central America, the Caribbean and South America, did not reveal where the attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday occurred. Previous strikes have been in the Caribbean Sea and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narco-trafficking, the command said of Wednesdays strikes, as it has described previous strikes. It did not provide evidence. The strikes on Tuesday may have left survivors, as an unspecified number jumped into the water when the first of three boats was hit. The command immediately notified the Coast Guard to commence a search and rescue after the strikes, it said, without saying whether any were rescued. The call for Coast Guard assistance comes after the Pentagon faced scrutiny by lawmakers for a follow-up strike in September that killed two survivors of an initial attack. The latest strikes come just about a week after the U.S. attacked a facility on Venezuelas coast on Dec. 24 that was allegedly used to load drug-smuggling boats. That drone strike the first known U.S. attack on Venezuelan soil was conducted by the CIA, according to the New York Times, who cited unnamed American officials. The facility was believed to be used by Tren de Aragua in drug smuggling operations, the Times reported. No one was killed in that attack. It was the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes in September, a significant escalation in the administrations pressure campaign on Maduros government. The U.S. had steadily built a large force of Navy and special operations forces off Venezuelas coast. The force includes the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and strike group and the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship and thousands of Marines. The pressure campaign might be having an effect: Venezuela is open to negotiating an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking, President Nicolas Maduro said in a pretaped interview aired Thursday on state television. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Air Force Staff Sgt. James Dennis cleans a wet screen filter in Laos, May 20, 2025, during a mission for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. (Stephen Holland/Marine Corps) JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii The defense agency that accounts for the nations missing warfighters identified the remains of 231 service members in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, far exceeding its tally in recent years. Fiscal year 2025 was a record year for us, really a tremendous result, Capt. Meghan Bodnar, deputy director for operations for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, said Tuesday at the agencys lab at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. New DNA techniques, maturing projects and higher funding in prior years are factors in the agencys record-breaking year, according to Bodnar. The agency in recent years has failed to reach its annual target of 200 identifications. It accounted for 172 service members in fiscal year 2024. It identified 158 in 2023 and 166 in 2022. Those tallies are tiny compared to the vast number of service members still unaccounted for according to the DPAA web site: 71,806 from World War II, 7,386 from the Korean War and 1,566 from the Vietnam War. Eight of the remains identified in the last fiscal year were from the Vietnam War, roughly double the number in recent years. We havent had as many identifications from Vietnam since fiscal year 2018, so it was a really big year for us, Bodnar said. The uptick in overall identifications resulted first from several long-term identification projects maturing and become more efficient, she said. Most of these projects included methodical disinterment of service members buried as unknowns. The Korean War Project, for example, saw a 75% increase in identifications from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2025, she said. DPAA in 2022 began exhuming the graves of unknown service members associated with the Enoura Maru, a Japanese ship that was carrying 1,619 POWs from the Philippines, via Taiwan, to Japan in 1945. Some POWs died during an Allied air attack as the ship neared Taiwan, with others dying as the crippled ship made its way to Japan. DPAA identified 20 Enoura Maru unknowns this past fiscal year compared to only one the previous year, Bodnar said. Other projects devoted to identifying World War II remains associated with the Solomon Islands, the 1945 Tokyo Prison fire and the prisoner of war Camp Cabanatuan in the Philippines are hitting their stride, Bodnar said. DPAAs effort has also been bolstered by the development of a new DNA processing technique by the Armed Forces DNA Identification Lab in Delaware. The process, dubbed SNPs for its focus on identifying genetic markers called single nucleotide polymorphisms, greatly expands DPAAs capacity to match remains to living descendants. The result is that we are able to use other branches of family trees for our family reference samples that we previously didnt have available to us, Bodnar said. Thirty identifications in fiscal year 2025 were possible because SNPs was available, she said. A third reason, according to Bodnar, was increased DPAA funding the past three fiscal years that enabled the agency to field more missions each year, which sent more remains and artifacts to the lab, she said. With a $185.5 million budget last year, the agency conducted 104 recovery and investigative missions and 30 disinterments, a total of 134, according to an email Wednesday from the agency. That was a roughly 12% increase over the previous year. The agency this year may have difficulty topping its 2025 record, in part because the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act trims by 8% its operational funding. The funding cut will slash recovery and investigative missions planned for this year by roughly a third, according to the email. A U.S. Navy sea drone transits the Pacific Ocean on June 22, 2022. A new report urges NATO to develop unmanned systems for use in the air, on the ground and in the sea to monitor Russian military activity in the High North. (Tyler Fraser/U.S. Navy) NATO should build a fleet of polar-hardened drones to keep closer tabs on Russian submarines and military maneuvers in the Arctic, says a recent report that calls for a strategy of deterrence by detection in the region. A wide range of aerial, ground-based and undersea unmanned systems is urgently needed to give allies an edge in the hotly contested High North, the Center for European Policy Analysis said. To deter Russian aggression, NATO must be able to identify threats as they are gathering, the authors of the Dec. 16 report said. This means being able to track Russian submarine patrols leaving the Kola Peninsula, monitor aircraft flights across the Barents and Bering Seas, identify changes in Russias Arctic force posture and infrastructure, and detect potential surface and subsurface threats to critical infrastructure, the report said. Over the past decade, Russia has steadily been strengthening its position in the Arctic, adding military capabilities and expanding bases. China also has its eye on the region after declaring itself a near-Arctic state in 2018. The melting of sea ice has opened the possibility for new sea routes, increased commercial activity and, with it, more military competition. The United States and other NATO members also have stepped up in the region, with more drills focused on challenges related to operating in polar conditions. U.S. naval deployments in the Arctic aimed at boosting situational awareness and deterring potential Russian aggression also have increased. Still, gaps persist, according to CEPA. To begin with, NATO doesnt have a formal Arctic strategy, the report said. While this is a sensitive policy matter, the lack of a dedicated strategic framework for the region risks diluting resourcing and cooperation between regional allies on various levels. Procurement of Arctic-capable drones across NATO remains fragmented, slow, and risk-averse, the report said. Most allies also treat Arctic-specific drone requirements as secondary modifications rather than purpose-built characteristics, which means limited numbers of reliable Arctic-ready drones, according to the think tank. NATO should accelerate procurement of systems that consider the technical requirements for operating in the Arctic, the authors urged. In addition, the alliance ought to establish new drone units with specialized training, which would free up manned aircraft and ships for other tasks, according to the report. The next decade is a decisive window of opportunity, the report stated, adding that those fastest to adapt to the challenges of the harsh High North terrain will shape a future Arctic security architecture capable of deterring and defeating emerging threats. A Navy P-8A Poseidon takes off from Diego Garcia on Oct. 24, 2025. The State Department approved the sale of three such aircraft and associated equipment to Denmark. (Samantha Jetzer/U.S. Navy) A proposed $1.8 billion sale of three Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Denmark was given a State Department green light just ahead of the new year. The sale, which still requires congressional approval, would put Denmark in the company of the U.S., the United Kingdom, Norway and Germany as NATO allies flying the 737-based surveillance and reconnaissance jet. Germany received its first P-8A in October. The package includes joint tactical radio systems, navigation systems and components for the Northrop Grumman Guardian AN/AAQ-24(V)N laser-based missile countermeasures system, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency statement Monday. Denmark would also receive mission software, electro-optical and infrared systems, missile warning sensors and radar, according to the statement. The P-8A Poseidon is designed to detect, track and engage submarines and surface vessels, according to Boeing. It uses radar, sonobuoys, electronic support measures, torpedoes and an advanced acoustic sensor suite to conduct anti-submarine warfare. The announcement follows another major U.S. arms deal with Denmark, a $900 million purchase of medium-range missiles. It also comes just weeks after former President Donald Trump named a special envoy to Greenland, reigniting tensions over Washingtons interest in the Danish territory. Mourners preside over the coffin containing the remains of Israeli hostage Idan Shtivi during his funeral on Sept. 1. (Heidi Levine/The Washington Post) The year 2025 saw high levels of deadly violence around the world, as conflicts grew less restrained, with civilians increasingly victims of attacks by governments and non-state actors alike, according to monitoring data. Amid the tumult, peacemaking remains difficult and, in many regions, conflicts that simmered for years are spreading. Multiple grueling wars unfolding simultaneously is the new normal for global conflict, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, or ACLED, a monitoring group based in the United States. And this more violent environment is changing the nature of war, according to ACLED: Armed groups and governments using violence are less restrained than at any time in recent decades. The level of conflict remained steady at a high level after years of increasing. Conflict-related violence in 2025 killed more than 240,000 people worldwide. Europe experienced the greatest increase in violence, driven by Russias ongoing war in Ukraine, and in the Middle East, high levels of violence persisted despite several shaky ceasefires coming into force, ACLED data shows. Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan saw some of the deadliest conflicts in 2025. In Myanmar, a civil war continued to grind on. Flashes of conflict elsewhere also contributed to the sustained pattern of global violence, including wars between Israel and Iran in June and India and Pakistan in May. Thailand and Cambodia also clashed, with violence between the two countries resurging late in the year. A key factor driving high levels of global conflict is the decision by the United States to step back from its posture as enforcer of the rules-based international order, argues Ian Bremmer, the president and founder of Eurasia Group, a political risk firm. There is more of a vacuum, Bremmer said, since the Trump administration has unilaterally withdrawn from some international bodies while slashing support for others. Without that, there are lots of bad actors, rouge states, non-state actors that feel they have more impunity to do whatever they want in an environment like this, he said. The rise in global conflict levels stretches back earlier than Trumps second term. For years, the rise of non-state actors like militants or terrorist groups drove conflict, from al-Qaeda to the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. And global power shifts spread conflict worldwide as great-power competition increasingly played out though proxies, according to analysts and monitors. In his second term, President Donald Trump has sought to build his legacy as a peacemaker, pursuing the Nobel Peace Prize. He says he has ended a growing list of conflicts. But in some of them, his role remains contested or violence has returned. Less restraint The war in Ukraine was the deadliest conflict of 2025, according to ACLED, with nearly 78,000 people killed. Violence escalated as Russian forces pushed to capture more territory along Ukraines eastern front line and stepped up drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. Russia launched swarms of hundreds of drones that became more difficult to intercept. The attacks struck residential blocks, government buildings and the energy grid, plunging many parts of the country into darkness during the cold winter months. In some instances, the Russian attacks appeared to spike as peace talks picked up momentum. But the tiny territorial advances that Russia managed to secure in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region came at astronomical costs. Russias slow grind in 2025 cost it more than 200,000 troops killed and wounded, to capture less than an additional 1 percent of Ukrainian territory. Fragile ceasefires In the Middle East, which remained a high-conflict region, critical ceasefires went into effect in 2025 but often failed to bring violence levels back down all the way. Israel has conducted regular strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza since agreeing to a ceasefire there in October, including a strike last month that targeted a top commander in the group. The ceasefire between Israel and Iran that ended the 12-day war in June appears to have largely held, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly eager to launch further strikes on Iranian territory, claiming the country is rebuilding its ballistic missile program. Trump warned Iran this week that he would support such strikes if it attempts to rebuild. In Lebanon, the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remained in effect for all of 2025, but Israel continued to launch attacks on Lebanese territory, including multiple strikes on the capital, Beirut. Many in Lebanon fear that after months of low-level violence, a return to all-out war could be inevitable. And the climate of uncertainty appears to be complicating efforts by Lebanons army to disarm Hezbollah, as the Lebanese militant group has refused to broadly surrender its weapons, saying that the country is still at war. Even when wars appear to end, violence often resurges, trapping civilians in relentless cycles of insecurity, ACLED observed in the groups year-end report on global trends. Militants, gangs and civilians Civilians increasingly bear the brunt of violent conflicts, according to ACLED. The conflict in the Palestinian territories was the most dangerous for civilians worldwide, per ACLED data, which found that violence in the West Bank and Gaza has impacted the lives of nearly all the people living there. A Washington Post visual analysis previously tracked how years of war in Gaza upended lives, livelihoods and learning. In Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces are believed to have killed more civilians in 2025 than any other non-state actor. Some of the most egregious allegations of civilian deaths emerged after RSF fighters pushed into the Sudanese town of El Fashir in October. Witnesses interviewed by The Post told of mass killings, widespread rape and torture. In one instance, at least 200 unaccompanied children arrived in a neighboring town after escaping El Fashir, with some saying they saw their parents killed before they fled. In the Caribbean, Haiti saw a significant increase in violence against civilians, according to ACLED, with over 4,500 Haitians killed as a result of political violence. One factor cited by the conflict monitor was the increased use of drones in Haiti, weapons that could make an already deadly conflict more dangerous for civilians. While the introduction of weaponized drones posed a potential path to turn the tide against violent gangs that threaten to take over the Haitian capital, a Post investigation found that women and children have been among the casualties of drone attacks in Haiti. In September, a childs birthday party was hit by a drone, killing eight children. The gang leader who was the strikes target managed to escape. ACLED projects that Latin America and the Caribbean are set to continue to see high levels of violence into 2026. As the U.S. ramps up pressure in the region, including through strikes on alleged drug boats and a military buildup in the Caribbean, governments are expected to crack down internally, setting up confrontations with organized crime. Maham Javaid contributed to this report. Pilar Martinez Malaga Friday, 2 January 2026, 18:42 Share Almost 91.5 million foreign tourists visited Spain in the first 11 months of 2025. Their preferred destinations were Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Andalucia, but it was the latter that showed the greatest dynamism. Andalucia was the region with the highest growth in foreign tourist arrivals up to November, with a total of 13.6 million and an increase of 6.9%. The figure is double the average increase for the country, which stands at 3.4%, according to data just released by the national institute of statistics (Ine). To compare, Catalonia saw an increase of 1% in foreign arrivals by the end of November, the Balearic Islands 2.6% and the Canary Islands 3.4%. According to the ministry of industry and tourism, Andalucia received a total of 825,983 visitors in November, an increase of 6.3%, compared to the rate in the Canary Islands, which was the main destination for international tourists, with 1,461,395 visitors and a year-on-year growth of 0.9%. Catalonia, with 1,273,727 visitors, had the same increase of 0.9%. The UK was the main country of origin of tourists visiting Spain. Brits accounted for revenue of more than 1.3 billion euros, followed by the French, with 695,770 tourists and an expenditure of 581 million euros. In third place were tourists from Germany, with around 667,000 visitors, but higher expenditure than that of French tourists (949 million euros). 178 euros was the average expenditure per person of tourists visiting Andalucia in November Furthermore, foreign tourists who visited Andalucia in November increased their average daily expenditure per person the most, if compared to tourists in the other leading regions. According to the Ine's tourist expenditure statistics, each visitor spent 178 euros on average per day, an increase of 11%. However, this is far from the 295 euros in Madrid, although the capital region shows signs of decline, with a drop of 1.5%. According to the report, foreign tourists left more than 1.18 billion euros in Andalucia in November, which represents an increase of 2.3%, compared to the national average of 5%, which exceeds 8 billion euros. The ministry of industry and tourism has confirmed that "the trend of growth in destination spending is consolidating above the increase in the rate of arrivals, somewhat more moderate in 2025 than the previous year. A statistical growht that is in line with the ministry's commitment to a new tourism model, more sustainable and based on prioritising quality over quantity, deconcentrating and deseasonalising destinations and diversifying the offer". According to the ministry, total spending by international tourists up to November amounted to over 126.7 billion euros, which represents an increase of 6.9% compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the national institute of statistics (Ine). "This is already higher than the total accumulated expenditure between January and December 2024, which amounted to almost 126.3 billion euros," the ministry said. Hector Barbotta Sevilla Friday, 2 January 2026, 14:02 Share Just as the Andalusian regional government was holding its last session on 24 July 2025, before the summer recess, two women approached the president of the Junta de Andalucia, Juanma Moreno. Their intention was to get a commitment that the Andalusian health service would introduce palliative paediatric care seven days a week, a service they considered essential for children with serious illnesses. The women had been invited by the socialist PSOE and Adelante Andalucia political groups and the improvised dialogue they held with Moreno had a significant media impact for several reasons: firstly, because at the time the regulation of visits to the Junta de Andalucia was being debated due to episodes of disruption that had occurred on previous occasions. But also because of the president's response to that demand after hearing from those affected that the commitment to introduce the palliative care service had not been fulfilled for a year and a half. In front of a large group of journalists who were watching the conversation live, Moreno and the then regional minister, Rocio Hernandez, who had joined the impromptu meeting, promised to do everything they could so that the commitment she had just made would be fulfilled. However, Hernandez was later forced to step down after the screening crisis, but on Friday 26 December, her successor, Antonio Sanz, announced that the service, which responds to a historic demand from families, has now been implemented. "This service is already implemented and activated in 100 per cent of the Andalusian provinces," he said at a Partido Popular (PP) meeting in Cadiz. Sanz said that he was pleased to announce that paediatric palliative care has been implemented in all eight provinces after explaining that it has been progressively implemented, concluding on 16 December in Huelva. He explained that it is a matter of personalised family to family care in a matter of "extraordinary sensitivity" and that this requires "personalised and very professional attention". Commitment Sanz recalled the president's meeting with the mothers at the Andalusian government in Seville and said that the demand made at that time has been met "in record time". He went on to say, "The president went so far as to say that if he did not fulfil this commitment, he would dismiss the spokesperson in charge of health, obviously, which I did not know was going to be me," said Sanz. He also highlighted that he has not yet completed three months in the job and that in that time there has been a general debate at the Junta just after he took office, during which he added the approval of the decree on difficult-to-cover positions, as well as the "the historic agreement" for the automatic entry of the MIRs. He added that in 2025, 10,289 vacancies in health care were filled, of which 4,300 are for primary care. "Two months ago all the unions were on the streets and today all the unions are signing agreements with the Andalusian regional government to strengthen public health in Andalucia," he stressed. Used coffin found in bin behind Spanish cemetery Family refused to take charge of their relative's remains 10 years after burial Fernando Barroso Vargas Friday, 2 January 2026, 18:20 Share Public outrage was sparked after a used coffin was found in a rubbish bin in Tomares (Seville) last Tuesday. The incident occurred outside the town's cemetery, where the coffin's remains were placed in a bin located right by the cemetery's main entrance. According to the Tomares Town Hall, the incident followed the exhumation of a body that had been in a niche for over ten years. The family of the deceased allegedly refused to take responsibility for the remains, prompting municipal authorities to act in line with regulations. In such cases, the town hall explained, abandoned coffins are typically placed in bins located outside cemetery grounds for later collection by the municipal waste service. The council, led by Jose Maria Soriano, emphasised that this was in strict accordance with local regulations. The coffin was removed by a waste collection truck later that afternoon A similar incident occurred in Castilblanco de los Arroyos last August, when an employee of the company contracted by the town's council to handle burials mistakenly placed a coffin in a public street bin. The town's mayor, Jose Manuel Carballar, explained that this was due to an error by a new worker who had been with the company for only a few days. Carballar added that the company had already issued an apology for the "regrettable mistake," which sparked a heated public debate in the town. HOUSTON, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston-based personal injury law firm Arnold & Itkin has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a tankerman who suffered severe chemical exposure injuries when a catastrophic structural failure at a Houston port facility released sulfuric acid into the surrounding area. The complaint, filed in Harris County District Court on December 31, 2025, alleges negligence and gross negligence against BWC Terminals LLC and BWC Texas Terminals LLC. On December 27, 2025, at approximately 2:00 a.m., an overhead walkway broke free from a tank at the BWC Terminals facility located at 15627 San Jacinto Port Boulevard in Houston, Harris County, Texas. The falling walkway punctured a pipeline containing sulfuric acid, a highly dangerous and toxic substance, causing a massive release into the surrounding area. At the time of the incident, the tankerman was working aboard a vessel on the Houston Ship Channel, approximately 500 feet from the BWC Terminals facility. He heard a loud crash and subsequently observed a large gas cloud being released from the terminal. No alarms, warnings, or notifications were provided by the facility operators. Shortly thereafter, he was enveloped by the toxic substance. The worker immediately began suffering severe physical injuries, including burning lungs, shortness of breath, throat pain, nausea, dizziness, and skin irritation. He was later diagnosed with chemical exposure and inflammation of his lungs. The petition alleges he continues to experience debilitating physical and mental injuries affecting his lungs, throat, skin, and other parts of his body. BWC Terminals LLC and BWC Texas Terminals LLC are foreign limited liability companies doing business in Texas, with their principal places of business located in Harris County, Texas. Both companies operate in the industrial terminal and chemical storage industry. The lawsuit alleges claims of negligence and gross negligence against both defendants, alleging they released sulfuric acid and other toxic substances into the Houston Ship Channel, failed to properly train and supervise employees and contractors, created and allowed dangerous conditions to exist, failed to warn or notify the worker of unsafe and hazardous conditions, cut costs of maintenance at the expense of safety, and committed other acts of negligence that led to the plaintiff's injuries. The complaint also alleges violations of applicable rules, national, state, and federal ordinances, statutes, and regulations, including OSHA regulations. The petition seeks punitive damages, alleging defendants acted with flagrant and malicious disregard for the worker's health and safety despite being objectively aware of the extreme risk posed by the conditions that caused his injuries. The case is being handled by Arnold & Itkin attorneys Kurt Arnold, Jason Itkin , Adam Lewis , and Ali Poulson . "Industrial facilities handling dangerous chemicals have a fundamental duty to maintain their equipment and protect workers in the surrounding area," said Kurt Arnold. "When a structural failure releases toxic substances without any warning, it demonstrates a complete breakdown in safety systems. We're committed to holding these companies accountable for the devastating impact on our client's health and livelihood." The lawsuit emphasizes that the worker received no advance warning despite the catastrophic nature of the failure and the extremely hazardous nature of the released substance. The petition alleges this lack of notification compounded the severity of his exposure and resulting injuries. About Arnold & Itkin LLP Arnold & Itkin LLP is a Houston-based personal injury law firm with a history of advocating for plaintiffs in maritime disasters , longshore accidents , and catastrophic injury cases. The firm has secured more than $20 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients nationwide and has won some of the largest verdicts and settlements for work accidents in the nation's history, holding award records in multiple states. Media Contact Aya Garfaoui Arnold & Itkin LLP [email protected] SOURCE Arnold & Itkin LLP Front view of electric Ford car. - John Keeble/Getty Images The dynamics of the US EV market changed dramatically in 2025. Tesla lost its crown as the world's biggest electric car brand to China's BYD. EV sales in the US declined owing to the rising cost of ownership, and numerous labels went back to the drawing board to reassess their electrification plans. Ford is no exception, but its EV flub is costing billions of dollars. The company has announced charges totaling $19.5 billion as it restructures an EV strategy that failed to leave a mark amid rivals such as Tesla. Ford says the hefty sum will be recorded as "special items," roughly $6.5 billion of which is linked to the cancellation of multiple EV projects. Additionally, Ford also put the plans for a US-based battery operation on cold ice, which took its own hefty toll worth $6 billion. This is after Ford lost $5 billion on its EV ambitions in 2024. An analysis by Reuters notes that Ford is bearing huge charges to avoid bigger EV-linked losses in the immediate future, though the company hopes the electric car business will finally become profitable in 2029. According to The Wall Street Journal, the hit taken by Ford is among the largest impairments absorbed by a company. "Instead of plowing billions into the future knowing these large EVs will never make money, we are pivoting," Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley was quoted as saying by the outlet. The company still hopes for a major portfolio overhaul that includes a 50-50 volume share between ICE vehicles and a combination of EVs, hybrids, and extended range electric vehicles (EREV). Read more: 5 Of The Worst Car Trends We've Ever Seen What's next for Ford and EVs? Charging a Ford electric car. - Anna Barclay/Getty Images Ford hoped to taste EV success with a tentpole like the F-150 Lightning, but the electric pick-up truck didn't quite materialize into blockbuster success. Additionally, the lack of mass-market affordable EVs that could challenge the dominance of Tesla proved to be another weakness for Ford. Sensing the tides, the company pulled the plug on its all-electric F-150 Lightning and transitioned to a gasoline-powered extended range EV format (EREV). Ford says it is turning to "higher-return opportunities" and the battery energy storage business, which also tags alongside the cancellation of multiple electric vehicle projects. The company is blaming slowing demand, changes in the regulatory framework, and rising costs. Instead of chasing large-format electric vehicles, Ford is shifting its focus to family-focused, affordable EVs that can move in higher volumes. Developed atop the Universal EV Platform, Ford will kickstart a new phase with the release of a midsize pickup truck in 2027, and it could cost in the $30,000 ballpark, as per The Journal. Farley recently said on an earnings call that a family of affordable cars is right around the corner. Andrew J. Linn Friday, 2 January 2026, 11:23 | Updated 16:33h. Share Food is often treated as a fixed expression of national identity, yet many dishes we think of as authentic turn out to have far more tangled pasts. Balti curry is often presented as a centuries-old dish from Kashmir, but this is more marketing than history. In reality, it was developed in Birmingham in the 1970s, largely by Pakistani restaurateurs adapting techniques to British tastes. Its very name derives not from a region but from the balti, a metal cooking vessel used to prepare and serve the dish. While similar cooking methods exist in South Asia, there is no clear evidence of a long-established Kashmiri balti tradition. As Wikipedia and other food historians note, the balti is best understood as a British curry, born of migration, improvisation and the practical constraints of restaurant cooking. Haggis, widely believed to be a uniquely Scottish national dish, turns out to have a similarly tangled history. Recipes resembling haggis appear in English cookery texts from the fifteenth century, and sausage-like preparations of offal, grain and seasoning were known in Roman times. The idea that haggis is exclusively Scottish is therefore more cultural myth than culinary fact, though it is a myth energetically embraced and celebrated north of the border on Burns Night and similar occasions. Wine of the Week Capuchina Vieja Kium 2021 A fascinating rosado from the Sierras de Malaga, with a strong body and it is great with practically any food, from 'jamon de bellota' to rice dishes. Very balanced on the tongue. Around 12 euros. Baked beans, now inseparable from the British breakfast, also have deeper and less parochial roots. The practice of soaking and slow-baking beans originated among indigenous peoples of the Americas, centuries before beans became a tinned convenience food in Britain and Europe. Food is endlessly evolving, shaped by migration, trade, geography or tradition. Alekk M Saanders Friday, 2 January 2026, 16:43 Share The history of the Huelins in Malaga started three centuries ago when William Huelin Silver, (also spelt by mistake Sivel) arrived in Malaga from his hometown of Southampton. His grandson, Eduardo Huelin Reissig, was born in Malaga, on 18 November 1822. For some time Eduardo left Malaga for New York where apparently he made important business contacts in the US. So upon his return, he devoted himself to exporting, especially wines and nuts, and later he was involved in various businesses. In 1856, the 34-year-old Eduardo Huelin was one of the founding partners of the Bank of Malaga. Eventually, he set up a cap and hat factory. His production was so successful that he was awarded various prizes in England. Additionally, for his industrial and commercial activity he was granted an honorary title of knight of the Order of Charles III by Queen Isabella II. The first chimneys in Malaga belonged to a sugar factory established by Eduardo Huelin. In the 1860s the businessman and his company became the driving force behind a novel model for a working-class neighbourhood. The revolutionary project aimed to establish cheap houses for the working class on a large scale. In 1870, the first houses specially designed for workers were built in the western part of Malaga known now as Huelin. It was the first neighbourhood for workers that did not consist of the typical housing of the city: 'corralones', interior courtyards with running galleries in which workers were crammed together in extreme conditions. Incidentally, the Huelin neighbourhood became known for years as the Palodu (sweet cane) district due to the sugar cane business. Zoom Additionally, Eduardo Huelin built a small chapel in the neighbourhood for his workers. Initially, this primitive chapel was dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows (Virgen de los Dolores), but over the following years it became the residence of the parish church of San Patricio (St Patrick). During the riots of 10-13 May 1931, the chapel was seriously damaged by anarchists and Republican extremists. In 1955, the new parish church of San Patricio (made in Gothic aesthetics and Mudejar style) was opened. Since 2005, the mass, celebrating St Patrick of Ireland, has been held in the church. Eduardo Huelin's industrial and commercial activity was incessant during almost forty years. The people of Malaga at that time knew the businessman by the nickname 'El Brillante' (The Brilliant One). Huelin died of hemiplegia at the age of 69, on 25 April 1891. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Friday, 2 January 2026, 13:56 Share The complex meteorological situation in the province of Malaga from this weekend to early next week is becoming clearer. While the automatic system of Aemet (the state meteorological agency) initially hinted at the possibility of snowfall even in Malaga city and other coastal municipalities, this has now been ruled out. With that said, the forecast no longer expects snow at 200-300 metres of altitude on 6 and 7 January. The initial forecast predicted the rare appearance of snow in the foothills of Los Montes de Malaga, very close to the historic centre, as well as in Sierra Blanca (Marbella) and Sierra Tejeda y Almijara (the Axarquia district). The new forecast is now much closer to "normal". The snow level predicted for 6 January remains low, at only 400 metres, but with a probability of rainfall of only 40%. There is a 65% probability of showers on 7 January, but the snow level has been raised to 900 metres. "Aemet's automatic forecast has changed, as was expected. It is likely to change today as well. The probability of snow in Malaga city is very low, only 2%. Even the probability of precipitation is low," Malaga meteorologist Jose Luis Escudero said on 2 January. Rain during the Three Kings' parade There is still a 100% chance of rain on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. At the moment, it is not clear what the weather will be like during the Three Kings' parade ('cabalgata') in Malaga city on 5 January. In addition, the start of the week will bring the coldest days so far this winter, with maximum temperatures of only 12-14C on Tuesday and Wednesday and an overnight minimum of 6-7C. Meanwhile, 2 January will be a day of transition: Atlantic storm Francis will approach mainland Spain from the Canary Islands, where it has already caused flooding. On Friday, rain is only expected in Huelva, while temperatures are expected to rise in the rest of Andalucia. Cloudy skies and a maximum temperature of 19C are expected in Malaga province. Eugenio Cabezas Friday, 2 January 2026, 15:32 Share Around 200 residents in Maro (Nerja) on the eastern Costa del Sol spent New Year's Eve in the dark after a power cut that began at around 7.30pm on 31 December was not resolved until almost 10am on Thursday 1 January. The power cut affected approximately half of the homes in the coastal village according to what the residents themselves told SUR. "It's outrageous, it's the second time in just four days. It's not right. There are many elderly people and we spent the night in the dark, with candles and torches," said Antonio Gallardo, one of the residents affected, who highlighted the discomfort caused by a prolonged power cut on such a special date. The incident sparked a wave of complaints on social media, directed at Endesa and its distributor, e-distribucion, with residents complaining that the fault had recurred after a supposed recent repair. "The repair was a complete botch job," they said in one of the messages, demanding a permanent solution and "clear explanations" about what had happened. Councillor for Maro, Nuchi Moreno, publicly demanded immediate explanations from the electricity company. "It's unacceptable that Maro was left without power on New Year's Eve. We demand to know the cause, why it wasn't prevented and what measures will be taken to ensure it doesn't happen again," she stated. Christmas Eve power cut Some residents also point out that the van sent to the village didn't belong to Endesa, but to another subcontracted company, which has fuelled doubts about the true origin of the outage. "Perhaps the culprits behind the blackout are right here next door. This needs to be clarified so we can know the truth," they say. Residents of the village of Macharaviaya, which is also in the Axarquia area to the east of Malaga province, spent Christmas Eve in darkness, when an almost 12-hour power outage lasted from 4:30pm to 4.15am affected the entire municipality after a lightning strike hit the main transformer, coinciding with an intense hailstorm that left the village cut off for several hours. In that instance, the mayor of Macharaviaya, Antonio Campos (PSOE), explained to SUR that the blackout completely disrupted Christmas Eve celebrations and forced residents to improvise dinners by candlelight and torch, although he thanked the Endesa workers who managed to restore power in the early hours of the morning. In Maro, the residents' discontent is palpable and adds to a feeling of vulnerability given the repeated power outages on key dates. Residents are now demanding a lasting solution and improved service, especially in a village with an aging population and a hospitality industry which is directly affected by these types of incidents. SUR Friday, 2 January 2026, 15:44 Share The National Police have arrested four people who travelled around Spain in a motorhome to commit robberies and thefts in tourist and wealthy areas. All four, who have been remanded in custody, are accused of 25 crimes against property, which have caused losses of around 200,000 euros. The operation culminated in Benalmadena, where officers intercepted the vehicle after detecting the group travelling from France to the Costa del Sol. During the search of the motorhome, hidden compartments were found in which 24,000 euros in cash, foreign currency, a gold coin, jewellery and numerous high-value electronic devices were hidden. According to investigators, the detainees lived in the French city of Nice and had no known address in Spain. They used the motorhome both as a means of transport and as a base of operations to move around different autonomous communities, including Valencia, Andalucia, the Balearic Islands and Madrid. The investigations began last September after the theft of a safe in a shopping centre in Elche, from which around 9,000 euros was stolen. From that event, investigators were able to link the group to other similar crimes, the most relevant being a theft of 60,000 euros from an armoured van in Ibiza. Specialising in safes The officers established that the gang, which specialised in safes and vehicles, operated in a coordinated manner, carrying out prior surveillance and follow-ups before committing the robberies. The stolen money, jewellery and electronic devices were then sold on the black market. Another important aspect of the investigation is that the members of the group used false identities to make it difficult to identify them. One of them managed up to 24 different identities, according to police sources. In total, the National Police have managed to solve 25 criminal acts related to this organisation, putting an end to an itinerant criminal activity that operated throughout Spain. Share Last December The Economist named the Spanish economy as the best in the world for 2024. All the indicators show that Spain is likely to be the world's fastest-growing advanced economy for the second consecutive year in 2025, although it was bumped to fourth place (with Colombia) in the British magazine's latest rankings, which were published last month. Neighbouring Portugal took the top spot, with Ireland and Israel coming second and third, respectively. In a key indicator of fiscal health, Spain's borrowing costs are now almost the same as Germany's. It works like this. The greater the yield on a nation's debt, the more risky it's perceived to be. As a result, the country pays more to borrow and investors receive a bigger profit for lending to it. Before the Eurozone crisis of 2009, the yield on Spanish and Italian ten-year debt was much larger than on German Bunds. If you were mad enough to lend to Rome or Madrid, the reasoning went, you should receive a big payout. Buying German or French debt, by contrast, was a conservative option, as reflected in the smaller returns. As we enter 2026, that gap has almost closed. The yield on ten-year Spanish debt is now just 0.5% higher than Germany's, while Italy has reduced that figure to 0.7%. Analysts predict that the yield disparity separating the two southern European nations from Germany will contract even further throughout 2026. The borrowing costs of France, typically seen by investors as another European safehouse, are now higher than Spain's. It's a dramatic turnaround. Once impecunious rebels on the EU's fiscal and geographic peripheries, Spain and Italy have become pillars of the Establishment (although Italy's GDP is expanding much more slowly than Spain's). Spanish and Italian debt is now as predictable as a Berlin Bund, rather than a risky move for reckless gamblers. The transformation of Madrid's reputation as an international debt-issuer is, in one sense, more surprising than Rome's. Giorgia Meloni, who became Italy's first female prime minister in October 2022, commands a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, something that Pedro Sanchez can only dream of. The relative stability of her administration contrasts sharply with the chaos that surrounds Sanchez's coalition, which was recently abandoned by the separatist parties on which it depends for votes. Political instability usually increases debt yields, rather than bringing them down. But Spain's world-bearing GDP seems to have blocked out the factors that might otherwise put investors off, such as a government mired in corruption and unable to pass budgets. As we learned from the prolonged governmental vacuum of 2015-16, economies can also thrive regardless of what their supposed stewards are up to. Share The good people of Andalucia, by their own admission, possess an extraordinary talent for elongating things. From inconsequential telephone conversations to meeting up for a supposedly quick lunch; from the annual town fair, to saying goodbye to each other in any context whatsoever, there exists in these parts an innate ability to stretch stuff out to within an inch of its life. Christmas is no exception. To be fair, celebrating the Three Kings bearing gifts on 6th January is a tradition which dates back to the Middle Ages and, as a time for giving presents to children, to the nineteenth century, so it's not as if the occasion has been tagged on to the festivities as an afterthought. Nevertheless, it can still come as something of a shock to the system to any new arrivals to find that, just as they're imagining everything is about to wind down, the holiday spirit rekindles with a vengeance and enjoys a mighty second wind. So, if you're a recent newcomer to the festivities here you can postpone the futility of joining the gym or giving up smoking/drinking/eating to excess for the time being because Christmas is by no means finished. Here's what you need to know. On the evening of the 5th of January, the Cabalgata parades will take place in cities, towns and villages throughout Spain. This is a joyous custom which involves the Three Kings sitting a-top thrones on slow-moving floats, throwing handfuls of sweets to wide-eyed children lining the streets below. It's a wonder to behold. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for wide-eyed adults catching as many goodies as they can in upturned umbrellas. This is a rather peculiar sight I've never quite grown accustomed to over the years despite my best efforts. Anyway, later on, back at home, the children will leave out food and drink for the camels and kings (including a nice drop of malt whisky if dad has his way) and will duly receive their presents overnight, hoping to avoid the lumps of coal reserved for the naughty ones. (One recent survey concluded that over two thirds of Spanish children still prefer to receive their gifts from the Three Kings rather than from that jolly old arriviste, Father Christmas. Well, good.) The next day, the sixth of January, is a public holiday and a chance for the little ones to enjoy their toys before heading back to school. It's also when the whole family tucks into the traditional Roscon de Reyes which is a humungous doughnut-shaped sweet bread affair filled with even sweeter cream and topped with sugared fruits designed to resemble jewels. It contains a small plastic king or queen which, when found, allows the fortunate recipient to be waited upon hand-and-foot by everyone else in the household throughout the day. With any luck these antics will distract all concerned from any lingering worries they may have about the immediate onset of type-2 diabetes. And then we can relax, the joyful mayhem really is all over for another year. Well, unless you count the sales. www.peteredgerton.com Daniel Cuadrado / Autocasion Madrid Friday, 2 January 2026, 15:45 Share The automotive industry, which for years has been investing billions in the transition to electric vehicles that looked "inevitable", is receiving a severe reality check. A new global study by consultancy Ernst & Young (EY) confirms what many dealerships had already started to notice: electric car fever is cooling dramatically. Far from embracing the future of batteries, consumers are taking an unexpected turn towards the familiar. What seemed like a one-way road has become a two-way street where internal combustion engines are not only holding their own, but making up lost ground. The data in the EY report is compelling and break with the downward trend of the last decade. Among consumers planning to buy a car in the next 24 months, 50 per cent say they will choose an internal combustion model, an increase of 13 per cent over the previous year. On the other side of the coin, interest in 100% electric vehicles has plummeted by 10% to a modest 14% of purchase intentions. However, the most revealing data is the increased scepticism of hybrids: this "bridge" technology also fell by 5% to 16%. Furthermore, a worrying 36% of potential electric buyers are considering delaying or cancelling their decision due to geopolitical instability. The report points directly to politics as the driver of this shift in thinking. The landscape has been turned upside down by two key factors. The 'Trump effect' in the USA In the first year of its second term, the US administration has dismantled a large part of the CAFE emissions regulations. This has given manufacturers a free hand to re-prioritise thermal engines, in line with a real demand that the US market had never fully abandoned. The second factor comes from Europe: the once ironclad ban on the sale of combustion engines by 2035 now appears to be unlikely. The European Union has begun to recalibrate its roadmap, opening the door to the survival of internal combustion engines through synthetic fuels and the extension of the life of hybrids. Conclusions from a market in doubt The message to consumers is clear: petrol still has a long life ahead of it. Charging infrastructure problems, the high cost of acquiring electric cars and the volatility of regulations have led the average buyer, when in doubt, to opt for the reliability and simplicity of traditional mechanics. The question that now remains is what the manufacturers who have started to produce exclusively battery operated cars will do. For the time being, 25 December 2025 is marked as the day when official data confirmed that the move to all electric is in crisis. Carmen Barainca Friday, 2 January 2026, 09:17 Share Noise never sleeps in Vallecas. The M-30 road. A million cars every day. Industrial workshops on the other side of the buildings. Discotheque music that keeps you awake at midnight. And, in the meantime, the rough rustling of oleander leaves, a plant that sometimes isolates the din and other times gives it back like a metallic echo. This soundscape - routine, persistent, almost intimate - is what the Malaga artist Timsam Harding has brought to La Termica in A Tiempo Para La Espera (In Time for the Wait), an installation that can be visited on the first floor until 1 March 2026. "The old corridor becomes a territory for stopping". The artist shows a photographic composition and five listening islands that function as small vibrating architectures: cubic stainless steel structures that house low-frequency subwoofers. From these emanate waves that are transmitted to sculptures of oleander leaves moulded in cast aluminium, suspended on the metal surfaces. Each piece is a system where sound, as it passes through the metal, deforms, reverberates and acquires body. The ensemble generates a landscape where the everyday - the rain, the opening and closing of a gate, muffled voices, traffic or the conversation of young people trying to enter a Berlin discotheque - is transformed into tactile matter. "They are sound sculptures that transform urban noise into physical experiences. An invitation to stop and listen in a different way to what surrounds us", said the vice-president of Culture, Manuel Lopez Mestanza, recalling that this exhibition completes an "unprecedented" programme with four simultaneous exhibitions, all of them produced in-house. Noise turned into calm The origin of the project points to Genalguacil, where Harding developed 'Sin Silencio' in 2024. It was there that he was selected for this solo exhibition at La Termica. "This project is based on the spirit of converting a passing space into a place to stop," underlined the centre's director and curator, Antonio Javier Lopez, who added: "It invites us to find a kind of calm in noise. This paradox is central to his work". This paradox reaches its symbol in oleanders. "Their resin is deeply toxic, but it also protects us from noise," Lopez explained. The verges of the M-30, where the plant grows without care, are the artist's everyday geography. "You can be in a discotheque listening to music and experience it in a very different way to the neighbour who hears it through the wall. I'm interested in how we relate to the same sound from different places," said Harding, who records vibrations with geophones and turns each recording into a living sculpture. Harding says he will continue to explore this artistic line, combining sound and visual experience, as he has done in previous projects. The next stop for his work will be at the T20 Gallery, although the exact date of the exhibition has not yet been set. Meanwhile, in A Tiempo Para La Espera, urban noise ceases to be background and becomes a form of intimacy. And in a corridor that used to be crossed without looking, now the visitor - for the first time - sits down, listens and discovers that the din can also be a pause. China's carmakers are on track to capture about one-third of the global auto market by 2030 and generate most of their profits overseas, according to UBS, underscoring the resilience of the country's electric vehicle (EV) advantage despite mounting trade barriers in the West. The Swiss bank said its forecast had remained unchanged from two years ago, even as Chinese carmakers accelerated factory construction in Europe and some global rivals scaled back electrification plans. "The main drag was due to Europe's slowdown of EV adoption, and tariffs and protectionism against Chinese EVs," said Paul Gong, an analyst at UBS specialising in Chinese EVs. "I think 2024 progress was slower than expected, but recent signs have shown some catch-up." 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. UBS estimated that overseas markets now accounted for about 20 per cent of industry sales and as much as 50 per cent of earnings for some Chinese carmakers, highlighting their growing reliance on international expansion as domestic competition intensified. Industry executives said the forecast did not suggest China would dominate the market alone. Instead, they argued that global competition was increasingly coalescing around a small number of large EV platforms - a shift that still left room for emerging players such as India. Global competition is increasingly coalescing around a small number of large electric vehicle platforms, industry executives say. Photo: Reuters alt=Global competition is increasingly coalescing around a small number of large electric vehicle platforms, industry executives say. Photo: Reuters> "The fact that [China] has been learning aggressively means that they're going to have a dominant position and market share," said Frank Diana, managing partner and principal futurist at Tata Consultancy Services. "But they're not alone ... you will see the rise of other players in the space." Diana advises carmakers and manufacturers on technology strategy and digital transformation at Tata Consultancy Services, India's largest IT services company and part of the Tata Group, a conglomerate with interests spanning energy, steel and hospitality. India is among the markets beginning to close the gap - at least domestically. "Tata Motors and Mahindra are the two Indian companies that have rapidly grown their market share in the last five to six years," said V.G. Ramakrishnan, managing partner at automotive consultancy Avanteum Advisors. For the first time in nearly two decades, teen apparel retailer PacSun is expanding its physical footprint. After 18 years without opening new locations (2007 was the last time PacSun had a grand opening), the California-born label, often found in malls, opened nine new stores in the US in 2025. Two of them were in New York state, with one in Westchester and the other in New York City. And in December 2025, the brand announced plans to open 20 to 35 stores over the next three years. While almost all of these forthcoming locations will be located in the US, one upcoming store, set to open this spring, will be located at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. This will be PacSuns first international location. PacSun, which stands for Pacific Sunwear of California, reported that it has experienced a resurgence in brick-and-mortar performance in the United States, with double digit growth in in-store traffic, which has led to its recent business expansion. Our stores have become cultural touchpoints for a generation that values experience as much as product. What begins on our social channelsinspiration and communityultimately drives young people to see it in person. Doubling down on brick-and-mortar simply reflects what our community is already telling us, said Brieane Olson, chief executive officer of PacSun in a press release. PacSun also noted that it already has nine leases signed for 2026, but did not reveal where these new locations will be. Founded in 1980 in Newport Beach, California, by Jack Hopkins and Tom Moore, PacSun began as a small surf shop that grew into a major lifestyle brand for youth fashion. The store sells lifestyle apparel, along with swim, footwear, and accessories designed for teens and young adults. In 2025, the company operated 325 stores in 46 states and Puerto Rico. Worth, N.Y. A snowmobiler from Liverpool died New Years Day in Jefferson County when he was struck by a snowmobile operated by his son. The man who died was Joseph R. DiDomenico, 55. Around 12:57 p.m., DiDomenico and his 16-year-old son were riding on Junction 306, a trail near Waite Road in the Town of Worth, according to Trooper Jennifer Jiron, a State Police spokesperson. DiDomenico stopped and got off his snowmobile. His son came over a hill and was unable to stop before hitting DiDomenico, troopers said. DiDomenico was taken by ambulance to Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, where he was pronounced dead. A lifelong Central New Yorker, DiDomenico graduated from Liverpool High School, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was the founder and CEO of American Limousine Inc. of Central New York, which he started in 1988 with the help of his parents, according to the companys website. By Friday morning, more than 50 people had commented on DiDomenicos social media posts, offering condolences and sharing memories of him. You were a good person, always looking to better yourself and helping those around you at the same time, his cousin, Nicole DiDomenico, wrote on Facebook. You did it right. Your example has inspired many and will continue to do so. Another friend wrote A father, husband, brother and friend gone way too soon. Rest easy, Joey D. Thank you for everything. Syracuse, N.Y. Murders and crime in general fell significantly in Syracuse in 2025, continuing a steep decline seen nationwide in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 14 homicides in the city last year, the fewest in more than a decade and a 56% decline from the pandemic-era peak. Its the fewest killings since 13 in 2012. The most homicides in Syracuse was 32 in both 2020 and 2021. The least was 10 in 1999. The average over the last 35 years is 20. City police data show crime in 2025 dropped across all categories when compared to 2024. In most categories, it was down by double-digit percentages. Crime spiked nationwide during 2020 and 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life. Here and across the country, crime has decreased significantly since then. Especially in 2025. Other cities also saw big drops in homicides. Baltimore saw a 61% drop from a 2021 high to 2025, according to data compiled through Nov. 1 by The Washington Post. Philadelphia and Chicago each had a 50% decline. New York City recently tied its record for the longest stretch without a homicide. Shootings with injuries also were down in Syracuse. There were 57 such shootings in 2025, according to police data. Thats about one-third of what the city saw in both 2020 and 2021. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Police Chief Joe Cecile address the reporter about a fatal shooting at the pool in Upper Onondaga Park on June 24, 2025. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) Police Chief Joseph Cecile wasnt quite sure what caused the decline in crime. Theres some trend going around, all across the country. But I havent the slightest idea what it is, he said. Because it cant just be good police work all around the country. Something happened, where we had a bunch of murders and now we dont. Multiple crime experts were unsure about what specifically caused the decrease. There is rarely one reason why crime goes up or down, according to Ernesto Lopez, a senior research specialist at the Council on Criminal Justice, a Washington-based think tank. Lopez said he thinks there is something socially that has changed in the country. Were looking at a very low homicide rate, potentially, in the U.S. during a period of some economic uncertainty and political turmoil, he said. These things that we would say are not helpful to bring a homicide rate down. Syracuse officials have launched various anti-crime programs. Cecile has repeatedly touted that officers on patrol are required to get out of their vehicles at least three times each shift to walk the streets and interact with residents. That initiative is Ceciles spin on the Koper curve theory. Researchers found in the 1990s that short, targeted street patrols could deter crime. Cecile also noted that detectives have a track record of solving nearly all homicide cases, which could deter someone looking to kill and get away with it. Only two homicide cases from 2025 remain open; a third case was determined to be self-defense. That means Syracuse police had an 86% clearance rate last year. Thats a very high rate compared with the rest of the country. About 60% of homicides in the United States over the last five years have been solved, according to FBI data. Proactive work by the police departments special investigations division might also be making an impact, Cecile said. Detectives are executing multiple search warrants each week, he said. Those turn up drugs and, sometimes, weapons that are then taken off the streets. The state is funneling millions of dollars into community outreach programs. Lateef Johnson-Kinsey, a local pastor who heads the Mayors Office to Reduce Gun Violence, pointed to other initiatives. Johnson-Kinsey said his office meets frequently with the police department and community organizations to discuss high-risk individuals and how to help them. That could mean arranging for mentoring, therapy or assistance with finding a job, he said. Johnson-Kinsey said intervention work could also be helping. He noted a situation where an outreach worker drove a person away from a homicide scene. That person was upset, that was his friend, he said. And he wanted to retaliate. Intervention work is sometimes seen as so informal, Johnson-Kinsey said, that information about what happened isnt saved in a database to later be analyzed. Theyll do intervention, he said, and they wont put it down because they dont see it as intervention. Pastor Lateef Johnson-Kinsey heads the Mayors Office to Reduce Gun Violence. Here he leads a prayer at the Firefighters Memorial Park in Syracuse in 2024. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com) N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com Property crime, similar to violent crime, also went down last year. It was down about 22% year over year. Leading the way was a large dip in the number of stolen vehicles. There were 797 cars reported stolen in the city in 2025, vs. more than 1,200 the previous year. The decline follows a rise in the past few years in thefts of vehicles, particularly those manufactured by Kia and Hyundai. Those cars are easier to steal because they were made without anti-theft equipment and software. Online videos show how to steal the cars in less than a minute using only a screwdriver and a USB cable. Those videos went viral on the social media app TikTok. Soon, groups of "Kia Boys" sprung up across the country and in Syracuse. The companies have since taken steps to keep the cars from being stolen. Thousands of free steering wheel locks have been handed out. A local car dealer had its service department focus for an entire week on installing security upgrades. Those efforts seem to be working. The number of stolen Hyundai vehicles was cut in half last year, according to police data. And the number of stolen Kia vehicles went down by 40%. Cecile said he thought the vehicle theft issue was an example of how police cant do it alone. We need the cooperation of the community, meaning the people that are getting their cars stolen, he said. Its also possible that the rise in vehicle thefts was a fad that is now ending, Cecile said. Those TikTok challenges have a shelf life, he said. They come and they go. The Catskills Fire Tower Challenge just got bigger with the addition of two fire towers located on Bramley Mountain and Mount Utsayantha, both in Delaware County. The Catskill Mountain Club is elated that two more fire towers are being included in the challenge, said Peter Manning, the clubs executive director. These towers illustrate there is much more to discover and enjoy in the region. These opportunities also reflect the dedicated partnerships that support the tourism-recreation economy. Launched in 2019, the challenge featured sixnow eightfire towers that have attracted visitors from every part of the state, as well as 11 other states and Canadian Provinces. Built in 1934, Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower is located just outside the Catskill Forest Preserve. On a clear day, it boasts views as far away as the Berkshires. The tower was restored in 2005. The Village of Stamford bought it for $1 in 2015. Visitors to Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower tower have the option of hiking or driving a one-mile seasonal gravel road to the summit. Visitors climb Bramley Fire Tower, which opened to the public in May 2025. The fire tower, located in Delaware County, was added to the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge in 2026. Ann Roberti After many years of hard work by volunteers and community members, Bramley Mountain Fire Tower was rebuilt and opened atop Bramley Mountain in May 2025. It offers sweeping views of the Catskills. Friends of Bramley Mountain Fire Tower provides educational and historical information at the tower on weekends and holidays during the summer months. We know that being included in the challenge will bring even more hikers to our corner of the Catskills, benefiting the local economy, said Ann Roberti, board member of Friends of Bramley Mountain Fire Tower. We are looking forward to welcoming them. For nearly a century, observers kept watch over NYs vast wilderness areas, including the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve, from more than 100 fire towers perched atop the states highest peaks. A spectacular view from the cab of the Bramley Fire Tower, which opened to the public in May 2025. The fire tower, located in Delaware County, was added to the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge in 2026. Ann Roberti This Catskills Fire Tower Challenge highlights the parks remaining public fire towers, including: Balsam Lake Mountain (Hardenburgh) Hunter Mountain (Hunter) Overlook Mountain (Woodstock) Red Hill Mountain (Denning) Tremper Mountain (Shandaken) Upper Esopus Fire Tower (Catskills Visitor Center Mt. Tremper) Mt. Utsayantha Fire Tower (Stamford) Bramley Mountain Fire Tower (Delhi) To complete the challenge, participants must visit all eight fire towers in the Catskills region between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. Full details can be found at the 2026 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge page. More than 500 people completed the Catskills Fire Tower in 2025, earning a letter, a nifty patch, and a one-year subscription to DECs Conservationist magazine. Tower climbers will get a bonus prize for submitting a photo of themselves practicing Leave No Trace principles while completing the challenge. That could mean picking up litter, carrying out what you carried in, planning a safe hike, staying on the trail, and so on. For more information about the Catskills and the fire towers, visit the Catskills Visitor Center on Route 28 in the heart of the Catskill Park. Situated on 60 acres of forest, fields, and wetlands, the center is open for the winter season Friday-Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. New York State Police are asking the public for help identifying a larceny suspect. Troopers say an unidentified male suspect was captured on surveillance footage inside the Walmart on State Route 3 in Watertown, Jefferson County, last week. Police said he left the store without paying for merchandise. Additional details, including what items he allegedly stole and how much they were worth, were not disclosed. NYS police released a photo of the suspect wearing a tan/brown jacket and hat with what appears to be a green camouflage-colored backpack. The image was timestamped 6:24 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. Anyone with information or who may recognize the individual is asked to contact New York State Police at (315) 366-6000, and to reference case number NY2501305604. Banknotes with a value of 100 and 50 euros and coins lie on a table. Germans held just over 10 trillion ($11.7 trillion) in their private financial assets in 2025, according to a bank study. Monika Skolimowska/dpa Germans held just over 10 trillion ($11.7 trillion) in their private financial assets in 2025, according to a bank study. Financial assets have been rising for years because people in Germany are champion savers relative to other countries and, despite widespread scepticism about the stock market, are benefiting from rising share prices. In its projection, DZ Bank reported that nominal financial assets will have increased to 10.03 trillion in 2025, a rise of 6% compared to the previous year. Economist Michael Stappel, who compiles the figures every six months, forecasts further growth for 2026, even though lower price gains on the stock markets are to be expected and the savings rate could also fall slightly. "However, the absolute savings of private households will remain at the previous year's level," he said. Private financial assets are likely to increase by 5% to 10.5 trillion in 2026, he predicted. Economic uncertainty, concerns about jobs and rising prices are causing many people in Germany to hold back on purchases and save their money. However, German citizens did not put as much money aside in 2025 as they did a year earlier, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Nevertheless, the savings rate remained high by international standards at 10.3% in the first half of the year. That meant that for every 100 of disposable income, people put aside an average of 10.30. This corresponds to an average monthly amount of just under 270 per inhabitant. Based on the data for the first three quarters, DZ Bank economist Stappel estimates the savings rate for 2025 as a whole at 10.4% - lower than a year earlier (11.2%), but still above average. Hedge funds reportedly built one of their biggest bearish bets against the Japanese yen in years, lining up around 85,000 net short contracts as pressure on the currency grows. As yen stress picked up, Bitcoin slipped below $87,000 in early December, with around $527 million in long positions wiped out in just 24 hours. All of this sits inside a bigger macro story. The rising Japanese bond yields, shifting central bank policies, and a huge yen carry trade that now spills directly into our crypto portfolio. (source BTC JPY, TradingView) Japanese Yen Short Squeeze? Lets translate the jargon. A short position means traders borrow something (in this case, yen), sell it, and hope to buy it back cheaper later. Hedge funds now hold around 85,000 net short yen contracts, one of the biggest, most brutal, bearish positions since 2024. Why attack the yen? Japan kept rates ultra-low for years while other central banks hiked. That made the yen the cheap funding currency for a massive carry trade. You can borrow yen at low rates and use it to buy higher-yielding assets elsewhere. Its a scheme where you can make a low-interest loan in one country to buy a high-yield bond in another. The yen carry trade has ballooned to roughly $500 billion since 2011, and analysts say about $200 billion of that trade has already unwound in recent weeks. This isnt just FX nerd drama. When those trades unwind, investors sell what they bought with the borrowed yenwhich often includes stocks, bonds, and yes, crypto. That is how foreign exchange stress jumps the fence into your Bitcoin chart. DISCOVER: 10+ Next Crypto to 100X In How Does a Weak Japanese Yen Hit Bitcoin and Other Crypto? Rising Japanese government bond yields lit the first match. The 10-year JGB reached around 1.84%, triggering a multi-asset sell-off and more than $640 million in crypto liquidations. When yields go up, safe assets in traditional markets pay more, so some traders pull money from riskier bets like altcoins and meme coins. Bitcoin took a direct hit. During an intense phase of Japanese yen-driven unwinding, BTC slipped below $87,000, and longers watched around $527 million vanish in a day. This ugly volatility came from forced deleveraging as exchanges auto-closed positions when traders ran out of margin. Weve seen similar macro shocks before, especially when markets re-priced US rate expectations; crypto usually flinched hard. The yen story is the same movie on a different channel: global money gets nervous, liquidity tightens, and leveraged traders in crypto pay the price. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Victoria Jones, the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, has been found dead at the age of 34. Jones was discovered unresponsive in the early hours of New Years Day at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, according to TMZ and the Daily Mail, which cited sources. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department confirmed the news to media outlets, saying paramedics had been dispatched to the Fairmont Hotel at 2.52am. Our units responded to the scene, performed an assessment and declared one person deceased, the spokesperson said, adding that the local police department and medical examiners office then took over. In 911 dispatch audio obtained by People magazine, the call for the incident was classified as a code 3 for the overdose, color change. open image in gallery Victoria (left, pictured in 2014) often appeared alongside her father on the red carpet ( Getty ) In overdose cases, color change typically refers to cyanosis a condition caused by low oxygen levels in the blood, often associated with heart or lung problems which can result in a blue or purple discoloration of the skin, lips and nails, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The Independent has contacted Tommys representatives for comment. The Fairmont, located in San Franciscos affluent Nob Hill neighbourhood, is one of the citys most luxurious and historic hotels. Since opening in 1907, it has hosted presidents, royalty and Hollywood stars, and is famed as the place where Tony Bennett first sang I Left My Heart in San Francisco. Victoria is the second child of Tommy and his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley, to whom he was married from 1981 to 1996. They also share a son, Austin, who is 43. Victoria played minor roles as an actor in her fathers films as a child, appearing in Men in Black II, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, plus the TV series One Tree Hill. She did not work as an actor as an adult, but frequently appeared alongside her father on red carpets around the world. According to court records obtained by the New York Post, Victoria was arrested at least three times in 2025, including an apprehension on drug charges in Napa County, California, in April. She pleaded not guilty, according to the Post. Tommy praised his daughter while promoting The Three Burials in 2006, saying: Shes a good actress, has her SAG [Screen Actors Guild] card, speaks impeccable Spanish. When she was a baby, I told Leticia, her nurse, to speak to her in Spanish. open image in gallery Victoria Jones was found dead in San Franciscos famous Fairmont Hotel in Nob Hill ( Bobak Ha'Eri/CC BY 3.0 ) In an interview with The New Yorker, he recalled her getting acclimatised to life as an actor. She had to get up at 5am for her part, he told the magazine. One morning, she wouldnt get out of bed. I said: Honey, this is work. But she wouldnt budge. So I fired her. Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time. Tommy Lee Jones is one of Americas most respected actors, known for acclaimed performances in films like JFK, No Country for Old Men, and Lonesome Dove. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1993 for his role in The Fugitive, co-starring Harrison Ford. He married his third wife, Dawn Laurel, in 2001. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz has pulled out of a scheduled performance at the Kennedy Center over President Donald Trumps renaming of the historic venue. Three-time Oscar winner Schwartz, 77, has joined a growing list of artists to boycott the cultural center over Trumps potentially illegal attempt to rebrand the institution as the Trump-Kennedy Center. Schwartz, who was scheduled to host the Washington National Opera Gala at the Kennedy Center on May 16, told Newsday there was no way he would enter the venue now. It no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be, Schwartz said in an email sent by his assistant. Theres no way I would set foot in it now. Schwartzs other stage works include Godspell, Pippin and Children of Eden. He has also contributed songs to major animated films, including Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, earning multiple Grammy and Academy Awards. open image in gallery Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz has pulled out of a scheduled appearance at the Kennedy Center over Trump's renaming of the venue ( Getty ) open image in gallery New signage shows The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts ( AP ) His announcement comes after Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell claimed without evidence that legacy media outlets were encouraging artists to cancel performances at the Kennedy Center over the proposed name change. I have just been informed by some booked artists that they are receiving emails from [CNN] and [The Washington Post] encouraging them to boycott the Trump Kennedy Center, Grenell wrote on X Tuesday. The legacy media are left wing activists - and they are open about it. Artists, including Issa Rae, Peter Wolf, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, have all withdrawn from Kennedy Center performances since Trump returned to office. On Monday, Jazz supergroup The Cookers announced on its website that it will not be performing across a series of two New Years Eve concerts. Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice, the group wrote in a statement. Some of us have been making this music for many decades, and that history still shapes us. The Doug Varone and Dancers troupe also added on Monday that it will not carry out a planned April performance at the center. And last week, drummer and vibraphonist Chuck Redd canceled a longstanding Christmas Eve jazz concert at the center in protest of the name change. In response, the head of the Kennedy Center demanded $1 million from Redd, calling the move a political stunt. In February, Trump broke with the centers bipartisan tradition and installed a new series of MAGA-friendly board members, who quickly named him chairman of the center. Earlier this month, the board claimed to vote unanimously to have changed the name of the center to the Trump-Kennedy Center. Some observers say this is not legal, and a congresswoman on a call about the decision said she was muted and not allowed to voice her criticisms. The Trump administration has brushed off criticism of the move, including from Kennedys family members, arguing it saved the arts institution from falling into disrepair. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Will Smith is being sued by a violinist who has accused the rapper and actor of sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Musician Brian King Joseph named Smith, 57, and Treybull Studios Management as defendants in the lawsuit filed on 30 December, according to US media. Smiths lawyer has denied the claims, telling the Daily Beast: Mr Josephs allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless. They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light. The Independent has contacted Smiths lawyer and representatives for comment. Variety reports that in the suit, Joseph, 33, accuses Smith of predatory behaviour while he was a part of the band on Smiths Based on a True Story tour last year. Joseph claims that Smith had been grooming and priming him for further sexual exploitation after they first met in November 2024, when Smith hired him to perform at a show in San Diego. open image in gallery Smiths attorney denied the allegations against the rapper and actor ( Getty ) He was subsequently invited to join Smiths 2025 tour and play on his first album in 20 years, Based on a True Story, which was released in March. Joseph alleges that Smith told him they had such a special connection that I dont have with anyone else. The musician, who was a former contestant on Americas Got Talent in 2018, joined the first leg of Smiths tour in March 2025 for a show in Las Vegas, where hotel rooms had been booked for the band and crew. Joseph claims he returned to his room to find that someone had unlawfully entered the suite, in which he allegedly discovered a beer bottle, wipes, a bottle of HIV medication in someone elses name, a red backpack, an earring and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to another person. He alleges there was also a note that said: Brian, Ill be back no later [sic] 5.30, just us Stone F. open image in gallery Brian King Joseph is suing Will Smith for sexual harassment and wrongful termination ( Getty ) Joseph says he believed this was a message that an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts with him. After reporting the incident to hotel security and Smiths tour management, he claims he was accused of lying and shamed for what happened. He claims to have been fired days after the incident, when he was told the tour was moving in a different direction. However, another violinist was apparently then booked to replace him. The lawsuit claims that he suffered from PTSD and financial loss as a result of the termination. He is suing for retaliation, wrongful termination and sexual harassment, and asks that damages be determined by a jury. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Val Stones and Selasi Gbormittah have been crowned the winners of The Great British Bake Offs festive New Year special, triumphing in a hotly contested return to the iconic tent. The popular duo, who first captivated audiences during the seventh series of the baking show when it aired on BBC One, reunited for the special broadcast on Channel 4. Their victory was secured after impressing the judges with a trio of ambitious bakes: a meticulously crafted Christmas tree pie display, elegant New Years-themed entremets, and a towering festive biscuit showstopper. Following their win, Gbormittah succinctly expressed his delight, stating: "Theres not much to say except its been great." The special episode featured a star-studded line-up of past contestants. Among the other competing pairs were Andy Ryan and Nelly Ghaffar from series 15, and Tasha Stones, a series 14 competitor, who teamed up with Briony May Williams from series nine. Completing the formidable roster for The Great New Years Bake Off were two former champions: Giuseppe DellAnno, who won series 12, and Rahul Mandal, the victor of series nine. For their initial challenge, the bakers were tasked with creating at least 12 savoury pies from shortcrust pastry, arranged into a festive design. Gbormittah and Stones presented a diverse selection, featuring gochujang-spiced chicken, classic chicken and mushroom, and a rich three-cheese and onion filling. The technical challenge saw the pair emerge victorious, as they expertly crafted six New Years-themed entremets. These intricate desserts comprised a hazelnut joconde base, topped with a delicate white chocolate bavarois and a luxurious chocolate and hazelnut praline mousse. Judge Paul Hollywood praised their "good" mirror glaze, while Dame Prue Leith declared the mousse and bavarois "perfect". The final showstopper round required the bakers to recreate a scene from their favourite Christmas film. Drawing inspiration from the 2003 movie Elf, Gbormittah and Stones constructed an impressive edible rendition of the Empire State Building, which Hollywood suggested could be the tallest showstopper in Bake Off history. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Netflixs hit sci-fi series Stranger Things has come to an end after nearly a decade but the finale has drawn wildly polarised reactions from fans. The final episode of the show, titled Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up, debuted on the streaming service during the early hours of New Years Day (in the UK), a week after the previous batch of episodes dropped. Spoilers follow for the Stranger Things finale... you have been warned! In the final episode of the show, the heroes from Hawkins, Indiana, ultimately manage to defeat Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), thanks to the supernatural abilities of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp). After Joyce (Winona Ryder) cuts off the villains head, Hopper (David Harbour) and Murray (Brett Gelman) rig bombs on the interdimensional bridge to the Upside Down, with Eleven seemingly staying behind in the nether world to sacrifice herself. With a large chunk of the episode still remaining, there is then a time jump to the year 1989, and we are shown what has happened to the remaining characters the crew has started to move on from the traumatic events of the series, and Joyce and Hopper get engaged. open image in gallery Stranger Things ended with a feature-length finale on New Years Day ( Netflix ) In one of the final scenes of the show, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) claims that Eleven had actually faked her own death, and had managed to make it out of the Upside Down. As he speaks, we see an older Eleven wandering through a faraway place, before reaching a town. Its unclear whether Eleven really survived or not, with series co-creator Ross Duffer stating that she lives on in their hearts, whether thats real or not. Many viewers were critical of the finale, with the decision to eliminate Vecna so early in the episode frequently criticised on social media. Main villain killed halfway in, nobody important died, no explanation on henry creel origin story, & only 18 month time jump. Stranger Things finale was the stupidest f***ing ending ive seen right up there with The Umbrella Academy, read one widely shared post on X/Twitter. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. open image in gallery Eleven in the finale of Stranger Things ( Netflix ) The biggest mistake they made was a whole 50 minutes of the episode just being the epilogue, couldve used at least 30 of those 50 minutes to make the fighting scenes better, another fan wrote. Am much disappointed to that extent that I dont even want to talk about Stranger Things, someone else remarked. Others, however, were more positive on the conclusion, with one person writing: Am i the only one who enjoyed that stranger things ending? Me being happy with the stranger things finale and coming on twitter to see everyone complaining, someone else joked. Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice TV viewers have become accustomed to increasingly lengthy waits between seasons of their favourite shows. Stranger Things took three years between its fourth and fifth seasons, while Euphoria will be back next year, more than four years after it was last on air. But BBC Ones The Night Manager which returns this week after a 10-year hiatus takes the biscuit. When last we followed the adventures of Tom Hiddlestons Jonathan Pine, David Cameron and Barack Obama were still in office, the Paris Climate Accords had just been adopted, and Covid-19 was just a glint in a pangolins eye. So, youd be forgiven for not knowing quite what to expect from the return of John Le Carres taciturn hero. Several years on from the events of the first season, Pine now known as Alex Goodwin is leading a subdivision of MI6 dedicated to nocturnal surveillance. Nothing above the parapet, Pines mentor Rex (Douglas Hodge) warns him. That face is too pretty to lose. But Pine is still transparently haunted by the mission that brought down villainous arms dealer Richard Roper, and when a chance encounter resurfaces memories from his time embedded in the Roper operation, Pine sets off on a quest for justice. Or is it vengeance? A man calling himself the true disciple of Richard Roper is running guns into Colombia, and nobody at MI6 seems half as concerned as Pine. Thus begins a cross-continental journey, back into the dark heart of the international weapons trade. When the show first appeared, it was a huge global hit, combining the distinctively British suaveness of James Bond with the gritty geopolitical themes of shows like Homeland. Casting Hugh Laurie against type as the shows antagonist, and Hiddleston in a star-makingly debonair turn, proved inspired. In this second chapter, the pieces have to be realigned: Olivia Colman is, to begin with, a peripheral figure, replaced in MI6 by Indira Varmas suspicious chief and Paul Chahidis skittish handler. With Roper out of the picture, Diego Calva steps in as Pines foil, playing a dapper Colombian kingpin. Meanwhile the damsel in distress/femme fatale role (Le Carre tends to deal in feminine archetypes) is handed to Camila Morrone, perhaps best known as Leonardo di Caprios girlfriend until 2022, but now, aged 28, stepping convincingly into more dramatic territory. Much still rests, though, on Hiddlestons sculpted shoulders. Tell me who you really are, an occupational therapist grills him. I am the man who will not explode. Pine is a man who has been deeply wounded by both the distant and recent past, and who now exists as a ghost. He works by night and sleeps by day, lives under a fake name and associates only with colleagues who do not know who he really is, what hes really done. Pine is a high-functioning somnambulist, and now resolutely dead behind the eyes which all rather suits Hiddlestons acting style. Having been consistently linked with the 007 vacancy, Hiddleston (at 44) is likely too old for the direction in which Amazon MGM wishes to take the franchise. But Pine could if the BBC is sensible and doesnt wait a decade for season three be a more grown-up alternate. Certainly, the action sequences are far more effectively suspenseful than late-era Bond. The BBC only made the first two episodes of the new series available to critics. Perhaps they know the show is already a surefire hit. That means that the full arc of the narrative is hard to appraise. But on the evidence of these first episodes, the shows writer, David Farr, and new director, Georgi Banks-Davies, have managed to steer the show safely beyond the trusted source material. The pace, the intrigue, the sly sexiness; all are retained. Crucially, this drama is proper cross-generational Sunday night viewing, the sort of televisual real estate that has, too often, been conceded to the streamers. I wanted more than two episodes to form a proper judgement but, having watched them and written this review, I still want more. Thats the sign of good TV. Tom Hiddleston, Camila Morrone and Diego Calva in The Night Manager season two ( BBC ) While the 10-year interval may frustrate some viewers (the series is inextricably linked to the first outing, and the plotting quite knotty), there is much to be admired in the return of The Night Manager. Gripping without being excessively silly, compelling without being indulgently cerebral, The Night Manager pulls off the, increasingly rare, trick of knowing its audience, understanding its success, and replicating the formula. Jonathan Pine is on course to be a globetrotting icon on par with Mr Bond, and a demonstration of British soft powers efficacy when the BBC has both confidence and resources Trump be damned. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ordinary and universal, the act of writing changes the brain. From dashing off a heated text message to composing an op-ed, writing allows you to, at once, name your pain and create distance from it. Writing can shift your mental state from overwhelm and despair to grounded clarity a shift that reflects resilience. Psychology, the media and the wellness industry shape public perceptions of resilience: Social scientists study it, journalists celebrate it, and wellness brands sell it. They all tell a similar story: Resilience is an individual quality that people can strengthen with effort. The American Psychological Association defines resilience as an ongoing process of personal growth through lifes challenges. News headlines routinely praise individuals who refuse to give up or find silver linings in times of hardship. The wellness industry promotes relentless self-improvement as the path to resilience. In my work as a professor of writing studies, I research how people use writing to navigate trauma and practice resilience. I have witnessed thousands of students turn to the written word to work through emotions and find a sense of belonging. Their writing habits suggest that writing fosters resilience. Insights from psychology and neuroscience can help explain how. open image in gallery People can use the written word to work through their feelings ( Getty/iStock ) Writing rewires the brain In the 1980s, psychologist James Pennebaker developed a therapeutic technique called expressive writing to help patients process trauma and psychological challenges. With this technique, continuously journaling about something painful helps create mental distance from the experience and eases its cognitive load. In other words, externalizing emotional distress through writing fosters safety. Expressive writing turns pain into a metaphorical book on a shelf, ready to be reopened with intention. It signals the brain, You dont need to carry this anymore. Translating emotions and thoughts into words on paper is a complex mental task. It involves retrieving memories and planning what to do with them, engaging brain areas associated with memory and decision-making. It also involves putting those memories into language, activating the brains visual and motor systems. Writing things down supports memory consolidation the brains conversion of short-term memories into long-term ones. The process of integration makes it possible for people to reframe painful experiences and manage their emotions. In essence, writing can help free the mind to be in the here and now. Taking action through writing The state of presence that writing can elicit is not just an abstract feeling; it reflects complex activity in the nervous system. Brain imaging studies show that putting feelings into words helps regulate emotions. Labeling emotions whether through expletives and emojis or carefully chosen words has multiple benefits. It calms the amygdala, a cluster of neurons that detects threat and triggers the fear response: fight, flight, freeze or fawn. It also engages the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that supports goal-setting and problem-solving. About the author Emily Ronay Johnston is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Global Arts, Media and Writing Studies at University of California, Merced. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article. In other words, the simple act of naming your emotions can help you shift from reaction to response. Instead of identifying with your feelings and mistaking them for facts, writing can help you simply become aware of whats arising and prepare for deliberate action. Even mundane writing tasks like making a to-do list stimulate parts of the brain involved in reasoning and decision-making, helping you regain focus. Making meaning through writing Choosing to write is also choosing to make meaning. Studies suggest that having a sense of agency is both a prerequisite for, and an outcome of, writing. Researchers have long documented how writing is a cognitive activity one that people use to communicate, yes, but also to understand the human experience. As many in the field of writing studies recognize, writing is a form of thinking a practice that people never stop learning. With that, writing has the potential to continually reshape the mind. Writing not only expresses but actively creates identity. Writing also regulates your psychological state. And the words you write are themselves proof of regulation the evidence of resilience. Popular coverage of human resilience often presents it as extraordinary endurance. News coverage of natural disasters implies that the more severe the trauma, the greater the personal growth. Pop psychology often equates resilience with unwavering optimism. Such representations can obscure ordinary forms of adaptation. Strategies people already use to cope with everyday life from rage-texting to drafting a resignation letter signify transformation. open image in gallery Writing by hand slows your thinking and allows you to process information ( Getty/iStock ) Building resilience through writing These research-backed tips can help you develop a writing practice conducive to resilience: 1. Write by hand whenever possible. In contrast to typing or tapping on a device, handwriting requires greater cognitive coordination. It slows your thinking, allowing you to process information, form connections and make meaning. 2. Write daily. Start small and make it regular. Even jotting brief notes about your day what happened, what youre feeling, what youre planning or intending can help you get thoughts out of your head and ease rumination. 3. Write before reacting. When strong feelings surge, write them down first. Keep a notebook within reach and make it a habit to write it before you say it. Doing so can support reflective thinking, helping you act with purpose and clarity. 4. Write a letter you never send. Dont just write down your feelings address them to the person or situation thats troubling you. Even writing a letter to yourself can provide a safe space for release without the pressure of someone elses reaction. 5. Treat writing as a process. Any time you draft something and ask for feedback on it, you practice stepping back to consider alternative perspectives. Applying that feedback through revision can strengthen self-awareness and build confidence. Resilience may be as ordinary as the journal entries people scribble, the emails they exchange, the task lists they create even the essays students pound out for professors. The act of writing is adaptation in progress. The worst result, after buying shares in a company (assuming no leverage), would be if you lose all the money you put in. But on the bright side, you can make far more than 100% on a really good stock. Long term ASML Holding N.V. (AMS:ASML) shareholders would be well aware of this, since the stock is up 121% in five years. In the last week the share price is up 2.5%. So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During five years of share price growth, ASML Holding achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 25% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 17% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has become relatively pessimistic about the company. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). ENXTAM:ASML Earnings Per Share Growth January 2nd 2026 We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of ASML Holding's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of ASML Holding, it has a TSR of 132% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective It's nice to see that ASML Holding shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 35% over the last year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 18%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for ASML Holding you should know about. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ohio police are searching for a suspect in the suspected murders of a dentist and his wife who were found shot dead in their home. Officers performed a welfare check at the home of Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, in the Weinland Park area of Columbus Tuesday morning following calls from several concerned friends and coworkers. There were no obvious signs of forced entry, and no firearm was found at the scene, according to police, though authorities do not believe it was a murder-suicide. Records seen by WSYX indicate that Spencer Tepe appeared to have been shot multiple times, while Monique Tepe suffered at least one gunshot wound to the chest. A welfare check was requested by Dr Mark Velrose, the owner of Athens Dental Depot, where Spencer Tepe worked, after he failed to show up Tuesday morning. "He would contact us if there was any issues," Valrose told dispatchers, according to WSYX. "I don't know how else to say this, but we are very, very concerned... This is very out of character for him. We can't get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing." Ohio police are searching for a suspect in the suspected murders of a dentist and his wife who were found shot dead in their home ( Getty/iStock ) The couple married in 2021 and were one month away from celebrating their five year anniversary, according to the outlet. After receiving no responses from the couple several of Tepes coworkers drove to the home. The initial call to police was made at around 9 a.m., but a friend called again at 9:57 a.m. after hearing children crying inside the house but receiving no answer at the door. The caller then reported seeing Spencer's body inside the home near a bed. "There is a body inside," the caller said, per WSYX. "Our friend wasn't answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here, and he appears dead." Police confirmed that two young children were found inside the home unharmed. The investigation is still active, and anyone with information about the incident has been asked to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit or the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ten years after her daughter disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and was later found dead, Laurie Jernigan says she finally feels a new sense of hope. Ebby Jane Steppach was 18 years old when she vanished in Arkansas on October 25, 2015, after telling her stepfather she wanted to report a sexual assault. Her body was found nearly three years later and her death ruled a homicide. But what followed was a decade defined by unanswered questions, investigative missteps, and a mothers relentless determination to ensure her daughters story was neither forgotten nor misunderstood. This fall, on the 10th anniversary of Ebbys death, her family made a renewed plea for answers as investigators with the Arkansas Attorney Generals Cold Case Unit has come together with the Little Rock Police Department a collaboration launched in 2024 - to re-examine the case. Between a surge of tips from the public and transparency with law enforcement, the picture of Ebbys last known movements has grown clearer even as critical questions remain. We are getting responses a lot of responses, Jernigan told The Independent. Its leading investigators to new places, or back to people with new questions. Its a kind of hope I havent felt in a very long time. open image in gallery Ebby Jane Steppach was 18 years old when she vanished in Arkansas on October 25, 2015, after telling her stepfather she wanted to report a sexual assault. Her body was found nearly three years later and her death ruled a homicide ( Supplied ) Ebbys final hours One of the most recent developments is that investigators can now confirm where Ebby spent much of the night before she disappeared a mystery that had haunted her family for nearly a decade. Between 7 p.m. on October 24, 2015, and 3 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, Ebby was in the area of 53rd Street and University Avenue in Little Rock. But what still remains unknown is what happened after 3 a.m. Jernigan said the area doesnt explain everything, but helps put them on the right path. Until we did this, I never knew where Ebby went when she left my parents' house, Jernigan said, referring to the familys new push for answers. And now I know, she said. And that even makes it more of a mystery. So many new questions have come up for me. She added that this specific piece of information came from the pressure she put on investigators - and their willingness to be transparent, something she said she had not experienced in the past. Ebby, who had been wanting independence from her parents at the time of her disappearance, had moved out of the family home at the beginning of the school year and was mostly staying with her grandparents and friends. She was last seen leaving her grandparents house on Saturday, October 24, 2015. Earlier that same day, Ebby had sent an alarming text message to her stepfather, Michael Jernigan. She claimed she had been assaulted at a friends house and wanted him to meet her at the police station to file a report. But Ebby never showed up. open image in gallery On the day she went missing, Ebby had sent an alarming text to her stepfather, Michael Jernigan. She claimed she had been assaulted at a friends house and wanted him to meet her at the police station to file a report. But Ebby never showed up ( Supplied ) Later that day, around 5:30 p.m., Ebby made her final phone call to her brother, Trevor, and told him she was lost and didnt know where she was. It was the last time anyone heard her voice. Jernigan said she knew something was wrong. The family tried calling everyone who might be in contact with Ebby. When they tried calling the police, they were told to wait at least 12 hours before filing a missing persons report. Days later, on October 29, Ebbys Volkswagen Passat was found abandoned at Chalamont Park. Inside were her phone and personal belongings evidence her family says did not support the idea that she had run away. Her makeup, which was broken and strewn all over the car, was especially alarming to her mother, who said she had saved her money to buy nice products. After police searched the park for Ebby and came up empty-handed, the case stalled. Her family said they believed the police were taking the case seriously and that mistakes had been made. The missteps were confirmed by now-retired Little Rock Police homicide detective Tommy Hudson, who came back from retirement to take over Ebbys case in 2017. When I got the case, there were things that werent done that shouldve been done on the front end, Hudson told Dateline in 2021, explaining that interviewing key witnesses and checking surveillance footage had not been done. Why this wasnt done, I dont know, Hudson added. It was up to us to clean up the mess and basically start from the beginning. It was Hudsons investigation that led to the discovery of Ebbys body. In May 2018, nearly three years after Ebby disappeared, her family got an answer about their daughter, but it wasnt the one they wanted. open image in gallery On October 29, Ebbys Volkswagen Passat was found abandoned at Chalamont Park. Inside were her phone and personal belongings evidence her family says did not support the idea that she had run away ( Supplied ) open image in gallery Nearly three years after she vanished, Ebbys remains were discovered inside a drainage pipe in Chalamont Park, just feet from where her car had been found ( KATV ) Her skeletal remains were discovered inside a drainage pipe in Chalamont Park, just feet from where her car had been found. I think I knew in my heart she was gone long before she was found, Jernigan said. But now I knew I had a mission to find out what happened to her. A decade later a renewed push for answers For years, Jernigan pushed for answers. When she was able to tell her story on the Dr. Phil show and to Nancy Grace, the pressure to solve the case escalated. But still, nothing moved it forward. In October, Jernigan, along with true crime producer Michael Mazzella, who is also now the family spokesperson, launched a new social media campaign under the name Justice for Ebby Jane. Jernigan said while she has maintained social media accounts about her daughter all along, most notably on Facebook, the goal of the new campaign is to centralize accurate information, correct long-standing misinformation, and encourage new tips. Its always been important for me to share what I learn, Jernigan said. Thats still just as important. This is the only place you will get current information, current updates, and all your questions answered about the case. The response has been immediate. Since the launch, the pages have drawn hundreds of followers and generated thousands of tips, many of which have already been forwarded to law enforcement. open image in gallery In October, Jernigan, along with true crime producer Michael Mazzella, who is also the family spokesperson, launched a new social media campaign under the name Justice for Ebby Jane ( Justice for Ebby Jane/Facebook ) They need social media's help because they really need these younger crime-obsessed people to get involved and see what, you know, to kind of help dig through this, she said. People can now also submit anonymous tips or questions directly to ebbytips@gmail.com, a channel Jernigan says is closely monitored and shared with investigators. Law enforcement will see questions coming in, she said. If you specifically want something to go straight to them, well get it there. We will provide them with everything that we have. As renewed interest in the case has surged, Mazzella says one purpose of releasing verified information is to address long-standing rumors including speculation surrounding a security guard at the park. We know that the security guard has been cooperative with the current investigation, and it does not appear that he participated in the death or disappearance of Ebby, Mazzella said in an update on the Facebook page. Together, the Arkansas Attorney Generals Cold Case Unit and the Little Rock Police Department are reviewing the full case file and re-interviewing witnesses, and re-evaluating prior testimony. Advances in DNA testing have also opened the door to new forensic analysis. Attorney General Griffin told KARK in October that they are looking at the case with fresh eyes. I cant get into the details, as you can imagine, Griffin said in October. But I would emphasize again that we are looking at the file with fresh eyes. We are re-interviewing some of the witnesses, some of the individuals who were interviewed prior. A mother who refuses to give up For Jernigan, the involvement has brought something she hasnt felt in years cautious hope. If this doesnt work, Im not sure what else I can do, she said defeatedly. But Im still trudging that road trying to get answers. Jernigan said she feels depleted of all hope, but then hears a podcast about new DNA techniques or about a case thats been solved and shes on the phone with the investigators. When I hear of new ways to test evidence, I'm calling, she said, referring to alerting the investigators and discussing new ideas, something she said they are open to. I mean, I can't not react. I can't not follow through, she added. I just have to do this. God hasnt taken the fight out of me yet. In turn, she hopes that by sharing Ebbys story, she is helping others. Its not a club you want to be in, she said. Its very emotional and I feel for them (other families) like I feel for myself. She added that if Ebbys story helps others in any way, that would mean everything. open image in gallery Ebbys mother, Laurie Jernigan, who has recently moved out of Arkansas, now plans on spending the holidays with her family, but said the memory of her Ebby is always right there with them and now, with a renewed hope that one day, the truth will finally be revealed ( Supplied ) Jernigan, who has recently moved out of Arkansas, now plans on spending the holidays with her family, but said the memory of Ebby is always right there with them and now, with a renewed hope that one day, the truth will finally be revealed. She hopes that the ongoing release of new information, combined with the Attorney Generals involvement, will prompt new leads and refocus public attention in the right direction. I really believe that theres more than one person who knows what happened, she said. I just hope they have the courage to come forward. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The FBI thwarted an ISIS-inspired New Years Eve attack inside a grocery store in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the suspect revealed his alleged plans to undercover officers, prosecutors said. Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, prosecutors said Friday, and had been on the FBIs radar since 2022 when he was a juvenile. The suspect, who worked at Burger King, intended to carry out a lone wolf style attack and planned to attack shoppers with knives and hammers, prosecutors said. Agents surveilled Sturdivant around the clock during the holidays. Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, alleged that Sturdivant began by going on ISIS websites and eventually reached out to what he thought was a member of ISIS. In reality, [it] was an undercover agent with NYPD in New York, Ferguson said at a press conference. He pledged his allegiance to ISIS with that undercover agent, and he disclosed his plans to quote do jihad soon. open image in gallery Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, prosecutors said Friday, and had been on the FBIs radar since 2022 ( Gaston County Jail ) He then met a second undercover with the FBI, who he also thought was an ISIS participant, Ferguson continued. And he started to be very specific with his plans. Sturdivant allegedly revealed his plans to carry out the attack at a grocery store in Mint Hill. He talked about what means he would use to kill innocent people, Ferguson said. It was a very well-planned attack that he had planned, and that was fortunately foiled. open image in gallery Items agents seized from Christian Sturdivants bedroom included hammers, according to prosecutors ( Department of Justice ) During a search of the suspects home on December 29, law enforcement found handwritten documents, including one titled New Years Attack 2026. I can tell you from his notes he was targeting Jews, Christians and LGBTQ individuals, Ferguson added. We allege Sturdivant was willing to sacrifice himself by committing a terrorist attack using knives and a hammer to support the murder, torture and extreme violence that ISIS represents, said James Barnacle, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in charge of the investigation. open image in gallery During a search of the suspects home on Dec. 29, law enforcement found handwritten documents, including one titled New Years Attack 2026 ( Department of Justice ) We didn't just learn about him a few weeks ago. Sturdivant first came to the FBI radar in January of 2022 when he was still a juvenile, he added, when he was in contact with an unidentified member of ISIS. Sturdivant received direction from this unidentified ISIS member to dress in all black, knock on people's doors, and attack them with a hammer. In fact, Sturdivant did dress in all black. He left this house with a hammer, and fortunately, his family stepped in, Barnacle said of the 2022 incident. No charges were filed at the time and Sturdivant was referred to psychological care, according to Barnacle. open image in gallery The suspect, who worked at Burger King, intended to carry out a lone wolf style attack and planned to attack shoppers with knives and hammers, prosecutors said ( Gaston County Jail ) This investigation highlights the very real threat posed by people who self-radicalize online and are inspired by jihadist ideologies espoused by foreign terrorist organizations, Barnacle added. When asked why he wasnt charged at the time by a reporter, Ferguson cited Sturdivants age. Ill note that he was a juvenile at that time. He was 14, and I do think we're very fortunate he was 18 now, because it makes it a whole lot easier to bring charges, he said. Attorney General Pam Bondi said law enforcement officials saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Years Eve in a social media post. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law, she said. It comes a year on from the deadly New Orleans attack on revellers ringing in the new year on Bourbon Street on January 1, 2025. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Virginia man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committees the night before the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol will remain behind bars ahead of his trial, a federal judge has ruled. Fridays decision was made two days after Brian Cole Jr. appeared in court in Washington, D.C., where his attorneys argued he should be released to home detention because he is not a threat. The sudden and abrupt motivation behind Mr. Coles alleged actions presents concerns about how quickly the same abrupt and impulsive conduct might recur, Judge Matthew Sharbaugh wrote. The judge noted that Cole allegedly told FBI investigators that he assembled the devices in the hours before he drove to the nations capital January 5, 2021. After a years-long investigation, Cole was arrested earlier this month and charged with transporting explosives across state lines and with maliciously attempting to use the bombs to damage or destroy property. The judges decision follows allegations from the Department of Justice that 30-year-old man told investigators that he believed someone needed to speak up for people who believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen. open image in gallery Brian Cole Jr. appeared in federal court December 30 as his attorneys argued that the 30-year-old should be released as he awaits trial for allegedly planting pipe bombs in Washington DC before the January 6 attack ( AP ) Cole has not yet entered a plea and a trial date has not been set. Coles attorneys argued that he should be released, citing his diagnoses of autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), adding that he posed no threat to society. Mr. Cole is an African American adult who has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1 and with obsessive compulsive disorder, they wrote in a Tuesday filing. In court, they argued that Cole had no criminal history, was not on parole or probation, and that he has strong ties to the communities. The unique conditions surrounding January 5-6, 2021, are unlikely to recur in a way that would present the same risk profile for Mr. Cole, his attorneys said. But prosecutors fought to keep Cole behind bars, pointing to the hours-long videotaped confession, in which he explained his criminal conduct and intent in detail to investigators. Ultimately, it was luck, not lack of effort, that the defendant failed to detonate one or both of his devices and that no one was killed or maimed due to his actions, prosecutors contended. open image in gallery Coles family members left a courthouse in Washington after a judge denied his release from pretrial detention January 2, noting that the court lacks confidence that conditions on his release can reasonably guard against the risk of future danger ( Getty Images ) In his order, Judge Sharbaugh noted that the speed with which Cole was able to allegedly assemble the bombs suggest he can prepare dangerous explosive devices in short order, over a matter of hours, not necessarily days or weeks. Given the precipitousness with which Mr. Cole reportedly acted, and the speed with which he was able to construct the so-called pipe bombs, the Court lacks confidence that even the most rigorous set of release conditions can reasonably guard against the risk of future danger, the judge added. He also noted that Cole is accused of purchasing additional bomb-making materials after allegedly planting the devices. Details of Coles interview following his arrest were released in a new filing Sunday. He told investigators that something just snapped after watching everything, just everything getting worse in the aftermath of the 2020 election, according to the filing from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Piro. Authorities had not previously outlined a possible motive for the pipe bombs or detailed any connection between the devices and the Capitol insurrection. But it was previously reported that Cole appeared to tell agents that he believed baseless conspiracy theories that President Donald Trump was cheated. At Coles hearing on Tuesday, his attorneys also argued that no one was actually harmed as a result of the alleged crimes, since neither of the bombs previously described as viable and could have seriously injured or killed innocent bystanders did not detonate. Cole was not really thinking about how people would react when the bombs detonated, although he hoped there would be news about it, his attorneys wrote. The defendant stated that he had not tested the devices before planting them. He claimed that when he learned that the devices did not detonate, he was 'pretty relieved,' and asserted that he placed the devices at night because he did not want to kill people. During the hearing, the judge pressed the prosecution for details about the potential damage radius of the devices had they detonated. Its very difficult ... given the number of variables to estimate, government attorneys said, according to a CBS reporter inside the courtroom. But the examiner has opined that these devices had all the necessary components to explode. They were viable pipe bombs. open image in gallery Cole allegedly confessed to planting the bombs after investigators showed him footage from outside RNC and DNC headquarters ( FBI ) open image in gallery Footage showed the suspect walking through the Capitol Hill neighborhood before placing bombs outside both buildings in 2021. He wasnt arrested until December 2025 ( Department of Justice ) In the recorded interview following his arrest, Cole admitted to investigators that he has never really been an openly political person and that no one knows his political views, including his family, according to Sundays filing. I didnt agree with what people were doing, like just telling half the country that they that their that they just need to ignore it. I didnt think that was a good idea, so I went to the protest, Cole said, according to the filing. If people feel that their votes are like just being thrown away, then at the very least someone should address it. But when asked why he targeted the RNC and DNC headquarters, Cole responded, I really dont like either party at this point. He added that he wanted to do something to the parties because they were in charge. open image in gallery Pipe bombs were placed near the offices of both the Democratic and Republican national committees hours before an angry mob stormed into the Capitol in a bid to halt the certification of Joe Bidens victory ( REUTERS ) Cole initially maintained that he did not plant the devices. But after investigators showed him a photo of a Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoe worn by the suspect seen on surveillance footage, he admitted that he used to have a pair and said he threw them away because they were old and they were coming apart. Federal agents then reminded him that lying to them could result in additional criminal charges. Asked again whether it was him in the video, Cole then paused for approximately 15 seconds, placed his head face down on the table, and answered, yes, according to the filing. Cole denied that the planted pipe bombs were directed at Congress or tied to the certification of the electoral college votes at the Capitol, which was the the center of the attack the very next day. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Kentucky woman who police say used medication to abort a developed male infant is facing criminal charges of first-degree fetal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. Melinda Spencer, 35, allegedly told workers at United Clinic she aborted her pregnancy at her home outside of Lexington. Clinic staff reported Spencer to the Kentucky State Police on Wednesday at about 2.30 pm. Staff told police she disclosed she aborted her pregnancy at her home on Flat Mary Road. Melinda Spencer is charged with first-degree fetal homicide after allegedly ordering abortion medication online ( Three Forks Regional Jail ) Wave3 News reported that troopers and detectives interviewed Spencer at the clinic. She told detectives she ordered medication online to complete an abortion. Police said that after she took the pills, it resulted in the death of a developed male infant. Spencer is accused of burying the unborn fetus on the back of her property in a shallow grave. Investigators later discovered the grave. Police have not said how far along Spencer was in her pregnancy, only saying the fetus was developed. In Kentucky, almost all abortions are illegal, and a doctor can only perform one to prevent death or serious injury to the mother. Exceptions are not made for rape or incest. According to Kentucky law, first-degree fetal homicide is a capital offense in the state, meaning Spencer could face the death penalty or life imprisonment if found guilty. Executive Director of Kentucky Right to Life, Addia Wuchner, told Wave3 News the death of the fetus was a profound tragedy. A truly compassionate society does not ask women to solve crises by ending a human life it surrounds them with care, truth, and real alternatives, she said. This case also highlights the dangers of abortion pills, which too often remove medical oversight, safeguards, and support. Kentuckys responsibility is not to normalize abortion as healthcare, because healthcare is meant to heal and protect life. Abortion always ends a human life and often leaves women with lasting harm. The answer is not more abortion, but more compassion, responsibility, and real support for women and families. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Car theft in the U.S. has undergone a high-tech transformation in recent years. Gone are the days of jimmying windows or hot-wiring an engine instead, tech-savvy criminals are exploiting weak points in cars keyless entry systems. Using inexpensive electronic devices, they can intercept or mimic a cars fob signal, unlocking and starting vehicles in seconds, often without leaving a trace. The scale of the problem is growing even as car thefts nationwide decline. From over a million vehicles stolen nationwide in 2023 the highest figure in over a decade thefts have fallen steadily since, dropping by 17 per cent to approximately 850,000 vehicles in 2024, and then falling again by 23 per cent during the first six months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Nonetheless, keyless cars are the primary targets. Relay attacks and signal hijacking are increasingly used by criminals to commit thefts, particularly targeting popular models and luxury brands. open image in gallery Unlocking trouble: The most-stolen car in the US is the keyless Hyundai Elantra ( Getty Images ) Relay attacks account for over 80 per cent of keyless car thefts in the US. They work by tricking the car into artificially detecting that its key fob is nearby, when in actual fact, it isnt. Using two small signal amplification devices, one criminal stands close to the vehicle while another positions themselves near the owners key, often inside a house or pocket. The first device captures the fobs signal and relays it to the second, which then transmits it to the car. The vehicle unlocks and starts as if the real key were present, allowing the thieves to drive away in seconds without ever touching the actual fob. The tools used to hijack fob signals can be purchased cheaply online, and social media has played a significant role in spreading tutorials demonstrating the technique, including the emergence of a trend on TikTok dubbed the Kia Challenge. The Kia Challenge was simple: steal cars made by Kia and Hyundai. One group even called themselves The Kia Boyz and documented their criminal exploits, posting them on TikTok and YouTube. The challenge followed the discovery of the relative ease of stealing these companies' models. Still, the numerous thefts and resulting joyriding resulted in several deaths and millions of dollars in damages. In mid-December, Hyundai and Kia agreed to provide a free hardware fix for millions of vehicles lacking industrystandard antitheft technology, following a settlement with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and 34 other attorneys general. As part of the deal, the companies must now ensure that all future U.S. models are equipped with engine immobilizers to prevent theft, after facing numerous lawsuits for selling vehicles without this basic safety feature. Meanwhile, US driving website Autoblog reported this year that Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are both susceptible to Bluetooth low energy (BLE) relay attacks, a tactic that allows thieves to unlock and drive away in seconds if advanced security features such as PIN-to-drive are not enabled. While not among the top 10 most stolen cars by volume, Teslas vulnerability is notable because the attack exploits the convenience of phone-as-key and BLE fobs, similar to attacks on other brands using BLE for entry/start, they noted. open image in gallery Gone in 60 seconds: the keyless Chevrolet Silverado is the fourth most-stolen car in the US ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved ) A similar pattern is emerging in the UK, with research this year showing that 58 per cent of vehicle thefts between April 2023 and March 2024 involved signal manipulation of remote locking devices a fourfold increase from 20182019. All models of the most-stolen vehicles in the US during the first half of 2025 were keyless, according to the U.S. National Insurance Crime Bureau. They are: Hyundai Elantra Hyundai Sonata Honda Accord Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Honda Civic Kia Optima Ford F150 Toyota Camry Honda CR-V Kia Soul How to keep your vulnerable keyless car safe To keep a keyless car safe, experts recommend a combination of safety-conscious habits and judicious use of smart devices. One of the most effective security steps is to put your key fob in a Faraday pouch or signalblocking box, which prevents thieves from intercepting its radio signal. Parking in welllit areas or secure garages also reduces risk, while old-school visible deterrents like a steering wheel lock make your car a less attractive target. Locking doors, rolling up windows, not leaving cars running when unoccupied, and always taking your keys are also recommended by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Turning off passive entry, if your vehicle allows it, adds an extra layer of protection by preventing the car from automatically unlocking when the fob is nearby. Staying up to date with technological advances can also be helpful, if frustrating. Software updates from manufacturers may include security patches, so keeping your cars system current could be the difference between keeping it and losing it. At home, experts advise avoiding leaving keys near doors or windows where signals can be easily captured, and consider installing surveillance cameras or motionsensor lighting around your driveway. For extra peace of mind, GPS tracking devices can help locate a stolen vehicle quickly. When taken together, these precautions make it much more difficult for criminals to get away with your wheels. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Several people living in a campsite close to the community of Empire, Alabama, as part of a religious cult, who believe their leader is the incarnation of Jesus Christ, have been arrested. About 15 people from across the country have been living at the site for five months with Lando, leader of More than the Prophet Ministries, who calls himself the only begotten son of the living God, WBRC reports. Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith announced Tuesday that officials, assisted by the Blount County Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, executed a search warrant on the site following a months-long investigation. In a social media video, Smith said some individuals connected to the site were arrested, while others were released and told to collect their belongings and leave the property. Lando, whose followers call him Reverend Lamp, told WBRC that three members were arrested for refusing to give their names to authorities. open image in gallery Lando, known to 'More than the Prophet Ministries' followers as Reverend Lamp, said three members were arrested at an Alabama campsite for refusing to identify themselves to authorities ( WBRC ) Lando and his followers say they were handcuffed and lay face down during Tuesdays search, while its unclear what role the DHS played. Lando claimed agents questioned members about their U.S. citizenship. Officials said they also found one gun and narcotics in the search. Lando claimed the gun belongs to a person who no longer lives at the camp and that the drugs found were marijuana. Lando said the group moved from Arkansas to the Alabama campsite, where they live on a property owned by a woman to whom he pays monthly rent. After being told to leave in November, some members had already gone, while the rest were preparing to move by the end of December when the search warrant was executed. Look, were already [cleaning the campsite]...We would be gone, Lando told WBRC. open image in gallery Lando said the gun found at the campsite belonged to a former resident and that the drug discovered was marijuana ( WBRC ) Lando claimed that the group would comply with officials orders, but wished they had approached the situation differently. If you would have just woke me up, and said Hey man, yall are supposed to be gone, Yeah, were leaving today! Lando said. The Independent has contacted Smith, the Blount County Sheriffs Office, and DHS for comment. An Instagram and Threads account appearing to belong to Lando describes the groups teachings as Christ 100 percent life death and resurrection! In one of many Instagram video posts since the search warrant, Lando seemingly addressed his supporters, saying, All my beautiful people in Walker County, y'all really showed out and I really didnt expect that. Honestly. I feel that God put us there for a reason: To show that there are good people everywhere. Honest, hardworking people, he said. We recently published 9 Stocks Jim Cramer Talked About. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about recently. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW)s shares have gained 90% year-to-date as the firm has benefited from the booming demand for optical technology stemming from data center buildouts and its close relationship with Apple. Morgan Stanley recently raised the firms share price target to $98 from $82 and kept an Equal Weight rating. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW)s exposure to optical technology was at the center of the upgrade as the bank commented that infrastructure companies with optical products are part of a diversifying AI trade. In late November, UBS had raised its share price target for Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) to $109 from $100 and kept a Buy rating. As was with Morgan Stanley, UBS also cited the firms optical exposure to data centers as a key reason behind the upgrade. Cramer shared a key insight for Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) as he discussed that the firm is trying to replace copper with glass: Jim Cramer Shares Very Important Insight About Corning (GLW) & Data Centers Copyright: etfoto / 123RF Stock Photo Copper is. . .there is a tremendous amount of copper used in the data center, until they move into glass. Now Corning, I have a special coming up on Corning and Apple, if you look at what Cornings trying to do, theyre trying to replace copper. Because one of the things people have to recognize, copper burns really hot, and fiber doesnt. So its a natural. But theres so much copper within a data center, within the actual chipsets, that its really hard to replace. While we acknowledge the potential of GLW as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, 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. Advertisement CultureCelebrityNew Year Opinion 2025 was the year of weird celebrity matches, hatches and dispatches Kate Halfpenny Regular columnist January 2, 2026 11:40am January 2, 2026 11:40am 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 Things escalated once my husband started dancing with the dog. New Years Eve, linking hands with Alfred the boofhead golden retriever at our neighbour Cheryls house. Hes asking for it, said one woman watching the pas de deux unfold. She was right. Alfred, up on his hind legs, had a different dance in mind. Smiling widely, he locked onto Chris in a full-body press. Chris was laughing so hard he couldnt break Alfreds clinch. And thus we were walking home shortly after, so he could get changed. Liz Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus made for one of the more memorable couplings of the year. Getty Images That was my favourite unlikely union of the night, but not of the year. Because 2025 was when celebrities stopped being famous for nothing or concentrating on wellness, and started living big, messy, operatic lives again. Knocking Alfred and Chris off top spot for an unexpected union is Liz Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus. Their Easter hard launch bunny ears, pashing was the cultural peacock moment we didnt know we needed. Lizs cruise ship glamour beside Billy Rays frontier-town chic made every Insta shot look like a Tennessee period drama. Advertisement Meanwhile, Lizs son Damian was the constant third wheel, looking like he was contemplating brocade for the rehearsal dinner. If this wedding happens, I want Miley singing The Climb and Hugh Grant winking while reading a poem. The wedding were definitely getting is Taylor Swift and Travis Kelces. Their surprise proposal included the bride-to-be in Ralph Lauren sundress with perfect manicure and her tour photographer hiding in bushes. Im tipping Taylor in strapless Vera Wang ballgown for the big day and Travis knee-deep in triplets before their first anniversary. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got engaged. Speaking of for better or for worse, Katy Perry was shot into space in full make-up and moved on from Orlando Bloom to canoodle with Justin Trudeau on a boat. Fortunately for us, he wore the Canadian tuxedo jeans and a bare chest. It was one Celine Dion power ballad away from a national holiday. There were goodbyes, real and reputational. Rob Reiner and Gene Hackmans awful deaths were bewildering full stops to their technicolour legacies. David Walliams was cancelled after harassment allegations and leaked slurs. And the royals put the institution and victims before the man formerly known as Prince Andrew. In a year of dispatching, this one felt necessary. Advertisement Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, managed to dispatch herself. Multiple times. In Paris with a Balenciaga outing that looked like high-fashion funeral cosplay, pulling Concerned Face beside burned LA homes while her unpaid intern Harry hovered, the faux royal tour to Colombia. Her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan sealed it. Nothing kills hope faster than balloon arches and raw broccoli wreaths. Nothing except a baby dance clip resurrected for reasons no PR could explain. Wait, there are no PRs left! The Sussexes just lost their 11th. Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman at the Country Music Awards in Texas in May 2025. LM Otero Invision/AP Closer to home, Australias favourite mum and dad couples imploded. Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness filed for divorce, and Hugh went public with new love Sutton Foster. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban called time after 19 years. Least surprising thing all year, an LA insider told me. Before Christmas, AFL glamour couple Lachie and Jules Neales split was bonkers, Jules saying shed been betrayed and demanding a former BFF remove photos of Lachie from her Insta feed. Advertisement Related Article Updated AFL 2026 Ive let my family down: Lachie Neale steps aside as Lions co-captain amid marriage breakdown I was glued to the mess, equal parts heartbreak and theatre, mostly raging at media which papped Jules at the shops and described her as glassy-eyed. Like shes hitting Berghain rather than trying to stay classy and protect her kids. The weakest move of the year? Tough guy Lachie hiding for so long while his wife took the heat. Mate. You should have owned your part earlier instead of leaving Jules in the headlights. Sydney Sweeney survived a film flop as well as being cancelled. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP There were survivors. Sydney Sweeney weathered a film flop, culture-war accusations over great jeans/genes and a Trump endorsement. Oasis reformed. Advertisement Brooklyn Beckham continued sulking and blocking family members, even when his dad got a knighthood. Kris Jenner debuted a new face Im ropeable with jealousy and Amber Heard had twins via surrogate. It was the year that gave us proper celebrities again. People who make terrible choices, disregard achy-breaky hearts, get cancelled, redeemed, stripped, knighted, divorced, reunited. 2026, bring it. Kate Halfpenny is the founder of Bad Mother Media. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. Advertisement Eating outBest of Raspberry meringue, mango sticky rice: 10 exciting places for gelato (and what to order) When the heat strikes, fresh faces on the gelato scene and well-loved names alike are ready to serve. Theres sorbet served in a frozen lemon cup, chocolate with salty pretzel sauce, and a scoop that heroes summers peaches. Haymun Win January 3, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A As featured in the February 2026 hit list. See all stories . Melbournes gelato scene is growing in both size and choice, with more tropical fruits, plant-based flavours and shops emerging in both city and suburbs. New openings include Italian diner Universal Restaurants companion gelateria on Lygon Street, bayside favourite Okay Lucys second shop still by the beach but closer to Melbourne and vegan-friendly Suga Rays from the founder of hit Melbourne cafes, Toris and Humble Rays. A scoop of raspberry meringue gelato at Okay Lucy in Black Rock. Eddie Jim As competition intensifies, shops are casting the net wider in their quest for exciting flavours. You can find a spicy version of Thai mango sticky rice pudding, a Greek pastry turned into a scoop, and fruit flavours that go way beyond strawberry, like Africas kiwano (or horned) melon or the refreshing mangosteen. Aside from cones and cups, punters can spring for ice-cream sandwiches, sorbet served in frozen fruit, and plant-based icy drinks rooted in Thai tradition. Morningtons Okay Lucy has expanded to Black Rock. Eddie Jim Advertisement Okay Lucy, Black Rock Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Beloved by Mornington regulars since 2019, Okay Lucy has opened a second coastal store close to several popular Melbourne beaches. Red velvet, cookie dough and raspberry meringue are among the more nostalgic flavours. A dedicated pastry team elevates them by baking all elements from scratch. Must-try scoop: Specked with crushed espresso beans and swirled with house-made caramel, a salted piccolo will perk you up after a day at Sandringham Beach or Half Moon Bay. 614 Balcombe Road, Black Rock, okaylucy.com Universal Restaurants cool new sibling, Glo Gelato. Advertisement Glo Gelato, Carlton The family behind Carltons legendary Universal Restaurant has debuted a sweet sibling. Flavours swing from classic to capricious, but all are underpinned by traditional gelato-making techniques. Previous specials have played with pumpkin and pavlova; by mid-January look out for peach sorbetto spotlighting Murray River peaches. If gelati isnt calling your name, the tight range of doughnut-shaped cakes might. Must-try scoop: Pistachio Mayhem, a deeply nutty flavour studded with salted pistachio crunch, is a recipe that was only perfected after 100-plus attempts. 131 Lygon Street, Carlton, glogelato.co A scoop of ube (left) at Suga Rays. Advertisement Suga Rays, CBD Vegan-friendliness is more than just a box to tick here Suga Rays ethos is inspired by founder Tinee Sus upbringing in Thailand, where ice-cream is made from coconut milk. Eight rotating flavours, such as Thai milk tea, nutty injeolmi and even wasabi edamame, can be spun into sundaes, shokupan sandwiches and banana splits. The raved-about matcha from sister venue Toris also makes an appearance in a strawberry ice-cream float. Must-try scoop: Ube, the purple-hued yam, is satisfying solo, but theres a wafer option that cranks up the yam factor with ube chips and ube powder. 8/120 ABeckett Street, @sugaraysmelb Related Article 14 / 20 Review This under-the-radar Swanston Street spot is primed for your next big night out in the city Advertisement Anita Gelato has a retro-inspired mint green exterior and interior. Chris Hopkins Anita Gelato, CBD This expanding gelato-maker has been ticking off Australian capitals and its latest outpost just landed in Melbourne. A mint green facade leads into one of its more intimate shops, with pink geometric flooring. Most flavours come dressed with matching toppings: strawberry jam pairs with mascarpone-ricotta, toffee cream is folded through salted caramel gelato, and a classic milk chocolate scoop is cut with a pretzel-spiked sauce. Must-try scoop: Tart lemon sorbet blended with fresh mint is inspired by refreshing limoncello. 273 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, anita-gelato.com/au Advertisement Frisco Creamery, Caulfield. Frisco Creamery, Caulfield To gelato or to froyo? Newcomer Frisco dares ask: why not both? A self-service frozen yoghurt bar sits alongside 18 innovative gelato choices. Ube meets the citrus fruit calamansi in a tangy mashup, and co-founder Jereon Cools is working on deep-fried ice-cream inspired by Belgian-style fries its going to be beer-battered and shaped like a chip. Must-try scoop: Mango sticky rice, which starts with a sweet Thai-style sticky rice that takes more than three hours to make. Once its churned into gelato, mango and chilli jam is swirled through for a tropical treat. 2/6 Caulfield Boulevard, Caulfield North, @frisco.creamery Advertisement Sorbet is served in hollowed out fruits at Taste of Amalfi. Taste of Amalfi, Carlton Couple Milos Kalajdzic and Nada Mandic visited the Amalfi Coast in 2023 and were enamoured with the tradition of serving lemon sorbet in real, hollowed-out lemons. Back in Melbourne, they started with a sorbet cart and pop-ups before opening this shop, where fresh fruit such as strawberries and mango are turned into sorbets and served in a frozen fruit cup. Coming up next: plum. Must-try scoop: The sorbet that started it all, made from locally grown lemons (occasionally from customers backyards). 89 Grattan Street, Carlton, tasteofamalfi.com.au Advertisement Good Daze Canteen, Fitzroy This globetrotting spot has featured the likes of mangosteen, custard apple and cactus since opening last summer. Right now, experiments are underway with soursop a tangy yet creamy tropical fruit and Kiwano melon that almost tastes like a banana, according to co-owner Bharathi Ghattamaneni. All sorbets are vegan-friendly a bonus. Must-try scoop: Not technically a scoop, but an ice-cream sandwich that riffs on Greeces galaktoboureko. Frozen custard is tucked into a pocket of filo pastry, amped up by walnuts and drenched in orange blossom syrup. 316 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, gooddazecanteen.com More than 30 flavours are available at Fluffy Torpedo (Brunswick location pictured). Advertisement Fluffy Torpedo, Brunswick and Fitzroy If the eclectic artwork and floors laid with lollies dont tip you off, the flavours will: this ice-cream shop is out there. Behind the counter at the Fitzroy store, 36 whimsical choices are embroidered on the fabric menu, from buttered baguette to salted chilli pineapple with coconut vinegar. Must-try scoop: Sour watermelon and whipped cream sorbet combines watermelon with the acids found in tart fruits, resulting in a flavour reminiscent of Sour Patch lollies. 213 Sydney Road, Brunswick; 5/159 Smith Street, Fitzroy; fluffytorpedo.diamonds Gelato Messina, various locations Advertisement On warmer days, prime real estate is measured by proximity to a Messina. The always-busy gelateria releases five new rotating flavours every Tuesday. Expect the usual decadent add-ons over summer. January features ginger-lime sorbet; lemon cream gelato studded with English lemon cake; and a chunky passionfruit cheesecake gelato. Must-try scoop: Try a weekly flavour or pistachio praline, which emerged as customers favourite of 2025. Various locations, see gelatomessina.com Dark chocolate fudge brownie (pictured) is one of the flavours soon to be offered at Mondo. Coming soon: Advertisement Mondo Gelateria, CBD Opening early January, this central sweet stop features a sleek glass bar under a sun-shaped light installation. Decadent gelati flavours 28 in total include dark chocolate fudge brownie and boozy black forest. Ice-cream layer cakes, pastries and cold brew concoctions (including one infused with matcha, yuzu and miso caramel) are also in the mix. Owner Rio Olivetti honed his craft at Bolognas Carpigiani Gelato University and also runs bottled cocktail business Numero IX. Must-try scoop: Raspberry, lychee and lime gelato will be a triple threat on hot days. 215 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, @mondo.melb Collection The 27 pubs, gelato shops, bars, and pop-ups to put on your list for January, Melbourne Catch up on all the hot, new and just-reviewed places around town, whether youre after a counter meal, hangover-curing sandwich or soothing sorbet. Advertisement NationalVictoriaCrime A strangled man and failed pregnancy plot: The tragic tale of the last woman hanged in Australia Marta Pascual Juanola January 2, 2026 3:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Warning: This story contains graphic details. In the still air of a Melbourne courtroom, Jean Lee collapsed into the arms of the man who had betrayed her her lover, her Bobby, and now, her accomplice a hothead petty criminal called Robert Clayton. It was March 1950, and Lee, Clayton and his army buddy, Norman Andrews, were on trial over the murder of William Pop Kent, an elderly bookie the group had met briefly during a drinking bender four months earlier. Jean Lee became the last woman in Australia to be sent to the gallows. Marija Ercegovac Kent had been found dead inside his room, so badly battered his nose was completely flattened and two of his teeth had come loose. His thumbs had been tied with a piece of boot lace, and a sheet tied around his neck. He had been strangled with such force his Adams apple had been crushed on both sides. Advertisement The 73-year-old, who had a habit of flaunting wads of cash at the pub, had last been seen drinking with Lee, Clayton and Andrews at the University Hotel in Carlton, and later sipping wine and smoking cigarettes with the trio at his Dorrit Street home in the evening of November 7, 1949. A jury panel of 12 men took less than three hours to reach a verdict. Lee, Clayton and Andrews, who were short on cash after blowing their money partying and at the horse races, were found guilty of murdering Kent during what police claimed was a botched robbery. They would be sentenced to death. Struggling to stand, an inconsolable Lee issued one final plea for mercy from the dock: I didnt do it, I didnt do it. The courtroom then erupted into shambolic scenes. May your next feed choke you, you swine, Clayton yelled before spitting at the jurors and being removed. Advertisement On February 19, 1951, Lee, a young mother from Dubbo, became the first woman in 56 years to be hanged in Victoria, and the last in Australias history. Records about her case and execution at Pentridge Prison were made public by the Public Record Office of Victoria for the first time this week, after remaining sealed for 75 years. The documents, which span more than 500 pages and have been examined by this masthead, include photographs, letters, newspaper clippings, wills, and court records relating to the case. They expose instances where the evidence was potentially compromised and legal discussions behind closed doors about whether a police statement should have been admitted. Advertisement The records also highlight lingering doubts about Lees role in the murder, and controversial interrogation techniques by detectives at the time, who questioned the trio without giving them a caution and shared Claytons statement with Lee and Andrews to elicit a confession. And they call women the weaker sex Inside an interrogation room at the old police headquarters on Russell Street on November 8, 1949, Lee remained staunch she would not answer questions. Police had been trying to get a confession for hours after arresting the trio as they were returning to their hotel on Spencer Street that morning. Lee and Clayton, who had extensive criminal records spanning more than 32 offences between them, had come to Melbourne from Sydney a few weeks earlier. They met Andrews, Claytons buddy, at the Werribee races and became inseparable. Advertisement Hanging her head, Jean Lee is led into the Melbourne Court. Fairfax Media I am not saying anything, Lee told detectives over and over again. Then, a break came in the interview room next door. Are you fair dinkum when you say that the chap is dead? Clayton asked detectives. If what you say is right, I will tell you all I know. I am not going to take the rap for what others do. Clayton said the group had headed to Carlton so that a cash-strapped Andrews could pawn his suit, and ended up drinking at the University Hotel in the afternoon. Advertisement There, Lee struck up a conversation with Kent. After the pub closed, the bookmaker invited them to his place. Later that evening, Lee told Clayton that Kent had money stashed in his fob pocket, but that his belly was too tight. If she could not get it the sweet way, they would do him over. Clayton told police: When I left the room, Norman and Jean were still with Pop. I am completely innocent of any attack made on this old man. The officers marched into Lees interrogation room and showed her Claytons statement. Lee, who had been adamant her lover would not talk, asked the detectives to bring him over. So you made a four-page statement did you? she asked Clayton. Advertisement Clayton replied he had, and broke down in tears. And they call women the weaker sex, Lee snapped. After Clayton was removed, Lee turned to the detectives and confessed. I love Bobby and I still love him, but if he wants it that way he can have it, she said. Lee said she had lost her temper and hit Kent in the head with a bottle and a piece of wood before tying his arms with a piece of sheet. I knew he was dead when we left him. Advertisement Asked by police what she meant by we, she hesitated. There was only me, she said. Her confession would be a miscalculation. When Lee was found guilty, no woman had been hanged in Victoria for more than half a century. Lees case file shows an anti-capital punishment movement was brewing. Advocates wrote to authorities asking for the trio to be spared the death penalty, which one described as murder by rope. One man even expressed plans to raise donations to fund the trios appeal. Advertisement After the execution, people wrote to newspapers condemning the decision, and called for capital punishment to be abolished. This latest execution was a very sordid thing for a civilised country belonging to the dark ages, one letter read. Reporting by The Argus newspaper at the time suggests the decision by the state cabinet to stand by the execution had sensational political implications, with Labor and some Liberals opposed to Lees hanging. By taking the blame for Kents murder, Lee perhaps erroneously assumed that she would be spared the death penalty and save Clayton and Andrews in the process. Forensic evidence presented during the trial showed Kents killer would have needed to use considerable force to strangle him, which police admitted that Lee with her little hands was unlikely to have. The judge even told the jury that Lees confession was obviously concocted and that nobody in his senses would believe that. Lee tried to walk back on her confession, telling the jury that she was hysterical after reading Claytons statement and admitted to the killing to get some peace and quiet. Clayton also told the court his statement was concocted, and he did not think it would throw Lee and Andrews under the bus because they were all innocent. Advertisement In the witness box, Lee, Clayton and Andrews claimed Kent had been in good health when they left his home at 7pm. Blood stains on their clothes and wounds to their hands had alternative explanations, they claimed. Attempts by the defence to get the statement and Lees confessions thrown out on the basis they had been improperly obtained failed, despite the trial judge conceding evidence had been obtained in an undesirable way. The trial was also marred by other issues that would be unacceptable in todays justice system, including the fact that the evidence of two key witnesses in the case a man and a woman living with Kent at the time of the murder that placed the trio in the home was potentially contaminated by allowing them to talk to one another and change their version of events. Lee, Clayton and Andrews appealed against their conviction and were granted a retrial. After the win, Lee and Clayton hugged and kissed in the dock. However, the Crown later appealed against the ruling and got the death penalty reinstated. Subsequent attempts by the trio to appeal against the High Court decision in the Privy Council in England failed. Advertisement The final Hail Mary One minute after 8am on a drizzly February morning in 1951, Lee was hanged from the first floor of a corridor at Pentridge prison. An ingenious scheme by Clayton to bribe prison guards to allow him to spend half an hour with his lover so they could claim Lee was pregnant and save her from the gallows failed. Police cordoned off the roads leading to the side entrance to the prison, while about 30 officers remained stationed inside its walls, ready to jump at any sign of a disturbance. A handful of people gathered outside. Seven journalists were invited to witness the executions by Victorian authorities who believed the publicity would deter potential murderers. A criminal will respect the rope where he yawns at a gaol term, the since-defunct newspaper Truth wrote at the time of the execution. Advertisement A seemingly unconscious Lee, who had been given a sedative the night before to help her sleep, had to be carried from her cell to the gallows by the executioner and his assistant, who had their faces obscured by large steel-rimmed goggles and felt hats. Lees limp body was sat on a chair placed atop the trapdoor. Her head and shoulders were covered by a white hood. Her hands and ankles were bound. Editor's pick Trade unions Fake names and a $2m transfer: How the CFMEUs forerunner did business in the 1980s Then, the door opened and Lee plunged to her death behind a brown curtain. Bells tolled to mark the execution, but the sound was drowned out by the roar of planes passing overhead. Advertisement Clayton and Andrews were hanged together two hours later. They exchanged one final farewell above the trap door. Goodbye Charlie, Clayton said. Goodbye Robert, Andrews replied. That afternoon, they were buried in sodden graves that had been dug by fellow prisoners. As a 1950 assessment of the trio put it: It is doubtful they would cold-bloodedly plan a murder and go through to it, but in this case, they saw a heaven-sent opportunity to replenish their empty pockets by robbing a sucker. Fascinating answers to perplexing questions delivered to your inbox every week. Sign up to get our new Explainer newsletter here. Advertisement Letters NationalVictoriaLetters Broadening lines of inquiry is required January 2, 2026 8:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Photo: Alan Moir To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. The argument on whether to hold a royal commission or stick with the Richardson inquiry seems to have reached an impasse. The way to resolve this quandary is to have both. The Royal Commissions Act naturally allows for royal commissions, but it also recognises what are referred to simply as inquiries and it even contemplates that the two can be run at the same time. It is one of those inquiries that the government has established in the form of the Richardson inquiry which is to investigate the performance of the security agencies in the context of the Bondi terrorist attack. The problem with this approach is that Richardson is not given any power under his terms of reference to inquire into how the tragedy was allowed to occur, which must surely be the basic question that must be answered. Moreover, the Jewish community has no right to a hearing at the inquiry; it will be conducted in private and Richardson has no powers to compel witnesses or documents. But there is an easy solution. Richardsons terms of reference should simply be reissued with the heading Letters Patent which means that he will have the wide powers of a royal commission to be used, but only if and when he feels that he needs them. It will also give Richardson the power to take evidence in a country outside Australia, which he does not have at the present. This simple reform should enable us to concentrate on the real issue of what happened and why. Neil Brown, KC, South Yarra A commission is unnecessary The critique by Robert Richter, KC, of a royal commission (Top silk against royal inquiry, 31/12) is incisive. Its unnecessary because the intelligence and security failures will be analysed by the Richardson inquiry, and its divisive because it would focus on only one form of hateful prejudice, antisemitism. Anthony Albanese is right to resist demands for such a commission, even if he has not well-articulated the grounds for his decision. What he needs to do now is withdraw his invitation to the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, to visit Australia. As the head of state for a nation that has engaged in a campaign of death and destruction in Gaza, he shares Israels moral responsibility for its actions. His presence in Australia would inevitably provoke protests. Tom Knowles, Parkville Albanese must show his pragmatism Anthony Albanese needs to be pragmatic: support a royal commission as well as carry out his proposed inquiry. The inquiry can address the short-term need to improve security systems. The commission can address the longer term issues of antisemitism and hate speech contaminating national culture and spawning extremist atrocities. The inquiry can then be a preliminary stage of the royal commission. Kevin Watters, Heathmont Advertisement THE FORUM Housing moral challenge Its clear from Kate Shaws analysis (Where our real housing crisis lives, 1/1) that, far from alleviating Australias housing crisis for low and moderate-income people, governments are fuelling it. Their policies are also helping to normalise an attitude among property owners and investors that it is appropriate to increase their wealth by exploiting those in need of a basic requirement for life a roof over ones head that circumstances have meant many people must rent because buying is beyond their reach. There are doubtless political challenges to reform in the shape of all those who feed off the endless cycle of property speculation at the expense of the excluded. Yet, if governments fail to act, or, worse still, promote this divide by eroding public housing, they fail a fundamental moral challenge. A government that fails on housing is a failed government. Everyone needs and deserves the dignity of a home. Darren Lewin-Hill, Northcote Wrong priorities Kate Shaws article deserves a direct response from both state and federal housing ministers to address her criticisms of current government policies. A good start would be for governments to come clean on what public housing, community housing and affordable housing really mean and what is being done to address the waiting list of 66,000 in Victoria for this type of accommodation. The reality is that the current two-tiered strategy new private apartment developments (affordable to the fortunate few) and government developments (targeting most others) is skewed the wrong way. Peter Thomson, Brunswick Go to the core Robert Richter, KC, nailed it (Top silk against royal inquiry, 31/12 ) in stating that if a royal commission was to be held it should examine hate speech and discrimination holistically across all race, religion, sex and ethnicity rather than a stand-alone category of antisemitism. This statement seemed even more poignant when read with the article Islamophobia on the rise following Bondi attack (31/12), highlighting the rise of Islamophobia in the aftermath of Bondi. Let us consider looking at the very core of all hate speech and discrimination in a fair, equitable and truly democratic manner, to achieve an Australia we would all be proud to call home. Janiene Hart, Northcote Transforming hate I agree with your correspondent (Letters, 30/12) about the role of hate in antisemitism. Hate is both an emotion and a mental activity that contains the desire for revenge. We humans have feelings, thoughts, words, and actions in that order. We can be educated from a young age to reflect upon our own hate feelings and thoughts, learn to reformulate hateful words and actions that harm others, and focus on building a pleasant, interesting, diverse, and cohesive Australian culture for all. We must ensure that all Australian schools, groups, organisations, political parities and corporations assist their members to develop skills in transforming hateful thoughts of others into constructive creative solutions for our social problems. Jennifer Gerrand, Carlton North Advertisement Cap NYE fireworks Label me a New Year Grinch, but do we really need two sessions of fireworks every New Years Eve? Each year the pyrotechnics appear to be more extravagant. Lets put a sensible limit on the excesses of NYE celebrations, and be aware that those families forced to sleep in their car that night would find no comfort in such an expensive display. Peter Cooke, Warrnambool Stamp of approval My father, a lifelong philatelist, had contacts in many countries. From exchanging stamps, friendships were born. I wrote to them when he died. A couple of years later, Friedrich from Germany sent me a letter. He had found no one in Australia to help with his philatelic needs, so I offered. He is in his late 80s. We both enjoy being friends now and look forward to catching up with our news. My last letter and Christmas card (and his simple request) were received recently. What a shame if our postal service ceases, as is happening in Denmark, and cuts these valuable ties. Linda OBrien, Aspendale When planning works The new protections around selected creeks are welcome (Waterway safeguards aim to boost wildlife, environment, 2/1). Too much development is ad hoc and short-term. There needs to be an overall vision for community assets like these. I moved to Melbourne half a century ago to study at La Trobe University. Since then, suburbs like Mill Park and roads like the M80 Ring Road have encircled the area. Good planning has resulted in some walking and bike paths along the nearby Gardiners Creek. I welcome better protection for many routes I have cycled along over the years, including Skeleton Creek and Gardiners Creek. Those who lament the extra red and green tape should think how we want our urban waterways to look like in 50 years. John Hughes, Mentone Tell em, theyre dreamin We have water warnings as Victorians put on restrictions alert (27/12), and then we have big tech companies wanting enormous data centres built in Victoria (Data centre frenzy could overwhelm power grid, 31/12). Tell em theyre dreamin and just say No. If there isnt enough water for residents, there certainly isnt enough for huge water-hungry data centres. I refuse to let my garden die just so a data centre can have the water. Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights Go off grid Why would any new business, especially a major one like a new data centre, expect to do anything other than supply its own energy and water? Why should the average residential customer be expected to suffer any impost at all? Just one more reason to switch off from the grid, or at least go electric plus battery, at least for us lucky ones still in a detached house with garden. After my recent solar upgrade my bill is less than a third of what it used to be. Theres no reason why data centres cant do the same, plus recycle their water for constant reuse, not guzzle natural resources for a highly questionable operation like storing mega data. We were better off before the world fell for all this junk technology. Bernadette George, Mildura Advertisement Too much to bear Can our society and environment accept this? Proposals for new large industrial electricity loads in Victoria mostly data centres require an additional 18 gigawatts of electricity supply (Data centre frenzy could overwhelm power grid, 31/12). Consider what this means. The proposed demand would need the equivalent of another eight Loy Yang A power stations, or four Snowy Hydro schemes, or 3600 wind turbines, or 18 standard nuclear reactors. What a damaging cost this would be to our environment. Proposals are almost double the maximum historical peak electricity demand in Victorias summer of 10.5 gigawatts. Developers should fund infrastructure required for their works. Most importantly, governments need to limit development approvals to meet societys actual needs, and not trade our environment for a path of over-consumption. Greg Davies, Glen Waverley Thanks, Khawaja Congratulations Usman Khawaja on a brilliant and dignified career in Australian cricket. To the end you displayed composure, respect and notable grace; however, you were confident to enter other areas of debate or discussion if you felt that voice needed to be heard. A wonderful role model for all public figures to note, irrespective of gender, colour or creed. I keenly await your next role in the public arena, as you have much to offer future Australia. Shirley Gauci, Docklands Forever grateful Being a slow learner, its taken me eight decades to discover the gift of gratitude, which Ive come to treasure. Could I suggest the gift of gratitude to launch the new year? As a French proverb says, Gratitude is the hearts memory. We cant make the worlds sorrows disappear, but we can choose to be people of joy and gratitude. Gratitude is delightfully contagious. Kevin Burke, Sandringham The write parliament I just read two letters in The Age from December 31. One said they were looking forward to insightful weekly commentary from contributors Henry Herzog and Myra Fisher in 2026. I concur. The next letter was from Myra herself stating that she doesnt smoke or drink but does swear a bit and that her New Year resolution will be to stop. But she thinks that will be broken by lunchtime on New Years Day. It was a very humorous way to finish off a very sad and turbulent year. The letter writers to The Age might make a good parliament! Andrew Barnes, Ringwood Defining moment I would like to nominate for the most unnecessary use of a word in the past year: existential, existential, existential (There are existential threats and then theres the real thing, 29/12). I have had a browse at the Macquarie and the OED, and the general use of this assault on the English language, resembles neither of their definitions. Bradley Stark, Prahran Advertisement The Golding touch Absorbing Matt Goldings brilliant and graphic climate cartoon (2/1) I want a top-level inquiry into political stupidity. Jane Ross, San Remo AND ANOTHER THING World affairs I didnt foresee Donald Trump using prognosticator as an insult (Trump lashes mediocre Clooney over France move, 2/1). Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn With his attack on George Clooney, Donald Trump reveals again his total unsuitability for politics. Any criticism is taken personally and brings an outraged response. Get another job, Donald. Tony Haydon, Springvale There is free speech and there is hate speech. Seems America cant tell the difference. Marie Nash, Balwyn Advertisement So Russians are furious about the claim that Ukraine attacked one of Vladimir Putins luxury homes. Someone should point out that Putin has actually done this to many Ukrainian homes many times over. David West, Essendon Furthermore Advocates for a royal commission into antisemitism should be careful what they wish for. It will be the perfect forum for those arguing Israels Gazan strategy is at the root of the problem. Peter Bennett, Clifton Hill We are debating the merits of holding a royal commission, which will no doubt feature a number of Kings Counsel. When are we, as a nation, going to grow up? Lewis Winders, Sheffield, Tas Your correspondent (Letters, 1/1) can do better to water his tomato patch. Do as we do. We save all our detergent-free rinsing water from clothes washing and dishwashing and put it on our tomato patch. Anne Tyers, Richmond Re Influencer (Letters, 2/1), my mum was one. Bless her heart and soul. Only wish I had taken more notice of her. Dick Danckert, Torquay Advertisement At the age of 75 I have decided to become an influencer. Will I need a social account? Graeme Rose, Wangaratta An influencer is someone who has a chronic sore throat and runny nose. John Rawson, Mernda Finally Note to news editors: shift crime off the front page. The tennis is about to start. David Cayzer, Clifton Hill Advertisement NationalVictoriaElectricity Extremely timid: Expert slams states limited trial for power line tree pruning Adam Carey January 2, 2026 7:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Melbourne could be about to become a leafier place under a proposed trial to slash the minimum clearance between trees and power lines. This would bring an end to the severely pruned trees throughout the city, whose limbs and branches have been lopped to comply with strict regulations that set a minimum one-metre clearance from power lines. This clearance would be reduced to 30 centimetres for low-voltage lines in low-bushfire risk areas if the state government trial goes ahead. Dr Greg Moore, of the University of Melbourne, says Victorias power line clearance regulations destroy too much tree canopy. Eddie Jim This reduction would cover most city and town streetscapes in Victoria and provide an estimated $1 billion benefit to the economy through reduced tree canopy loss, advocates say. Advertisement Councils complain that the current regulations are excessive and cause widespread, unnecessary loss of tree canopy, make streets hotter and damage cherished and ecologically important trees. The Allan government, which is seeking feedback on the proposed trial, says minimum-clearance laws reduce the risk of trees and vegetation contacting electricity lines, which can lead to fires, electric shocks and power outages. Recently pruned trees in Hampton East. Simon Schluter It also acknowledges the role of street trees in providing amenity, habitat and cooler streetscapes. It says a trial under controlled circumstances in a low bushfire risk area will build evidence for a possible reduction in minimum clearances in low-risk areas. Advertisement The state government has set a tree canopy target of 30 per cent in urban areas by 2050. But one expert who advised the government on the issue has accused it of being timid and squibbing the opportunity to make a sensible change that would boost urban tree cover. The government baulked at calls from a committee it appointed to permanently reduce the minimum clearance from one metre to 30 centimetres. The committee included electricity distribution companies such as AusNet, Jemena and Powercor, Fire Rescue Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria and landholders. A tree in Coburg that has been heavily pruned to meet power line clearance regulations. South Australia has reduced its minimum clearance from one metre to 30 centimetres in low-risk areas. Advertisement But the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action is unwilling to follow South Australias regulation change without more evidence, despite support from most committee members for doing so. [The department] considers long-term changes to the Code as unacceptable without a convincing body of evidence to demonstrate that reduced [minimum clearance standard] requirements are safe to apply in Victoria, the departments regulatory impact statement for the trial says. Although reducing the standard to 300mm is not supported, DEECA does support future reductions of the standard if there is evidence to justify the reduction. Related Article Exclusive Climate solutions How your suburbs lack of trees could be affecting your health Dr Greg Moore, a senior research associate with the University of Melbourne, was part of the state governments electricity line clearing consultative committee, until he resigned over what he considers Energy Safe Victorias timidity and refusal to consider climate change. Advertisement Moore said South Australia had reduced its minimum clearance for power lines from one metre to 30 centimetres more than a decade ago without harm and Victoria could follow its lead rather than run a limited trial with no commitment to make the change permanent. I think Victoria is being extremely timid in relation to low-voltage lines in low bushfire risk areas, Moore said. He said the proposed reduced clearance makes a huge difference to streetscapes. It saves you literally hundreds of millions of dollars in pruning. And it gives you a cooler urban environment. Moore said Energy Safe Victoria had taken a rigidly prescriptive approach to fire safety. Advertisement Between 2019 and 2024, an average of 47 fires broke out each year in Victoria due to trees contacting power lines. Vegetation touching wires resulted in two clearance workers receiving electrical shocks. One worker died and one was seriously injured. Moore argues that Victorias current one-metre clearance endangers workers because it puts them in more frequent proximity to power lines. I think youre putting peoples lives at risk by sending people into these situations when you dont need to be pruning them at all, he said. Related Article Development Melbourne tree canopy goal impossible without ripping out roads Council peak body the Municipal Association of Victoria said the current regulations were excessive and came at a huge and unnecessary cost to communities and the environment. Advertisement Councils, and the communities they represent, have long been frustrated with Victorias electric line clearance regulations as they often result in excessive pruning and lopping of vegetation in urban areas and townships with low-bushfire risk, association president Jennifer Anderson said. A tree pruned around power lines in Sandringham. Penny Stephens Councils face fines for failing to prune trees according to the guidelines. Anderson, a Macedon Ranges shire councillor, said communities were losing green canopy that cooled streets, and provided habitat for native fauna. Unfortunately, significant trees of social and historic interest, and native trees are not spared from excessive pruning to meet the governments line clearance requirements, she said. Advertisement As the state government seeks to make our towns and cities denser, and the impacts of climate change are making our streets hotter, we need to protect and enhance tree canopy, not lop it, where there is no safety risk. The City of Boroondara an eastern suburbs council with one of Melbourne most extensive tree canopy covers strongly endorsed the change. It argued a 30-centimetre clearance would help protect $1 billion in tree value across the state, lower costs to councils and ratepayers, and support community liveability and climate adaptation. Type your suburb in the interactive below and click on the outline to view the canopy cover in your area An Energy Safe Victoria spokesperson said the agency recognised the importance of public feedback in shaping policies that kept people safe and encouraged people to have their say on the proposed trial. Advertisement The agency did not provide details of when and where a trial could happen, how long it would run for or what evidence was being sought before considering a permanent change to the regulations. Our role is to enforce the regulations once finalised and in effect, the spokesperson said. As the proposal is still under consultation, its too early to comment on any potential trials or implementation. Fire Rescue Victoria declined to comment. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Updated NationalVictoriaCrime Teen shot dead in Melbournes inner north near closed police station Isabel McMillan and Lachlan Abbott Updated January 3, 2026 2:49pm ,first published January 3, 2026 7:13am 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 youth has died in a drive-by shooting metres from a closed police station in Melbournes inner north. Police found a young male with life-threatening injuries near the corner of Brunswick and King William streets in Fitzroy just after midnight on Saturday. Loading Speaking to media on Saturday afternoon, Detective Acting Inspector Brett Meadows said an officer was inside the Fitzroy police station when he heard two gunshots. He went out to investigate and located a male on the footpath with head injuries consistent with a gunshot wound, Meadows said. Advertisement The officer rendered first aid a minute after hearing the shots, Meadows said, but the youth died at the scene. CCTV recorded two young people walking near the police station before shots were fired. Loading Weve got two persons walking down the street when shots are fired from a moving vehicle at those two persons, Meadows said. It certainly appears to be targeted. Meadows was unable to confirm the victims age nor where he was from as he had yet to be formally identified. Advertisement Investigators urged the person who was with the victim to come forward and said they were also looking for a white SUV. Meadows would not speculate about a motive for the attack, but said he did not believe an open reception at the nearby police station would have prevented it. The two boys who go past the station dont stop. They dont try and go into the police station. Theyre not trying to call for help. Theyre seen going past twice, Meadows said. There was a police member at the station at the time who heard the gunshots and came straight out and provided first aid and called for back up. So whether the station was open to the public or as it was closed to the public but still had a member there I cant see it would have made any difference. Advertisement Fitzroy police station was one of 43 posts across Victoria where reception hours were slashed in 2023 due to staff shortages. It was previously a 24-hour station, but its front desk now closes at 9.45pm from Friday to Sunday. State Opposition Leader Jess Wilson attacked the state governments management of police resources in light of Saturdays homicide. This is another tragic and deeply concerning incident that has occurred within a stones throw of a closed police station, she said. A state government spokesperson hit back, saying it was a police decision to reduce station hours and get more officers on patrol. The Liberals will take any opportunity to undermine and cut Victoria Police, they said. Advertisement Later on Saturday, police revealed they had separately charged a 23-year-old man with murder after another incident in Fitzroy on the other side of the Atherton Gardens public housing tower complex just before Christmas. The force said a 43-year-old man was found with stab wounds at a Napier Street address on December 22, but he died in hospital shortly after arrival. The accused in that case will appear in court on Monday. Meanwhile, investigators taped off the shooting scene about 100 metres from Fitzroy police station early on Saturday morning as a crowd of onlookers gathered. The family of the victim laid flowers at the scene on Saturday morning. Detectives were later seen going door to door at nearby properties. Volunteer chaplains arrived at the scene later in the morning to offer support. Advertisement An American university student who had just moved to Fitzroy, but asked to stay anonymous, said he heard the two gunshots before running over to see what had happened. I saw two cops working on a guy who was on the ground. They were doing CPR on him for a while. The scene on Saturday morning at King William Street in Fitzroy where a man was shot and killed overnight. Wayne Taylor He was surprised to see how long it took for more police to arrive at the scene. It was probably another 20 minutes or so before any other back-up arrived, he said. The cops were questioning another kid, they looked like they were interrogating him for a while. Then more people showed up. Ive felt safe here until now, I guess. Im from San Francisco, so I know a gunshot sound. Advertisement Long-time Fitzroy resident Uncle Crow said he believed the incident was youth-related. Were a tight-knit community around here, and we will support [the family] the best way we can, he said. Flowers left on Saturday morning at the scene of the shooting in Fitzroy. Wayne Taylor He criticised the decision to include Fitzroy in the list of stations with reduced hours. Sometimes its open, and sometimes its not, he said. This is Melbournes first suburb, and it was built on violence and crime. They cant even keep a police station open with a history like that. Advertisement Another man at the scene on Saturday, who told The Age he had been mugged in the area in the past, echoed calls to reintroduce 24-hour police station staffing. He said the popular nightlife strip should have a more visible police presence. Related Article Crime Victim slashed with knife outside closed police station However, Meadows stressed he did not believe an open reception desk would have changed what happened early on Saturday. The Richmond police station is 3.5 kilometres away. It does have a permanent 24-hour police presence, he said. Its not really for me to comment on what resources weve got and what stations we can and cant open. But on this occasion, there was a member there, and the victim and his associate didnt attend at the station. They didnt call for assistance. So it wouldnt make any difference. Advertisement A Victoria Police spokesperson said the force approved reduced reception counter hours at 41 police stations statewide. We know the community is best served when police are out in the field detecting and deterring crime, not sitting behind a desk, the spokesperson said. Investigators leave the Fitzroy police station on Saturday after a fatal shooting nearby the night prior. Wayne Taylor Get alerts on breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert. Advertisement NationalDemocracy Opinion We are living through an utterly lamentable era of history Dennis Glover Author, speech writer January 3, 2026 5:00am January 3, 2026 5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A On the day that World War II began, September 1, 1939, the poet W.H. Auden described the preceding 10 years as a low dishonest decade. Might we borrow from him and recognise the 12 months to December 31 as a low dishonest year? Has there ever been one when so many lies were told and so many democratic hopes left unfulfilled? Has there ever been a New Years Day of such foreboding? And yet, so many carry on as if everything is normal. Its not. This year, 2026, must be the year we wake up and avert potential disaster. Think of the events of last year. So inured have we become to extraordinary developments that we struggle to recognise them as extraordinary any more. At least not until December 14, when the year had only two weeks to run. Photo: Illustration: Joe Benke In Europe in 2025, a major land war entered its fourth year. The familiar background to our news feeds, it seems prosaic, a given. But is it? Watch the news tonight. You will probably see drones diving into apartment blocks in Kyiv, bitter street fighting in snow-bound Donetsk, or an oil tanker exploding in the Mediterranean. This is how the V1 rocket attacks on London of 1944, the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942 and the Battle of the Atlantic in 1943 looked to the people who experienced them. The past is catching up with us. Advertisement The BBC now estimates Russian deaths in Ukraine at between 243,000 and 352,000, and Ukrainian deaths at about 140,000. Adding injuries and prisoners of war takes the total casualties to somewhere between 1.5 million and 2 million. The war has so far lasted a month longer than Hitlers invasion of the Soviet Union which traversed many of the same battlefields. There is nothing ordinary about any of this. Why dont we have a greater sense of foreboding? Across the democracies of Europe, far-right parties are surging. Their common idea? Probably remigration the idea that non-white people are conspiring to destroy European civilisation and should be forcefully deported. Not long ago, this familiar-sounding conspiracy theory was reserved for neo-Nazi sects; now it is sometimes openly touted by far-right parties contesting for power, like Germanys Alternative For Deutschland (AfD). In Hungary and elsewhere, antisemitism is also being officially encouraged, often couched in attacks on Jewish businessmen such as George Soros. Related Article Foreign relations A shocking wake-up call: Trumps foreign policy manifesto savages Europe, lets Australia off hook It has even infected the official policy of the United States government. All America wants for Christmas, the US Department of Homeland Security tweeted recently, is remigration. Thats not a misquote. President Donald Trumps National Security Strategy, published a fortnight earlier, said Europe is facing civilisational erasure caused by non-European immigration and stated US support for the anti-immigration parties of the far right. American tanks rolled Nazism out of Europe in 1944 and 1945 but in 2025 and 2026, American diplomacy wants to help it return. Its almost hard to believe. In the face of all this, its not difficult to see why the parties of the centre are struggling to hold on. In Britain, the anti-immigration Reform Party led by Nigel Farage has been leading in the polls since Easter, while the Starmer Labour government, elected just 18 months ago with 411 of 650 seats in the House of Commons, seems terminally unpopular. You know the world has swung to the right when a far-left party wills on the centre-right German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also struggling to maintain popularity. And in France, President Emmanuel Macron is having trouble keeping the far-right parties from government. Across most of Europe, populist far-right parties are gaining or consolidating their vote share, some even governing. Advertisement And all this is being aided by the rapid undermining of the concept of the truth, as extremist governments and parties simply manufacture the truths they need about drug-smuggling boats, rocket attacks on Vladimir Putins official residences, or a thousand other things. So we have to confront the question: could such things happen here? Walled behind our gold-standard electoral system, we feel immune from the disease of right-wing extremism. Can our independent AEC and preferential voting rules really inoculate us? Sometimes its the small things that alert us to danger. Something quite alarming started happening this year: the reappearance on our streets of Nazis. Not wild, idiotic neo-Nazi skinheads, but actual Nazis who worship Adolf Hitler, call themselves National Socialists and march through the streets in disciplined ranks, wearing black uniforms. Like the sick rats emerging from the drains at the start of Albert Camus novel The Plague, their sudden and unexpected arrival is a sign. Related Article Exclusive Political leadership Albaneses approval rating plummets as social cohesion frays, Australians fear a rise in antisemitism: poll In May, voters re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses Labor Party with a record majority (though a weak primary vote), rejecting a Liberal-National Coalition that had drifted well away from the political centre. World commentators hailed Australia along with Canada for having found the formula to defeat populism. And yet, since then, Pauline Hansons One Nation Party has climbed in the polls, hitting 16 per cent in the latest Resolve Political Monitor. And now, following the Bondi tragedy, Coalition members have begun making dark allusions to the cultural blindness of our immigration system and the failure of multiculturalism. Can they resist the temptation to forget the recent election result and contest the far-right vote with One Nation? Advertisement The fear is that illiberal-democracy has now gained an Australian bridgehead that can be consolidated and expanded in 2026. Will someone like future Liberal leadership contender Andrew Hastie make good on his implied threat of turning the Liberal Party into a MAGA-style populist movement, or maybe form a party of his own? It is possible the thing most preventing the hard right from breaking through until now has been Pauline Hanson. Perhaps a more articulate and canny leader could find a way to draw more people in. In Australia, thankfully, things havent progressed to extremes, but we now live in a more divided, extreme, violent and savage world than a decade ago. Liberal democracy is being confronted with something quite evil. Wider global conflict is far from impossible. If history is any guide, then carrying on as usual isnt an option. We need, in effect, a mental reset. We must start paying greater attention to whats going on at home and abroad, what dangerous ideas are gaining ground, and how utterly, utterly extraordinary the world is becoming. The crucial psychological step is to accept that our times are not normal. As Macron, the NATO chairman, the leaders of the Baltic countries and others have put it: we need to understand we are now living in a pre-war, not a postwar world, where major conflict is possible within five years. Our leaders need to spell out what that may mean for domestic and foreign policy. At home, it means explaining the absolute necessity for national unity, especially in the wake of the Bondi massacre. Those attempting to selfishly exploit that tragedy through dark, contrived, calculated messaging need to be confronted by strong leadership armed with a convincing story that puts this moment in its full perspective: the threat to liberal democracy posed by the global return of anti-democratic and antisemitic politics we defeated 80 years ago and now need to defeat again. Proscribing the National Socialist Network and cracking down on the most straightforward hate speech will be a good start. Advertisement Overseas, ending the Ukraine War is crucial. If still under way in May, it will have lasted longer than World War I, whose duration caused the collapse of the global order, weakened democracy and created the grievances that produced World War II. Big long wars have consequences that cant be guessed at or contained this is one of historys biggest lessons. Europe and the United States must now pressure Russia to accept terms that allow Ukraine to survive not just to end the killing but to head off a potentially wider disaster. Victory might embolden Putin to attack other neighbouring countries he considers Russian and maybe even encourage China to turn its current military exercises near Taiwan into actual invasion. Under such pressure, the postwar international legal and diplomatic architecture might totally unravel. With Donald Trump seemingly unwilling to confront Putin, the rest of NATO must, with Australian support, as we have done to date by arming Ukraine with tanks and armoured personnel vehicles and supporting NATO-led diplomacy. If the war ends soon, might 2026 see Australian peacekeepers in Ukraine? If so, believers in democracy should support it. Related Article Taiwan Australia deeply concerned about Chinas live fire drills as Xi calls reunification unstoppable This year we will also see midterm congressional elections that may clip Trumps wings. Perhaps more importantly, the major contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination will emerge and the world will begin holding its breath, hoping the primaries that follow produce a leader electable enough to win and maybe put this lamentable era of history to bed. Lets ensure 2026 is the year we finally grasp the extraordinary peril facing our world and begin confronting it with the necessary decisiveness and clarity. The sound of gunfire at Bondi was surely enough to wake us up. Advertisement Dennis Glover is a speechwriter, novelist and author of Repeat: A Warning from History. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. Advertisement PoliticsFederalBondi shooting Utter darkness of antisemitism must be examined, says Melbourne archbishop Brittany Busch and Natassia Chrysanthos Updated January 2, 2026 5:14pm ,first published 5:01pm 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 One of Australias most senior Catholics has stressed that the church did not want its call for an inquiry into antisemitism in Australia to be politicised, while urging the government to undertake a deeper examination of how the ancient hatred has spread through the nation. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has stopped short of advocating for a royal commission wanted by the families of victims, a call now supported by the Business Council of Australia, over 100 captains of industry, more than 200 judges and barristers, the Coalition, and two of Albaneses backbenchers. Melbournes Catholic archbishop, Peter Comensoli, says a national inquiry into antisemitism is needed. Joe Armao Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli said on Friday the bishops did not want to suggest what form an inquiry takes, but said Australia needed to examine how the utter darkness of antisemitism had become ingrained in some parts of society. Many voices now are calling for some serious inquiry, and I think that the government might be able to hear that and respond in a positive way. I think [that] would be a significant move, Comensoli said. Advertisement There is importance that this is not politicised, but that there is a deep call for an examination and ways of naming and then addressing [antisemitism]. Related Article Bondi shooting Albanese says security agency chiefs were the experts who advised against a royal commission He said antisemitism had exploded since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, but had been present in Australian society for considerably longer. The religious leaders were joined on Friday by the Business Council of Australia (BCA), which leant its weight to calls for a royal commission following an open letter from eminent industry figures urging the inquiry be launched. The BCA said a royal commission was essential to supporting diverse workplaces and would show the world Australia was serious about tackling antisemitism. Advertisement Without sustainably safe and cohesive workplaces and communities, we cannot deliver prosperity for all Australians, which is the ultimate objective underpinning the advocacy and efforts of our organisations, the group said in a statement. The BCA, Australias peak business lobby, released the statement on behalf of eight other top industry bodies, including the Australian Banking Association, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australian Industry Group, Australian Retailers Association, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, the Insurance Council of Australia, Master Builders Australia and the Minerals Council of Australia. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry did not sign the joint statement, with chief executive Andrew McKellar saying the organisations focus had been on working directly with government on a comprehensive response. We have strongly urged that no stone be left unturned in addressing the causes and consequences of this tragedy, he said in a statement. Former Victorian Liberal premiers Ted Baillieu, Denis Napthine and Jeff Kennett have also leant their voices to the call for a royal commission. Advertisement Advertisement Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president, Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe, welcomed the governments inquiry into security agencies but said more needed to be done. It is only by shining a light into the dark corners of our society - including its political, business, academic, media, religious, and cultural institutions - that we can hope to unmask the antisemitism which might otherwise go unseen, unacknowledged and unaddressed, Costelloe said in a statement on Thursday night. For that reason, alongside the Richardson review, some form of wider, national inquiry with sufficient authority and resourcing which can probe into the deeper issues which lie at the heart of antisemitism is needed. Neither the Australian National Imams Council nor the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) put forward their view on a national inquiry. Both have strongly condemned the Bondi attack, while AFIC has previously said its position on a royal commission would depend on its scope. Advertisement The purpose of any inquiry must be to uncover truth, not reinforce a narrative, AFIC president Rateb Jneid said last month. We are concerned that a narrow or politicised process would serve only to entrench fear and division. Advertisement Exclusive PoliticsFederalImmigration Hastie, Price and Advance fundraise for their own anti-immigration campaigns Natassia Chrysanthos January 3, 2026 4:34am 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 Liberal backbencher Andrew Hastie has crowdfunded $260,000 to launch his own multimedia advertising blitz on immigration in the new year, promising a relentless ad campaign to force the issue onto the national agenda as the Coalition fine-tunes its official policies after the Bondi attack. Conservative campaign group Advance is also preparing to roll out a new campaign against immigration, and Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price crowdfunded at the end of the year for her own efforts. Each sent emails to their supporter mailing lists within two hours of one another on New Years Eve morning, saying it was the last day to make donations. Liberal MP Andrew Hastie is launching his own immigration campaign. The Coalition is yet to unveil its official policies. Alex Ellinghausen Hastie and Price moved to the Coalition backbench last year in part over their hardline approach to the immigration debate, but the fundraising blitz signals they are preparing to step up their push for tougher migration settings after winning the fight within the Liberal Party to ditch net zero. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley fast-tracked an immigration plan last year to avoid another showdown like the net zero debate, which led the opposition to dump climate targets under sustained pressure from its right flank despite early signs that moderates had the numbers to retain net zero in some form. Advertisement The immigration policy was due in December, although it was delayed after the Bondi terror attack. It is expected to include a stronger values test for Australian visas as well as plans to scale up deportations of unlawful migrants. Ley on Friday said the Coalitions policy will be coming forward in due course but that it would need to get tougher. [It] clearly requires additional consideration following the evident failures of this government. She said Labor had not acted in the strongest possible way to ensure that people who come to this country are properly assessed and screened for the values, the ideals and the contribution to Australia, that must be front and centre of any immigrant to this country. The Bondi shooting was allegedly committed by two men motivated by Islamic State ideology, one of whom migrated to Australia from India under the Howard Coalition government in the late 1990s, and one of whom is an Australian citizen. Australias Muslim community say they are experiencing a backlash after Bondi, and 10 mosques and Islamic centres from across the country have reported harassment, vandalism, break-ins or threats of harm. Advertisement Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Alex Ellinghausen The Albanese government is drafting laws to crack down on hate preachers and will make it easier for the Home Affairs department to cancel or deny visas to people who have a history of engaging in hate speech and vilification, while it calls for unity after the terror attack. Hasties fundraising suggests he will keep campaigning on his own terms. He has described last months Bondi attack as a wake-up call on radical Islamic theology in Instagram posts. One is captioned time to reach for the deport button and includes calls to narrow the gate for entry to our country. The Liberal leadership aspirant, who quit Leys frontbench to speak his mind on migration last October, started asking supporters at the beginning of December to raise $275,000 by the end of 2025 to supercharge a massive campaign against Labors immigration regime. That means hard-hitting digital TV and social media ads, direct mail and flyers, he said. Advertisement Hastie this week told this masthead he had raised almost $260,000 from 2297 supporters. Liberals will win when we demonstrate to mainstream Australians that we are prepared to take their concerns about immigration seriously. Its also what Liberal supporters demand, based on the response to my recent emails, he said. Hastie said his campaign was not affiliated with conservative campaign group Advance, which boosted its public profile championing the No campaign during the Voice referendum, with Price at the helm. Advance also made an end-of-year appeal for a $1 million war chest to fund an immigration-focused digital TV, YouTube, and social media blitz during the start of 2026. In its email communications from executive director Matthew Sheahan, Advance references the Bondi attack as it claims the country is being pulled apart by immigration and accuses Labor of opening the doors to countless immigrants who do not share our values. Advertisement Related Article Inside Story Liberal Party Mr Conviction: Whats behind Andrew Hasties new crusade? You and I cannot sit around after Bondi and pretend that doing nothing is an option. Now matters more than ever. Sheahans email said digital TV slots, YouTube placements and social media ads had been scheduled and purchased to ensure that 2026 started with clarity and strength in this fight for our country. The campaign will then move to billboards, direct mail, television, phone calls and text messages. Advances social media posts have previously featured AI-generated images of people with dark hair and brown skin massing in queues at the airport or outside a rental property. Some of its material has directly targeted sitting Liberals, including current immigration spokesman Paul Scarr. Scarr has been a staunch defender of multiculturalism in his speeches. In October, he took a veiled swipe at Hastie for borrowing the words of former British Conservative MP Enoch Powell, who told Britons in 1968 they risked becoming strangers in their own country. Advertisement He has also fought against the use of the term mass migration in political debate, which is regularly deployed by the likes of Advance and Price. Price said her end-of-year fundraising drive, which aims to raise $125,850, would go towards her Family, Community, Nation Fund, with a focus on immigration, energy and education. Related Article Immigration Migrant intake hits three-year low but population continues to grow The Northern Territory senators political star faded last year after she defected from the Nationals to make a failed run for the Liberal Partys deputy leadership. She was then sacked from Leys frontbench for erroneous claims about Indian migrants. Price was the only politician to suffer a year-on-year fall in net likeability, according to this mastheads end-of-year Resolve poll. After a challenging year of media attacks and constant scrutiny, Im more determined than ever to keep speaking my mind on these issues, she said in a fundraising email. Advertisement In an earlier fundraising email focused on immigration, she said: It will take a while, because the media is all in on open borders and will attack anyone as racist for raising questions. But Im not going to back down. With your support, I will take the time to make the case, change the conversation, and demand a change in policy. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement Updated WorldEuropeFire We followed all safety rules, say Swiss bar owners after deadly inferno David Crowe Updated January 3, 2026 8:45am ,first published 6:48am 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 Crans-Montana: Swiss investigators have questioned the owners of a bar where 40 people died in an inferno on New Years Day, as a chief prosecutor says the blaze was probably ignited by sparklers carried by bartenders. As families wait for authorities to identify the dead, the investigation is focusing on the use of fireworks and a recent renovation that lined the ceiling with insulation material that appears to have spread the deadly fire. But the French couple who bought the business in 2015 insist they have followed the law despite mounting criticism of the way hundreds of revellers were packed into the bar and struggled to escape the flames. Weve been inspected three times in 10 years, one of the owners, Jacques Moretti, told French news site 24 Heures after authorities expressed their concerns. Advertisement Everything was done according to the regulations. Hours earlier, the chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, said the inquiry was looking into the use of sparklers that were attached to bottles and held aloft in the club before the fire began in the early hours of New Years Day. Everything suggests that the fire started from the burning sparklers... that had been attached to champagne bottles and were moved too close to the ceiling, she said. From there, a rapid, very rapid and widespread blaze ensued. Mourners gathered in the ski resort of Crans-Montana on Friday, one day after the fire, to lay flowers near a police barricade that surrounds the burnt remains of the bar, known as Le Constellation and was popular with teenagers. Advertisement Mourners light candles at the scene of the fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. Getty Images Pilloud, who is responsible for the Valais canton that includes Crans-Montana, said the investigators were examining sound-proofing foam attached to the ceiling of the basement to the bar, where the fire started. Related Article Analysis Tragedy It happened in seconds: How a night of youthful joy turned into tragedy One local told this masthead that Le Constellation was known as a bar that would allow young teenagers to buy drinks. Under Swiss law, the age limit for the purchase of wine and beer is 16 years, and 18 years for high-proof alcohol. Authorities said 119 people were injured in the blaze and many of them had been sent to burns units in hospitals throughout Switzerland as well as in Italy, France and Germany. Advertisement The injured included 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French and 11 Italians, along with citizens of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal and Poland, according to Frederic Gisler, police commander of the Valais region. The nationalities of 14 people were still unclear. The Australian government has confirmed that one Australian was injured in the fire but have not disclosed anything further, other than that the persons family is receiving consular assistance. The first victim has been named as Emanuele Galeppini, 17, an Italian golfer. His uncle Sebastiano Galeppini told Italian news agency ANSA that their family is awaiting the DNA checks, but the Italian Golf Federation announced that he had died. Among those injured is French footballer Tahirys Dos Santos, 19, who was severely burned in the fire, according to his football club, FC Mertz. Loading Advertisement Eric Bonvin, the general director of the regional hospital in Sion, a Swiss town near Crans-Montana, told The Associated Press that 55 seriously injured victims were taken to the hospital soon after the fire. Bonvin said the injured were teenagers and young adults, roughly 20 years old, on average, Related Article Updated Fire The sparks flew up: About 40 people killed in New Year bar fire at Swiss ski resort There were inhalations of both smoke and also of heat that, for some, probably led to internal burns. Thats a really catastrophic situation, as you can imagine, he said. By Friday afternoon, most had been transferred to other hospitals, while others had been discharged, Bonvin said. Advertisement With 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. Korbit, the South Korean crypto exchange in talks to be bought by Mirae Asset, was fined 2.73 billion won ($1.9 million) by the country's regulator for multiple anti money-laundering and customer verification breaches. The Financial Intelligence Unit said the exchange violated key provisions of the countrys Special Financial Transactions Act, including lapses in customer due-diligence and transaction restrictions. In addition to the fine, it imposed an institutional warning and issued personal disciplinary measures against senior Korbit executives, it said Wednesday. The enforcement action comes as Mirae Asset, a Seoul-based financial group with no prior involvement in crypto-related businesses, holds talks to acquire a majority stake in Korbit in a deal reported to be worth as much as $98 million. The FIU also " decided to impose sanctions on related executives and employees, including a warning to the CEO and a reprimand to the person responsible for reporting, the regulator's notice said. The FIU said it conducted an on-site inspection of Korbit in October 2024 and found thousands of anti money-laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) verification violations. It noted that the enforcement action is part of its efforts in strengthening anti-money laundering capabilities and legal compliance systems of businesses so that the virtual asset market can grow with public trust. In November, the FIU issued Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, South Korea's largest crypto exchange, a $25 million fine and other sanctions for similar violations. 8 months on, GMRs wait to transform city airport continues By Vikas Vaidya : The Rs 7,000 crore project was launched in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually in 2024, and GMR was to start the operations in April 2025 The much-awaited transformation of Nagpurs Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, handed over to GMR Airports Limited (GAL) in April, 2025 for the same, is yet to start. Even after the passage of 8 months, the wait continues. Highly placed sources in Delhi told The Hitavada that GMR is ready to take over and start work at any given time, but the process is getting delayed at the State Government end. Sources in Delhi told The Hitavada that though GMR is fully prepared to take over and start work any time, the wait continues thanks to the dilly-dallying by the Maharashtra Government. It was assumed that delay may lead to the project changing hands. But, GMR won the case in Supreme Court, with the possibility of change ruled out. The battle in court already delayed the project a bit but Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was consistently following it. A well-equipped building of 3 lakh square feet will be raised under the project, which will be built at a cost of around Rs 7,000 crore. GMR Airports Limited (GAL) is expected to upgrade, develop, and operate Nagpurs Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport and transform the Airport into a modern aviation hub. The upgradation is set to create a state-of-the-art airport infrastructure, which will expand both passenger and cargo operations. A key objective of MIHAN has always been to position Nagpur as a cargo hub, significantly enhancing cargo handling and logistics in the region. The project was flagged off in the virtual presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024 and it was assumed that the GMR would start its operations in April 2025. Then it was delayed further by a month as it did not get approval by the Union Cabinet. The land on which Nagpur airport stands belongs to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The land first was to be transferred to MIL, it wasnt. The lease agreement was to be signed. Surprisingly, over the period of time, it was not done. To add to the problems, it came to the notice of the Central ministry that neither the MIL had the Fire NOC nor Environment Clearance (EC). All came out of deep slumber and the lease agreement was signed between AAI and MIL for 30 years, counted from 2009 when the latter came into existence. It means 16 years have already passed and now only 14 years remained. Of course, at the Ministry of Civil Aviation level, the 30-year lease was transferred to GMR from MIL. The runway recarpetting done at Nagpur airport came for some flak, but it was eventually the correct decision. Sans recarpetting of the runway, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken a decision of closure of Nanded airport. Same thing would have happened at Nagpur airport too had the runway recarpetting not been done. GMR may take over next week After the Union Cabinet sent back the proposal of GMR from MIL pointing out some deficiencies, the Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, who is also the Chairman of MIL at Airport, swung into action. He kept following up the issue with the Central ministry. There was an issue of increasing the taxiway near Air India MRO. Most issues are cleared including procuring the necessary documents. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had assured that GMR was likely to start operations by the end of the year. It could not be done as the Central ministry kept raising minute queries. According to highly placed sources, the GMR may be able to take charge by next week or atleast the process of its taking charge of city airport may begin. Indore water tragedy sparks ALARM in Bhopal By Chandravir Kumar: THE tragic death of 12 people due to contaminated water in Indore has sent shockwaves across Madhya Pradesh, yet the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) appears to be leaning on bureaucratic claims rather than addressing a ticking time bomb beneath the citys streets. While Municipal Commissioner Sanskriti Jain has certified 99% of the water distribution network as safe, the ground reality in the state capital tells a more perilous story. Bhopals water distribution is a tale of two cities. While New Bhopal enjoys relatively modern infrastructure, areas like Itwara, Budhwara, Bagh Farhat Afza, Karond, and Bairagarh rely on a network that is 40 to 50 years old. Of the citys 2,500 km long pipeline network, nearly 45% passes directly through open drains and sewage channels. Public health experts explain that when the water supply is cut off, a negative pressure is created within the pipes. This suction draws sewage and filth from leakages directly into the main supply. In localities like Fiza Colony (Ward 78), residents report having to flush out foul-smelling, black water for the first 5 to 8 minutes every time the supply begins. Following the Indore crisis, Superintending Engineer Udit Garg ordered the testing of over 300 water samples. Officials claimed that no significant leakages were detected on the first day. However, experts warn that standard chlorination, currently being ramped up by the BMC, has its limits.If sewage is directly infiltrating the pipes, the standard dose of chlorine cannot neutralise all pathogens, posing a severe risk of water-borne epidemics, a public health specialist noted. The Amrit 2.0 Lag: Under the Rs 448-crore Amrit 2.0 Project, the BMC plans to replace old pipelines with Galvanised Iron (GI) lines. However, the pace of execution remains sluggish. Currently, the citys water supply capacity stands between 514 and 575 MLD, but approximately 15-20% of this water is lost to leakages, which also serve as entry points for contaminants. Stung by the neighbouring citys tragedy, Mayor Malti Rai has directed officials to implement rigorous monitoring. The Indore incident is a grave warning for all urban bodies. No negligence will be tolerated in Bhopal, she said, demanding a detailed report on pipeline vulnerabilities. JMC initiates driveto ensure CLEANdrinking water to people Staff Reporter: IN THE wake of the tragic incident of contaminated drinking water in Indores Bhagirathpura area, the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has intensified efforts to safeguard public health. Mayor Jagat Bahadur Singh and Municipal C o m m i s s i o n e r Ramprakash Ahirwar have directed the Water Department to ensure the supply of only clean and safe drinking water to citizens, with daily monitoring of the water supply system. Following these instructions, the JMCs Water Department has geared up and initiated pipeline repair and improvement work in all zones of the city. Areas from where complaints of dirty water or pipeline leakages were received have been specifically identified. Officials have been clearly instructed that any negligence in ensuring pure drinking water will not be tolerated. Keeping the Indore incident in view, joint teams of the Health Department and Water Department have also begun collecting drinking water samples from different parts of the city. Samples are being taken from overhead tanks as well as from end-point households. Wherever Department, but the fear of the leopard had spread terror in about half a dozen villages near Ghunaur. Since the incident, Forest Department team had been continuously trying to catch the leopard. Just a day earlier, the Forest Department had set a trap by tying a goat in a cage to catch the leopard, but the leopard hunted the goat and escaped. On Thursday, the Forest Department again tied a goat in the cage, and this time the leopard was caught in the trap. The residents of about half a dozen villages have now breathed a sigh of relief after the capture of leopard by Forest Department. Maitri Bagh becomes major attraction THE New Year began on a lively note at Maitri Bagh in Bhilai, as thousands of tourists flocked to the popular park on January 1 to celebrate the first day of 2026. Visitors arrived in large numbers not only from Bhilai and Durg but also from several nearby districts, turning the zoo and picnic spot into a vibrant hub of activity throughout the day. Tourists enjoyed exploring the zoo, watching lions, bears, deer, monkeys and other wildlife species, which especially thrilled children. Many families and groups of friends chose Maitri Bagh to welcome the New Year, spending quality time amid greenery and pleasant weather. Boating emerged as one of the biggest attractions, with visitors taking full advantage of the cool and comfortable climate. The mini train ride also remained a favourite among children. Adding to the festive experience, the Bhilai Steel Plant management introduced several new infrastructure and service initiatives at Maitri Bagh. A major highlight was the launch of a Large number of visitors seen at entrance gate of Maitri Bagh. new food court from January 1, located prominently in front of Pragati Minar. The food court offers a variety of popular items, such as chow mein, paneer chilli, pasta, and sandwiches. To ensure quick service and smooth crowd management, six separate food counters have been set up. With tourists pouring in from across the State, the park remained bustling all day. The Maitri Bagh management made special arrangements to handle the crowd, while the police department deployed additional personnel to ensure safety and order. MP dirty water deaths: NHRC seeks report from State Govt within 2 weeks NEW DELHI : THE NHRC has sought a report within two weeks from the Madhya Pradesh Government over a media report alleging seven deaths and 40 cases of hospitalisation after consuming contaminated water in Indore district, an official said on Thursday. Taking suo motu cognisance of Wednesdays media report about the alleged water contamination deaths in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore district, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Chief Secretary calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. Reportedly, the residents had been complaining about the supply of contaminated water supply for several days, but no action was taken by the authorities. The Commission, in its notice, observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of the human rights of the victims. According to the media report, carried on December 31, 2025, the main pipeline, which supplies drinking water to the area, passes beneath a public toilet. Due to a leakage in the main line, sewage water reportedly mixed with the drinking water. Besides, several water distribution lines were also found broken in the area, due to which contaminated water was reaching the households, said the NHRC notice. The incident assumed political colour after Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari demanded the immediate resignation of ill-mannered ministers on moral grounds. Patwari alleged that the victims were receiving neither free treatment nor sympathy, while ministers displayed arrogance and misbehaved with journalists. Social media users echoed the anger, amplifying calls for accountability, as over 2,000 residents were affected by severe vomiting and diarrhoea. A laboratory test has confirmed that a vomiting-diarrhoea outbreak, which has killed at least four patients and affected over 1,400 people in Indore, was caused by contaminated drinking water, officials said on Thursday. The findings of the test report substantiated that a life-threatening drinking water supply system prevails in Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital, ranked as India's cleanest city for the last eighth years. The crisis, linked to a leakage in the main Narmada water supply pipeline - exacerbated by a toilet constructed overhead - has exposed serious administrative lapses in Indias repeatedly awarded cleanest city. Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Minister and local MLA Kailash Vijayvargiya, whose constituency includes the affected area, faced intense backlash after he lost his temper during a media interaction on Wednesday. When a NDTV journalist questioned about accountability beyond junior officials and the lack of free treatment for victims, Minister Vijayvargiya responded dismissively, reportedly using phrases like dont ask useless questions and offensive language on camera. The incident quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation for crossing limits of decency. In response, Vijayvargiya later posted an apology on X, stating: My team and I have been working tirelessly without sleep for two days to improve the situation. In deep sorrow over the suffering and losses, my words came out wrong in response to a media question. I express regret for that. Narmada Kalash installedto mark commencement ofWorld Ramayana Conference Staff Reporter : THE 4th World Ramayana Conference commenced in Sanskardhani with the ceremonial installation of the Narmada Kalash, marking an auspicious and devotional beginning to the global event. The three-day mega event will formally commence from January 2 and continue till January 4. The concluding rituals of Sundarkand recitations organised across urban and rural areas for the success of the conference were also held at Manas Bhavan. During the programme, Dr Renu Arun Pandey and her team captivated the audience with live paintings based on themes from the Ramayana. The artwork drew warm applause from devotees, who praised the artists creativity. A series of cultural presentations including Geet Ramayan by Priyal Naaz Pandey Gatkar from Pune, a Kathak performance on Shri Ram Chandra Kripalu Bhaj Man by child artist Ira Dixit of Jabalpur, Ram bhRamam Raghavam by Shiv Shakti Kala Kendra, Jabalpur, and a graceful dance performance by Nilangi Kalantare of Trividha Dance Academy added grandeur to the event. The major attraction of the programme was renowned sand artist Gopal Charan Samal from Puri, Odisha, who visited Jabalpur for first time. His sand art depiction of the Ram Temple drew widespread attention and admiration from the audience. ajans by students of Vanvasi Chetna Ashram, Shiv Tandav by Wings Convent School students Onchain data from Bubblemaps revealed that roughly $250 million was withdrawn from decentralized perpetual exchange Lighter after it airdropped $675 million worth of LIT on Tuesday. In an X post, Bubblemaps questioned whether all the (yield) farmers were leaving? It also noted that Lighter users withdrew roughly $201.9 million worth of tokens on the Ethereum blockchain and approximately $52.2 million on arbitrum. Nicolas Vaiman, CEO of Bubblemaps, told CoinDesk that "these outflows represent more or less 20% of Lighter's total value locked (TVL) assets that total $1.4 billion per DeFiLlama. He also said that, while this is a large number, outflows like this following an airdrop are not uncommon as users rebalance hedging positions and move capital to the next farming opportunity. Vaiman said outflows similar to this one were seen after Hyperliquid and Aster launched their tokens and that it will likely happen again with other airdrops such as the PERP DEX or Paradex, Extended". Natalie Newson, CertiK senior blockchain security researcher, also spoke with CoinDesk regarding this event: "Large withdrawals after TGEs are usually driven by airdrop farmers and early participants exiting their positions. This is seen beyond just Lighter, though. We see it across many token launches. Without clear insight into new token distributions, there's a fog that allows a few insiders to operate and capture outsized gains shortly after launch." Leading up to the airdrop, LIT trading volume had remained relatively steady, ranging between $8 billion to $15 billion in November. However, in recent days, it dropped to as low as $2 billion, according to DeFiLlama data. The price of LIT has also dropped by nearly 23% since Dec. 30 from $3.37 to approximately $2.57. NHRC issues NOTICE to Chief Secretary over Indore water contamination issue By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla : THE National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken a suo motu cognizance of the reported death of 7 persons after consuming contaminated water being supplied in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore district. Taking cognizance of media reports commission found that after hospitalisation of 40 people in Indore after consuming water but plaint of contaminated water supply authorities took no action to check the contaminated water supply. Notably, residents had been complaining about the supply of contaminated water supply for several days, but no action was taken by the authorities. A notice was issued to the State Chief Secretary, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. According to the official, NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that as more than 40 others fell ill after consuming contaminated water in Bhagiratpura locality. The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of the human rights of the victims. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. According to the media report, carried on December 31, the main pipeline, which supplies drinking water to the area, passes beneath a public toilet. Due to a leakage in the main line, sewage water reportedly mixed with the drinking water. Besides, several water distribution lines were also found broken in the area, due to which contaminated water was reach- ing the households. Pace of developmentreached new heights inPM Modis leadership Staff Reporter: CHIEF Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the pace of development in the country has reached new heights. Critical infrastructure and energy projects, pending for decades, are now being completed in a timely manner through the PRAGATI platform. This is a powerful testament to the results-oriented, accountable, and decisive approach of the central government, said he. Chief Minister Sai has hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Prime Minister had approved the modernisation and expansion of the Bhilai Steel Plant and Lara Super Thermal Power Projects. Chief Minister Sai wrote on his X, The projects that were pending for decades are now being completed in a timely manner through the PRAGATI platform. This is a powerful testament to the results-oriented and decisive approach of the Central Government. Its impact is clearly visible in Chhattisgarh. The modernisation of the Bhilai Steel Plant is leading the country in rail production, creating thousands of jobs, and strengthening the resolve for a self-reliant India. At the same time, NTPC Lara Super Thermal Power Project (1600 MW) is giving new impetus to development by providing energy to six states including Chhattisgarh. We are proud of the historic achievements of the PRAGATI platform under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Clear goals, swift implementation, and concrete results are the path to a new India. It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 50th meeting of PRAGATI - the ICT-enabled multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation yesterday, marking a significant milestone in a decade-long journey of cooperative, outcome-driven governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, Prime Minister reviewed five critical infrastructure projects across sectors, including Road, Railways, Power, Water Resources, and Coal. These projects span 5 States, with a cumulative cost of more than Rs 40,000 crore. Several projects that had remained stalled for decades were completed or decisively unlocked after being taken up under the PRAGATI platform. These include the Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge in Assam, first conceived in 1997; the Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, where work began in 1995; the Navi Mumbai International Airport, conceptualised in 1997; the modernisation and expansion of the Bhilai Steel Plant, approved in 2007; and the Gadarwara and Lara Super Thermal Power Projects, sanctioned in 2008 and 2009 respectively. These outcomes demonstrate the impact of sustained high-level monitoring and inter-governmental coordination. QUAD quid pro quo THERE should be no doubt in any quarter that the meeting of four QUAD Ambassadors to China in Beijing would evoke much interest and raise many an eyebrow around the world about what may be happening in global diplomacy. Though China has not officially responded to the envoys meet in its capital, its position is well-known that cooperation among countries should not target any third party ... and engaging in group politics and bloc confrontation will not bring lasting peace and security, and is not conducive to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the world as a whole (as per an earlier expression of anxiety by Beijing). Though this Chinese response was already known, the four QUAD Ambassadors choice to meet right in Beijing needs to be interpreted seriously. Though the host -- United States Ambassador to China Mr. David Perdue -- stated that the grouping had the sole purpose of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, international observers would certainly wait to see the actual outcome -- howsoever silent -- of the development. Other three QUAD member-nations -- India, Japan, and Australia -- did not offer any official reaction to the Beijing meet. Yet, India has always maintained that the grouping need not be seen as against any country. Of course, China is least likely to take only a superficial look at the Beijing meet of the four QUAD Ambassadors. True, the meeting in Beijing does indicate a certain open-mindedness that the Chinese locale was not an anathema to such a diplomatic activity (since China was statedly not the target). Despite this, China has always been edgy about the QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) since the grouping statedly addresses multiple issues in the Indo-Pacific (which involves Chinese interests). China also has a specific objection to using the term Indo-Pacific and insists upon calling the region Asia-Pacific -- which explains the Chinese anxieties about QUAD. No matter the official denials by QUAD member-nations, China -- and possibly major segments of world opinion -- believes that the grouping has a hidden anti-Beijing agenda. It has felt that the groupings chief (though unstated) purpose is to restrict the Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also anxious about the American approach to the issues in the South China Sea area. The Ambassadors meet at Beijing, thus, has to be viewed from all these angles. Though no QUAD member has expressed any open anxiety about Chinas cantankerousness, the diplomatic unease in the grouping also can be sensed. In order to brush aside any Chinese apprehensions, US Ambassador Mr. David Perdue said following the meet that the relations among the four countries continues to be stable and strong (and describably based upon the objective of consolidating mutual interests and respect). However, international observers believe that all the QUAD member-nations are fully conscious of the Chinese anxieties and therefore keep softening the rough-edges by offering justifications about the QUAD purpose from time to time. No matter what the involved parties on both sides of the divide may have to say about QUAD and its activities and its purpose, the world would always see it as a counter-balance to Beijings interest in dominating the Indo-Pacific region for its aggressive purposes. The biggest problem China faces is the global trust-deficit. Everybody views China with certain suspicion in almost every matter. India, for its part, has tried its best to keep its bilateral relations with Beijing on an even keel. Yet, it has not hesitated in demonstrating to China and the World what it is capable of doing when things come to crunch. The American position vis-a-vis China is all clear, while Japan and Australia also have their own positions where China and Indo-Pacific are concerned. China is conscious of all those angularities -- which show up in its anxieties about QUAD -- which got heightened all the more with the Beijing meet. Ukrainian drone strike kills 24 people in Russia RUSSIAN officials on Thursday said a Ukrainian drone strike killed 24 people and wounded at least 50 more as they celebrated the New Year in a Russian-occupied village in Ukraines Kherson region, as tensions between the two nations continue to spike despite diplomats hailing productive peace talks. Three drones struck a cafe and hotel in the resort town of Khorly on the Black Sea coast, the regions Moscow-installed leader, Vladimir Saldo, said in a statement on Telegram. He said that one of the drones carried an incendiary mixture, sparking a blaze. Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on the claim of a strike. The attack was condemned by a number of Russian officials. Valentina Matviyenko, the chair of Russias upper house of Parliament, the Federation Council, said that the strike strengthened Russias resolve to quickly achieve its goals in its almost four-year invasion of Ukraine. The strike once again demonstrates the validity of our initial demands, Matviyenko said. The statement follows claims from Moscow that Ukraine launched a long-range drone attack against one of Russian President Vladimir Putins official residences in north-western Russia on Tuesday. Kyiv has denounced the claims as a lie. Russias Defence Ministry released a video on Wednesday of a downed drone it said was involved in the attack. The night-time clip showed a man in camouflage, a helmet and a Kevlar vest standing near a damaged drone lying in snow. The man, his face covered, talks about the drone. Neither the man nor the Defence Ministry provided any location or date. The video and claims could not be independently verified. Kyiv has called the allegations of an attack on Putins residence a ruse to derail ongoing peace negotiations, which have ramped up in recent weeks on both sides of the Atlantic. In his New Years address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a peace deal was 90 per cent ready but warned that the remaining 10 per cent, believed to include key sticking points such as territory, would determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live. Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday that he, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trumps son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner had a productive call with the national security advisers of Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine to discuss advancing the next steps in the European peace process. We focused on how to move the discussions forward in a practical way on behalf of (Trumps) peace process, including strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms to help end the war and ensure it does not restart, Witkoff said in a post on X. Lead Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov also reaffirmed that European and Ukrainian officials plan to meet on Saturday, while Zelenskyy is due to hold talks next week with European leaders. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia attacked the Odesa region overnight, targeting civilian infrastructure in several waves of drone attacks, according to regional head Oleh Kiper. In a post on Telegram, Kiper said a two-story residential building was damaged and that a drone hit an apartment on the 17th floor of a high-rise building without detonating. There were no casualties reported. In its daily report, Ukraines air force said air defence forces had downed or suppressed 176 of 205 drones targeting the country overnight. It said hits by 24 strike drones were recorded at 15 locations, and the attack was still ongoing. Vidhan Bhavan project: Green activists strongly opposing taking over of existing parking land Staff Reporter : More than 20 green activists have written to Municipal Commissioner to retain the lush green parking spot Environment activists of Nagpur raised voice against the proposal for conversion of the existing lush green land for expansion of the Vidhan Bhavan in Sitabuldi area. Around 20 green activists submitted objection letter to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) against the advertisement issued by the NMC regarding change of land use for Khasra No 283 in Sitabuldi area. In the letter, the activists claimed that existing parking land is extremely crucial for planned urban development. The lush green parking land plays an important role in reducing traffic congestion, ensuring orderly parking, and supporting sustainable urban growth by mandating adequate space for vehicles in developed area. Recently, NMC approved the transfer of 2,033 sq. mt. of its prime land near Zero Mile to the Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat for the long-awaited Vidhan Bhavan expansion project. The triangular plot, located at Mouza Sitabuldi (City Survey No. 1855/1), lies adjacent to the existing Vidhan Bhavan complex and the iconic Zero Mile, making it a strategically vital location for the State Governments ambitious expansion plan. The land, owned by NMC, was originally reserved for parking in the citys sanctioned development plan. It was also part of the Zero Mile area development project undertaken by the Public Works Department (PWD). In exchange, NMC will receive 938.91 sq. mt. of alternative land from the Government Printing Press premises, including 797 sq. mt. and an adjoining 141.91 sq. mt. plot near Zero Mile, which will be developed as a multi-level parking facility. Now, the green activists are demanding development of the land as parking lot instead of giving it for the Vidhan Bhavan project. They also stated in the letter that green spaces are essential components of urban planning. Such green areas significantly help in reducing pollution levels and provide numerous environmental benefits. Green activists also requested the civic body to keep the land as it is for better health of citizens. Water seepage at Manish Nagar underpass still overlooked The water that has seeped through the sewer line onto the road. By Shashwat Bhuskute : In a city of expertise and power, why is dysfunction normalised? For over two weeks, the Manish Nagar underpass has stood as an uncomfortable metaphor for urban governance in the city. The discussion so far has centered on sewage overflow, slippery roads and daily inconvenience. But the larger issue lies elsewhere. This is not merely about water on an underpass road; it is about how easily systemic failure is absorbed into everyday life, without answers, ownership or urgency. Contd from page 1 Nagpur is not short of knowledge or capability. It hosts nationally respected institutions that specialise in engineering, environment and urban systems. It has produced political leaders of national standing such as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, both closely associated with the narrative of infrastructure led development. And yet, a critical urban structure can malfunction for days without a clear explanation, timeline or public accountability. The unanswered question is not where the sewage came from, but how such failure was possible at all. Was the underpass designed without accounting for sewer load and pressure? Were pipelines allowed to pass overhead without adequate safeguards? Was maintenance reactive rather than preventive? Each possibility points to a deeper trouble, projects are built to be inaugurated, not endured. According to Sudhanshu Mohod, a Civil Engineer and water proofing expert, the underpass is one of the busiest passage that connects South Nagpur to Western part of Nagpur, a passage that is busy round the clock. The leaks are quiet common in patches around the year, a damaged pipeline or seepage through the sewage cannot be ruled out. Many citizens have complained to the authorities but we rarely see any immediate action to resolve the issue. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is tasked with maintenance. But if the problem stems from flawed construction or compromised design, maintenance becomes a convenient shield rather than a solution. In such cases, citizens are left trapped between agencies, contractors and departments, each pointing elsewhere while the risk remains firmly in place. This is where the real danger lies. Not in slime on asphalt, but in a civic culture that treats infrastructure breakdown as episodic inconvenience instead of structural failure. When poor design, weak supervision and delayed response become routine, hazards stop provoking outrage and start being tolerated. The Manish Nagar underpass forces an uncomfortable reflection. If a basic urban structure cannot be made resilient, inspected proactively and repaired swiftly, what does that say about larger promises of smart cities, world-class roads and sustainable growth? The question Nagpur must ask is not why this underpass failed, but why failure carries so little consequence. Until accountability is designed as carefully as infrastructure, such episodes will keep resurfacing, quietly reminding citizens that neglect, not scarcity, is the citys biggest civic problem. Will neglect become a ballot issue? With Nagpur heading into long-due civic elections, failures like the Manish Nagar underpass acquires a political meaning. Voters are not just choosing corporators, they are judging years of oversight, design approvals and maintenance priorities. The civic election will test whether everyday infrastructure breakdowns finally translate into electoral accountability, or remain background noise in city politics. Shares of Pacific Alliance Bank (OTCMKTS:PFBN Get Free Report) passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $8.48 and traded as low as $8.31. Pacific Alliance Bank shares last traded at $8.31, with a volume of 1,900 shares trading hands. Pacific Alliance Bank Stock Performance The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $8.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.64. Get Pacific Alliance Bank alerts: About Pacific Alliance Bank (Get Free Report) Pacific Alliance Bank is a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Established in 2001, the institution specializes in serving small to medium-sized businesses, with a particular focus on facilitating cross-border trade between the United States and Asian markets. Through its parent holding company, Pacific Alliance Bancorp, the bank has developed expertise in trade finance and foreign exchange services designed to support importers and exporters. The banks product portfolio includes business deposit accounts, cash management solutions, commercial real estate lending, lines of credit and construction financing. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Pacific Alliance Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pacific Alliance Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pacer Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Portland General Electric Company (NYSE:POR Free Report) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm purchased 25,072 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $1,103,000. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC boosted its stake in Portland General Electric by 38.8% in the 2nd quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 44,777 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,819,000 after purchasing an additional 12,518 shares during the period. ATLAS Infrastructure Partners UK Ltd. raised its position in shares of Portland General Electric by 24.1% during the second quarter. ATLAS Infrastructure Partners UK Ltd. now owns 5,459,258 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $221,810,000 after buying an additional 1,058,623 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Portland General Electric in the second quarter worth $376,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Portland General Electric by 5.5% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 513,398 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $20,859,000 after acquiring an additional 26,753 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Portland General Electric by 20.9% during the second quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 66,348 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,696,000 after acquiring an additional 11,478 shares during the last quarter. Get Portland General Electric alerts: Portland General Electric Stock Down 0.1% Shares of NYSE POR opened at $48.06 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. Portland General Electric Company has a 12-month low of $39.54 and a 12-month high of $51.14. The firms 50-day moving average price is $48.41 and its 200-day moving average price is $44.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.48, a P/E/G ratio of 4.39 and a beta of 0.67. Portland General Electric Announces Dividend Portland General Electric ( NYSE:POR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The utilities provider reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.02. Portland General Electric had a return on equity of 8.32% and a net margin of 8.63%.The company had revenue of $952.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $975.64 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.90 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Portland General Electric Company will post 3.21 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.4%. Portland General Electrics payout ratio is currently 76.36%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have commented on POR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Portland General Electric from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Portland General Electric in a report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Portland General Electric from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Barclays increased their price target on Portland General Electric from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, Loop Capital set a $48.00 price objective on Portland General Electric in a research note on Tuesday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Portland General Electric currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.58. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on POR Portland General Electric Company Profile (Free Report) Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR) is an investor-owned electric utility headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, with roots tracing back to the late 19th century. The company generates, transmits and distributes electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers across a broad territory in Oregon, primarily encompassing the Portland metropolitan area and surrounding regions. As one of Oregons largest electric utilities, Portland General Electric operates a diverse portfolio of generation assets, including hydroelectric facilities, natural gasfired plants and renewable energy sources. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding POR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Portland General Electric Company (NYSE:POR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Portland General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Portland General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Affymax Inc. (OTCMKTS:AFFY Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.0008. Affymax shares last traded at $0.0008, with a volume of 2,550 shares changing hands. Affymax Stock Down 42.9% Get Affymax alerts: Affymax Company Profile (Get Free Report) Affymax, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare and underserved diseases. The company leverages its proprietary TransCon drug delivery platform to create prodrugs that offer sustained, predictable release of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Affymaxs research efforts concentrate on endocrinology and nephrology indications, seeking to address conditions that currently have limited treatment options. Among its lead product candidates, Affymax is advancing TransCon PTH for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism and TransCon Growth Hormone (TransCon GH) for pediatric growth hormone deficiency. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Affymax Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Affymax and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Several analysts have recently updated their ratings and price targets for Koninklijke Philips (NYSE: PHG): 12/29/2025 Koninklijke Philips had its sell (d+) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 12/22/2025 Koninklijke Philips was downgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating. 12/20/2025 Koninklijke Philips was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating. 12/17/2025 Koninklijke Philips was upgraded by analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein to a hold rating. 12/17/2025 Koninklijke Philips is now covered by analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada. They set a sector perform rating on the stock. 12/15/2025 Koninklijke Philips had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 12/8/2025 Koninklijke Philips had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 12/1/2025 Koninklijke Philips had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 11/25/2025 Koninklijke Philips had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 11/22/2025 Koninklijke Philips was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating. 11/19/2025 Koninklijke Philips had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 11/13/2025 Koninklijke Philips had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings. 11/7/2025 Koninklijke Philips was upgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating. 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Koninklijke Philips NV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Koninklijke Philips NV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. LONDON, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- nodeQ, a provider of quantum networking software, today positioned telaQ as a leading digital twin platform for quantum and quantum-safe networks, enabling telecommunications operators and large enterprises to plan next-generation communications infrastructure. telaQ provides a physics-accurate, protocol-level, and scalable digital representation of quantum, quantum-safe, and hybrid classical-quantum networks, enabling realistic modelling and emulation from initial pilots through to large-scale deployments. It allows operators to rigorously evaluate and improve architectural choices, cryptographic strategies, and protocol performance across post-quantum cryptography (PQC), quantum key distribution (QKD), and emerging quantum networking technologies, including entanglement distribution and quantum information transmission. telaQ is available in two purpose-built versions: telaQ Security , focused on the design and planning of quantum-safe networks, enabling operators to effectively implement PQC and QKD, while addressing security, performance, and deployability at scale. , focused on the design and planning of quantum-safe networks, enabling operators to effectively implement PQC and QKD, while addressing security, performance, and deployability at scale. telaQ Computing, focused on the design and optimization of scalable quantum computing networks, supporting the interconnection of quantum processors, quantum data centers, and distributed quantum computing environments. "Telecom operators and enterprises are making long-term architectural decisions in the face of rapidly evolving quantum technologies," said S. Pirandola at nodeQ. "telaQ represents the most advanced commercially deployed digital twin for planning quantum and quantum-safe networks, enabling organizations to de-risk both security and computing architectures before physical implementation." telaQ is currently being used across the telecommunications sector to plan and de-risk next-generation network architectures, supporting use cases such as technology migration planning, resilience testing, and the evaluation of security and performance as networks evolve toward quantum-safe communications and future quantum computing infrastructures. Unlike traditional network observability or cryptographic inventory tools, telaQ enables pre-deployment what-if analysis, network emulation, and performance optimization, providing operators with predictive insight into how new technologies will impact network behavior at scale. telaQ is designed to support a broad range of organizations including telecom operators, cloud and data-center network providers, critical-infrastructure operators, enterprises, and governments as they prepare for the imminent transition to quantum-safe communications and the parallel emergence of scalable, networked quantum computing. nodeQ's leadership in quantum networking is underpinned by deep technical expertise. The company's team has contributed to over 350 peer-reviewed publications across quantum communications, quantum networking, security, and distributed quantum computing, providing a strong scientific foundation for its commercial platforms. This research heritage informs the design and capabilities of telaQ, bridging advanced theory with real-world deployment needs. The team's impact on the scientific community and technological advancements has been recognized through awards, including the 2025 IET Achievement Medal in Quantum Technology awarded to S. Pirandola. About nodeQ nodeQ develops software that enables organizations to deploy and operate networks in the quantum era. Its flagship platform, telaQ, delivers nodeQ's Quantum Digital Twin capability for planning quantum and quantum-safe networks, supporting the immediate need for secure communications as well as the next step toward distributed quantum computing. nodeQ is a multi-award-winning startup, recognized at the World Communication Awards 2025 and Connected Britain 2025. Contacts [email protected] Request a demo or a brochure at www.nodeq.io SOURCE nodeQ Alpha Wealth Funds, LLC, an investment management company, released its Q3 2025 letter for the Insiders Fund. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund returned 4.96% in September, bringing the YTD returns to 21.37%. This compares to the benchmark, S&P 500 September return of 3.65% and the year-to-date return through September 30, 2025, of 14.83%. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Alpha Wealth Insiders Fund highlighted stocks such as Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY). Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The one-month return of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) was 5.93%, and its shares gained 38.12% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On December 31, 2025, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) stock closed at $1,074.68 per share, with a market capitalization of $963.404 billion. Alpha Wealth Insiders Fund stated the following regarding Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter: "Business: Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a pharma powerhouse: maker of Mounjaro and Zepbound in weight-loss/diabetes, blockbuster cancer and immunology drugs, and a booming Alzheimers pipeline. Its stock rides the GLP-1 wave, fueling massive growth and market-cap dominance. Was Jim Cramer Right About Eli Lilly and Company (LLY)? Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is in 21st position on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 114 hedge fund portfolios held Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) at the end of the third quarter, compared to 119 in the previous quarter. In the third quarter of 2025, Eli Lilly and Company's (NYSE:LLY) revenue grew 54% compared to the same period last year. While we acknowledge the potential of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) 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. TransAlta Co. (TSE:TA Get Free Report) (NYSE:TAC) has been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the ten brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, six have assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$25.13. A number of analysts recently issued reports on TA shares. ATB Capital raised their price objective on TransAlta from C$26.00 to C$27.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Natl Bk Canada lowered shares of TransAlta from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of TransAlta from C$20.00 to C$27.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. CIBC upped their price objective on shares of TransAlta from C$25.00 to C$26.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of TransAlta from C$20.00 to C$24.00 in a report on Monday, November 10th. Get TransAlta alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on TransAlta TransAlta Trading Up 0.1% TA opened at C$17.36 on Tuesday. TransAlta has a one year low of C$11.16 and a one year high of C$25.03. The stock has a market capitalization of C$5.15 billion, a PE ratio of -27.13, a P/E/G ratio of -0.07 and a beta of 0.67. The businesss 50 day moving average price is C$20.19 and its 200 day moving average price is C$18.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 229.66, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.74. TransAlta (TSE:TA Get Free Report) (NYSE:TAC) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported C($0.02) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. TransAlta had a return on equity of 12.03% and a net margin of 7.49%.The business had revenue of C$674.00 million for the quarter. TransAlta Company Profile (Get Free Report) TransAlta is an independent power producer based in Alberta, Canada. The company operates a diverse and growing fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United States, and Australia consisting of hydro, wind, solar, battery storage, gas and energy transition facilities. The majority of the companys revenues are derived from the sale of generation capacity, electricity, thermal energy, environmental attributes, and byproducts of power generation. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for TransAlta Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TransAlta and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gafisa (OTCMKTS:GFASY Get Free Report) and KB Home (NYSE:KBH Get Free Report) are both construction companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings and risk. Profitability This table compares Gafisa and KB Homes net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Gafisa alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Gafisa N/A N/A N/A KB Home 6.88% 11.40% 6.55% Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Gafisa and KB Home, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Gafisa 0 0 0 0 0.00 KB Home 2 10 2 1 2.13 Institutional & Insider Ownership KB Home has a consensus price target of $63.82, indicating a potential upside of 13.19%. Given KB Homes stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe KB Home is more favorable than Gafisa. 96.1% of KB Home shares are held by institutional investors. 3.1% of Gafisa shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 3.9% of KB Home shares are held by 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. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Gafisa and KB Homes top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Gafisa N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A KB Home $6.24 billion 0.59 $428.79 million $4.91 11.48 KB Home has higher revenue and earnings than Gafisa. Risk and Volatility Gafisa has a beta of 0.46, suggesting that its stock price is 54% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, KB Home has a beta of 1.44, suggesting that its stock price is 44% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary KB Home beats Gafisa on 11 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Gafisa (Get Free Report) Gafisa S.A. operates as a development and construction company under the Gafisa brand name in Brazil. The company is involved in residential, commercial, and hotel projects. It also provides technical consultancy services, and real estate management and construction services to third parties. Gafisa S.A. was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. About KB Home (Get Free Report) KB Home operates as a homebuilding company in the United States. It operates through four segments: West Coast, Southwest, Central, and Southeast. It builds and sells various homes, including attached and detached single-family residential homes, townhomes, and condominiums primarily for first-time, first move-up, second move-up, and active adult homebuyers. The company also provides financial services, such as insurance products and title services, as well as mortgage banking services, including residential consumer mortgage loans to homebuyers. It has operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington. The company was formerly known as Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation and changed its name to KB Home in January 2001. KB Home was founded in 1957 and is based in Los Angeles, California. Receive News & Ratings for Gafisa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gafisa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT Get Free Report) saw unusually large options trading on Friday. Stock traders acquired 16,438 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 415% compared to the average volume of 3,190 call options. Analysts Set New Price Targets MT has been the topic of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of ArcelorMittal from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of ArcelorMittal in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating and issued a $49.00 price objective on shares of ArcelorMittal in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating on shares of ArcelorMittal in a report on Friday, October 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of ArcelorMittal in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, ArcelorMittal presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $38.98. Get ArcelorMittal alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on ArcelorMittal ArcelorMittal Trading Up 3.0% MT stock traded up $1.39 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $46.96. The stock had a trading volume of 526,311 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,050,999. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a market cap of $36.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 1.58. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $42.16 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $36.99. ArcelorMittal has a 1-year low of $21.59 and a 1-year high of $47.00. ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The basic materials company reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.04. ArcelorMittal had a return on equity of 4.94% and a net margin of 4.23%.The firm had revenue of $15.66 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.88 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.63 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that ArcelorMittal will post 3.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On ArcelorMittal A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MT. Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ArcelorMittal by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 9,453 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $342,000 after buying an additional 283 shares in the last quarter. GK Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of ArcelorMittal by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. GK Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,129 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $258,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its stake in ArcelorMittal by 4.5% during the second quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 7,359 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $232,000 after acquiring an additional 318 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in ArcelorMittal by 13.3% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,749 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $99,000 after purchasing an additional 323 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC increased its stake in ArcelorMittal by 23.3% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,826 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. 9.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About ArcelorMittal (Get Free Report) ArcelorMittal is a multinational steel manufacturing company formed in 2006 through the merger of Arcelor and Mittal Steel. Headquartered in Luxembourg, the company is one of the worlds largest producers of steel and operates an integrated value chain that spans raw material extraction, steelmaking, processing and distribution. Its product portfolio includes flat and long carbon steel products, coated and specialty steels, tubular products and value-added solutions tailored for sectors such as automotive, construction, household appliances, energy and packaging. ArcelorMittals operations are global in scope, with production facilities, distribution networks and commercial activities across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for ArcelorMittal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ArcelorMittal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blue Owl Capital Inc. (NYSE:OWL Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the sixteen analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, nine have issued a buy recommendation and two have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $21.50. OWL has been the subject of several recent research reports. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Blue Owl Capital from $21.00 to $19.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Oppenheimer set a $25.00 target price on Blue Owl Capital and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Raymond James Financial raised Blue Owl Capital from a market perform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $20.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Blue Owl Capital in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. They issued an outperform rating and a $18.00 price target on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on Blue Owl Capital from $21.50 to $19.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Get Blue Owl Capital alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Blue Owl Capital Insider Activity Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other news, CEO Douglas I. Ostrover acquired 139,327 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $15.06 per share, with a total value of $2,098,264.62. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 158,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,379,480. This trade represents a 746.14% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, insider Craig Packer bought 110,227 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $15.06 per share, with a total value of $1,660,018.62. Following the purchase, the insider owned 94,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,415,640. This represents a -679.28% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders have acquired a total of 395,670 shares of company stock valued at $5,952,393 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 27.20% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in OWL. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in shares of Blue Owl Capital by 117.0% in the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,608 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 867 shares during the period. Banque Transatlantique SA acquired a new stake in Blue Owl Capital during the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its stake in Blue Owl Capital by 58.6% during the 1st quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,478 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 916 shares during the period. Activest Wealth Management purchased a new position in Blue Owl Capital during the 3rd quarter worth $50,000. Finally, MorganRosel Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Blue Owl Capital in the second quarter valued at $51,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 35.85% of the companys stock. Blue Owl Capital Price Performance Shares of Blue Owl Capital stock opened at $14.94 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 249.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a 50-day moving average of $15.35 and a 200 day moving average of $17.43. Blue Owl Capital has a 12 month low of $13.25 and a 12 month high of $26.73. Blue Owl Capital (NYSE:OWL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.22. The business had revenue of $687.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $685.95 million. Blue Owl Capital had a net margin of 1.89% and a return on equity of 20.05%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Blue Owl Capital will post 0.92 earnings per share for the current year. Blue Owl Capital Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 10th were issued a dividend of $0.225 per share. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 10th. Blue Owl Capitals payout ratio is 1,500.00%. About Blue Owl Capital (Get Free Report) Blue Owl Capital is a global alternative asset manager that focuses on private credit, direct lending and equity-related strategies for institutional investors. Headquartered in New York, the firm develops and manages a range of private markets products designed to provide capital solutions to middle-market and larger corporate borrowers, as well as liquidity and partnership arrangements with private equity firms and other alternative managers. Its core activities include direct lending and credit strategies that provide senior, unitranche and other structured loan products to companies across industries. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Blue Owl Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blue Owl Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (NYSE:SHO Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Hold from the eight research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $9.1429. A number of research firms recently issued reports on SHO. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors from $8.50 to $10.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Sunday, November 16th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Get Sunstone Hotel Investors alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on SHO Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sunstone Hotel Investors Sunstone Hotel Investors Stock Performance Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SHO. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors by 951.7% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,008 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 2,722 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in Sunstone Hotel Investors by 210.4% in the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 3,635 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 2,464 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in Sunstone Hotel Investors by 62.7% in the 1st quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 4,882 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 1,881 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors by 33.0% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 6,426 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 1,595 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors by 46.8% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 6,544 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 2,087 shares during the last quarter. 99.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Shares of NYSE SHO opened at $8.94 on Friday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $9.17 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 3.08 and a current ratio of 3.08. Sunstone Hotel Investors has a 52 week low of $7.45 and a 52 week high of $12.27. The firm has a market cap of $1.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.02. Sunstone Hotel Investors (NYSE:SHO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.15 by $0.02. Sunstone Hotel Investors had a return on equity of 1.04% and a net margin of 1.94%.The firm had revenue of $229.32 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $226.05 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.18 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sunstone Hotel Investors has set its FY 2025 guidance at 0.800-0.870 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Sunstone Hotel Investors will post 0.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Sunstone Hotel Investors Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. About Sunstone Hotel Investors (Get Free Report) Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc (NYSE:SHO) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring, owning and assetmanaging upperupscale extendedstay and premiumbranded hotel properties in the United States. The companys business model centers on generating stable, longterm cash flows through franchise agreements and thirdparty management contracts with established hotel operators. As of the most recent reporting period, Sunstones portfolio includes approximately 97 hotels and nearly 25,000 guest rooms across 19 states, with concentrations in major metropolitan and select highgrowth secondary markets. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Sunstone Hotel Investors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sunstone Hotel Investors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd. (NYSE:BNT Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 11,761 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 32% from the previous sessions volume of 17,287 shares.The stock last traded at $46.18 and had previously closed at $46.57. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Brookfield Wealth Solutions in a research note on Monday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Brookfield Wealth Solutions alerts: View Our Latest Report on BNT Brookfield Wealth Solutions Trading Up 1.6% The firm has a market capitalization of $16.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 200.08 and a beta of 1.57. The company has a 50-day moving average of $45.86 and a 200-day moving average of $44.58. Brookfield Wealth Solutions (NYSE:BNT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter. Brookfield Wealth Solutions had a net margin of 0.11% and a return on equity of 0.11%. Brookfield Wealth Solutions Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 16th were issued a $0.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 16th. Brookfield Wealth Solutionss payout ratio is 104.35%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brookfield Wealth Solutions Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BNT. Susquehanna International Group LLP bought a new position in Brookfield Wealth Solutions in the third quarter worth about $316,000. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Brookfield Wealth Solutions by 35.2% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 17,907 shares of the companys stock worth $1,226,000 after purchasing an additional 4,661 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC bought a new stake in shares of Brookfield Wealth Solutions in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $200,000. Amundi bought a new stake in shares of Brookfield Wealth Solutions in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $334,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its position in Brookfield Wealth Solutions by 14.3% during the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 7,279 shares of the companys stock valued at $499,000 after purchasing an additional 912 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.31% of the companys stock. Brookfield Wealth Solutions Company Profile (Get Free Report) Brookfield Wealth Solutions is focused on securing the financial futures of individuals and institutions through a range of retirement services, wealth protection products and tailored capital solutions. Through our operating subsidiaries, we offer a broad range of insurance products and services, including annuities, personal and commercial property and casualty insurance and life insurance.The company was incorporated in 2020 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Wealth Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Wealth Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tectonic Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:BC Free Report) by 96.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 61,607 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 30,212 shares during the period. Tectonic Advisors LLCs holdings in Brunswick were worth $3,896,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in Brunswick by 103.5% during the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 702 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 357 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Brunswick by 477.0% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 727 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 601 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its stake in Brunswick by 243.2% during the second quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 858 shares of the companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Brunswick by 24.7% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,041 shares of the companys stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Brunswick by 41.3% in the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 1,067 shares of the companys stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.34% of the companys stock. Get Brunswick alerts: Brunswick Price Performance Brunswick stock opened at $74.28 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $69.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of $64.30. The stock has a market cap of $4.83 billion, a P/E ratio of -20.41 and a beta of 1.36. Brunswick Corporation has a 12-month low of $41.00 and a 12-month high of $76.81. Brunswick Announces Dividend Brunswick ( NYSE:BC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.84 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $1.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.26 billion. Brunswick had a positive return on equity of 10.55% and a negative net margin of 4.60%.Brunswicks quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.17 earnings per share. Brunswick has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.250-3.25 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Brunswick Corporation will post 4.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 26th were paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 26th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. Brunswicks payout ratio is presently -47.25%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently weighed in on BC. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Brunswick from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, December 7th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Brunswick to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Brunswick from $63.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 23rd. Loop Capital started coverage on Brunswick in a report on Monday, December 22nd. They issued a hold rating and a $74.00 target price for the company. Finally, Roth Capital set a $79.00 price target on Brunswick and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.57. View Our Latest Stock Report on BC Brunswick Company Profile (Free Report) Founded in 1845 by John Moses Brunswick, Brunswick Corporation is a global leader in recreation products. Headquartered in Mettawa, Illinois, the company has evolved from its origins as a billiard table manufacturer into a diversified supplier of leisure equipment, serving both consumer and commercial markets around the world. Brunswick operates through two primary segments: Marine and Bowling & Billiards. In its Marine segment, the company designs, manufactures and distributes recreational boats, outboard engines and aftermarket parts under recognized brands such as Sea Ray, Bayliner and Mercury Marine. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:BC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Brunswick Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brunswick and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cabot (NYSE:CBT Get Free Report) and Brenntag (OTCMKTS:BNTGY Get Free Report) are both mid-cap basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and profitability. Risk & Volatility Cabot has a beta of 0.89, suggesting that its stock price is 11% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Brenntag has a beta of 0.75, suggesting that its stock price is 25% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Cabot alerts: Valuation and Earnings This table compares Cabot and Brenntags top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Cabot $3.71 billion 0.95 $331.00 million $6.01 11.10 Brenntag $17.57 billion 0.48 $580.22 million $0.64 18.10 Brenntag has higher revenue and earnings than Cabot. Cabot is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Brenntag, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider & Institutional Ownership 93.2% of Cabot shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.0% of Cabot shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Dividends Cabot pays an annual dividend of $1.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Brenntag pays an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. Cabot pays out 30.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Brenntag pays out 43.8% 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. Cabot has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years. Cabot is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Cabot and Brenntag, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Cabot 2 2 1 0 1.80 Brenntag 2 6 0 0 1.75 Cabot presently has a consensus price target of $66.33, indicating a potential downside of 0.59%. Brenntag has a consensus price target of $12.80, indicating a potential upside of 10.49%. Given Brenntags higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Brenntag is more favorable than Cabot. Profitability This table compares Cabot and Brenntags net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Cabot 8.91% 24.55% 10.57% Brenntag 2.66% 9.14% 3.69% Summary Cabot beats Brenntag on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks. About Cabot (Get Free Report) Cabot Corporation operates as a specialty chemicals and performance materials company. The company operates through two segments, Reinforcement Materials and Performance Chemicals. It offers reinforcing carbons that are used in tires as a rubber reinforcing agent and performance additive, as well as in industrial products, such as hoses, belts, extruded profiles, and molded goods; and engineered elastomer composites solutions. The company also provides specialty carbons for use in inks, coatings, plastics, adhesives, toners, batteries, and displays; conductive additives and fumed alumina used in lead acid and lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles; fumed silica used in adhesives, sealants, cosmetics, batteries, inks, toners, silicone elastomers, coatings, polishing slurries, and pharmaceuticals; and fumed alumina for use in various products, including inkjet media, lighting, coatings, cosmetics, and polishing slurries. In addition, it offers aerogel, a hydrophobic, silica-based particle to use in various thermal insulation and specialty chemical applications; masterbatch and conductive compound products that are used in automotive, industrial, packaging, infrastructure, agriculture, consumer products, and electronics industries; and inkjet colorants for inkjet printing applications. The company sells its products through distributors and sales representatives in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Cabot Corporation was founded in 1882 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. About Brenntag (Get Free Report) Brenntag SE purchases and supplies various industrial and specialty chemicals, and ingredients in Germany, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Brenntag Essentials and Brenntag Specialties. It provides just-in-time delivery, product mixing, blending, repackaging, inventory management, and drum return handling. The company serves customers in various end-market industries, including nutrition, pharma, personal care, water treatment, and lubricants; and home, industrial, and institutional markets, as well as coatings and constructions, polymers, and rubber industries. The company was founded in 1874 and is based in Essen, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for Cabot Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cabot and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Torrid (NYSE:CURV Get Free Report) and Christian Dior S.E. (OTCMKTS:CHDRY Get Free Report) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership and risk. Insider and Institutional Ownership 81.8% of Torrid shares are owned by institutional investors. 5.9% of Torrid shares are owned by 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. Get Torrid alerts: Profitability This table compares Torrid and Christian Dior S.E.s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Torrid -0.18% -1.69% -0.43% Christian Dior S.E. N/A N/A N/A Volatility & Risk Analyst Ratings Torrid has a beta of 1.49, suggesting that its share price is 49% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Christian Dior S.E. has a beta of 1.11, suggesting that its share price is 11% more volatile than the S&P 500. This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Torrid and Christian Dior S.E., as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Torrid 4 3 1 0 1.63 Christian Dior S.E. 0 0 0 0 0.00 Torrid currently has a consensus price target of $1.44, indicating a potential upside of 36.49%. Given Torrids stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Torrid is more favorable than Christian Dior S.E.. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Torrid and Christian Dior S.E.s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Torrid $1.10 billion 0.09 $16.32 million ($0.01) -105.50 Christian Dior S.E. $91.64 billion N/A $5.64 billion N/A N/A Christian Dior S.E. has higher revenue and earnings than Torrid. Summary Torrid beats Christian Dior S.E. on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Torrid (Get Free Report) Torrid Holdings Inc. operates in womens plus-size apparel and intimates market in North America. The company designs, develops, and merchandises its products under the Torrid, Torrid Curve, CURV, and Lovesick brand names. It is involved in the sale of tops, bottoms, dresses, denims, activewear, intimates, sleep wear, swim wear, and outerwear products; and non-apparel products comprising accessories, footwear, and beauty products. The company sells its products directly to consumers through its e-commerce platform and its physical stores. Torrid Holdings Inc. was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in City Of Industry, California. About Christian Dior S.E. (Get Free Report) Christian Dior SE, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and retail of fashion and leather goods, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, and watches and jewelry worldwide. The company offers its fashion and leather goods under the Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Celine, Loewe, Givenchy, Kenzo, Berluti, Pucci, Loro Piana, Rimowa, and Off-White brand names; and wines and spirits under the Hennessy, Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Chateau d'Yquem, Belvedere, Glenmorangie, Newton Vineyards, Bodega Numanthia, Chateau d'Esclans, Armand de Brignac, and Joseph Phelps brands. It also provides perfumes and cosmetics under the Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Parfums Givenchy, Make Up For Ever, Benefit Cosmetics, Fresh, Acqua di Parma, KVD Vegan Beauty, Fenty, Ole Henriksen, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, and Officine Universelle Buly 1803 brand names; and watches and jewelry under the Tiffany, Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Zenith, Hublot, Chaumet, Fred, and Repossi brands. In addition, the company operates retail stores under the DFS Galleria, Sephora, and Le Bon Marche names; publishes Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui en France, a daily newspaper; builds yachts; and operates hotel and the Cova pastry shop brand. Further, it is involved in real estate activities. The company sells its products through store network, including e-commerce websites; and agents and distributors. The company was incorporated in 1946 and is headquartered in Paris, France. Christian Dior SE (ENXTPA:CDI) operates as a subsidiary of Financiere Agache Societe Anonyme. Receive News & Ratings for Torrid Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Torrid and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG Get Free Report) and Minerals Technologies (NYSE:MTX Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, risk, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings for PPG Industries and Minerals Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Get PPG Industries alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score PPG Industries 1 9 7 1 2.44 Minerals Technologies 2 0 1 0 1.67 PPG Industries presently has a consensus target price of $122.54, suggesting a potential upside of 19.71%. Minerals Technologies has a consensus target price of $84.00, suggesting a potential upside of 37.91%. Given Minerals Technologies higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Minerals Technologies is more favorable than PPG Industries. Risk and Volatility Institutional and Insider Ownership PPG Industries has a beta of 1.16, meaning that its share price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Minerals Technologies has a beta of 1.27, meaning that its share price is 27% more volatile than the S&P 500. 81.9% of PPG Industries shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 97.3% of Minerals Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of PPG Industries shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 3.3% of Minerals Technologies shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Dividends PPG Industries pays an annual dividend of $2.84 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.8%. Minerals Technologies pays an annual dividend of $0.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. PPG Industries pays out 64.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Minerals Technologies pays out -2,400.0% 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. PPG Industries has increased its dividend for 54 consecutive years and Minerals Technologies has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. PPG Industries is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth. Earnings and Valuation This table compares PPG Industries and Minerals Technologiess revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio PPG Industries $15.85 billion 1.45 $1.12 billion $4.41 23.21 Minerals Technologies $2.12 billion 0.90 $167.10 million ($0.02) -3,045.50 PPG Industries has higher revenue and earnings than Minerals Technologies. Minerals Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than PPG Industries, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares PPG Industries and Minerals Technologies net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets PPG Industries 6.35% 23.61% 8.28% Minerals Technologies -0.08% 10.69% 5.31% Summary PPG Industries beats Minerals Technologies on 13 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks. About PPG Industries (Get Free Report) PPG Industries, Inc. manufactures and distributes paints, coatings, and specialty materials in the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through two segments, Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings. The Performance Coatings segment offers coatings, solvents, adhesives, sealants, sundries, and software for automotive and commercial transport/fleet repair and refurbishing, light industrial coatings, and specialty coatings for signs; wood stains; paints, thermoplastics, pavement marking products, and other advanced technologies for pavement marking for government, commercial infrastructure, painting, and maintenance contractors; and coatings, sealants, transparencies, transparent armor, adhesives, engineered materials, and packaging and chemical management services for commercial, military, regional jet, and general aviation aircraft. The Industrial Coatings segment offers coatings, adhesives and sealants, and metal pretreatments, as well as services and coatings applications for appliances, agricultural and construction equipment, consumer electronics, automotive parts and accessories, building products, kitchenware, and transportation vehicles and other finished products; and on-site coatings services. It also provides coatings for metal cans, closures, plastic and aluminum tubes for food, beverage and personal care, promotional, and specialty packaging; amorphous precipitated silica for tire, battery separator, and other end-uses; TESLIN substrates for labels, e-passports, drivers' licenses, breathable membranes, and loyalty and identification cards; and organic light emitting diode materials, displays and lighting lens materials, optical lenses, color-change products, and photochromic dyes. PPG Industries, Inc. was incorporated in 1883 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. About Minerals Technologies (Get Free Report) Minerals Technologies Inc. develops, produces, and markets various mineral, mineral-based, and related systems and services. The company operates through two segments, Consumer & Specialties, and Engineered Solutions segments. The Consumer & Specialties segment offers household and personal care products, such as pet litter, personal care, fabric care, edible oil and other fluid purification, animal health, and agricultural products; and specialty additives products, including precipitated calcium carbonate and ground calcium carbonate products that are used in the paper, paperboard, and fiber based packaging industries, as well as automotive, construction, and table and food applications. This segment produces limestone and dolomitic limestone used in construction, automotive, and consumer markets for packaging applications. The Engineered Solutions segment provides high-temperature technology products consisting of custom-blended mineral and non-mineral products for casting auto parts, farm and construction equipment, oil and gas production equipment, power generation turbine castings, and rail car components; and environmental and infrastructure products comprising geosynthetic clay lining systems, vapor intrusion mitigation products, sub surface waterproofing systems, green roofs, wastewater remediation, drinking water purification technologies, and drilling products. In addition, this segment provides chromite products; gunnable monolithic refractory products and application systems; monolithic refractory materials and pre-cast refractory shapes; refractory shapes and linings; carbon composite and pyrolitic graphite; and filtration and well testing services. It markets its products primarily through its direct sales force, as well as regional distributors. The company serves in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Minerals Technologies Inc. was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for PPG Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPG Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. So on that note, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad (KLSE:MHB) looks quite promising in regards to its trends of return on capital. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.056 = RM92m (RM3.3b - RM1.7b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2025). Therefore, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad has an ROCE of 5.6%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Energy Services industry average of 8.7%. See our latest analysis for Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad KLSE:MHB Return on Capital Employed January 2nd 2026 Above you can see how the current ROCE for Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad for free. How Are Returns Trending? It's great to see that Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad has started to generate some pre-tax earnings from prior investments. While the business is profitable now, it used to be incurring losses on invested capital five years ago. At first glance, it seems the business is getting more proficient at generating returns, because over the same period, the amount of capital employed has reduced by 26%. The reduction could indicate that the company is selling some assets, and considering returns are up, they appear to be selling the right ones. On a side note, we noticed that the improvement in ROCE appears to be partly fueled by an increase in current liabilities. The current liabilities has increased to 50% of total assets, so the business is now more funded by the likes of its suppliers or short-term creditors. And with current liabilities at those levels, that's pretty high. Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE:DEI Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The company traded as low as $10.86 and last traded at $10.8780, with a volume of 19385 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $10.99. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently issued reports on DEI. Scotiabank cut their target price on Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a sector outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 17th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Douglas Emmett from $20.00 to $15.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating on shares of Douglas Emmett in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Piper Sandler downgraded Douglas Emmett from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the company from $19.00 to $14.00 in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their price objective on Douglas Emmett from $16.00 to $13.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $15.29. Get Douglas Emmett alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Douglas Emmett Douglas Emmett Stock Down 0.6% The stock has a market capitalization of $1.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 90.95 and a beta of 1.12. The businesss 50-day moving average is $11.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $14.12. The company has a quick ratio of 3.03, a current ratio of 3.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. Douglas Emmett (NYSE:DEI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.34. The company had revenue of $250.58 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $252.73 million. Douglas Emmett had a net margin of 2.22% and a return on equity of 0.62%. The firms revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.43 EPS. Douglas Emmett has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.430-1.470 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Douglas Emmett, Inc. will post 1.45 EPS for the current year. Douglas Emmett Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.0%. Douglas Emmetts payout ratio is presently 633.33%. Institutional Trading of Douglas Emmett A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in DEI. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its holdings in Douglas Emmett by 6.7% in the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,220 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $184,000 after acquiring an additional 766 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its holdings in Douglas Emmett by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 33,786 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $526,000 after purchasing an additional 815 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 154,385 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,322,000 after buying an additional 819 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 13,931 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $217,000 after purchasing an additional 844 shares during the period. Finally, Amalgamated Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Douglas Emmett by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 48,465 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $755,000 after purchasing an additional 874 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.37% of the companys stock. About Douglas Emmett (Get Free Report) Douglas Emmett, Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The company specializes in the ownership, management and development of highquality office and multifamily properties, primarily concentrated in the coastal regions of Los Angeles County and the Greater Honolulu area. As a vertically integrated real estate platform, Douglas Emmett controls all aspects of property operations, leasing, capital improvements and tenant relations, positioning it to deliver stable, longterm cash flows. The companys office portfolio consists predominantly of Class A buildings located in prime business districts, featuring modern amenities, campus-like settings and environmentally conscious design elements. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Douglas Emmett Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Douglas Emmett and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Exchange Income Co. (TSE:EIF Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$72.94 and traded as high as C$82.86. Exchange Income shares last traded at C$81.96, with a volume of 70,320 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have issued reports on EIF. Raymond James Financial increased their target price on shares of Exchange Income from C$90.00 to C$92.00 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. National Bankshares upped their price target on shares of Exchange Income from C$84.00 to C$88.00 in a report on Monday, November 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a C$94.00 price objective on Exchange Income and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Ventum Financial set a C$81.00 target price on Exchange Income and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. Finally, Scotiabank upped their target price on Exchange Income from C$80.00 to C$90.00 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Exchange Income presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of C$85.19. Get Exchange Income alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on EIF Exchange Income Price Performance The company has a market capitalization of C$4.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a current ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 173.72. The businesss fifty day moving average price is C$79.73 and its 200-day moving average price is C$73.00. Exchange Income (TSE:EIF Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The company reported C$1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Exchange Income had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 4.64%.The firm had revenue of C$959.74 million during the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Exchange Income Co. will post 3.9962963 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Exchange Income Company Profile (Get Free Report) Exchange Income Corp is a diversified acquisition-oriented corporation focused on opportunities in two sectors, aerospace, aviation services and equipment, and manufacturing. The business plan of the corporation is to invest in profitable, well-established companies with strong cash flows operating in niche markets. Its Aerospace and Aviation segment is a key revenue driver, recognizes revenue from the provision of flight, flight ancillary services, and the sale or lease of aircraft and aftermarket parts. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Exchange Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exchange Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE:FBIN Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eleven analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $64.20. A number of brokerages recently commented on FBIN. Barclays cut their target price on Fortune Brands Innovations from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 31st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations in a research note on Monday. UBS Group cut their price objective on Fortune Brands Innovations from $83.00 to $79.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Evercore ISI reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Fortune Brands Innovations in a report on Friday, October 31st. Get Fortune Brands Innovations alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Fortune Brands Innovations Institutional Investors Weigh In On Fortune Brands Innovations Fortune Brands Innovations Stock Performance Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd bought a new position in Fortune Brands Innovations in the 2nd quarter valued at $87,611,000. Generation Investment Management LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations during the first quarter worth about $98,157,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations by 147.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,691,827 shares of the companys stock valued at $143,717,000 after purchasing an additional 1,605,453 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Fortune Brands Innovations in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $78,395,000. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in Fortune Brands Innovations during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $77,441,000. 87.60% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. NYSE:FBIN opened at $50.04 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $50.01 and its 200-day moving average is $53.11. The company has a market cap of $6.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.67, a PEG ratio of 3.70 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.95. Fortune Brands Innovations has a 52-week low of $44.04 and a 52-week high of $75.82. Fortune Brands Innovations (NYSE:FBIN Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $1.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.18 billion. Fortune Brands Innovations had a return on equity of 19.28% and a net margin of 7.30%.The firms quarterly revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.16 earnings per share. Fortune Brands Innovations has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.700-3.800 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Fortune Brands Innovations will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current year. Fortune Brands Innovations Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.26 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 20th. This is a positive change from Fortune Brands Innovationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Fortune Brands Innovationss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.31%. Fortune Brands Innovations Company Profile (Get Free Report) Fortune Brands Innovations (NYSE: FBIN), formerly known as Fortune Brands Home & Security, is a global leader in water innovations, specializing in the design, manufacturing and marketing of plumbing fixtures, fittings and related products. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, the company leverages two iconic brandsMoen and House of Rohlto deliver high-quality kitchen and bathroom solutions across residential and commercial markets. With a focus on performance, reliability and aesthetic design, FBINs portfolio spans faucets, showerheads, accessories and water filtration systems. The companys products are sold through a diversified network of retail partners, wholesale distributors and online channels across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fortune Brands Innovations Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortune Brands Innovations and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Goldstein Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK Free Report) by 88.9% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 2,000 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 15,944 shares during the period. Goldstein Advisors LLCs holdings in Duke Energy were worth $248,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 53.7% during the 2nd quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC now owns 249 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Access Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Duke Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in Duke Energy by 2,284.6% in the 2nd quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Anfield Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 2,608.3% during the second quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 325 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 313 shares during the period. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Duke Energy alerts: Insider Activity at Duke Energy In related news, EVP Robert Alexander Glenn sold 8,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.80, for a total transaction of $1,015,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 11,367 shares in the company, valued at $1,407,234.60. The trade was a 41.91% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Duke Energy Trading Down 0.3% Shares of NYSE:DUK opened at $117.27 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $91.20 billion, a PE ratio of 18.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. Duke Energy Corporation has a 12-month low of $105.20 and a 12-month high of $130.03. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $120.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $121.23. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.98% and a net margin of 15.76%.The firm had revenue of $8.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.51 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.62 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Duke Energy Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th were given a $1.065 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $4.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. Duke Energys payout ratio is presently 66.98%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently issued reports on DUK shares. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Duke Energy from $138.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. BTIG Research raised Duke Energy to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Duke Energy to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Duke Energy from $138.00 to $136.00 in a report on Monday, November 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $136.50. Get Our Latest Report on DUK About Duke Energy (Free Report) Duke Energy Corporation is a U.S.-based electric power holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The companys core business is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Duke Energy operates a mix of regulated electric utilities and non-regulated energy businesses, providing essential energy infrastructure and services across multiple states. Its operating activities include owning and operating generation assets across a portfolio that encompasses nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and an expanding array of renewable resources, as well as battery storage and grid modernization projects. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DUK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Duke Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Duke Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Great Portland Estates Plc (LON:GPE Get Free Report) insider Dan Nicholson acquired 47 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 31st. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 315 per share, for a total transaction of 148.05. Dan Nicholson also recently made the following trade(s): Get Great Portland Estates alerts: On Friday, October 31st, Dan Nicholson purchased 45 shares of Great Portland Estates stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 336 per share, for a total transaction of 151.20. Great Portland Estates Price Performance Shares of LON GPE traded down GBX 4 during midday trading on Friday, reaching GBX 314.50. 6,275,608 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,280,656. Great Portland Estates Plc has a 12 month low of GBX 260 and a 12 month high of GBX 369. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 51.52, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 0.26. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is GBX 320.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 326.08. The firm has a market cap of 1.27 billion, a PE ratio of 8.62, a PEG ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.80. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have commented on GPE. Panmure Gordon reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 440 price objective on shares of Great Portland Estates in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Peel Hunt reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 375 price objective on shares of Great Portland Estates in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Shore Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Great Portland Estates in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Great Portland Estates from GBX 332 to GBX 342 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Great Portland Estates presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 416.75. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Great Portland Estates Great Portland Estates Company Profile (Get Free Report) GPE is a FTSE 250 real estate investor and developer. GPE aims to deliver superior returns by unlocking the often hidden potential in commercial real estate in central London, creating high quality sustainable spaces for its customers and long-term value for its stakeholders. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Great Portland Estates Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Great Portland Estates and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. cut its position in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU Free Report) by 89.8% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 184,907 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 1,621,300 shares during the quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in MDU Resources Group were worth $3,293,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new position in MDU Resources Group during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 94.5% during the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,647 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares during the period. Country Trust Bank acquired a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group during the second quarter worth about $33,000. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of MDU Resources Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 61.3% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,192 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 833 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.44% of the companys stock. Get MDU Resources Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have commented on the stock. TD Cowen began coverage on shares of MDU Resources Group in a report on Thursday, October 16th. They set a hold rating and a $20.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of MDU Resources Group to $22.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of MDU Resources Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Cowen began coverage on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research note on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $21.00. MDU Resources Group Stock Performance Shares of MDU opened at $19.53 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.53, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.75. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $15.04 and a 12 month high of $21.49. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.04 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.07 by $0.02. MDU Resources Group had a net margin of 9.02% and a return on equity of 6.81%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.32 EPS. The firms revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. MDU Resources Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 0.900-0.950 EPS. Research analysts forecast that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.94 EPS for the current fiscal year. MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, December 11th were given a dividend of $0.14 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 11th. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.9%. MDU Resources Groups dividend payout ratio is 67.47%. MDU Resources Group Profile (Free Report) MDU Resources Group, Inc is a diversified energy and services holding company headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. The company operates through two primary segments: Utilities and Construction Services and Pipelines & Midstream. Serving a broad geographic footprint across the upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest, MDU provides essential energy distribution and infrastructure services to residential, commercial and industrial customers. The Utilities segment delivers electric and natural gas distribution services in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan and Washington. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MDU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for MDU Resources Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MDU Resources Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. cut its holdings in DTE Energy Company (NYSE:DTE Free Report) by 13.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 44,604 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 6,700 shares during the quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in DTE Energy were worth $6,308,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of DTE. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC purchased a new position in shares of DTE Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $16,723,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of DTE Energy by 13,146.2% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 25,830 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,421,000 after purchasing an additional 25,635 shares in the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in DTE Energy in the first quarter worth $567,000. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its holdings in DTE Energy by 5.3% in the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 208,818 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,470,000 after purchasing an additional 10,586 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hudson Bay Capital Management LP bought a new position in DTE Energy in the second quarter worth $15,277,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.06% of the companys stock. Get DTE Energy alerts: DTE Energy Price Performance Shares of DTE opened at $129.14 on Friday. DTE Energy Company has a twelve month low of $116.30 and a twelve month high of $143.79. The company has a market capitalization of $26.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.49. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $133.66 and a 200 day moving average of $135.94. The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.01. DTE Energy Increases Dividend DTE Energy ( NYSE:DTE Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The utilities provider reported $2.25 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $3.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.23 billion. DTE Energy had a return on equity of 12.63% and a net margin of 9.34%.During the same period last year, the business posted $2.22 EPS. DTE Energy has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.090-7.230 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 7.590-7.730 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that DTE Energy Company will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th will be issued a $1.165 dividend. This represents a $4.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. This is a positive change from DTE Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.09. DTE Energys dividend payout ratio is 69.97%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently commented on DTE. Wall Street Zen cut shares of DTE Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, December 20th. Morgan Stanley set a $138.00 price objective on shares of DTE Energy in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of DTE Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $149.00 to $150.00 in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of DTE Energy from $153.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on DTE Energy from $138.00 to $148.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $148.33. View Our Latest Report on DTE DTE Energy Profile (Free Report) DTE Energy is an integrated energy company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, that combines regulated utility operations with non-utility energy businesses. Its regulated subsidiaries operate electric and natural gas utility services that deliver generation, transmission and distribution to residential, commercial and industrial customers. The companys utility segment focuses on maintaining and upgrading energy delivery infrastructure, ensuring reliable service and meeting regulatory requirements in its service territory. Beyond its regulated utilities, DTE Energy operates non-utility businesses that develop, own and operate power generation and energy-related projects. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DTE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for DTE Energy Company (NYSE:DTE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for DTE Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DTE Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. (CVE:IB Get Free Report) dropped 14.3% on Thursday . The company traded as low as C$0.15 and last traded at C$0.18. Approximately 332,217 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 431% from the average daily volume of 62,516 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.21. IBC Advanced Alloys Stock Performance The stock has a market capitalization of C$20.60 million, a PE ratio of -6.00 and a beta of 2.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 343.32. The businesss fifty day moving average is C$0.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$0.12. IBC Advanced Alloys Company Profile (Get Free Report) IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. develops, produces, and sells specialty alloy products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Copper Alloys and Engineered Materials segments. It offers various copper alloys as castings and forgings, such as beryllium copper, chrome copper, oxygen-free high conductivity copper, and aluminum bronze in the form of plates, blocks, rounds, discs, bars, rings, tubes, rods, and other custom forgings, as well as specialty copper alloy forgings for plastic mold tooling and resistance welding applications. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for IBC Advanced Alloys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IBC Advanced Alloys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ING Group (NYSE:ING Get Free Report) and Chiba Bank (OTCMKTS:CHBAY Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, earnings and dividends. Valuation and Earnings This table compares ING Group and Chiba Banks gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get ING Group alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio ING Group $24.47 billion 3.40 $5.77 billion $2.22 12.89 Chiba Bank $2.38 billion 3.73 $490.11 million $3.83 14.36 Dividends ING Group has higher revenue and earnings than Chiba Bank. ING Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Chiba Bank, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. ING Group pays an annual dividend of $0.69 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. Chiba Bank pays an annual dividend of $1.09 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.0%. ING Group pays out 31.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Chiba Bank pays out 28.5% 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. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for ING Group and Chiba Bank, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ING Group 0 0 5 1 3.17 Chiba Bank 0 0 0 0 0.00 Volatility and Risk ING Group has a beta of 0.82, suggesting that its stock price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Chiba Bank has a beta of 0.14, suggesting that its stock price is 86% less volatile than the S&P 500. Insider and Institutional Ownership 4.5% of ING Group shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares ING Group and Chiba Banks net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ING Group 26.94% 11.57% 0.57% Chiba Bank 20.20% 7.03% 0.38% Summary ING Group beats Chiba Bank on 11 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks. About ING Group (Get Free Report) ING Groep N.V. provides various banking products and services in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, rest of Europe, and internationally. It operates through five segments: Retail Netherlands, Retail Belgium, Retail Germany, Retail Other, and Wholesale Banking. The company accepts current and savings accounts. It also offers business lending products; SME loans; consumer lending products, such as residential mortgage loans and other consumer lending loans; and mortgages. In addition, the company provides working capital solutions; debt and equity market solutions; various loans; payments; and cash management, trade and corporate finance, and treasury services, as well as savings, investment, insurance, and digital banking services. It serves individual customers, corporate clients, and financial institutions. ING Groep N.V. was founded in 1762 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. About Chiba Bank (Get Free Report) The Chiba Bank, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides banking products and services in Japan and internationally. The company offers various deposit products, including savings, time deposits, currency deposits, investment trusts, bonds, and pensions; loans, which include mortgages, renovation loans, photovoltaic, vehicle, education, and other loan products; and insurance products, such as annuity, life, medical, student, death, and travel insurance. It also offers debit and credit cards, as well as internet banking services. In addition, the company engages in securities, investment management and advisory, software development, commissioned computation tasks, research and investigation of IT and financial technologies, leasing, operation, and management of investment funds, mergers and acquisition advisory, credit guarantee businesses, management and collection of claims businesses. Further, it provides loan guarantees and fee collection services; accounting, general administration entrustment, and temporary staff services; and is involved in outsourcing of operational business. Additionally, it rents and maintains office buildings and welfare facilities; provides research, survey, and consulting services; purchases and sells supplies and consumer goods; and engages in renewable energy generation. The company serves individuals and corporations. The Chiba Bank, Ltd. was incorporated in 1943 and is headquartered in Chiba City, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for ING Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ING Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intact Financial Co. (TSE:IFC Get Free Report) shares passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$282.54 and traded as high as C$286.37. Intact Financial shares last traded at C$285.73, with a volume of 240,281 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently commented on IFC shares. National Bankshares boosted their price target on Intact Financial from C$352.00 to C$358.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on Intact Financial from C$324.00 to C$304.00 in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Desjardins cut their price target on shares of Intact Financial from C$335.00 to C$305.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 24th. TD Securities decreased their price objective on shares of Intact Financial from C$359.00 to C$346.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Scotiabank cut their target price on shares of Intact Financial from C$339.00 to C$318.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$317.91. Get Intact Financial alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on IFC Intact Financial Price Performance The companys 50 day moving average price is C$278.36 and its 200 day moving average price is C$282.57. The firm has a market capitalization of C$50.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.12, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.18. Intact Financial (TSE:IFC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported C$4.46 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$6.45 billion during the quarter. Intact Financial had a net margin of 8.60% and a return on equity of 13.13%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Intact Financial Co. will post 16.1721014 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Intact Financial (Get Free Report) Intact Financial Corp is a property and casualty insurance company that provides written premiums in Canada. The company distributes insurance under the Intact Insurance brand through a network of brokers and a wholly-owned subsidiary, BrokerLink, and directly to consumers through Belairdirect. Most of the companys direct premiums are written in the personal automotive space. Intact directly manages its investments through subsidiary Intact Investment Management. The vast majority of these invested assets are fixed-income securities. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Intact Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intact Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mark Cuban is taking aim at the U.S. healthcare system, arguing that widespread billing abuse by insurers and providers could be a major source of federal revenueif only they were held accountable. If we fined insurers and providers $100 every time they over-billed, incorrectly denied care or misrepresented any amount of patient out of pocket, we could pay off the national debt, the billionaire entrepreneur posted on X last week. Don't Miss: Calls For System Overhaul Cuban said the system is rigged against everyday Americans who are forced to navigate a confusing maze of billing, denials and surprise out-of-pocket costs. They play on the fear and information asymmetry that exists in healthcare, he wrote, calling for the breakup of major players in the industry. Break them up. Make them divest non insurance companies, he said. And when we are done with the insurance companies, we go to the hospitals and then to the pharma wholesalers. Break em up. Make the markets efficient again. Cubans post came in response to a post from the Scalpel Policy Solutions founder Tanner Aliff, who highlighted new state laws that give patients deductible credit for paying cash prices that are lower than what insurance companies typically reimburse. Aliff argued that these laws help patients save money while still having their spending count toward their annual deductible. Trending: GM-Backed EnergyX Is Solving the Lithium Supply Crisis Invest Before They Scale Global Production Aliff explained that instead of blowing through your entire deductible over a $6,000.00 MRI fee, patients in certain states can now pay about $300 in cash for the same service and still get credit toward their deductible. Per Aliff, only four statesTexas, Indiana, Tennessee and Oregonhave implemented some version of this reform. Cuban praised the effort and called for broader adoption. If cash pay for all [health care] could be counted against your deductible, we all could shop and save money. If your state isnt on this list, ask your congressman why not, he said. Critics, however, questioned whether the average patient can realistically pull this off. That you believe that consumers can actually execute this, in a coordinated fashion, makes you delusional, financial planner Jae Oh replied. You have clearly not spoken to real people with any illness. This messaging is doing more harm than good. Shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group (NYSE:IHG Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the seven research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. A number of research firms have weighed in on IHG. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report on Friday, September 26th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Intercontinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Intercontinental Hotels Group from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Get Intercontinental Hotels Group alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Intercontinental Hotels Group Intercontinental Hotels Group Price Performance Institutional Trading of Intercontinental Hotels Group Shares of IHG stock opened at $140.85 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $133.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $124.27. Intercontinental Hotels Group has a 12 month low of $94.78 and a 12 month high of $144.96. Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hilltop National Bank bought a new stake in Intercontinental Hotels Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its position in shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group by 42.3% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 434 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group by 136.5% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 473 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after buying an additional 273 shares during the last quarter. MAI Capital Management grew its holdings in shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group by 330.6% in the second quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 676 shares of the companys stock valued at $78,000 after acquiring an additional 519 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Intercontinental Hotels Group by 68.1% during the first quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 960 shares of the companys stock valued at $105,000 after acquiring an additional 389 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 15.09% of the companys stock. Intercontinental Hotels Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Intercontinental Hotels Group plc (IHG) is a multinational hospitality company that develops, owns, manages and franchises a broad portfolio of hotels and resorts. The company operates across full-service luxury and upscale segments as well as midscale and extended-stay categories, providing lodging, food and beverage, meeting and event services, and related guest amenities. IHGs business model emphasizes brand franchising and management agreements, while retaining ownership or direct investments in a smaller portion of its global property portfolio. IHGs brand portfolio spans global and regional names designed to serve different traveler needs and market segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Intercontinental Hotels Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intercontinental Hotels Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (OTCMKTS:ISNPY Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The company traded as high as $42.16 and last traded at $41.78, with a volume of 23358 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $41.61. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently commented on ISNPY shares. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Intesa Sanpaolo from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on shares of Intesa Sanpaolo in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. They set a moderate buy rating on the stock. Zacks Research lowered shares of Intesa Sanpaolo from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered Intesa Sanpaolo from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Intesa Sanpaolo in a report on Monday, November 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Intesa Sanpaolo alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Intesa Sanpaolo Intesa Sanpaolo Stock Performance Intesa Sanpaolo Dividend Announcement The firm has a market cap of $121.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 0.75. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $40.01 and a 200-day moving average of $38.00. The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 2nd were given a $0.9325 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a yield of 445.0%. Intesa Sanpaolos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 55.65%. About Intesa Sanpaolo (Get Free Report) Intesa Sanpaolo is an Italian banking group formed in 2007 through the merger of Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI. The group is one of Italys largest financial institutions, serving a wide range of clients from individual retail customers to large corporations and institutional investors. Its long heritage traces to several regional banks and savings institutions that became part of the consolidated group, giving it a prominent role in the Italian financial system. The company operates across multiple business lines, including retail banking (current accounts, deposits, mortgages and consumer loans), corporate and investment banking (cash management, lending, capital markets and advisory), private banking and wealth management, asset management and insurance. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Intesa Sanpaolo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intesa Sanpaolo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHD Free Report) by 7,210.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 40,209 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 39,659 shares during the period. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated owned approximately 0.06% of Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF worth $1,988,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Washington Trust Bank increased its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Washington Trust Bank now owns 39,746 shares of the companys stock worth $1,890,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. McLean Asset Management Corp grew its position in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 1.1% during the second quarter. McLean Asset Management Corp now owns 19,653 shares of the companys stock valued at $956,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its position in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 0.9% during the second quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 24,187 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,150,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares during the period. Lynx Investment Advisory increased its stake in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 0.6% during the first quarter. Lynx Investment Advisory now owns 39,875 shares of the companys stock worth $2,003,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WMG Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 2.7% during the second quarter. WMG Financial Advisors LLC now owns 9,348 shares of the companys stock worth $445,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF alerts: Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA SPHD opened at $48.00 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.77 and a beta of 0.72. Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF has a 1-year low of $43.39 and a 1-year high of $51.60. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $47.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $48.38. About Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF The Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in large cap equity. The fund tracks a dividend-yield-weighted index comprising the least volatile, highest dividend-yielding S&P 500 stocks. SPHD was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPHD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of iShares MSCI Israel ETF (NYSEARCA:EIS Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $112.72 and last traded at $112.44, with a volume of 11837 shares. The stock had previously closed at $110.03. iShares MSCI Israel ETF Stock Performance The stocks 50-day moving average is $106.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $98.58. The stock has a market cap of $550.57 million, a PE ratio of 13.79 and a beta of 1.03. Get iShares MSCI Israel ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Israel ETF Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI Israel ETF by 49.8% during the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 301 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning increased its stake in iShares MSCI Israel ETF by 3.5% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 2,976 shares of the companys stock worth $298,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Israel ETF by 21.7% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 572 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Israel ETF by 3.2% during the third quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 3,576 shares of the companys stock worth $359,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Israel ETF by 5.0% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 3,061 shares of the companys stock valued at $307,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the period. About iShares MSCI Israel ETF The iShares MSCI Israel ETF (EIS) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Israel Capped index, a market-cap-weighted index of Israeli firms. EIS was launched on Mar 26, 2008 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Israel ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Israel ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE:KRG Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $22.54 and traded as high as $24.20. Kite Realty Group Trust shares last traded at $23.98, with a volume of 1,541,436 shares trading hands. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH initiated coverage on shares of Kite Realty Group Trust in a research note on Tuesday, September 9th. They issued a buy rating and a $30.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised Kite Realty Group Trust from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the company from $23.00 to $25.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Wall Street Zen downgraded Kite Realty Group Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and set a $24.00 target price (up previously from $23.00) on shares of Kite Realty Group Trust in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Kite Realty Group Trust in a research note on Monday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $25.50. Get Kite Realty Group Trust alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on KRG Kite Realty Group Trust Price Performance The company has a market capitalization of $5.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.47, a PEG ratio of 6.04 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $22.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $22.55. Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE:KRG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $205.06 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $208.82 million. Kite Realty Group Trust had a return on equity of 4.27% and a net margin of 16.34%.Kite Realty Group Trust has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.090-2.110 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Kite Realty Group Trust will post 2.05 earnings per share for the current year. Kite Realty Group Trust Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 9th will be given a dividend of $0.29 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 9th. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.8%. This is a positive change from Kite Realty Group Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. Kite Realty Group Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently 168.75%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kite Realty Group Trust Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust by 54.8% during the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 1,305 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust during the second quarter worth $30,000. First Horizon Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust during the third quarter worth $30,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Kite Realty Group Trust by 118.4% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,365 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 740 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smallwood Wealth Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Kite Realty Group Trust by 57.9% in the third quarter. Smallwood Wealth Investment Management LLC now owns 1,748 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 641 shares during the period. 90.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Kite Realty Group Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG) is a real estate investment trust that specializes in the ownership, development and management of open-air retail real estate. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the company focuses on acquiring, developing and operating community and neighborhood shopping centers, as well as mixed-use properties that accommodate national, regional and local retailers. Established in 1994, Kite Realty has grown its portfolio through strategic development projects, targeted acquisitions and selective dispositions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Kite Realty Group Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kite Realty Group Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Malaga Financial Corp. (OTCMKTS:MLGF Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 459 shares, an increase of 27.5% from the November 30th total of 360 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 11,082 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 11,082 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. Malaga Financial Price Performance Shares of Malaga Financial stock opened at $21.52 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $22.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.09. Malaga Financial has a 1 year low of $19.10 and a 1 year high of $23.40. The company has a market capitalization of $213.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.82 and a beta of 0.08. Get Malaga Financial alerts: Malaga Financial (OTCMKTS:MLGF Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 9th. The company reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter. Malaga Financial Company Profile Malaga Financial Corporation operates as the holding company for Malaga Bank that provides various community banking products and services to personal and business customers. It offers checking, savings, NOW, and money market accounts, certificates of deposits, business banking, consumer, and demand deposits. The company also provides commercial real estate, single and multi-family residential mortgage, consumer, 14-unit investment property, construction, personal, and business loans; home equity lines of credit; and certificates of deposit. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Malaga Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Malaga Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi Electric Co. (OTCMKTS:MIELF Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Friday . 8,876 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 125% from the previous sessions volume of 3,942 shares.The stock last traded at $29.60 and had previously closed at $30.00. Mitsubishi Electric Trading Down 3.4% The company has a market capitalization of $63.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.49 and a beta of 0.63. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $28.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $25.54. Get Mitsubishi Electric alerts: About Mitsubishi Electric (Get Free Report) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (trading OTC as MIELF) is a diversified Japanese multinational manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment. Established in 1921 as part of the broader Mitsubishi group, the company is headquartered in Tokyo and has grown into a global supplier of products and systems for industrial, commercial, infrastructure and consumer markets. The companys operations span a wide range of businesses including power and energy systems, factory automation and industrial machinery, building systems such as elevators and escalators, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, transportation systems including railway and traffic control solutions, and space and defense-related products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Australia Bank Limited (ASX:NABPI Get Free Report) announced a interim dividend on Thursday, January 1st, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be given a dividend of 1.187 per share on Monday, March 16th. This represents a dividend yield of 113.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This is a 1.4% increase from National Australia Banks previous interim dividend of $1.17. National Australia Bank Price Performance National Australia Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report) National Australia Bank Limited provides financial services to individuals and businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. The company operates through Business and Private Banking; Personal Banking; Corporate and Institutional Banking; New Zealand Banking; and Corporate Functions and Other segments. It accepts transaction accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, and term deposits; and specialized accounts, such as foreign currency, business interest, cash maximiser, farm management, community free saver, statutory trust, and project bank accounts, as well as farm management deposits. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for National Australia Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Australia Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NRO Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 15th will be given a dividend of 0.0312 per share on Friday, January 30th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 12.3%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 15th. Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Stock Down 0.7% Shares of NRO stock opened at $3.04 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $3.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.17. Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund has a 1 year low of $2.75 and a 1 year high of $3.69. Get Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund alerts: About Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund (Get Free Report) Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund (NYSE American: NRO) is a closed-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust. Listed on the NYSE American exchange, the fund seeks to provide shareholders with high current income and the potential for capital appreciation through an actively managed portfolio of real estate securities. Its structure allows investors to access a diversified pool of real estate assets within a single investment vehicle. The funds primary investment focus is on equity real estate investment trusts (REITs), real estate operating companies and other real estaterelated securities. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ninety One UK Ltd lowered its stake in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 39.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 42,819 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 28,067 shares during the period. Ninety One UK Ltds holdings in American Express were worth $14,223,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of American Express by 1.0% during the third quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,910 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $967,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the period. Bath Savings Trust Co raised its holdings in American Express by 1.1% during the 3rd 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 last quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in American Express by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,220 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $1,402,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Berger Financial Group Inc boosted its stake in shares of American Express by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Berger Financial Group Inc now owns 2,232 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $741,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of American Express by 2.8% during 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. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.33% of the companys stock. Get American Express alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other American Express news, insider Douglas Tabish sold 2,515 shares of American Express stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $355.61, for a total value of $894,359.15. Following the sale, the insider owned 2,515 shares of the companys stock, valued at $894,359.15. This trade represents a 50.00% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CMO Elizabeth Rutledge sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $360.21, for a total value of $18,010,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer directly owned 85,577 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,825,691.17. This represents a 36.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 57,515 shares of company stock worth $20,658,509 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. American Express Stock Down 0.9% NYSE:AXP opened at $370.04 on Friday. American Express Company has a 1 year low of $220.43 and a 1 year high of $387.49. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $366.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $336.01. The stock has a market cap of $254.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.83, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.15. 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 (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported ($11.85) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.56 by ($15.41). American Express had a net margin of 14.97% and a return on equity of 33.41%. The business had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.91 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that American Express Company will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current year. American Express Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be issued a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is 22.01%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of American Express from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. HSBC set a $295.00 price target on American Express and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Weiss Ratings raised American Express from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Monday. Barclays increased their target price on American Express from $336.00 to $355.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their target price on American Express from $330.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $335.55. Get Our Latest Report on American Express 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express Company (NYSE:AXP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Middle Eastern stock markets have shown varied performances recently, with Egypt's bourse surpassing its Gulf counterparts in 2025, while oil prices weighed heavily on Saudi Arabia's market. In this context, penny stocksthough an outdated termstill represent a segment of smaller or less-established companies that can offer significant value and growth potential. By focusing on those with strong financials and clear growth prospects, investors may uncover promising opportunities among these under-the-radar companies. Top 10 Penny Stocks In The Middle East Name Share Price Market Cap Financial Health Rating Thob Al Aseel (SASE:4012) SAR3.39 SAR1.35B Alarum Technologies (TASE:ALAR) 2.882 206.03M E7 Group PJSC (ADX:E7) AED1.04 AED2.18B Sharjah Insurance Company P.S.C (ADX:SICO) AED1.52 AED228M Al Wathba National Insurance Company PJSC (ADX:AWNIC) AED3.50 AED724.5M Arabian Pipes (SASE:2200) SAR4.78 SAR954M Dubai National Insurance & Reinsurance (P.S.C.) (DFM:DNIR) AED3.25 AED384.62M Dubai Investments PJSC (DFM:DIC) AED3.57 AED15.22B Sharjah Cement and Industrial Development (PJSC) (ADX:SCIDC) AED0.829 AED504.24M Tgi Infrastructures (TASE:TGI) 2.635 205.67M Click here to see the full list of 80 stocks from our Middle Eastern Penny Stocks screener. Below we spotlight a couple of our favorites from our exclusive screener. Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: Overview: Amanat Holdings PJSC, with a market cap of AED3.20 billion, invests in companies and enterprises within the education and healthcare sectors both in the United Arab Emirates and internationally. Operations: The company's revenue is derived from two main segments: Education, contributing AED495.94 million, and Healthcare, accounting for AED380.40 million. Market Cap: AED3.2B Amanat Holdings PJSC, with a market cap of AED3.20 billion, operates in the education and healthcare sectors. The company has shown significant earnings growth of 330.2% over the past year, although this was partly due to a large one-off gain of AED68.3 million. Its financial health is supported by more cash than total debt and strong short-term asset coverage for liabilities. While its Price-To-Earnings ratio is slightly below industry average, indicating potential value, its Return on Equity remains low at 8.4%. Despite past profit declines over five years, recent performance indicates improved profitability and stability in earnings volatility. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $6.50 and last traded at $6.20, with a volume of 2172835 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.86. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Trading Down 9.0% The firm has a market capitalization of $710.70 million, a P/E ratio of -0.57 and a beta of 0.05. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $2.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1.54. Get NovaBay Pharmaceuticals alerts: Institutional Trading of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NBY. Ground Swell Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Apollon Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals in the third quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, C2C Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 78.2% in the second quarter. C2C Wealth Management LLC now owns 98,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 43,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 23.25% of the companys stock. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Company Profile NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel, non-antibiotic anti-infective products designed to regulate the innate immune response. Leveraging its proprietary Aganocide Technology, the companys synthetic antimicrobial compounds target and neutralize pathogens without contributing to antibiotic resistance. NovaBays research and development efforts concentrate on ophthalmic, dermatological and wound care applications, aiming to address unmet needs in infection control and inflammation management. The companys primary commercial products include Avenova, an eyelid and lash cleaning solution indicated for managing chronic blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction, and NeutroPhase, a pure hypochlorous acid wound and skin cleanser used in acute and chronic wound irrigation. See Also Receive News & Ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. (NYSE:NCDL Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $13.83, but opened at $13.38. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending shares last traded at $13.2830, with a volume of 3,866 shares traded. Analysts Set New Price Targets NCDL has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from $17.00 to $15.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from $17.00 to $16.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from $15.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Wall Street Zen raised Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, December 20th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $15.75. Get Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Trading Down 1.0% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.65 and a quick ratio of 1.65. The stocks 50-day moving average is $14.32 and its two-hundred day moving average is $15.19. The company has a market cap of $652.44 million, a P/E ratio of 8.68 and a beta of 0.41. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending (NYSE:NCDL Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $51.11 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $52.00 million. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending had a net margin of 36.83% and a return on equity of 11.13%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. will post 2.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 13.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lendings dividend payout ratio is 117.65%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending news, Director Kenneth M. Miranda acquired 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were bought at an average price of $14.10 per share, with a total value of $28,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 27,000 shares in the company, valued at $380,700. This represents a 8.00% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Treasurer Shaul Vichness bought 5,000 shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending stock in a transaction on Monday, November 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $14.20 per share, with a total value of $71,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the treasurer owned 20,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $284,000. The trade was a 33.33% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have bought 27,000 shares of company stock valued at $383,600. Insiders own 0.62% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new position in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending in the 1st quarter worth $491,000. Adams Asset Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending by 9.4% during the 2nd quarter. Adams Asset Advisors LLC now owns 90,151 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,460,000 after acquiring an additional 7,757 shares during the period. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending by 46.3% in the 2nd quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 498,655 shares of the companys stock worth $8,073,000 after acquiring an additional 157,763 shares in the last quarter. GraniteShares Advisors LLC raised its stake in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending by 6.7% during the 2nd quarter. GraniteShares Advisors LLC now owns 167,084 shares of the companys stock worth $2,705,000 after acquiring an additional 10,439 shares during the period. Finally, Tranquility Partners LLC raised its stake in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending by 15.8% during the 2nd quarter. Tranquility Partners LLC now owns 84,333 shares of the companys stock worth $1,365,000 after acquiring an additional 11,510 shares during the period. About Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending (Get Free Report) Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending (NYSE:NCDL) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with attractive risk-adjusted returns through a diversified portfolio of direct lending instruments. Established in early 2022, NCDL focuses on privately negotiated debt investments in middle-market companies, primarily within the United States. The fund offers investors access to a segment of the credit markets that has historically been less correlated with public debt markets, aiming to capture yield premiums associated with private lending. The funds investment strategy centers on senior secured loans, unitranche financings and selectively structured mezzanine debt. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pacer Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm purchased 9,522 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $1,321,000. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of WMS. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 50.8% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 3,114,224 shares of the construction companys stock worth $338,360,000 after purchasing an additional 1,049,697 shares during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc boosted its position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.8% in the 2nd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 3,043,909 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $348,709,000 after purchasing an additional 139,495 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP grew its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,178,763 shares of the construction companys stock worth $250,253,000 after buying an additional 117,963 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 0.3% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,382,070 shares of the construction companys stock worth $158,745,000 after buying an additional 3,583 shares during the period. Finally, Amundi lifted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 38.2% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 1,181,199 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $127,223,000 after buying an additional 326,435 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.83% of the companys stock. Get Advanced Drainage Systems alerts: Advanced Drainage Systems Stock Performance Shares of WMS opened at $144.90 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.73, a P/E/G ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 2.60 and a current ratio of 3.48. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a 1 year low of $93.92 and a 1 year high of $155.39. The companys fifty day moving average is $146.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $136.50. Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Dividend Advanced Drainage Systems ( NYSE:WMS Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The construction company reported $1.97 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.27. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.35% and a return on equity of 28.85%. The company had revenue of $850.38 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $802.49 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.70 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year. 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 $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. Advanced Drainage Systemss payout ratio is currently 12.29%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Robert M. Eversole sold 10,569 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.82, for a total transaction of $1,615,154.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 50,076 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,652,614.32. This represents a 17.43% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Tim A. Makowski sold 4,901 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.21, for a total value of $731,278.21. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 2,467 shares of the companys stock, valued at $368,101.07. This represents a 66.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 97,772 shares of company stock worth $14,605,539. Company insiders own 1.63% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. KeyCorp increased their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $176.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $158.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $157.11. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Advanced Drainage Systems About Advanced Drainage Systems (Free Report) Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc (NYSE: WMS) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of water management solutions in North America. Headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio, the company specializes in the design, production and distribution of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) drainage pipe and related products. Its core business addresses stormwater management, on-site septic systems and erosion control for residential, commercial and infrastructure projects. The companys product portfolio includes corrugated plastic pipe, tubing, fittings, geocells, geogrids and stormwater structures such as inlets, manholes and detention/retention systems. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Advanced Drainage Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Advanced Drainage Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PCCW Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PCWLF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 3,115,917 shares, an increase of 28.3% from the November 30th total of 2,428,008 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,657 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,172.7 days. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are short sold. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,657 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,172.7 days. PCCW Price Performance Shares of PCWLF stock opened at $0.70 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $0.74 and a two-hundred day moving average of $0.70. PCCW has a 52 week low of $0.54 and a 52 week high of $0.78. Get PCCW alerts: PCCW Company Profile (Get Free Report) PCCW Limited (OTCMKTS: PCWLF) is a Hong Kongbased telecommunications and technology services provider with a diversified portfolio spanning fixed-line and mobile communications, broadband internet, and media content. Through its flagship subsidiary, HKT, PCCW operates Hong Kongs largest fixed-line network and one of the territorys leading broadband platforms. The company also offers mobile services under the CSL brand, serving both residential and enterprise customers across the region. Beyond traditional telecom offerings, PCCW provides a range of information and communications technology (ICT) solutions, including cloud computing, cybersecurity, data centre services and IT consultancy. Read More Receive News & Ratings for PCCW Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PCCW and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Rakuten, Inc. (OTCMKTS:RKUNY Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $6.40, but opened at $6.15. Rakuten shares last traded at $6.50, with a volume of 1,865 shares trading hands. Rakuten Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -12.91 and a beta of 1.19. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $6.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is $5.99. Get Rakuten alerts: Rakuten (OTCMKTS:RKUNY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported ($0.08) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.15). The firm had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.21 billion. Rakuten had a negative return on equity of 13.96% and a negative net margin of 6.67%. On average, research analysts forecast that Rakuten, Inc. will post 0.06 earnings per share for the current year. About Rakuten 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rakuten Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rakuten and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (OTCMKTS:RYCEY Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Friday . The company traded as high as $16.27 and last traded at $16.27, with a volume of 1144603 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $15.72. Analysts Set New Price Targets RYCEY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Berenberg Bank raised Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC in a research report on Friday, September 19th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC Stock Performance Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $14.92 and a 200 day moving average of $14.57. Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 17.4% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 34,443 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $461,000 after purchasing an additional 5,099 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $174,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 7.8% in the 2nd quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 107,032 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,419,000 after buying an additional 7,705 shares in the last quarter. Torray Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC in the 2nd quarter valued at $669,000. Finally, L & S Advisors Inc grew its position in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC by 16.4% in the 2nd quarter. L & S Advisors Inc now owns 288,058 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $3,854,000 after buying an additional 40,691 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 0.07% of the companys stock. About Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (Get Free Report) Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a UK-based multinational engineering company that designs, manufactures and services power systems for the civil and defence aerospace, marine and energy markets. The companys core activities include the development and production of turbine engines for commercial and military aircraft, propulsion and power systems for naval vessels, and industrial gas turbines for power generation and distributed energy applications. A significant portion of its business is focused on aftermarket support, providing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and long-term service agreements to customers worldwide. In aerospace, RollsRoyce is best known for its high-thrust turbofan engines used on widebody and regional aircraft, supported by comprehensive service programs and digital monitoring solutions that optimize engine health and operational availability. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AMB Financial Corp. (OTCMKTS:AMFC Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 446 shares, a growth of 26.0% from the November 30th total of 354 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 356 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.3 days. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 356 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.3 days. AMB Financial Stock Up 0.1% OTCMKTS AMFC opened at $30.40 on Friday. AMB Financial has a 52 week low of $20.00 and a 52 week high of $30.40. The company has a fifty day moving average of $29.68 and a two-hundred day moving average of $26.32. Get AMB Financial alerts: About AMB Financial (Get Free Report) Featured Stories AMB Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for American Community Bank of Indiana that provides financial services to customers in Indiana. The company provides savings, checking, health savings, individual retirement, and money market deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. It offers business checking accounts, business debit and credit cards, and order business checks. In addition, the company offers mortgage loans, home equity loans, construction/lot loans, community loans, vehicle loans, and loan servicing; and commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, and SBA loans. Receive News & Ratings for AMB Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AMB Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 3,162,660 shares, a growth of 28.9% from the November 30th total of 2,452,986 shares. Currently, 3.6% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 853,113 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.7 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 853,113 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.7 days. Currently, 3.6% of the companys stock are sold short. Institutional Trading of Packaging Corporation of America Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its holdings in Packaging Corporation of America by 105.4% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 115 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the period. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 72.2% during the second quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 136 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the period. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America during the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH acquired a new stake in Packaging Corporation of America during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, NBT Bank N A NY bought a new stake in Packaging Corporation of America in the 3rd quarter valued at $41,000. Institutional investors own 89.78% of the companys stock. Get Packaging Corporation of America alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have issued reports on PKG shares. Zacks Research downgraded Packaging Corporation of America from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $262.00 to $264.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 13th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $214.00 to $218.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $225.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Packaging Corporation of America from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $230.67. Packaging Corporation of America Stock Performance Shares of PKG stock opened at $206.33 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $201.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $203.62. Packaging Corporation of America has a one year low of $172.71 and a one year high of $242.68. The stock has a market cap of $18.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 3.16 and a quick ratio of 2.00. Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The industrial products company reported $2.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.83 by ($0.10). Packaging Corporation of America had a return on equity of 19.72% and a net margin of 10.18%.The firm had revenue of $2.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.65 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. Packaging Corporation of America has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 2.400-2.400 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Packaging Corporation of America will post 10.44 EPS for the current year. Packaging Corporation of America Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be issued a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. Packaging Corporation of Americas payout ratio is currently 50.56%. About Packaging Corporation of America (Get Free Report) Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) is a leading North American manufacturer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products. The company produces a range of paper-based packaging solutions including linerboard, corrugating medium, corrugated shipping containers, retail-ready packaging and point-of-purchase displays. In addition to core packaging products, Packaging Corporation of America offers packaging design, testing and supply-chain services intended to optimize protection, cost and sustainability for customers. Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, the company operates an integrated network of mills and corrugated manufacturing facilities across the United States and serves customers throughout North America in industries such as e-commerce, grocery and food & beverage, consumer packaged goods and industrial markets. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Packaging Corporation of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Packaging Corporation of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated lifted its stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XHLF Free Report) by 936.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 148,038 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 133,748 shares during the period. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated owned about 0.36% of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF worth $7,464,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of XHLF. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 43.6% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 19,881 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,001,000 after acquiring an additional 6,040 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the first quarter valued at about $413,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the first quarter valued at about $313,000. HBW Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the second quarter worth about $703,000. Finally, Reyes Financial Architecture Inc. bought a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the 2nd quarter worth about $191,000. Get BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF alerts: BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA:XHLF opened at $50.25 on Friday. BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a 52 week low of $50.17 and a 52 week high of $50.42. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $50.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.31. About BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF The Bondbloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XHLF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of six months. XHLF was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Solitario Resources Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:XPL Get Free Report) (TSE:SLR) shares crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $0.64 and traded as high as $0.6997. Solitario Resources shares last traded at $0.6968, with a volume of 413,586 shares changing hands. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Zacks Research cut shares of Solitario Resources from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1.20. Get Solitario Resources alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Solitario Resources Solitario Resources Stock Up 6.3% Institutional Investors Weigh In On Solitario Resources The firms 50-day simple moving average is $0.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $63.34 million, a P/E ratio of -11.61 and a beta of 0.40. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV acquired a new position in shares of Solitario Resources in the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Citadel Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Solitario Resources in the 3rd quarter valued at $194,000. Finally, Focused Wealth Management Inc increased its stake in Solitario Resources by 21.2% in the 2nd quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc now owns 570,900 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $371,000 after purchasing an additional 100,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 18.23% of the companys stock. Solitario Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Solitario Resources Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on base and precious metals in the Americas. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, the firm targets copper, gold and silver through a combination of strategic acquisitions, grassroots exploration and joint-venture partnerships. Solitarios work spans the full project life cycle from early-stage target generation and permitting through advanced stage resource definition and prefeasibility studies. The companys project portfolio includes a range of properties across North and South America. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Solitario Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Solitario Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) is included among the 12 Best Income Stocks to Buy Now. Morgan Stanley Lifts Realty Income (O) Price Target on Revised AFFO Outlook Image by Alexsander-777 from Pixabay On December 24, Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) to $65 from $62 and kept an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The update followed changes to the firms 2025 and 2026 AFFO per share estimates. Realty Income follows a straightforward model. It buys single-tenant commercial properties and leases them on a long-term basis using triple-net leases. Under this structure, tenants cover taxes, insurance, and maintenance. That setup lowers operating costs and helps support steady cash flow and reliable monthly dividends. The REIT focuses on essential, non-discretionary businesses. These are tenants that tend to hold up even when economic conditions soften. Scale also plays a role. As one of the largest net lease REITs, Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) operates with an investment-grade-rated balance sheet. That gives it consistent, low-cost access to capital markets. It also opens the door to large acquisition opportunities that smaller competitors often cannot pursue. The company has been pushing further into Europe. These markets now make up a meaningful share of its investment activity and are offering higher initial cash yields than many US properties. Realty Income currently operates across eight European countries, including the U.K., Spain, Ireland, and Poland. Dividends remain a core part of the story. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) pays shareholders monthly and has delivered 666 consecutive monthly dividends so far. That record stands out. Since listing on the NYSE in 1994, Realty Income has raised its dividend 133 times and logged 113 straight quarterly increases. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) is a real estate investment trust that invests in free-standing, single-tenant commercial properties across the US, the United Kingdom, and six other European countries. These properties are leased under NNN agreements, a structure that continues to anchor its long-term strategy. While we acknowledge the potential of O 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: 14 Best Pharma Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2026 and 20 Best Performing Dividend Stocks in 2025 Disclosure: None. Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the twenty research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given 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 brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $96.2059. SO has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Evercore ISI began coverage on Southern in a research note on Monday, October 6th. They issued an in-line rating and a $103.00 price target on the stock. BTIG Research assumed coverage on shares of Southern in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. They set a neutral rating for the company. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Southern from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, December 6th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Southern in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Southern from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $98.00 target price for the company. in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Get Southern alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Southern Southern Trading Down 0.4% Shares of SO opened at $87.23 on Tuesday. Southern has a fifty-two week low of $80.46 and a fifty-two week high of $100.83. The firm has a market cap of $96.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.59, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.45. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $89.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $92.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.75. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The utilities provider reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.09. Southern had a net margin of 15.42% and a return on equity of 12.52%. The company had revenue of $7.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.04 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.39 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Southern will post 4.29 earnings per share for the current year. Southern Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 17th were issued a $0.74 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. This represents a $2.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. Southerns dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 73.27%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Southern Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Equitable Trust Co. boosted its stake in shares of Southern by 24.7% in the second quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 34,527 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,171,000 after buying an additional 6,843 shares during the last quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Southern by 23.6% in the second quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 7,145 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $656,000 after acquiring an additional 1,366 shares during the period. Matrix Trust Co purchased a new stake in Southern in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,813,000. Shelton Capital Management grew its stake in shares of Southern by 700.6% during the 2nd quarter. Shelton Capital Management now owns 161,618 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $14,841,000 after purchasing an additional 141,430 shares during the period. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp increased its holdings in shares of Southern by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 822,403 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $75,521,000 after purchasing an additional 42,531 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 64.10% of the companys stock. About Southern (Get Free Report) Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is an Atlanta-based energy holding company that provides electric and gas utility services and owns power generation assets across the United States. Founded in 1945, the company operates a portfolio of regulated electric utilities and affiliated businesses that generate, transmit and distribute electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Southerns principal regulated electric subsidiaries include Georgia Power, Alabama Power and Mississippi Power, which serve large portions of the southeastern United States. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC trimmed its position in shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM Free Report) by 29.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 31,849 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 13,526 shares during the quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLCs holdings in International Business Machines were worth $8,986,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of International Business Machines in the second quarter worth about $2,011,122,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of International Business Machines by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 95,051,475 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $28,019,274,000 after purchasing an additional 1,913,708 shares in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in International Business Machines by 27,928.2% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,903,116 shares of the technology companys stock worth $561,001,000 after purchasing an additional 1,896,326 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in International Business Machines by 6.5% in the 1st 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 purchasing an additional 524,633 shares during the period. Finally, VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new position in International Business Machines during the second quarter worth approximately $133,771,000. 58.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get International Business Machines alerts: International Business Machines Stock Performance IBM opened at $296.07 on Friday. International Business Machines Corporation has a twelve month low of $214.50 and a twelve month high of $324.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $276.75 billion, a PE ratio of 35.42, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.97. The firms 50-day moving average price is $304.87 and its 200 day moving average price is $281.41. International Business Machines Announces Dividend International Business Machines ( NYSE:IBM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The technology company reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.45 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $16.33 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.10 billion. International Business Machines had a net margin of 12.09% and a return on equity of 37.76%. International Business Machiness quarterly revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.30 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed 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. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $6.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.38%. Key Stores Impacting International Business Machines Here are the key news stories impacting International Business Machines this week: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on International Business Machines from $315.00 to $300.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of International Business Machines from $310.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $280.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $300.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on International Business Machines from $295.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $293.38. Check Out Our Latest Report on International Business Machines International Business Machines Profile (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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IBM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for International Business Machines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Business Machines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (CVE:SPX Get Free Report) was up 20% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as C$0.15 and last traded at C$0.15. Approximately 271,321 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 111% from the average daily volume of 128,661 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.13. Stellar AfricaGold Price Performance The company has a 50 day moving average of C$0.15 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 201.45, a quick ratio of 2.95 and a current ratio of 0.38. The stock has a market capitalization of C$9.72 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.00, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.85. About Stellar AfricaGold (Get Free Report) Stellar AfricaGold Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and evaluation of mineral properties in Canada, Republic of Mali, and the Kingdom of Morocco. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. Stellar AfricaGold Inc was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Stellar AfricaGold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stellar AfricaGold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC lifted its position in shares of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 250.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,602 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 1,145 shares during the period. Sterling Investment Counsel LLCs holdings in Deere & Company were worth $732,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Deere & Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,578,243,000. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its stake in Deere & Company by 573.9% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 842,882 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $428,597,000 after purchasing an additional 717,808 shares during the last quarter. TD Asset Management Inc boosted its position in Deere & Company by 132.0% during the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 721,638 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $366,946,000 after buying an additional 410,636 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 97.1% during the first quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 733,871 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $344,442,000 after buying an additional 361,526 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 50,691.9% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 332,179 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $168,910,000 after buying an additional 331,525 shares during the period. 68.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Deere & Company alerts: Insider Transactions at Deere & Company In other news, CEO John C. May II sold 11,106 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $500.08, for a total transaction of $5,553,888.48. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 112,453 shares of the companys stock, valued at $56,235,496.24. This trade represents a 8.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock. Deere & Company Stock Performance DE stock opened at $465.73 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $473.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $483.81. The company has a current ratio of 2.22, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. Deere & Company has a 12-month low of $403.01 and a 12-month high of $533.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $125.96 billion, a PE ratio of 25.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.00. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 26th. The industrial products company reported $3.93 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.96 by ($0.03). Deere & Company had a return on equity of 20.54% and a net margin of 11.00%.The business had revenue of $12.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.77 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $4.55 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Deere & Company will post 19.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Deere & Company Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 35.01%. Analyst Ratings Changes DE has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated an outperform rating on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Monday, December 1st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Monday. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. DA Davidson reiterated a buy rating and set a $580.00 target price on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Monday, December 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Deere & Company from $480.00 to $460.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $522.70. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Deere & Company Deere & Company Company Profile (Free Report) Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deerewho developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soilsthe company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide. The companys principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:VUG Free Report) by 14.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,142 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,550 shares during the period. Vanguard Growth ETF accounts for about 1.1% of Summit Wealth Partners LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position. Summit Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Vanguard Growth ETF were worth $5,823,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Crane Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Growth ETF by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Crane Advisory LLC now owns 171,081 shares of the companys stock worth $83,233,000 after buying an additional 1,651 shares during the last quarter. Fund Evaluation Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vanguard Growth ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $5,594,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Vanguard Growth ETF by 26.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 50,831 shares of the companys stock worth $22,284,000 after acquiring an additional 10,602 shares during the last quarter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC bought a new position in Vanguard Growth ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,092,000. Finally, Hershey Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in Vanguard Growth ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $517,000. Get Vanguard Growth ETF alerts: Vanguard Growth ETF Trading Down 0.8% NYSEARCA:VUG opened at $487.86 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $198.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.22 and a beta of 1.17. Vanguard Growth ETF has a twelve month low of $316.14 and a twelve month high of $505.38. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $489.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $469.22. Vanguard Growth ETF Company Profile Vanguard Growth Index Fund, formerly Vanguard Growth ETF, is an exchange-traded share class of Vanguard Growth Index Fund, which employs a passive management or indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Prime Market Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a diversified index of growth stocks of large United States companies. The Index represents the growth companies of the MSCI US Prime Market 750 Index. The MSCI US Prime Market 750 Index represents the universe of large-capitalization companies in the United States equity market. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A number of firms have modified their ratings and price targets on shares of TAL Education Group (NYSE: TAL) recently: TAL Education Group is a leading provider of after-school tutoring services in China, specializing in K-12 academic instruction. The company offers a range of programs designed to help primary and secondary school students strengthen their core competencies in subjects such as mathematics, English, Chinese language and science. TAL leverages both in-person learning centers and digital platforms to deliver its curriculum, aiming to support student progress through interactive lessons and personalized study plans. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Beijing, TAL Education Group has grown into one of Chinas largest private education firms. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for TAL Education Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TAL Education Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tectonic Advisors LLC increased its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 16.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 348,424 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 49,737 shares during the quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $8,878,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in PFE. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC now owns 13,542 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $328,000 after purchasing an additional 388 shares in the last quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department lifted its stake in Pfizer by 0.9% in the second quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 46,103 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,118,000 after purchasing an additional 395 shares during the last quarter. Peak Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Pfizer by 1.4% during the second quarter. Peak Asset Management LLC now owns 28,768 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $697,000 after buying an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Able Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 2.0% in the second quarter. Able Wealth Management LLC now owns 21,128 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $512,000 after buying an additional 413 shares during the period. Finally, Boltwood Capital Management lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Boltwood Capital Management now owns 58,274 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,485,000 after acquiring an additional 420 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Pfizer alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently issued reports on PFE. Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Pfizer from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. They set a neutral rating and a $26.00 price target for the company. Scotiabank initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. They issued a sector outperform rating and a $30.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a market perform rating and set a $30.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $28.06. Pfizer Stock Performance NYSE:PFE opened at $24.90 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $25.17 and its 200 day simple moving average is $24.90. The stock has a market cap of $141.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.48 and a beta of 0.47. 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 issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $16.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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. As a group, research analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year. Pfizer Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 23rd will be issued a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.9%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 100.00%. Key Pfizer News Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week: Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised near-term quarterly EPS outlooks for Q2 2026 and Q2 2027 (small bumps to $0.66 and $0.62 respectively), suggesting some stabilization in earnings momentum. (MarketBeat summary) Zacks raised near-term quarterly EPS outlooks for Q2 2026 and Q2 2027 (small bumps to $0.66 and $0.62 respectively), suggesting some stabilization in earnings momentum. (MarketBeat summary) Positive Sentiment: Analysts/industry reports show Pfizer leading drugmakers planning price increases on many branded medications this could support revenue and margins if implemented. Read More. Analysts/industry reports show Pfizer leading drugmakers planning price increases on many branded medications this could support revenue and margins if implemented. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Several value-oriented pieces argue Wall Street has given up on Pfizer and that the company looks attractively valued given stabilized revenue and a rebuilding pipeline these narratives can attract long-term/income investors. Read More. Several value-oriented pieces argue Wall Street has given up on Pfizer and that the company looks attractively valued given stabilized revenue and a rebuilding pipeline these narratives can attract long-term/income investors. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Multiple retail-investor columns (The Motley Fool, NAI500, Kalkine) debate whether Pfizer under $25$30 is a buy useful context for retail flows but not an immediate catalyst. Read More. Read More. Read More. Multiple retail-investor columns (The Motley Fool, NAI500, Kalkine) debate whether Pfizer under $25$30 is a buy useful context for retail flows but not an immediate catalyst. Read More. Read More. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed its Q4 2027 EPS estimate slightly (to $0.70 from $0.71) and previously cut Q4 2025 estimates; those downward revisions are direct near-term negatives for earnings expectations. (MarketBeat summary) Zacks trimmed its Q4 2027 EPS estimate slightly (to $0.70 from $0.71) and previously cut Q4 2025 estimates; those downward revisions are direct near-term negatives for earnings expectations. (MarketBeat summary) Negative Sentiment: TD Cowen maintained a Hold rating for PFE a lack of upward revisions from a respected shop can cap upside and reinforce cautious positioning. Read More. TD Cowen maintained a Hold rating for PFE a lack of upward revisions from a respected shop can cap upside and reinforce cautious positioning. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Coverage pieces noting Pfizers multi-year pullback from pandemic highs and underperformance vs. the market underscore investor wariness and explain continued selling pressure. Read More. Pfizer Company Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas. Pfizers portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tectonic Advisors LLC boosted its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 198,380 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 9,973 shares during the period. Altria Group makes up approximately 0.7% of Tectonic Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Tectonic Advisors LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $13,105,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 64.7% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the companys stock worth $926,000 after buying an additional 6,954 shares during the last quarter. Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 15.5% in the first quarter. Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec now owns 89,957 shares of the companys stock worth $5,399,000 after buying an additional 12,050 shares during the last quarter. Amundi lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 14.5% during the first quarter. Amundi now owns 813,353 shares of the companys stock worth $47,085,000 after buying an additional 103,259 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its holdings in Altria Group by 97.0% in the 1st quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,968,342 shares of the companys stock worth $238,180,000 after buying an additional 1,953,966 shares during the period. Finally, Banque Transatlantique SA lifted its position in Altria Group by 101.3% during the first quarter. Banque Transatlantique SA now owns 14,893 shares of the companys stock valued at $826,000 after purchasing an additional 7,496 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Performance Shares of MO opened at $57.67 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $58.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $61.61. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $50.08 and a one year high of $68.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $96.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.01, a PEG ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 0.47. Altria Group Dividend Announcement Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.89% and a negative return on equity of 319.43%. The company had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.31 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.38 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.370-5.45 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th will be issued a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 26th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.4%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 80.92%. Altria Group declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback program on Thursday, October 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 1.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently commented on MO shares. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Altria Group from $68.00 to $61.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $62.33. Read Our Latest Analysis on MO Altria Group Profile (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the companys operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country. Altrias principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF (NYSEARCA:MMKT Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd will be given a dividend of 0.0293 per share on Monday, January 5th. This represents a yield of 152.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF Stock Performance Shares of MMKT opened at $100.22 on Friday. Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF has a 52-week low of $99.82 and a 52-week high of $100.60. The business has a fifty day moving average of $100.24 and a 200 day moving average of $100.23. Get Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF alerts: About Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF (Get Free Report) Featured Stories The Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF (MMKT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is actively managed, investing in US government money market instruments, particularly overnight repurchase agreements with short-term maturities. The fund aims to balance income, liquidity, and capital preservation. MMKT was launched on Sep 24, 2024 and is issued by Texas Capital. Receive News & Ratings for Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Thomson Reuters Co. (TSE:TRI Get Free Report) (NYSE:TRI) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as C$176.56 and last traded at C$177.31, with a volume of 101875 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$181.13. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have weighed in on TRI. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Thomson Reuters from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Thomson Reuters from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 9th. Huber Research raised Thomson Reuters to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded shares of Thomson Reuters from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Strong Buy and an average target price of C$265.80. Get Thomson Reuters alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters Price Performance The firms 50-day moving average is C$191.62 and its 200-day moving average is C$228.70. The company has a market capitalization of C$77.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.28, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.52. Thomson Reuters (TSE:TRI Get Free Report) (NYSE:TRI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported C$0.85 earnings per share for the quarter. Thomson Reuters had a net margin of 32.12% and a return on equity of 20.19%. The business had revenue of C$2.48 billion during the quarter. Analysts predict that Thomson Reuters Co. will post 5.6395803 EPS for the current fiscal year. Thomson Reuters Company Profile (Get Free Report) Thomson Reuters is the result of the $17.6 billion megamerger of Canadas Thomson and the United Kingdoms Reuters Group in 2008 and the 2018 carve-out of its finance and risk business, Refinitiv, in which it holds a 45% stake. In 2019, the company agreed to exchange its 45% stake in Refinitiv for a 15% stake in LSE. Since the divestiture, the company is more concentrated on selling its flagship legal data and software, WestLaw, and its tax accounting software, OneSource. In addition, the company does hold a significant investment in the publicly traded Tradeweb, which operates a fixed income exchange. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Thomson Reuters Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thomson Reuters and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Company reported a 4.9% year-on-year decline in global sales to 265,067 vehicles in November 2025, including Nissan and Infiniti-branded models, down from 278,763 units in the same month last year, reflecting mainly a sharp decline in domestic sales. Sales in Japan plunged by over 26% to 28,028 units during the month, while overseas sales were down by 1.5% to 237,039 units with sales in North America weakening significantly. In the first eleven months of 2025, Nissans global sales fell by 4.1% to 2,929,360 units from 3,056,173 units in the same period last year, with sales in Japan down by almost 16% to 374,638 units, while overseas sales declined by 2.2% to 2,554,722 units. Sales in China have rebounded strongly in the last few months, resulting in a 4.3% decline to 595,077 units year-to-date, while sales in Europe fell by 5.7% to 307,504 units. Deliveries in North America rose by 1.3% to 1,194,361 units, with US sales slightly lower at 844,134 units, while in Mexico sales rose by almost 7% to 246,279 units and in Canada volumes were up by 5% to 102,600 units. Sales in other markets combined fell by 6% to 457,780 units. In terms of production, global volumes dropped by 6.8% to 2,708,808 units in the eleven-month period, with output in Japan falling by 14.4% to 519,113 units. Overseas volumes declined by 4.8% to 2,189,695 units, driven lower by a 9.5% drop in US output to 446,650 units, while production in China fell by 2.5% to 583,501 units and output in Mexico was down by 2.1% to 622,980 units. Production in the UK fell by 6.7% to 252,555 units. Exports from Japan declined by almost 17% to 297,189 units year-to-date, with shipments to North America dropping by almost 28% to 125,276 units and exports to Europe plunging by over 34% to 34,149 units, while exports to other markets increased by 4.3% to 137,764 units. "Nissans global vehicle sales drop 5% in November" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. raised its position in Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL Free Report) by 150.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 5,000 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the period. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S.s holdings in Tyler Technologies were worth $2,615,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Tyler Technologies by 14.8% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 552 shares of the technology companys stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC raised its position in Tyler Technologies by 45.3% during the first quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 2,011 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,169,000 after acquiring an additional 627 shares during the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Tyler Technologies by 240.0% in the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,036 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,765,000 after purchasing an additional 2,143 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in shares of Tyler Technologies by 21.1% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 115,082 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $66,908,000 after purchasing an additional 20,066 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aprio Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Tyler Technologies in the first quarter valued at approximately $621,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.30% of the companys stock. Get Tyler Technologies alerts: Insider Activity at Tyler Technologies In other Tyler Technologies news, CFO Brian K. Miller sold 1,000 shares of Tyler Technologies stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the chief financial officer owned 17,148 shares in the company, valued at $7,691,049.48. This trade represents a 5.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Glenn A. Carter sold 500 shares of the businesss 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 sale, the director directly owned 3,172 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,455,091.56. This represents a 13.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 3,500 shares of company stock worth $1,605,605 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Tyler Technologies Stock Down 1.0% TYL stock opened at $453.65 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 63.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 0.91. Tyler Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $445.64 and a 52-week high of $661.31. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $465.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $523.21. Tyler Technologies (NYSE:TYL Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The technology company reported $2.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.88 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $595.88 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $594.34 million. Tyler Technologies had a return on equity of 10.57% and a net margin of 13.72%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.52 earnings per share. Tyler Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at 11.300-11.500 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Tyler Technologies, Inc. will post 8.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms recently issued reports on TYL. Evercore ISI reaffirmed a positive rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Oppenheimer reissued an outperform rating and issued a $600.00 price target on shares of Tyler Technologies in a report on Thursday, October 30th. UBS Group restated an overweight rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. BTIG Research started coverage on Tyler Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. They set a buy rating and a $560.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Tyler Technologies presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $649.31. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TYL About Tyler Technologies (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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Tyler Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tyler Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ninety One UK Ltd decreased its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST Free Report) by 2.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 97,918 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 2,707 shares during the period. Ninety One UK Ltds holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $25,687,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WST. SYM FINANCIAL Corp boosted its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 5.1% in the second quarter. SYM FINANCIAL Corp now owns 1,027 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $225,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. increased its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 3,021 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $661,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,318 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $288,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV boosted its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 2.7% during the second quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV now owns 1,970 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $431,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pallas Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 1.0% during the second quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,333 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,386,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.90% of the companys stock. Get West Pharmaceutical Services alerts: West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Down 0.5% West Pharmaceutical Services stock opened at $275.53 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $19.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.82, a P/E/G ratio of 4.11 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a current ratio of 2.87, a quick ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $274.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $255.38. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $187.43 and a 1-year high of $348.90. West Pharmaceutical Services Announces Dividend West Pharmaceutical Services ( NYSE:WST Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.96 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.29. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 16.29% and a return on equity of 18.16%. The business had revenue of $804.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $788.42 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.85 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. West Pharmaceutical Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.060-7.110 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 28th will be given a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 28th. West Pharmaceutical Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 13.04%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently issued reports on WST. TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. They set a buy rating and a $350.00 price target on the stock. Rothschild & Co Redburn assumed coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Monday, September 15th. They set a buy rating and a $311.00 target price on the stock. Redburn Partners set a $311.00 target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Monday, September 15th. Barclays upped their price objective on West Pharmaceutical Services from $275.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on West Pharmaceutical Services from $320.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $342.20. Get Our Latest Research Report on WST West Pharmaceutical Services Profile (Free Report) West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc is a global developer and manufacturer of components, systems and services that enable the containment and delivery of injectable drugs. The company focuses on high-quality packaging and delivery solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, producing primary drug packaging components and specialized drug delivery devices used for vaccines, biologics and other injectable therapies. West is known for its elastomeric closures, seals and polymer components that maintain sterility and compatibility with sensitive drug formulations. In addition to component manufacturing, West provides engineered delivery systems and support services across the product lifecycle. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of ZKH Group Limited Unsponsored ADR (NYSE:ZKH Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 191,505 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 17% from the previous sessions volume of 229,755 shares.The stock last traded at $3.73 and had previously closed at $3.68. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (e+) rating on shares of ZKH Group in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Sell. Get ZKH Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on ZKH ZKH Group Stock Performance Institutional Inflows and Outflows The company has a current ratio of 1.85, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The company has a market cap of $606.93 million, a P/E ratio of -24.93 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $3.19 and a 200-day moving average price of $3.06. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Jain Global LLC acquired a new position in ZKH Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $238,000. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new stake in ZKH Group during the 1st quarter worth $66,000. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in ZKH Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Institutional investors own 9.52% of the companys stock. About ZKH Group (Get Free Report) ZKH Group Limited develops and operates a maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products trading and service platform that offers spare parts, chemicals, manufacturing parts, general consumables, and office supplies in the Peoples Republic of China. The company provides MRO procurement and management services; digitalized MRO procurement solutions; and logistics and warehousing services. It also engages in the production and sale of intelligent warehousing equipment. ZKH Group Limited was founded in 1998 and is based in Shanghai, the Peoples Republic of China. See Also Receive News & Ratings for ZKH Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ZKH Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Yes safety oversight must come before anything else Regulation is needed, but delays and red tape are the real problem No enforcement already exists; regulation wont prevent accidents Vote View Results The Malaga complex will house a 50-megawatt fusion reactor called Orion. The plan is for the reactor to deliver power to Microsoft under a contract between the two companies. Founded in 2013 in Redmond, Helion Energy moved its main lab to Everett and recently began construction in July on a reactor site in the small Chelan County town of Malaga. And there are plans for what could be the nations second small modular reactor complex at Richland. Amazon is playing a part in that potential undertaking. Small modular reactors are essentially prefabricated mini-versions of traditional fission reactors. They are supposedly faster and cheaper to build than traditional reactors. Efforts are also underway to develop a different type of fusion reactor in Everett and Richland. These would be small portable units. One of the first commercially viable fusion reactors in the U.S. is under construction roughly 6 miles southeast of Wenatchee. Its expected to be working by 2028, with power going to Microsoft. Fusion reactors are attractive in part because they dont produce highly radioactive waste. Fusion and small modular reactors are the emerging sources of nuclear power, although both are still fledgling technologies. Policymakers are looking at both. So, too, are some of the nations largest tech corporations, eager to find power for electricity-hungry data centers. Again, Washington is trying to become a hub for nuclear power. But instead of monster-size reactors, the state is now home to multiple ventures involving smaller reactors all using technologies unheard of in the 1970s and 1980s. Only one of the five proposed reactors of the Washington Public Power Supply System or WPPSS, commonly pronounced Whoops was finished at Richland. In 1998, WPPSS became Energy Northwest largely to erase the stigma, and completed the 1,150-megawatt reactor that became the Columbia Generating Station. Then came cost overruns, construction problems, and one of the biggest municipal bond defaults in Wall Street history in 1983. Washington spent much of the 1970s trying to become a center for nuclear power, with plans for five huge fission reactors at Richland and Satsop. Construction at the site of Helion's planned fusion power plant in Malaga, Washington, in Chelan County. The company has a power purchase agreement to provide energy from the facility to Microsoft by 2028. It announced that it had begun work at the site in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Helion) Story Continues Helions long-term plan is to eventually produce more of these reactors to be distributed worldwide, Pancotti said. Helion has roughly 450 employees at Everett and Malaga. Small portable fusion reactors about the size of a wine barrel and capable of generating 100 kilowatts could become a reality in southern Seattle and Richland in a few years. What we are going for is mobile power, said Brian Riordan, cofounder of Avalanche Energy, a company based in the Seattle area that is developing space and underwater fusion reactors. Initial customers would likely buy the mini-reactors for military satellites and unmanned underwater vehicles. Riordan hopes to sell Avalanches first 100-kilowatt reactor before 2030. The company plans to branch out into other uses, for portable power generators, with Riordan noting that the fusion device needs to produce electricity cheaper than what is created by wind and solar power options. Avalanches headquarters and research facilities are near Boeing Field. The company recently leased a Port of Benton facility in northern Richland for an operation called FusionWERX. FusionWERX is going to be the fusion industrys equivalent of a commercial wind tunnel an open-access facility where new ideas, technologies, and components can be tested and validated, Avalanches CEO, Robin Langtry, said in a statement. Avalanche has roughly 70 employees split between Seattle and Richland. Another company, X-energy, signed agreements last year with Amazon and Energy Northwest for the retail giant to invest $334 million to study putting four modular reactors on the site of the half-built WPPSS Reactor No. 1, which is next to the Columbia Generating Station. This piece of federal land gives the project the advantage of existing infrastructure, including roads and utilities from the 1980s. Amazons interest is prompted by its plans to build data centers. The four-reactor proposal dubbed the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility would produce 320 megawatts, with the possibility of adding more reactors to reach 960 megawatts. A rendering released last year of the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, which could end up being the first small modular reactor facility in the Pacific Northwest. (Image courtesy of Energy Northwest) Energy Northwest has been doing environmental, safety and legal reviews on the proposal. Construction is tentatively set to begin at the end of this decade. Amazon has tentative plans to work with X-energy to build small modular reactors across the nation by 2039 that would collectively produce 5,000 megawatts of power. The worlds leading hub for fusion The concept of fusion has been around for roughly a century. Right now, around 40 fusion development projects using different technologies exist worldwide, while no commercially viable fusion reactors are currently producing electricity. A huge hurdle is that the amount of electricity needed to create a fusion reaction is greater than the power that would be produced. In 2022, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California used lasers to produce surplus electricity. Shortly afterward, Helion Energy achieved that same goal with a setup that slams two atoms together. Practical fusion is so new that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission which routinely takes years to approve new designs for fission reactors currently does not regulate fusion devices. Consequently, Helion and Avalanche do not need the commissions approval for their devices. Instead, they obtain permits from the state and their host counties. That will likely change soon. Last July, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent a report to Congress on how it should license fusion devices. On Oct. 31, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, both Washington Democrats, along with other congressional members of both parties, announced the introduction of a bill to provide tax credits for fusion-related ventures. The state of Washington is the worlds leading hub for fusion energy, which one day could provide vast amounts of the type of power we need to keep electricity prices down and increase Americas economic competitiveness, Cantwell said in a press release. Then, in November, the U.S. Department of Energy created an Office of Fusion as the Trump administration moved away from renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, in order to shift money to nuclear and fossil fuel development. Fusion leaders met with the Energy Department on Dec. 9 to lobby for federal support for fusion. Now is the time for the U.S. to make a significant investment, and that means over a billion dollars per year in annual appropriations and a one-time infrastructure investment, Andrew Holland, CEO of the Fusion Industry Association, said at the time, according to Reuters. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a huge federal lab in northern Richland, is beginning two fusion-related materials projects. Materials are critical as, during operation, components of fusion reactors can reach temperatures hotter than the sun. The Tri-Cities area has deep roots and a strong workforce in the nuclear sector, tracing back to the Manhattan Project in 1943. Consequently, this region has great interest in new types of reactors, the fusion industry, and clean energy projects, said David Reeploeg, head of federal relations for the Tri-City Development Council, and Sean OBrien, executive director of the councils clean energy spinoff called the Energy Forward Alliance. The Tri-Cities, which include Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, are also looking at attracting data centers with local nuclear power and having a long-time nuclear fuel assembly plant expand the types of fuel it can offer, Reeploeg and OBrien said. The key focus for us is keeping our workforce employed, O Brien said. Modular designs Small modular reactors are like prefabricated houses. There are locked-in designs and pre-built components, which are then taken to a site and assembled. Small modular reactors are designed so extra modules can be added as needed. This concept is supposed to lead to lower costs, faster construction and more flexibility. Each modular unit would be a mini-reactor capable of generating 50 to 300 megawatts of energy. Some U.S. and world leaders are pushing this new nuclear reactor as a carbon-emissions-free power technology to combat climate change. NuScale Power, based in Corvallis, Oregon, is the only U.S. venture so far to receive Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval for its small modular reactor design. The company obtained a contract to build a modular reactor complex at Idaho Falls for Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, which is part of the Utah state government and provides electricity to four states. However, many of that projects prospective customers dropped out, and the project was canceled in 2023. A 2022 Stanford University study raised questions about contamination from used nuclear fuel from small modular reactors. It looked at NuScales designs, as well as designs from two other companies submitted to the federal government. Not among them was X-energys, the company involved in the project with Energy Northwest and Amazon. The study picked NuScales design because it was the furthest along in the federal review process. A diagram showing the basics of a small modular reactor unit. (Image courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy) The Stanford study concluded that NuScales design and the two others would produce greater volumes of radioactive waste than conventional reactors, and that the used reactor fuel would be roughly 50% more radioactive. NuScale contested those conclusions, saying the Stanford study looked at outdated designs. State legislation teed up Two Republican Washington state legislators with high-ranking Democratic cosponsors have introduced similar 2026 nuclear fission power reactor bills in the Senate and House. The bills, which do not mention fusion power, call for developing a nuclear power development master plan for Washington state by Dec. 15, 2026. Introduced by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia and Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, the legislation points to signs that Washingtons push for alternative power sources might not meet the states needs. Washington is a net exporter of electricity, but the state government predicts it will be a net importer of power by 2050. Meanwhile, Montana and Wyoming were expected to send wind and solar power to Washington in the next few decades. But the legislation says that those power sources now look less promising. The proposed report would address future fission power reactor goals, plus what various governments and utilities should do. It would also look at financing, siting, consulting with tribes, workforce requirements, and regulatory needs. After establishing its dominance in the GPU space with its cadence of chips over the years, chip giant and the world's most valuable company by market cap, Nvidia (NVDA), is slowly making a strategic shift. Following the emergence of Google's (GOOG) (GOOGL) TPU chips in a big way, Nvidia's hegemonic reign at the top of the chip industry was suddenly put into question. However, the Jensen Huang-led company is not doing nothing about it, with the company increasingly turning attention towards the enterprise side and catering to their specific applications. Basically, Nvidia is looking to make a serious splash in the domain of ASICs, in which Broadcom (AVGO) is the biggest player. Routine Earnings Beat in Q3 In Q3 2025, Nvidia surpassed its revenue and earnings estimates again. Moreover, both metrics grew at a pace of greater than 50% again in the quarter. More News from Barchart While the revenues of $57.1 billion for the quarter represented an annual growth rate of 62%, earnings went up by 60% in the same period to $1.30 (vs. the consensus estimate of $1.26). Core data center revenues continued on their sharp upward trajectory in this quarter as well, rising by 66% on an annual basis to $51.2 billion. Meanwhile, what helps Nvidia in carrying out these valuable acquisitions is its cash flow prowess, which again witnessed a strong showing in Q3. Net cash from operating activities increased to $23.8 billion from $17.6 billion in the previous year as free cash flow moved higher at an even sharper tick of 65% in the same period to $22.1 billion. Overall, Nvidia closed the quarter with a cash balance of $60.6 billion, with short-term debt of just under a billion on its books. In fact, the cash balance was more than eight times higher than its long-term debt levels of $7.5 billion. For Q4, the company expects revenue to be $65 billion, which would denote an annual growth of 65.4%. Meanwhile, despite its stark outperformance over the years, the NVDA stock is up over 40% this year. www.barchart.com Will AI21 Labs Be an A1 Purchase for Nvidia? Armed with those solid financials, Nvidia is going down a familiar route to gain prominence in a relatively unfamiliar space for the company: acquisitions. While the $20 billion deal to purchase AI startup Groq is hailed as a significant signal of intent from the company to strengthen its footing in inference. Recent reports have emerged that it is looking to buy another AI startup based out of Israel, AI21 Labs. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The establishment of the United Nations Statistical Commission in 1946 marked a significant step in recognising the vital role of data in fostering peace, reducing poverty, and supporting global cooperation. Eight decades later, in a world shaped by shifting geopolitics and rapid digital transformation, the relevance of robust, internationally comparable data has only increased. The OECDs Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21) discussion paper underscores how insights extracted from data can be pivotal in shaping policiessometimes compelling governments to act, at other times serving as symbolic support, or even influencing the conceptual foundations of policymaking. Data in policymaking The PARIS21 framework categorises data use in policy into three forms: Instrumental use: Data directly reveals facts that necessitate government action, driving evidence-based policies. Symbolic use: Data is used to support or legitimise existing policies, often serving as a facade rather than a genuine driver of decisions. Conceptual use: Data influences attitudes and perspectives, which can shape the broader policy environment over time. While official statistics are widely regarded as more reliable than alternative sourcesthanks to their broad geographic coverage, methodological rigour, and the authority of government institutionspolicymakers must remain aware of the limitations inherent in quantitative data. It is essential to look beyond the numbers and consider the social, cultural, and economic contexts that give meaning to data, helping to answer the critical questions of why, how, and so what in the policy process. Data should be viewed as one factor among many, with policy rationales informed by a broader understanding of context. Achievements and limitations Several examples from India highlight both the achievements and limitations of relying solely on quantitative metrics in policy. The Jan Dhan Yojana, a major financial inclusion initiative, achieved a Guinness World Record for the number of bank accounts opened in a single week. However, subsequent reports revealed that many account holders lacked awareness of their accounts and access to their passbooks, rendering them unable to benefit from direct transfers. This disconnect demonstrates the danger of focusing exclusively on single numerical targets while overlooking the actual impact on peoples lives. The right measure to track the progress should be the number of active Jan Dhan Accounts, defined as those accounts where transactions are carried out at least once a year. Similarly, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, launched to distribute food grains during the COVID-19 pandemic, succeeded in delivering large quantities of rations to the poor. Yet, the Global Hunger Report in 2025 ranked India 102nddown from 55th in 2014indicating that distribution metrics alone do not capture the full picture of nutritional security. There is also a need to develop indicators for regular monitoring of the nutritional intake of the population and measuring the outcome in terms of physical fitness. Focusing solely on kilograms of food distributed may obscure persistent barriers such as limited access and insufficient nutrition among the poor. The crisis of credibility in Indias statistical systems In recent years, the reliability of Indias statistical infrastructure has come under scrutiny. Delays in releasing National Sample Survey (NSS) data and the delay in the conduct of the population census due to COVID-19 have contributed to a lack of timely data. The base year for important indices like the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) needs immediate revision so that the basket of goods includes items currently being purchased by consumers and does not include obsolete items. Additionally, the final Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures are released with a significant lag, and while advance estimates are available sooner, they often contain both meaningful information and noise. In the absence of up-to-date, representative and relevant data, this results in a lack of quality of GDP and other macro-economic indicators, as has been pointed out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in their latest review of India. IMF has primarily assessed the quality of GDP numbers as less reliable due to an old base, the lack of adoption of double deflation, the lack of convergence in production side and expenditure side GDP, inadequate capture of the unorganised sector and lack of seasonal adjustment in quarterly data and lack of granularity of data. In the absence of scientifically correct data, policy decisions may be based on perceptions rather than facts, resulting in ineffective solutions that fail to address real challenges. High-quality, trustworthy data is critical for effective policy and accountability, and the future of democracy depends on placing reliable statistics at the centre of governance. Building a robust data ecosystem The PARIS21 discussion paper emphasises that the use of data in policymaking depends on both technical and non-technical factors. Technical aspects involve the skills, tools, and resources required to produce and use data, while non-technical considerations relate to the broader political economy and the interests of various stakeholders. Engaging policymakers and data users early in the data production processby providing platforms to express data needs and raising awareness of policy changescan ensure the creation of relevant data and increase its use in decision-making. To support effective, targeted government interventions, data must be timely, disaggregated, granular, accurate and reliable. Accessibility is keynot just for policymakers, but also for the public, to ensure accountability. The processes of data collection, interpretation, and use should be independent and neutral, with systems designed to serve citizens. Institutions should involve civil society in designing data infrastructure, ensuring transparency and inclusivity. Data practices must be viewed as social and cultural processes, not just technical tasks, benefiting from the input of citizens, social scientists, and activists. About the authors: Ashish Kumar is the former director general of MoSPI, Government of India and president, Centre of Economic Development and chief statistician, Pahle India Foundation. Chavi Asrani is associate professor, O.P. Jindal Global University The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. Twenty-two Acceptances of Necessity (AoN) have been accorded by government authorities for the induction of several DRDO-developed systems worth approximately Rs 1.30 lakh crore. This equipment will be manufactured by Indian industries, officials reportedly said. The systems mentioned by the DRDO for which AoN has been accorded include the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), the quick reaction surface-to-air missile system 'Anant Shastra', the Long-Range Air-to-Surface Supersonic Cruise Missile (LRASSCM), the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS) MK II, and the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) Astra Mk-II. The anti-tank Nag missile system (tracked) Mk-2, advanced lightweight torpedo, processor-based moored mine-next generation (PBMM NG), Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Mk-1A, mountain radars, and a full mission simulator for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A were also named in the official statement by the DRDO. For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat said the efforts of the DRDO have provided a "quantum jump" to India's pursuit of self-reliance in defence as part of the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision. The DRDO has also opened its test facilities to industries, and more than 4,000 tests were carried out for private industries or DPSUs in 2025, news agency PTI quoted him as saying. Understanding AoN An AoN is the first step towards the procurement process. It is the second step of the procurement flow after Services Qualitative Requirements (SQR), in which the armed forces define what their necessities are. AoN is considered as the government green-lighting a procurement by acknowledging that the military actually needs a specific piece of equipment and has the budget to pay for it. It is granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is chaired by the Defence Minister. Steps including Requests for Proposal (RFPs) and negotiations become valid only after acquiring an AoN. The type of equipment, quantity, cost estimate, and category of procurement are all reportedly specified in the Acceptance of Necessity. Another setback in RussiaUkraine peace talks and persistent tensions around Venezuela failed to jolt oil markets out of their New Years lull. 02 January, 2026 Another round of failed Russia-Ukraine peace talks and continued tensions around Venezuela have failed to wake oil prices from their New Years slumber, with ICE Brent staying put around the $60 per barrel mark on the first trading day of 2026. Whilst unlikely, the upcoming OPEC+ meeting on Sunday could provide some excitement as Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to fight a covert proxy war in Yemen. Oil Prices Post Weakest Year Since 2020. Oil prices have shed 19% in 2025 year-over-year, with ICE Brent settling on the last day of the year at $60.85/barrel, the largest annual slide in percentage terms since 2020 and their third straight year of declines, the longest negative pricing streak on record. US Sanctions More Venezuelan Oil Tankers. The administration of Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on four oil tankers associated with Venezuelan oil deliveries, including the ultra-large crude carriers Della and Valiant, further ratcheting pressure on the government of Nicolas Maduro. Mexicos Largest Untapped Field Changes Hands. The UKs leading oil producer Harbour Energy (LON:HBR) has been appointed the operator of the shallow water 750 MMbbls Zama field, Mexicos largest untapped upstream project, after heavily indebted Pemex relinquished its operatorship. Lebanon Seeks Waning Egyptian Gas Flows. Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding with Lebanon to supply the Levantine nation with natural gas as Beiruts power plants continue to run on diesel; however Lebanon currently lacks any import infrastructure and Egypts own output keeps falling. OPEC+ Expected to Keep Quotas Flat. As OPEC+ members are slated to meet on January 4 to discuss production quotas in Q1 2026, with industry participants widely expecting another roll-over as ICE Brent hovering around $60 per barrel and differentials at 5-year lows put oversupply risks at the forefront. Related: Where are The World's Rare Earth Minerals Located? Serbias Embattled Refiner Gets Much-Needed Waiver. Serbias state oil company NIS has received an OFAC waiver from the US Department of the Treasury, allowing it to restart its activities until at least 23 January 2026 as it continues to search for potential buyers for Gazproms 11% stake in the firm. Russian Pipeline Gas Exports to Europe Collapse. Deliveries of Russian pipeline gas by Russias gas major Gazprom (MCX:GAZP) to Europe fell to their lowest annual level in 50 years, a mere 18 bcm in 2025 with just TurkStream operational, marking a 90% plunge from the all-time high recorded in 2019. The defence ministry had announced 2025 as the Year of Reforms', setting an ambitious target of transforming the India's armed forces into a technologically-advanced, combat-ready force that is capable of multi-domain integrated operations. As the curtains came down on the Year of Reforms 2025, the country's defence ecosystem has made significant progress in strengthening the jointness of the three services, enhancing defence preparedness, promoting self-reliance, and improving welfare delivery mechanisms, the defence ministry noted. For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India The reform drive has been translated into tangible capability-building across land, sea and air domains. Since January 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared capital procurement proposals worth over 3.84 lakh crore, signalling a sharp focus on modernisation a focus on self-reliance. By the end of December, contracts worth 1.82 lakh crore had been signed, fast-tracking the induction of new platforms, weapons and systems. The pace of spending reflected this urgency. By December 2025, nearly 80 per cent of the capital acquisition budgetaround 1.2 lakh crorehad been utilised, while overall capital expenditure touched 76 per cent, covering infrastructure, R&D and land assets. ALSO READ: Indian Army declares 2026 the Year of Networking & Data Centricity: Here is what it means A key pillar of the reforms was defence industrial capacity. Private sector participation in defece sector has been expanded through streamlined licensing, MSME capability mapping and shared access to testing and trial facilities. Besides, 25 per cent of defence research grants were earmarked for private firms, startups and academia, reinforcing innovation pipelines and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. Procurement reforms further sought to compress timelines. The rollout of the Defence Procurement Manual 2025, decentralised financial powers and a simplified technology transfer policy sought to remove procedural bottlenecks that have historically slowed capability induction. Efforts were also made to rationalise defence exports and attract higher FDI, positioning India not just as a buyer, but as an emerging defence manufacturing hub. "Formation of an export promotion body, implementation of quality assurance 4.0 and Industry 4.0 in DPSUs and establishment of a National Integrated Test Laboratory for defence platforms are being advanced for defence production and quality enhancement. On the operational front, reforms focused on jointness and future preparedness of the three forces. Establishment of Joint Operations Control Centre, Creation of a Future Operations Analysis Group, promotion of joint training programmes and finalisation of the Integrated Capability Development Plan are under various stages of implementation, the defence ministry said. "Steps taken in this direction bore fruit during the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor." Technological integration too has advanced, with the deployment of a tri-service Geographical Information System and harmonisation of tactics, techniques and procedures across the Army, Navy and Air Force. Besides, the expansion of womens roles in combat and leadership positions, promotion of military tourism and preparation of a long-term roadmap for operational infrastructure and accommodation have been completed. Beyond combat readiness, reforms extended to veterans welfare and administrative efficiency. The SPARSH pension portal onboarded over 31 lakh pensioners, while reforms in the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme improved access to medicines, telemedicine and specialised careoften cited as long-pending gaps in welfare delivery. The Indian Army has declared 2026 as the Year of Networking & Data Centricity, to enhance connectivity, real-time decision-making, and combat effectiveness, thereby strengthening resilience and agility to build a future-ready force. OPINION | Challenges in modernising Indias military Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, in his New Year's message, said his force is undergoing a decade of transformation, and "jointness, self-reliance, and innovation are the core pillars of our military power". "Through the effective use of indigenous technologies, new ideas, and continuous reforms, we are making the Army more capable and future-ready. Networking and data-centricity are providing new impetus to this transformation," Gen Dwivedi added in his written message. For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India "Last year, the enemy's nefarious designs were given a befitting reply through firm and decisive action under Operation Sindoor, and this operation continues even today," the Army Chief was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. ALSO READ | Theaterisation, India's biggest military reform, to race ahead full-steam as CDS Anil Chauhan's tenure gets extended Meanwhile, the Army later stated on X that, "Driven by indigenisation, defence modernisation, and digital integration, this initiative will enhance connectivity, real-time decision-making, and combat effectiveness, thereby strengthening resilience & agility for a future-ready force #YearofNetworkingAndDataCentricity #DecadeofTransformation @DefenceMinIndia @HQ_IDS_India." Understanding 'data centricity' In the military context, data centricity refers to treating data as a core operational asset during combat. Data will be shared and accessed across platforms linked to the forces, which can impact decision-making and combat plans. For example, when an enemy is spotted on the battlefield by a scout sensor, the information is immediately sent across a unified network. It will help the nearest and most effective weapon system in the area to engage the target instantly. In a traditional "platform-centric" army, the spotting needs to be manually communicated to the command centre and then to the artillery, infantry, air support, or another unitdepending on the scenario. This is more time-consuming, and the response is limited to a single platform. The ability for multiple platforms to use the same data simultaneously contributes to faster and better decision-making. It can also ensure better troop movement and resource allocation, apart from making joint operations between the Army, Navy, and Air Force more seamless and effective. ALSO READ | Drones, missiles & more: Indian Army, Air Force, Navy set for major capacity upgrade as DAC okays proposals worth Rs 79,000 crore On 11 November last year, Gen Dwivedi, in his address at a seminar, said that the Indian Army was working on designating 2026 as the 'Year of Networking and Data Centricity'. He flagged that this was one field in which "we are not prepared" and, therefore, "need to act faster". The Army had previously declared 2024 as the 'Year of Technology Absorption'.How Mumbai is overhauling public health infrastructure ahead of civic polls Nearly four years after the March 2022 Chris Rock slap incident that shocked Hollywood, Will Smith is again in hot water over a sexual harassment lawsuit. The complaint was filed by professional violinist Brian King Joseph at the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, on Tuesday (local time) against both Smith and his team, Treyball Studios Management, Inc. The 32-year-old's complaint alleged that a "traumatic series of events" had taken place in March 2025, when he had been a part of Smith's tour for the 2025 album, Based on a True Story. The tour ran from June to September 2025. The prolific violinist from Washington, D.C. is famed for competing on season 13 of Americas Got Talent in 2018, rising up the ranks to become one of the show's three finalists. In November 2024, he was approached by Smith's team with an offer to join the world tour for the latter's first studio album in 20 years. In December that year, Joseph posted an Instagram video in which he could be seen playing violin onstage, indicating in his caption that it was the first night of his touring with Smith. Joseph claimed that the issue began when he found that someone had entered his Las Vegas hotel room with no signs of forced entry, and had even left behind evidence of a sexual threat of violence, as per a People report. He also alleged that the evidence included a handwritten note signed by a "Stone F", who drew a heart in the letter. It also reportedly included wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another individuals name, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork" belonging to someone he claims he did not know. Fearing that an "unknown individual" might enter his room later like the letter said, Joseph allegedly reported the incident to the hotel management, Smith's staff, and a non-emergency police line. After this, the complaint alleged, he claimed that a member of the tour management team shamed him and told him he was being terminated. Another violinist was also reportedly hired to replace him. The violinist claimed that this had caused him severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages, including PTSD and other mental illness as a result of the termination. Mr. Josephs allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless," Allen B. Grodsky, an attorney for Smith, told People on Thursday. "They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light," he added. Mumbais overburdened public healthcare system is set for a significant transformation in 2026, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) planning a wide-ranging expansion of infrastructure, services, and medical capacity across the city. The focus is firmly on strengthening peripheral hospitals, easing pressure on tertiary centres, and upgrading emergency and speciality care closer to where patients live. For years, Mumbais flagship hospitals, such as KEM, Sion, and Nair, have carried the weight of the citys medical needs, often functioning far beyond capacity. The new push aims to rebalance this system by empowering suburban and peripheral hospitals to handle complex cases, reduce referrals and deliver faster care. One of the key thrusts of the plan is the upgradation of peripheral hospitals into fully functional multi-speciality facilities. Hospitals in Mulund, Kandarpada, Borivali, Bhandup, and Govandi are among those slated to receive new departments, modern equipment, and enhanced staffing. Several of these facilities are expected to offer super-speciality services that were earlier available only at central hospitals. For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH Emergency and trauma care is also set to improve, with select hospitals being developed as advanced emergency response centres. This is expected to play a crucial role in a city where road accidents, cardiac emergencies, and sudden medical crises demand rapid intervention. Mumbais chronic shortage of hospital beds has been a long-standing concern, highlighted repeatedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming year is expected to see new hospitals becoming operational and existing ones expanding their bed strength, officials told THE WEEK. Multiple facilities are in different stages of construction or upgradation, with thousands of additional beds likely to be added to the public healthcare network. The emphasis is not just on numbers, but also on quality modern ICUs, better infection control systems, upgraded operation theatres, and patient-friendly wards are part of the planned revamp, said officials from the BMC. Medical education and specialised care Medical education infrastructure is also being expanded alongside service delivery. New medical colleges and upgraded teaching facilities are expected to come up, addressing both the shortage of doctors and the need for hands-on training in public hospitals. Speciality services such as cardiology, nephrology, oncology, dialysis, and advanced diagnostics are being strengthened across multiple hospitals. Health officials say this decentralisation will help patients avoid long waits and repeated referrals to overcrowded central institutions. PPP model and technology upgrades The BMC is also increasingly relying on the public-private partnership (PPP) model to speed up hospital expansion and service delivery. Under this model, private players are expected to assist in building, managing, or operating certain hospital services while treatment remains affordable or free for patients. Technology will be another cornerstone of the 2026 healthcare roadmap. From advanced imaging facilities to improved digital record systems, hospitals are expected to become more efficient and patient-centric. While the scale of the proposed upgrades is ambitious, experts caution that execution will be key. Staffing shortages, maintenance challenges, and coordination between departments have historically slowed down public health projects in Mumbai. Sustained funding and monitoring will be critical to ensure that these plans translate into real improvements on the ground. If implemented as envisioned, however, 2026 could mark a turning point for Mumbais public healthcareone where quality medical care is no longer concentrated in a few central hospitals, but accessible across the length and breadth of the city. Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday asked Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to ensure Grok AI is not misused by perverts. Fake accounts are using the AI's powerful features to sexualise women, she said in a letter written to the Union Minister. Have sought urgent attention and intervention of Hon. IT Minister to take the issue of increasing incidents of AI apps being prompted to sexualise and undress women by unauthorised use of their images on social media. There have to be guardrails put in place by features such as pic.twitter.com/pR5tKzDBwi Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) January 2, 2026 Underlining the need to ensure that social media platforms must be made a safe space for women the MP said that it cannot be achieved sans preventing the "gross misuse of an AI function." Chaturvedi shared her concerns over the emerging trend on X, where men are using fake accounts to upload photos of women after employing AI prompts to minimise their clothing or sexualise them. Women who upload their photos on platforms are falling victims to this malicious trend and government needs to act, she said. "Have sought urgent attention and intervention of Hon. IT Minister to take the issue of increasing incidents of AI apps being prompted to sexualise and undress women by unauthorised use of their images on social media. There have to be guardrails put in place by features such as Grok that do not violate womens dignity, big tech firms need to take the onus. And I wish men indulging in such behaviour were educated better at their homes & schools so as to not become such sick perverts in their adulthood," she wrote while sharing the letter with the public. FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE LETTER: Respected Vaishnaw ji, I wanted to bring to your urgent attention and urgent intervention on a new trend that has emerged on social media, especially on X, by misusing their AI Grok feature where men are using fake accounts to post women's photos and pushing out prompts to Grok to minimize their clothing and sexualise them. It is not just limited to sharing photos through fake accounts but are also targeting women who post their own photos. This is unacceptable and gross misuse of an AI function. What is worse is that Grok is enabling this behavior by adhering to such requests. This is breach of women's right to privacy as well as unauthorized use of their pictures, which is not just unethical but also criminal. I write to you as an active member of the Standing Committee on IT & Communication, to urge you as a minister to take this up strongly with X to ensure safeguards are built in their AI apps to make the platform a safe space for women. Our country cannot be a bystander to women's dignity being violated publicly and digitally with zero consequences under the garb of creativity and innovation condone such prompts. We are seeing similar patterns appear even on other big tech platforms that are going absolutely unchecked. As a nation we must take this up on a priority to ensure women are not the victims of such openly criminal practices and further silence and push them out of these platforms. I look forward to your response and hopefully MeiTY will take this up with big techs that while we welcome AI and its role in making lives easier for the world, we will not allow a proliferation of such demeaning acts towards women. Thanking you. Yours Sincerely. (Priyanka Chaturvedi) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday, observed that an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country, wherein highly educated people are engaging in anti-social and anti-national activities. Speaking at the 104th foundation day event of Bhupal Nobles' University in Udaipur, he pointed at the November 10 car bomb blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, where the perpetrators were found to be doctors. The perpetrators of the (Delhi) bomb blast were doctors those who write 'Rx' on prescriptions, yet have RDX in their hands. This highlights the need for knowledge to be accompanied by values and character, Singh said. The purpose of education is not only professional success but also the development of morality, ethics and human character, he said. "Any education system that does not impart humility, character, and moral values along with knowledge cannot be considered successful." ALSO READ: Did the 'Year of Reforms' make India's armed forces more combat ready? The explosives-laden i20 car that detonated outside the Red Fort on November 10, killing 15 people, was driven by Dr Umar-un-Nabi. The probe unravelled a 'white-collar' terror module, leading to the arrests of three doctors among others. Singh also said that many defence startups are doing remarkable work in the country and expressed confidence that in the 15-20 years, India will become fully self-reliant in weapons. Pointing out that artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies are transforming people's lives and work, Singh said these must be used positively to drive India's development. India is the world's fourth-largest economy, which is on track to become the third-largest by 2030, Singh said, noting that universities have a big role to play in this journey. A massive fire broke out on Friday in a store within an army camp at the Joshimath area of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. It is not yet known whether the fire claimed any victims, as fire brigade teams are currently working to fight the flames. #WATCH | A massive fire broke out in a store located inside an Army camp on the Auli Road in Joshimath, Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. pic.twitter.com/xr3K2EkikE ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2026 Visuals from the scene show thick, black fumes billowing from the shoparound which the blaze seems to be containedwith a number of Indian Army and fire brigade personnel trying to stop the fire from spreading to other areas in the vicinity. The cause of the fire is yet to be revealed. #WATCH | A massive fire broke out in a store located inside an Army camp on the Auli Road in Joshimath, Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Fire tenders present at the spot. https://t.co/RTNBve31ED pic.twitter.com/ppcMVLA0Fs ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2026 This comes just days after a short circuit reportedly caused a massive fire at an outhouse in Uttarakhand's Nainital district. Located beside the BD Pandey Hospital, the fire reduced the outhouse to ashes and damaged three scooters and three motorcycles parked nearby as well. Eyewitnesses say that the fire spread very quickly, rapidly destroying large parts of the outhouse. As a result, despite the residents quickly contacting the fire department, the latter could save neither the warehouse, nor the vehicles. Still, fire officials said that the residents' timely intervention had helped them contain the blaze before it became a major problem. No casualties were reported, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire at the outhouse. The Chamoli army camp fire is also reportedly one of the first since a May 2025 blaze at an army camp near the Degree College in Leh. No casualties had been reported at the time. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has revoked GRAP 3 restrictions in Delhi following an improvement in air quality in the national capital and the adjoining areas. "The AQI of Delhi, which was recorded as 380 on Thursday, has significantly improved and recorded 236 at 4pm on Friday, exhibiting a trend. Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP decides to revoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-3 of the extant GRAP, with immediate effect, in the entire NCR," a senior official said. However, authorities maintained that all restrictions under GRAP 1 and 2 will remain in force in NCR until the air quality improves. Following the withdrawal of GRAP 3 norms, inter-state diesel buses that do not meet CNG, electric or BS-VI norms are allowed to enter Delhi. Physical classes can be resumed for students up to class 5, as it were shifted to hybrid mode when the air quality deteriorated. According to an official statement, non-essential construction and demolition activities are now allowed to resume across Delhi-NCR. Works such as earthwork, piling, open trenching, welding, painting, plastering, tiling and flooring can also resume, along with the operation of stone crushers, brick kilns and mining activities, subject to compliance with pollution control norms. Transport of construction materials, including cement, sand and fly ash, has also been permitted. BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers are now allowed to operate on Delhi roads. However, the Commission clarified that construction and demolition project sites that were issued specific closure orders due to violations or non-compliance with statutory directions, rules or guidelines will, under no circumstances, be allowed to resume operations without an explicit order to this effect from the Commission. The real estate sector in the UAE, Dubai in particular, had a promising 2025, thanks to the record-breaking sales that reasserted the country as one of the worlds leading property markets. This is the fifth consecutive year that the city is shattering records. The Dubai real estate market generated AED 682bn ($185.5bn) in sales in 2025, according to data from the Dubai Land Department. This is a 30.64 percent year-on-year surge as the number in 2024 was AED 522.36bn. As for the number of transactions, the Emirate recorded an 18.82 per cent hike. While the sales between January and December in 2025 were 214,912, they were just 180,860 in 2024. Mortgage transactions reached AED 179.26bn through 50,974 deals, while gifts totalled AED 57.25bn across 9,556 transactions during the year. For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East The data provided by Provident Estates 2025 Market Overview also recorded 213,700 residential transactions last year, representing a 6.9 per cent year-on-year increase. Average sale prices rose 7.6 per cent, thanks to lifestyle-driven relocations and long-term settlement. Dubais real estate story is no longer just about opportunity its about permanence. People are not only investing here; they are building their futures here. That shift has redefined demand, reshaped community priorities, and positioned Dubai as the most resilient real estate market globally, Loai Al Fakir, CEO of Provident Estate, told Arabian Business. Population growth The population growth in Dubai in 2025 also shattered a record, with over 4.03 million residents. Over 208,000 people arrived in the city for work, lifestyle and long-term settlement during the year, while more than 1.35m people have relocated to the emirate since 2014. Thanks to this, there is a durable demand base and coupled with a disciplined supply delivery, it pushed the market into a new phase of expansion. As for the demographics, the majority of transactions were carried out by those in the 31-45 age group. The 3640 segment held the strongest share, which hints at career maturity, family planning and long-term stability. Hot spots Of the areas that saw huge transactions, Business Bay topped the list with a sales value of AED 38.31 bn. Jumeirah Village Circle came second with AED 24.52bn, while Al Yalayis 1 recorded AED 23.75bn-worth sales. The Dubai Investment Park Second recorded AED 23.16bn, while Palm Jumeirah was ranked fifth with AED 21.4bn in sales. As for supply, it is concentrated around established and emerging master-planned communities, including Dubai Creek Harbour, Dubai Hills Estate, Damac Lagoons, Arabian Ranches 3, Arjan and Business Bay. Israel seems to have entered a new demographic phase that marks a break from the patterns that have defined its population development since the states founding in 1948. For the first time since the establishment of the state, the annual population growth rate has fallen below the symbolic 1 per cent threshold, dropping to 0.9 per cent in 2025. This is not a marginal fluctuation. Historically, Israels growth rate has remained well above 1.5 per cent, dipping below that level only briefly in the early 1980s. The slowdown reflects the convergence of three structural forces: declining fertility, rising mortality and a shift towards negative net migration. Together, they signal the end of an era in which rapid natural increase served as Israels primary demographic engine. Israel has always been an outlier among developed countries for its unusually high fertility rates. Nearly all population groups in Israel have shown robust birth rates. That exceptionalism is now fading. Fertility has begun to decline across the entire population, rather than within any single sector. For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East The earliest and steepest declines were recorded among Muslim, Druze, and Christian women, whose fertility rates have fallen by roughly 30 per cent in recent years. More recently, however, the downturn has spread to Jewish populations as well. Among secular and traditional Jewish women, fertility is projected to fall from its current range of around 1.92.2 children per woman to approximately 1.7 within the next decade. Even the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community, long regarded as the driving force behind Israels high birth rates, is experiencing a marked decline. Fertility among Haredi women is projected to fall from 6.48 children per woman today to around 4.3 by 2039. While still high by international standards, this represents a profound shift in Israels demographic foundations. At the same time, Israels population is ageing. Large cohorts of both Jewish and Arab citizens are now entering their seventies and eighties, age groups associated with sharply rising mortality rates. As a result, the gap between births and deaths is narrowing, eroding the natural increase that historically accounted for roughly 80 per cent of population growth. With natural growth slowing, demographic stability would normally depend on sustained positive migration. Yet Israel is currently experiencing the opposite. In both 2024 and 2025, more people left the country than arrived. In 2025 alone, the net migration balance was negative by approximately 37,000 people. The composition of this emigration is mixed. A majority of the outgoing population has been recent immigrants from Russia and Ukraine, who arrived after the war broke out in 2022. The concerning trend, however, is the sharp rise in emigration among those who were born in Israel. While less than 20,000 native Israelis left the country in 2022, the numbers have gone up to 30,000 this year. That will be unaffordable in the long term for a country like Israel. Such emigration of alarming proportions is closely linked to political and security instability. The war that began in October 2023, alongside earlier domestic unrest surrounding proposed judicial reforms, has prompted tens of thousands of Israelis to seek stability and opportunity abroad. Although immigration from Western countries such as the United States, France, and the United Kingdom rose by 23.6 per cent in 2025driven largely by rising global antisemitismthe total of roughly 13,600 non-Russian immigrants remains far too small to offset the scale of departures. Professor Alex Weinreb of the Taub Centre has described this moment as the start of a new era in Israels demographic development. The significance lies not only in slower growth, but in the collapse of a long-standing model. Israeli planners have always relied on high fertility rates to offset the threat of migration. But with the fall in fertility rates, the country will have to look more closely at enhancing immigration to retain its demographic balance. Unfortunately for Israel, a drop in population and fertility rates will add to the strain on public finances and social services. Policy makers are worried about the dependency ratio, which is hampered further by an ageing society. The rising emigration of native-born skilled workers and professionals, meanwhile, is leading to brain drain, with major socioeconomic consequences. As its traditional growth engineshigh fertility and strong immigrationare cooling simultaneously, Israel is facing an existential dilemma. An ageing population, a cultural shift towards smaller families, and prolonged geopolitical uncertainty have combined to produce the slowest population growth in the countrys history, signalling a fundamental transformation in Israels demographic future. In addition to the authorization for importing Bolivian natural gas, PBR has also received permission to import Argentine gas directly. This development, approved in November, allows PBR to bring in up to 180 million cubic meters per year of natural gas from Argentina via Corumba, without the involvement of intermediaries. This authorization significantly enhances Petrobras ability to diversify its energy sources, ensuring greater flexibility in meeting domestic demand. The importation of natural gas from Bolivia, combined with Brazil's existing domestic gas production, will play a pivotal role in ensuring the country meets its growing energy needs. Given the increasing demand for natural gas in Brazil, particularly in industries and power generation, Petrobras expanded import capacity is a timely strategic move. The approved gas imports are expected to boost Brazils energy supply, particularly in regions with high demand for natural gas. PBR has noted that the potential market for this imported gas will include most of the country, excluding the northern regions. This will primarily benefit areas with concentrated energy consumption, including major industrial centers and the thermoelectric market in Mato Grosso. In addition to the importation via Caceres, the agreement allows for deliveries through Corumba (MS), a crucial gateway for the Bolivia-Brazil Pipeline (Gasbol). The Gasbol pipeline is operated by TBG and serves as one of the primary conduits for natural gas transportation from Bolivia into Brazil, further strengthening the bilateral energy cooperation between these countries. Under the new approval, PBR has been granted the ability to import significant volumes of natural gas from Bolivia, with specific provisions for distribution points within Brazil. The authorized volume includes up to 2.8 million cubic meters of gas per day, which will be delivered via Caceres (MT), a key location where the Lateral Cuiaba duct, operated by GasOcidente, links Bolivia to the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. This isolated branch represents an important infrastructure project that enhances the natural gas distribution capacity between the two nations. Petrobras PBR, one of Brazils largest state-owned energy companies, recently received approval from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP) to import up to 20 million cubic meters of natural gas per day from Bolivia, according to Agencia Eixos. This authorization will be valid for a period of two years, marking a significant expansion in Petrobras' energy operations and the strategic integration of natural gas markets across South America. Story Continues Both Bolivia and Argentina represent key players in South Americas natural gas sector. Bolivia, with its established pipeline infrastructure, offers a direct route to Brazils energy markets, while Argentina, with growing natural gas reserves, presents an additional source of supply. PBR has already established its position as a gas producer in Argentina through Petrobras Operaciones, which holds a 33.6% stake in the Neuquen River asset located in the Neuquen Basin. This further strengthens Petrobras regional footprint and its capacity to contribute to the broader energy needs of South America. Strategic Importance of Bolivian Gas for Brazil's Energy Security The integration of Bolivian natural gas into Brazils energy mix is of critical importance to both nations. Bolivia is the only existing route of integration between Argentina and Brazil that facilitates the supply of natural gas to Brazils largest consumption centers. This collaboration allows for a more stable and secure supply of natural gas, reducing the reliance on external sources or more volatile markets. Given the geographic proximity and the availability of established pipelines, the energy trade between Bolivia and Brazil presents an ideal opportunity for cross-border energy security. The expansion of natural gas imports through Bolivia will not only support Brazils energy stability but also help meet environmental goals by providing a cleaner alternative to coal and other fossil fuels. PBRs Role in South America's Energy Landscape Petrobras has long been a central figure in the energy sector across South America. As a leading energy company, it plays a critical role in securing both domestic and international energy supplies. Its operational footprint spans across the continent. The company continues to evolve, strengthening its gas production capabilities in countries like Argentina, while also expanding the natural gas import capacity. The approval to import natural gas from both Bolivia and Argentina reinforces Petrobras position as a key player in the energy markets of South America. Through its diverse network of gas production and import agreements, PBR is well-positioned to adapt to changing energy demands, ensure supply security and drive innovation in the regions energy sector. Conclusion: The Future of Natural Gas in Brazil Petrobras' recent achievements, including the authorization to import 20 million cubic meters of Bolivian gas daily, mark an important milestone in the evolution of Brazils energy strategy. With growing demand for natural gas, the diversification of supply sources and infrastructure improvements are essential to meeting both current and future energy needs. This move solidifies Petrobras role as a key driver of energy security and economic development in Brazil and throughout South America. As the natural gas landscape continues to evolve, Petrobras ongoing efforts to strengthen its ties with Bolivia and Argentina will play an important role in shaping the future of the regions energy security. The potential for further growth and increased imports offers exciting prospects for both the company and the South American energy market as a whole. PBR's Zacks Rank & Key Picks Currently, PBR has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like USA Compression Partners USAC, Oceaneering International OII and Suncor Energy SU, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. USA Compression Partners is valued at $2.83 billion. The company is a leading provider of natural gas compression services in the United States. USA Compression Partners specializes in the design, operation and maintenance of compression equipment for the energy sector, focusing on helping customers optimize their natural gas infrastructure. Oceaneering International is valued at $2.43 billion. The company is a global provider of engineered services and products to the offshore energy, aerospace and defense industries. OII specializes in underwater robotics, remotely operated vehicles and subsea engineering solutions for offshore oil and gas exploration and production. Suncor Energy is valued at $53.32 billion. It is a major Canadian integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, that specializes in the production of synthetic crude from the Athabasca oil sands. Suncor Energy manages a diverse portfolio that includes offshore oil and gas production, petroleum refining across North America, and a large retail network under the Petro-Canada brand. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras (PBR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Oceaneering International, Inc. (OII) : Free Stock Analysis Report USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research A day after Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Bangladesh Embassy in Delhi, Bangladeshi media have taken potshots at Delhi, stating it was moving forward in line with reality about its political defeat in the country. Singh on Thursday visited the Embassy, where he signed the Condolence Book expressing sorrow at the passing of former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. His visit comes just days after Hindu organisations protested in front of the Embassy against the mob lynching of Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh. #WATCH | Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Bangladesh High Commission and expressed his condolences on the demise of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. At the Bangladesh High Commission, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with the High Commissioner and other pic.twitter.com/pZ8819Tknm ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2026 Watch: EAM Dr S Jaishankar meets Tarique Rahman, son of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia in Dhaka pic.twitter.com/zmA7NWWUeQ Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 31, 2025 An analysis piece that appeared in Bangladeshs leading daily, Prothom Alo, said that Singhs visit comes after four years. The brief visit of Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to Dhaka and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to the Bangladesh mission in the last two days is significant, it said, adding that Singh's visit was to indicate that Delhi was taking the responsibility of ensuring maximum security at the Embassy. Prothom Alo quoted sources within diplomatic and government sources, which claim that Indias statement that it was waiting to join hands with whoever comes to power in Bangladesh through a democratic process was aimed at the BNP, Khaleda Zias party. In that regard, Rajnath Singh's visit to the Bangladesh mission in Delhi and signing the condolence book the day after S Jaishankar's visit to Dhaka is a clear indication of India's interest in taking the relationship forward, it added. Meanwhile, Amar Desh, another Dhaka-based newspaper, falsely claimed that the decision to send the BNP Chairperson to jail on a false case is believed to have come from Delhi. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina, Delhi is being forced to rethink its Bangladesh policy. S Jaishankar, one of India's leading policymakers, flew to pay tribute to Khaleda Zia, whom Delhi's policymakers never trusted, on her death, Amar Desh wrote. Diplomatic and political analysts are divided on the question of whether India really wants to improve relations or whether India has no alternative at this time, the newspaper claimed. Diplomatic analysts say that in the changed situation, Delhi has started to rethink its Bangladesh policy, considering the security of India's Seven Sisters and the regional geopolitical context. Delhi's policymakers, who have shown extreme hostility towards BNP over the Jamaat issue, are now eager to build close ties with Jamaat for their own needs, it claimed. It also quoted an unnamed senior diplomat source who said whatever Delhi is doing, it is doing it keeping in mind its national interests. Therefore, there is no reason to think that Delhi has changed its Bangladesh policy. We would be making a big mistake if we think that Delhi has completely deviated from its previous position, it claimed without giving any clarity about the source. Another Bangla newspaper, Samakal, also highlighted Jaishankars and Rajnath Singhs visit. One is that India is accepting the current reality of Bangladesh. They think that they may have to work with BNP in the future, it said. The death toll in the deadly fire at the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in Switzerland has touched 40, as per the latest reports. According to authorities, over 115 have been injured, and many of the victims are young and have yet to be identified. Tragedy in Swiss Alps: 40 Dead, 100 Injured in New Years Eve Fire CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland At least 40 people were killed and around 100 others injured, many seriously, after a fire tore through a crowded bar during New Years celebrations in the Swiss ski resort town of pic.twitter.com/F1fBsHqfuH Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 1, 2026 While a probe has been opened into the incident, authorities have not yet confirmed the cause. "Several hypotheses have been put forward," stated the canton's Attorney General, Beatrice Pilloud, who added that the leading theory at present is that of a widespread fire that caused an explosion. Several witnesses have been interviewed. Cell phones have also been recovered for analysis," he added. Sparkler bottles According to several reports by various Swiss, French, and Italian media outlets, the possible cause of the fire is sparklers attached to bottles. They claim that a person perched on anothers shoulder had held the sparkler bottle aloft, which touched the ceiling. This was a common "show" at the establishment, according to reports. #BREAKING | NEWS Update New video and pictures have come out showing the moment where the sparklers that were being served on the top of the champagne bottles started the fabric and curtains on fire of the ceiling, which quickly spread into the bar at a ski resort in pic.twitter.com/VmXoI3cZBv Todd Paron (@tparon) January 2, 2026 EN DIRECT DOCUMENT BFMTV. Incendie mortel a Crans-Montana: une photo prise dans le bar capture le moment du depart de feuhttps://t.co/U1YHJSaDqk pic.twitter.com/NNmxnIQ9KA BFM (@BFMTV) January 1, 2026 "I think there were some ladies, waitresses, with bottles of champagne with little flares. They were too, too close to the ceiling, and well, it all caught fire suddenly," a witness told the Italian media outlet Local Team. The witness added that he saw waitresses arriving with sparklers in champagne bottles before total chaos erupted. A photo from the bar also shows a foam ceiling in the bar used for soundproofing, and sparkler bottles in the hands of many. A video posted on YouTube to promote the establishment's parties shows bottles of champagne paired with sparkling fountain candles being served to customers, sometimes held on the shoulders of waiters. Another photo doing the rounds also showed a woman on a man's shoulders holding bottles of champagne, complete with "sparkling candles," near the bar's ceiling. The official version is that the smoke appeared around 1:30 a.m. Shortly after, the fire was reported, and the alarm was triggered. Two minutes later, the first police and gendarmerie patrols arrive. Firefighters have simultaneously contained the site. Flashover? Authorities are also investigating whether a flashover is believed to have impacted the blaze. A flashover causes everything in a room to ignite almost simultaneously when hot gases rise to the ceiling and spread across the walls. The heat is so much that all combustible items in the room reach their ignition point suddenly, creating a fire. Flashover is when its when you no longer have objects in the room on fire. The room is on fire, Steve Kerber, the Vice President and Executive Director of the Fire Safety Research Institute, told CNN. A handwritten letter penned by newly sworn-in New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to jailed student activist Umar Khalid has gained traction on social media. The letter surfaced right after Mamdanis oath-taking ceremony on Thursday. The 34-year-old is the citys youngest and first Muslim and Asian origin mayor of the city. In the handwritten note which was handed to Umar Khalids parents, former JNU professor SQR Ilyas and social worker Naseem, in December while they were in the United States, the Democrat leader said, We are all thinking of you. The note was shared on X by Khalid's partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri. "Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume ones. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you," Mamdani wrote in the note. Note from Zohran Mamdani written to Umar Khalid | X @banojyotsna Lahirir said that the Khalids parents had visited the US before the wedding of their youngest daughter to meet one of their elder daughters who lives there. They met Mamdani and a few others in the US and spent quite some time with him. Thats when he wrote this note, Lahirir had told the Indian Express. They had also met Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Democrat Jim McGovern. In a post on X, McGovern said, I met with the parents of Umar Khalid, who has been jailed in India for over 5 years without trial. Representative Raskin and I are leading our colleagues to urge that he be granted bail and a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law. Earlier this month, I met with the parents of Umar Khalid, who has been jailed in India for over 5 years without trial. @RepRaskin & I are leading our colleagues to urge that he be granted bail & a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law. pic.twitter.com/tBIbG1aOwc Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) December 30, 2025 U.S. lawmakers also penned a letter where they demanded that India 'uphold the rights of individuals to receive a fair trial.' The letter was signed by Congressman Jamie Raskin, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Peter Welch, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Congressman Jan Schakowsky, and Congressman Lloyd Doggett. Khalid, 37, was arrested in September 2020 for his alleged involvement in the Delhi riots and has been in Tihar Jail since then. He is a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader and activist. Delhi police arrested him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code sections for allegedly masterminding the February 2020 north-east Delhi riots. He was granted bail last month for his sister's wedding from December 16 to 29. Before that, multiple bail pleas he appealed for, have faced setbacks. In 2023, Mamdani, who was then a New York State Assembly member, read excerpts from Khalid's prison writing at the Howdy Democracy event ahead of PM Narendra Modis White House visit. Im going to be reading a letter from Umar Khalid, who is a scholar and a former student activist at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhiwho organised a campaign against lynching and hate. He has been in jail for more than 1,000 days under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and has yet to face trial, though his bail application has been repeatedly denied. He has also faced an assassination attempt, Mamdani said at the event. Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Get Free Report) and Ranpak (NYSE:PACK Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, profitability, earnings, risk, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations. Insider and Institutional Ownership 77.7% of Sonoco Products shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 85.9% of Ranpak shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.7% of Sonoco Products shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 8.7% of Ranpak shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get Sonoco Products alerts: Valuation and Earnings This table compares Sonoco Products and Ranpaks revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Sonoco Products $5.31 billion 0.81 $163.95 million $6.30 6.93 Ranpak $368.90 million 1.24 -$21.50 million ($0.44) -12.36 Sonoco Products has higher revenue and earnings than Ranpak. Ranpak is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sonoco Products, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Sonoco Products and Ranpaks net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sonoco Products 8.82% 20.49% 4.74% Ranpak -9.48% -6.79% -3.28% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Sonoco Products and Ranpak, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sonoco Products 1 4 4 0 2.33 Ranpak 1 1 2 0 2.25 Sonoco Products presently has a consensus price target of $54.43, suggesting a potential upside of 24.72%. Ranpak has a consensus price target of $7.50, suggesting a potential upside of 37.87%. Given Ranpaks higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Ranpak is more favorable than Sonoco Products. Volatility & Risk Sonoco Products has a beta of 0.55, suggesting that its share price is 45% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ranpak has a beta of 2.8, suggesting that its share price is 180% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Sonoco Products beats Ranpak on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Sonoco Products (Get Free Report) Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging segments. The Consumer Packaging segment offers round and shaped rigid paper, steel, and plastic containers; metal and peelable membrane ends, closures, and components; thermoformed plastic trays and enclosures; and high-barrier flexible packaging products. The Industrial Paper Packaging segment provides paperboard tubes, cones, and cores; paper-based protective packaging products; and uncoated recycled paperboard products. It also offers various packaging materials, including plastic, paper, foam, and other specialty materials. Sonoco Products Company sells its products in various markets, which include paper, textile, film, food, packaging, construction, and wire and cable. The company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina. About Ranpak (Get Free Report) Ranpak Holdings Corp., together with its subsidiaries, provides product protection solutions and end-of-line automation solutions for e-commerce and industrial supply chains in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company offers protective packaging solutions, such as void-fill protective systems that convert paper to fill empty spaces in secondary packages and protect objects under the FillPak brand; cushioning protective systems, which convert paper into cushioning pads under the PadPak brand; and wrapping protective systems that create pads or paper mesh to wrap and protect fragile items, as well as to line boxes and provide separation when shipping various objects under the WrapPak, Geami, and ReadyRoll brands, as well as cold chain products, which are used to provide insulation for goods. It also offers end-of-line packaging automation products, which help end users automate the void filling and box closure processes after product packing is complete. The company sells its products to end users primarily through a distributor network, and directly to select end-users. Ranpak Holdings Corp. was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Concord Township, Ohio. Receive News & Ratings for Sonoco Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sonoco Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Denison Mine Corp (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN Get Free Report) (TSE:DML) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $2.41 and traded as high as $2.69. Denison Mine shares last traded at $2.66, with a volume of 21,976,493 shares. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating on shares of Denison Mine in a report on Friday, October 10th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Denison Mine alerts: View Our Latest Report on Denison Mine Denison Mine Stock Up 1.1% Hedge Funds Weigh In On Denison Mine The firms 50-day simple moving average is $2.66 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 11.78 and a current ratio of 11.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.40 billion, a P/E ratio of -17.73 and a beta of 1.25. Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Two Sigma Investments LP increased its position in Denison Mine by 1,696.3% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 17,026,392 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $46,823,000 after acquiring an additional 16,078,514 shares during the period. L1 Capital Pty Ltd raised its stake in Denison Mine by 4,544.0% during the third quarter. L1 Capital Pty Ltd now owns 14,007,218 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $38,520,000 after acquiring an additional 13,705,598 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Denison Mine by 1,697.4% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,263,903 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $36,502,000 after purchasing an additional 12,525,956 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its stake in shares of Denison Mine by 17.5% in the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 62,803,040 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $172,709,000 after acquiring an additional 9,348,414 shares during the last quarter. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its position in Denison Mine by 4,648.7% in the third quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 7,123,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $19,588,000 after purchasing an additional 6,973,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 36.74% of the companys stock. Denison Mine Company Profile (Get Free Report) Denison Mines Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN) is a Canada-based uranium exploration and development company focused on the Athabasca Basin region of Saskatchewan. The companys core business is the discovery, evaluation and advancement of high-grade uranium projects that can supply fuel for the global nuclear power industry. Denisons flagship asset is the 66.9%-owned Wheeler River Project, one of the largest undeveloped high-grade uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin. In addition to Wheeler River, Denison holds interests in several other exploration properties across northern Saskatchewan and maintains a strategic partnership in the McClean Lake uranium mill, providing it with downstream processing capabilities for future production. Founded in 1974, Denison Mines has accumulated decades of geological expertise in one of the worlds most prolific uranium districts. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Denison Mine Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Denison Mine and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) (NYSE:ELP Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $9.50 and traded as high as $9.65. Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) shares last traded at $9.2950, with a volume of 755,876 shares. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) Stock Performance The firms 50 day simple moving average is $10.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.50. The company has a market capitalization of $5.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 77.46, a P/E/G ratio of 3.40 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 for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.04 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $972.33 million. Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) had a net margin of 8.66% and a return on equity of 7.77%. Analysts expect that Companhia Paranaense de Energia will post 0.12 EPS for the current year. Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a special dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.5732 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 24th. Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL)s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 208.33%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ELP. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 279.1% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,318 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 3,179 shares during the period. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise lifted its position in Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 65.4% during the 3rd quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 7,987 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $78,000 after acquiring an additional 3,159 shares during the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC bought a new stake in Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) during the second quarter valued at about $93,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 4,094.6% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,151 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $93,000 after purchasing an additional 9,909 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 40.7% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,968 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $100,000 after purchasing an additional 3,173 shares during the period. 3.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Compass (NYSE:COMP Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Tuesday morning. A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Compass from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Barclays raised shares of Compass from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $9.00 to $13.00 in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Compass from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Compass in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $11.00 target price on shares of Compass in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $11.06. Get Compass alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Compass Compass Trading Down 0.5% Compass stock opened at $10.56 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $5.92 billion, a P/E ratio of -96.00 and a beta of 2.53. Compass has a 1-year low of $5.10 and a 1-year high of $11.07. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $9.79 and a 200-day moving average of $8.46. Compass (NYSE:COMP Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported ($0.01) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.01. Compass had a negative return on equity of 8.83% and a negative net margin of 0.85%.The business had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.79 billion. Research analysts forecast that Compass will post 0.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at Compass In other news, CFO Scott R. Wahlers sold 26,600 shares of Compass stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.00, for a total value of $292,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 313,625 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,449,875. The trade was a 7.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Bradley K. Serwin sold 20,953 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.00, for a total value of $230,483.00. Following the sale, the general counsel owned 258,712 shares in the company, valued at $2,845,832. The trade was a 7.49% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 134,181 shares of company stock valued at $1,448,384 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 4.08% of the companys stock. About Compass (Get Free Report) Compass, Inc is a technology-driven real estate brokerage firm that provides a full suite of services for home buyers, sellers and renters. Utilizing a proprietary software platform, the company equips its network of licensed real estate agents with data analytics, marketing automation and client relationship tools designed to enhance efficiency and transaction transparency. Founded in 2012 by Ori Allon and Robert Reffkin, Compass has grown from a single office in New York City to serve more than 300 markets across the United States. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Compass Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Compass and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE:WBS Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the sixteen research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $70.9231. WBS has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $65.00 price target (down previously from $68.00) on shares of Webster Financial in a research report on Monday, October 20th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Webster Financial in a research note on Thursday, September 25th. They set a buy rating and a $78.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Webster Financial from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Webster Financial from $64.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Webster Financial in a research report on Tuesday. Get Webster Financial alerts: View Our Latest Report on WBS Webster Financial Trading Down 0.9% Shares of WBS opened at $62.94 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.72, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.04. Webster Financial has a twelve month low of $39.43 and a twelve month high of $65.39. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $60.15 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $59.04. Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $756.06 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $725.22 million. Webster Financial had a net margin of 21.32% and a return on equity of 11.07%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.34 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Webster Financial will post 5.88 EPS for the current year. Webster Financial Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 10th were paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Webster Financials payout ratio is presently 29.80%. Insider Activity In related news, CEO John R. Ciulla sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.45, for a total value of $443,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 231,872 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,857,302.40. This represents a 3.34% 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. 0.54% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BOKF NA purchased a new position in shares of Webster Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Webster Financial in the third quarter worth $29,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in Webster Financial in the third quarter worth $29,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in Webster Financial in the third quarter worth $33,000. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in Webster Financial by 3,628.6% during the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 783 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 762 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.58% of the companys stock. About Webster Financial (Get Free Report) Webster Financial Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut. Through its principal subsidiary, Webster Bank, N.A., the company offers a broad range of banking products and financial services to individuals, small businesses, and middle-market commercial clients. Key offerings include deposit accounts, residential and commercial real estate lending, equipment finance, treasury management, and payment processing solutions. In addition to traditional banking services, Webster Financial provides wealth management and insurance products designed to help clients plan for retirement, preserve assets, and manage risk. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Webster Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Webster Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 2,272,908 shares, a growth of 27.0% from the November 30th total of 1,789,150 shares. Currently, 3.6% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 2,053,617 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.1 days. Based on an average daily volume of 2,053,617 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.1 days. Currently, 3.6% of the companys shares are sold short. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Trading Down 0.5% Shares of NYSEARCA:EWU opened at $43.98 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $2.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.42 and a beta of 0.71. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $43.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $41.70. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF has a 12-month low of $32.76 and a 12-month high of $44.30. Get iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Farther Finance Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the third quarter valued at about $46,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 24.4% during the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 255 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 28.4% during the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,400 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $73,000. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc purchased a new position in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $78,000. 58.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI United Kingdom index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of British companies. It covers the top 85% of British companies by market cap. EWU was launched on Mar 12, 1996 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NEW YORK, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Saks Global, the largest multi-brand luxury retailer in the world, announces that Richard Baker, Executive Chairman of Saks Global, has assumed the role of CEO of Saks Global, overseeing the company's luxury retail operations. In addition to the CEO role, Baker will continue to serve as Executive Chairman. Saks Global and Marc Metrick have agreed that Mr. Metrick will step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer. This transition reflects Mr. Metrick's desire to pursue new opportunities. Baker will work closely with the company's management team to advance Saks Global's transformation while delivering exceptional products, elevated experiences and highly personalized service to meet consumer demand for luxury retail. Baker noted, "I look forward to continuing to work with our highly experienced management team, valued partners, and other stakeholders to secure a strong and stable future for our company. Across Saks Global, with our deep industry expertise, well-established relationships within the luxury sector, and talented employees, we will strengthen our position so that we can capitalize on the many opportunities we see for our company in the luxury market." "After nearly three decades with Saks, I will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer," said Marc Metrick. "I began my career at Saks in 1995 and have had the privilege of serving in many roles across merchandising, marketing, and strategy. In 2015, I took over leadership of Saks Fifth Avenue, helping to drive innovation and growth during one of the most dynamic periods in retail history. From building a world-class team to establishing Saks.com as a leading luxury ecommerce platform, I am proud of what we accomplished together. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues, partners, and the entire Saks community for their support and collaboration over the years." Baker added, "Marc has been a valued leader at Saks for many years, helping to drive significant transformation and growth while solidifying the company's enduring position in luxury. We thank Marc for his leadership and dedication and wish him continued success in his next chapter." ABOUT SAKS GLOBAL Saks Global is the largest multi-brand luxury retailer in the world, comprising Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks OFF 5TH, Last Call, and Horchow. Its retail portfolio includes 70 full-line luxury locations, additional off-price locations, and five distinct e-commerce experiences. With talented colleagues focused on delivering on our strategic vision, The Art of You, Saks Global is redefining luxury shopping by offering each customer a personalized experience that is unmistakably their own. By leveraging the most comprehensive luxury customer data platform in North America, cutting-edge technology, and strong partnerships with the world's most esteemed brands, Saks Global is shaping the future of luxury retail. Saks Global Properties & Investments includes Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus flagship properties and represents nearly 13 million square feet of prime U.S. real estate holdings and investments in luxury markets. For more information, visit SaksGlobal.com and follow Saks Global on LinkedIn. SOURCE Saks Global The price of silver shot up 144% in 2025. (Photo: KGHM Polska Meidz) Gold had a stupendous 2025, the price of an ounce reaching $3,000 for the first time in March, and then topping $4,000 in October. It closed 2025 at more than $4,300 an ounce, 66% higher than the price at the start of the year. To which silver could have said hold my beer. Silver started the year at around $30 an ounce. It ended on Dec. 31 at a little over $70 a 144% increase. Nevada is the nations largest gold producer, and the second largest producer of silver, after Alaska. Silver doesnt get near the attention gold does, not even in the Silver State. In debates over Nevada mining taxes over the years, the focus has been on the value of gold, with silver warranting a mention, if at all, as an also-ran. Thats for good reason. When the Nevada Department of Taxation reports mining tax revenues for the Silver States primary mining tax, silver isnt even reported separately. Instead, the value of silver, a byproduct of mining gold, copper, and other minerals, is unceremoniously lumped into total Gold/Silver production revenues. According to Taxations 2024 report, $9.08 billion of Gold/Silver was mined in Nevada in 2024. Roughly 5.7 million ounces of silver were mined in Nevada in 2024, according to the Nevada Division of Minerals. At the annual average price that year of a little less than $30 an ounce, that would amount to around $162 million worth of silver. Which would mean the value of gold mined in Nevada in 2024 was more than $8.9 billion, 55 times as much as the value of silver. Next generation metal though The skyrocketing price of precious metals over the last year has been attributed in large part to investors worldwide seeking shelter amid global economic volatility and uncertainty, coupled with the declining value of the worlds dominant currency, the U.S. dollar, which dropped by 10% in 2025. Especially late in the year, some analysts were also describing the rising price of gold and silver as a momentum trade, a corollary of FOMO (fear of missing out), in which investors chase after whatever stock or commodity is going up in a flashy way. But a number of other and more silver-specific factors also contributed to the price of silver outpacing gold (as well as the stock prices for Nvidia and the techs) in 2025. In addition to being a precious metal that investors might turn to in volatile times, silver, unlike gold, has, as the cryptocurrency investors might say, multiple use cases. Like gold, silver is shiny. But silver also has the highest electrical conductivity of any metal. KBC Group SA (OTCMKTS:KBCSY Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the six research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have issued a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Zacks Research lowered KBC Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Barclays cut KBC Group from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of KBC Group in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of KBC Group in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of KBC Group in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Get KBC Group alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on KBCSY KBC Group Stock Performance KBCSY opened at $65.23 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.02, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a fifty day moving average of $62.45 and a 200 day moving average of $58.27. KBC Group has a fifty-two week low of $36.52 and a fifty-two week high of $66.37. KBC Group (OTCMKTS:KBCSY Get Free Report) last announced 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 net margin of 15.91% and a return on equity of 13.96%. The business had revenue of $3.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.54 billion. On average, equities research analysts forecast that KBC Group will post 4.28 earnings per share for the current year. KBC Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for KBC Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KBC Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Allegion PLC (NYSE:ALLE Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Hold by the ten brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $175.1250. Several brokerages recently issued reports on ALLE. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Allegion in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Allegion from $176.00 to $198.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Allegion from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Wells Fargo & Company restated a positive rating on shares of Allegion in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Allegion from $185.00 to $187.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Get Allegion alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Allegion Allegion Stock Down 1.1% Shares of ALLE stock opened at $159.37 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.77 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Allegion has a one year low of $116.57 and a one year high of $180.68. The companys fifty day moving average price is $163.10 and its 200-day moving average price is $163.79. The company has a market capitalization of $13.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.57, a PEG ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 1.04. Allegion (NYSE:ALLE Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.21 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $1.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.05 billion. Allegion had a net margin of 16.09% and a return on equity of 40.83%. Allegions quarterly revenue was up 10.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.16 EPS. Allegion has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.100-8.200 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Allegion will post 7.77 EPS for the current fiscal year. Allegion Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 16th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 16th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Allegions dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.60%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Allegion A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ALLE. Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Allegion by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 140 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Corp bought a new stake in Allegion in the third quarter worth $26,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Allegion by 120.9% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 148 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new position in Allegion during the third quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Allegion in the 3rd quarter worth $36,000. 92.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Allegion Company Profile (Get Free Report) Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) is a global provider of security products and solutions focused on ensuring the safety and security of people and property. The company was formed in December 2013 through a corporate spin-off from Ingersoll Rand and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Allegions core mission is to deliver innovative mechanical and electronic access control systems for a wide range of end markets, including commercial buildings, residential properties, institutional facilities, and industrial sites. The companys product portfolio spans mechanical locksets, door closers, exit devices, key systems and cylinders, as well as a growing suite of electronic and smart access control offerings. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Allegion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Allegion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Buy by the twenty-two ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and five have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $97.0765. A number of research firms have recently issued reports on NEM. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Newmont from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and set a $111.00 price target on shares of Newmont in a research note on Monday. CIBC set a $112.00 price target on shares of Newmont and gave the company an outperformer rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Newmont from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, November 2nd. Finally, National Bankshares raised their price objective on shares of Newmont from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Get Newmont alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Newmont Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Inflows and Outflows In related news, Director Bruce R. Brook sold 2,080 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.36, for a total transaction of $192,108.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 32,709 shares in the company, valued at $3,021,003.24. This trade represents a 5.98% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.34, for a total value of $406,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 279,923 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,768,936.82. This represents a 1.75% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure . Insiders have sold 9,160 shares of company stock worth $767,206 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NEM. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Newmont by 327.8% during the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 308 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Concord Wealth Partners grew its stake in Newmont by 534.7% during the second quarter. Concord Wealth Partners now owns 457 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 385 shares during the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Newmont during the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. Evermay Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Newmont by 408.2% in the second quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 498 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital A Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Newmont by 1,648.3% in the 2nd quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 507 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 478 shares in the last quarter. 68.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Newmont Stock Down 2.1% Shares of NEM opened at $99.76 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a current ratio of 2.04. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $91.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $78.58. Newmont has a 52 week low of $36.86 and a 52 week high of $106.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $108.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.40. Newmont (NYSE:NEM Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The basic materials company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.44. The business had revenue of $5.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.14 billion. Newmont had a return on equity of 20.35% and a net margin of 33.42%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 20.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.81 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Newmont will post 3.45 earnings per share for the current year. Newmont Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 22nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 26th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 26th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Newmonts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 15.53%. About Newmont (Get Free Report) Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) is a leading global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, processing and reclamation of gold properties. The companys core business centers on the production of gold, with additional byproduct metals produced from its operations. Newmont operates a portfolio of long?lived mines and development projects, and its activities span the full mine life cycle from early-stage exploration through to mining, milling and closure. Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Newmont has grown through organic development and strategic acquisitions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BNP Paribas SA (OTCMKTS:BNPQY Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Hold from the six analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. Several equities research analysts have commented on BNPQY shares. DZ Bank cut shares of BNP Paribas from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of BNP Paribas in a report on Friday, October 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded BNP Paribas from a moderate sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Barclays cut BNP Paribas from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Get BNP Paribas alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BNP Paribas BNP Paribas Trading Down 0.5% OTCMKTS:BNPQY opened at $47.41 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $105.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 0.74. BNP Paribas has a twelve month low of $29.92 and a twelve month high of $49.32. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $42.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $44.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75. BNP Paribas (OTCMKTS:BNPQY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.53. The company had revenue of $81.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.84 billion. BNP Paribas had a net margin of 22.74% and a return on equity of 8.56%. As a group, analysts expect that BNP Paribas will post 5.02 EPS for the current fiscal year. BNP Paribas Company Profile (Get Free Report) BNP Paribas is a major international banking group headquartered in Paris, France, formed through the 2000 merger of Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) and Paribas. The group provides a broad range of banking and financial services to retail, corporate and institutional clients, operating as one of the leading universal banks in Europe with a global footprint. Its principal business activities encompass retail banking and services, corporate and institutional banking, and investment solutions. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for BNP Paribas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BNP Paribas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Roth Financial Partners LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Free Report) by 1.2% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 94,035 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,121 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF comprises about 21.2% of Roth Financial Partners LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest position. Roth Financial Partners LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $62,938,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in IVV. Fortitude Family Office LLC raised its stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 13.4% during the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 49,231 shares of the companys stock worth $32,950,000 after acquiring an additional 5,800 shares during the period. Legacy Wealth Management Inc grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 1.4% during the third quarter. Legacy Wealth Management Inc now owns 537,532 shares of the companys stock valued at $359,770,000 after purchasing an additional 7,487 shares during the last quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors now owns 28,713 shares of the companys stock worth $17,828,000 after purchasing an additional 974 shares during the period. Cobblestone Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 10.1% in the 3rd quarter. Cobblestone Asset Management LLC now owns 21,216 shares of the companys stock worth $14,200,000 after purchasing an additional 1,941 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spinnaker Investment Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $627,000. 70.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get iShares Core S&P 500 ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Price Performance Shares of IVV opened at $684.94 on Friday. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 12 month low of $484.00 and a 12 month high of $694.70. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $682.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $657.56. The company has a market cap of $718.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.10 and a beta of 1.00. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al increased its position in Hess Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:HESM Free Report) by 29.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 74,423 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 17,000 shares during the period. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Als holdings in Hess Midstream Partners were worth $2,571,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC boosted its position in Hess Midstream Partners by 0.9% during the second quarter. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC now owns 26,507 shares of the companys stock worth $1,021,000 after purchasing an additional 241 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Hess Midstream Partners by 14.3% in the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,400 shares of the companys stock valued at $92,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Virtus Investment Advisers LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hess Midstream Partners by 7.6% during the 2nd quarter. Virtus Investment Advisers LLC now owns 4,456 shares of the companys stock valued at $172,000 after buying an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Hess Midstream Partners by 14.1% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,696 shares of the companys stock worth $93,000 after buying an additional 333 shares during the period. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co boosted its holdings in Hess Midstream Partners by 34.9% in the 2nd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,545 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the period. 98.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Hess Midstream Partners alerts: Hess Midstream Partners Price Performance Hess Midstream Partners stock opened at $34.47 on Friday. Hess Midstream Partners LP has a 52 week low of $31.63 and a 52 week high of $44.14. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $33.79 and a 200 day simple moving average of $36.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.83. The stock has a market cap of $7.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.22 and a beta of 0.61. Hess Midstream Partners Increases Dividend Hess Midstream Partners ( NYSE:HESM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $420.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $424.36 million. Hess Midstream Partners had a return on equity of 69.03% and a net margin of 20.46%.The companys revenue was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.63 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Hess Midstream Partners LP will post 2.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 6th were given a dividend of $0.7548 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 6th. This is a boost from Hess Midstream Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.74. This represents a $3.02 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.8%. Hess Midstream Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 107.09%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have issued reports on HESM. Zacks Research raised shares of Hess Midstream Partners from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and set a $35.00 price objective (down from $48.00) on shares of Hess Midstream Partners in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Hess Midstream Partners from an equal weight rating to a reduce rating in a research note on Friday, September 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Hess Midstream Partners in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. They set a neutral rating and a $36.00 price target on the stock. Finally, UBS Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $43.00 price target (down from $45.00) on shares of Hess Midstream Partners in a report on Wednesday, September 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.57. View Our Latest Analysis on Hess Midstream Partners Hess Midstream Partners Profile (Free Report) Hess Midstream Partners LP, formerly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HESM, is a midstream energy partnership that owns, operates and develops crude oil, natural gas and produced water infrastructure in the Williston Basin. The companys assets include crude oil gathering and transportation systems, saltwater disposal wells, natural gas processing and fractionation plants, and associated pipeline and storage facilities. Its integrated network is designed to support upstream production by providing gathering, processing, storage and marketing services for hydrocarbons and produced water. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Hess Midstream Partners primarily serves producers operating in North Dakota and Montanas Bakken Shale region. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HESM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hess Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:HESM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hess Midstream Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hess Midstream Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB Free Report) by 14.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 15,431 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 1,911 shares during the quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLCs holdings in Chubb were worth $4,355,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Chubb during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,195,137,000. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Chubb by 11.6% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,929,858 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,428,278,000 after purchasing an additional 513,852 shares in the last quarter. London Co. of Virginia grew its stake in Chubb by 211.0% in the second quarter. London Co. of Virginia now owns 737,090 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $213,559,000 after purchasing an additional 500,116 shares during the period. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Chubb by 46.9% in the second quarter. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC now owns 1,392,846 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $403,535,000 after purchasing an additional 444,557 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Troy Asset Management Ltd lifted its position in Chubb by 89.1% during the second quarter. Troy Asset Management Ltd now owns 793,427 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $229,872,000 after buying an additional 373,872 shares during the period. 83.81% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Chubb alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. HSBC upped their target price on shares of Chubb from $302.00 to $304.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $309.00 price objective on shares of Chubb in a report on Monday, October 27th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Chubb from $292.00 to $298.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Chubb from $331.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Chubb from $321.00 to $327.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $311.90. Chubb Trading Down 0.6% NYSE:CB opened at $312.25 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $122.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.03, a PEG ratio of 3.56 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The companys 50 day moving average price is $297.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $284.28. Chubb Limited has a 52 week low of $252.16 and a 52 week high of $315.08. Chubb (NYSE:CB Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 21st. The financial services provider reported $7.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.51 by $1.98. Chubb had a net margin of 16.53% and a return on equity of 12.93%. The company had revenue of $16.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.95 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $5.72 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Chubb Limited will post 21.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Chubb Announces Dividend The firm 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 $0.97 per share. This represents a $3.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 12th. Chubbs dividend payout ratio is presently 16.19%. Insider Activity at Chubb In related news, insider John J. Lupica sold 16,375 shares of Chubb stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $296.45, for a total value of $4,854,368.75. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 74,225 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,004,001.25. This trade represents a 18.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Timothy Alan Boroughs sold 850 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $295.19, for a total value of $250,911.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 1,585 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $467,876.15. This trade represents a 34.91% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 57,333 shares of company stock valued at $16,629,873 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.77% of the companys stock. Chubb Profile (Free Report) Chubb is a global property and casualty insurance company that underwrites a broad range of commercial and personal insurance products and related services. Its offerings include commercial property and casualty coverage, specialty liability, professional and management liability, cyber and technology insurance, marine and energy, surety, accident and health solutions, and high-net-worth personal lines such as homeowners, auto and valuables protection. Chubb serves businesses, individuals and institutions with tailored underwriting and risk-transfer solutions across multiple industry sectors. In addition to core underwriting, Chubb provides risk engineering, loss control, claims management and risk consulting services intended to reduce loss severity and help clients manage exposures. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chubb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chubb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ninety One UK Ltd raised its stake in shares of iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (BATS:USHY Free Report) by 207.8% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 464,171 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 313,360 shares during the period. Ninety One UK Ltds holdings in iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF were worth $17,536,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. lifted its position in iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 78.4% in the 3rd quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 883 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 388 shares during the last quarter. Rebalance LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Rebalance LLC now owns 1,786,170 shares of the companys stock valued at $67,481,000 after purchasing an additional 74,906 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. raised its position in iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 33.2% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 16,604 shares of the companys stock worth $627,000 after purchasing an additional 4,140 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its position in iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 87.0% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 18,667 shares of the companys stock valued at $705,000 after buying an additional 8,684 shares during the period. Finally, Euro Pacific Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 9.0% during the third quarter. Euro Pacific Asset Management LLC now owns 16,210 shares of the companys stock valued at $608,000 after purchasing an additional 1,335 shares during the period. Get iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Stock Performance Shares of USHY stock opened at $37.40 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $37.42 and its 200-day moving average price is $37.44. The firm has a market cap of $23.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.79 and a beta of 0.41. iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has a fifty-two week low of $34.90 and a fifty-two week high of $37.72. iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Company Profile The iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained index. The fund tracks a market value-weighted index of USD-denominated high yield corporate debt with broad maturities. USHY was launched on Oct 25, 2017 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding USHY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (BATS:USHY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) has been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the twelve brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, two have issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$182.75. A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Desjardins raised their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$180.00 to C$189.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 18th. National Bankshares lowered Bank of Montreal from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and raised their price objective for the company from C$173.00 to C$181.00 in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$163.00 to C$178.00 in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Barclays boosted their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$177.00 to C$181.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Natl Bk Canada downgraded shares of Bank of Montreal from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Get Bank of Montreal alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Bank of Montreal Bank of Montreal Trading Down 0.3% Shares of TSE:BMO opened at C$178.25 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of C$176.12 and a 200-day moving average of C$168.07. Bank of Montreal has a 12 month low of C$121.31 and a 12 month high of C$182.90. The stock has a market capitalization of C$129.69 billion, a PE ratio of 15.58, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.39. Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The bank reported C$3.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$9.34 billion for the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 13.57% and a return on equity of 9.04%. On average, research analysts predict that Bank of Montreal will post 9.6514585 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bank of Montreal Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 26th were given a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 30th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 56.29%. Bank of Montreal Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bank of Montreal is a diversified financial-services provider based in North America, operating four business segments: Canadian personal and commercial banking, U.S. P&C banking, wealth management, and capital markets. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ninety One UK Ltd boosted its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR Free Report) by 11.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 102,158 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 10,793 shares during the quarter. Ninety One UK Ltds holdings in Ingersoll Rand were worth $8,440,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. NewSquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 150.7% during the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 341 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the period. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Ingersoll Rand during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Gladwyn Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the 2nd quarter valued at $42,000. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID acquired a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the first quarter worth $43,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the second quarter worth $45,000. 95.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Ingersoll Rand alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently issued reports on IR. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $103.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Citigroup upped their target price on Ingersoll Rand from $91.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Zacks Research upgraded Ingersoll Rand from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Ingersoll Rand from $83.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a research note on Monday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $91.44. Ingersoll Rand Trading Down 1.8% Shares of NYSE:IR opened at $79.22 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $78.84 and its 200-day moving average price is $80.64. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a 1 year low of $65.61 and a 1 year high of $95.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 58.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.11 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 2.16 and a quick ratio of 1.51. Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The industrial products company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.87 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $1.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.95 billion. Ingersoll Rand had a net margin of 7.31% and a return on equity of 12.14%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.84 earnings per share. Ingersoll Rand has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.250-3.310 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 3.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Ingersoll Rand Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 13th were given a $0.02 dividend. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 13th. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.93%. Insider Activity at Ingersoll Rand In related news, CAO Michael J. Scheske sold 1,477 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.63, for a total transaction of $119,090.51. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 12,153 shares in the company, valued at approximately $979,896.39. The trade was a 10.84% 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. Insiders own 0.59% of the companys stock. Ingersoll Rand Profile (Free Report) Ingersoll Rand is a diversified industrial company that designs, manufactures and services a wide range of equipment and technologies for commercial, industrial and OEM customers. Its product portfolio includes air compressors and compressed air systems, pneumatic and cordless power tools, material handling and lifting equipment, fluid transfer and pumping solutions, and associated aftermarket parts and service offerings. The companys products support applications across manufacturing, construction, transportation, oil and gas, mining and general industrial markets. Ingersoll Rand sells through a combination of direct sales, distributor networks and service channels, delivering both capital equipment and recurring aftermarket revenue from parts, maintenance and service contracts. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ingersoll Rand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingersoll Rand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. It has been a roller coaster ride for Lululemon (LULU) shareholders in 2025. At the beginning of the year, LULU stock traded at a 52-week high near $423. A sharp correction followed on growth deceleration and LULU stock touched a 52-week low near $159. However, there has since been some revival and LULU stock now trades at $209, still lower by 45% for year-to-date (YTD). In terms of positive developments, it was reported on Dec. 18 that Elliott Investment Management holds a stake exceeding $1 billion in LULU. As one of the largest investors, the activist investor is pushing for a management change. More News from Barchart Furthermore, Lululemon founder Chip Wilson has also launched a proxy fight for a board shakeup. Wilson has nominated three independent directors to the companys board. With the exit of CEO Calvin McDonald, the management rejig could potentially be a catalyst for LULU stock. Wilson has opined that Lululemon is running out of time on the back of escalating competition and loss of confidence among investors. About Lululemon Stock Lululemon is a technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories company. Currently, the company has a presence in 30 markets globally through its company-operated stores, seasonal stores, and e-commerce. As of the third quarter of 2025, Lululemon reported 796 stores globally with revenue for the quarter at $2.6 billion. For the same period, diluted EPS was $2.59, which was lower by 9.8% on a year-over-year (YOY) basis. Amidst intense competition and muted revenue growth, LULU stock has declined by 12% in the last six months. However, with the possibility of a management rejig coupled with expansion plans, there has been a recovery in LULU stock in the recent past. www.barchart.com Potential Catalysts for 2026 In Lululemon's Q3 results, the firm's Americas net revenue declined by 2%. However, international net revenue increased by 33%. Further, international comparable sales increased by 18%. So, its clear that global markets are a potential source of revenue acceleration. Earlier this month, Lululemon announced expansion plans with stores to open in six new markets. These markets include Greece, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and India. These markets are likely to ensure that global growth acceleration sustains for the company. Hennessy Advisors Inc. decreased its position in NewJersey Resources Corporation (NYSE:NJR Free Report) by 13.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 110,034 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 16,500 shares during the quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in NewJersey Resources were worth $5,298,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of NewJersey Resources by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,545,394 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $114,097,000 after purchasing an additional 16,954 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in NewJersey Resources during the second quarter valued at approximately $52,671,000. ProShare Advisors LLC raised its position in NewJersey Resources by 0.4% in the second quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 831,309 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $37,259,000 after acquiring an additional 3,588 shares during the period. Energy Income Partners LLC raised its position in NewJersey Resources by 145.7% in the second quarter. Energy Income Partners LLC now owns 798,661 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $35,796,000 after acquiring an additional 473,664 shares during the period. Finally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd boosted its stake in shares of NewJersey Resources by 77.1% during the 2nd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 730,300 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $32,732,000 after acquiring an additional 317,932 shares during the last quarter. 70.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get NewJersey Resources alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other NewJersey Resources news, COO Patrick J. Migliaccio sold 4,017 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.46, for a total value of $186,629.82. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 38,065 shares in the company, valued at $1,768,499.90. The trade was a 9.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets NJR has been the subject of several analyst reports. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating and issued a $53.00 price objective on shares of NewJersey Resources in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Wall Street Zen cut NewJersey Resources from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Sunday, December 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of NewJersey Resources in a research report on Monday. Mizuho upgraded NewJersey Resources from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $51.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, New Street Research set a $54.00 target price on shares of NewJersey Resources in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $52.86. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on NJR NewJersey Resources Stock Performance NYSE NJR opened at $46.18 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36. NewJersey Resources Corporation has a twelve month low of $43.46 and a twelve month high of $50.76. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $46.18 and a 200-day moving average price of $46.27. The firm has a market cap of $4.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.87 and a beta of 0.60. NewJersey Resources (NYSE:NJR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The utilities provider reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.15 by $0.01. NewJersey Resources had a return on equity of 13.73% and a net margin of 16.48%.The company had revenue of $336.08 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $307.30 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.89 EPS. The firms revenue was down 15.1% compared to the same quarter last year. NewJersey Resources has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.030-3.180 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that NewJersey Resources Corporation will post 3.15 EPS for the current fiscal year. NewJersey Resources Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 12th will be issued a $0.475 dividend. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 12th. NewJersey Resourcess payout ratio is currently 57.06%. NewJersey Resources Profile (Free Report) 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NJR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NewJersey Resources Corporation (NYSE:NJR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for NewJersey Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NewJersey Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ninety One UK Ltd grew its position in shares of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 5.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 370,173 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 17,813 shares during the quarter. Ninety One UK Ltds holdings in Chevron were worth $57,484,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in CVX. Perigon Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Chevron by 19.3% during the 3rd quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 73,448 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $11,406,000 after buying an additional 11,875 shares during the last quarter. Solitude Financial Services raised its stake in Chevron by 8.2% in the 2nd quarter. Solitude Financial Services now owns 25,325 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,626,000 after acquiring an additional 1,913 shares during the period. Shell Asset Management Co. lifted its holdings in Chevron by 21.4% during the second quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. now owns 51,115 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $7,319,000 after purchasing an additional 9,002 shares during the last quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC boosted its position in Chevron by 7.3% during the second quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 88,759 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $13,743,000 after purchasing an additional 6,058 shares during the period. Finally, Costello Asset Management INC increased its stake in shares of Chevron by 26.9% in the second quarter. Costello Asset Management INC now owns 16,694 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,390,000 after purchasing an additional 3,541 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.42% of the companys stock. Get Chevron alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Chevron from $190.00 to $196.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. HSBC set a $169.00 price objective on Chevron and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Barclays reduced their target price on Chevron from $160.00 to $158.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Chevron from $177.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of Chevron from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Chevron currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $166.00. Chevron Stock Performance NYSE:CVX opened at $152.44 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $151.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $152.96. The stock has a market cap of $306.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.44, a PEG ratio of 9.15 and a beta of 0.70. Chevron Corporation has a twelve month low of $132.04 and a twelve month high of $168.96. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 the consensus estimate of $46.99 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.48 earnings per share. Chevrons quarterly revenue was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 EPS for the current fiscal year. Chevron Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 18th were issued a dividend of $1.71 per share. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 18th. Chevrons payout ratio is currently 96.20%. Insider Transactions at Chevron 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 transaction, the director owned 1,128,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at $170,052,783.75. This represents a 19.60% 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. Company insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. About Chevron (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mattern Capital Management LLC decreased its holdings in Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT Free Report) by 94.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,154 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 19,449 shares during the period. Mattern Capital Management LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $576,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Old North State Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Lockheed Martin by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Old North State Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,073 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $539,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the period. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV boosted its position in Lockheed Martin by 4.7% during the second quarter. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV now owns 486 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the period. Broadway Wealth Solutions Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 4.5% in the second quarter. Broadway Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 511 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $237,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Davis Investment Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 2.0% in the second quarter. Davis Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,168 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $544,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the period. Finally, Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,125 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $984,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. 74.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently commented on LMT shares. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Thursday, December 11th. They set a neutral rating and a $505.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $440.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. UBS Group lowered their target price on Lockheed Martin from $514.00 to $513.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. BNP Paribas raised Lockheed Martin to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, eighteen have assigned 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 Hold and an average price target of $506.67. Lockheed Martin Stock Down 0.9% NYSE LMT opened at $483.70 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.32. The company has a market cap of $111.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.01, a PEG ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a 50 day moving average of $470.57 and a 200-day moving average of $466.18. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a 1-year low of $410.11 and a 1-year high of $516.00. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.95 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by $0.62. The firm had revenue of $18.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.45 billion. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 111.84% and a net margin of 5.73%.The companys revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.84 EPS. Lockheed Martin has set its FY 2025 guidance at 22.150-22.350 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Lockheed Martin Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were given a $3.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This is an increase from Lockheed Martins previous quarterly dividend of $3.30. This represents a $13.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 77.05%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, COO John Frank A. St sold 7,792 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $491.04, for a total transaction of $3,826,183.68. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 1 shares of the companys stock, valued at $491.04. This represents a 99.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Lockheed Martin Company Profile (Free Report) Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global aerospace and defense company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology systems for government and commercial customers. Formed through the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and focuses on providing integrated solutions across air, space, land and sea domains. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and allied governments around the world. Lockheed Martins product and service portfolio spans military aircraft, missile and fire-control systems, missile defense, space systems and satellite technologies, sensors and precision weapons. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Lockheed Martin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lockheed Martin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Several analysts have recently updated their ratings and price targets for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA): 12/22/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries had its price target raised by analysts at Piper Sandler from $30.00 to $40.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 12/19/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries had its price target raised by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from $31.00 to $35.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 12/16/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries had its price target raised by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $28.00 to $35.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 12/13/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating. 12/9/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries had its price target raised by analysts at Bank of America Corporation from $29.00 to $32.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 12/9/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is now covered by analysts at Barclays PLC. They set an overweight rating and a $35.00 price target on the stock. 12/8/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries was upgraded by analysts at Barclays PLC to a strong-buy rating. 12/8/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries had its price target raised by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from $28.00 to $31.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 12/5/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is now covered by analysts at Scotiabank. They set a sector outperform rating and a $35.00 price target on the stock. 11/6/2025 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries had its price target raised by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $26.00 to $28.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. Insider Activity at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries In other Teva Pharmaceutical Industries news, CAO Amir Weiss sold 12,300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.20, for a total value of $371,460.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 5,650 shares in the company, valued at $170,630. This represents a 68.52% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Mark Sabag sold 216,892 shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.73, for a total transaction of $6,231,307.16. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 52,828 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,517,748.44. This trade represents a 80.41% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 622,060 shares of company stock valued at $17,076,965 over the last ninety days. 0.49% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Get Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd alerts: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA) is an Israeli multinational pharmaceutical company and one of the worlds largest manufacturers of generic medicines. The companys core activities include the development, production and marketing of generic pharmaceuticals alongside a portfolio of specialty branded medicines. Teva supplies finished dosage forms and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to markets around the globe and operates manufacturing and research facilities in multiple countries. Tevas product range covers oral solids, injectables, inhalation products and other dosage forms across therapeutic areas such as central nervous system disorders, respiratory, oncology, pain and infectious disease. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. (OTCMKTS:PBMLF Get Free Report) traded up 28.9% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $0.78 and last traded at $0.78. 600 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 44% from the average session volume of 1,079 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.6053. Pacific Booker Minerals Price Performance The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.73. The company has a market capitalization of $13.12 million, a PE ratio of -19.50 and a beta of -1.11. Get Pacific Booker Minerals alerts: About Pacific Booker Minerals (Get Free Report) Pacific Booker Minerals Inc is a Canada-based mineral exploration and development company focused on the identification and advancement of copper, gold and associated mineral projects. The companys primary asset is the Haquira copper-gold porphyry project located in the Ayacucho region of southern Peru. Haquira lies within a well-known mineral belt and has been the subject of multiple exploration stages, including geophysical surveys and diamond drilling, which have delineated extensive polymetallic mineralization. At Haquira, Pacific Booker Minerals has concentrated on delineating bulk-tonnage copper-gold resources within porphyry-style mineralization. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pacific Booker Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pacific Booker Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS:MNARF Get Free Report)s share price fell 4.5% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $12.18 and last traded at $12.18. 700 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 76% from the average session volume of 2,969 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.75. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades MNARF has been the subject of several research reports. TD Securities restated a buy rating on shares of Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust to a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on MNARF Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Price Performance Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Company Profile The stock has a 50-day moving average of $12.35 and a two-hundred day moving average of $13.01. (Get Free Report) Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS: MNARF) is an open-ended real estate investment trust that owns and operates a diversified portfolio of multi-residential rental properties. Through its sponsor, Morguard Corporation, the trust focuses on acquiring, developing and managing apartment communities in key North American markets. Its asset mix spans mid-rise and high-rise buildings as well as purpose-built rental communities designed to serve a broad tenant base, from young professionals to families and seniors. The trust leverages the property management and leasing capabilities of Morguards in-house team, providing services that include marketing, maintenance and tenant relations. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF (NYSEARCA:FLBR Get Free Report)s share price fell 0.4% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $19.00 and last traded at $19.05. 91,364 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 22% from the average session volume of 74,885 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.13. Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF Price Performance The firms fifty day moving average price is $19.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.54. The company has a market capitalization of $251.46 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.04 and a beta of 0.88. Get Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of FLBR. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF during the first quarter valued at about $3,092,000. Parallel Advisors LLC bought a new position in Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $56,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $142,000. Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. now owns 24,197 shares of the companys stock worth $435,000 after buying an additional 1,668 shares during the period. Finally, Wealthfront Advisers LLC grew its holdings in Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF by 90.1% during the 2nd quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 19,611 shares of the companys stock worth $352,000 after acquiring an additional 9,296 shares during the last quarter. About Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF The Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF (FLBR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE Brazil RIC Capped index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of Brazilian large- and mid-cap stocks. FLBR was launched on Nov 3, 2017 and is managed by Franklin Templeton. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. cut its stake in Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) by 57.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 28,137 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 38,215 shares during the period. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S.s holdings in Bank of America were worth $1,451,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nova Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Bank of America by 75.2% in the 2nd quarter. Nova Wealth Management Inc. now owns 529 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 227 shares during the last quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC boosted 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 acquiring an additional 880 shares during the last quarter. RMG Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America during the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Steph & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 224.3% in the third quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 548 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 379 shares during the period. Finally, CGC Financial Services LLC increased its position in Bank of America by 585.4% during the second quarter. CGC Financial Services LLC now owns 610 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 521 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.71% of the companys stock. Get Bank of America alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have weighed in on BAC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Bank of America from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Bank of America from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Bank of America from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Bank of America from $61.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Twenty-three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $58.59. Bank of America Trading Down 0.5% BAC opened at $54.98 on Friday. Bank of America Corporation has a 52 week low of $33.06 and a 52 week high of $56.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $53.73 and a 200-day simple moving average of $50.51. The firm has a market cap of $401.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.98 and a beta of 1.29. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.93 by $0.13. Bank of America had a return on equity of 10.76% and a net margin of 15.70%.The firm had revenue of $5.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $27.05 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.81 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current year. Bank of America Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th were given a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 5th. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 30.52%. About Bank of America (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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Niles Financial Inc. (OTCMKTS:FNFI Get Free Report)s share price traded up 3% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $8.00 and last traded at $8.00. 600 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 10% from the average session volume of 545 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.77. First Niles Financial Stock Up 3.0% The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $7.85 and a 200-day simple moving average of $8.28. The stock has a market cap of $12.32 million, a PE ratio of 133.33 and a beta of 0.29. First Niles Financial Company Profile (Get Free Report) First Niles Financial, Inc operates as a holding company for the Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Niles that provides various banking products and services in Ohio, the United States. The company offers personal and business checking and savings, money market deposit, and Christmas club accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. It also provides various loans, including mortgage and consumer loans, home equity lines of credit, and commercial loans and lines of credit. In addition, the company provides e-statement, and night depository services; debit and ATM cards; safe deposit boxes; direct deposits; I.R.A. See Also Receive News & Ratings for First Niles Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Niles Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tectonic Advisors LLC lifted its position in Crh Plc (NYSE:CRH Free Report) by 13.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 107,793 shares of the construction companys stock after buying an additional 12,437 shares during the quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLCs holdings in CRH were worth $12,924,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CRH. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of CRH by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 12,357 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,087,000 after purchasing an additional 283 shares during the last quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. grew its holdings in CRH by 25.2% during the first quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 184,070 shares of the construction companys stock worth $16,193,000 after purchasing an additional 37,032 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its position in CRH by 3.6% during the first quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 91,024 shares of the construction companys stock worth $8,007,000 after buying an additional 3,185 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in CRH by 26.2% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,173,805 shares of the construction companys stock worth $186,665,000 after buying an additional 451,019 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cinctive Capital Management LP bought a new stake in CRH in the first quarter valued at approximately $3,828,000. 62.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get CRH alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently commented on CRH shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on CRH from $152.00 to $150.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of CRH from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of CRH from $110.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of CRH in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of CRH from $135.00 to $133.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $132.60. CRH Stock Performance NYSE:CRH opened at $124.96 on Friday. Crh Plc has a 52 week low of $76.75 and a 52 week high of $129.28. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $119.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $110.80. The firm has a market cap of $83.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.34. CRH (NYSE:CRH Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The construction company reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.27. CRH had a net margin of 9.30% and a return on equity of 16.25%. The firm had revenue of $11.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.15 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.97 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. CRH has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.490-5.720 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Crh Plc will post 5.47 EPS for the current year. CRH Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 21st were paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 21st. CRHs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.11%. CRH Company Profile (Free Report) CRH plc, originally formed as Cement Roadstone Holdings in 1970 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a global building materials group. The company has grown from its Irish roots into one of the largest international suppliers of construction materials, expanding primarily through acquisitions and regional business development. CRH operates an integrated network of manufacturing and distribution businesses that serve both public and private construction markets. CRHs core activities include the production and distribution of aggregates, cement, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and other bulk materials, together with a broad range of value-added building products such as precast concrete, masonry, bricks, roofing products, pipe and drainage systems, and construction accessories. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for CRH Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CRH and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Having said that, from a first glance at Gear4music (Holdings) (LON:G4M) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look. We've found 21 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free. What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)? Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Gear4music (Holdings): Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.10 = UK7.1m (UK96m - UK27m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2025). Thus, Gear4music (Holdings) has an ROCE of 10%. In absolute terms, that's a pretty normal return, and it's somewhat close to the Specialty Retail industry average of 13%. Check out our latest analysis for Gear4music (Holdings) AIM:G4M Return on Capital Employed January 2nd 2026 In the above chart we have measured Gear4music (Holdings)'s prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free analyst report for Gear4music (Holdings) . What Does the ROCE Trend For Gear4music (Holdings) Tell Us? In terms of Gear4music (Holdings)'s historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 10% from 25% five years ago. However, given capital employed and revenue have both increased it appears that the business is currently pursuing growth, at the consequence of short term returns. And if the increased capital generates additional returns, the business, and thus shareholders, will benefit in the long run. On a related note, Gear4music (Holdings) has decreased its current liabilities to 28% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE. Tectonic Advisors LLC grew its position in Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 7.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 60,361 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 4,302 shares during the quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $9,275,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nova Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Procter & Gamble during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 67.9% during the second quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 178 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP purchased a new position in Procter & Gamble during the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in Procter & Gamble in the second quarter worth approximately $34,000. 65.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets PG has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on Procter & Gamble from $176.00 to $171.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Dbs Bank upgraded Procter & Gamble to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Barclays dropped their price objective 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. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $173.00 to $170.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 25th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane lowered their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $177.00 to $172.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Procter & Gamble currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $171.38. Procter & Gamble Trading Down 0.5% Shares of NYSE:PG opened at $143.33 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $146.16 and its 200 day moving average is $152.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.51. Procter & Gamble Company has a 1 year low of $138.14 and a 1 year high of $179.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $334.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.92, a P/E/G ratio of 4.83 and a beta of 0.39. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $1.99 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.09. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.63% and a net margin of 19.74%.The business had revenue of $22.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.23 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.93 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.100 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 24th were paid a dividend of $1.0568 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 24th. This represents a $4.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is presently 61.61%. Insider Activity In other Procter & Gamble news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 725 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.57, for a total value of $108,438.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 979 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $146,429.03. This trade represents a 42.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 67.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,243 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,925 shares during the period. SteelPeak Wealth LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $4,120,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wagner Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Mastercard by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Wagner Wealth Management LLC now owns 623 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $354,000 after buying an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 36.9% during the third quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 2,586 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,471,000 after purchasing an additional 697 shares during the period. CMH Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. CMH Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,577 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $7,154,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Global Financial Private Client LLC grew its position in Mastercard by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter. Global Financial Private Client LLC now owns 850 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $483,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the period. Finally, Generali Asset Management SPA SGR increased its stake in Mastercard by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR now owns 80,658 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $45,879,000 after purchasing an additional 2,445 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Mastercard Price Performance Mastercard stock opened at $570.96 on Friday. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $465.59 and a 52 week high of $601.77. The companys 50 day moving average price is $555.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $565.60. The stock has a market cap of $512.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a quick ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.40. Mastercard Increases Dividend Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.31 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 202.03% and a net margin of 45.28%.Mastercards quarterly revenue was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.89 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 9th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 9th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. This is a boost from Mastercards previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. Mastercards payout ratio is 19.44%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have weighed in on MA. Citigroup raised shares of Mastercard to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Friday, October 31st. UBS Group lifted their price target on Mastercard from $690.00 to $700.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Macquarie increased their price objective on Mastercard from $655.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $665.00 target price on Mastercard and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $657.48. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on MA About Mastercard (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated is a global payments technology company that operates a network connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories. The company facilitates electronic payments and transaction processing for credit, debit and prepaid card products carrying the Mastercard brand, while also providing a range of payment-related services to issuers, acquirers and merchants. Its technology and network enable authorization, clearing and settlement of payments and support a broad set of use cases including point-of-sale, e-commerce and mobile payments. Beyond core transaction processing, Mastercard offers a suite of value-added services such as fraud and risk management, identity and authentication tools, tokenization and digital wallet support, cross-border and commercial payment solutions, and data analytics and consulting services for merchants and financial partners. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC raised its stake in iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Free Report) by 61.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 124,157 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 47,246 shares during the period. SteelPeak Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $9,035,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of IAU. Sincerus Advisory LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Sincerus Advisory LLC now owns 5,184 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $377,000 after buying an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Regatta Capital Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 0.5% during the third quarter. Regatta Capital Group LLC now owns 27,161 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,977,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Enterprises LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 4.6% during the second quarter. Diversified Enterprises LLC now owns 3,683 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $230,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Red Mountain Financial LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 0.4% during the second quarter. Red Mountain Financial LLC now owns 46,314 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,888,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New Hampshire Trust lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. New Hampshire Trust now owns 4,286 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $267,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 59.67% of the companys stock. Get iShares Gold Trust alerts: iShares Gold Trust News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting iShares Gold Trust this week: iShares Gold Trust Stock Down 0.7% iShares Gold Trust Company Profile Shares of NYSEARCA IAU opened at $81.17 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $78.88 and a 200 day moving average price of $71.15. The stock has a market cap of $66.89 billion, a PE ratio of 5.53 and a beta of 0.09. iShares Gold Trust has a 52-week low of $49.30 and a 52-week high of $85.68. (Free Report) iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. The sponsor of the Trust is iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (the Sponsor), which is an indirect subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc The trustee of the Trust is The Bank of New York Mellon (the Trustee) and the custodian of the Trust is JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., London branch (the Custodian). See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV Free Report) by 73.8% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 39,939 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 16,960 shares during the quarter. Summit Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in iShares Silver Trust were worth $1,692,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Center for Financial Planning Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares Silver Trust in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Silver Trust during the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Addison Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Silver Trust during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 37.6% in the 2nd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 1,105 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 302 shares during the period. Finally, Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH acquired a new position in shares of iShares Silver Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at about $38,000. Get iShares Silver Trust alerts: iShares Silver Trust News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting iShares Silver Trust this week: iShares Silver Trust Stock Performance About iShares Silver Trust Shares of NYSEARCA:SLV opened at $64.42 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $52.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $42.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.71 billion, a P/E ratio of -8.51 and a beta of 0.38. iShares Silver Trust has a 1 year low of $26.22 and a 1 year high of $71.22. (Free Report) iShares Silver Trust (the Trust) owns silver transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust. The Trusts each share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in its net assets. The assets of the Trust consist of silver held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. The activities of the Trust are limited to issuing baskets of shares in exchange for the silver deposited with the custodian as consideration, selling silver as necessary to cover the sponsors fee, Trust expenses not assumed by the sponsor and other liabilities, and delivering silver in exchange for baskets of shares surrendered for redemption. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SLV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Silver Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Silver Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Latitude Group Holdings Limited (ASX:LFSPA Get Free Report) announced a interim dividend on Thursday, January 1st, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 26th will be paid a dividend of 1.456 per share on Monday, January 26th. This represents a yield of 144.0%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 15th. Latitude Group Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 4.20, a current ratio of 4.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 467.69. Get Latitude Group alerts: About Latitude Group (Get Free Report) Further Reading Latitude Group Holdings Limited operates in digital payments, instalments, and lending business in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Australian and New Zealand Pay, Australia and New Zealand Money, and Other. It provides various lending products comprising latitude loans, personal loans, motor loans, and credit cards. The company offers debt consolidation, car, home renovation, travel, boat, caravan, medical, and solar and battery loans, as well as insurance services. Receive News & Ratings for Latitude Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Latitude Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC boosted its position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGM Free Report) by 7,006.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 204,668 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 201,788 shares during the quarter. iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF comprises 0.9% of SteelPeak Wealth LLCs holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest position. SteelPeak Wealth LLC owned approximately 0.28% of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF worth $25,778,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Comerica Bank increased its stake in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 7.6% in the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 10,462 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $949,000 after purchasing an additional 739 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP increased its position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 18.3% in the 1st quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 2,907 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $264,000 after acquiring an additional 449 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 10,340 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $938,000 after acquiring an additional 406 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,259,022 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $114,155,000 after acquiring an additional 37,750 shares during the period. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the first quarter worth $274,000. Get iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF alerts: iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Stock Performance Shares of IGM opened at $129.16 on Friday. iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF has a one year low of $76.26 and a one year high of $135.81. The stocks fifty day moving average is $130.11 and its 200-day moving average is $122.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.08 and a beta of 1.27. iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Profile iShares North American Tech ETF, formerly iShares S&P North American Technology Sector Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, of the United States-traded technology companies, as represented by the S&P North American Technology Sector Index (the Index). The Index has been developed as an equity benchmark for the United States-traded, technology-related stocks. The Fund generally invests at least 90% of its assets in securities of the Index and in depositary receipts representing securities of the Index. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IGM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Weaver Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 13.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 35,831 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 4,253 shares during the period. Weaver Capital Management LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $4,040,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Linscomb Wealth Inc. raised its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Linscomb Wealth Inc. now owns 389,769 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $42,017,000 after buying an additional 5,527 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 52.3% during the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 382,989 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $45,149,000 after acquiring an additional 131,600 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.3% during the third quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 306,658 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $34,576,000 after acquiring an additional 9,831 shares during the period. Capital Counsel LLC NY raised its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 0.9% during the second quarter. Capital Counsel LLC NY now owns 49,687 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,356,000 after acquiring an additional 460 shares during the period. Finally, OneAscent Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 116.7% in the 2nd quarter. OneAscent Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,657 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $825,000 after purchasing an additional 4,123 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Stock Down 0.5% NYSE:XOM opened at $120.36 on Friday. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a twelve month low of $97.80 and a twelve month high of $121.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $507.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.56 and a beta of 0.37. 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 stocks 50 day moving average price is $117.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $113.49. Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, June 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $57.55 billion during the quarter. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 8.99%. Equities research analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th were issued a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 14th. This is a positive change from Exxon Mobils previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. Exxon Mobils payout ratio is currently 59.88%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have issued reports on XOM. Barclays dropped their price target on Exxon Mobil from $127.00 to $126.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. BNP Paribas Exane raised Exxon Mobil from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $114.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Exxon Mobil from $115.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, September 13th. Finally, Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Friday, December 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and thirteen have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $129.45. Get Our Latest Stock Report on XOM Insider Transactions at Exxon Mobil In related news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 3,000 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction dated 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 in the company, valued at approximately $3,349,758.96. This trade represents a 9.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock. About Exxon Mobil (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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Watershed Private Wealth LLC reduced its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 72.0% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 22,118 shares of the companys stock after selling 57,010 shares during the quarter. Watershed Private Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $2,519,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Wedmont Private Capital increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 2,866 shares of the companys stock valued at $333,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. CW Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. CW Advisors LLC now owns 12,094 shares of the companys stock worth $1,355,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Copia Wealth Management grew its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 1.3% during the second quarter. Copia Wealth Management now owns 7,379 shares of the companys stock valued at $826,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. Beacon Bridge Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 0.3% during the second quarter. Beacon Bridge Wealth Partners LLC now owns 28,746 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,220,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the period. Finally, Visionary Wealth Advisors increased its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 0.5% during the second quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors now owns 20,867 shares of the companys stock worth $2,337,000 after buying an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Stock Performance Shares of EFG stock opened at $114.05 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $13.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.98 and a beta of 0.96. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 52 week low of $88.66 and a 52 week high of $113.16. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $114.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $112.77. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. The Fund invests in sectors, such as consumer staples, industrials, consumer discretionary, materials, healthcare, financials, information technology, energy, telecommunication services and utilities. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Scottish Mortgage (LON:SMT Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as GBX 1,197.50 and last traded at GBX 1,192.80, with a volume of 808888 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,186. Scottish Mortgage Stock Performance The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 1,121.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 1,097.27. The stock has a market cap of 13.04 billion, a PE ratio of 3.88 and a beta of 0.75. Get Scottish Mortgage alerts: Scottish Mortgage (LON:SMT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The company reported GBX 1.55 EPS for the quarter. Scottish Mortgage had a return on equity of 11.53% and a net margin of 94.48%. Insider Transactions at Scottish Mortgage About Scottish Mortgage In other news, insider Christopher Samuel bought 4,358 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 15th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 1,145 per share, for a total transaction of 49,899.10. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) Scottish Mortgage is a portfolio of what we believe are the worlds most exciting growth companies. We believe that a few exceptional companies will make a positive impact on shareholders returns and society as a whole. Explore our website and youll discover what we mean by investing in progress, how we find and support the companies shaping the future, and how you can be a part of it. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Scottish Mortgage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scottish Mortgage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deer Consumer Products Inc. (OTCMKTS:DEER Get Free Report)s share price crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.0001. Deer Consumer Products shares last traded at $0.00, with a volume of 0 shares changing hands. Deer Consumer Products Price Performance About Deer Consumer Products (Get Free Report) Deer Consumer Products, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of small home and kitchen electronic appliances. It offers blenders, juicers, soy milk makers, food processors, popcorn makers, meat grinders, coffee machines, and hot water kettles primarily under the Deer brand name, as well as under one store brand for retailer's private label programs. Deer Consumer Products also offers humidifiers and dehumidifiers, rice cookers, and toasters. The company sells its products to consumer product companies internationally; and to retail stores through agents in the People's Republic of China. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Deer Consumer Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deer Consumer Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RSM Australia has announced a new round of senior leadership changes for 2026, comprising partner and director appointments. The firm said the group includes three externally recruited leaders who have already joined, while eight roles are filled through internal advancement, with most of those changes effective from 1 January 2026. RSM Australia chief executive partner Robert Miano described the appointments as aligned with staffing development and business planning. Internal partner appointments include Jie Dong, appointed audit and assurance partner in Sydney, and Liam Telford, appointed tax technical Partner in Perth. Internal director appointments include Joel Ashworth as business advisory director in Brisbane; Tristan Hedley as tax advisory director across Brisbane and Sydney; Daniel O'Loughlin as business advisory director in Fremantle; and Claudia Youngman as the director in Canberra. Further internal director appointments are Louis Carney as tax advisory director in Brisbane and Stephanie Gudzoski as audit and assurance director in Melbourne. External hires include Eckard Bergh, who joined as audit and assurance partner in Sydney. Two director appointments have also been made through recruitment: Ben Carson as restructuring & insolvency director in Sydney and Shaun La Motte as business advisory director in Melbourne. Miano said: Supporting the career development of our internal staff is a key priority for the firm, and its pleasing to see talented team members rewarded and recognised within the business. Four of the 11 leaders promoted started their careers as graduates with RSM and are now an integral part of our Audit & Assurance, International Tax & Transfer Pricing and Business Advisory teams. He also referred to the firms approach to hiring from outside the business. The recruitment of Eckard Bergh from RSM South Africa, with 17 years experience with an RSM firm, and the internal promotion of Jie Dong demonstrates our strategic investment in the Sydney market and highlights our commitment to developing talent within both the Australian practice and our extensive international pool of experts. RSM said the internal promotions include three tax specialists: Liam Telford, Louis Carney and Tristan Hedley. "RSM Australia confirms new senior appointments for 2026" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. AdvanSix (NYSE:ASIX Get Free Report) and NewMarket (NYSE:NEU Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, profitability, valuation, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations. Risk & Volatility AdvanSix has a beta of 1.7, suggesting that its share price is 70% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, NewMarket has a beta of 0.49, suggesting that its share price is 51% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get AdvanSix alerts: Dividends AdvanSix pays an annual dividend of $0.64 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.6%. NewMarket pays an annual dividend of $12.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.7%. AdvanSix pays out 33.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. NewMarket pays out 25.4% 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. AdvanSix has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years and NewMarket has increased its dividend for 7 consecutive years. Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio AdvanSix $1.52 billion 0.31 $44.15 million $1.92 9.14 NewMarket $2.79 billion 2.34 $462.41 million $47.33 14.63 This table compares AdvanSix and NewMarkets gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. NewMarket has higher revenue and earnings than AdvanSix. AdvanSix is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than NewMarket, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider & Institutional Ownership 86.4% of AdvanSix shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 61.1% of NewMarket shares are held by institutional investors. 5.6% of AdvanSix shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 19.1% of NewMarket shares 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. Profitability This table compares AdvanSix and NewMarkets net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets AdvanSix 3.52% 7.14% 3.50% NewMarket 16.33% 28.53% 14.02% Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings for AdvanSix and NewMarket, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score AdvanSix 1 0 1 0 2.00 NewMarket 0 0 1 0 3.00 AdvanSix presently has a consensus target price of $33.50, suggesting a potential upside of 90.99%. Given AdvanSixs higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe AdvanSix is more favorable than NewMarket. Summary NewMarket beats AdvanSix on 12 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About AdvanSix (Get Free Report) AdvanSix Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of polymer resins in the United States and internationally. It offers Nylon 6, a polymer resin, which is a synthetic material used to produce fibers, filaments, engineered plastics, and films. The company also provides caprolactam to manufacture polymer resins; ammonium sulfate fertilizers to distributors, farm cooperatives, and retailers; and acetone that are used in the production of adhesives, paints, coatings, solvents, herbicides, and engineered plastic resins, as well as other intermediate chemicals, including phenol, monoisopropylamine, dipropylamine, monoallylamine, alpha-methylstyrene, cyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketoxime, acetaldehyde oxime, 2-pentanone oxime, cyclohexanol, sulfuric acid, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. It offers its products under the Aegis, Capran, Sulf-N, Nadone, Naxol, and EZ-Blox brands. The company sells its products directly, as well as through distributors. AdvanSix Inc. was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey. About NewMarket (Get Free Report) NewMarket Corporation, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the manufacture and sale of petroleum additives. The company offers lubricant additives for use in various vehicle and industrial applications, including engine oils, transmission fluids, off-road powertrain and hydraulic systems, gear oils, hydraulic oils, turbine oils, and other applications where metal-to-metal moving parts are utilized; engine oil additives designed for passenger cars, motorcycles, on and off-road heavy duty commercial equipment, locomotives, and engines in ocean-going vessels; driveline additives designed for products, such as transmission fluids, axle fluids, and off-road powertrain fluids; and industrial additives designed for products for industrial applications consisting of hydraulic fluids, grease, industrial gear fluids, and industrial specialty applications, such as turbine oils. It also provides fuel additives that are used to enhance the oil refining process and the performance of gasoline, diesel, biofuels, and other fuels to industry, government, original equipment manufacturers, and individual customers. In addition, the company engages in the marketing of antiknock compounds, as well as contracted manufacturing and services activities; and owns and manages a real property in Virginia. It operates in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India. NewMarket Corporation was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Receive News & Ratings for AdvanSix Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AdvanSix and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust (NYSEARCA:FXC Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be given a dividend of 0.0071 per share by the exchange traded fund on Thursday, January 8th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 2nd. Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust Stock Down 0.2% Shares of FXC opened at $71.18 on Friday. Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust has a twelve month low of $66.52 and a twelve month high of $72.21. The company has a 50 day moving average of $70.22 and a 200-day moving average of $70.61. Get Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust alerts: Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Guggenheim CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust, formerly CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust, is a grantor trust. The Trust issues shares (the Shares) in blocks of 50,000 (a Basket) in exchange for deposits of Canadian dollars and distributes Canadian dollars in connection with the redemption of Baskets. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price of Canadian Dollars. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the Trustee. The Trusts sponsor is Rydex Specialized Products LLC, which is doing business as Rydex Investments. Receive News & Ratings for Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE:ORI Get Free Report)s share price gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $45.64, but opened at $42.85. Old Republic International shares last traded at $42.7140, with a volume of 58,395 shares traded. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades ORI has been the topic of several recent research reports. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Old Republic International from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $43.00 to $47.00 in a report on Monday, September 22nd. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (a) rating on shares of Old Republic International in a research note on Wednesday, December 24th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their target price on Old Republic International from $46.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has issued a Buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Strong Buy and an average target price of $49.00. Get Old Republic International alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Old Republic International Old Republic International Stock Down 5.8% The company has a market capitalization of $10.64 billion, a PE ratio of 14.39 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 0.26. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $43.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $40.83. Old Republic International (NYSE:ORI Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The insurance provider reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $2.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.28 billion. Old Republic International had a net margin of 9.53% and a return on equity of 17.11%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Old Republic International Corporation will post 3.17 EPS for the current fiscal year. Old Republic International Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a $2.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. Old Republic Internationals dividend payout ratio is 38.80%. Insider Activity In other Old Republic International news, SVP Carolyn Monroe sold 6,680 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.54, for a total transaction of $297,527.20. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 29,075 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,295,000.50. This trade represents a 18.68% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Therace Risch bought 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $39.14 per share, with a total value of $39,140.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 10,625 shares in the company, valued at approximately $415,862.50. This represents a 10.39% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Old Republic International Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ORI. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Old Republic International during the third quarter worth $27,000. Clearstead Trust LLC grew its position in shares of Old Republic International by 65.6% during the 3rd quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 727 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 288 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its stake in Old Republic International by 6,645.5% during the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 742 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 731 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Old Republic International in the second quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Core Alternative Capital acquired a new position in Old Republic International in the third quarter valued at approximately $42,000. 70.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Old Republic International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Old Republic International Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the insurance underwriting and related services business primarily in the United States and Canada. It operates through three segments: General Insurance, Title Insurance, and Republic Financial Indemnity Group Run-off Business. The General Insurance segment offers aviation, commercial auto, commercial multi-peril, commercial property, general liability, home and auto warranty, inland marine, travel accident, and workers' compensation insurance products; and financial indemnity products for specialty coverages, including errors and omissions, fidelity, directors and officers, and surety. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Old Republic International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Old Republic International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM Get Free Report) was the target of unusually large options trading on Friday. Stock investors acquired 2,325 put options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 144% compared to the average daily volume of 954 put options. Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance Shares of NYSE WSM traded up $9.26 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $187.85. The stock had a trading volume of 519,400 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,128,783. The company has a market capitalization of $22.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 1.55. Williams-Sonoma has a 12-month low of $130.07 and a 12-month high of $219.98. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $186.03 and a 200-day moving average of $186.76. Get Williams-Sonoma alerts: Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The specialty retailer reported $1.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.09. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 14.30% and a return on equity of 53.10%. The company had revenue of $1.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.86 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.96 EPS. Williams-Sonomas revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Williams-Sonoma will post 8.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement Insider Transactions at Williams-Sonoma The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 20th. Investors of record on Friday, January 16th will be issued a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 16th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Williams-Sonomas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.04%. In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 17,839 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.51, for a total transaction of $3,184,439.89. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 859,088 shares of the companys stock, valued at $153,355,798.88. This trade represents a 2.03% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Williams-Sonoma Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of WSM. Ethic Inc. raised its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 153.7% during the second quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 12,279 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $2,016,000 after purchasing an additional 7,439 shares during the period. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 54.9% during the 2nd quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC now owns 24,245 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $3,961,000 after buying an additional 8,592 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 8.0% during the 2nd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 816,176 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $133,029,000 after buying an additional 60,163 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 44.9% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,256,734 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $205,317,000 after acquiring an additional 389,548 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nvwm LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 918.6% in the second quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 5,093 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $832,000 after acquiring an additional 4,593 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have issued reports on WSM shares. UBS Group set a $175.00 target price on Williams-Sonoma and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $202.00 to $188.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research report on Monday. Telsey Advisory Group reduced their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $225.00 to $220.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $198.71. Read Our Latest Research Report on WSM Williams-Sonoma Company Profile (Get Free Report) Williams?Sonoma, Inc is a specialty retailer focused on the home and culinary markets, best known for premium cookware, kitchen tools and home furnishings. The company traces its roots to a single cookware store founded by Chuck Williams in 1956 in Sonoma, California, and has evolved into a multi?brand home furnishings and housewares business. Its merchandise mix spans cookware and kitchen electrics, tabletop and food prep items, furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative accessories designed for both everyday use and higher?end interiors. The company operates a portfolio of consumer brands that target distinct segments of the home market. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Williams-Sonoma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams-Sonoma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ASM International NV (OTCMKTS:ASMIY Get Free Report)s share price was up 8.5% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $655.0440 and last traded at $654.7350. Approximately 628 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 89% from the average daily volume of 5,723 shares. The stock had previously closed at $603.43. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of ASM International from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 23rd. Rothschild Redb cut shares of ASM International from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of ASM International in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of ASM International in a research report on Wednesday, September 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy. Get ASM International alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on ASMIY ASM International Trading Up 7.7% The companys 50-day moving average is $603.21 and its 200 day moving average is $575.55. The firm has a market cap of $31.90 billion, a PE ratio of 35.96 and a beta of 1.87. ASM International (OTCMKTS:ASMIY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $4.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.74 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $932.68 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $814.93 million. ASM International had a net margin of 24.50% and a return on equity of 21.55%. On average, research analysts predict that ASM International NV will post 14.46 EPS for the current fiscal year. About ASM International (Get Free Report) ASM International (OTCMKTS: ASMIY) is a Netherlands-based supplier of wafer processing equipment for the global semiconductor industry. The company develops and manufactures systems used in the deposition and formation of thin films on semiconductor wafers, with a strong reputation for atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. Its equipment is used in the production of advanced logic, memory, power devices and related semiconductor components where precise control of film thickness and composition is critical. ASMs product portfolio centers on deposition and epitaxy platforms that support a range of process chemistries and materials, including ALD and other chemical vapor deposition techniques. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for ASM International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ASM International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR Get Free Report) shot up 9.5% on Friday . The company traded as high as $14.76 and last traded at $15.5170. Approximately 2,209,912 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 90% from the average daily volume of 21,748,956 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.17. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have issued reports on SMR. Wall Street Zen downgraded NuScale Power from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on NuScale Power in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. They set an overweight rating and a $55.00 target price for the company. Citigroup restated a sell rating and set a $37.50 target price (down from $46.00) on shares of NuScale Power in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of NuScale Power in a report on Monday, September 29th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $45.00 price target for the company. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of NuScale Power from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Reduce and an average target price of $35.18. Get NuScale Power alerts: Read Our Latest Report on NuScale Power NuScale Power Stock Up 9.1% The firm has a fifty day moving average of $23.44 and a 200-day moving average of $34.24. The firm has a market cap of $4.62 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.43 and a beta of 2.12. NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported ($1.85) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.11) by ($1.74). NuScale Power had a negative net margin of 594.63% and a negative return on equity of 51.27%. The firm had revenue of $8.24 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.29 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.18) earnings per share. NuScale Powers quarterly revenue was up 1635.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that NuScale Power Corporation will post -0.73 EPS for the current year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other NuScale Power news, Director Corp Fluor sold 854,033 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, October 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.41, for a total transaction of $36,219,539.53. Following the transaction, the director owned 908,761 shares in the company, valued at $38,540,554.01. This trade represents a 48.45% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Robert Ramsey Hamady sold 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.17, for a total value of $886,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 46,283 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,026,094.11. This trade represents a 46.36% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 1,802,794 shares of company stock worth $73,978,047. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of NuScale Power A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CX Institutional acquired a new position in NuScale Power in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Nemes Rush Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of NuScale Power in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Strategic Advocates LLC bought a new position in NuScale Power in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. raised its holdings in NuScale Power by 84.5% in the 2nd quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 784 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 359 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management Co acquired a new stake in NuScale Power during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.37% of the companys stock. NuScale Power Company Profile (Get Free Report) NuScale Power Corporation, trading on the NYSE American under the ticker SMR, is a pioneering developer of small modular nuclear reactors. Established in 2007 as a spinout from Oregon State University, the company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. NuScales mission is to deliver zero-carbon baseload power through scalable modular reactor technology, aiming to transform traditional nuclear energy deployment. At the core of NuScales offering is the VOYGR small modular reactor design, featuring 77-megawatt electric (MWe) modules with passive safety systems. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for NuScale Power Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NuScale Power and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Airlines Group, Joby Aviation, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Air Lease, and Alaska Air Group are the seven Airline stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Airline stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that operate commercial air transportation; owning them gives investors partial ownership and a claim on the airlines profits and losses. These stocks are often cyclical and volatile, sensitive to factors like fuel prices, passenger demand, economic conditions, labor and regulatory issues, and fleet or capacity decisions, so investors typically treat them as higher-risk, sector-specific exposure to travel demand. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Airline stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: American Airlines Group (AAL) American Airlines Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a network air carrier. The company provides scheduled air transportation services for passengers and cargo through its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., as well as through partner gateways in London, Doha, Madrid, Seattle/Tacoma, Sydney, and Tokyo. Joby Aviation (JOBY) Joby Aviation, Inc., a vertically integrated air mobility company, engages in building an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft optimized to deliver air transportation as a service. The company intends to build an aerial ridesharing service, as well as developing an application-based platform that will enable consumers to book rides. Read Our Latest Research Report on JOBY United Airlines (UAL) United Airlines Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. The company transports people and cargo through its mainline and regional fleets. It also offers catering, ground handling, flight academy, and maintenance services for third parties. Read Our Latest Research Report on UAL Delta Air Lines (DAL) Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. Read Our Latest Research Report on DAL Southwest Airlines (LUV) Southwest Airlines Co. operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a total fleet of 817 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos. Read Our Latest Research Report on LUV Air Lease (AL) Air Lease Corporation, an aircraft leasing company, engages in the purchase and leasing of commercial jet aircraft to airlines worldwide. It sells aircraft from its fleet to third parties, including other leasing companies, financial services companies, airlines, and other investors. The company provides fleet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios. Read Our Latest Research Report on AL Alaska Air Group (ALK) Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing jet aircraft for passengers and cargo in the United States, and in parts of Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and the Bahamas; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Read Our Latest Research Report on ALK Recommended Stories iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA:EWY Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as $101.74 and last traded at $101.3960, with a volume of 1899697 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $97.22. iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Stock Up 4.4% The firms 50-day moving average price is $93.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.03. The firm has a market cap of $7.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.35 and a beta of 1.22. Get iShares MSCI South Korea ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Banque Transatlantique SA purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF in the first quarter worth approximately $25,000. CWM LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 328.8% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 596 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 457 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI raised its stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 103.9% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 579 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF in the second quarter valued at about $76,000. Finally, Private Wealth Management Group LLC increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 83.3% during the second quarter. Private Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 1,320 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $95,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the period. 49.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI South Korea Capped ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Market Division of the Korean Exchange. The Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization weighted index with a capping methodology applied to issuer weights so that no issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the Index weight and all issuers with weight above 5% do not exceed 50% of the Index weight. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI South Korea ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SGS SA (OTCMKTS:SGSOY Get Free Report)s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $11.39, but opened at $11.00. SGS shares last traded at $11.4425, with a volume of 5,077 shares trading hands. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded SGS from a strong sell rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of SGS from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of SGS in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy. Get SGS alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on SGS SGS Stock Performance About SGS The stock has a 50-day moving average of $11.25 and a 200 day moving average of $10.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.83, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.01. (Get Free Report) SGS SA is a Switzerland-based multinational company that provides inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Established in the late 19th century, SGS has grown into a global provider of conformity assessment services that help businesses manage risk, ensure quality and meet regulatory requirements across product lifecycles and supply chains. The companys services are designed to verify that products, systems and processes meet specified standards and customer expectations. Core activities include laboratory testing, on-site inspections, certification of management systems and product conformity, supply chain audits and technical verification. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for SGS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SGS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lenovo Group Ltd. (OTCMKTS:LNVGY Get Free Report)s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $23.69, but opened at $24.88. Lenovo Group shares last traded at $24.50, with a volume of 6,567 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Lenovo Group from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Lenovo Group alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Lenovo Group Lenovo Group Stock Up 3.6% The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $26.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.05. The stock has a market cap of $15.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.06, a P/E/G ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.96. Lenovo Group (OTCMKTS:LNVGY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The technology company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $20.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.09 billion. Lenovo Group had a net margin of 2.17% and a return on equity of 28.15%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Lenovo Group Ltd. will post 2.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Lenovo Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Lenovo Group is a multinational technology company known primarily for the design, manufacture and sale of personal computers, servers, storage and smart devices. Its product portfolio spans consumer and commercial PCs (notable brands include ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Yoga and Legion), workstations, enterprise-class ThinkSystem servers and storage, as well as tablets, smartphones (notably through its Motorola Mobility acquisition), smart home devices and related software. Lenovo also provides IT services and solutions, including systems integration, managed services and lifecycle support for enterprise customers. The company traces its origins to 1984 when it was founded in Beijing as Legend by Liu Chuanzhi; it later adopted the Lenovo name and expanded through a series of strategic acquisitions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Lenovo Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lenovo Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is among the Best Performing Quantum Computing Stocks in 2025. On December 23, RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) announced that its Raytheon has been awarded a new contract from Spain to supply four Patriot air and missile defense systems. The contract is worth $1.7 billion. Management noted that this makes the largest Patriot order, which also includes radars, launchers, command-and-control stations, and training equipment. Moreover, the company also collaborated with Spanish firms, including Sener, for GEM-T missile components as part of the companys Patriot global supply chain network. Management also highlighted that Patriot is the foundational air defense system of 19 countries, and this order from Spain comes as Germany, the Netherlands, and Romania placed orders for the defense system earlier during the year. Recently, on December 19, Raytheon was awarded a $168 million contract to deliver Patriot air and missile defense systems to Romania. In other news, on December 19, RTX Corporations (NYSE:RTX) Raytheon announced securing a contract from the US Air Force to install its PhantomStrike radar on the X-62A VISTA. X-62A VISTA is a testbed aircraft, which is used for autonomous flight testing with AI and machine learning integration. Management noted that PhantomStrike is a first-of-its-kind compact fire-control radar weighing under 150 pounds. The radar offers digital beamforming, multimode operations, and interleaved air/ground targeting at about half the cost of comparable radars. That said, Wall Street is also bullish on RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX). Recently, on December 19, Seth Seifman from J.P. Morgan reiterated a Buy rating on the stock and raised the price target from $195 to $200. Earlier, on December 12, John Godyn initiated the stock with a Buy rating and a $211 price target. RTX Corporation operates through three segments, including Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its quantum computing operations are led by RTXs BBN Technologies, focus on developing quantum algorithms for optimization and physics simulations, quantum control with superconducting qubits, and quantum photonic sensors for enhanced precision in defense applications. While we acknowledge the potential of RTX 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. Shares of iShares MSCI Spain ETF (NYSEARCA:EWP Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 500,394 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 4% from the previous sessions volume of 523,171 shares.The stock last traded at $54.5860 and had previously closed at $53.91. iShares MSCI Spain ETF Trading Up 1.2% The firm has a fifty day moving average of $51.89 and a 200 day moving average of $48.58. The company has a market capitalization of $1.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.89 and a beta of 0.86. Get iShares MSCI Spain ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Spain ETF Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 118.4% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 75,389 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,732,000 after buying an additional 40,867 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Spain ETF in the third quarter worth $203,000. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd increased its position in iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 66,186.4% during the third quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 43,749 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,166,000 after acquiring an additional 43,683 shares during the last quarter. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI Spain ETF in the third quarter valued at about $2,035,000. Finally, Mariner LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 4.8% in the third quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 25,840 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,279,000 after acquiring an additional 1,182 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 38.17% of the companys stock. iShares MSCI Spain ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Spain 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 Spanish market, as measured by the MSCI Spain Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Spanish equity market. It is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Spain ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Spain ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Hapoalim (OTCMKTS:BKHYY Get Free Report) shares gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $118.00, but opened at $114.07. Bank Hapoalim shares last traded at $118.98, with a volume of 480 shares traded. Bank Hapoalim Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of $30.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.82 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $109.51 and a 200 day moving average of $100.07. Get Bank Hapoalim alerts: Bank Hapoalim (OTCMKTS:BKHYY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 20th. The bank reported $2.68 earnings per share for the quarter. Bank Hapoalim had a net margin of 21.60% and a return on equity of 14.60%. The company had revenue of $1.99 billion during the quarter. Bank Hapoalim Cuts Dividend About Bank Hapoalim The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.9362 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 266.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. Bank Hapoalims dividend payout ratio is presently 38.62%. (Get Free Report) Bank Hapoalim B.M. is one of Israels largest banking groups, providing a broad range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional customers. Founded in 1921 by the Histadrut labor federation, the bank has developed into a full-service financial institution offering deposit accounts, consumer and mortgage lending, credit cards, payment services, and branch-based retail banking. It also serves small and medium-sized enterprises with working capital and trade finance solutions. In addition to traditional retail banking, Bank Hapoalim operates significant corporate and investment banking divisions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank Hapoalim Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank Hapoalim and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Central Securities Co. (NYSE:CET Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 49,406 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 63% from the previous sessions volume of 30,252 shares.The stock last traded at $50.8450 and had previously closed at $50.71. Central Securities Price Performance The businesss 50 day moving average is $50.41 and its 200-day moving average is $49.81. Get Central Securities alerts: Central Securities Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were given a dividend of $2.45 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a yield of 1,003.0%. Institutional Trading of Central Securities About Central Securities Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Central Securities in the 3rd quarter valued at about $214,000. Bulldog Investors LLP increased its holdings in Central Securities by 4.9% in the third quarter. Bulldog Investors LLP now owns 386,046 shares of the companys stock worth $19,831,000 after purchasing an additional 17,962 shares in the last quarter. Chilton Investment Co. Inc. lifted its stake in Central Securities by 1.0% in the third quarter. Chilton Investment Co. Inc. now owns 102,254 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,253,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Central Securities by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 312,216 shares of the companys stock worth $16,039,000 after buying an additional 6,912 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Central Securities by 5.9% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 18,353 shares of the companys stock worth $943,000 after buying an additional 1,020 shares in the last quarter. 8.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. (Get Free Report) Central Securities Corporation (NYSE: CET) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that has operated since its incorporation in 1927. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the company offers investors access to a blend of equity and fixed-income strategies within a single vehicle. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Central Securities seeks to deliver total return through a combination of dividend income and capital appreciation. The companys investment strategy emphasizes a core allocation to U.S. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Central Securities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Central Securities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (NYSEARCA:PCY Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Friday . 759,589 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 151% from the previous sessions volume of 302,829 shares.The stock last traded at $21.6650 and had previously closed at $21.66. Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Price Performance The firm has a 50 day moving average of $21.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of $21.24. Get Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 22,132,281 shares of the companys stock worth $477,172,000 after acquiring an additional 898,078 shares during the last quarter. Man Group plc bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF during the third quarter worth about $7,183,000. Jane Street Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 231.0% during the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 403,322 shares of the companys stock worth $8,240,000 after purchasing an additional 281,455 shares during the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $5,939,000. Finally, Financial & Tax Architects LLC bought a new position in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $4,950,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.00% of the companys stock. About Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF The Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (PCY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund tracks a tier-weighted index of US-dollar-denominated sovereign debt in emerging markets with at least 3 years to maturity. PCY was launched on Oct 11, 2007 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Endeavour Silver Corporation (NYSE:EXK Get Free Report) (TSE:EDR)s share price fell 6.7% on Friday . The company traded as low as $8.84 and last traded at $8.7660. 6,950,959 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 50% from the average session volume of 13,944,776 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.40. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently commented on EXK. CIBC raised shares of Endeavour Silver from a neutral rating to a sector outperform rating and set a $16.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, November 3rd. B. Riley boosted their target price on Endeavour Silver from $7.00 to $11.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating on shares of Endeavour Silver in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Endeavour Silver in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Endeavour Silver from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Endeavour Silver presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $12.67. Get Endeavour Silver alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Endeavour Silver Endeavour Silver Stock Down 5.7% The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $8.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $7.03. The company has a market cap of $2.62 billion, a P/E ratio of -26.01 and a beta of 1.32. Endeavour Silver (NYSE:EXK Get Free Report) (TSE:EDR) last issued its earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The mining company reported ($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.05 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $111.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $162.05 million. Endeavour Silver had a negative net margin of 31.18% and a negative return on equity of 1.34%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Endeavour Silver Corporation will post -0.07 EPS for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Endeavour Silver A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EXK. ORG Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Endeavour Silver during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Endeavour Silver in the second quarter valued at about $41,000. Centric Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Endeavour Silver during the second quarter worth about $60,000. Andina Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Endeavour Silver in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $89,000. Finally, Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd acquired a new stake in Endeavour Silver in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $92,000. 20.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Endeavour Silver (Get Free Report) Endeavour Silver Corp. is a Vancouver-based precious metals mining company focused on the acquisition, development and operation of silver and gold properties in Mexico. Publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker EXK, the company has positioned itself as a mid-tier producer with a portfolio of high-grade, operating mines and exploration assets in key mineral belts. Endeavour Silvers core business activities revolve around four principal underground mines located in the states of Durango, Zacatecas, Guanajuato and Jalisco. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Endeavour Silver Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Endeavour Silver and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. (NYSE:ITUB Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 2nd will be given a dividend of 0.0032 per share by the bank on Monday, August 10th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 2nd. Itau Unibanco has decreased its dividend by an average of 0.1%annually over the last three years. Itau Unibanco has a dividend payout ratio of 3.7% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Itau Unibanco to earn $0.87 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.03 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 3.4%. Get Itau Unibanco alerts: Itau Unibanco Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:ITUB traded up $0.11 during trading on Friday, hitting $7.27. 5,296,000 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 17,702,362. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $7.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.84. Itau Unibanco has a 52-week low of $4.29 and a 52-week high of $7.89. The company has a market cap of $80.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a quick ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.33. Institutional Trading of Itau Unibanco About Itau Unibanco Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Oaktree Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of Itau Unibanco by 58.5% in the second quarter. Oaktree Capital Management LP now owns 11,004,494 shares of the banks stock valued at $74,721,000 after buying an additional 4,063,482 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning increased its stake in Itau Unibanco by 65.3% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 161,847 shares of the banks stock worth $1,099,000 after buying an additional 63,920 shares during the period. USS Investment Management Ltd lifted its holdings in Itau Unibanco by 10.0% in the 1st quarter. USS Investment Management Ltd now owns 2,778,562 shares of the banks stock worth $15,268,000 after buying an additional 252,596 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its position in Itau Unibanco by 3,590.6% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 4,318 shares of the banks stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 4,201 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Itau Unibanco during the second quarter valued at about $4,586,000. (Get Free Report) Itau Unibanco SA (NYSE: ITUB) is a Brazilian banking and financial services conglomerate headquartered in Sao Paulo. The company was formed by the merger of Banco Itau and Unibanco in 2008 and is one of the largest private-sector banks in Brazil and among the leading banks in Latin America. Itau Unibanco is publicly listed in Brazil and maintains an international listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The bank offers a full range of financial products and services across retail, commercial and wholesale banking. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Itau Unibanco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Itau Unibanco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust plc (LON:BGEU Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as GBX 109 and last traded at GBX 109, with a volume of 598380 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 108.50. Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust Stock Up 0.5% The company has a market capitalization of 335.31 million, a P/E ratio of -7.19 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 106.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 104.37. Get Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust alerts: Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust (LON:BGEU Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 9th. The company reported GBX 0.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust had a return on equity of 12.17% and a net margin of 96.85%. Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust Company Profile The European Investment Trust plc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Edinburgh Partners AIFM Limited. The fund is co-managed by Edinburgh Partners Limited. It invests in public equity markets of Europe, excluding the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It primarily invests in value stocks of companies. The fund employs fundamental analysis with a bottom-up stock selection approach, focusing on companies which seek to benefit from restructuring, cost cutting, and other profitability improvements to create its portfolio. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alfa Laval AB Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ALFVY Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Friday . 97,471 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 307% from the previous sessions volume of 23,924 shares.The stock last traded at $50.81 and had previously closed at $50.2350. Analysts Set New Price Targets ALFVY has been the topic of several analyst reports. Zacks Research upgraded Alfa Laval from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Alfa Laval in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Alfa Laval in a report on Monday, December 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating on shares of Alfa Laval in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Barclays restated an overweight rating on shares of Alfa Laval in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Alfa Laval alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on ALFVY Alfa Laval Stock Performance Alfa Laval Company Profile The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The firm has a market cap of $20.96 billion, a PE ratio of 25.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.22. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $48.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.08. (Get Free Report) Alfa Laval is an industrial engineering company specializing in heat transfer, separation and fluid handling technologies. Its product portfolio includes plate and tubular heat exchangers, separators and decanter centrifuges, pumps, valves and complete process systems designed to control temperature, separate liquids and solids, and move fluids reliably through industrial processes. The company supplies both standardized components and engineered systems for integration into customer plants and vessels. The company serves a broad set of end markets including energy and power, marine and offshore, food and beverage processing, water and wastewater treatment, chemical and pharmaceutical production, and pulp and paper. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Alfa Laval Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alfa Laval and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lithium Americas (Argentina) Corp. (TSE:LAR Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$8.18 and last traded at C$8.18, with a volume of 302129 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$7.66. Lithium Americas (Argentina) Stock Up 6.5% The companys 50-day moving average price is C$6.83 and its 200-day moving average price is C$5.21. The firm has a market cap of C$1.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -16.32 and a beta of 2.06. Get Lithium Americas (Argentina) alerts: Lithium Americas (Argentina) (TSE:LAR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 10th. The company reported C($0.40) earnings per share for the quarter. Lithium Americas (Argentina) Company Profile Lithium Argentina is an emerging producer of lithium carbonate for use primarily in lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles. The Company, in partnership with Ganfeng operates the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine operation in the Jujuy province of Argentina and advancing the PPG Project in the Salta province of Argentina. Lithium Argentina currently trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange ( TSX ) and the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE ) under the ticker LAR. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Lithium Americas (Argentina) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lithium Americas (Argentina) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wienerberger AG (OTCMKTS:WBRBY Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $6.49 and traded as high as $7.3340. Wienerberger shares last traded at $7.1955, with a volume of 2,444 shares. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, UBS Group started coverage on Wienerberger in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a neutral rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Wienerberger alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on WBRBY Wienerberger Price Performance Wienerberger Company Profile The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $6.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.76. (Get Free Report) Wienerberger AG is a leading international supplier of building materials and infrastructure solutions, headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The company specializes in clay blocks and facing bricks, as well as concrete and plastic pipe systems for water management and energy distribution. Wienerbergers products are designed to meet a wide range of architectural and engineering requirements, combining durability with energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal. In its brick division, Wienerberger offers a variety of clay brick formats under well-known brands, catering to both residential and commercial construction. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wienerberger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wienerberger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. By Heekyong Yang and Hyunjoo Jin SEOUL, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) customers have praised the differentiated competitiveness of its next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, or HBM4, saying "Samsung is back", co-CEO and chip chief Jun Young-hyun said in a New Year address. In October, Samsung said it was in "close discussion" to supply its HBM4 to U.S. artificial intelligence leader Nvidia (NVDA), as the South Korean chipmaker scrambles to catch rivals including compatriot SK Hynix in AI chips. "On HBM4 in particular, customers have even stated that 'Samsung is back'," Jun said in remarks reviewed by Reuters, adding that the company still had work to do to further improve competitiveness. SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung said in New Year remarks reviewed by Reuters that the company benefited from favourable external conditions as demand for artificial-intelligence chips materialised faster than expected. He said competition was intensifying rapidly, noting that AI demand was now a given rather than an upside surprise, and that the business environment in 2026 would be tougher than last year, while stressing that the need for continued bolder investment and effort to prepare for the future. SK Hynix was the leading player in the HBM market in the third quarter of 2025 with a 53% share, followed by Samsung at 35% and Micron at 11%, data from Counterpoint Research showed. Shares of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix (000660.KS) ended up 7.2% and 4%, respectively, on the first trading day of the year, hitting record highs and outperforming the benchmark KOSPIs 2.3% gain. Turning to the foundry business, which manufactures chips designed by customers, Samsung's Jun said recent supply deals with major global customers had left the foundry business "primed for a great leap forward." In July, Samsung Electronics signed a $16.5 billion deal with Tesla (TSLA). Sign up for the Yahoo Finance Morning Brief By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Subscribe In a separate address, Samsung Electronics' co-CEO TM Roh, who also heads the company's device experience division overseeing its mobile phone, TV and home appliance businesses, said 2026 was likely to bring greater uncertainty and risks, citing rising component prices and global tariff barriers. "To position ourselves to maintain a competitive advantage in any situation, we will reinforce our core competitiveness through proactive supply chain diversification and optimisation of global operations to address issues like component sourcing and pricing, and global tariff risks," Roh said. (Reporting by Heekyong Yang and Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Christopher Cushing and Kate Mayberry) UiPath, Inc. (NYSE:PATH Get Free Report) CEO Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.38, for a total value of $737,100.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 28,433,585 shares of the companys stock, valued at $465,742,122.30. This represents a 0.16% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Daniel Dines also recently made the following trade(s): Get UiPath alerts: On Wednesday, December 31st, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.55, for a total transaction of $744,750.00. On Monday, December 29th, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.44, for a total transaction of $739,800.00. On Friday, December 26th, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.90, for a total transaction of $760,500.00. On Wednesday, December 24th, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.91, for a total transaction of $760,950.00. On Monday, December 22nd, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.49, for a total value of $742,050.00. On Friday, December 19th, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.07, for a total value of $723,150.00. On Wednesday, December 17th, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.11, for a total value of $724,950.00. On Monday, December 15th, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.30, for a total transaction of $778,500.00. On Friday, December 12th, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.91, for a total transaction of $805,950.00. On Wednesday, December 10th, Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares of UiPath stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.61, for a total value of $837,450.00. UiPath Price Performance Shares of PATH stock traded down $0.53 on Friday, reaching $15.87. 44,030,495 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 28,140,886. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $15.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $13.62. The stock has a market cap of $8.48 billion, a PE ratio of 37.77, a P/E/G ratio of 4.95 and a beta of 1.08. UiPath, Inc. has a one year low of $9.38 and a one year high of $19.84. Institutional Inflows and Outflows UiPath ( NYSE:PATH Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 3rd. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $411.11 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $392.46 million. UiPath had a return on equity of 3.73% and a net margin of 14.79%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.11 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that UiPath, Inc. will post -0.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Mirabella Financial Services LLP acquired a new stake in shares of UiPath in the third quarter valued at about $157,000. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in shares of UiPath by 166.0% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 21,989 shares of the companys stock worth $294,000 after purchasing an additional 13,723 shares in the last quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of UiPath by 72.5% in the 3rd quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 19,369 shares of the companys stock valued at $259,000 after buying an additional 8,141 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Advocates LLC grew its stake in shares of UiPath by 2.5% in the third quarter. Strategic Advocates LLC now owns 58,483 shares of the companys stock valued at $783,000 after buying an additional 1,446 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in UiPath in the third quarter valued at $14,114,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently commented on PATH shares. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of UiPath in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. DA Davidson lifted their price target on shares of UiPath from $12.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on UiPath from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on UiPath from $15.00 to $19.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on UiPath from $12.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $16.00. Read Our Latest Stock Report on PATH About UiPath (Get Free Report) UiPath Inc provides an end-to-end automation platform that offers a range of robotic process automation (RPA) solutions primarily in the United States, Romania, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company offers a suite of interrelated software to build, manage, run, engage, measure, and govern automation within the organization. Its platform's embedded AI, ML, and NLP capabilities improve decisioning and information processing; emulate human behavior allows organizations to address a myriad of use cases; emulate human behavior allows organizations to address a myriad of use cases; multi-tenant platform enterprise deployment with security and governance and Automation Cloud, which enables customers to begin automating without the need to provision infrastructure, install applications, or perform additional configurations; intuitive interface and low-code, drag-and-drop functionality; signed to enable people and automations to work together; and tracks, measures, and forecasts the performance of automations, enables customers to gain powerful insights and generate key performance indicators with actionable metric. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for UiPath Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UiPath and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:LQD Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Friday. Stock investors purchased 98,642 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 93% compared to the average volume of 51,029 call options. Institutional Trading of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BNP Paribas lifted its holdings in iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 420.8% in the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas now owns 1,196,854 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $131,187,000 after purchasing an additional 967,036 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 39,975.2% during the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 859,213 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $94,178,000 after buying an additional 857,069 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 82.9% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,852,569 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $203,060,000 after acquiring an additional 839,768 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 1,111.0% in the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 306,112 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $34,122,000 after purchasing an additional 280,834 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp increased its position in iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 52.9% in the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 678,805 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $75,666,000 after purchasing an additional 234,900 shares during the last quarter. 89.30% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF alerts: iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Stock Performance LQD stock traded down $0.03 on Friday, reaching $110.16. The companys stock had a trading volume of 25,671,089 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,676,875. The firm has a market cap of $31.85 billion, a PE ratio of 32.25 and a beta of 0.46. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $110.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $110.39. iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $103.45 and a 12-month high of $112.93. iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Company Profile iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the Markit iBoxx USD Liquid Investment Grade Index (the Index), which is a rules-based index consisting of liquid, the United States dollar-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds for sale in the United States. The Index may include large-, mid- or small-capitalization companies, and components primarily include consumer services, financial, and oil and gas companies. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Get Free Report) were up 2.9% on Friday . The company traded as high as $52.41 and last traded at $52.3750. Approximately 11,334,595 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 15,735,907 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.88. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have commented on NVO. Argus reissued a hold rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 16th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Monday, October 27th. They set an underperform rating on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated a market perform rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, December 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Novo Nordisk A/S has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $53.33. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on NVO Novo Nordisk A/S Price Performance The stock has a market cap of $233.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.23 and a beta of 0.66. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $49.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $56.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.25. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 73.50% and a net margin of 32.76%.The firm had revenue of $11.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.98 billion. Equities research analysts forecast that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of NVO. RIA Advisory Group LLC grew its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 34.2% during the 3rd quarter. RIA Advisory Group LLC now owns 5,143 shares of the companys stock valued at $285,000 after acquiring an additional 1,312 shares during the period. Academy Capital Management raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Academy Capital Management now owns 367,419 shares of the companys stock worth $20,388,000 after buying an additional 1,170 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 21.1% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 13,712 shares of the companys stock valued at $761,000 after buying an additional 2,391 shares in the last quarter. Innova Wealth Partners grew its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 35.6% in the 3rd quarter. Innova Wealth Partners now owns 4,091 shares of the companys stock valued at $227,000 after acquiring an additional 1,073 shares during the period. Finally, Tevis Investment Management increased its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 12.1% in the 3rd quarter. Tevis Investment Management now owns 44,700 shares of the companys stock worth $2,480,000 after acquiring an additional 4,838 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.54% of the companys stock. About Novo Nordisk A/S (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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F Get Free Report) were up 1.6% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $13.39 and last traded at $13.3250. Approximately 46,297,425 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 13% from the average daily volume of 41,132,344 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.12. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently commented on F shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Ford Motor from an underperform rating to a hold rating and increased their price objective for the company from $9.00 to $12.00 in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Ford Motor from $12.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Ford Motor in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Ford Motor from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Ford Motor from $11.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $12.18. Get Ford Motor alerts: Get Our Latest Report on F Ford Motor Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20. The firms fifty day moving average price is $13.21 and its 200-day moving average price is $12.10. The stock has a market cap of $53.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.49 and a beta of 1.60. Ford Motor (NYSE:F Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The auto manufacturer reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.07. Ford Motor had a net margin of 2.48% and a return on equity of 11.94%. The business had revenue of $50.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $43.08 billion. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.49 EPS. Analysts forecast that Ford Motor Company will post 1.47 earnings per share for the current year. Ford Motor Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 7th were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 7th. Ford Motors payout ratio is currently 51.72%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ford Motor Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Corsicana & Co. bought a new position in shares of Ford Motor during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH purchased a new position in Ford Motor during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC raised its holdings in Ford Motor by 86.6% in the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 2,333 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,083 shares in the last quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Ford Motor by 55.4% in the 3rd quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,348 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 837 shares during the period. Finally, KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Ford Motor in the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. 58.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Ford Motor Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. Founded by Henry Ford in 1903, the company became an early pioneer of mass-production techniques with the Model T and the adoption of the moving assembly line. Today, Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a broad range of vehicles and mobility solutions under the Ford and Lincoln brands, spanning passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks and commercial vehicles. Fords business activities extend beyond vehicle production to include parts and aftermarket services, fleet and commercial sales, and automotive financing through Ford Motor Credit Company. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ford Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ford Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of SIG plc (LON:SHI), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. SIG Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by CEO & Director Pim R. Vervaat for UK45k worth of shares, at about UK0.089 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of UK0.10. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price. In the last twelve months SIG insiders were buying shares, but not selling. Their average price was about UK0.10. This is nice to see since it implies that insiders might see value around current prices. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! View our latest analysis for SIG LSE:SHI Insider Trading Volume January 2nd 2026 SIG is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying. SIG Insiders Bought Stock Recently It's good to see that SIG insiders have made notable investments in the company's shares. CEO & Director Pim R. Vervaat spent UK45k on stock, and there wasn't any selling. This could be interpreted as suggesting a positive outlook. Insider Ownership Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. From what we can see in our data, insiders own only about UK693k worth of SIG shares. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. This level of insider ownership is notably low, and not very encouraging. So What Do The SIG Insider Transactions Indicate? We note a that there has been a bit of insider buying recently (but no selling). That said, the purchases were not large. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. While we have no worries about the insider transactions, we'd be more comfortable if they owned more SIG stock. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for SIG that deserve your attention before buying any shares. The family of a 29-year-old woman from Killaloe who sustained serious injuries following a fall while on holiday in Vietnam several weeks ago is appealing for financial support. READ NEXT: Liam Cahill announces first senior team of 2026 ahead of clash with Waterford on Saturday A GoFundMe page has been set up for Aoife Cahill, who was injured in a fall while rock climbing in the Southeast Asian country. Aoife spent more than a week in an induced coma but has since regained consciousness and is said to be showing positive signs, according to her brother Ruairi, who organised the fundraiser. The incident has left Aoifes family and friends in what they described as unimaginable shock and facing significant financial pressures. These include the cost of emergency medical treatment and hospital care, specialist treatment, and the eventual expense of safely bringing Aoife home once she is fit to travel. Aoife, who had been living in Perth and was holidaying in Vietnam at the time of the accident, is described as a kind, warm and adventurous person who brings so much light to the lives of those around her. While an earlier attempt to wake her was unsuccessful, Aoife was brought out of her coma on December 26, answering what her family described as their biggest prayer. In an update on the GoFundMe page, Ruairi thanked donors and well-wishers for the overwhelming support and expressed the familys gratitude for the solidarity shown. To date, 57,686 has been raised from approximately 1,400 donations, just short of the 60,000 target. All funds will go directly towards Aoifes immediate care and recovery. A further update on her condition is expected in the coming days. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/bring-aoife-home. READ NEXT: REVISIT: See if you were snapped amongst the 40,000 Tipperary fans celebrating in Thurles! A number of new flight routes and two new luxury hotels have been announced for the Irish travel market this year. The Editor of Travel Extra, Eoghan Corry, revealed to RTE that Ryanair and Aer Lingus will be facilitating flights to two new American destinations as well as a new European capital. Aer Lingus will soon be starting direct flights to Pittsburgh following a four-year sponsorship deal that started in early 2025 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. READ NEXT: Two men arrested as Gardai seize drugs and cash worth over 800,000 in Cork The airline will also begin a direct flight to Rally Durham in North Carolina, which is an important stop for American connections. Ryanair has revealed a new European holiday destination with flights to Tirana in Albania to become available this year. "You have those beautiful beaches at about 30% cheaper than those other destinations," Eoghan said about the new stop. The addition of Tirana to Ryanair's flight routes means there are now only three European capitals that do not have direct flights to them from Dublin. Eoghan also explained how now is the best time to book new destinations as they are cheaper than more established tourist locations. READ NEXT: 'Severe frost' on the way as temperatures are set to drop to -4 this weekend "My strong advice is book early, you're going to get better prices," he said. Those who prefer staycations will soon be able to stay at two new five-star hotels in Ireland. The Hawthorn in Galway and The Grace in Westport, named after the Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley, will both open in March, but are available to book at the moment. A new high-end hotel will also come on the Irish tourism market at Dublin Airport along with roughly three new Premier Inns across the country. AIB have apologised to their customers operating from Android phones after users were unable to access their banking app after experiencing technical difficulties on Friday. Customers reported several issues with the app including not being able to log in, push notification problems and not being able to authenticate their purchases. AIB acknowledged the problem and took to social media to put out a statement which read: "We apologise to customers using Android who may be unable to login to the app and online and are unable to have some online transactions authenticated." READ MORE: More babies or migrants? Government must decide for future of Irish economy They continued: "Were working to resolve this. Customers can still carry out some transactions online and use their card on all other channels." Several users took to X to voice their concerns with the bank on the issue with one customer writing: "What caused this? I can't pay my bills, it's asking me to approve the transaction and the app is down so nothing is getting paid." Another user wrote: "At any point today, will you know an estimated time frame for when this will be fixed, I can not access anything and I need this urgently." In reply to several affected customers on social media, AIB's customer support have said that: "At present, we do not have an estimated timeframe for resolve on this. The team are working urgently to resolve this as soon as possible." The issues with the app first began in the early hours of Friday morning and are currently ongoing as AIB assure customers that they are working to resolve the issue so customers can resume their online banking. In the age of mass digital surveillance . . . The tradition of shifting responsibilities onto neighbors will no longer pass. Context . . . For years towns from Missouri & Kansas directed all of their homeless to downtown Kansas City. And now . . . We notice smaller towns moving their target . . . And so . . . Places like Joplin are pushing back. This exchange is worth considering . . . The City claims the patients were promised a bed at a Joplin homeless shelter, and continuing medical care in Joplin, but says no bed or care was arranged beforehand, and the patients were stranded on the streets. According to the petition, the first person was a Kansas City resident and the second one was from Butler. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Right now we notice that 2026 is already starting with gunfire, danger on local streets and even old school drug crime. Accordingly, we share this collection of crime reporting, police action, ongoing court cases, alleged misdeeds and, of course, community outreach. Check TKC news gathering . . . Celebratory gunfire may be to blame for Kansas City shooting that injured 1 Police said a person ended up at the hospital after being injured in a shooting near 31st and Kensington. Independence man charged with deadly DWI crash that shut down MO-291 Highway An Independence man is facing multiple criminal charges in connection with a deadly crash that left part of MO-291 Highway shut down over the weekend. Kansas City towing law changes bring new protections for drivers The maximum tow fee is now $265. Storage is capped at $30 a day. Jackson County prosecutors charge Independence man in deadly DWI crash Prosecutors have charged an Independence man in connection with a fatal drunken-driving crash that killed one person and injured two others last weekend. Man who pulled gun in KC laundromat sentenced A Kansas City man with a history of felony possession of a weapon faces new charges after he allegedly pulled a gun on a man at a local laundromat. PETTIS COUNTY MAN ARRESTED AFTER DRUG INVESTIGATION An area man has been arrested and charged after a drug investigation spanning multiple months. Detectives with the Crime Resolution Unit (CRU) initiated an investigation into an individual residing in Pettis County who was suspected of distributing Two teens shot after disturbance between 'several armed juveniles' at Kansas City apartment complex Law enforcement detained one person of interest. Missouri Supreme Court rules to remove judge best known for his Elvis Presley costumes The Missouri Supreme Court's unanimous decision cited a lack of decorum by the St. Charles county judge in his choice to dress like Elvis Presley and play Presley's music through his phone in court. Crime drops across Kansas City, but families still grieve unsolved cases City leaders announce decreases in homicides and shootings, while some cases remain open. Were you scammed over the holidays? Now is the time to report it The FBI says after the holidays, it receives an influx of scam reports from shoppers who didn't notice trickery until it was too late. Developing . . . Thank you for signing up! Youll soon be getting your Toronto scoop in your inbox. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 2. The United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) will host the U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the Chamber, Trend reports via the USACC. The conference titled "The U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Agenda: Connecting Markets Building Future", will be held March 10 in Washington, bringing together senior government officials, business leaders, investors, and financial sector representatives to chart the next phase of U.S.-Azerbaijan economic collaboration. As USACC marks its 30th anniversary, this milestone offers a timely opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of the past, assess current trends, and define a forward-looking agenda that strengthens bilateral trade, investment, and innovation. Since its establishment in 1995, USACC has served as the leading platform fostering commercial, economic, and cultural ties between the United States and Azerbaijan. Over the past three decades, USACC has played a pivotal role in promoting dialogue between the public and private sectors, facilitating trade and business diversification and economic cooperation between the two nations. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 2. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolence to Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, Trend reports. "Dear Mr. President, We were deeply saddened by the news of the fire in Crans-Montana that claimed numerous lives. In connection with this tragedy, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my profound condolences to Your Excellency, to the families and loved ones of the victims, and to the entire people of Switzerland. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured," the letter reads. Key Takeaways Bithumb might become the third South Korean exchange to face heavy penalties. The FIU has concluded its year-long inspections and is now handing out sanctions and penalties. Earlier, Upbit and Korbit faced hefty fines and sanctions for issues related to users onboarding. Bithumb, South Koreas second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, underwent its Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) inspection in March 2025 and has now been fined heavily for anti-money laundering (AML) violations. The FIU review uncovered multiple compliance failures at Bithumb, including breaches of AML protocols, inadequate know-your-customer (KYC) processes, and lapses in suspicious transaction reporting. Bithumb To Face Multi-Million Dollar Fine? Bithumb may face significant penalties similar to those of Upbit and Korbit, depending on the type and number of violations. While the exact fine amount remains pending official announcement as of January 2026, industry reports confirm the identification of systemic AML failures similar to those at Upbit and Korbit. Bithumb is poised to receive a substantial fine, with estimates suggesting it could rival or exceed Upbits $25 million penalty, given Bithumbs market share and the additional investigation into the order book. Reports from November 2025 indicate that the FIU has completed audits and is proceeding to sanctions. These violations include: Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 2. President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva have sent a letter of condolence to Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Former President of the Republic of Latvia, Co-Chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Trend reports. "Your Excellency, We were deeply saddened to receive the news of the passing of your husband and lifelong companion, Imants Freibergs. Having walked the great path of life side-by-side with you, Imants Freibergs was a devoted partner who always stood faithfully by your side. We share in your grief over this profound loss and extend our deepest condolences and wish patience to you and all members of your family," the letter reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 2. The Vessel Traffic Control Center of the State Maritime and Port Agency of Azerbaijan has warned vessels of increasing winds, a source in the agency told Trend. According to the warning, northwesterly and northerly winds observed in the Caspian Sea are expected to grow to 18-23 m/s, reaching 25-28 m/s in some places, and up to 30 m/s in the open sea. Wave heights are expected to reach 2-3 m, and then 3-5 m. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 2. Chinas economy is projected to sustain strong growth in 2026, driven by fiscal and monetary policy support, alongside a reduction in trade-related pressures, Trend reports via the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Following robust growth in the first half of 2025 and the third quarter, Chinas economic momentum is expected to remain resilient in the coming year. This outlook is bolstered by anticipated continued policy support and the recent trade agreement between the United States and China, which has successfully reduced the effective tariff rate from nearly 40% to below 30%. OPEC observes that the tariff reduction is likely to alleviate export pressures, narrow Chinas competitive gap with other ASEAN exporters, and provide short-term support to economic activity. However, the agreements one-year suspension period indicates that trade tensions may persist beyond the immediate future. From a policy perspective, OPEC emphasizes that Chinas recently unveiled 15th Five-Year Plan (20262030) prioritizes the expansion of domestic demand and a strategic shift towards fostering local consumption. The plan reaffirms the long-term goal of doubling GDP by 2035, which implies an average annual real growth rate of approximately 4.4% from 2025 to 2035. Key measures outlined in the plan include strengthening social safety nets, improving income distribution, supporting high-quality employment, and ensuring equitable access to public services. Meanwhile, the property sector has shown renewed weakness, with October data pointing to softer housing activity and prices. OPEC notes that authorities may consider additional support measures, including potential mortgage interest subsidies, to help moderate the downturn. Both the manufacturing and services sectors are projected to sustain robust growth, underpinned by supportive policy measures and a gradual shift in export orientation toward non-U.S. markets. The Peoples Bank of China (PBoC) has signaled a continued easing stance, although any additional action will remain contingent on economic data, particularly if growth remains close to the 5% target. The most recent PMI data for November reveal mixed performance across sectors. The Manufacturing PMI dipped to 49.9, down from 50.6 in October, while the Services PMI held steady in expansionary territory at 52.1, reflecting sustained growth momentum in the services sector. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 2. The revenue of Turkmenistans e-commerce sector is projected to grow by over 180% in 2027 compared to 2022 figures. Data obtained by Trend from the Asian Development Banks latest report on Central Asia show that revenues from financial technologies in Turkmenistan totaled $297 million in 2022 and are projected to reach $543 million by 2027. The data indicate that the country ranked fourth among the five Central Asian states in 2022 and is expected to retain this position by 2027. Earlier, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov approved the Concept for the Development of the Digital Economy in Turkmenistan for 2026-2028, which outlines a roadmap for accelerating the countrys digital transformation and enhancing its global competitiveness. The strategy envisions large-scale modernization across all sectors through the introduction of advanced technologies and digital systems. It focuses on strengthening digital infrastructure, expanding the e-government framework, supporting innovation, and integrating international best practices, with particular emphasis on developing digital education, healthcare, science, and financial technologies. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 2. The chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has passed from Tajikistan to Turkmenistan as of January 1, 2026, Trend reports via the Government of Turkmenistan. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has previously stated that the country intends to contribute to the full realization of the organizations potential during its chairmanship. Turkmenistan views the assumption of the CIS chairmanship as a sign of respect and trust from all member states, as well as recognition of the countrys contribution to the development of the Commonwealth, he said. He also noted that Turkmenistan plans to develop a CIS chairmanship concept reflecting its vision and approaches to the further advancement of interstate cooperation, taking into account what the country considers the most relevant needs. The concept has not yet been made public. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 2. French renewable energy company Voltalia has started construction of a strategic hybrid energy cluster in Uzbekistan, including the Artemisya Storage facility with a capacity of 100 megawatts/200 megawatt-hours and a 100-megawatt wind power plant, Trend reports via the company. The first phase of construction began following the signing of investment agreements on December 5, 2025, in the presence of the President of Uzbekistan. Commissioning is scheduled for 2027. Voltalia signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the government of Uzbekistan in March 2025. The agreement laid the foundation for the Artemisya project, Central Asias first hybrid energy cluster combining solar, wind, and energy storage technologies. The partnership is based on a 25-year contract for electricity generated by solar and wind power plants and a 15-year contract for energy storage services. The overall project portfolio includes 126 megawatts of solar capacity, 300 megawatts of wind power, and battery storage systems totaling 100 megawatts/200 megawatt-hours. The project will support Uzbekistans targets to increase renewable energy capacity to eight gigawatts by 2026 and 12 gigawatts by 2030, while significantly reducing CO emissions through the expansion of clean energy. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 2. The year 2025 became a milestone for the National Investment Fund of Uzbekistan (UzNIF) and Franklin Templeton, which serves as the funds manager and trustee, according to Marius Dan, CEO for Central Asia at Templeton Global Investments, Trend reports via the CEOs social media. Dan noted that Franklin Templetons mandate in Uzbekistan is based on three core pillars: transforming portfolio companies, strengthening corporate governance, and listing both the fund and key portfolio companies. He said that in 2025, tangible progress was achieved across all three areas, moving from diagnostics to implementation and laying a solid foundation for the funds next stage of development. Dan emphasized that these achievements were made possible thanks to strong support from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the National Agency for Perspective Projects, and the Presidential Administration, as well as a dedicated local team established in Tashkent. Looking ahead, he said Franklin Templeton views 2026 with confidence, aiming to build on the momentum achieved and continue supporting the next phase of Uzbekistans economic development. UzNIF was officially launched in May 2025 as part of Uzbekistans broader economic reform agenda aimed at modernizing state-owned enterprises, strengthening investor confidence, and developing a modern domestic capital market. In October, UzNIF held its first Investor Day in Tashkent, which brought together more than 200 regional and international investors. The high level of engagement highlighted growing global interest in Uzbekistan and underscored the funds role in opening the country to international capital markets. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 2. The Turkmenbashi Oil Processing Complex exceeded its oil refining plan by 6.7% during 2025, Trend reports via the Government of Turkmenistan. The industrial facility, which operates under the State Concern Turkmennebit, processed more than 4.5 million tons of crude oil over the year. The complex is one of the largest industrial enterprises in the country. During the reporting period, the plant achieved strong production results across a wide range of petroleum products, including gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, fuel oil, lubricants, petroleum bitumen, polypropylene, and liquefied gas. Earlier, at a meeting of Turkmenistans Cabinet of Ministers, it was announced that the State Concern Turkmennebit exceeded its production plan for the first 11 months of 2025 by 9%. Oil refineries fulfilled 108.8% of their processing targets, producing 109.1% of the planned gasoline output and 101.4% of diesel fuel. Natural and associated gas production reached 101.6% of the plan, while liquefied gas output amounted to 101%. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 2. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to acquire a 15% stake in Uzbekistans state-owned Asakabank as part of its preparation for privatization, Trend reports via the countrys Ministry of Economy and Finance. According to the ministry, an agreement outlining the key commercial terms of Asakabanks privatization was signed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on behalf of the Uzbek government, the EBRD, and Asakabank, aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation. Subject to the full completion of agreed conditions, including transactional, regulatory, and corporate legal requirements, the EBRD plans to enter Asakabanks shareholder structure in 2026. Earlier, EBRD approved a loan of up to $30 million for Uzbekistan's Hamkorbank to support the expansion of green financing in Uzbekistan. The financing is being provided under the Uzbekistan Green Economy Financing Facility II (GEFF II Uzbekistan) and is aimed at improving access to green finance for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as households, while promoting green innovation across the country. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 2. Uzbekistan plans to gradually privatize its state-owned banks under the updated Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy, reducing their number from nine to four by 2030, Trend reports via the countrys Ministry of Justice. According to the draft strategy document published on the ministrys platform for public discussion, the reform implies the privatization of at least one state-owned bank each year. At present, the state owns nine banks, including the National Bank of Uzbekistan, Agrobank, Uzpromstroybank, Asaka Bank, the Peoples Bank, Business Development Bank, Mikrokreditbank, Aloqabank, and Turonbank. The document also envisages an initial reduction in the number of state-owned banks to eight in 2026 as part of the phased privatization process. Earlier, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced its plans to acquire a 15% stake in Uzbekistans state-owned Asakabank. An agreement outlining the key commercial terms of Asakabanks privatization was signed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on behalf of the Uzbek government, the EBRD, and Asakabank, aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation. Subject to the full completion of agreed conditions, including transactional, regulatory, and corporate legal requirements, the EBRD plans to enter Asakabanks shareholder structure in 2026. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Tate Stock started his company with his now-wife, Hannah. Courtesy of Tate Stock Tate Stock, with his wife Hannah, founded Chirp, a wellness company. He started the business with $450, consisting of PVC pipe and yoga mats. He's turned down multiple investors, including one from "Shark Tank." This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tate Stock, founder of Chirp. It has been edited for length and clarity. Back in 2015, I was doing laundry at my aunt's house when I noticed this interesting-looking wheel. My aunt explained it was a yoga wheel. I had never done yoga in my life, but I was intrigued. I'd grown up on a farm, and to me it looked like the wheel was made from sewer pipe with a grippy mat on top. I typed "yoga wheel" into my Amazon account, and the suggested text finished my phrase. That told me there was demand that the algorithm was recognizing, but there weren't too many sellers. I went to the store and bought $400 worth of pipe and $50 in yoga mats. I set up shop in my buddy's mom's barn and created 110 wheels. I listed them on Amazon and made thousands of dollars in the first two weeks. That was the start of Chirp my company, which has generated more than $250 million in sales over the past 10 years. We lived on about $22,000 a year and reinvested in the company I was 23 when I started making the wheels, and my now-wife Hannah was 21. At the time, we were living off love and potatoes, and pouring all our profits back into the business. We were able to do that thanks to some savings I had. After high school, I did a Mormon mission in Fiji for two years. When I returned, my older brother was working in pest control sales, going door-to-door. I just needed to make a buck, so I joined him and managed to make $100,000 that summer. That's what Hannah and I lived off as we launched Chirp. We budgeted $22,000 a year, most of which went to rent. Although Chirp was bringing in big margins, we were reinvesting them back into the company. That was OK with us, because we were willing to live the lifestyle that fit our age, not our wealth. Pivoting from yoga to pain relief helped sales flourish Around 2018, I noticed something: Chirp wheels were designed for yogis mostly women. But their husbands were using the wheels to roll out their muscles and crack their backs, and it felt really good. I attended a convention, and on the first day, I sold Chirp as a yoga tool. I made a few sales, but not many. The next day, I sold the products as a form of pain relief. We sold out. When we pivoted our marketing, sales skyrocketed. We did $4 million in just six months that year. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 2. Kazakhstan plans to build a full-cycle biopharmaceutical complex in the Alatau Special Economic Zone, with total investments exceeding 103 billion tenge ($203 million), Trend reports via the Kazakh government. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed a decree approving the investment agreement between the Ministry of Health and Kazakhstan's Khan Tengri Biopharma company. The facility will create more than 180 permanent jobs and aims to enhance domestic pharmaceutical production. The plant will be equipped to produce 58 types of medicines, with a focus on manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The production portfolio will include 27 international non-patented drugs, particularly for oncology, autoimmune diseases, rare conditions, and inflammatory disorders. According to the government's statement, the project is strategically significant for the countrys pharmaceutical sector, supporting the shift towards local production and phased import substitution of essential drugs. Some of the products will also be exported to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), CIS countries, and the Middle East. The initiative is part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's decree to increase Kazakhstan's domestic pharmaceutical production to 50% of total market share. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 2. Uzbekistan plans to modernize five major airports and transfer them to private management under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements by 2030, according to the draft updated Uzbekistan-2030, Trend reports via the countrys Ministry of Justice. At least one airport is expected to be handed over to a private partner each year. PPP projects will be financed jointly by Uzbekistan Airports and private partners, with the Ministry of Transport designated as the responsible authority for implementation. The updated strategy builds on the previous version approved in September 2023, which focused on modernizing low-profit regional airports and transferring them to trust management under PPP arrangements. That version envisaged the modernization of six major airports, including through public-private partnerships. As part of ongoing reforms, Uzbekistan Airports and South Koreas Incheon International Airport Corporation signed a PPP agreement in October 2025 for the modernization and management of Urgench Airport. In addition, reconstruction is underway at Namangan Airport, while a new airport is being built in Bukhara. Management of both airports is expected to be transferred to private operators in the future. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, responded to the New Year's address by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Tomio Okamura, and stressed that it is a striking example of ignorance, manipulation, and cynicism. According to Ukrinform, Stefanchuk wrote about this on Facebook. Tomio Okamura's New Year's address is a vivid example of ignorance, manipulation, and cynicism. By once again insulting Ukraine and Ukrainians, he is actually harming and disgracing the Czech Republic and the Czech people, who remain on the side of dignity and justice, on the side of Ukraine, Stefanchuk said. He emphasized that Ukraine is deeply grateful to the great Czech people and their worthy representatives for all their help and support in difficult times. Therefore, I do not seek to make any assessments of the Czech Speaker's statements, because I know that they are exclusively his personal position, and not the position of the Czech parliament, and even less so of the Czech people, Stefanchuk stressed. He believes that the harshest assessment of Okamura's words will come from the Czechs themselves and, of course, from history, in which his name is unlikely to be preserved. And we will definitely find out whether he was a useful idiot or an FSB agent, Stefanchuk added. As reported, on January 1, the Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura, posted a 10-minute New Year's speech on the social network X, in which he opposed providing weapons and financial aid to Ukraine, which, according to him, is supporting a completely senseless war. He also complained about the thieves of Zelensky's gang. Ambassador of Ukraine to the Czech Republic Vasyl Zvarych responded to Okamura's statement. We regard Tomio Okamura's offensive and hateful statements about Ukraine and Ukrainians, made today in his New Year's speech, as his personal position, obviously formed under the influence of Russian propaganda, he wrote. The diplomat noted that the Speaker's words are unworthy and completely unacceptable. They contradict the principles of a democratic society and the values on which the Czech Republic is based as an integral part of the European community, Zvarych said, adding that he expects the Czech government and civil society to assess these statements properly. Ukrinform's photos can be purchased here. The collapse of the Russian Federation is a realistic scenario, given the colonial nature of the Russian state, and Europe needs to be prepared for it. This view was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by Rainhard Kloucek, President of the Pan-European Movement in Austria, commenting on negotiations initiated by the United States. "The Russian Federation is de facto a colonial empire. In the case of Putin, I have a clear impression that he dreams of restoring this colonial empire in its old form. The key question is different: how long will the peoples living in this colonial empire allow Moscow to use them? And when will they say: enough, now we organize ourselves? I consider this possible and even not unlikely," he said. According to Kloucek, Russian history shows that defeats in wars have repeatedly triggered systemic changes. "Every time Russia lost a war, profound changes followed: after Afghanistan, after World War I. Every colonial empire sooner or later collapsed," he noted. In this context, Kloucek believes Europe must prepare in advance for a possible Russian collapse. He warned against repeating the mistakes of the late 20th century. "We must not repeat the mistake many made in 1989, 1990, and 1991, particularly regarding Yugoslavia, when out of fear of a bloody breakup they long supported Milosevic. The bloody breakup happened anyway," emphasized the President of the Pan-European Movement in Austria. He stressed that Russias scale is much larger, and therefore the risks are higher. "Russia is much bigger in scale. We cannot be interested in a bloody outcome. But we must be prepared if it happens," Kloucek said. Answering a question about whether Europe should actively promote the decolonization of Russia, he stated: "I would have nothing against it, primarily in the informational space. There are historical precedents." In his view, Europe needs to formulate clearer signals regarding the future of regions within Russia. "Why not send appropriate signals today or open up prospects? And partly this is already happening," he added. Previously, Ukrinform reported that Mykhailo Gonchar, President of the Center for Global Studies Strategy XXI, expressed the opinion that the collapse of Russia is a matter of time, as the federal center has demonstrated its inability in a basic issue security. Therefore, the West, particularly Europe, is now studying potential scenarios for Russias disintegration. Ukrainian diplomacy does not interfere in the internal affairs of the Czech Republic, but cannot fail to respond to the rude statements made by a representative of the Czech authorities. This was how Vasyl Zvarych, Ukraine's ambassador to the Czech Republic, commented on the situation to Ukrinform. He stressed that his comments did not concern internal political processes in the Czech Republic. I do not interfere in internal affairs, I only responded to the offensive and rude public statements made by a high-ranking Czech official about Ukraine and the democratically elected Ukrainian government, Zvarych said, adding that it is now up to the Czechs themselves to decide how to respond to the speaker's words. The ambassador's reaction came after a Facebook post by Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, who in turn commented on a statement by Zvarych, who had earlier called the New Year's speech by the speaker of the lower house of the Czech parliament, Tomio Okamura, unacceptable. Foreign Minister Macinka wrote: "I do not consider it appropriate for a foreign ambassador to publicly assess the statements of one of the highest constitutional officials of the Czech Republic. If any diplomatic mission has reservations or questions, there are standard diplomatic channels for this. However, Czech politics is a matter for Czech citizens and their democratically elected representatives." Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha defended his ambassador. "The Ukrainian ambassador was absolutely right to respond to Speaker Okamura's outrageous insults against Ukraine and its leadership and he did so diplomatically. All our ambassadors are instructed to defend Ukraine's dignity. Therefore, I reject such lectures and instead call on my new Czech colleague to engage in constructive dialogue to strengthen the mutually beneficial Ukrainian-Czech strategic partnership," the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry wrote on social media X. As reported, in his New Year's speech, Okamura sharply criticized Ukraine and its leader Volodymyr Zelensky, and also expressed his wish that the country never become a member of the EU. The Ukrainian ambassador, in turn, wrote: We regard Tomio Okamura's offensive and hateful statements about Ukraine and Ukrainians, voiced today in his New Year's speech, as his personal position, obviously formed under the influence of Russian propaganda. He called the speaker's words unworthy and completely unacceptable, saying they contradict the principles of a democratic society and the values on which the Czech Republic is based as an integral part of the European community. The New Year's speech by the speaker of the lower house of the Czech Republic's parliament sparked outrage not only from the Ukrainian side, but also from local politicians, with the opposition calling for his dismissal. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected criticism by the Czech foreign minister directed at Ukraine's Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych over his response to statements by the Speaker of the lower house of the Czech parliament, Tomio Okamura, about Ukraine. Sybiha wrote about this on social media platform X, Ukrinform reports. "Ukraine's Ambassador was absolutely right to respond to Speaker Okamura's infuriating insults toward Ukraine and its leadershipand he did so diplomatically. All of our ambassadors are instructed to protect Ukraine's dignity," Sybiha wrote. He added that he "rejects such lecturing" and instead called on his new Czech counterpart "to constructive dialogue for the sake of strengthening the mutually beneficial Ukrainian-Czech strategic partnership." As reported, Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka described Zvarych's statement as "inappropriate" after the ambassador called the New Year's address of Czech lower house Speaker Tomio Okamura unacceptable. Okamura sharply criticized Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky, and also expressed the wish that the country would never become a member of the EU. In turn, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych said that "the offensive and hate-filled statements by Tomio Okamura toward Ukraine and Ukrainians... we regard as his personal position, evidently shaped under the influence of Russian propaganda." He called the speaker's words "unworthy and absolutely unacceptable," stating that they "contradict the principles of a democratic society and the values on which the Czech Republic is based as an integral part of the European community." As Ukrinform reported, the New Year's address by the Speaker of the lower house sparked outrage not only from the Ukrainian side but also among Czech politicians. The opposition is calling for his dismissal. Approximately 1,400 people who attempted to illegally cross the border with Belarus were detained in 2025. According to Ukrinform, this was reported on television by Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS). Most attempts to illegally cross the border are still recorded along Ukraines borders with European Union countries. At the same time, there are also attempts along the border with Belarus, and we are detaining these violators. In 2025, about 1,400 people were detained while trying to illegally cross the border in this direction, he said. Demchenko noted that recently the number of illegal border-crossing attempts has declined compared to the summer period. Read also: Border guards say Ukrainian attempted to smuggle ancient Greek coins to Bulgaria As Ukrinform previously reported, the SBGS spokesperson said that the highest number of attempts to illegally cross Ukraines state border is currently being recorded along the borders with Moldova and Romania. Black Leukemia Patients Experience Worse Outcomes; Not Linked to Genetic Changes Compared with white patients, Black patients with an aggressive form of leukemia called acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were on average more than five years younger at diagnosis and more than 30 percent more likely to die of their disease, according to a new analysis of data led by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers. The study, supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), also found that Black patients were more than 20 percent more likely to die of any cause over the 34-year study period. Among patients with a mutation in their cancer cells that is generally associated with more favorable outcomes from treatment, survival for Black patients was less than half that of white patients. To our knowledge, this study includes data for a larger number of Black patients than any other such study of AML survival across NCI-supported clinical trials, said study first author Shella Saint Fleur-Lominy, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a member of the cancer therapeutics program at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. Our findings confirm those of previous, smaller studies: Black patients with AML develop the disease at a significantly younger age, on average, than white patients and, even when they're treated in clinical trials, they have significantly worse outcomes than white patients. Shella Saint Fleur-Lominy, MD, PhD Saint Fleur-Lominy presented the study findings at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in December. AML is a rare, fast-growing cancer that starts in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside bones where blood cells form. Early blood-forming cells change (mutate) and begin to grow out of control, resulting in large numbers of abnormal, immature blood cells that spill into the bloodstream and crowd out healthy cells. As a result, AML can cause organs to stop working properly and make the body very sick. Doctors base treatment recommendations on biopsy tests that identify the profile of mutations in a patients AML cells because different drugs can target different mutations, leading to better responses to treatment and longer survival. Years of published reports have shown poorer outcomes for Black patients treated for AML compared with white patients, according to Saint Fleur-Lominy, though the reasons for this disparity are not completely understood. In one recent study, Black patients diagnosed in their teens or under age 40 had worse outcomes than their white counterparts even when they had mutations that, in white patients, are usually associated with more favorable treatment outcomes. Clinical trials often allow patients with cancer to access novel therapies for their disease before they become widely available. After decades of efforts to promote access to clinical trials for patients of all backgrounds, a 2020 report showed an increase in the number of Black patients in trials supported by the NCI. A related study found a higher rate of Black patients in NCI-sponsored trials than in pharmaceutical company trials. Still, Black patients remain underrepresented in many clinical trials, Saint Fleur-Lominy said. In this study, she and her colleagues reviewed the medical records of all patients with newly diagnosed AML who were enrolled in 10 ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group clinical trials between 1984 and 2019. (ECOG-ACRIN is a member of the NCIs National Clinical Trials Network.) The research team then compared white and Black patients overall survival, how long they remained cancer-free after treatment, and differences in genetic mutations found in their cancer cells. They collected data for a total of 3,469 white patients, 184 Black patients, and 156 patients of other races and ethnicities. Across the 10 trials, the proportion of Black patients enrolled ranged from about 1 percent to 11 percent. The median age of Black patients at AML diagnosis was 47.9 years, compared with 53.5 years for white patients, a statistically significant difference. Moreover, compared with white patients, Black patients had a 31.3 percent higher risk of dying from AML and 21.2 percent higher risk of dying from any cause. Results showed that the most common mutations seen in AML cells occurred at similar rates in Black and white patients. However, among patients with a mutation in one particular gene, known as NPM1, the analysis found a significant difference in overall survival, with Black patients surviving for a median of 8.9 months compared with 19.1 months for white patients. Although the NPM1 mutation is typically associated with more favorable outcomes of AML treatment, we did not see those more favorable outcomes in Black patients, said Saint Fleur-Lominy. While similar numbers of Black and white patients overall received transplants of blood-forming stem cells, only 37 percent of Black patients received stem cells from a healthy, compatible donor compared to nearly 49 percent of white patients. This type of transplant offers patients with high-risk AML the best chance of a cure, Saint Fleur-Lominy said. The alternative, collecting the patients own stem cells and reinfusing them after high-dose chemotherapy, is no longer considered a standard treatment for AML in the United States, she added. A limitation of the study, she said, is that data on patients mutations profiles are less comprehensive than she and her team would have liked. The study includes data for patients treated across four decades, she said, and the advanced technology now available to perform such testing did not exist when clinical trials of AML treatment were conducted in earlier decades. As a next step, Saint Fleur-Lominy said that she would like to see the data from this study combined with other data sets of patients with AML to increase the number of patients with comprehensive genetic data and confirm whether the association of certain genetic mutations with AML outcomes differs in Black patients compared with white patients. This study was conducted by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and funded by the NCI. 10 things in 2025 that moved us closer to a better world I hope you can look back on 2025 as the year movements for peace and justice freed political prisoners, slowed the war machine, and helped turn the public against endless wars Its true, the Year 2025 has been a hard year. Its easy to focus on the disasters, and there have been many. But we also had real victories that moved us closer to a better world. Here are some of my highlights from 2025. 1. Israel was Forced to Negotiate a Ceasefire In October, a ceasefire agreement was reached in Gaza, though it would be a lie to call it an end to the genocide weve all been witnessing for over two years. Still, the pause matters because it reveals what Israel could not achieve. Israel failed to break the Palestinian people or erase them from their land. It was forced to negotiate. It also gave us one of the rare moments where we saw videos coming out of Gaza with Palestinians celebrating in the streets, and feeling a little bit of relief for the first time in a long time. Yes, the Israelis are violating the ceasefire every day, Palestinians continue to suffer, and the Peace Plan passed by the United Nations is a sham. But the fact that Israel was unable to accomplish its goal of defeating and expelling the Palestinians and instead had to negotiate, is in itself a testament to the power of both the Palestinians and their supporters throughout the world. 2. Mahmoud Khalil is Free In June, after months in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was freed! We got to see him at the Peoples Conference for Palestine, and hes been in action ever since. From the moment he was first detained, the Palestine solidarity movement never stopped demanding his freedom. We knew that if we allowed this to happen to Mahmoud , it could happen to any one of us. His freedom is a testament to the power we all have when we stand together and have a clear demand. The same goes for Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk, Georgetown scholar Badar Khan Suri, Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi, and British Journalist Sami Hamdiall were freed from ICEs grip due to mounting public pressure. 3. Majority of Americans are Against War Polls came out all year in the US that proved that people inside the belly of the beast are becoming more and more anti-war! Whether the conflicts are in Ukraine, Gaza, or Venezuela, the people of the US are sick and tired of their country going to war. This, if people take action on their beliefs, this will have huge implications for the US war machine! The anti-war movement is growing, and we have the power of the people behind us! 4. People Came Together to Protest ICE Raids and Support Immigrants From Washington, DC to Chicago to Los Angeles, people across the country have been rising up to reject the unjust and illegal ICE raids ripping through our communities. As ICE agents terrorized grocery stores, elementary schools, and neighborhoods, communities responded by forming rapid-response networks to document abuses, provide legal support, and protect those being targeted. This collective resistance has been an inspiring expression of humanity in actionproof that when President Donald Trumps administration pushes fear, racism, and a fascist agenda, people come together in solidarity to defend one another and fight back. 5. Zohran Mamdani is the Mayor of the Largest US City Zohran Mamdanis victory in the NYC mayoral race was fueled by the Palestine movement and the collective mobilization of hundreds of thousands who are unwilling to be swayed by centrist, big-money interests and are ready for a new system. His win has already inspired others to run for office on a similar platform, showing how campaigns that speak to peoples needs can break through. Mamdani now inherits a seat at the heart of the war economypresiding over the largest police department in the country and a city with deep political and financial ties to Israel. That reality makes his victory not an endpoint, but an opening: a chance to push demands for divestment and a peace economy to the center of city politics, and to turn the energy of his campaign into sustained, collective actionin the streets, in organizing spaces, and at the ballot box. 6. Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza Makes History For the first time in recent history, the Global Sumud Flotilla sailed into Gazas waters and came close to breaking the blockade! I was so inspired by the selfless activists, including my friend Adnaan Stumo and his brother Tor, who set sail to Gaza despite great personal risk. The Global Sumud Flotilla was the largest flotilla in history, and even though Israel arrested and detained dozens of brave humanitarians, their souls werent shaken. Another Gaza flotilla will soon set sail again, unintimidated by Israels threats! 7. AIPAC is Losing Power The American Israel Public Affairs Committees grip is starting to crack, with a growing number of candidates openly rejecting its money. Even more striking, some AIPAC-backed members of Congress defied the lobby this yearvoting against its positions and infuriating a group long used to unquestioned loyalty. More and more people are waking up to AIPACs influence over our government, and are calling for a widespread rejection of it! 8. Mexicos Woman President Shows What Principled Leadership Looks Like Overseas, Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexicos first woman president, has delivered bold progress at homeexpanding public education, investing in clean energy, and strengthening labor rights and social programs that put working families first. When Trump tried to bully Mexico with tariff threats and demanded that Mexico play border cop, Sheinbaum defended Mexicos sovereignty with competence, dignity, and a refreshing refusal to be intimidated. And when Trump blocked Venezuelan tankers from delivering oil to Cuba, Mexico stepped in to supply its own oila clear act of solidarity that showed what principled leadership looks like on the world stage. 9. Ecuador Rejects US Military Base At a moment when the US is openly reviving the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America, Ecuador held a national referendumand nearly 60% of voters said no to reopening a US military base on Ecuadorian soil. By rejecting a foreign base, Ecuadorians asserted their sovereignty and made clear they refuse to be a launchpad for US wars. Even amid a rightward political swing across the region, this vote shows that organized people can still block militarization and defend their self-determination. 10. US and Chinese Citizens Chose Connection Over Fear This year offered a rare and hopeful reminder of how quickly walls can fall when people are allowed to meet one another as human beings. From the warmth and curiosity circulating on RedNote to iShowSpeeds unfiltered encounters, a wave of everyday, people-to-people exchanges cut through political fear-mongering and brought Americans and Chinese together around shared humanity. In these small but powerful connections, the image of China as an enemy began to fade, replaced by curiosity and connectionand for the first time in five years, the number of Americans who consider China an enemy has dropped by nearly 10%. Also Read: Muslim Newsmakers of 2025 I hope you can look back on 2025 as the year movements for peace and justice freed political prisoners, slowed the war machine, and helped turn the public against endless wars. Even in the hardest moments, thats how Ill choose to remember it. And I hope 2026 brings us closer to the world we all want to see. [The writer, Medea Benjamin, is Co-Founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace. She is the co-author, with Nicolas J.S. Davies, of War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, available from OR Books in November 2022. Other books include, Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2018); Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection (2016); Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control (2013); Dont Be Afraid Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks from the Heart (1989), and (with Jodie Evans) Stop the Next War Now (2005).] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Himachal student (19) dies after ragging, sex assault in Dharamshala Govt College In a horrifying incident, a 19-year-old student died due to ragging, sexual attack, harassment and torture at Government Degree College Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh [Image for representation] Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh): In a horrifying incident, a 19-year-old student died due to ragging, sexual attack, harassment and torture at Government Degree College Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. Police has filed a case against three female students and a professor following the complaint lodged by the girl-students father. The teenager died on December 26. A case was registered on Thursday January 01, 2026 based on her father's complaint. In his complaint, the father said his daughter was physically assaulted and intimidated by three students - Harshita, Aakriti, and Komolika, on September 18. The Professor, who has also been charged in the case, has been identified as Ashok Kumar. The second year student of the college, in a video message recorded on mobile phone, spoke about how the professor touched her inappropriately and several other instances of mental and sexual harassment. "Because of the constant bullying by the girl students and the professor, her health declined. She was referred to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana she lost her life on December 26", her father said. Her father said that he could not inform the police earlier because of his daughter's shock and illness. In a video from the time she was being treated, the teenager can be seen lying on a hospital bed, looking very unwell and dazed. The three students have been charged with ragging under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009, a police officer said. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Maharashtra Corporation Polls 2026: Over 70 elected unopposed Over 70 candidates of different political parties have been elected unopposed in the 29 Municipal Corporations of Maharashtra where polling is scheduled to be held on January 15, 2026 Maharashtra Mahanagar Palika Elections 2026: Over 70 candidates of different political parties have been elected unopposed in the 29 Municipal Corporations of Maharashtra where polling is scheduled to be held on January 15, 2026. Friday was the last day for the withdrawal of nomination forms and over 70 candidates of different parties and alliances won unopposed. This is because no one filed papers against them, or the nomination papers if filed were found invalid. As per the data released by the poll officials, the highest number of winners is from Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), where 21 Mahayuti candidates have been elected - 15 from the BJP and 06 from the Shiv Sena. Jalgaon in North Maharashtra has also contributed a dozen corporators to BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde), with each winning 6 seats unopposed. The trend continued in Panvel and Bhiwandi where BJP won respectively 07 and 06 candidates unopposed. One of the 06 BJP candidates who won from Bhiwandi unopposed is a Muslim - Abu Saad Shaikh. In Thane, Shiv Sena (Shinde) secured 06 seats unopposed whereas in Dhule Mahanagar Palika, 03 BJP candidates won uncontested, while the NCP won 02 seats. The BJP also 01 seat in Ahilya Nagar Municipal Corpoartion. In Malegaon Municipal Corporation, 01 seat has been won unopposed by former Congress MLA Asif Shaikh Rashid's party which is contesting the 2026 election forming an alliance, Malegaon Secular Front, with Samajwadi Party. Polling for the remaining seats in all of the 29 Corporations of Maharashtra will be held on January 15, 2026. Counting of votes will take place on January 16, 2026 when all results will also be declared, as per the election schedule released earlier. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers is proud to announce the successful conclusion of its New Year's Eve Uber Credit Giveaway, a community safety initiative that pledged $10,000 in Uber credits to New Orleans residents celebrating the holiday. The program offered up to $20 per person in Uber credit for rides taken between December 31 at 5 p.m. and January 1 at 10 a.m. within fifty miles of the Caesars Superdome. Throughout the night, credits were quickly claimed as residents took advantage of a safe and reliable way to get home. "Our goal was simple: help people get home safely on one of the busiest nights of the year," said David Vicknair, founding partner of the firm. "Seeing the community use this program the way it was intended shows just how important initiatives like this are." The giveaway has become an annual effort by the firm to reduce impaired driving and promote responsible celebrations. By removing the cost barrier for transportation, the program encouraged safer choices and helped keep local roads safer during peak New Year's Eve hours. "This initiative is about prevention," Vicknair added, "If even one accident was avoided because someone chose a free ride instead of driving, then the impact is real and meaningful." Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers extends its thanks to everyone who participated and helped spread the word. The firm remains committed to supporting community safety initiatives that make a measurable difference for Louisiana families. About Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers is a Louisiana-based personal injury firm committed to providing exceptional legal representation while also investing in the communities it serves. Their experienced team of dedicated attorneys specializes in car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death cases in New Orleans. With diverse personal and professional backgrounds, they craft legal-winning strategies tailored to each client's specific case and needs. They are committed to providing exceptional legal services, utilizing significant resources, and relentlessly advocating for their clients to achieve the best possible outcomes. SOURCE Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers When you buy a stock there is always a possibility that it could drop 100%. But on the bright side, you can make far more than 100% on a really good stock. One great example is Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF) which saw its share price drive 136% higher over five years. It's down 2.8% in the last seven days. Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Over half a decade, Raymond James Financial managed to grow its earnings per share at 22% a year. This EPS growth is reasonably close to the 19% average annual increase in the share price. This indicates that investor sentiment towards the company has not changed a great deal. Rather, the share price has approximately tracked EPS growth. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). NYSE:RJF Earnings Per Share Growth January 2nd 2026 It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Raymond James Financial's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Raymond James Financial, it has a TSR of 153% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective Raymond James Financial provided a TSR of 2.8% over the last twelve months. But that return falls short of the market. On the bright side, the longer term returns (running at about 20% a year, over half a decade) look better. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Raymond James Financial . Japans Toyota Motor Corporation reported a 1.9% year-on-year decline in global sales to 965,919 vehicles in November 2025, including its Daihatsu and Hino subsidiaries, with sales in Japan rising by 1.5% to 177,130 units while overseas sales declined by 2.6% to 788,789 units. In the first eleven months of 2025, Toyota Groups sales increased by 4.8% to 10,327,976 units, with sales in Japan rising by over 12% to 1,922,533 units, reflecting mainly a strong first-half rebound following last years production stoppages at Daihatsu, while overseas sales increased by 3.2% to 8,405,443 units. Toyota remains the worlds largest vehicle manufacturing group, ahead of Germanys Volkswagen Group. Sales of Toyota- and Lexus-branded vehicles increased by 3.8% to 9,605,105 units year-to-date, with sales in Japan rising by 4.1% to 1,395,853 units while overseas sales were up by 3.7% to 8,209,252 units. Sales in North America rose by 7.2% to 2,664,715 units, while deliveries in Latin America (excluding Mexico) fell by 3.2% to 436,092 units. In Asia, excluding Japan, sales rose by 2.5% to 2,960,453 units, driven by strong growth in India, Vietnam and Pakistan, while in Europe volumes increased by 1.6% to 1,088,836 units. Toyota and Lexus reported an 11% rise in global sales of electrified vehicles to 4,555,275 units in the first eleven months of the year, accounting for over 47% of total sales. Sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rose by over 35% to 176,025 units, almost all of which were sold overseas, while global sales of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) rose by just under 8% to 4,049,836 units. Daihatsus global sales increased by almost 27% to 621,833 units year-to-date, with sales in Japan rebounding by 48% to 495,743 units following last years production stoppages, while overseas sales fell by 19% to 126,090 units mainly reflecting weak demand in Indonesia. The groups commercial vehicle unit, Hino Motors, reported an 11% decline in global sales to 101,038 units, with sales in Japan falling by over 18% to 30,937 units, while overseas sales declined by almost 8% to 70,101 units. "Toyotas global vehicle sales fall 2% in November" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. 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. Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale Translate Sainte-Marie, Martinique, Martinique (58.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Sitting on my door walk, watching a video on my phone, facing south/south east, the ground started shaking sideways quite intensely, I heard the neighbors scream at their children, it lasted from 5 to 10 seconds and that seems to be it. | 2 users found this interesting. Le Gros-Morne, Martinique, Martinique (64.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 15-20 s : Yeah, strongly , like if it was a M~5.5 -ish. The home has heavily been shaked up even if fortunately no item moved or fell down. In fact I reported 2 earthquakes enough short but with almost the same intensity (8-15 sec both with a break of near 10 sec between both). While the break the floor was still rumbling. Some of my friends felt the same thing than me whereas every newspaper brought up only 1 shook. | One user found this interesting. marin Martinique (73.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Good vibrations in Martinique | 2 users found this interesting. St Luce, Martinique (77.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short : Da ich Erdbeben aus meiner Heimat nicht kenne, hab ich es zwar wahr genommen aber Anfangs nicht einordnen konnen Lamentin Martinique (64.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / complex motion difficult to describe / 5-10 s : Des bruits, la maison qui bouge qui craque... je suis sortie de ma maison pour aller dans le jardin tous les chiens hurlant et les oiseaux les chats etaient affole, j ai eu la chair de poule, bien peur. Je suis sur l ile de la Martinique dans la Caraibes Dominica, Vieille Case / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : I was sitting on my bed then I felt it (my house) shake then I got an alert of an earthquake nearby The alert i got from Android (public domain) The map of the earthquake I got (public domain) / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s Anses dArlet, Martinique (78 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Loud noise, 10 seconds later vibrating of the groud (outside) for 15 sec, objects moving (table, couch) Anses dArlet, Martinique (77.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Loud noise, 10 seconds later vibrating of the groud (outside) for 15 sec, objects moving (table, couch) Ducos, Martinique, one single thud in Carrefour hy (74.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / very short : A jolt, a loud noise as if some heavy things fell! very slight movement of Christmas lights, no panic. People wandering if it was an earthquake sainte-luce, martinique (79.5 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Assis au bureau au 1er etage. Premieres secousses legeres, mais suffisantes pour eveiller l'attention. Seconde serie de secousses intervenant 5 secondes plus tard. Secousses beaucoup plus fortes durant 10 a 15 secondes, assez importantes pour se poser la question de sortir du logement. Le Gosier (161.9 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / very short : Au 5eme etage de l'hotel sur la terrasse, nous ressentons simultanement avec mon epouse un tres bref glissement des chaises plastiques sur lesquelles nous sommes assis. Je rentre immediatement voir si des objets en suspend bougent mais ce n'est pas le cas Fort de France (74.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : Cela faisait bouger mon lit. Des poignees de meubles bougeaient et clisuetaient. J'ai attendu un moment puis comme cela ne s'arretait pas, je suis allee rejoindre ma fille dans le salon qui etait apeuree. Le seisme a fait vaciller pendant toute la secousse mon ecran plat qui est pose sur support dans mon salon Chemin Allee 97212 SAINT-JOSEPH (78 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 30-60 s : La maison bougeait beaucoup et assez longtemps, semble-t-il, lateralement. Aucune chute de materiels dans la maison. Fort-de-France / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Jetais assise a mon bureau avec mon frere sur le lit, quand la terre a commence a trembler au debut jai peut etre mis 3 secondes a men rendre compte au debut je pensais que cetait mon frere qui sautait sur le lit et que ca tremblait ???? mais non. En regardant le mur et en entendant des grincements jai compris que cetait un tremblement de terre Morne-Rouge martinique / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Un premier seisme tres leger qui a dure 1 a 2 secondes puis environ 10 secondes plus rard un seisme assez puissant qui a dure environ 5 secondes On attend les repliques Trois Ilets (78 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s : We felt 2 different moments of vibration, the water of our aquariums shook. There was a short pause in between the 2 quakes we felt. Altogether, i think it lasted less than 20 seconds. Saint Joseph (71.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 20-30 s : Au debut un bruit sourd puis un tremblement des meubles et vitres. Meme les animaux ont ete surpris et sont alles dans le jardin La Trinite (53.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Felt like a truck coming in the street then a stronger quake for 1 to 2 seconds. | One user found this interesting. Fort de France (77.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Two amplitudes with weak shaking | One user found this interesting. Schoelcher 97233 (78.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Light horizontal shaking with one stronger horizontal swing, doors moving and rattling. | One user found this interesting. Sainte Anne Martinique (79.6 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Wackeln wie ein starker Sturm | One user found this interesting. Le Lamentin / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 15-20 s : Strong shaking and very thundering earth | One user found this interesting. Le Robert, Martinique, Martinique (61.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s : Electricity turned off for few seconds. Big sound. | One user found this interesting. Cabiche Babonneau Saint Lucia (130.7 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Felt weak shaking which started out weak then got stronger and felt like a vibration in the end | One user found this interesting. Sainte Luce / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : A lot of noises. Beaucoup de bruit ! | One user found this interesting. sainte anne (martinique) (79.7 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s dans mon appartement, deuxieme etage, le sol et les fenetres / portes ont trembles. | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s Tartane - Trinite (77.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Saint-Pierre, Martinique, Martinique (77.3 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s St Lucia (141.1 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 1-2 minutes : One side of floor lifted, then the other. Sounded like truck hitting the building Saint Anne Martinica (77.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s Soufriere / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Trump Media and Technology Group (DJT), the company behind Truth Social, said Wednesday it plans to distribute a new digital token to shareholders through a deal with Crypto.com. The token will be issued using Crypto.coms Cronos blockchain. Trump Media said in a press release that once the program launches, each shareholder would receive one token for every whole share of DJT held. Token holders may also periodically receive rewards throughout the year, including potential benefits or discounts tied to Trump Medias products, such as Truth Social, the Truth+ streaming service and Truth Predict, the company said. U.S. president Donald Trump is the majority owner of Trump Media and Technology and has spoken favorable about the crypto industry in 2025, stating in November that he wants the U.S. to become a "bitcoin superpower." We look forward to utilizing Crypto.coms blockchain technology and improving regulatory clarity to implement this first-of-its-kind token distribution, reward Trump Media shareholders, and promote fair and transparent markets, CEO and chairman Devin Nunes said in a statement. Shares of Trump Media rose in pre-market trading, with DJT up to $12.97, a gain of 3.18%. Crypto.coms native token, CRO, initially jumped 3.8% following the announcement before giving back some of those gains. Trump Media said additional details about the token distribution are expected to be announced in the new year. Six Italians missing and 13 in hospital as Tajani travels to scene of tragedy in Switzerland. At least 40 people have died and more than 100 have been injured in a New Year's Day fire at a bar at the Crans-Montana ski resort in south-west Switzerland, authorities said on Friday. There are currently six Italians missing and 13 Italians in hospital, according to Italy's ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, who said it could take weeks to identify the dead. Many victims are unrecognisable due to disfigurement from burns. The Italian foreign ministry's crisis unit told state broadcaster RAI News that 19 families had reported losing contact with their Italian relatives in Crans-Montana, six of whom were still missing. Italy's deputy premier and foreign minister Antonio Tajani, who was expected to travel to the scene of the tragedy on Friday, said Italy is ready to send forensic experts to Switzerland to identify the victims of the inferno. "It's difficult to identify the injured" - Tajani told reporters - "If they are in intensive care, sedated, and have no documents, it's difficult to ascertain who they are." The fire, which broke out at 01.30 in a bar called Le Constellation, is believed to have been caused after sparks from a flare attached to a champagne bottle reached the ceiling during a party attended by mostly young revellers. Italy has sent a helicopter from the civil protection department of the Aosta Valley and has made its healthcare facilities available, especially the Niguarda Hospital in Milan. Italy's president Sergio Mattarella and prime minister Giorgia Meloni offered their condolences to the families of those affected by the fire which has been described by Switzerland's president Guy Parmelin as "one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced". Double-incident of New Year fireworks mayhem leaves Naples doctors speechless. Naples is renowned in Italy for its wild New Year's Eve fireworks, which leads to dozens of injuries every year, however one young man from Rome took the capodanno madness to a whole other level on Thursday. The 24-year-old ended up in the city's Pellegrini Hospital twice in the early hours of New Year's Day after sustaining serious injuries in two separate firework-related incidents. The man, who was visiting the southern Italian city for New Year's Eve, lost three fingers after an explosive petardo firecracker blew up in his hand just after midnight. Following the amputation the man was discharged - against medical advice - and returned to the streets to celebrate with his friends. Shortly afterwards he returned to the emergency room in the same hospital with serious injuries to one eyeball, also caused by fireworks. He told doctors he was hit while walking on the street, however Carabinieri police did not believe his version of events and allege that he set off the rocket which hit him directly in the face. The man underwent another operation, with the risk that his vision will never return to normal, according to Italian news reports. He then discharged himself voluntarily, once again against the advice of his doctors, and went back to Rome with his parents who travelled specially to Naples to take him home. Reprieve follows months of diplomatic talks and lobbying from Italian pasta makers. The US government on Thursday said that proposed tariffs on Italian pasta would be slashed, in a move welcomed by the industry as well as consumers in America. The tariffs would have seen an additional "anti-dumping" duty of 91 per cent applied on top of the existing 15 per cent general tariff on European agri-food imports, bringing the tariffs on Italian pasta to a massive 107 per cent. Under new plans, the US department of commerce (DoC) has reduced the tariffs to between 2 and 14 per cent, with a final decision to be announced formally in early March. The threatened extra tariffs were motivated by "dumping" accusations after an investigation by the DoC found that two major Italian producers - La Molisana and Garofalo - were allegedly selling pasta at below market value between July 2023 and June 2024. The companies denied the accusations. The tariff set to be imposed on La Molisana would be cut to 2.26 per cent while the tariff on Garofalo would be set at 13.98 per cent, the Italian foreign ministry said, while the remaining 11 pasta producers are set to face tariffs of 9.09 per cent. Sigh of relief for Italian pasta makers The proposed move by the Trump administration would have almost doubled the cost of many pasta brands for shoppers and risked Italian pasta exporters pulling their produce from US supermarkets. Italy's agriculture minister Francesco Lollobrigida in October claimed that the hefty tariffs would trigger a "hyper-protectionist mechanism against our pasta producers, for which we see neither the need nor any justification". The US is one of Italy's top export markets for pasta, with almost 671 million in exports in 2024, according to agricultural group Coldiretti, which had claimed that the extra tariffs risked dealing a "fatal blow" to the Italian pasta sector. Coldiretti on Thursday celebrated the drastic reduction in the proposed tariffs, paying tribute to efforts by Lollobrigida, who said: "The good news coming from the United States demonstrates how serious work, without unnecessary alarmism, bears fruit". The Spotlight Talent show held recently in St Paul's Community College in Waterford was a fantastic success. It showcased the creative talent of the students in an exemplary way and Waterford News & Star photographer, Joe Evans was there to capture images of those in attendance. Photos will also appear in the forthcoming print edition of the newspaper and also online here at waterford-news.ie. Photos of other events are also available to view here on the website under the 'Archive' section and collections of nostalgic photos from our archive, titled 'Colourful Memories of Waterford' - volumes one and two, are currently available as fantastic photobooks on sale at The Book Centre or through or office on Gladstone Street. Hard copy prints of photos are also available to buy through our office. Waterford High Hopes Choir, guests at the St. Paul's Community College, Spotlight Talent Show. Photo: Joe Evans Noasis who performed Supersonic, at the St. Paul's Community College, Spotlight Talent Show. Photo: Joe Evans Case Closed, who performed Eye of the Tiger, and took third place, at the St. Paul's Community College, Spotlight Talent Show. Photo: Joe Evans Rumours, who performed Rhiannon, are were the winners at the St. Paul's Community College, Spotlight Talent Show. Photo: Joe Evans Jordan Arikhan, who performed Mans World, and took second place, at the St. Paul's Community College, Spotlight Talent Show. Photo: Joe Evans Moiz and Sami who performed Angel, at the St. Paul's Community College, Spotlight Talent Show. Photo: Joe Evans Trump Media will distribute a new digital token to its shareholders, the company announced on Wednesday. Trump Media is the parent company of several business ventures tied to US President Donald Trump, including the social media platform Truth Social, the streaming service Truth+, a forthcoming prediction market, and crypto-focused exchange-traded funds. Most recently, the company acquired TAE Technologies, a nuclear fusion startup. The new token will be distributed in partnership with crypto exchange Crypto.com. The distribution is expected to leverage the exchanges technology, including its blockchain, Cronos. That blockchain was home to a $500 million DeFi ecosystem as of Wednesday, according to DefiLlama data. Shareholders will receive a new token for each whole share of Trump Media, according to the announcement. But the tokens will not represent an ownership interest in Trump Media instead, tokenholders will receive periodic benefits, such as discounts tied to the companys various products. It is further anticipated that the tokens may not be transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash, the company said in its news release announcing the distribution. Additional details will be shared in the new year, the company added. We look forward to utilizing Crypto.coms blockchain technology and improving regulatory clarity to implement this first-of-its kind token distribution, reward Trump Media shareholders, and promote fair and transparent markets, CEO Devin Nunes, a former Republican Congressman, said in a statement. The distribution isnt the first time Trump Media has partnered with Crypto.com. Earlier this year, the two companies established a digital asset treasury company to acquire the Cronos cryptocurrency, CRO. More recently, they partnered to develop a prediction market, Truth Predict, that would be available through Truth Social. On December 18, Trump Media announced a $6 billion merger with fusion company TAE Technologies. The company plans to begin building what it calls the worlds first utility-scale fusion power plant in 2026. On Tuesday, the first five Truth Social ETFs began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. It plans to offer crypto-based ETFs in 2026 through Crypto.com subsidiary Foris Capital US. The president is Trump Medias largest shareholder, with a stake held in a trust managed by his son, Donald Trump Jr., according to the New York Times. Aleks Gilbert is DL News New York-based DeFi correspondent. You can contact him at aleks@dlnews.com. The Ferrybank branch of the Society of St Vincent de Paul supported 77 families with the organisation expressing sincere gratitude for the help it received locally - especially at Christmas. The organisation thanked all those who supported it throughout the year gone with one of those involved commenting that due to people's outstanding generosity, particularly at Christmas, they were able to support 77 families again this year. The society also decided, in acknowledgement of how much people had done already, they won't hold a church gate collection this month. The first church gate collection for 2026 will take place over the weekend of February 7 and 8. On New Years Day, a unique and historic event took place at the oldest intact operating lighthouse in the world. The 800-year-old Hook Lighthouse in County Wexford hosted the Dunbrody Archers for a traditional Arrow ceremony, reviving a centuries-old custom. This ancient tradition dates back to 1687, when the Mayor and corporation of New Ross Town Council asserted their authority over the tower and surrounding waters by travelling to Hook Head and shooting an arrow into the sea from the lighthouse. During the ceremony, biodegradable arrows were into the sea by the archers and by Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of New Ross Council, Cllr John Dwyer. Larry Colgan, General Manager at Hook Lighthouse, said, Hook Lighthouse is not only a beacon guiding ships safely along Irelands southern coast, but also a remarkable living link to our maritime history. "This Arrow ceremony connects us to centuries of tradition, reminding us of the lighthouses vital role in local heritage and community. Were delighted to welcome visitors to experience this special event and the rich stories that make Hook so unique. Ellen O'Donoghue A deadly fire at a ski resort bar in Switzerland on New Year's Eve features heavily on Irish front pages on Friday morning. The Irish Times lead with Ireland's corporate tax policy still causing negativity, Switzerland mourning the victims of a ski resort fire, and a petrol bombing in Dublin being the second mistaken attack on the same house. The Irish Examiner lead with housing supplies being stuck at an alarmingly low level, a fire in a bar in Switzerland killing around 40 people, and the Tanaiste saying that sectarian abuse levelled at Heather Humphreys during the presidential election should be a wake-up call. The Irish Independent lead with the number of students being reported to Tusla for poor school attendance increasing significantly, after more than 9,000 referrals were made in the last academic year. The Echo lead with nearly 900 people in Cork waiting for home support, and 13 XL bullies having been put down since the breed was banned. The Irish Daily Mail, Irish Daily Mirror, and Irish Daily Star all lead with a fire at a bar at a ski resort in Switzerland on New Year's Eve that killed more than 40 people and injured hundreds. The Herald lead with the Road Safety Authority warning about the high rate of defective cars on Irish roads, with almost 133,000 vehicles failing the NCT for dangerous faults. The Belfast Telegraph lead with an autistic boy being afraid to leave his house after being knocked unconscious and left with a broken nose in an unprovoked attack. Advertisement BusinessMarketsInnovation The Quantum era crept up while you were watching AI Catherine Thorbecke January 2, 2026 8:00am 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 Step aside, artificial intelligence. Another transformative technology with the potential to reshape industries and reorder geopolitical power is finally moving out of the lab: quantum. The United Nations dubbed 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. Its been marked by a flurry of announcements and a mountain of hype around a mind-boggling field of science long dismissed as perpetually a decade away from usefulness. But thats how people talked about AI, too, before ChatGPT spurred the current global arms race and investor euphoria. Microsoft Microsofts Majorana 1 Quantum Processing Unit. John Brecher Quantum technology taps the odd mechanics of quantum physics how particles behave at the atomic level to create computers, sensors and communications gear that are exponentially more powerful than todays. Classic computers process information in bits, which can be represented as 0 or 1. Quantum computers use qubits, which bear with me for a moment can exist in a superposition of both states at the same time. That allows them to evaluate a vast number of possibilities at extraordinary speed. As mystifying as it seems, quantum technology has the potential to transform sectors from medicine to finance. McKinsey estimates it could generate up to $US97 billion ($145 billion) in revenue worldwide by 2035. Fellow corporate consultant Bain, looking at the broader ecosystem, says it could unlock as much as $US250 billion in market value. Advertisement AI soaked up most of the attention this year. But if you werent watching closely, heres what you may have missed in quantum, and what Im watching out for next. The hype is getting louder; the quiet story is how unprepared we are. The year began with something rare in the field: a viral moment. In February, Microsoft unveiled its first quantum computing chip, touting a path to fitting a million qubits on a single processor. A sleek YouTube video broke down some of the jargon usually associated with the science and culminated with the declaration: Were at the cusp of a quantum age. Some researchers later questioned if the PR hype machine was going too far, perhaps overselling the underlying science. Related Article Science The Sydney mathematician finding a better way to keep your data safe But Microsofts splashy announcement followed Alphabets Google late-2024 unveiling of its own quantum-computing chip, dubbed Willow. And that was quickly followed by Amazons cloud unit teasing its Ocelot chip, which it claimed can reduce the costs of quantum error correction by up to 90 per cent compared to previous approaches. Reducing error rates is one of the biggest challenges given how sensitive qubits are to even the smallest changes in their environment. Advertisement By June, International Business Machines, a pioneer in the sector, unveiled an impressively detailed framework for launching a fault-tolerant (that is, less error-prone) quantum computer by 2029. And in October, Google said that it ran a verifiable algorithm on its Willow chip meaning one that can be repeated on another quantum system. The algorithm, dubbed Quantum Echoes, ran 13,000 times faster on Willow than whats possible on the worlds most powerful supercomputer, according to Google. The sheer pace of quantum activity from Big Tech and startups in 2025 would have been unthinkable even five years ago. Investors are taking notice and capital is flowing. The momentum is unlikely to ebb in 2026. The US still leads, but China is rapidly narrowing the gap. I recently wrote about this, looking at a surge of patent filings the same kind of data that analysts previously used to anticipate the nations leadership in other sectors, such as electric vehicles. John Martinis, one of this years winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics, warned earlier this month that China is mere nanoseconds behind. A new geopolitical race is underway. Beijing has earmarked $US15.3 billion in public funds for quantum computing, more than eight times the $US1.9 billion the US has pledged. Loading Advertisement The West was largely caught flat-footed by Chinas rapid advances in AI. It cannot afford a repeat. The stakes in quantum are arguably higher, but there is no excuse to be surprised by new breakthroughs coming from there in the new year. Still, for all the excitement, the limits of todays machines are just as real. At the start of the year, Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang predicted that were about 15 to 30 years away from quantum computers being very useful. He later said he was wrong, and by June declared the tech could be applied to solve some interesting problems in the coming years. But hes not alone in hedging. Amazon Web Services head of quantum hardware had a similar 15 to 30 year timeline in August. Even some of the most aggressive projections inside the industry put meaningful utility at least five years away. The spread in forecasts underscores how hard it remains to stabilise qubits and suppress error rates at scale. Yet that uncertainty is precisely why business leaders should pay attention now. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Software I was wrong about Elon. But he was wrong too David Swan Technology editor One of the most immediate risks stems from one of quantums most famous algorithms. In theory, Shors algorithm could allow a sufficiently powerful quantum computer to break much of the commonly-used encryption by banks and governments on todays internet. New post-quantum cryptographic standards are being developed, but the question of existing systems becoming obsolete is increasingly a when, not an if. A Bain survey this year found that 73 per cent of IT security professionals expect this to be a material risk within the next five years, and 32 per cent within the next three years. Yet only 9 per cent said they have a plan to address it. This disconnect is the real story of quantum going into 2026. Timelines have compressed, money is pouring in and a global race is underway but preparedness is lagging. Now is the time for companies and policymakers to build new quantum strategies and talent pipelines, beginning with a serious plan for post-quantum security. The hype is getting louder; the quiet story is how unprepared we are. Bloomberg Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Innovation AI Quantum Computing Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A The Pitt was a standout and, to some, a surprise success at the 2025 Emmy Awards. It won in four categories, including outstanding drama series and best lead actor in a drama series for Noah Wyle, triumphing against favoured contenders including Severance and The White Lotus. As the acclaimed and addictive HBO Max hospital drama created by R. Scott Gemmill is set to return for a second season on January 8, it seems fitting to acknowledge, and celebrate, the vision that helped shape it. Set in a Pittsburgh trauma centre, The Pitt clearly shares some of its DNA with ER (ABC iview, HBO Max), the award-winning and widely admired hospital series that was set in the emergency ward of a perpetually under-the-pump Chicago hospital. Both Gemmill and Pitt executive producer John Wells worked on ER, as did Wyle, who played Dr John Carter for 11 seasons. He is now also a writer and executive producer on The Pitt. The stars of ER (from left) Noah Wyle, Sherry Stringfield, Anthony Edwards, George Clooney and Eric La Salle. Exactly how much of ERs DNA is discernible in the recent series is a question thats now the subject of legal action brought by the estate of ERs creator, Harvard-educated doctor and best-selling author Michael Crichton, who died in 2008. The lawsuit claims The Pitt is an unauthorised reboot. The generic connections between the series are evident. That could be a case of evolution, in the same way the innovations of Hill Street Blues influenced the police series that followed it, or that LA Law influenced legal dramas. But whatever the outcome of the legal case, ERs place in TVs pantheon deserves recognition. Over 15 seasons (1994 to 2009) and 331 episodes, it set a benchmark for television drama in general and medical series in particular. Nominated for outstanding drama Emmys for six consecutive years following its debut, it won the award for its second season, eventually receiving an astonishing 124 Emmy nominations overall. Advertisement The series was born after Steven Spielbergs Amblin Television picked up a pilot script by Crichton that had been rejected elsewhere. It burst forth with a bracing rush of energy and inventiveness, bringing breathtaking pace and an unflinching eye to the practice of medicine in a pressured urban public hospital. Noah Wyle stars as Dr Michael Robinavitch in medical drama The Pitt. There was an unrelenting flood of people requiring attention, filling the crowded waiting area or crashing through the swinging doors on gurneys propelled by paramedics calling out urgent assessments of patients, who were frequently bleeding, screaming, crying, convulsing or unconscious. Mobile cameras captured the activity, their movement heightening the momentum, and dialogue often over-lapped, accentuating the impression of barely controlled chaos. Nothing about this environment was orderly or calm: and the constant state of red alert was immersive. Editor's pick Review Spray tans and exploding crocs? New Aussie crime caper is the right side of zany Doctors and nurses raced to the trauma rooms, their specialist language of abbreviations and acronyms delivered at rapid-fire pace: orders for CBCs, tox screens, BPs, amps of Epi, ccs of saline and units of lidocaine, as well as the calls to Clear! as the heart-starting paddles of defibrillators were applied. And everything needed to be done stat!. ER was fast and furious. An inner-city hospital had never been portrayed this way: at times, it looked more like a war zone. In addition to the pace and visual style, ER was structurally solid, featuring a beautifully calibrated and multiracial ensemble, as well as a procession of impactful guest stars. The early seasons focused largely on the characters working lives and the storylines were bold, tackling issues such as HIV, domestic violence, suicide and drug and alcohol addiction. Advertisement ER rightfully earned a large and devoted following, in its early years averaging more than 30 million viewers a week. The audacious live-to-air episode that opened the fourth season out-rated the milestone ratings-magnet of Dallas Who Shot JR? episode. And just to boost the degree of difficulty, ER did it twice, initially for the viewers on Americas East Coast and again two hours later for the west. Over the years, the show proved fertile ground for actors, some of whom got their big breaks there. Most famously, theres George Clooney, a jobbing actor previously consigned to bit parts and B-movies who found a perfect fit with the role of philandering paediatrician Doug Ross, a handsome charmer whos great with kids and dangerous with women. George Clooney as Dr Doug Ross on ER. But there were also numerous notables in regular and returning roles. Among them were Maura Tierney, Linda Cardellini and Gloria Reuben in the core cast, William H. Macy and Stanley Tucci in recurring roles, and guest stars including Ray Liotta (who won an Emmy), Sally Field, Cynthia Nixon, Alan Alda, Don Cheadle and Bob Newhart. Related Article Streaming Think you know whats been on TV this year? Challenge yourself with our quiz Its feature-length pilot opened with Anthony Edwards as Dr Mark Greene, a weary, battle-hardened veteran in an over-stretched and under-resourced public institution. He was the heart and soul of the place, a rock amid the swirl of activity. Today, he seems to be a model for the steady guiding force that is Wyles Dr Michael Robby Robinavitch in The Pitt and for numerous other leads in hospital series. Back then, Wyle was the fresh-faced, keen and green John Carter, an intern assigned to Eriq La Salles impatient, arrogant and skilled surgical resident, Peter Benton. Also on-call in the pilot were Julianna Margulies as proficient head nurse Carol Hathaway and Sherry Stringfield as capable and compassionate Dr Susan Lewis. Advertisement Australian summers are synonymous with beaches: places that belong to everyone, to holiday, celebrate, rejuvenate and heal. We asked local identities to tell us about their favourite spot. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Read the rest of our stories in our summer series. See all stories . Humans came from the sea somehow and I still feel a tangible sense of union with nature unlike any other outdoor experience when I dive in. Its been a constant in my life, and hence I have lots of favourite beaches. Some, like Freshwater, Bilgola, Soldiers Beach, are associated with childhood and the sensory overload of salt in the air, kelpy water, sunscreen (of a sort), wet towels and family. Here, nesting under a multicoloured beach umbrella wobbly in the wind, like a brood of chicks just out of the nest, we could take a collective deep breath after a year that felt like it would never end, squinting out at the rolling surf and the passing parade. Next up came rites-of-passage beaches while chasing waves with brothers and mates. Peter Garrett says the beach is agnostic and equitable. All shapes and sizes, backgrounds and beliefs can gather. Kane Hibberd Bodysurfing Queenscliff a long way out with the bombora going off, the large swell a surprise gift from a distant cyclone. Cramming into an ancient station wagon, charging up the Mid North Coast to Blueys, where dusk has fallen but youre still hanging on for that last perfect wave as the Seal Rocks lighthouse starts up, its beam tracing a comforting parabola across a deep, darkening sea. Advertisement Looking back, these elemental experiences were grounded in the rhythms of nature. Time was suspended and the sometimes uncomfortable world held at bay. The beach is agnostic and equitable. All shapes and sizes, backgrounds and beliefs can gather. And yes, wearing any kind of swimming attire, uplit by the blazing summer sun; a sanctuary from the constant din of digital sales spiels. When youre distracted only by the swirls of sand at the waters edge, or the anticipation of the thrills to come with parents, friends, instant neighbours close by its pure bliss. The beach is called the church of the open sky for a reason. In an age of autocrats, with climate chaos tugging at your sleeve and where-will-it-end AI incursion, beaches provide sweet relief, open all hours to anyone who shows up. Other than paying for your parking space, expenses are negligible, and the all-day care provided by volunteer lifesavers is surely one of our best social undertakings. Rob Hirst and Peter Garrett at a Midnight Oil show in the early 1980s. Advertisement Journeying up and down and across the continent, Ive seen the greatest assemblage of beaches and bays, inlets, lagoons, lakes, and headlands many relatively unspoiled, courtesy of First Peoples stewardship anywhere in the world. Bali, Malibu, Honolulu, the Riviera, anyone? Grossly overdeveloped, perpetually overhyped, these bucket-list locations dont even come close. Only two hours south of Sydney, true to its name, stretches Seven Mile Beach. With the hamlet of Gerroa clustered on its northern headland, this long beach sweeps south to Shoalhaven Heads. Bookended by rivers and camping grounds, Seven Mile Beach has the added bonus of a small national park running the length of the beach. Katina Curtis Often windswept, its currents can be treacherous; driftwood piles dot the shore. Seabirds are everywhere. Its a bit wild and a lot wonderful. To the west across the dunes is Coolangatta-Cullunghutti Mountain. In winter, big swells pound the sand. Its no surprise shipwrecks lie offshore. Bookended by rivers and camping grounds, Seven Mile has the added bonus of a small national park running the length of the beach. This parcel of revegetated coastal heath and rainforest, courtesy of staunch community action to hold back sand mining in the area, is a brilliant bush buffer zone, replete with barbecue facilities and walking paths that lead to the shore. Advertisement Advertisement NationalVictoriaCrime A strangled man and failed pregnancy plot: The tragic tale of the last woman hanged in Australia Marta Pascual Juanola January 2, 2026 12:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Warning: This story contains graphic details. In the still air of a Melbourne courtroom, Jean Lee collapsed into the arms of the man who had betrayed her her lover, her Bobby, and now, her accomplice a hothead petty criminal called Robert Clayton. It was March 1950, and Lee, Clayton and his army buddy, Norman Andrews, were on trial over the murder of William Pop Kent, an elderly bookie the group had met briefly during a drinking bender four months earlier. Jean Lee became the last woman in Australia to be sent to the gallows. Marija Ercegovac Kent had been found dead inside his room, so badly battered his nose was completely flattened and two of his teeth had come loose. His thumbs had been tied with a piece of boot lace, and a sheet tied around his neck. He had been strangled with such force his Adams apple had been crushed on both sides. Advertisement The 73-year-old, who had a habit of flaunting wads of cash at the pub, had last been seen drinking with Lee, Clayton and Andrews at the University Hotel in Carlton, and later sipping wine and smoking cigarettes with the trio at his Dorrit Street home in the evening of November 7, 1949. A jury panel of 12 men took less than three hours to reach a verdict. Lee, Clayton and Andrews, who were short on cash after blowing their money partying and at the horse races, were found guilty of murdering Kent during what police claimed was a botched robbery. They would be sentenced to death. Struggling to stand, an inconsolable Lee issued one final plea for mercy from the dock: I didnt do it, I didnt do it. The courtroom then erupted into shambolic scenes. May your next feed choke you, you swine, Clayton yelled before spitting at the jurors and being removed. Advertisement On February 19, 1951, Lee, a young mother from Dubbo, became the first woman in 56 years to be hanged in Victoria, and the last in Australias history. Records about her case and execution at Pentridge Prison were made public by the Public Record Office of Victoria for the first time this week, after remaining sealed for 75 years. The documents, which span more than 500 pages and have been examined by this masthead, include photographs, letters, newspaper clippings, wills, and court records relating to the case. They expose instances where the evidence was potentially compromised and legal discussions behind closed doors about whether a police statement should have been admitted. Advertisement The records also highlight lingering doubts about Lees role in the murder, and controversial interrogation techniques by detectives at the time, who questioned the trio without giving them a caution and shared Claytons statement with Lee and Andrews to elicit a confession. And they call women the weaker sex Inside an interrogation room at the old police headquarters on Russell Street on November 8, 1949, Lee remained staunch she would not answer questions. Police had been trying to get a confession for hours after arresting the trio as they were returning to their hotel on Spencer Street that morning. Lee and Clayton, who had extensive criminal records spanning more than 32 offences between them, had come to Melbourne from Sydney a few weeks earlier. They met Andrews, Claytons buddy, at the Werribee races and became inseparable. Advertisement Hanging her head, Jean Lee is led into the Melbourne Court. Fairfax Media I am not saying anything, Lee told detectives over and over again. Then, a break came in the interview room next door. Are you fair dinkum when you say that the chap is dead? Clayton asked detectives. If what you say is right, I will tell you all I know. I am not going to take the rap for what others do. Clayton said the group had headed to Carlton so that a cash-strapped Andrews could pawn his suit, and ended up drinking at the University Hotel in the afternoon. Advertisement There, Lee struck up a conversation with Kent. After the pub closed, the bookmaker invited them to his place. Later that evening, Lee told Clayton that Kent had money stashed in his fob pocket, but that his belly was too tight. If she could not get it the sweet way, they would do him over. Clayton told police: When I left the room, Norman and Jean were still with Pop. I am completely innocent of any attack made on this old man. The officers marched into Lees interrogation room and showed her Claytons statement. Lee, who had been adamant her lover would not talk, asked the detectives to bring him over. So you made a four-page statement did you? she asked Clayton. Advertisement Clayton replied he had, and broke down in tears. And they call women the weaker sex, Lee snapped. After Clayton was removed, Lee turned to the detectives and confessed. I love Bobby and I still love him, but if he wants it that way he can have it, she said. Lee said she had lost her temper and hit Kent in the head with a bottle and a piece of wood before tying his arms with a piece of sheet. I knew he was dead when we left him. Advertisement Asked by police what she meant by we, she hesitated. There was only me, she said. Her confession would be a miscalculation. When Lee was found guilty, no woman had been hanged in Victoria for more than half a century. Lees case file shows an anti-capital punishment movement was brewing. Advocates wrote to authorities asking for the trio to be spared the death penalty, which one described as murder by rope. One man even expressed plans to raise donations to fund the trios appeal. Advertisement After the execution, people wrote to newspapers condemning the decision, and called for capital punishment to be abolished. This latest execution was a very sordid thing for a civilised country belonging to the dark ages, one letter read. Reporting by The Argus newspaper at the time suggests the decision by the state cabinet to stand by the execution had sensational political implications, with Labor and some Liberals opposed to Lees hanging. By taking the blame for Kents murder, Lee perhaps erroneously assumed that she would be spared the death penalty and save Clayton and Andrews in the process. Forensic evidence presented during the trial showed Kents killer would have needed to use considerable force to strangle him, which police admitted that Lee with her little hands was unlikely to have. The judge even told the jury that Lees confession was obviously concocted and that nobody in his senses would believe that. Lee tried to walk back on her confession, telling the jury that she was hysterical after reading Claytons statement and admitted to the killing to get some peace and quiet. Clayton also told the court his statement was concocted, and he did not think it would throw Lee and Andrews under the bus because they were all innocent. Advertisement In the witness box, Lee, Clayton and Andrews claimed Kent had been in good health when they left his home at 7pm. Blood stains on their clothes and wounds to their hands had alternative explanations, they claimed. Attempts by the defence to get the statement and Lees confessions thrown out on the basis they had been improperly obtained failed, despite the trial judge conceding evidence had been obtained in an undesirable way. The trial was also marred by other issues that would be unacceptable in todays justice system, including the fact that the evidence of two key witnesses in the case a man and a woman living with Kent at the time of the murder that placed the trio in the home was potentially contaminated by allowing them to talk to one another and change their version of events. Lee, Clayton and Andrews appealed against their conviction and were granted a retrial. After the win, Lee and Clayton hugged and kissed in the dock. However, the Crown later appealed against the ruling and got the death penalty reinstated. Subsequent attempts by the trio to appeal against the High Court decision in the Privy Council in England failed. Advertisement The final Hail Mary One minute after 8am on a drizzly February morning in 1951, Lee was hanged from the first floor of a corridor at Pentridge prison. An ingenious scheme by Clayton to bribe prison guards to allow him to spend half an hour with his lover so they could claim Lee was pregnant and save her from the gallows failed. Police cordoned off the roads leading to the side entrance to the prison, while about 30 officers remained stationed inside its walls, ready to jump at any sign of a disturbance. A handful of people gathered outside. Seven journalists were invited to witness the executions by Victorian authorities who believed the publicity would deter potential murderers. A criminal will respect the rope where he yawns at a gaol term, the since-defunct newspaper Truth wrote at the time of the execution. Advertisement A seemingly unconscious Lee, who had been given a sedative the night before to help her sleep, had to be carried from her cell to the gallows by the executioner and his assistant, who had their faces obscured by large steel-rimmed goggles and felt hats. Lees limp body was sat on a chair placed atop the trapdoor. Her head and shoulders were covered by a white hood. Her hands and ankles were bound. Editor's pick Trade unions Fake names and a $2m transfer: How the CFMEUs forerunner did business in the 1980s Then, the door opened and Lee plunged to her death behind a brown curtain. Bells tolled to mark the execution, but the sound was drowned out by the roar of planes passing overhead. Advertisement Clayton and Andrews were hanged together two hours later. They exchanged one final farewell above the trap door. Goodbye Charlie, Clayton said. Goodbye Robert, Andrews replied. That afternoon, they were buried in sodden graves that had been dug by fellow prisoners. As a 1950 assessment of the trio put it: It is doubtful they would cold-bloodedly plan a murder and go through to it, but in this case, they saw a heaven-sent opportunity to replenish their empty pockets by robbing a sucker. Fascinating answers to perplexing questions delivered to your inbox every week. Sign up to get our new Explainer newsletter here. But Gillies said the price gap between Yamba and Byron Bay was the feature that turned heads, with prestige waterfront homes in Yamba rarely fetching beyond $3 million. In Byron, he said that figure would be closer to $12 million. Agnes Water: The Byron Bay of 20 years ago North of Brisbane, Agnes Water is known as the last surf beach before the Great Barrier Reef. The towns top surf breaks and barefoot vibes have attracted high-profile buyers over the years, including renowned winemaker Brian Croser and Rip Curl co-founder Doug Warbrick. Agnes Water is known as the last surf beach before the Great Barrier Reef. Its got a really special energy, said James White, of McGrath Agnes Water. Its very similar to Byron and Noosa but it feels like they did 15 or 20 years ago. And you can still get a seaside unit from $325,000, and theres still vacant land near the beach from $400,000 with killer ocean views. Domain figures show the median price of a house in Agnes Water is $870,000. White praised Agnes Water for its uncrowded surf breaks and kilometres of pristine, secluded beaches. But youve still got the ice-cream parlours, cafes and bars. Thats the magic. Malua Bay and surrounds: Where bush meets beach Nestled on NSWs south coast, Malua Bay sits about 3 hours south of Sydney. Its one of a number of quiet coastal towns dotted between Batemans Bay and Moruya in the Eurobodalla Shire. Just like other coastal pockets there, it has bush that spills straight onto the sand, solid surf breaks and a vibrant community. Malua Bay boasts bush that spills straight onto the sand, solid surf breaks and a vibrant community. Credit: Peter Rae There are something like 53 beaches in this shire, said Karen Herrick of LJ Hooker Malua Bay. And that includes white sand beaches, hidden coves, places for snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding through to top surfing breaks it honestly ticks all those boxes. And what youd spend $3 million on in Byron, you can buy here for $1.5 million. Loading While the median house price in Malua Bay is $950,000, Herrick warned growing interest from Sydneysiders and remote workers had already fuelled growth. For every 10 clients I speak to now, two or three are from Sydney - that used to be one in 30, Herrick said. While the laid-back lifestyle remains unsullied, she said the Eurobodalla Shires changing demographics had sparked a renaissance with craft breweries, quality eateries and local designer wares. This morning, one of my friends posted a photo on Facebook of nearby Broulee Beach and there wasnt a single person on it, she said. And her tag line was: Just living the dream - until everyone else gets here. Dungog: Bowral of the north (without the price tag) Perched just over 2 hours north of Sydney in the foothills of the Barrington Tops, Dungog is a tree-change favourite for buyers craving a creative community, space and jaw-dropping scenery minus Byron Bays (or Bowrals) stratospheric price tags. A tiny house in Dungog, which is perched in the foothills of the Barrington Tops Credit: Ray White With a population of about 10,000, the town hasnt had enough sales in the past year to generate a formal median house price. But Jedda Casserly of Ray White Rural said residential homes in the heart of the village now fetched between $700,000 and $800,000, with sprawling acreage properties sitting just north of $1 million. Advertisement TechnologyCybersecurity Salt Typhoon hackers almost certainly in Australias critical infrastructure David Swan January 2, 2026 2:00am 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 top cybersecurity figure says Chinas Salt Typhoon hacking campaign has almost certainly burrowed into Australias critical infrastructure in one of the most effective long-term espionage campaigns ever seen. Alastair MacGibbon, chief strategy officer at CyberCX and a former cybersecurity adviser to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, said Salt Typhoons operation has probably compromised multiple sectors across Australia and New Zealand and remains undetected. It is the most effective espionage campaign against the West that we have ever seen, MacGibbon said, and reflects an insidious shift in the global threat landscape where Beijing is pouring significant resources into burrowing into critical Western infrastructure. CyberCX co-founder Alastair MacGibbon. Oscar Colman By the admission of the US government, Salt Typhoon has seen the Chinese intelligence services comprehensively penetrate the communications of millions of Americans, including some top decision-makers, MacGibbon told this masthead. Advertisement While theres no public evidence that Salt Typhoon is active in Australia, we consider it highly likely that Salt Typhoon has compromised sectors in Australia which remain undetected. Related Article Cybersecurity Cyber expert gets rare Australian visa by hacking the government Salt Typhoon named by Microsoft using its convention for Chinese state-linked threat groups - is a hacking operation that has been active since at least 2019. Rather than deploying ransomware or seeking quick financial pay-offs like criminal hackers, Salt Typhoon is focused on long-term espionage: quietly infiltrating telecommunications networks, stealing data, and maintaining persistent access that could be weaponised during future conflicts. The FBI revealed last week that Salt Typhoon had hacked at least 200 American companies and struck organisations across 80 countries. The Australian Signals Directorate, working alongside 20 international partner agencies, has publicly attributed the campaign to Beijings Ministry of State Security and Peoples Liberation Army. What makes Salt Typhoon particularly alarming is its exploitation of lawful intercept capabilities surveillance systems that telecommunications companies are legally required to maintain for law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Advertisement By targeting US telco networks, Salt Typhoon has enabled Chinas Ministry of State Security to take over the lawful intercept capabilities that governments compel telcos to have, MacGibbon said. This means that the MSS can see and listen to highly sensitive interception and surveillance data meant for law enforcement and security agencies. MacGibbon said one of the most concerning aspects for security professionals was how difficult such state-backed campaigns were to identify. For decades, China has used for-hire hackers to break into computer networks and systems. Fairfax Media Unlike ransomware gangs, nation-state actors employ so-called living off the land techniques that exploit legitimate, built-in tools within a victims own systems rather than deploying malware that might trigger security alerts. These stealthy techniques can bypass traditional security tripwires and are much harder to detect, MacGibbon said. CyberCXs most recent threat report found that espionage incidents take on average about 400 days to detect, compared to just over three weeks for financially motivated attacks perpetrated by cybercriminals. Advertisement For businesses, the stakes extend beyond espionage. Jake Hense, a research analyst at American Century, noted that cybersecurity had become fundamental to assessing whether a business can survive long-term, a factor the US Securities and Exchange Commission now requires companies to address in their disclosures. A sustainable business must be able to address risks, including cyberthreats that could significantly impact its ability to conduct day-to-day business, Hense said. Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, Chief of Joint Capabilities, Australian Defence Force. Oscar Colman The warning follows MacGibbons appearance at The Australian Financial Review Cyber Summit in September, where he cautioned that Chinese-made electric vehicles and connected devices posed similar risks as potential surveillance and disruption tools. Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, who leads Defences cyber and space operations, told the same summit that Australia was effectively already fighting in cyberspace. Advertisement I would be naive to get up here and tell you that were not in conflict in the cyber domain now, Coyle said. Our ships will not sail, our planes will not fly, and our missiles will miss targets if we dont get the cyber domain right. Related Article Updated Cybersecurity ASIO boss sounds alarm on devastating, disruptive Chinese hacking threat MacGibbon said Five Eyes agencies were very alive to the risk and regularly publishing joint advisories with practical guidance for critical infrastructure organisations, including reviewing network device logs for unexpected activity and employing robust change management processes. China has consistently denied involvement in Salt Typhoon, with a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington claiming the US intelligence community was spreading disinformation. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Cybersecurity David Swan is the technology editor for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. He was previously technology editor for The Australian newspaper. or email. Connect via X Advertisement Analysis WorldMiddle EastMiddle East tensions Trump trapped as tensions between two powerful allies burst into the open Vivian Nereim January 3, 2026 6:00am 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 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: As Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, rose to power a decade ago, officials and pundits in Washington sometimes compared him to the de facto ruler of the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both royals presented themselves as authoritarian reformers. In 2015, they teamed up in Yemen, launching a disastrous military intervention to beat back Iran-supported rebels, and later joined forces in a bitter political dispute against their neighbour Qatar. But today, the two men are increasingly at odds, leading their oil-rich Persian Gulf countries into confrontation and competition with each other in the Middle East, Africa and beyond. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, and the UAEs Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2021. AP On Tuesday, long-simmering tensions burst into the open as a Saudi-led airstrike targeted a UAE shipment as it arrived in Yemen, with the accusation that the UAE was sending weapons to a separatist group. Advertisement It was the dramatic climax of a spat between the one-time partners, who now support opposing groups in Yemen and Sudan, have pursued differing oil policies and acted against each other in economic and trade matters. Because of the vast global influence of Saudi Arabia and the UAE as major energy exporters, with enormous sovereign wealth and diplomatic sway the rift has the potential to move markets, derail investments and disrupt sensitive negotiations around the world. This frame grab from video broadcast by Saudi state television on December 30 shows what the kingdom describes as a shipment of weapons and armoured vehicles coming from the UAE, at Mukalla, Yemen. AP For Washington, the rupture has the makings of a serious headache. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent Tuesday working the phones with his Saudi and UAE counterparts. Both countries have made extravagant promises to pour money into the United States, and they are key players from whom US President Donald Trump hopes to win support for his Middle East policies, including in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Advertisement No one in the Gulf wants to see another Gulf crisis, so everyone has an interest in containing this, said Yasmine Farouk, the director of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula project for the International Crisis Group. Still, a fundamental schism remains. In his early years, Crown Prince Mohammed pursued an aggressive foreign policy, mounting the bombing campaign in Yemen within months of being appointed defence minister. But he has since looked to subdue regional conflicts in pursuit of his economic agenda at home. In contrast, the UAE has become a regional maverick with what appear to be imperial ambitions. During the first Trump administration, it helped engineer a series of agreements through which the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco normalised ties with Israel, shattering a long-standing policy among many Arab countries. Advertisement The UAE government has also taken an increasingly active role outside the region and has invested heavily in Africa. In recent months, the country has faced international outcry over its alleged role in Sudan. It has been accused of backing the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force that is fighting the Sudanese military in a devastating civil war. During a visit to the United States in November, Crown Prince Mohammed pressed US President Donald Trump to help bring about a peace deal in Sudan. Bloomberg UAE officials previously denied that they provided support to the group, though the evidence is well documented. Saudi Arabia has backed the Sudanese military and hosted peace talks between the two sides. During a visit to the United States in November, Crown Prince Mohammed pressed Trump to help bring about a peace deal in Sudan. The potential involvement of the Trump administration would compound the international pressure on the UAE over Sudan. Advertisement Someones giving them the money and someones giving them the weapons, Rubio said in November, referring to the players in Sudan. And we know who they are. In recent years, the UAE has been allocating its growing financial and military tools to fulfil its geo-economic ambitions by projecting its influence, Farouk said, while Saudi Arabia has focused on containing and managing regional crises. Someones giving them the money and someones giving them the weapons. And we know who they are. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio We are an influential country in the region, senior UAE official Anwar Gargash said in an interview with CNN in November. Maybe somebody doesnt like it. But matter of fact, we are. And, as a result, I think we have a regional view on what we want to see in countries around us. Bader Al-Saif, an assistant professor at Kuwait University, described the fault lines between the countries as a difference in worldviews. Advertisement Analysts and diplomats say that the actions of Sheikh Mohammed of the UAE appear to be ideologically driven, including by his opposition to political Islamism, which he views as a threat to the region. The Saudi crown prince, by contrast, is a ruthless pragmatist, willing to shift his political positions as needed. Their differing mindsets and strong personalities seemed to make collision inevitable at some point. In 2019, the UAE offered support to a separatist group in Yemen, the Southern Transitional Council, which began openly fighting the Yemeni government. AP The first public indication that something was amiss came in 2019. As the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen faced growing international pressure over widespread death, hunger and disease in the country, the UAE withdrew most of its forces. But it also offered support to a separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council, which began openly fighting the Yemeni government. Advertisement Soon after, economic competition between the two countries heated up. Crown Prince Mohammeds plans to turn Saudi Arabia into a global hub for business, artificial intelligence and tourism pose a potential threat to Dubai, the UAEs major financial and aviation hub. Saudi and UAE officials often say that competition between them is friendly and beneficial for everyone. Yet in 2021, the Saudi government began pressing international companies to relocate their regional headquarters from Dubai to Riyadh, the Saudi capital and threatened to cut off access to lucrative government contracts for firms that did not comply. Crown Prince Mohammeds plans to turn Saudi Arabia into a global hub for business, artificial intelligence and tourism pose a potential threat to Dubai, the UAEs major financial and aviation hub. Bloomberg The countries fiercest clashes have been in Yemen, the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula. In December, the separatists swept through southern and eastern Yemen, seizing control of vast swaths of oil-rich territory in regions where Saudi Arabia had long held sway, and stating their intention to form a breakaway state. Advertisement Why the UAE supports the group is unclear, but analysts speculate that the UAE leadership could be attracted to the idea of holding sway in Yemeni port cities located on crucial global trade routes. UAE officials say they merely stand by Yemenis rights to security and self-determination. Saudi officials described the separatist groups recent moves as a security threat to the kingdom, which shares a long and porous border with Yemen. On Tuesday, when Saudi-led forces in Yemen bombed the UAE shipment, saying it contained arms bound for the separatists, the Saudi Foreign Ministry accused the UAE of pressuring the group into mounting their recent offensive. Trump and UAEs Sheikh Mohammed during the US presidents Gulf visit in May. Getty Images The UAE government denied that and said the shipment did not contain weapons, but hours later it announced that it would withdraw its remaining military forces from Yemen of its own volition. In the aftermath of the airstrike, Saudi and UAE commentators, who typically profess brotherly respect for each others countries, began shooting verbal salvos. Advertisement The allegation that the UAE had threatened Saudi security was unfortunate and untrue, Dhahi Khalfan, the outspoken deputy police chief of Dubai, wrote on social media. Then he criticised Crown Prince Mohammed, albeit subtly lavishing praise on a former Saudi ruler, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, whose memory is often invoked by Saudi critics of the prince. The memory of former Saudi ruler King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (pictured) is often invoked by Saudi critics of the crown prince. May God have mercy on King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and grant him the highest levels of paradise, Khalfan wrote. It is in the darkest of nights that the full moon is missed. Saudi social media influencers insinuated that the UAE government was acting opportunistically and had delusions of grandeur. Advertisement Punching above ones weight is one thing. Believing it makes you a regional power is another, wrote Saud AlDossary, son of the kingdoms media minister. Al-Saif expressed hope that the rifts emergence out in the open will accelerate a resolution, or at least a clearer modus vivendi. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. As the Middle East markets kick off 2026 on a positive note, with Saudi Arabia's benchmark index gaining 0.6% and Omans stock index edging up by 0.5%, investors are increasingly looking towards the region for promising opportunities amid broad-based buying in sectors like consumer staples and information technology. In this dynamic environment, identifying stocks with strong fundamentals and growth potential can be key to uncovering hidden gems that may thrive in the evolving economic landscape of the Middle East. Top 10 Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals In The Middle East Name Debt To Equity Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Health Rating Sure Global Tech NA 10.11% 15.42% Baazeem Trading 10.02% -1.27% -1.66% Qassim Cement NA 4.02% -11.40% MOBI Industry 13.81% 5.69% 19.68% Nofoth Food Products NA 21.41% 25.45% Saudi Azm for Communication and Information Technology 3.26% 17.17% 23.30% Najran Cement 14.49% -4.20% -30.16% Amanat Holdings PJSC 10.86% 27.51% -0.92% Etihad GO Telecom 0.85% 38.36% 57.78% Ajman Bank PJSC 53.89% 16.11% 18.02% Click here to see the full list of 185 stocks from our Middle Eastern Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener. Below we spotlight a couple of our favorites from our exclusive screener. Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Lila Kagit Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S. is a company that produces and sells roll papers primarily in Turkey, with a market capitalization of TRY17.11 billion. Operations: Lila Kagit generates revenue primarily from the sale of paper and paper products, totaling TRY10.28 billion. The company's financial performance is influenced by its cost structure and market dynamics in Turkey. Lila Kagit Sanayi Ve Ticaret, a relatively small player in the household products sector, has seen some mixed results recently. Despite negative earnings growth of -14.8% over the past year, it remains profitable with high-quality earnings and more cash than total debt. The company reported third-quarter sales of TRY 3.19 billion, down from TRY 4.03 billion last year, while net income was TRY 411 million compared to TRY 468 million previously. With a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.4x below the market average and revenue forecasted to grow by over 31% annually, Lila Kagit's potential for future growth seems promising amidst current challenges. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaVaccination Opinion This is the damage RFK Jnr has done in less than a year Jeneen Interlandi Contributor January 1, 2026 1:33pm January 1, 2026 1:33pm 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 the days before Christmas, as measles, whooping cough and influenza continued to spread and surge across the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services came perilously close to scrapping the nations long-standing list of recommended childhood vaccines. The number of US children catching measles is rising. Sydney Morning Herald As CNN reported, the agencys plan was to go with a shorter list, along the lines of what Denmark recommends. As Politico reported soon after, that plan was jettisoned at the last minute over legal and political concerns. Sources in and around the department have since suggested that something far worse may still be in the offing. They could still move to align us with a country like Denmark, said Dr Demetre Daskalakis, a former director of the Centres for Disease Control and Preventions respiratory disease division. He resigned in August in protest of the agencys politicisation of vaccine policy. But they could also just scrap the list altogether, so that there are no official recommendations, only vague suggestions. Either of those changes would be unconscionable. Among other things, the CDC list, also known as the childhood vaccine schedule, helps determine which vaccines are covered by insurance, which are included in the Vaccines for Children Program that supplies crucial shots to the un- and underinsured, and which are protected from certain liabilities that might otherwise drive vaccine makers from the US market. Altering those recommendations, or downgrading them to shared clinical decision making, would upend those protocols, and could make it nearly impossible for millions of families to receive certain lifesaving vaccines, even if they still want them. Advertisement However, neither move would be surprising. In the 11 months since he was confirmed as health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr has wreaked steady havoc on the nations vaccination policies and programs. He cancelled hundreds of millions of dollars in federal investment for mRNA vaccines, including ones that would have improved our ability to fight the next flu pandemic. He chased away doctors and scientists at the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC who oversaw federal vaccine policy for decades. Photo: Joe Benke Perhaps worst of all, he fired the entire 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices, known as ACIP. It is responsible for advising the CDC on which vaccines to recommend for whom. It now consists of a mix of ideologues and incompetents handpicked by Kennedy himself. Already, it has: Rescinded recommendations for any flu shots containing thimerosal, a preservative that keeps multi-dose vaccine bottles free of bacteria and other contamination. It has been in use for nearly a century and has decades worth of data validating its safety. Revoked a long-standing recommendation of the measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox, or MMRV, combination vaccine for children younger than four. The policy change is not based on any valid medical or scientific concern. Stopped recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy people younger than 65 unless they talk to a health care provider, a move that makes it harder for people who want or need those shots to get them. Changed the recommendations for hepatitis B vaccination from saying all newborns should have this shot to one that might as well be a shrug emoji: new mothers who test negative should decide for themselves whether to have their babies vaccinated at birth, but might consider waiting. Advertisement None of these changes are evidence-based. All run counter to what the CDCs own experts (and most of the nations leading medical groups) have advised. And all are likely to sow confusion, undermine public trust and ultimately drive the nations vaccination rates down. We are already hearing about pregnant women who test positive for Hep B deciding not to get the shot, said Dr Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Centre at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Because the message theyre getting from that recommendation is that the vaccine itself is dangerous. Proponents of the push to align US recommendations with those of so-called peer nations such as Denmark, Japan and Germany all of which recommend fewer shots than the US have billed it as a commonsense corrective. But, as innumerable doctors and scientists have explained, when it comes to public health, countries with fewer shots on their must-have list are not actually our peers. In Denmark, to take the administrations favourite example, prenatal care is free and universal. More than 95 per cent of pregnant women are screened for hepatitis B, and those who test positive are promptly treated and duly monitored. In Japan and in most European nations, primary care systems have the capacity to find and vaccinate children who face a higher risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and in many of those countries, paid sick leave also helps minimise the spread of contagions through schools and offices. None of this is true in the US, where nearly a quarter of pregnant women lack adequate prenatal care, and those who face the highest risk of contracting and spreading vaccine-preventable diseases are often the least likely to have access to doctors or pharmacies. When US health officials tried to stamp out hepatitis B through vaccination programs aimed at high-risk groups, they failed miserably. It was not until they carried out a universal, at-birth vaccination policy in 1991 that hepatitis B infections finally plummeted by about 99 per cent. In fact, if the US public health system has one thing going for it relative to other nations, its probably vaccines. As the CDCs own data indicates, routine childhood vaccination has prevented hundreds of millions of illnesses and tens of millions of hospitalisations. It has also saved half a trillion dollars in medical costs, a figure that jumps into the multitrillions once you factor in indirect, societal costs like lost productivity and lost wages. Advertisement The US tends to have higher rates of measles vaccination than Europe, and fewer measles cases as a result. Compared with Denmark, we also tend to have lower hospitalisation rates for rotavirus (which causes diarrhoea and can be fatal in infants and children) and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV (which is a leading cause of hospitalisation among children). The reason for those disparities is not in dispute: we vaccinate routinely against both viruses. Denmark does not. Kennedy and his supporters have said repeatedly that parents should be able to decide for themselves whether to vaccinate their children. But the Trump administrations actions have put the nation on course for a future where even those who want vaccines may not be able to get them. Related Article Review Drugs, sexting and Trumps tantrums: RFKs alleged digital lover Olivia Nuzzis memoir lands Anytime you move away from a clear, universal recommendation, implementation becomes more difficult, said Dr. Fiona Havers, a vaccine expert who resigned from the CDC in protest in June. Does insurance still have to cover a shot that falls under shared clinical decision-making? Maybe. Can you still get it at the pharmacy? Not necessarily. For now, health insurers have promised to continue covering vaccines, regardless of what the CDC does or says, presumably because they understand that vaccinating people is far cheaper than letting them get sick. But consumers would have no obvious recourse if those insurers eventually changed their minds and, in any case, that promise applies only to families that have commercial health insurance to begin with. About half of all American children rely instead on the federally funded Vaccines for Children Program and that program falls squarely within the jurisdiction of Kennedy, our anti-vaxxer in chief. Advertisement If the CDC does change the childhood schedule to resemble Denmarks, or scraps that schedule altogether, and if the health secretary decides to adjust the Vaccines for Children Program accordingly, about half of all American families could suddenly find themselves with no clear way to get essential vaccines their best possible protection against a roster of devastating diseases., including rotavirus, RSV and hepatitis B. In the meantime, the FDA is angling to make an even bigger and more enduring impact on Americans access to vaccines. After claiming, without presenting a shred of proof, that COVID vaccines played a role in the death of 10 children, top officials at the agency have proposed a roster of new requirements for the shots, including several that critics say would be logistically impossible and could leave us with no FDA-approved COVID or flu vaccines. That loss of approval would be disastrous, Daskalakis, Havers and others say. Changes to the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program could also seriously undermine vaccine access. The program, which compensates people who suffer rare side effects from certain vaccines, was established in 1988 after a tidal wave of lawsuits threatened to drive vaccine makers from the American market. If Kennedy decides to exempt any shot that falls under the fuzzy rubric of shared clinical decision-making from this program and if nobody stops him vaccine makers may once again threaten to leave the U.S. market. Kennedy could also drive those companies away by adding autism to the list of conditions for which they are potentially liable. (Decades of research has debunked the assertion that vaccines cause autism. But Kennedy and his supporters have proved astoundingly impervious to that evidence.) They will stop selling vaccines here, Havers said. And regardless of what ACIP says, regardless of what FDA says, regardless of what your doctor says, and regardless of what you actually want, if companies dont sell them, people cant get them. Advertisement We dont have to wonder what that future will look like. We can glimpse it already in communities across the country where measles and whooping cough are resurgent and where infants and young children have already died from both. We can also see it foretold in the current flu season: this years flu vaccine has proved an imperfect match to the currently circulating strains. New shots, based on mRNA technology, would have one day enabled us to avoid this kind of misfire. But the nations leaders have imperiled that future with the decisions they made this year. It should not surprise anyone that 2025 when the nations most prominent anti-vaxxer rose to the highest health office in the land is ending with our vaccine policies in disarray and our access to vaccines increasingly imperiled. Kennedy has brought us to this precipice by aggressively subverting nearly every process and protocol that previously governed our public health institutions. He has granted political appointees enormous sway over agency scientists. He has excluded people with meaningful expertise from his planning and deliberations. And he has fired dissenters all the way up to the CDC director and replaced them with lackeys, sycophants and wellness grifters. The relentless norm-shattering is not just a byproduct of Kennedys larger plans; it is a central feature. Bureaucratic changes to arcane and acronym-laden programs are easy to overlook or forget after a brief flash of indignation, especially in a world saturated with bleak, worrisome headlines. But its through that overlooking that we may eventually lose vaccines altogether. Vaccines are a triumph of human ingenuity, modern medicine and public health. With them, we have beaten back smallpox, chickenpox, yellow fever, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, COVID, meningitis and more. If Kennedy continues to force the nation down the course hes now set, we will be left to explain to future generations how we came to abandon them. The New York Times I discussed a possible Occidental Petroleum Corp (OXY) dividend raise next month in my Dec. 23, 2025, Barchart article. I showed that OXY stock could be worth $50 per share. Investors are now piling into January 16, 2026, expiry OXY call options. OXY closed at $41.46 on Dec. 30, 2025, but the $43.00 call option contract expiring January 16, 2026, has had huge, unusual volume. More News from Barchart OXY stock - last 3 months - Barchart - Dec. 30, 2025 This huge trading volume can be seen in Barchart's Unusual Stock Options Activity Report on Dec. 30, 2025. It shows that almost 39,000 call option contracts have traded. That is over 130x more than the prior number of call contracts outstanding at the $43.00 exercise price for Jan. 16, 2026. In other words, massive volume traded here. The premium paid by buyers is just 46 cents, or just 1.1% over the trading price of $41.46. OXY calls expiring Jan. 16, 2026 - Barchart Unusual Stock Options Activity Report - Dec. 30, 2025 In other words, investors buying these calls have a strong belief that OXY stock could trade well over $42.00 (i.e., $41.46+$0.46 = $41.92 breakeven) in the next month. And why not? As I have shown in my prior Barchart article, Occidental Petroleum will likely hike its dividend per share. Dividend Hike Implies a Higher Target Price As a result, OXY stock could be worth much more. For example, let's assume Occidental raises the annual dividend per share (DPS) to $1.00 from $0.96 at present. That implies, at today's price, the dividend yield is 2.41% (i.e., $1.00 / $41.46). But, historically, OXY stock has had a much lower dividend yield. For example, Yahoo! Finance reports that the average yield over the last 5 years has been 1.16%. Morningstar's average yield calculation for the past 5 years has been 0.42%. Just to be conservative, let's assume that the market will value OXY stock with a 2.0% dividend yield. That is close to the range in the past 2 years: 1.78% to 2.38%. Here is what that implies for OXY stock's value: $1.00 / 0.02 = $50.00 target price (TP) In other words, if the market reverts to the average yield, the stock has to rise to the $50.00 TP mentioned above to give investors a 2.0% dividend yield on their investment. In other words, OXY is worth 20.6% more: $50/$41.46 -1 = 1.206 -1 = +20.6% upside President and CEO Mat Ishbia sold about 1.7 million shares of UWM Holdings that were held by his trust , SFS Corp. According to the SEC filing, SFS Corp. is a 10% holder of UWM Holdings, and Ishbia is the CEO and sole director of SFS Corp. and serves as its investment advisor. While the shares sold were indirect holdings, Ishbia also holds almost 280,000 shares of UWM Holdings directly. Additionally, another 180,737 shares were converted from restricted stock units to common shares in the period reported by the SEC filing. UWM Holdings Corporation is a leading U.S. wholesale mortgage lender, leveraging scale and technology to efficiently originate and process high volumes of residential mortgage loans. The company focuses on conforming and government loan products, maintaining a broad broker network to maximize distribution. Its competitive advantage is rooted in operational efficiency and a technology-driven platform that streamlines the mortgage origination process for its partners. How does the transaction value compare to the current market capitalization and company valuation? The transaction, approximately $9.36 million, represents a minor fraction of UWM Holdings Corporations total market capitalization of $8.9 billion as of November 28, 2025, underscoring that the sale is immaterial at the company level despite being significant for insider ownership. How did the sale size compare to prior transactions by Mat Ishbia? This sale of 1,629,785 shares is above the median size for Mat Ishbias historical open-market sales, which was 1,200,108 shares. However, as cumulative holdings declined to 279,989 shares, the absolute size of this sale reflects the reduced available share capacity rather than a strategic increase in trade size. President and CEO Mat Ishbia executed the open-market sale of 1,629,785 shares of UWM Holdings Corporation (NYSE:UWMC) across multiple transactions, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing . These shares were held indirectly via Ishbia's trust, SFS Corp. The stock was down more than 10% for the year at the time of the sale, but the market was reacting positively to the quarterly news. Story Continues UWM reported its third-quarter results on Nov. 6, which featured a four-year-high $41.7 billion in total loan origination volume, as well as $843.3 million in total revenue and a net income of $12.1 million. This came on the heels of the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) first rate cut of the year, which lowered the target range for the federal funds rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4% to 4.25% and sent the 30-year fixed rate mortgage down to 6.3%. Lower mortgage rates can have a mixed effect on mortgage lenders. They can stimulate homebuying and increase demand for refinancing but may also strain profit margins and increase balance sheet risk. As of Nov. 28, UWM stock was down 10% on the year, but had seen lows near 34% to 40% earlier this year. The stock jumped more than 3% in November following the Q3 results. Glossary Open-market sale: The sale of securities on a public exchange, available to any investor, not through private negotiation. SEC Form 4: A regulatory filing disclosing insider trades by company officers, directors, or significant shareholders. Insider ownership: Shares of a company held by its executives, directors, or other key personnel. Direct ownership: Shares owned personally by an individual, not through trusts or other entities. Weighted average purchase price: The average price paid per share, weighted by the number of shares in each transaction. Wholesale lending channel: A business model where loans are originated through third-party mortgage brokers, not directly to consumers. Conforming loan: A mortgage that meets government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) guidelines for size and credit quality. Government-backed loan: A mortgage insured or guaranteed by a government agency, such as FHA or VA loans. Originate: To create and fund a new loan, typically by a lender or mortgage broker. TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report. Dont miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then youll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a Double Down stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If youre worried youve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before its too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, youd have $488,191 !* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, youd have $52,080 !* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, youd have $507,744!* Right now, were issuing Double Down alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See the 3 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 29, 2025 Sarah Sidlow has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. UWM Holdings CEO Sells 1.6 Million Shares for $9.4 Million After Strong Q3 was originally published by The Motley Fool COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (DECEMBER 30 EDITION) The volunteer team behind a medical evacuation facility near Ballyhaunis hope to have the first stage of the project built in early 2026. Project organiser Gerry OBoyle explained that a helicopter landing pad will be built at a cost of approximately 180,000, with an emergency room to be built later, at a cost of approximately 1.5 million. Located in Carrowreagh, near Ballyhaunis, the air ambulance base will be built in memory of Billy Kedian, a Ballyhaunis native who died on United Nations service in Lebanon. We are waiting for corporate funding and well be applying to Mayo County Councils CLAR funding scheme, said Mr OBoyle. We aim to start work in January or February. The new helicopter pad will come with LED lighting, he added. Planning permission is not an issue in building the helipad, explained Mr O'Boyle. You dont need planning to land a helicopter, he noted. The building of a fully-equipped emergency room at the site will happen later. It will be fully equipped to treat someone on site," he said. The Billy Kedian Heli Hero Trust, under which the helipad is being built, is meanwhile helping to bring children to hospital. We recently flew a little girl from hospital in London home to Waterford, said Mr OBoyle. The Trusts website explains that helicopter mercy missions for children will keep alive the memory of Private Kedian, who died after a rocket attack on the army base in which he was serving. Medical evacuation by helicopter from the site was not possible at the time of the attack. The Billy Kedian Heli Hero Trust website explains: Our mission is simple: no child in Ireland should ever be left without access to urgent medical care, no matter where they live. Every second counts, and distance must never be a barrier when a childs life is in danger. Through rapid helicopter transport, we bridge the gap between families in crisis and the specialised care their children need. Our vision is of an Ireland where compassion takes flight, where every community is within reach of help, and where every mission carried out keeps Billy Kedians memory alive. Speaking in September 2024 at the launch of a fundraising campaign in Ballyhaunis for the helipad project, Minister of State Alan Dillon called for an audit of the emergency service needs of the western region to identify the needs for air ambulance support services. A formal assessment of the region would identify the specific needs for air ambulance services across the region with regard to distances to local hospitals and other factors, said Minister Dillon, who also said that any eventual project in Ballyhaunis would be a partnership with a contracted provider supplying the aircraft and pilots and the health service supplying medical staff. Minister Dillon envisages the proposed Ballyhaunis service operating as a helipad allowing a helicopter with medical staff on board to land and provide emergency care, as well as hospital transfer. During the launch event, both Minister Dillon and his government colleague Dara Calleary referenced the work of Castlebar-based medic Dr Lisa Cunningham who has pointed out that air-based emergency services across the country are inadequate to the size of the population. County Mayo has one of the largest road networks in Ireland but not enough funding to maintain it, a senior council official has admitted. The scale of the task was highlighted to members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District at their December meeting as they raised various issues around roadworks, local improvement schemes (LIS), coastal erosion, potholes and maintenance jobs needing to be done around the district. During a presentation, Mayo Co Council's Head of Roads Conrad Harley, who took up his post last April, said Mayo is "not getting anywhere near the amount of money that would be needed to do all the jobs and that is how it has been for years". "Bringing the required money to the required places is the most difficult part of my job and means that 80% of the people are going to be unhappy. In the four municipal districts, everyone has their own list of schemes and to work through this is going to take time. When looking for capital funding, there is a process you go through and it takes time to go through all the steps, but when you do, you do get the big money." Mr Harley said all the regional roads in Mayo need strengthening. While it may be frustrating, I think we need to work through the process to weed out some projects and come up with an extensive list to pick the most strategic bits under the Regional Roads Infrastructure Programme, because not every regional road can get large capital funding. Mr Harley added that LIS are the most difficult of all the roads funding programmes to operate. These generally relate to short distances of road up to 10km or 20km. You have a very good history in this municipal district on LIS delivery, and we are looking at how we can improve the LIS scheme in general to maximise our funding. We will try and bring that back to you in the new year, so that issues such as where a road project falls through, that the funding secured goes back into the pot. Mr Harley told councillors that the details on next years road funding allocations would not be available until January: Once they come, we will have a better idea then of where money will be spent. Reading, PA (19601) Today A mix of clouds and sunshine; the closest to freezing (32) we've been in a week and a half. . Tonight Increasing clouds. There is a slight chance for a little snow late, mainly south of I-78. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. 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. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. How far off is Victorian Plumbing Group plc ( LON:VIC ) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. The UK1.00 analyst price target for VIC is 14% less than our estimate of fair value 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 (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 9.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2035 (1 + g) (r g) = UK33m (1 + 3.0%) (9.3% 3.0%) = UK541m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK541m ( 1 + 9.3%)10= UK223m 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 UK381m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK0.7, the company appears quite undervalued at a 37% 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. AIM:VIC Discounted Cash Flow January 2nd 2026 Important 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 Victorian Plumbing 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 9.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.229. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. View our latest analysis for Victorian Plumbing Group SWOT Analysis for Victorian Plumbing Group Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Currently debt free. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Specialty Retail market. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the British market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the British market. Looking Ahead: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. 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. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Victorian Plumbing Group, we've put together three essential items you should further research: Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Victorian Plumbing Group that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does VIC's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the AIM 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. Allentown, PA (18103) Today A mix of clouds and sunshine; the closest to freezing (32) we've been in a week and a half. . Tonight Increasing clouds. There is a slight chance for a little snow late, mainly south of I-78. Key Points VOO matches SPY in terms of index exposure and recent returns, but charges a significantly lower expense ratio. Both funds offer identical risk profiles, tracking the S&P 500 with high efficiency. VOO has more assets under management and a slightly higher dividend yield, as well. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:VOO) and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT:SPY) are both designed to mirror the performance of the S&P 500 Index, giving investors access to a diversified basket of large U.S. companies. This comparison examines their costs, returns, risk, and portfolio details to help clarify any differences that may be significant for long-term investors. Snapshot (cost & size) Metric SPY VOO Issuer SPDR Vanguard Expense ratio 0.09% 0.03% 1-yr return (as of Jan. 1, 2026) 16.3% 16.3% Dividend yield 1.06% 1.12% Beta (5Y monthly) 1.00 1.00 AUM $701 billion $1.5 trillion Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. VOO offers a lower expense ratio than SPY, making it more affordable for fee-conscious investors. VOO also delivers a slightly higher dividend yield, though the difference is marginal. Performance & risk comparison Metric SPY VOO Max drawdown (5 y) -24.5% -24.5% Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $1,824 $1,825 What's inside VOO tracks the S&P 500 Index and holds 505 stocks, with a portfolio currently weighted toward technology (making up 37% of total assets), financial services (13%), and consumer cyclical (11%). Its largest positions are Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft. The fund has been operating for over 15 years, and it does not employ leverage or special strategies. SPY offers nearly identical exposure with the same top holdings, closely mirroring VOOs allocations. Both funds avoid quirks or non-standard index tracking. For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link. What this means for investors SPY and VOO are both S&P 500 ETFs tracking the same index, so they'll be close to identical in terms of holdings, sector allocation, risk, and performance. The main differences between them, then, will come down to fees, yield, and liquidity -- and VOO has a slight advantage in all of these areas. VOO offers a lower expense ratio than SPY: 0.03% compared to 0.09%. This means investors can expect to pay $3 per year in fees for every $10,000 invested with VOO, compared to $9 per year with SPY. While it may seem like a small difference at first, it adds up for long-term investors who have accumulated hundreds of thousands of dollars. Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) is one of the Unstoppable Technology Stocks to Buy. On December 17, Meta Marshall from Morgan Stanley reiterated a Hold rating on Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) and raised the price target from $150 to $180. Earlier on December 16, Vivek Arya from Bank of America Securities also reiterated a Hold rating on the stock and raised the price target from $165 to $210. Marshall from Morgan Stanley noted that during 2025, the AI traded expanded out of the semiconductor sector, particularly helping the infrastructure stocks. She believes that this diversification of gains was beneficial for optical technology companies, including Coherent. Marshall expects this trend to continue during the first half of 2026. For the second half, she suggests investors be more selective to ensure gains throughout the year. Similar to Marshalls analysis, Arya from BofA noted he raised the price target on Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) based on the increased demand for optical transceivers and components. He adds that the demand for these components continues to outsize the supply, therefore providing an edge for companies like Coherent. Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) is a vertically integrated manufacturer specializing in lasers, optical transceivers, optoelectronic devices, modules, and engineered materials. While we acknowledge the potential of COHR 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. A Next-Generation Non-Invasive Healthcare Device to Be Unveiled at CES 2026 (Las Vegas) NAGOYA, Japan, Jan. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- D.O.N Co. Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan) the company behind the inner-down specialist brand TAION is proud to announce VITAL BELT the world's first abdominal belt-type sensing wearable device. VITAL BELT represents a new form of "healthcare you wear as a belt" combining concepts cultivated through years of apparel development with cutting-edge millimeter-wave sensing technology. It introduces an entirely new approach to daily health monitoring that is both non-invasive and effortless. Background of Development | Addressing the Challenges of a Super-Aging Society For the past decade TAION has grown as a brand centered on inner down delivering new value to clothing through innovations such as down wear equipped with heating modules. As we explored our next generation of gadgets we became increasingly aware of pressing social challenges including the growing medical burden the advancement of a super-aging society and the rising awareness of self-care. Against this backdrop we strongly recognized the need for a wearable device that enables people to monitor their physical condition on a daily basis with a focus on preventive care (pre-disease management) and everyday safety management. Focusing on the waist area as a location where subtle changes in physical condition can be easily detected this led us to the development of a belt-type wearable device. Sensing at the Abdomen | A Belt-Type Device VITAL BELT is the world's first device to perform millimeter-wave sensing at the belt position. Until now there has been no concept of using millimeter waves for close-range irradiation to sense human body movement. Unlike conventional smartwatches or ring-type devices VITAL BELT does not require direct contact with the skin. It enables the measurement of respiration pulse and body movement even when worn over clothing. This new approach enables the visualization of physiological data that has traditionally been difficult to capture. Multiple patents (IP) have been obtained for vital sensor attachment methods at the belt position. New Possibilities in Health Analysis | Creating a Powerful Sensing Market By cross-analyzing data from wrist- or finger-based wearables with breathing and motion data captured by VITAL BELT there is potential to achieve significantly more precise health management. The device aims to detect subtle changes such as breathing patterns early signs of stress and postural imbalance. Looking ahead the abdominal sensing position opens possibilities for future applications including Observation related to fetal activity and gut conditions Cellular activation through frequency-based approaches that raise deep body temperature Conditioning applications based on the braingut connection. These developments could extend VITAL BELT into both medical and wellness fields. User Interface VITAL BELT features an intuitive user interface and a naturally fitting attachment system utilizing neodymium magnets. The structure separates the buckle unit (sensing device) from the belt section (base plate). The buckle can be removed independently for charging while the belt itself can continue to be worn as a regular belt. In addition the belt section can be customized by changing its design material and color allowing users to enjoy it. Application Upon accessing the app users complete authentication and calibration to enable data collection optimized for each individual. In addition to health management using breathing pulse and sleep data accumulated data can be used to provide recommendations and behavioral insights. Examples of breathing-based applications include: Health & wellness: yoga breathing beauty breathing meditation breathing Business & productivity: focus-enhancing breathing stress-reduction breathing emotion analysis The system can also detect environmental conditions and body movement enabling real-time safety support for example detecting stair use by elderly users and issuing alerts when necessary. Track Record In Japan we unveiled principle prototype samples and related solutions receiving inquiries from a wide range of companies. While challenges remainsuch as communication methods and noise processingdevelopment is currently underway to address these issues. Moving forward we plan to enhance accuracy and usability through POC* and user testing followed by test sales for OEM partners. For corporate clients we are also developing applications that enable employee health monitoring through centralized management systems. Toward the Future VITAL BELT has the potential to become a next-generation wearable device that defines an entirely new category. By fusing apparel and technology we aim to realize a future in which clothing itself watches over the body. like an accessory. VITAL BELT seamlessly merges wearable technology and fashion. Note: As of December 2025, based on our internal research, this is the world's first product of its kind. We have confirmed that there are no prior patent filings or product launches in the category of "belt-type sensing devices," and we hold multiple global patents in this field. Click here for more details about our booth at: https://ces26.mapyourshow.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=001Pp000010OC7fIAG. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE D.O.N Company Ltd. Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) ranks among the best stocks under $25 to buy now. Wells Fargo reduced its price target for Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) to $8 from $11 on December 15, maintaining an Equal Weight rating on the companys shares. The firm identified operating expenses as a critical variable in its study, estimating cash operating expenses of $462 million in Q4 2025 and $2.0 billion in 2026. Photo by Kwon Junho on Unsplash Wells Fargo pointed out that these increases reflect Venture Globals expanding asset base, which includes more vessels, trains, and customers, as well as labor prices and development costs associated with CP2 and the Plaquemines expansion. Moreover, the company has been on a spree of partnerships, having signed a long-term LNG sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Japans Mitsui & Co. last month. This follows two long-term LNG deals signed by the US player with European partners, one with Greeces Atlantic-See LNG and the other with Spains Naturgy. In particular Atlantic-See LNG, a recently established joint venture between the Greek firms AKTOR and DEPA, agreed to purchase at least 0.5 mtpa of U.S. LNG from Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) for a period of 20 year beginning in 2030. Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) is involved in the construction and development of liquefied natural gas production. The companys projects include Calcasieu, Plaquemines, CP2, CP3, and Delta projects. While we acknowledge the potential of VG 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: 10 Best Magic Formula Stocks for 2025 and 10 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK) is one of the top cheap stocks under $20 to buy now. On December 22, Truist Financial analyst Michael Roxland reaffirmed a Hold rating on Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK) and set a $20 price target. Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK) also received a rating update from UBS analyst Anojja Shah on December 19, who reaffirmed a Hold rating on the stock. Is Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) The Best Boring Stocks to Buy? In a separate development, Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK) announced on December 8 additional details on its support function and production optimization plans. The company revealed that it has undertaken a review of support functions and corporate expenses in its fiscal Q3 2025 earnings conference, and now anticipates savings of around $60 million in staffing and other cost reductions in 2026. It expects severance and other on-time costs and non-cash charges related to these initiatives to be in the range of $20 million. Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK) also announced additional actions to reduce inventory in fiscal Q4, and has plans to expedite particular inventory plans previously planned for 2026 into fiscal Q4 with the Waco, Texas, recycled paperboard manufacturing facility startup ahead of schedule. Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK) provides paper-based packaging solutions to a number of products to the food, beverage, and other consumer products companies. The companys operations are divided into the following business segments: Paperboard Manufacturing, Americas Paperboard Packaging, Europe Paperboard Packaging, and Corporate and Other. While we acknowledge the potential of GPK 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. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) is one of the top cheap stocks under $20 to buy now. On December 16, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) announced a strategic partnership agreement in the onshore renewable energy segment through the acquisition of 49.99% of Lightsource bps subsidiaries in Brazil. Structured as a joint venture with shared management between Lightsource bp and Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (NYSE:PBR), the partnership aims at developing profitable renewable energy projects and bolstering the presence of the two companies in the Brazilian renewable energy sector. Is Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR) the Best-Falling Stock to Buy According to Analysts? Management reported that Lightsource bp would add to the joint venture through its pipeline, which not only includes 1-1.5 GW of projects in more advanced development stages but also less mature projects in Brazil, along with the Milagres solar park in Abaiara, in Ceara, one of the largest in the state and operational since 2023 with 212 MWp (megawatt) of installed capacity. The initiative thus marks a strategic step for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) in the solar power generation segment. In a separate development, Goldman Sachs reiterated a Buy rating on Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) on December 8 and reduced the price target to $13.30 from $14.20. In another report released on December 4, Bank of America Securities reaffirmed a Hold rating on the stock and set a price target of BRL37.00. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) is involved in exploration, production, and distribution activities involving oil and gas. The companys operations are divided into the following segments: Exploration and Production; Refining, Transportation, and Marketing; and Gas and Low Carbon Energies. While we acknowledge the potential of PBR 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. NEED TO KNOW Wedding bells are ringing for Danielle Maltby and Halli Borgfjord! The Bachelor in Paradise alum announced their engagement in an Instagram post on Jan. 2 Borgfjord popped the question in a fairy light-filled pavilion surrounded by snowfall in Chicago on Dec. 30 Congratulations are in order for Danielle Maltby and Halli Borgfjord! The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise alum, 40, announced her engagement to Borgfjord just before the turn of the new year, she wrote in a post on Instagram. Borgfjord, who had been romantically linked to Maltby midway through 2025, popped the question in a fairy-light filled pavilion in Chicago, surrounded by idyllic falling snow. Advertisement Advertisement In the carousel of images Maltby shared, Borgfjord got down on one knee as Maltby doubled over in glee. The couple shared an embrace and a kiss in the winter wonderland moment, and in one snap, Maltby held out her new ring a rectangular clear stone in a gold setting by Marissa Weber, per her Instagram Stories. @ali.bonomo Halli Borgfjord and Danielle Maltby. Halli Borgfjord and Danielle Maltby. "You are my peace [Halli] I love you forever," Matlby wrote, adding that they got engaged on Dec. 30. In her Instagram Stories, Maltby shared a few glimpses from that day, including details on the ring and her friends' reactions to her engagement. Maltby's friend Ali Bonomo, also the photographer who captured the moment, revealed she was "hiding in a bush in the snow in Chicago to witness this," she wrote in an Instagram Story, which Maltby reposted. In another Instagram Story Maltby reposted, a friend shared a message Maltby sent to her on July 1, which read, "So I've been dating the man I'm going to marry." The friend simply added on the post, "This aged well." Advertisement Advertisement Borgfjord and Maltby have kept their relationship mostly private and off social media, but Maltby recently shared a clip from date night, posted on Dec. 31. The couple rang in the new year by attending a screening of Wicked: For Good, Maltby wrote. @ali.bonomo Halli Borgfjord and Danielle Maltby. Halli Borgfjord and Danielle Maltby. "Movie cozies Loml Month late for Wicked ," she wrote over the video, which panned from her, to Borgfjord, to the title frame of the film. Borgfjord also offered a glimpse into their time together in a post on Sept. 28. He and Maltby were on a trip to Italy, Borgfjord shared in the caption, filled with sightseeing, ruins and delicious food. @ali.bonomo Danielle Maltby and Halli Borgfjord. Danielle Maltby and Halli Borgfjord. The first photo in the post was a selfie of Borgfjord and Maltby, smiling together while exploring in Italy. "Dream trip. Dream girl. Addio per ora, Italia ," he wrote in the caption. 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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Maltby was a contestant on the 21st season of The Bachelor, where she was eliminated in week 7. She later appeared on two seasons of Bachelor in Paradise: in season 4, she quit in week 2, but in season 8, she won the competition with Michael Allio, who confirmed their split in September 2023, PEOPLE previously reported. Read the original article on People Tommy Lee Jones daughter was found dead at a California hotel on New Years Day. The body of Victoria Jones, 34, was found at the Fairmont in San Francisco. A spokesperson for the fire department confirmed to Page Six that paramedics received a call at 2:52 a.m. for a medical emergency. Bystanders were given instructions for CPR according to CAD records, the spokesperson said. TMZ, citing Broadcastify dispatch audio, reports that the call came in as a code 3 for the overdose, color change. Advertisement Advertisement Victoria was found on the 14th floor by a hotel guest who believed the former actress had passed out on the ground from drinking and alerted hotel staff, a source claimed to the Daily Mail. The source claimed there were no signs of foul play and no drug paraphernalia found at the scene. Hotel staff performed CPR and called for an ambulance, but paramedics confirmed the 34-year-old was unresponsive and pronounced dead on the scene. A cause of death had not been determined as of Friday morning. The San Francisco Police Department is now handling the death investigation and a medical examiner is expected to determine her cause of death. Victoria was the daughter of Tommy, 79, and his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. The actor and director is known for starring in films including No Country for Old Men, Men In Black and The Fugitive. Advertisement Advertisement Victoria followed in her fathers footsteps at a young age, appearing in Men In Black II. She also appeared in an episode of One Tree Hill in 2003, and had a role in the 2005 film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which was directed by Tommy. Victoria is survived by one brother, Austin Jones, born to both Tommy and Cloughley. The former couple were married for 15 years, from 1981 to 1996. Victoria had reportedly stepped back from the spotlight in recent years. New reports claim she had been arrested at least three times in the last year. In April, Jones daughter was arrested in Napa County, California, for obstructing a peace officer, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of a narcotic controlled substance, The New York Post reported, citing court documents. Victoria was also arrested in Santa Cruz County and again in Napa County in June 2025 on domestic battery and domestic violence/elder abuse charges. She pleaded not guilty in both Napa County cases, court records showed, according to the report. Read More From National Enquirer This story New Details Emerge After Tommy Lee Jones Daughter Was Found Dead in San Francisco on New Years Day first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. US President Donald Trump recently took to social media to criticize George Clooney and his wife, Amal, over receiving French citizenship. Earlier, in a conversation with Esquire, Clooney revealed that he had a desire to raise his children away from the Hollywood spotlight in LA. Therefore, he sought a peaceful life in France with his family, residing primarily at their estate in Brignoles, which they purchased in 2021. Donald Trump calls out George Clooney over new citizenship Trump took to Truth Social to slam George Clooney and family over their new citizenship in France. He started the note with, Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden. Trump then referenced the instance where Clooney urged former President Joe Biden not to run for a second term, following his poor debate against Trump. He also pointed out how the actor supported Kamala Harris over him in the election. Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Further criticizing Clooney over his acting career, Trump wrote, Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasnt a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! On Wednesday, the French government announced that George Clooney and Amal have been given French citizenship because they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to Frances international influence and cultural outreach. The post Donald Trump Slams Average Guy George Clooney Amid French Citizenship appeared first on Mandatory. President Donald Trump has furiously bashed actor George Clooney over his decision to become a French citizenwhile also criticizing the European country's "horrendous handling of immigration." Trump, 79, took to his social media platform Truth Social to address the news that Clooney, 64, and his wife, Amal Clooney, 47, had been granted citizenship by the French government, along with their 8-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander. The president mockingly celebrated the couple's relocation from the U.S., before going on to slam George as an "average guy" who starred in a series of "mediocre movies." Advertisement Advertisement "Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden," he said, referring to his presidential predecessor. Trump went on to hit out at George's decision to withdraw his support for President Biden's reelection campaign, before taking aim at some of his other most outspoken detractors, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Tim Walz. "Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat. "Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasnt a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" George Clooney and President Donald Trump have exchanged a bitter war of words over the actor's decision to relocate his family to France. (Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) Trump slammed Clooney as an "average guy" who has made "mediocre movies" while addressing his move on Truth Social. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The actorwho has been outspoken in his criticism of Trumpwas quick to hit back at the president, issuing a statement to the Hollywood Reporter in which he turned the political leader's motto back against him. Advertisement Advertisement "I totally agree with the current president, he said. We have to make America great again. Well start in November." The public spat between the two men was sparked mere hours after it was revealed that George and his family had taken up French citizenshipalthough they will still be able to retain their U.S. passports as per local law in their new home nation. George's naturalization was revealed over the weekend in the Journal Officiel, a publication in which French government decrees are officially shared. The "Ocean's Eleven" star announced in October that he and his family had permanently relocated to their home in Brignoles, France, telling Esquire that he hoped the move would allow his children to grow up with a more normal life than they might have enjoyed in Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement We live on a farm in France. A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid, I hated the whole idea of it. But now, for [the twins], its like, theyre not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in," George, who spoke to the outlet from his villa on Lake Como in Italy, explained. They have a much better life. I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life." He went on to voice his concerns about how his profile in Hollywoodand the resulting spotlight this has shone on his kidsmight have negatively affected the twins, noting that he wanted them to be able to enjoy a carefree lifestyle away from photographers and industry stereotypes. "Francethey kind of dont give a s--t about fame. I dont want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I dont want them being compared to somebody elses famous kids," he added. Advertisement Advertisement George noted that he's very thankful there is a large age gap between him and his children because they won't have to deal with people comparing their successes to his own career. Clooney and his wife, Amal Clooney, purchased an estate in Brignoles, France, in 2021. (Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images) The couple own multiple homes around the world, including a stunning pair of villas on Lake Como. (GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images) The only thing I feel lucky about is that Im so much older, that the idea that my son would be compared to me is pretty unlikely, because by the time he actually will have done anything, Im gonna be gumming my bread," he said. He also noted that it is crucial to him for his kids to be self-sufficient, adding that he often suggests they watch him fixing things around the house, such as the swimming pool cover or their coffee machine. Its important to me that they can survive, the actor added. Advertisement Advertisement George did not reveal when he and Amal decided to relocate to France full time. However, the couple are understood to have purchased a sprawling estate in the European country for $8.3 million in 2021. The on-screen star doubled down on his praise of the country in an interview with local radio network RTL in December, when he revealed how much more privacy he and his family have been able to enjoy since moving. "Here, they dont take photos of kids. There arent any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. Thats No. 1 for us," he said. George added that the family does still own a property in the U.S.as well as his sprawling Lake Como estatebut that the French abode was their "happiest" place. Advertisement Advertisement "We also have a house in the United States, but our happiest place is on this farm where the kids can have fun," he shared. The actor has been working hard to try to fit himself into the local community by learning French on the popular language app Duolingo, although he has previously confessed that progress on that goal was somewhat slow, admitting in 2024 that his grasp on the dialect was "horrible." A while back, Reddit user theedriplomat asked , "Men who knowingly slept with married women, what pushed you?" and the stories ranged from callous to juicy to genuinely heartbreaking. Here's what caused men to have sex with married women. 1. "She told me she was leaving an emotionally abusive husband. They were splitting up, and she didn't know how to support her kids without him. This happened over six months. Like a fool, I took her in emotionally and did what I could to support her. But it was all a lie. She had told the same thing to multiple other guys over the years: that they were her soulmates, that she needed help, and that she was being abused. It took me five years to get over the lies, the manipulation, the cheating, and the emotional mess she left me in." u/XoCCeT 2. "A woman told me she was finalizing her divorce, so we started a strictly hook-up relationship. Three months had passed with no update on her divorce, so one day I decided to look her up on Facebook. Well, she had just posted a family picture three days ago. I called her out, and she said she was fixing her marriagewoman, we just hooked up two days ago. I don't think you're doing much fixing. We hung out one last time, and I told her she needed to cut me off to fully fix her marriage otherwise, it doesn't count as fixing, it's just getting your needs met while putting on a facade. So we ended things." u/No_Anteater8156 3. "I was young, dumb, and horny. I figured it was her mistake that she had to live with, not mine. At the time, I didn't even really know her husband, and I was getting sex, so I wasn't going to complain. A few years later, I got a job at a place, and ended up working with the guy. At first, it never really bothered me, but then we started getting along. I found out he was a really decent guy, and I was the pile of shit who slept with his wife. I always told myself that I would tell him, but they ended up having a kid together, and I didn't want to ruin their life. It's just something I will always feel guilty about for the rest of my life." u/Manic-Toaster Amazon Prime 4. "She was my brother's affair partner, and they were both married. She fell for me. I was going through a bad breakup and fresh out of the hospital for alcohol poisoning, and I needed someone to love me. I chose wrong. We had a great affair. I called her husband and threatened him, and then outed her to him. I threatened my brother's life and finally went to rehab. I've been sober for almost two years now and haven't spoken to anyone since. It was the best and worst decision I have ever made in my adult life. Love is a hell of a drug." u/TeddyBearCrush 5. "My husband accidentally did when he was 20. He met a 27-year-old woman at the bar (it was a small military town and the bar allowed 18+). They hooked up for two weeks until she started acting really weird. She said she wanted children with him and wanted to get married. She would even go into detail about what their future children would look like. He was like, yeah, noI just met you. So he stopped talking to her and told her exactly why. A month later, her husband, whom he had no idea about, started harassing him. I guess the lady confessed to her husband, but made it out like they were madly in love and she was going to leave him to pursue a relationship." "The guy was demanding to know everything, and refused to believe what my husband had to say. They both started stalking my husband, putting nails in his tires, and even stealing his packages and trying to lure him to their house to come get them. My husband's aunt is an attorney, so he had her threaten them, and they stopped. I did not know my husband when this all happened, but it made him very paranoid when he met new people after that. He told me he ran a background check on me when we first met. " Advertisement Advertisement littlemybb Related: "The Crocs Were On Him Instantly": 23 Absolutely Terrifying Freak Accidents That Ended Up Being Fatal Columbia Pictures 6. "She was my high school girlfriend, and when I went back home after college, I ran into her and her husband. He was an asshole and pulled the 'I fucked her last night AND this morning' before I even knew his name. She texted me that she was sorry he was an asshole, and to stop by for a free coffee the next day at her work. As I was headed there, she asked me to pick her up for her shift, and answered the door naked. Turns out she called in sick." u/captcraigaroo 7. "Their husband wanted it to happen too. It was very weird, she was eight months pregnant too odd sitch." "It was incredibly weird, and I did it three times, too. I was just bored, I guess. I like trying new things sometimes. It helped that she was damn cute." u/Interesting-Blood354 8. "She said they were separated. Then, at 3 a.m.: 'You gotta go! My husband's home!!!!' Me: 'I thought you were separated!!!' Her: 'He was at work, I was home' I jumped out of the second-floor window in just my underwear and landed in two feet of snow with all my clothes in my arms. I got dressed and walked the fuck home, shaking my head the whole way." u/Maestro2326 The CW 9. "I live in Japan. I'm saying this because some context is key here. The first time it happened, I had no idea until she told me a few months into our arrangement. I contemplated leaving, but by this point, we'd already hooked up several times, and there was no changing the past. Also, I was kind of in a bad place myself and needed this particular arrangement. This would happen to me a few more times, as well as to some of my friends. As it turns out, foreign men in Japan are popular choices for women who want to cheat. We mostly don't speak the local language, and our social circles are completely different, not to mention that most guys leave after a few years of living here. So it offers her the highest degree of secrecy." "One friend was dating a girl, he was serious about her, but we found out that the whole time she secretly had a Japanese boyfriend that she was engaged to. I eventually became okay with it, as most of these women have partners who aren't interested in them sexually. Many of these individuals are likely to be striking out on their own. Cheating culture in Japan is...different. People will still get upset, for the most part, if it's discovered, but they are far more willing to look the other way as long as everything remains discreet. Advertisement Advertisement Right now, I have a side hustle as an erotic massage therapist, and the vast majority of my clients are married. I'd say 30-40% of them are there with the knowledge and blessing of their husbands. Some of them even get the money for it from their husbands. Here you go, have fun." u/WindJammer27 10. "I was honestly extremely depressed; my wife and I were in the worst of the bad times, and this woman treated me like a king. She was attentive, talkative, and complimentary, and she paid attention to me publicly. In group settings, she acted as if I were the most interesting man in the room. Both of our relationships were in bad shape. I was freshly cheated on, but my wife was in denial that I knew and hadn't taken any sort of responsibility... She finally did after it all came out. That ended a long line of transgressions, and my wife and I actually did figure it out. Six years later, we're happier than ever. The woman I got with...not so much." "See, shortly after we fucked she was suddenly and enthusiastically overcome by guilt and told her husband. She told him I seduced her, etc. WTF? That she tried to resist and dissuade me, but I just wouldn't give up and somehow convinced her. I realized immediately that I've been used to burn this poor son of a bitch who married her. The thing is, they'd been together for a decade. Her husband had seen it before, called her on her shit, and left. They got divorced. She did find a new guy and got remarried and seems much happier now. Advertisement Advertisement Her husband, somewhere out there, still wants me dead, as far as I know. I did face him and was fully ready for it to get physical, but he just got in my face and told me he'd kill me one day and to watch my back. I haven't seen him since." u/Nicetitts 11. "This was years ago. I was young. She was a rebellious 24-year-old with a shotgun marriage due to the birth of their daughter. I think I was 19-20 around this time. We met through a family member who went to school with her. It felt so natural at the time, but ultimately, I think she just wanted to prove to him that she was desirable. Think hippie chick, tapestries aloft in her little shitty slab house. I'd go over to smoke weed. There was genuine attraction, and her daughter took a liking to me. She was so sweet, and I was a kid person, so everything clicked. "We did some blow, it was my first time. I crushed it down with my ID (which I still have, cocaine rock indent and all). I took all the pointers from every movie I saw. Well, cocaine leads to egregious levels of horny. I ended up staying the night. Remember that ID? Well...the next day I couldn't find it. I figured I left it over there. And figured I'd be back, so what was the problem? Well, she couldn't find it. Advertisement Advertisement It turns out that her daughter snatched my ID in the morning and put it in her toy chest. Want to guess who found it? It wasn't Momma. It was her dad. Cue me being in the middle of a confusing love triangle. Nah, I never messed with that shit again. I rightfully noped the fuck out of that situation and will never do it again." BigSchmikey 12. "I never had any real 'game.' I am just terrible with women. But for some reason, I found it easy to talk to women who are married/in a relationship. It was always the same thing: we'd start as friends, then they would start using me to vent about their relationship, and then we'd bang. It was the only way I could get laid. Now that I'm older and married, I see it was a shitty thing to do. But I wouldn't say I have any regrets, really. I had fun, they had fun, I never had to deal with husband/boyfriend fallout." u/EddieRando21 Proximity Media / Via youtube.com 13. "I spent about two years in my late thirties very deliberately only dating and sleeping with married women in ethically open relationships. And while it's been a few years since the last time, I will still occasionally do so." After getting divorced myself and starting to date again, I wasn't ready to start anything serious. So I was trying to date, and I explained to the woman I was seeing that I just wanted to stay somewhat casual. However, my style was (and still usually is) to be really intimate, connected, and open up lots of deep conversation in addition to sex. I find it challenging to be physical because I take great pleasure in getting to know people in other ways as well. Advertisement Advertisement Anyway, the result was that I kept finding myself in situations where things got more serious than I intended. My dates were frustrated and confused that we were getting so close, yet I wasn't ready for any sort of exclusivity or longer commitments. So, I decided only to date married women in open relationships. I retooled my profile and searches on dating apps and used various other forums for meeting polyamorous or otherwise ENM people. And as I met them, I pretty much told them the paragraphs above, and that what I wanted was to be myself with them and have great sex and connections, but know that they already had the life-partner, husband, house, kids, etc. to return to and wouldn't want that from me. And it worked quite well. I had some really fun sex and was able to do it in my style, and really had a great time with them. Some were in very happy marriages with plenty of sex with their husband, too, whereas some were more in situations where their sex life with their husband wasn't good, so they had agreements to stay together and get that intimacy elsewhere. Both types were enjoyable in different ways (i.e., 'you're an insatiable sex beast that can't get enough of your husband, me, and even other guys' energy with the former type, and 'I'm the stud that can satisfy you in ways you don't get at home' with the latter). Eventually, my needs and availability for different types of relationships evolved, and I opened up to dating single women again. And I've had a range of different relationship structures over the past 15 years, including occasionally still connecting with married women who were ethically non-monogamous." Advertisement Advertisement [deleted] Related: "No Way They Have Ozempic Santa": 39 Funny Tweets From The Week That'll Have You Cackling All The Way Into 2026 (Thank...GOD) 14. "My ex had married the guy she left me for. Years later, she was still married to the guy, but unhappy. I naively agreed to be friends with her again. One night, she was out, and I was as well, and she ended up coming over, and we had sex. She claimed sleeping with me was her intention all along because he stopped giving her attention. She wanted to make it a regular thing with me, because she missed the sex we had. Nah, I didn't want to be part of someone else's drama. I basically said that we could still be friends, but that was not happening again. We stopped talking after I began a relationship with someone else. Sorry, no 'and we just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this year' ending. It was a mistake that could have led to a much worse outcome." Thamnophis660 15. "When I was 19, I met a 34-year-old woman off a dating app. I was inexperienced. She was my first kiss, and I lost my virginity to her. At first, everything was great. However, not long after, I found out she was actually married and had a daughter. Unfortunately, she convinced me that she was in an open relationship and that her husband was aware of everything. We kept hooking up for about another month until one night, when we were to meet, she was running late, so I called. She got mad that I tried calling her, and she mentioned her husband was being nosy, but I didn't think much of it. After this incident, I discovered she was separating from her husband, and that's when I figured he'd found out, and what she told me earlier was a lie. I, of course, feel extremely guilty because I can't stop thinking that I am the reason a little girl out there is growing up without her father." "Looking back, all the signs were there. We never met at her house only motels and her car. We would hook up at weird hours, either during working hours (when I was supposed to be in school) or late at night. I was such an idiot not to see the signs." u/Extension-Corgi1682 16. "When I was in my late twenties, I was recently divorced and mad at the world. I slept with a few married women. It seemed like more of a challenge to hook up with a married woman. Something about seeing if I could befriend them until they were fighting with their husbands was such a challenge. So I did it. Most never even talked or admitted to it. I learned that they usually wouldn't talk about it after it happened. For years, I only chased married women with no regrets." "Now, after many more years, I am not proud of the person I was then. I regret it all and should never have done it. Yes, my next wife cheated and broke me. It was deserved, I know that now. For me, it was just the thrill of it. I was a total loser." Advertisement Advertisement u/Whoaboy1980 Alcon Entertainment 17. "I met a woman at my work. She told me she was divorced, and after a few weeks, we got friendly and had sex one night. I later found out she was still married, and her husband was a long-distance truck driver, so she did this with a lot of guys. I felt like crap, but it was the least bad I felt after being dumped in my entire dating life." u/DatGuyatLarge 18. "She was a childhood friend whom I had never actually dated, but we had been best friends of sorts all through high school. She got married in her early twenties, and I was her de facto therapist throughout the chaos of her marriage. He had cheated on her. She was looking for a way out. We got drunk one night when she was back in our hometown, with him thousands of miles away and their marriage 'at its end.' I regret it to this day." u/hammerheadjordi 19. "She confided in me for a long time that she had emotionally exited the marriage and he had been sneaking around, but she acted oblivious for her son's sake. She was my employee, and I had been in love with her for a while, but I'd never pursued her. I eventually told her she deserved to be happy, and I would love the chance to have a relationship. They divorced quickly after, and she is my wife now of seven years, and her son is my son." u/DLD1123 20. "I once attended a party and saw a girl with her husband. Dude was insecure as fuck. He had her stand right beside him, and you could tell he was controlling as fuck. I had attended that party with my then-girlfriend. About a year later, we ended up working together. She started telling me how she was in an on-and-off relationship because her husband was nuts. She knew I had a girlfriend and witnessed several other girls bring me lunch or pick me up. Anyway, we started getting along, and she would talk shit about her man and was flirtatious. I didn't want to get into any problems, but one day, she was crying and saying she needed a friend to talk to. So we went to some vista point that we had gone to with a group of coworkers to hang out and drink. We were talking, and she was venting. All of a sudden, she jumped into the backseat and pulled me back there." "After that, we would hook up here and there. She told me to keep it secret. I figured it was because of our coworkers. Until one day, I hit her up. Nothing sexual, but for sure a text that showed we were comfortable with each other. I guess her dude had taken her phone that day while she was at work. He called me from her phone thinking it was her, I answered. The guy came at me, saying how he was gonna kill me, and 'disappear' me in the trunk of a car. I slept with her several more times just because of the way he came at me." Advertisement Advertisement u/Hewhocannotbenamed77 Related: I Hate To Say It, But After Seeing These Extremely Stupid Pictures Im Convinced Americans Might Just Be The Dumbest People On Earth Fox 21. Similarly..."I know a 'couple' in a similar situation in their mid-thirties. They fucked around in high school, and both moved away separately, got married, and had kids. They drive a couple of hours each way back to their hometown and fuck in a cheap motel, leaving their spouses at home with the kids. My cousin works the reception and tells the family group chat every time they come by, and it's been going on for at least ten years now. At this point, they should just divorce their spouses and get together full-time. A. Ten. Year. Affair. That's wild." u/owlsandmoths 22. "She was in an outright abusive marriage, and I was in a sexless marriage with a woman I barely talked to. She came over to my place whilst the wife was away one weekend to watch the Sonic movie of all things, and whilst I did fully intend to watch the movie, I'd be lying if I said I didn't expect anything else to happen. A few ciders and glasses of wine later, and we didn't even see the ending. As guilty as I felt, I realized I really wasn't at all in a marriage with someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and we ended up applying for a divorce within a few weeks. The others ended up getting divorced not long after, too. I don't want to say it was justified, but I do think it's better for all four of us to be out of those relationships." u/33Mezzy 23. "I believed her when she said it was only a marriage in name only. I was incredibly naive back then. When the realization of what I'd done came upon me, coupled with work burnout, I checked myself into a psych hospital for suicidal ideation. It was one of the biggest regrets I've had in my life. (The adultery, not the hospital.) This was over six years ago. I'm in a much, MUCH better place mentally." u/BloodiedBlues 24. "I was maybe 21. I had no idea she was married. Apparently, she and the guy eloped when they were 17, and he joined the military. She was also 21 at the time, and he was wherever for some time. I found out when I called her after work one night, and he answered. I told the dude what was going on he threatened me, and I just said she fucking played us both, dude, if I'd have known I would never have done it. I wished him good luck, and that was the end of it." u/letmesmellem Netflix 25. "She was in a mentally abusive relationship and wanted to leave, but was tied to a lease. She told me they haven't had sex in a year and a half. She spent weekends at my house, and her husband wouldn't call or even send a single text. When she got home, he didn't ask where she was. They slept in separate rooms. I didn't feel bad at all." u/mcflur 26. "I didn't know the term at the time, but I instinctively understood her to be a 'monkey brancher' one who would not leave a relationship without the next one solidly in her grasp. Basically, I thought I had a chance to win her over. Narrator: he did not have a chance to win her over. This episode is one of the very few things I'm ashamed of in my life." u/jimmythegeek1 27. "I know a guy in his forties who regularly drives hours to meet up with his high school 'first' to fuck in a hotel room. They sneak because she's in a long-term marriage with kids. He said something to me along the lines of, 'Yeah, I told her she really shouldn't be doing that to her family.' Yet he is happy to assist and feels no responsibility." shaneacton1 28. "The one time I slept with a married woman was with an ex-girlfriend. Her husband was the guy she had cheated on me with. We reconnected a few years after our breakup, and I really didn't care how he felt. I wouldn't do something similar now, but I'm still not that torn up about it." u/LostClan ABC 29. "I didn't care if they were married because I was single. The married women I've hooked up with should have said no and moved it along, or not even engaged with me at all. It seems harsh to state that because there wasn't anything that 'pushed' me, and I really didn't care, but that's the truth. The only time I cared was when one husband found out and showed up to our campus with a bat. He beat the crap out of the car that he thought was mine. Not only was it not mine, but it wasn't even remotely close to my car. This was back in 2003, and I drove a cosmic blue Toyota Matrix. The car he beat up was a gray Civic or something." u/therealdeviant 30. "There is a guy at my gym who strictly tries sleeping with married women. He knows they won't tell anyone and keeps his cheating on his baby mama on the down low because he doesn't ever bring them home." u/LobabyChick Related: 19 People Are Sharing Eerie, Unexplainable Moments From Their Lives That Will 99.999% Make A Shiver Run Up Your Spine 31. "We met on a dating app. She got me to drive two hours to see her and then told me she was unhappily married. I wasnt driving home another two hours for no reason. My logic was if its not me, itll be someone elseI may as well enjoy myself. We never spoke again (despite her efforts to continue)." u/dubbya-tee-eff-m8 Red Hour Productions Advertisement Advertisement 32. "It didn't take much pushing. I was in my twenties and thirties, and it was a lot of fun. We were already good friends, and she initiated it, so I felt zero guilt. Years later, she told me that she and her husband had been going through rough times, and our affair kept her happy and saved her marriage. So I actually feel pretty good about it." u/Usually_Sunny 33. "She didn't tell me until after the deed was done. Then I get strange, threatening texts and calls from some dude. I guess she spilled the beans to him." u/red_five_standingby 34. "Being married is a kink for some guys like they want that married woman to be so hot for them she's willing to risk it all just for their dick. I have a friend who almost exclusively dates/fucks women who are either married or are in long-term relationships. We would joke about it being his kink but after a couple of years, realized that was exactly what was going on. This one woman I was friends with started seeing him on the side she eventually left her fiance for him, and then he wanted nothing to do with her anymore. It like she wasn't even attractive to him after she became single." u/will_write_for_tacos 35. "She was hot. She was my type. I was hers. She hadn't seen her husband's dick in almost a decade. She was also batshit and clingy. I nearly had to get a restraining order. Showing up to my place in the middle of the night, following me to the grocery store, 'stopping by' my office that I never told her the location ofshit was wild." u/VikingRodeo9 ABC 36. "She told me they had an open marriage. She had an open marriage. Her husband did not." u/hellosillypeopl 37. "Her husband was sleeping with my wife. So...fair game." u/funnyorasshole 38. "She was the mom of my high school bully." u/BoredCoolPerson 39. And finally..."A rule I never thought I would break is to not mess around with a married woman. But she's married to her gay best friend for tax purposes. I'm not really upset about gaming the system." u/IntangibleFancy_ Have you ever slept with someone who was married? Tell us the story in the comments or via this anonymous form. Also in Internet Finds: People Are Sharing Their Most Unexplainable Supernatural Experiences, And If This Doesnt Make You Believe In Another Realm, IDK What Will Also in Internet Finds: 14 Bone-Chilling Photos That Gave Me A Cold, Sinking Feeling In My Stomach Also in Internet Finds: These 15 Stories Of People Walking In On Someone Doing Something Truly Disturbing Have My Jaw On The FLOOR Read it on BuzzFeed.com Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) is one of the top cheap stocks under $20 to buy now. Morgan Stanley analyst Robert Kad reiterated a Hold rating on Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) on December 23 and set a price target of $19.00. Why Energy Transfer (ET) Continues to Shine as a Promising Dividend Stock In a separate development, Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) announced on December 18 growth in the transportation capacity of the Transwestern Pipelines planned Desert Southwest expansion project in order to meet rising customer demand. Management reported that the positive economic momentum and continual population growth across New Mexico and Arizona would require reliable and efficient energy sources, and the project would serve these markets from the companys premier asset base in the prolific Permian Basin. 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The company operates through the following segments: Intrastate Transportation and Storage, Interstate Transportation and Storage, Midstream, NGL and Refined Products Transportation and Services, Crude Oil Transportation and Services, Investment in Sunoco LP, Investment in USAC, and All Other. While we acknowledge the potential of ET 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. Originally appeared on E! Online Nicole Kidman is planning for the future. Four months after filing for divorce from Keith Urban after almost two decades of marriage, the Baby Girl actress shared insight into her mindset when it comes to the new year ahead. In a Jan. 1 Instagram Story, the 58-year-old looked over a balcony with her arms wrapped around her and Keiths daughters Sunday, 17, and Faith, 15. Next to the sweet pic, Nicole wrote, Looking forward into 2026. Advertisement Advertisement And she plans to do it with her loved ones by her side, marking every milestone along the way. In fact, Nicoles New Years Eve celebration with her daughters came days after she marked Faiths birthday with a touching tribute. In a Dec. 29 Instagram Story, Nicole held up a pink birthday cake that read, Happy 15th Birthday Faith. But while the Oscar winner marked her first Christmas since splitting from her husband of 19 years, Nicole was all smiles as she stepped into the holiday season with her flowing natural curls while celebrating Christmas Eve in her native Sydney, Australia, with her and Keiths two daughters. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement And when it came time for Thanksgiving this year, the Big Little Lies stars enjoyed the holiday by rocking matching turkey shirts with her daughters as they participated in a 5-mile charity run in Nashville. Nicolewho is also mom to Bella Kidman Cruise, 32, and Connor Cruise, 30, with ex-husband Tom Cruisehas been the primary residential parent for Sunday and Faith, according to her custody agreement which states the girls with spend 306 days a year with her and 59 days with their dad. Nicole Kidman/Instagram As for her teen daughters, the Nine Perfect Strangers actress celebrated their confidence as they navigate their new roles in the public eye. Im raising teenage girls right now, and its fascinating, Nicole said in a conversation with Ariana Grande for Interview magazine in November. I think they have an armor that we didnt get, or that I certainly didnt get, because there was no social media. The very, very young now have already gone, We know exactly how to handle this. Advertisement Advertisement She continued, They dont take a lot of things personally. They shrug it off. For a look back at Nicole and Keiths love story before their breakup, keep reading Beginning of Summer 2025: Split Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban privately separated and started living apart at the beginning of summer, E! News learned. But there were many notable moments over the summer that ultimately led to their divorce filing. May 22, 2025: Keith Urban Begins His Tour His High and Alive World Tour kicked off in Alabama and he spent the summer traveling across the U.S., Canada and Australia. June 20, 2025: Last Public Outing The pair last appeared together publicly at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in Nashville, where they were seen laughing and smiling. June 25, 2025: 19th Wedding Anniversary In honor of 19 years of marriage in June, Kidman posted a photo of the couple with the caption, "Happy Anniversary Baby." Urban commented a heart emoji but did not write a post of his own. Advertisement Advertisement July 1, 2025: Keith Urban Walks Out of Interview After Nicole Kidman Question The country singer raised eyebrows when he abruptly ended an interview after being asked about Kidman's onscreen chemistry with costar Zac Efron in A Family Affair. The first thing I thought of with your beautiful wife, Nicole Kidman, being on so many great movies, TV shows all the time, a radio host said on Australias Mix 102.3s Hayley & Max in the Morning. What does Keith Urban think when he sees his beautiful wife with beautiful younger men like Zac Efron having these beautiful love scenes on TV and radio? Suddenly, Urban disappeared from the call. He's disconnected from Zoom, a radio staffer said. I think his team hung up on us because they didn't want us to ask that question. His rep didn't respond to E!'s request for comment at the time. July 24, 2025: It's Revealed That Nicole Kidman Applied for Residency in Portugal E! News learned that the Practical Magic star had submitted application to become a resident of Portugal, with Urban preparing to do the same himself. Keith was unable to be in Portugal for this appointment as he is currently on tour in the U.S.," a source with knowledge of the situation told E!, "and it is mandatory for applicants to be physically present in order to apply for the visa. He is scheduled to submit his application at a later date that works with his tour schedule." At the time, the source said both planned to maintain a permanent residence in Nashville as well. Aug. 6, 2025: Sunday Rose Shares Insight Into Family Life The couple's eldest daughter Sunday Rose shed light on on their parenting dynamic in an interview, saying that "there are two big rules" at home. "The first was that I couldnt explore any kind of fashion work until I was 16," she told Nylon, "and the second is that school always has to come first, which at first I hated, but I am actually really glad that I have these rules in place because it keeps me in a good mindset." Aug. 19, 2025: Keith Urban Not Pictured in Nicole Kidman's Family Photos Kidman shared a look at her summer memories with her teens Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, but her husband was absent from the Instagram carousel. "Summer memories," the actress wrote. "Now back to school." Advertisement Advertisement Aug. 28, 2025: Nicole Kidman's Lawyer Prepares Parenting Plan In August, her lawyer prepared a Child Support Worksheet included in a Parenting Plan stating that Kidman and Urban would be "joint custodians" of their teen daughters Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret. However, the Oscar winner was listed as the "primary residential parent," with the girls spending 306 days a year with their mother and 59 days with their father (Urban will have the children every other weekend.). Neither will pay child support, according to the doc obtained by E! News. The mother and father will behave with each other and each child so as to provide a loving, stable, consistent and nurturing relationship with the child even though they are divorced, it stated. They will not speak badly of each other or the members of the family of the other parent. They will encourage each child to continue to love the other parent and be comfortable in both families. Aug. 29, 2025: Keith Urban Signs Paperwork Urban moved forward with their Marital Dissolution Agreement, getting it notorized in August, per the doc obtained by E! News. The document said that Kidman would "institute divorce proceedings against" him due to irreconcilable differences. It also stated that neither party would be getting alimony or spousal support in their split. The same date, he also signed off on the Parenting Plan. Sept. 6, 2025: Nicole Kidman Signs Paperwork A week after Urban, the actress had the Marital Dissolution Agreement notorized as well and signed the Parenting Plan. The same day, a judge signed off on an order that both stars would complete a manditory parenting seminar unless they file for an exemption, per the doc obtained by E! News. Sept. 25, 2025: Nicole Kidman Steps Out Still Wearing Wedding Ring Despite signing the documents, she still wore her engagement ring during an event at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Sept. 29, 2025: News Breaks of Their Split Their breakup made headlines as E! News confirmed that the pairwho started dating in 2005had privately called it quits. Sept. 30, 2025: Nicole Kidman Files for Divorce The Big Little Lies star officially filed to end their marriage, listing their date of separation as the date of filing: Sept. 30, 2025. Their Marital Dissolution Agreement and Parenting Plan were officially submitted the same day to be approved by a court in Tennessee. For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App It's 2026, and President Donald Trump rang in the New Year at Mar-a-Lago with some of his family members. Photos posted to social media show Donald Trump Jr., his fiancee Bettina Anderson, Eric Trump and Lara Trump joined the president and first lady Melania Trump at the annual gala in Palm Beach, Florida. Also making an appearance was the president's youngest son, 19-year-old Barron Trump, who is rarely seen or photographed. He hasn't appeared at a public event since his father was sworn into office nearly a year ago, though he was spotted at Thanksgiving dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Advertisement Advertisement As with many public events, some of the Trump family members can be spotted towering above others in the crowd. How tall is everyone? President and auctioneer: Public gets glimpse of opulent New Years gala How tall is Donald Trump? President Donald Trump is 6'3", according to his annual physical exam in April. How tall is Melania Trump? First lady Melania Trump is 5'11". How tall are Barron Trump and the other Trump kids? How tall is Lara Trump? Lara Trump is 5'11." She once told Fox News that being one of the tallest people in the room at a party helped her meet Eric Trump. Advertisement Advertisement "When I first met Eric, I did not know who his dad was. I didn't know his last name initially. I just knew I met some really tall guy out," Lara Trump said on her podcast. Lara Yunaska and Eric Trump were married in November 2014 in a ceremony at Mar-a-Lago. The couple welcomed their first child, Eric "Luke" Jr., in 2017 and their second, Carolina Dorothy, in 2019. Contributing: Maria Francis, USA TODAY Network Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter), Bluesky and TikTok. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How tall is Barron Trump, Lara Trump, Melania Trump and Donald Trump? NEED TO KNOW Paul Skenes broke down his "good way to spend a day" with girlfriend Livvy Dunne during the MLB off-season Dunne, who was also on the call with PEOPLE, shared her favorite activity to do with her Pittsburgh Pirates boyfriend The couple, who met at LSU, also gushed about spending time together Paul Skenes knows how to unwind. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, 23, spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about how he plans to spend his MLB off-season and to no surprise, it includes enjoying time with his longtime girlfriend Livvy Dunne. Advertisement Advertisement "We're in Florida now, live close to the water. I just like getting on the water," Skenes says about where the couple likes to spend time, while on a Zoom call with PEOPLE, with Dunne calling in from New York. livvy dunne/Instagram Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne. Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne. "He's in California. I'm in New York. This is the first time we haven't been together in so long. Of course we're doing the interview now when we're not together, but it's all right," Dunne jokes. Dunne revealed in early October that she bought a home in South Florida in a video shared to TikTok, a residency update that followed a saga of house-hunting in New York City. Since then, Skenes has spent time with Dunne in Florida, which is why the couple shared with PEOPLE their favorite activities to do together while there. Take PEOPLE with you! Subscribe to PEOPLE magazine to get the latest details on celebrity news, exclusive royal updates, how-it-happened true crime stories and more right to your mailbox. Livvy Dunne/Instagram Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes at the beach. Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes at the beach. Both the MLB star and retired gymnast enjoy spending time on their boat. Advertisement Advertisement "It's just nice to get out and we like to go down the Intercostal and look at houses," shares Skenes. Dunne adds, "Imma fish!" "Yeah, she likes to fish," the pitcher chimes in, proudly. "She likes to fish more than I do!" he adds. Livvy Dunne/Instagram Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes. Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes. Skenes, who was named 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner on the heels of winning 2024 Rookie of the Year, makes time to work out during the off-season. After that, though, it's all about relaxation. "Honestly, that's kind of how I slow it down," he shares. "Just the day-to-day train in the morning and then go on the boat, do something like that in the afternoon. It's a good way to spend a day." Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in the interview, Skenes opened up about winning the Cy Young Award this year. "I appreciate it," he says of the honor. "That's something that I think a lot of pitchers shoot for. Call it a motivation, whatever you want to call it, I think a lot of guys are shooting for that, and I think that's indicative of a really good season." Livvy Dunne/Instagram Livvy Dunne on a boat. Livvy Dunne on a boat. "I am very honored to win it. I just think it's kind of funny how it all works out. It's the premier recognition, premier award for a pitcher in the major league," he adds. "So it's pretty dang cool. Just got to keep going and hopefully there's some more team accomplishments next year." Livvy Dunne/Instagram Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes. Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes. "It means a lot to me," the retired gymnast says of her boyfriend winning the award. "Everything he accomplishes is so well-deserved because I see what he does everyday and it's a lot of stuff. I mean, he acts like he enjoys doing it every day, but I mean you just can't enjoy it every single day." Advertisement Advertisement She adds, "He does so much. It's doing it when you don't want to do it and I see it, and it's incredible that somebody at his age has accomplished what he has. It's cool that I get to be by his side while he does it." Read the original article on People The Sussexes PR problems are back in the spotlight as 2025 draws to a close. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have faced steady blowback around launches and messaging. Now, a fresh staffing shake-up is raising questions about their public image team. The Duke and Duchess have built a California-based brand across media and charity work. However, insiders now describe their communications operation as hard to run. Consequently, the search for the right publicist is reportedly becoming more difficult. Sussexes office is high-pressure, staffers claim, per source As per Rob Shuters Substack report dated December 31, 2025, a senior U.S. publicist resigned. It says Meredith Maines quit after about 10 months in the role. A former staffer said, The job isnt hard because of the press, adding, Its hard because of the principals. The person claimed, Harry and Meghan are impossible to satisfy. They also alleged that their expectations constantly shift. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, another insider said in the report that top American PR firms are declining the account. The person claimed, Theyre difficult and, frankly, cheap. The source argued that budgets are a sticking point for Sussexs PR strategy. The person said, Kardashians and Beyonce spend a fortune on PR. However, they claimed the couple expects the same results for a fraction of the budget. With U.S. options narrowing, the report says London strategist Liam Maguire may step up. An insider said they are cutting costs by eliminating a senior American salary. Still, the person warned that running a U.S. operation from London brings huge challenges. They pointed to time zone strain and burnout risks. In the Substack report, staffers also described the workplace mood as intense. One source said, The office is high pressure, constantly shifting. They added that it can hit DEFCON 1 over minor issues. Another insider said, A competent PR can survive bad headlines. However, they added, They cant survive clients who wont listen. For now, the claims keep Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys PR issues in a familiar loop. If staffing stabilizes, messaging may settle, too. If it does not, the churn could stay part of the story in 2026. The post Royal Couple Impossible To Satisfy Amid PR Nightmare Source appeared first on Reality Tea. Originally appeared on E! Online Will Smith is facing legal troubles. Professional violinist Brian King Joseph, who toured with the "Miami" rapper in 2024 and 2025, accused Smith and his management company of wrongful termination and retaliation after reporting sexual harassment, according to a lawsuit obtained by E! News. Joseph claimed in the Dec. 30 lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court that the Fresh Prince of Bel Air alum was "deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation" after he joined the Based on a True Story global tour. He and Smith had been spending time alone, according to the complaint, with the Hitchcock actor allegedly telling Joseph that they shared a "special connection." Advertisement Advertisement The complaint also made allegations related to a March 2025 "hotel intrusion" in Las Vegas, which the violinist allegedly reported to hotel security, police, and Smith's reps. The lawsuit said that someone had entered Joseph's hotel roomwhich he said only parts of Smith's team had access towithout any signs of forced entry. More from E! Online Joseph said in the complaint that he found "wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another individual's name, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to a person" he didn't know when he returned to his room. The suit also claimed that the classical musician found a note that read, "Brian, I'll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us, Stone F." Advertisement Advertisement After seeing the note, according to the suit, "Plaintiff feared that an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts with Plaintiff," noting that Joseph went on to report the incident immediately after. Days after his report, per the complaint, a rep for the rapper accused Joseph of lying and terminated him. In the lawsuit, Joseph quoted Smith's rep, who told him, in part, "Everyone is telling me that what happened to you is a lie, nothing happened, and you made the whole thing up. So, tell me, why did you lie and make this up?" Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images/Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Media Access Awards In the suit, Joseph alleges that there was no effort to ensure Joseph's safety after he was fired. He said in the complaint that the experience caused "severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages." The complaint did not specify damages. Following the filing, Allen B. Grodsky slammed Joseph's allegations. Advertisement Advertisement "Mr. Joseph's allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless," he said in a statement to E! News News. "They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light." For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App Veteran actor Tommy Lee Jones daughter, Victoria Kafka Jones, was allegedly found dead at a California hotel on New Years Day, as per TMZ. She was 34 years old. Paramedics were called to her aid, but she was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene. A lot of details about her death remain blurry. Tommy Lee Jones daughter Victoria found dead on Thursday morning Victoria Jones, the 34-year-old daughter of Hollywood actor Tommy Lee Jones, was reportedly discovered dead on New Years Day at a luxury hotel in San Francisco. TMZ reported that she was found in Fairmont San Francisco. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department told TMZ that units responded to a call at 2:52 AM. Paramedics arrived at the scene, but they pronounced the individual dead on the scene. They also reportedly revealed that the scene had been turned over to the San Francisco Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Though a medical examiner took a look at Tommy Lee Jones daughter, the cause of her death remains unknown. Early reports have suggested that there is no foul play involved. However, the death remains under investigation by the police. Jones shared Victoria with his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. The pair were married from 1981 to 1996. They also have a son, Austin. Victoria initially tried to follow in her fathers footsteps in acting. She also made some small appearances before, including in films like Men in Black II, One Tree Hill, and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. However, growing up, she stepped. away from the limelight, and largely stayed out of it. She was last seen with her father in the 2017 premiere of Just Getting Started. Other than that, she led a private life. Advertisement Advertisement Before her death, Victoria Kafka Jones was arrested three times, as per reports. More details about her death, including the cause of death, should arrive soon. Originally reported by Sourav Chakraborty on ComingSoon. The post Tommy Lee Jones Daughter Dies, Found in California Hotel appeared first on Mandatory. NEED TO KNOW Tommy Lee Jones' daughter Victoria Jones was found dead on Thursday, Jan. 1, according to a report Victoria was 34 Victoria made some onscreen appearances in film and television in the early 2000s Victoria Jones, the daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, was found dead on Thursday, Jan. 1 in San Francisco, according to reports. She was 34. TMZ was first to report the news of Victoria's death, citing law enforcement sources. Advertisement Advertisement The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed to PEOPLE that it responded to a medical emergency at the San Francisco Fairmont just before 3 a.m. local time on Thursday. The fire department said that an unnamed individual was found dead at the scene. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic The San Francisco Police Department additionally confirmed to PEOPLE that officers responded to the hotel on Thursday, where they met with paramedics and declared an unnamed adult female dead. NBC Bay Area also reported that a police source told the outlet that the woman found dead at the hotel is believed to be Victoria. A cause of death is unknown, though NBC Bay Area said that foul play is not suspected. William Conran/PA Images via Getty Victoria and Tommy Lee Jones in 2002 Victoria and Tommy Lee Jones in 2002 The San Francisco Fairmont, San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and a rep for Tommy did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Victoria was the daughter of Tommy, now 79, and his ex-wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. The couple also shares a son, Austin Jones, 43. She made select acting appearances at a young age, first in her father's film, Men in Black II, back in 2002. She was also in 2005's The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, a film directed by her father and which featured her stepmom, Dawn Laurel-Jones, as the stills photographer. Masatoshi Okauchi/Shutterstock Victoria and Tommy Lee Jones in 2017 Victoria and Tommy Lee Jones in 2017 In addition to her film roles, Victoria made an appearance in the popular teen drama TV series One Tree Hill in one episode in 2003. Tommy is, of course, an Oscar-winning actor, nabbing the Best Supporting Actor honor for 1993's The Fugitive. He has also appeared in JFK, the Men in Black series, No Country for Old Men and Lincoln, among other acclaimed projects. Read the original article on People With many of us waking up to snow and ice, and weather warnings still in place for parts of the UK in the coming days, households are bracing for freezing nights and frosty mornings. As temperatures dip, you might be cranking up the heating to turn your bedroom into a cosy cocoon especially when its bitterly cold outside. However, there's a balance to strike. Rooms that are too cold can be uncomfortable and disruptive, particularly for children, older adults or people with certain health conditions. But while a warm room might feel comforting when you get into bed, it isnt always the best setup for sleep. In fact, sleeping in an environment thats too warm can make it harder to fall asleep and affect how well you rest through the night. Advertisement Advertisement So whats the ideal bedroom temperature when the weather turns wintry? Here, two medical experts explain why sleeping in a cooler environment can improve sleep quality and how to find the right temperature for you. The optimum room temperature Infants and children may need a slightly warmer environment to sleep in than adults. (Getty Images) (Olga Pankova via Getty Images) If you're unsure how cold is too cold when it comes to sleep, Rebekah Parr, a physiologist at Nuffield Health tells Yahoo UK the temperatures you should set your bedroom heating to. "For most adults, the optimal temperature for your bedroom is 18.3C. This can vary, but finding your comfortable temperature between 15.6-20C is normally recommended," she says. For infants and children, The Lullaby Trust recommends a similar temperature, of between 16-20C. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is higher in babies who get too hot. Advertisement Advertisement A lot of baby monitors have an in-built thermometer or you can buy one for under 10. What happens if your bedroom is too cold? According to Parr, sleeping in a bedroom that's too cold can lead to disrupted sleep. "You may wake up more frequently because you are not at an optimal temperature. Additionally, you will not enter the REM sleep stages as much due to your body being less relaxed, so you may wake not feeling refreshed," she says. Dr Babak Ashrafi from Superdrug Online Doctor also notes that a cold room can cause muscle stiffness and may aggravate existing respiratory conditions. "If the temperature of your bedroom drops too low, it can cause muscle stiffness, restlessness, or general discomfort, particularly for children or the elderly," he says. "People with asthma or respiratory conditions may also find that overly cold, dry air irritates their airways." What happens if your bedroom is too warm? According to Parr, if your bedroom is too hot, your body will work hard to cool down and regulate itself, thereby disrupting sleep cycles, reducing melatonin production, and promoting poorer quality sleep. Advertisement Advertisement Dr Ashrafi recommends opting for breathable bedding made from cotton or linen. "This helps regulate body temperature and prevent overheating during the night," he says. 5 benefits of sleeping in a room at the optimum temperature You may struggle to nod off or stay asleep if the room is too warm. (Getty Images) (Filmstax via Getty Images) Having your bedroom heating set to the optimum temperature of between 15.6-20C for many people comes with benefits. 1. It helps you drift off to sleep Parr explains that as you approach the time for sleep and your circadian rhythm prepares your body, your body temperature typically drops by around 1-2 degrees. "You may notice that your hands and feet get warmer during this time as this is one of your bodys ways to allow heat to escape from your body, lowering your core temperature," she says. "Sleeping in a cooler room facilitates this process and helps you to fall asleep." 2. It can mean you wake up less frequently throughout the night "Your core temperature naturally lowers as you wind down for sleep," Dr Ashrafi says. "Cooler air helps the body recognise its time to wind down, allowing you not just to fall asleep faster, but to maintain more consistent sleep throughout the night." 3. It reduces sweat levels and inflammation According to Dr Ashrafi, sleeping in a cooler environment reduces sweating and inflammation. This can help to maintain the skins moisture barrier and allows overnight repair processes to work more effectively, leading to all-around better skin. Women going through the menopause may also benefit from sleeping in a cooler room. (Getty Images) (Liudmila Chernetska via Getty Images) 4. It may also induce higher melatonin levels Parr notes that colder temperatures may also induce higher levels of melatonin (a sleep hormone), which would explain why we perhaps feel more sluggish during the winter months. Advertisement Advertisement "But," she points out, "this would also mean that sleeping in a cooler environment results in higher melatonin levels, therefore better quality sleep." 5. It can boost our overall health "Having good quality sleep on a regular basis is known to help regulate blood pressure and cortisol levels," Dr Ashrafi adds. "Both of which are key factors in long-term cardiovascular health." Plus, it can help ease menopause symptoms for women Women who struggle with hot flashes and night sweats due to menopause may find it beneficial to sleep in a cooler room, says Parr. "A cooler environment has been linked to a decrease in the severity of these symptoms," she comments. Traveling through Europe by train offers a unique opportunity to experience diverse cultures, landscapes, and histories in a seamless and sustainable way. Unlike air travel, train journeys allow for a slower, more immersive connection to the regions you pass through, from bustling urban centers to quiet countryside. Rail networks across Europe are highly developed, connecting multiple countries with efficiency and comfort. Travelers can witness varying architecture, cuisine, and natural scenery without the stress of driving or navigating unfamiliar roads. Each border crossed by rail presents a subtle cultural shift, giving a sense of progression and discovery. This type of travel appeals to curious explorers seeking a comprehensive European adventure in a single journey. Planning a multi-country rail trip requires attention to routes, schedules, and passes, but the benefits are immense. High-speed trains and regional connections allow for flexibility and spontaneity, letting travelers adjust plans on the go. Passengers can enjoy panoramic windows, dining cars, and convenient city-center arrivals that planes cannot match. Advertisement Advertisement Sustainable travel is another advantage, with trains offering a lower carbon footprint per passenger. In addition to convenience, train travel fosters a sense of community and interaction with locals and fellow travelers. Mastering the logistics ensures that the journey itself becomes an unforgettable part of the European experience. France Image Credit:Shutterstock. Traveling through France by train allows visitors to experience the countrys rich cultural heritage, from Parisian boulevards to the lavender fields of Provence. The high-speed TGV network connects major cities efficiently, reducing travel time and offering comfort along scenic routes. Passengers can enjoy picturesque countryside, historic towns, and vineyards visible from panoramic windows. French train stations themselves often serve as architectural landmarks and hubs of local activity. Culinary delights are accessible at station cafes or nearby markets, enhancing the travel experience. Efficient connections make it possible to traverse long distances without missing iconic sites, creating a seamless journey through diverse regions. Rail travel in France emphasizes both convenience and immersion. Travelers can explore multiple regions in a single day, hopping between bustling cities and tranquil rural areas. The integration of local and high-speed trains ensures flexibility in itineraries. Passengers can interact with locals or fellow tourists, gaining insight into French life. Comfortable seating and onboard services make longer journeys pleasant and productive. With proper planning, a train journey through France becomes not only transportation but a vital part of cultural exploration. Germany Image Credit: Shutterstock. Germanys extensive rail network allows tourists to experience the countrys architectural landmarks, forests, and river valleys without relying on cars. High-speed ICE trains connect major cities like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg with precision and comfort. Regional trains offer access to smaller towns, castles, and scenic villages along the Rhine or Danube. Advertisement Advertisement Travelers can enjoy panoramic views of rolling hills, vineyards, and historical towns along the way. German train stations often combine modern design with historic charm, providing both convenience and aesthetic enjoyment. Scheduling is reliable, enabling efficient planning for multi-destination exploration. Train travel in Germany is both practical and enriching. Passengers can experience cultural diversity between regions in a single trip, from northern coastal areas to southern alpine regions. Onboard amenities support comfort and flexibility during long distances. Travelers gain insight into local life by observing daily commuters and engaging with locals. Train journeys allow seamless access to UNESCO sites and cultural landmarks. A well-planned itinerary ensures that each leg of the journey enhances the overall European exploration. Switzerland Image Credit:Shutterstock. Switzerland offers some of the most scenic train rides in Europe, blending precision with breathtaking alpine vistas. The Swiss Travel System connects cities, lakes, and mountain resorts efficiently, allowing travelers to experience a variety of landscapes in a single day. Trains such as the Glacier Express provide panoramic windows and comfort while traversing dramatic peaks, valleys, and historic villages. Passengers witness snow-capped mountains, green meadows, and crystal-clear lakes while moving effortlessly between regions. Swiss stations serve as gateways to hiking trails, ski resorts, and cultural landmarks. The punctuality and reliability of Swiss trains enable careful planning for multi-country itineraries, maximizing exploration. Advertisement Advertisement Rail journeys in Switzerland combine convenience with immersion in natural beauty. Travelers can transition from urban centers like Zurich or Geneva to remote alpine villages with ease. Efficient connections reduce downtime and allow for spontaneous detours. Onboard services, including dining cars, add to the enjoyment of longer trips. Observing local life from the train provides cultural insights and a sense of place. Switzerland demonstrates how train travel can transform transportation into an integral part of the travel experience. Italy Image Credit: Shutterstock. Italys train network connects historical cities, coastal towns, and countryside landscapes with remarkable efficiency. High-speed Frecciarossa trains allow rapid transit between major cities such as Rome, Milan, and Florence. Regional lines enable access to smaller towns, vineyards, and scenic coastal routes along the Amalfi Coast. Passengers experience architecture spanning Roman ruins, Renaissance squares, and modern urban hubs from a comfortable vantage point. Train stations frequently feature local markets and eateries, providing a taste of Italian cuisine between destinations. Efficient scheduling permits travelers to explore multiple regions within a single trip, maximizing cultural immersion. Traveling by train in Italy combines convenience with cultural engagement. Passengers can enjoy panoramic views, interact with locals, and explore cities without worrying about parking or traffic. The integration of high-speed and regional lines allows flexible itineraries, supporting both spontaneous and structured travel. Comfort, reliability, and accessibility enhance long journeys. Onboard experiences, including cafes and observation cars, enrich the trip. Trains in Italy transform transportation into an active, engaging, and scenic part of the adventure. Austria Image Credit : Shutterstock. Austrias rail network allows visitors to traverse the countrys landscapes, from Viennas imperial streets to alpine villages, in a single journey. High-speed Railjet trains provide fast, comfortable connections between major cities, while regional trains link smaller towns and scenic areas. Passengers enjoy views of mountains, rivers, and historic towns visible from panoramic windows. Advertisement Advertisement Train stations often blend modern functionality with cultural charm, serving as starting points for local exploration. Onboard services, seating comfort, and punctuality ensure efficient and pleasant travel. The connectivity allows travelers to plan multi-destination itineraries with minimal stress, creating a seamless travel experience. Train travel in Austria emphasizes both efficiency and cultural immersion. Routes allow easy access to UNESCO sites, castles, and traditional villages. Passengers can observe Austrian life and landscapes without interruption. Reliable timetables support well-structured exploration. Onboard amenities, including dining and Wi-Fi, enhance comfort during longer trips. With thoughtful planning, Austrias rail system turns travel itself into an unforgettable aspect of European exploration. Spain Image Credit:Shutterstock. Traveling through Spain by train offers access to a wide range of cultural, historical, and scenic experiences across the country. High-speed AVE trains connect major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville efficiently, making long distances manageable in a single day. Regional lines link smaller towns, vineyards, and coastal routes along the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Passengers can enjoy views of rolling hills, historic architecture, and colorful plazas from panoramic windows. Train stations themselves are hubs of local life, with cafes, shops, and cultural exhibits enriching the experience. The convenience of rail travel allows visitors to experience multiple regions without the stress of driving or navigating unfamiliar roads. Advertisement Advertisement Rail journeys in Spain emphasize immersion as well as efficiency. Travelers can explore diverse landscapes and cultural highlights within a structured itinerary or through spontaneous exploration. Onboard services, seating comfort, and reliable schedules enhance the journey. Interaction with locals and observation of daily life provide insight into Spanish culture. Trains facilitate easy access to UNESCO sites, museums, and traditional neighborhoods. A well-planned Spanish train itinerary makes transportation a key part of the travel experience rather than merely a means of getting from one place to another. Netherlands Image Credit: Depositphotos The Netherlands rail network allows seamless travel between vibrant cities, charming towns, and picturesque countryside in a single trip. High-speed intercity trains connect Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht with efficiency, while regional lines provide access to small villages, windmills, and scenic canals. Passengers can enjoy lush meadows, historic architecture, and colorful tulip fields through panoramic windows. Dutch stations often combine modern functionality with local culture, offering shops, eateries, and artistic displays. The compact country and frequent services make multi-destination itineraries feasible without excessive planning. Travelers can experience cultural, historical, and natural highlights all in one continuous journey. Advertisement Advertisement Train travel in the Netherlands balances speed, comfort, and immersion. Travelers can hop between urban centers and rural landscapes seamlessly. Onboard amenities, including refreshments and comfortable seating, enhance longer journeys. Observing local commuters and regional scenery provides a deeper sense of place. Flexible schedules allow spontaneous stops or extended visits in towns of interest. The railway system ensures that exploration is both efficient and enjoyable, making it an ideal choice for multi-country European travel. Belgium Image Credit: Shutterstock. Belgiums train system allows visitors to experience its historic cities, scenic countryside, and diverse regions in a single journey. High-speed Thalys and InterCity trains connect Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent efficiently, while regional trains reach smaller towns, castles, and picturesque villages. Panoramic windows offer views of rolling hills, canals, and medieval streets. Train stations serve as gateways to cultural landmarks and local experiences, including cafes, markets, and galleries. Frequent services and short distances make multi-city exploration convenient. Travelers can combine urban exploration with access to natural and historical highlights seamlessly. Rail travel in Belgium emphasizes comfort, convenience, and cultural immersion. Onboard amenities allow passengers to relax and enjoy the scenery. Observing locals and regional traditions from the train provides insight into Belgian life. Flexible itineraries support both structured and spontaneous travel. Connections to neighboring countries such as France and the Netherlands expand travel options. With careful planning, trains in Belgium transform transportation into a vital component of the European adventure. Slovenia Image Credit: Depositphotos Slovenias rail network allows travelers to explore Ljubljana, Lake Bled, and alpine regions efficiently. High-speed and regional trains link cities, towns, and scenic landscapes, offering panoramic views of rivers, mountains, and historic architecture. Stations often combine functionality with cultural charm, providing cafes, shops, and local exhibitions. Advertisement Advertisement The compact network and reliable schedules make multi-destination exploration straightforward. Travelers can experience natural beauty, medieval towns, and cultural highlights seamlessly. Train journeys in Slovenia provide a convenient, immersive way to see diverse regions without relying on cars or complex logistics. Rail travel in Slovenia emphasizes efficiency, comfort, and cultural engagement. Passengers can observe daily life and regional scenery along the way. Onboard amenities enhance longer journeys, making travel enjoyable. Flexible itineraries allow structured sightseeing or spontaneous exploration. Interaction with locals adds depth to the experience. A train trip through Slovenia transforms transportation into an integral part of the adventure rather than merely a means of moving between destinations. Slovakia Image Credit: Shutterstock. Slovakias train system connects Bratislava, Kosice, and scenic towns throughout the country, making exploration efficient and convenient. Regional and intercity trains provide access to castles, mountains, and rivers, while panoramic windows reveal forests, hills, and charming villages. Stations serve as cultural gateways with cafes, markets, and exhibitions. Frequent, reliable services enable travelers to cover multiple destinations without stress. Visitors can combine urban experiences with natural scenery in a single itinerary. Train travel in Slovakia offers both practicality and immersive experiences for those seeking a comprehensive journey. Advertisement Advertisement Rail journeys in Slovakia balance comfort, convenience, and cultural insight. Passengers observe daily life, historic landmarks, and picturesque landscapes throughout the trip. Onboard services enhance longer journeys. Flexible scheduling allows spontaneous detours or structured exploration. Interacting with locals adds cultural depth and perspective. Traveling by train ensures that transportation itself becomes an enriching and memorable part of the experience. Portugal Image Credit: Shutterstock. Portugals rail network allows travelers to explore Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve efficiently, blending urban life with natural landscapes. High-speed Alfa Pendular trains connect major cities, while regional trains reach smaller towns, vineyards, and coastal villages. Panoramic windows offer views of the Atlantic coastline, rolling hills, and historic architecture. Train stations often feature markets, cafes, and cultural exhibits. Regular, reliable services make multi-destination itineraries feasible. Passengers can experience Portugals culture, cuisine, and landscapes in a single journey without logistical stress. Train travel in Portugal emphasizes immersion, comfort, and accessibility. Travelers can observe regional life and natural beauty along the route. Onboard amenities, seating, and dining enhance longer journeys. Flexible itineraries allow structured sightseeing or spontaneous exploration. Interaction with locals adds insight into Portuguese traditions and culture. A rail trip across Portugal transforms transportation into a core part of the travel experience. Czech Republic Image Credit: Shutterstock. The Czech Republic offers a compact and efficient rail system connecting Prague with regional cities and scenic towns. High-speed and regional trains provide access to castles, historical squares, and picturesque villages throughout the country. Advertisement Advertisement Panoramic windows reveal forests, rivers, and charming town centers. Train stations act as hubs of activity, with shops, cafes, and cultural displays welcoming visitors. Regular services make multi-city exploration straightforward and accessible. Travelers can easily combine visits to cultural landmarks, natural scenery, and historic neighborhoods in a single journey. Rail travel in the Czech Republic balances speed, comfort, and immersion. Passengers can transition seamlessly between urban hubs and rural destinations. Onboard amenities support relaxed and productive travel. Observing local life and regional landscapes provides cultural insights. Flexible connections allow both structured and spontaneous exploration. Trains transform transportation into a key part of experiencing the country fully and enjoyably. Hungary Image Credit: Shutterstock. Hungarys rail network enables travelers to explore Budapest, historic towns, and scenic countryside efficiently. High-speed trains link major cities, while regional services connect smaller villages and natural attractions. Panoramic windows provide views of rivers, rolling hills, and architectural landmarks. Train stations themselves often reflect historical and cultural significance, hosting markets and cafes. The compact network and reliable schedules make it possible to visit multiple regions in one trip. Travelers can enjoy Hungarys cultural, historical, and natural offerings without the stress of road travel. Train journeys in Hungary offer both convenience and cultural engagement. Passengers observe urban life and rural scenery throughout the journey. Onboard amenities enhance comfort during longer trips. Flexible itineraries allow spontaneous detours or structured sightseeing. Interaction with locals provides additional insight into traditions and daily life. Hungarys rail system makes the journey itself an enriching component of the travel experience. Poland Image Credit: F11photo / Shutterstock Polands railway system connects major cities, historical sites, and picturesque towns, making multi-destination travel simple and accessible. High-speed and intercity trains link Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk, while regional lines reach smaller villages and scenic landscapes. Passengers enjoy panoramic views of forests, rivers, and historic architecture. Train stations combine convenience with cultural exposure, offering markets, cafes, and galleries. Frequent services make it possible to visit multiple destinations in a single day. Travelers can explore Polands cultural heritage, natural beauty, and historic sites efficiently by rail. Rail journeys in Poland emphasize comfort, reliability, and immersion. Passengers experience urban life, rural scenery, and architectural highlights from the train. Onboard amenities support relaxation and productivity. Flexible connections allow spontaneous exploration or structured itineraries. Observing locals and daily routines provides cultural insight. Trains in Poland make transportation an integral and enjoyable part of the European adventure. Denmark Image Credit:Shutterstock. Denmarks rail network connects Copenhagen, Aarhus, and scenic coastal towns efficiently, providing easy access to urban and natural attractions. High-speed and regional trains link cities with picturesque landscapes, including islands, fjords, and countryside villages. Stations often offer cultural displays, cafes, and local amenities. Frequent services make multi-destination itineraries straightforward. Travelers can explore historical sites, modern architecture, and natural scenery seamlessly. Train travel in Denmark offers a practical and immersive way to experience diverse regions without relying on road transport. Rail journeys in Denmark emphasize efficiency, comfort, and cultural engagement. Passengers can observe urban life, landscapes, and local traditions from the train. Onboard amenities enhance longer journeys, making travel enjoyable. Flexible schedules allow both structured and spontaneous exploration. Interaction with locals provides deeper cultural insight. A train trip through Denmark transforms transportation into a memorable and integral part of the journey. Sweden Image Credit: Shutterstock. Swedens rail system allows travelers to traverse Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Lapland efficiently, combining urban and natural highlights. High-speed SJ trains connect major cities, while regional trains link smaller towns, forests, and coastal areas. Panoramic windows reveal lakes, forests, and historic villages. Stations offer cafes, shops, and cultural exhibits, enriching the experience. Frequent, punctual services enable multi-destination travel without stress. Passengers can experience Swedens diverse landscapes, culture, and history in a single journey, blending comfort with exploration. Train travel in Sweden emphasizes comfort, reliability, and cultural immersion. Passengers observe local life, natural scenery, and urban highlights along the route. Onboard services enhance longer journeys. Flexible scheduling allows structured or spontaneous exploration. Interaction with locals adds insight and depth to the travel experience. A rail trip across Sweden turns transportation itself into a key, memorable part of the adventure. Norway Image Credit: Shutterstock. Norways rail network offers travelers access to dramatic fjords, mountain landscapes, and vibrant cities in a single journey. High-speed and regional trains connect Oslo with Bergen, Trondheim, and other scenic towns. Panoramic windows provide uninterrupted views of fjords, waterfalls, and rolling hills. Train stations often combine modern functionality with local charm, including cafes and cultural displays. Frequent services make multi-destination itineraries both feasible and enjoyable. Travelers can combine urban exploration with immersion in natural wonders along efficient and scenic routes. Rail travel in Norway emphasizes convenience, comfort, and cultural immersion. Passengers can observe both daily life and breathtaking natural scenery while moving between destinations. Onboard amenities, including comfortable seating and dining options, enhance longer journeys. Flexible scheduling allows both structured plans and spontaneous detours. Interaction with locals adds cultural depth to the experience. Norway demonstrates how train travel can transform transportation into an essential and memorable part of exploration. There's not much to improve when it comes to a steaming hot mug of rich, velvety hot chocolate. A dollop of sweet whipped cream (the best topping, according to our survey), some mini marshmallows, and maybe some chocolate shavings can give the drink a bit of an upgrade, but if you want to make the comforting beverage warm you up even more, why not adult-ify it with a generous glug of liqueur? Now, you don't want to compromise cocoa's perfection by throwing in a shot of something that clashes or dilutes the chocolate flavor rather, you want to find a liqueur that enhances and boosts what's already there. There are so many liqueurs on the market now that it can be something of a labyrinthine task to find the right one for this purpose. Luckily, there's not just one perfect hot chocolate liqueur companion, but many possible options. Here are the best ones to use to spike your next cup of cocoa. Read more: Buddy Valastro: Why You Don't Hear Much From The Cake Boss Anymore 1. Amaro Close up of amaro bottle labels - VGV MEDIA/Shutterstock Amaro is such a vast category, there are literally books written on the subject. In Italian, amaro means bitter, but don't let that term put you off. Most amari have a balance of bitter and sweet, and are made with a unique blend of botanical ingredients that typically include medicinal roots, herbs, citrus, and flowers. Across Italy, and in many other European countries, these liqueurs were originally made as health tonics, with the botanical ingredients preserved in a base of neutral alcohol. Because each was made using local plants, these liqueurs come in a wide variety of flavor profiles. Advertisement Advertisement It may take some trial and error to find the perfect amaro for hot chocolate, depending on your personal preference, but it'll certainly be a pleasant journey to undertake. Some classics to start with will get you on the right track. Vecchio Amaro del Capo has a rich, syrupy texture and bright minty notes balanced with citrus. Amaro Montenegro is one of the easiest to find, with its signature orange peel and vanilla flavors making the perfect complement to chocolate. Averna, from Sicily, is dark and spicy. If you want to lean into a truly traditional example, look for Amaro dell'Erborista, an unfiltered amaro sweetened only with local honey. It'll add a rustic, bitter, woodsy kick to your cocoa. 2. Grand Marnier A bottle and glass of Grand Marnier liqueur - vvoe/Shutterstock Chocolate and orange make a flavor duo that's hard to beat, so orange liqueurs are some of the first types you may want to look for to mix with hot cocoa. While you can use any orange liqueur, like triple sec, curacao, or even orangecello, the elegance and richness of Grand Marnier adds the most depth and dimension. A shot of this French concoction in hot chocolate will elevate the beverage like nothing else. Cognac and orange liqueur are meticulously blended to make Grand Marnier. Using such a complex base spirit imbues this liqueur with more intensity and intricacy of flavor than others that are made with neutral alcohol. The addition of Grand Marnier will complement any type of hot chocolate, but works particularly well with rich dark chocolate that has a robust flavor and isn't too sweet. Keep in mind that Grand Marnier packs quite a punch for a liqueur, boasting 40% alcohol by volume, which is comparable to many straight spirits. 3. Irish Cream Closeup of the label on a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream - Q77photo/Shutterstock While whiskey and dairy products have been produced in Ireland for ages, it wasn't until the 1970s that they were combined to create the now incredibly popular beverage, Irish cream. Baileys was the trailblazing brand and continues to be the leader in the category, but plenty of others like Carolans, Five Farms, and Coole Swan now grace store shelves. Many offer multiple flavors these days, but the classic profile is rich, sweet, and subtly boozy with touches of cocoa and vanilla. As you can imagine, it's a beautiful enhancement to hot chocolate. Advertisement Advertisement Irish cream is fairly sweet, so keep that in mind when adding it to your cocoa. It doesn't have as much bitterness or spiritous intensity as some of the other options. Depending on your palate, this could be a detriment or a benefit. The whiskey flavor does come through to add balance to the sweetness, but expect Irish cream hot chocolate to be a very decadent, dessert-like treat. 4. Chocolate Liqueur Two bottles of Mozart chocolate liqueur - SkazovD/Shutterstock It may seem like putting a hat on a hat, but adding chocolate liqueur to hot cocoa takes the drink to a whole new level. There are a multitude of brands and styles available, so you can personalize your double chocolate drink in all kinds of ways. Take Mozart, for example, one of the more popular chocolate liqueur brands the original product is made with Belgian milk chocolate, and you can also find dark and white chocolate variations, as well as unique flavors like coconut chocolate. And that's just one brand. Shop around, and you can find a nearly endless selection. Tempus Fugit makes a fabulously pure-tasting creme de cacao made from raw cocoa and vanilla beans. You can go tropical with KoHana's Kokoleka, a chocolate and honey liqueur made from all Hawaiian ingredients. OM (Organic Mixology) makes a liqueur with bittersweet chocolate and a subtle note of sea salt. Italian producer Bottega's Gianduia chocolate liqueur includes hazelnut, so you can turn your hot chocolate into a mug of liquid Nutella. Most chocolate liqueurs hover around 17% alcohol by volume, so you won't need to worry too much about over-spiking your drink though you may need to worry about chocolate overkill. 5. Tuaca A bottle of Tuaca liqueur - Sazerac Tuaca is one of those bottles you've probably seen behind the bar a million times, but may have never tasted it. Its flavor profile is rather unique and hard to pin down, so a lot of people are unsure what to do with it. As a cocktail creator, I considered it one of my secret weapons, using it as a sweetening agent in many drinks. Its flavors of vanilla, Mediterranean citrus, and spices work well with so many spirits and ingredients, and while it's sweet, it's also fairly strong at 70 proof, with a brandy base that balances that sweetness. Advertisement Advertisement The flavor profile of Tuaca might just shine brightest when paired with chocolate. A glug of this in a mug of hot cocoa adds a ton of dimension with just one ingredient. You get the elegance of vanilla, the warmth of baking spices, and the brightness of citrus. Give someone a Tuaca hot chocolate, and they'll probably think you're a gourmet cocoa genius. 6. Coffee Liqueur A Kahlua bottle on its side, next to jar of coffee beans - Daniel Muresan/Shutterstock Kahlua's the big dog when it comes to coffee liqueurs, and has been since it came on the scene in Mexico in 1936. It's far from the only coffee liqueur out there, though if there's any category that's exploded in recent years, it's this one. Partially driven by renewed love of the espresso martini, coffee and espresso liqueurs have essentially flooded the market. That's great news for those of us who love a little bit of booze and coffee in our drinks, especially in hot chocolate. Kahlua and Tia Maria offer similar experiences, as both are rum-based and made with 100% Arabica coffee, and both are excellent at turning your hot chocolate into a mocha-like cocktail. For something a little different, look for St. George's NOLA, a liqueur inspired by the New Orleans tradition of adding chicory to coffee. Mr. Black, a liqueur from Australia, is a bartender's darling, thanks to its strong natural coffee flavor and light sweetness that lets bitterness take the stage. Espresso liqueurs are a popular Italian category, with brands like Borghetti, Galliano, and Luxardo each offering their own version with intense, concentrated coffee flavor. Any of these is a welcome addition to hot chocolate, adding flavor as well as a little pick-me-up. 7. Chile Liqueur Close up of two Ancho Reyes chile liqueur bottles - licoresyvinoscostarica/Instagram Chile pepper liqueur is a somewhat under-the-radar category for now, with not nearly the variety on the market of most others on this list. The dominant label is Ancho Reyes, which produces two main varieties: The bright, zippy poblano and the deep, smoky ancho. Both are somewhat sweet to balance out the chile pepper bite, and both can turn your hot chocolate into a spicy-sweet delight. Advertisement Advertisement The combination of chile and chocolate is nothing new, with cocoa being an integral ingredient in many Mexican moles and chilis, and long before today, Mayans and Aztecs enjoyed chocolate and chile drinks. The flavor elements play off one another well, creating an invigorating drinking experience. Aside from Ancho Reyes, you can find some other intriguing chile liqueurs. Grove Street makes one from New Mexico's flavorful hatch chiles, Boyd & Blair has crafted its own ancho chile liqueur, and even two lauded French liqueur producers, Giffard and Massenez, have thrown their hats in the ring: Giffard using piment d'espelette, and Massanez using piment oiseau, or bird's eye chile. If you're a heat-seeker, these are the perfect liqueurs to add to your hot chocolate, with emphasis on hot. 8. Allspice Dram A bottle and glass of allspice liqueur, next to a bowl of allspice berries - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock A staple of tiki drinks, allspice dram sometimes also known as pimento dram is another one of those secret ingredients that you've likely had in a cocktail, but didn't realize was there. Allspice comes from a berry tree that grows in the Caribbean, and the liqueur made from its dried fruits originated in Jamaica. Contrary to its name, allspice is a single spice, but it holds so much flavor that it comes across as a blend, with notes of peppercorn, baking spices, and licorice. Allspice dram tends to be quite sharp and intense, so bartenders often use it in tiny amounts, sometimes with an eyedropper, so as not to overwhelm their cocktails. Keep that in mind when adding it to your hot chocolate, as a little goes a long, long way. That quality makes allspice dram a great ingredient to have in your home bar. Depending on how often you make cocktails like boozy hot chocolate, one bottle can last months or even years. St. Elizabeth is the best-known brand, made with Jamaican rum and sporting a complex spicy and smoky profile. Other brands to check out are The Bitter Truth and Hamilton. It's also a fairly simple liqueur to make yourself just infuse rum with crushed allspice berries, strain, and add simple syrup to taste. 9. Nocino Two glasses of nocino, next to some fresh walnuts, with a bottle in the background - New Africa/Shutterstock Similar to amaro, nocino is an Italian liqueur that dates back centuries. While not as varied in style as amaro, there are nevertheless many subtle variations, and it's now produced all over the world. What they all have in common is one base botanical: Unripe walnuts. Some producers add spices, citrus, or other ingredients like vanilla, while others leave it pure, to showcase the walnuts' natural flavor, adding only sweetness. Whatever the recipe, the resulting nocino liqueur is nutty and woodsy, and makes a rustic but sophisticated addition to hot chocolate. Advertisement Advertisement If you can get your hands on unripe walnuts, you can make your own nocino, although it's quite a time-consuming process. Thankfully, there are plenty of options available to purchase. Faccio Brutto's nocino includes allspice, citrus, vanilla, and cocoa, all flavors that play beautifully with chocolate. Il Mallo is another excellent brand, made with carefully sourced walnuts from specific areas around Italy. Nocino tends to be fairly strong, generally around 30-40% alcohol by volume, so be aware that it'll give your hot chocolate quite a kick. Hungry for more? Sign up for the free Daily Meal newsletter for delicious recipes, cooking tips, kitchen hacks, and more, delivered straight to your inbox. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Daily Meal. 9 top customer service challenges and how to overcome them Its a shame that customer service doesnt always get the respect and attention it deserves because its among the most important ingredients in any businesss success. Theres no better marketing than an enthusiastic user base, so every organization should strive to excel at making customers happy. Alas, this is easier said than done. When someone comes to you with a problem, they can be angry, stubborn, mercurial, andlets be honestextremely frustrating. Some of this just comes with the territory, but some stems from the fact that many customer service professionals simply dont have a detailed, high-level view of customer service challenges or how to overcome them. Quiq shares remedies to nine common customer service challenges. Key takeaways: Set clear expectations: Define response times and support channels upfront to prevent frustration. Train for empathy: Equip agents to personalize interactions and turn issues into loyalty moments. Use automation wisely: Leverage agentic AI with a solution like Quiq to speed up resolutions without losing the human touch. Manage difficult requests: Stay transparent and solution-oriented when needs cant be met. Reduce turnover: Invest in onboarding, feedback, and recognition to keep service teams engaged. Major Customer Service Challenges The top customer service challenges include: Advertisement Advertisement Understanding Customer Expectations Exceeding Customer Expectations Dealing with Unreasonable Customer Demands Improving Your Internal Operations Not Offering a Preferred Communication Channel Not Offering Real-Time Options Handling Angry Customers Dealing With a Service Outage Crisis Retaining, Hiring, and Training Service Professionals Read on for a breakdown of each challenge, plus strategies for addressing them. 1. Understanding Customer Expectations No matter how specialized a business is, it will inevitably cater to a wide variety of customers. Every customer has different desires, expectations, and needs regarding a product or service, which means you need to put real effort into meeting them where they are. One of the best ways to foster this understanding is to remain in consistent contact with your customers. Deciding which communication channels to offer customers depends a great deal on the kinds of customers youre serving. That said, in our experience, text messaging is a universally successful method of communication because it mimics how people communicate in their personal lives. The same goes for web chat and WhatsApp. Advertisement Advertisement Beyond this, setting the right expectations up front is another good way to address common customer service challenges. For example, if you are not available 24/7, only provide support via email, or dont have dedicated account managers , you should make that clear right at the beginning. Nothing will make a customer angrier than thinking they can text you only to realize thats not an option in the middle of a crisis. 2. Exceed Customer Expectations Once you understand what your customers want and need, the next step is to go above and beyond to make them happy. Everyone wants to stand out in a fiercely competitive market, and going the extra mile is a great way to do that. One of the major customer service challenges is knowing how to do this proactively, but there are many ways you can succeed without a huge amount of effort. Consider a few examples: Advertisement Advertisement Treat the customer as you would a friend in your personal life, i.e., by apologizing for any negative experiences and empathizing with how they feel; Offer a credit or discount for a future purchase; Send them a card referencing their experience and thanking them for being a loyal customer. The key is making sure they feel seen and heard. If you do this consistently, youll exceed your customers expectations, and the chances of them becoming active promoters of your company will increase dramatically. 3. Dealing with Unreasonable Demands Of course, sometimes a customer has expectations that simply cant be met, and this, too, counts as one of the serious customer service challenges. Customer service professionals often find themselves in situations where someone wants a discount that cant be given, a feature that cant be built, or a bespoke customization that cant be done, and they wonder what they should do. The only thing to do in this situation is to gently let the customer down, using respectful and diplomatic language. Something like, Were really sorry were not able to fulfill your request, but wed be happy to help you choose an option that we currently have available should do the trick. 4. Improving Your Internal Operations Customer service teams face the constant pressure to improve efficiency, maintain high CSAT scores, drive revenue, and keep costs to service customers low. This matters a lot; slow response times and being kicked from one department to another are two of the more common complaints contact centers get from irate customers, and both are fixable with appropriate changes to your procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Improving contact center performance is among the thorniest customer service challenges, but theres no reason to give up hope! One thing you can do is gather and utilize better data regarding your internal workflows. Data has been called the new oil, and with good reasonwhen used correctly, its unbelievably powerful. What might this look like? Well, you are probably already tracking metrics like first contact resolution (FCR) and (AHT), but this is easier when you have a unified, comprehensive dashboard that gives you quick insight into whats happening across your organization. You might also consider leveraging the power of generative AI, which has led to AI assistants that can boost agent performance in a variety of different tasks. You have to tread lightly here because too much bad automation will also drive customers away. But when you use technology like large language models according to best practices, you can get more done and make your customers happier while still reducing the burden on your agents. 5. Not Offering a Preferred Communication Channel In general, contact centers often deal with customer service challenges stemming from new technologies. One way this can manifest is the need to cultivate new channels in line with changing patterns in the way we all communicate. Advertisement Advertisement You can probably see where this is goingsomething like 96% of Americans have some kind of cell phone, and if youve looked up from your own phone recently, youve probably noticed everyone else glued to theirs. It isnt just that customers now want to be able to text you instead of calling or emailing; the ubiquity of cell phones has changed their basic expectations. They now take it for granted that your agents will be available round the clock, that they can chat with an agent asynchronously as they go about other tasks, etc. We cant tell you whether its worth investing in multiple communication channels for your industry. But based on our research, we can tell you that having multiple channelsand text messaging in particularis something most people want and expect. 6. Not Offering Real-Time Options When customers reach out asking for help, their customer service problems likely feel unique to them. But since you have so much more context, youre aware that a very high percentage of inquiries fall into a few common buckets, like Where is my order?, How do I handle a return?, My item arrived damaged, how can I exchange it for a new one?, etc. Advertisement Advertisement These and similar inquiries can easily be resolved instantly using AI, leaving customers and agents happier and more productive. 7. Handling Angry Customers A common story in the customer service world involves an interaction going south and a customer getting angry. Gracefully handling angry customers is one of those perennial customer service challenges; the very first merchants had to deal with angry customers, and our robot descendants will be dealing with angry customers long after the sun has burned out. Whenever you find yourself dealing with a customer who has become irate, there are two main things you have to do: Empathize with them Do not lose your cool Advertisement Advertisement It can be hard to remember, but the customer isnt frustrated with you, theyre frustrated with the company and products. If you always keep your responses calm and rooted in the facts of the situation, youll always be moving toward providing a solution. 8. Dealing With a Service Outage Crisis Sometimes, technology fails us. The wifi isnt working on the airplane, a cell phone tower is down following a lightning storm, or that printer from Office Space jams so often it starts to drive people insane. As a customer service professional, you might find yourself facing the wrath of your customers if your service is down. Unfortunately, in a situation like this, theres not much you can do except honestly convey to your customers that your team is putting all its effort into getting things back on track. You should go into these conversations expecting frustrated customers, but make sure you avoid the temptation to overpromise. Talk with your tech team and give customers a realistic timeline, dont assure them itll be back in three hours if you have no way to back that up. Though Elon Musk seems to get away with it, the worst thing the rest of us can do is repeatedly promise unrealistic timelines and miss the mark. 9. Retaining, Hiring, and Training Service Professionals You may have seen this famous Maya Angelou quote, which succinctly captures what the customer service business is all about: Advertisement Advertisement Ive learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Learning how to comfort a person or reassure them is high on the list of customer service challenges, and its something that is certainly covered in your training for new agents. But training is also important because it eases the strain on agents and reduces turnover. For customer service professionals, the median time to stick with one company is less than a year, and every time someone leaves, that means finding a replacement, training them, and hoping they dont head for the exits before your investment has paid off. Keeping your agents happy will save you more money than you imagine, so invest in a proper training program. Ensure they know whats expected of them, how to ask for help when needed, and how to handle challenging customers. Final Thoughts on the Top Customer Service Challenges Customer service challenges abound, but with the right approach, theres no reason you shouldnt be able to meet them head-on! Advertisement Advertisement Check out our report for a more detailed treatment of three major customer service challenges and how to resolve them. Between the report and this post, you should be armed with enough information to identify your own internal challenges, fix them, and rise to new heights. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What is the most common customer service complaint? Many teams struggle to keep up with rising customer expectations across multiple channels. Customers now expect fast, personalized responses wherever they reach outemail, SMS, social, or chat. What is agentic AI? Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can take autonomous actions on behalf of users, not just respond to prompts. In customer service, this means AI that can interpret intent, make decisions, and complete taskslike resolving issues, escalating complex cases, or updating orders without manual intervention. How can automation improve customer experience without feeling impersonal? Automation should simplify, not replace, the human touch. Using automation for repetitive tasks like order tracking or FAQs frees up agents to focus on more complex, emotional conversations that require empathy and problem-solving. How does unified messaging impact overall CX performance? Unified messaging ensures every interaction, no matter the channel, feels seamless and informed. What KPIs should CX leaders track to measure improvement? Key metrics include CSAT, NPS, first response time, and resolution rate. For teams using Quiqs agentic AI solution, analytics dashboards provide real-time visibility into these metrics, helping leaders identify bottlenecks and continuously improve customer experience. This story was produced by Quiq and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Key Takeaways Iceland leads the Global Peace Index 2025 for unmatched safety and stability. Retirees face $3,885 monthly living costs for one person, including rent, far higher than the average in the U.S. Iceland tops the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) as the world's most peaceful nation, thanks to its very low crime rates, minimal militarization, and lack of internal or external conflicts. For retirees craving a drama-free life, Iceland's safety sounds like a strong draw to the island nation. But sky-high costs and brutal winters are likely to shatter that dream. What Makes a Country the 'Most Peaceful'? The Institute for Economics & Peace's annual GPI evaluates 163 countries based on 23 indicators that fall into three categories: societal safety, ongoing conflicts, and militarization. Advertisement Advertisement Iceland has been at the top of the list for 17 straight years. Beyond its very low crime rate, Iceland offers retirees a society built on trustneighbors look out for each other, and the country consistently tops global rankings for gender equality and quality of life. murat4art / Getty Images Grimsey Island, perched on the Arctic Circle, hosts one of Iceland's largest puffin colonies each summera bucket-list draw for retirees who love birdwatching but perhaps not worth Iceland's high cost of living for others. Grimsey Island, perched on the Arctic Circle, hosts one of Iceland's largest puffin colonies each summera bucket-list draw for retirees who love birdwatching but perhaps not worth Iceland's high cost of living for others. Iceland's Retirement Hurdles Peace delivers what many retirees crave: pristine air, endless hiking trails, and communities where neighbors check on each other without prying. Iceland ranked third in the 2025 World Happiness Report, and you can see why: geothermal pools, midnight sun summers, and cafes with ocean views where police sirens never interrupt your coffee. If safety tops your list, this seems like bliss. But peace doesn't pay the bills. A single person needs about $3,268 monthly in Reykjavik, including rent, putting it in the top 1% of the world's most expensive cities and 30% higher than the U.S. average. Groceries run significantly higher thanks to import costs, and a modest one-bedroom apartment starts around $1,850. Health care is universal after six months of residency, with out-of-pocket costs capped at around $180$250 monthly, but you'll need private insurance to bridge the gapand specialist waitlists can stretch for months. Advertisement Advertisement Want peace without the price tag? Portugal (No. 7 on the Global Peace Index) and Ireland (No. 2) both made International Living's top retirement destinations, with prices far lower than Iceland's high cost of living. The Cold Hard Facts About Iceland Winters bring only four to five hours of daylight in Decemberthe sun rises around 11 a.m. and sets by 3:30 p.m.with temperatures hovering around 0C (32F), though wind chill makes it feel colder. Summers are mild but brief, averaging 1218C (5464F). If seasonal darkness balanced by summer months with days lasting into the wee hours isn't your thing, this isn't your paradise. In addition, Iceland doesn't have a dedicated visa for retirees. Americans can stay 90 days visa-free, then must apply for a "financially independent" residence permitproving self-sufficiency of at least 247,572 ISK (about $1,750) monthly for individuals, plus private health insurance and secured housing. Permanent residency requires four years of continuous stay and completing a 150-hour Icelandic language coursegood luck learning a language that doesn't borrow terms, so "computer" is tolva, a mashup of "number" and "prophetess." The Bottom Line Iceland offers retirees unmatched peace and nature's therapy, ideal if you've got a good amount saved and embrace hygge (coziness) over beach vibes. You'll need to weigh your tolerance for a higher cost of living and long, dark winters against your need for a safer living environment. Read the original article on Investopedia Its so rare to be surprised by a passenger plane that, when it does happen, it gets stored forever in the hangar of fond memories like the Aerogaviota twin-prop I was invited to fly on from Havana to Cayo Largo del Sur. With neither a boarding bridge nor a staircase, we walked from the sultry apron up a ramp at the rear, into the gaping un-air-conditioned fuselage. As we climbed, I saw the name Antonov. It was an AN-26, built from 1969-1986 in Kyiv, Ukraine (or UkrSSR, as it was then). The interior looked hardcore Seventies, making this a mid-era model. My anecdote dates from 1995, so the 40-seater was not frighteningly old. The chief incongruity aside from the birds and insects boarding with us was the sensation of being taken to a paradise island on a vehicle that looked made for delivering paratroopers or aid drops. Visitors to Cuba can still fly on Russian planes. Ditto North Koreas Air Koryo. Indeed, unusual passenger aircraft tend to be found in those countries that lie politically and economically at the outer edges of the OECD matrix. Advertisement Advertisement Here are some of the other quirky aircraft still aloft, for those who want the journey to be as memorable as the holiday. Russian Ilyushin Quad-Jet IL96 In 2010, I flew via Moscow Sheremetyevo to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the Kamchatka Peninsula. The flight was memorable because of its duration 20 hours from the UK and the number of time zones, which was twelve by the time I landed in the Russian Far East. But I also remember the overhead compartments, which would have comfortably taken a full-size suitcase as well as a big bear-like winter coat and a crate of vodka. I was on an Aeroflot IL-86 and width was very much in evidence. Perhaps the bulkheads were more distant or the passengers were smaller or just happy to be seated, but there was a taiga-like sense of space. The IL-86 the first wide-bodied aircraft manufactured by Russias Ilyushin, which had been established in the USSR in 1933 led to the development of the IL96, another wide-bodied, four-engined beast with a longer range. It has a cutting-edge cockpit, large windows and a very roomy cabin, and features Soviet-style interior design, including fold-forward seats and no overhead bins in the middle. Advertisement Advertisement Get on board: The planes rollout was stymied by the collapse of the USSR in 1991, though a tiny few are used by the company and as cargo planes. To fly on one, you need to be very dedicated. Cubana still uses one on its Minsk-Havana route. Plane spotters claim a new IL96 project is under way. Fairchild-Dornier 328JET Sun Air used to operate the Fairchild-Dornier in the British Airways livery - @AJBC_1/Alamy Dornier Flugzeugwerke was a German manufacturer founded in 1914 in Friedrichshafen, on the north shore of Lake Constance. It became famous for big, all-metal flying boats like the Wal (Whale) and the 12-engined Do X. Roald Amundsen used Dornier seaplanes for his unsuccessful North Pole attempt in 1925. In the early Nineties, Dorniers newly launched turboprop-powered Dornier 328 garnered negative press for noise and reliability. Financial difficulties led to a buyout by US firm Fairchild. The Fairchild-Dornier 328JET, a re-engined version of the turboprop, had its maiden flight in 1998. The little 32-seater would be the last Dornier-designed aircraft to reach production before the companys collapse during the early 2000s. Past operators in the US included Atlantic Coast Airlines, which ran domestic routes for Delta and United, and Skyway Airlines, a feeder for Midwest Express. Chinese carriers Hainan Airlines and Grand China Express Air (now Tianjin) also used 328JETs. Advertisement Advertisement Get on board: To ride in one now, youll need to book a flight with companies such as Danish charter airline Sun Air (which has eight of them), Key Lime Air/Denver Air Connection in Colorado, or Sepehran Airlines in Iran. Fokker 70 KLM, the Netherlands flagship carrier, stopped operating the Fokker 70 in 2017 - Ian Schofield/Alamy A once famous aircraft maker, Fokker founded in 1912 by Dutch aviator Antony Fokker played a seminal role in World War One, when the German air force flew Fokker triplanes and biplanes as well as standard monoplanes. Following the war, Fokker managed to shake off the negative perceptions of working with the enemy, providing planes for the Dutch air force, among others. In 1923, Anthony Fokker moved to the US, where in 1927 he established an American branch of the company, which merged with General Motors in 1930. During the 1920s, Fokker became the worlds largest aircraft manufacturer, with its Trimotor plane being operated by more than 50 airlines. Alongside Junkers, it had a solid market in Europe. In the following decade the celebrated English author, Nevil Shute, signed a licensing agreement with Fokker and Dutch-operated Fokkers scored significant victories against the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Advertisement Advertisement Post-1945, Fokker built successful training aircraft and collaborated on jetliners and fighter planes. Its F series of turboprops, intended to compete with the DC3, began in 1955 with the F27 Friendship, which evolved into the Fokker 50. The F28 Fellowship, a rival to the DC9, became the F100. The smaller F70 was a popular regional jet, flown by Air France Regional, KLM Cityhopper and British Midland. Get on board: Today, unless you are a member of the air forces of Kenya or Myanmar, to experience a Fokker 70 you will have to fly with Brisbanes Alliance Airlines, Air Niugini in Papua New Guinea, Surinames Fly All Ways or Nairobi-based Skyward Express. Fokker declared bankruptcy in 1996. The name survives in Fokker Next Gen NV, which is looking to develop and manufacture a hydrogen-powered plane. Boeing 757-300 United Airlines plan to phase out its Boeing 757-300s by next year - SOPA Images Most Boeing jets were produced in large numbers. Over its lifetime, from 1981-2004, more than a thousand 757s rolled off the production line. It was a follow-up to the best-selling 727 tri-jet, aimed at short and medium-length routes. Advertisement Advertisement The Boeing 757-300, introduced in 1999, was a longer version, with an extra 23 feet (seven metres) on the fuselage almost as long as the Boeing 747SP pushing up passenger capacity from 239 to 295 and a whopping 50 per cent increase in cargo space. The stretched 757 was designed for high-density, short-haul leisure routes, but only 55 were delivered before production ended in 2004 due to changing market conditions. Get on board: The flying pencil was developed with United Airlines, which still operates a few, as does Delta. Fly Khiva of Uzbekistan also uses 757-300s. DC-9 African Express Airways is the only airline still operating the DC-9 - Hulton Archive There was a time when the letters DC (for Douglas Commercial) had a prominence in the skies comparable today with Airbus and Boeing (which absorbed the airframe-maker in 1997). The DC-1, launched in 1933, kicked off a series of passenger jets that included the extremely popular DC-3 and the DC-8, an early long-distance jetliner. The DC-9, launched in the mid-Sixties when the company became McDonnell Douglas is a single-aisle, five abreast, launched as a rival to Boeings 737. The latter came later to market but went on to sell more than 12,000 jets (and counting), as compared with just 976 DC-9s. Advertisement Advertisement Get on board: Apart from a few cargo planes, the only way to take off as a passenger is to fly with African Express Airways of Nairobi. Saab 2000 The Saab 2000 can carry between 50 and 58 passengers - Trevisan Aviation Images/Alamy Flying in a Saab commercial passenger jet is almost as rare as finding cheap spares for a Saab 900 car. The Swedish airframe maker is best known for its military jets and trainers, and the car firm filed for bankruptcy in 2011. The Saab 2000 evolved out of the popular Saab 340 twin-turboprop. The first models flew in 1992, and from 1994 the plane was introduced for civil and military use. Its one of the fastest turboprop-powered passenger aircraft available, with a top cruise speed of 370 knots (685 km/h). Get on board: Demand flagged in the late Nineties, and only 63 were made. Fewer than half that number are still flying, but you can enjoy this sporty 50-seater if you book a flight with Alaskas Aleutian Airways or Frost Air of Malmo. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. For the past several years, Tampa Bays housing market has felt like a roller-coaster. First, there were the highs of the pandemic-fueled homebuying frenzy, when homes were selling at breakneck speeds for eye-popping prices. Then there were the lows of the post-2024 hurricane season, as the region struggled to recover from the destruction caused by Helene and Milton. 2025 felt like a transitional year for many, even those in the highest income brackets. Advertisement Advertisement The luxury market did not stop after the hurricanes, but activity paused as buyers and sellers reassessed, said Jennifer Zales, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker who specializes in high-end properties. Despite the threat of rising tides, buyers still are willing to pay a premium to live on the water. All of 2025s most expensive properties were on the waterfront. Theres also continued demand for new construction. Two of the top sales were land deals, where buyers jumped at the rare opportunity to build from scratch in a sought-after neighborhood. The luxury market is being driven more by fundamentals and long-term value than by emotion or speculation, Zales said. 1. 4937 Lyford Cay Road, Tampa: $15 million The basics: This 5,662-square-foot mansion was owned by the co-founder of 717 Parking, John Accardi. He sold it in October. The house has five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. It was built in 2008 on a 0.45-acre lot in the Culbreath Isles neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement The agents: The home was sold in an off-market transaction. Special features: This Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home was built by local architect Sol Fleischman and was featured in an episode of Mansion Global. It has a large backyard facing Old Tampa Bay complete with a pool, hot tub and concrete dock. 2. 72 Adalia Ave., Tampa: $12.8 million The basics: This five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom house was built in 2006 on a 0.46-acre waterfront lot in the Davis Islands neighborhood. It spans 7,825 square feet. The agents: Zales from Coldwell Banker Realty was the sellers agent. Heidi Odio from Compass Florida was the buyers agent. Special features: Wooden beams, indoor fireplaces, hardwood flooring and statement lighting give this home a refined look. Theres a wood-paneled office/library with built-in bookshelves and a mother-in-law suite with its own sitting area and private entry staircase. 3. 306 Blanca Lane, Tampa: $10.28 million The basics: This 0.8-acre Davis Islands property was sold at land value. There is a 3,614-square-foot home on the lot, but it suffered hurricane damage and is set to be torn down. Advertisement Advertisement The agents: Brooke Brate from Smith & Associates Real Estate was the listing agent. There was no buyers agent. Special features: This property has 124 feet of water frontage. The City of Tampa has granted preliminary approval for it to be split into two lots. 4. 490 Laguna Drive, Tierra Verde: $9 million The basics: This brand new, 5,625-square-foot home has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and two half-bathrooms. It was built in 2024 and is on a 0.36-acre lot along the Gulf of Mexico. The agents: Paul Simon with Coastal Properties Group represented the seller. The buyer was represented by Meltem Birey with 1 Palm Realty. Special features: The crown jewel of this waterfront property is the deep-water private dock, which is able to accommodate a 100-foot yacht. The modern home has an open and airy feel with oversized windows, wall-to-wall sliding glass doors and 12-foot ceilings in the main living area. 5. 1695 Brightwaters Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg: $8.8 million The basics: This 5,867-square-foot home in the Snell Isle neighborhood was built in 2022. There are five bedrooms each with en suite bathrooms as well as three half-baths. The waterfront lot spans 0.55 acres. Advertisement Advertisement The agents: Leslie Minder from Smith & Associates was the listing agent. Todd Edwards from Redfin was the buyers agent. Special Features: This home has two primary bedrooms, one on the main floor and one upstairs. There is an indoor spa with a sauna overlooking Tampa Bay, a pool, several outdoor showers and a three-car garage. 6. 39 W. Spanish Main St., Tampa: $8.8 million The basics: This 5,274-square-foot home in the Beach Park neighborhood was built in 2017. It has five bedrooms, five en suite bathrooms and two half-bathrooms situated on a 0.34-acre waterfront lot. The agents: Al Bennati Jr. with Re/Max represented the seller. Lisa Steed with Sand Key Realty represented the buyer. Advertisement Advertisement Special features: Sand dollars, starfish and various shells mixed into the tabby walls give the exterior of this home a beach vibe. An elevator provides easy access to all three floors. 7. 105 Cordova Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg: $8.8 million The basics: This is a five-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bathroom home in Snell Isle. It spans 7,640 square feet and is on a 0.52-acre waterfront lot. It is new construction, built in 2024. The agents: The seller was represented by Zach Zehnder, an agent with Keller Williams. The buyers agent was Rachel Sartain Tenpenny, broker/founder of The Tenpenny Collection. Special features: The primary bedroom features vaulted ceilings, a private balcony, two walk-in closets and a luxurious en suite bathroom with a freestanding tub and large walk-in shower. Outdoors youll find an infinity pool with fire bowl features overlooking Snell Isle Harbor, a boat dock with a lift, a private beach and an outdoor shower. 8. 334 Blanca Ave., Tampa: $8.7 million The basics: The home on this Davis Islands property was torn down, and the remaining lot sold for land value. Advertisement Advertisement The agents: Toni Everett, broker/owner of the Toni Everett Company, represented both the buyer and the seller. Special features: This is a 0.54-acre lot. It has 133 feet of water frontage on Hillsborough Bay with views of Bayshore Boulevard 9. 20 Sandpiper Road, Tampa: $8.6 million The basics: Spanning 8,766 square feet, this new construction home was completed in 2023. It includes six bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. It was built on a 0.22-acre waterfront lot in the Beach Park neighborhood. The agents: The listing agent was Zales with Coldwell Banker. The buyers agent was Andre Kashou with Smith & Associates. Special features: This home comes decked out with a floating staircase, glass elevator, wine cellar and movie theater. Full retracting glass doors open onto an outdoor terrace complete with a pool, fire fountains, a floating spa and dual sundecks. 10. 4805 Culbreath Isles Way, Tampa: $8 million The basics: Located in Culbreath Isles, this five-bedroom, six-bathroom home was built in 2018. It spans 6,497 square feet and is on a 0.34-acre waterfront lot. Advertisement Advertisement The agents: Mary Kelly with Smith & Associates represented the seller. Mary Pond with Smith & Associates represented the buyer. Special features: The home has a European-inspired design with luxurious finishes like marble, terrazzo and hardwood flooring, crown molding and high ceilings. There is a pool and spa out back and a dock overlooking a canal. Honorable mention - Waldorf Astoria Residences, St. Petersburg: $27 million The basics: No deed has been filed yet for this two-story penthouse unit. Construction on the building hasnt even begun. But in July, the developers announced this deal, shattering the record for most expensive condo ever sold in the Tampa Bay region. The agents: The tower is being developed by Property Markets Group and Feldman Equities. Smith & Associates is the exclusive sales team. Advertisement Advertisement Special features: Once completed, the building will become the tallest in St. Petersburg, rising 50 stories. The penthouse unit will span 10,684 square feet and feature a 50-foot private pool, a private foyer entry and custom closets. In 1952, Jack O'Neill opened the first-ever "surf shop" in Santa Cruz, a novel idea that soon spread throughout California and Hawaii. It took some years more before there was enough demand to warrant an industry but Mr. O'Neill was ahead of the curve in many ways. Today, there are thousands of surf shops around the world and it ain't exactly easy to stay afloat. Competition from online shopping, gentrification of coastal areas, rising rent and real estate costs, and soft tops from Costco all threaten the existence of independently owned shops. So next time you find yourself needing a new leash, a new or used board, a wetsuit, a bar of wax, or a gift for a friend, swing by your local shop and be sure to give these shops a look if they're in your area. Your Board Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA There arent many brick-and-mortar places that specialize in selling secondhand surfboards. You have to be a real fanatic about foam and fiberglass to pull it off. Luckily for the Santa Cruz surfing community, former pro Adam Replogle is downright obsessed. When Adam isnt ripping the right points around his hometown, hes managing Your Board Surf Shop on 41st Avenue. The space may be small, but every square inch is occupied by a quality surfboard. The range runs the gamut: rare vintage models, proper step-ups, (almost) new high-performance shortboards and fun fishes. New arrivals often include barely ridden Channel Islands, Mayhems, Pyzels, Timmy Pattersons, and even the occasional Album. You can view the inventory here and stay up to date via Instagram here. I highly recommend the latter. Adams a hoot. CORE Wailua, HI You may have read or heard about the Center of Radical Education over the past year as the shop/museum/art gallery has gotten on its feet in the historic Waialua Sugar Mill on Oahu's North Shore. This is also a place where you can get used boards, although the selection skews to big wave boards ranging from shapers like Dick Brewer and Gerry Lopez. Young guns like Ryan Lovelace, Barrett Miller and Josh Peterson can be found crafting custom blades in Dick's old shaping room when they're on island. There's an extensive selection of old surf magazines including the full SURFER archives, prints and artwork from Drew Toonz, and vintage clothing. The hours aren't exactly standard but you can find someone most days between 11 - 6 and there's almost always something happening on the weekends. Events include film premieres with Coco Ho and Tosh Tudor, talk story with legends like Derek Doerner and Shaun Tomson, and live music events. You can buy merch here to support the museum. Surf Exchange Co Narragansett, RI Surf Exchange Co, Rhode Island. A new adventure blending Rhode Islands food and surf culture under one roof. Come for the exceptional coffee and pastries, and stay for the weekly events, lively energy, and great company. The shop is more of a community exchange marketplace where you can list your goods for sale or peruse for treasures new and used from a curated selection of brands and creators with an emphasis on sustainable goods. Whether you're looking for some gear, a bite after the surf, or a place to hang with the gang on the weekend, you can't go wrong with a visit to Surf Exchange Co. You can check their menu and shop here (they've got boards for as low as $150). Advertisement Advertisement Bing Surf Shop Encinitas, CA Taking a trip to the Bing Surf Shop is like walking into a candy store for surf addicts and board fiends--a multi-colored galaxy of logs, mids, gliders, twins, and single fins that all beckon the imagination. As one of the most historic brands in California, the history runs decades deep from the days of Bing Copeland to the modern revival thanks to the Calvani family. In addition to the jaw-dropping selection of boards, Bing offers their own brand of clothing and a curated selection from brands like Manera, Rhythm, RAEN, FARO, and more. I personally love their wide selection of books and they've got all the right accessories. Bonus points for the killer grinds next door at Coffee Coffee. Glide Asbury Park, NJ Glide has been holding it down with one of the finest collections of surfboards on the East Coast and an overall selection of goods that will please even the most discerning customer. They partner with shapers like Ryan Lovelace, Wayne Rich, Ah Vessels (Ashton Pickle), Michael Arenal, John Simon, Jeff McCallum and more to keep the shop full of a stellar rotation of blades. They just recently collabed with NJ-based artist, Patrick Barnickel, for a wild collection of airbrushed beauties. Barnickel grew up surfing the Jersey Shore started his tattoo career in 2018 at Electric Tattoo, but only began experimenting with airbrushing on surfboards earlier this yearbringing his artistic vision full circle by blending his love for surfing with his skills as a tattoo artist. Look at the quiver below and check out the rest here. Daydream Surf Shop Newport Beach, CA Advertisement Advertisement Holding it down in Orange County is Daydream Surf Shop & Cafe. One of my favorite things about Daydream, in addition to the delicious coffee and food options, is the experimental quiver known as the Daydream Research Center. They keep a rotating selection of used boards available for demos which is a killer way to try before you buy. You can opt for a single-day use or become a member and grab the board for the week. Beyond their in-store experience, the Daydream Field Notes series is a great way to get familiar with different shapers and boards of all shapes and sizes. Later this year Daydream will open up shop in Japan as a result of so much mutual respect and affinity for their craft and style. Mollusk Santa Barbara, CA To be clear, Mollusk has two other locations--San Francisco and Venice Beach--but they're Santa Barbara Shop has the largest selection of boards and goods. At any of their shops you'll find their signature line of clothing ranging from hemp tees to wetsuits and an assortment of other goods from rad brands. You'll also be wowed by the beautiful boards from shapers like Bob Mitsven, Beau Difore, Grant Noble, Troy Elmore, Tyler Warren, Jeff Svoboda, and many more. 3rd Stone & Wailua Surf Shop Wailua, HI Back on the North Shore, 3rd Stone holds it down with a huge selection of original boards and brands like Blak Bear Surf Club, Florence, and original merch featuring the artwork of Drew Toonz. Want to get a tee-shirt or print for a family member who loves Hawaii? 3rd Stone in the place. Looking for a board to get the wave of your life on? 3rd Stone is the place. Pick up a new Owl Chapman to charge Sunset or peruse the used selection that features blades from most of your favorite pro surfers. Unique residencies bring in boards from foreign legends like Tristan Mausse of Fantastic Acid. Advertisement Advertisement Drifter Surf Bali, Indonesia + Encinitas, CA As the very first specialty surf shop and brand to come out of Bali, Drifter has always danced to the beat of their own drum, with a left-of-center approach to a concept they call: The Art of Surf. Part surf shop, part museum, book store, and cafe with an emphasis on healthy living, their location in Uluwatu is the kind of place you wouldn't mind riding out the end of days. They recently opened up an outpost in Encinitas, CA, and have been steadily adding to the legacy of their Bali shops with incredible content like their film Nusantara: The Waveriders of Indonesia. Pilgrim Surf + Supply New York, NY With a residency program that could very well top the list as the best in the world, Pilgrim has brought in everyone from Ellis Ericson, Ryan Burch, Neal Purchase Jr. Fantastic Acid, Derek Disney, Josh Peterson, Kobe Hughes, and more. They're longstanding relationship with Japan (they have a shop in Tokyo) and location in a fashion hub like New York means their apparel isn't quite like you'll find at other shops. They're on another level when it comes to design and price point yet they hold it down for the community with a heavy roster of unique events. If you're a surfer going to NYC, a visit to this shop may as well be a Pilgrimage. Related: CORE Residency: As Historic As It Gets, Shaping Inside Dick Brewers Bay This story was originally published by Surfer on Jan 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Surf Culture section. Add Surfer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. An 11-year-old girl was killed in a shooting at a West End playground on New Year's Day, according to Cincinnati police. Police responded around 6:42 p.m. to Laurel Playground at the intersection of West Liberty and John streets, officials said in a news release. Officers found the girl shot, and first responders rushed her to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, where she died of her injuries. Advertisement Advertisement The department has yet to release any information about a possible suspect. Officials said it's currently unknown what led to the shooting. Anyone with information about the killing is urged to contact the Cincinnati Police Department's homicide unit at 513-352-3542. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 11-year-old girl killed in shooting at West End playground, police say As the Trump administration boosts fossil fuels, Americans are increasingly turning to courts to hold big oil accountable for alleged climate deception. That wave of litigation swelled in 2025, with groundbreaking cases filed and wins notched. But the year also brought setbacks, as Trump attacked the cases and big oil worked to have them thrown out. The industry also worked to secure a shield from current and future climate lawsuits. Here are some major trends that emerged in US climate accountability litigation last year. Big oil suits progressed but faced challenges In recent years, 70-plus US states, cities, and other subnational governments have sued big oil for alleged climate deception. This year, courts repeatedly rejected fossil fuel interests attempts to thwart those cases. The supreme court denied a plea to kill a Honolulu lawsuit, and turned down an unusual bid by red states to block the cases. Throughout the year, state courts also shot down attempts to dismiss cases or remand them to federal courts which are seen as more favorable to oil interests. Advertisement Advertisement But challenges against big oil also encountered stumbling blocks. In May, Puerto Rico voluntarily dismissed its 2024 lawsuit under pressure. Charleston, South Carolina also declined to appeal its case after it was dismissed. In the coming weeks, the supreme court is expected to decide if it will review a climate lawsuit filed by Boulder, Colorado, against two major oil companies. Their decision could embolden or hinder climate accountability litigation. So far, the oil companies have had a losing record trying to get these cases thrown out, said Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity, which backs the litigation against the industry. The question is, does Boulder change that? After Colorados supreme court refused to dismiss the lawsuit, the energy companies filed a petition with the supreme court asking them to kill the case on the grounds that it is pre-empted by federal laws. If the high court declines to weigh in on the petition or takes it up and rules in favor of the plaintiffs that could be boon for climate accountability cases. But if the justices agrees with the oil companies, it could void the Boulder case and more than a dozen others which make similar claims. Advertisement Advertisement That would be a major challenge, said Wiles, but it wouldnt be game over for the wave of litigation. It would not mean the end of big oil being held accountable in the court, he said. The American Petroleum Institute, the nations largest oil lobby group, did not respond to a request to comment. New and novel litigation Climate accountability litigation broke new ground in 2025, with Americans taking up novel legal strategies to sue big oil. In May, a Washington woman brought the first-ever wrongful-death lawsuit against big oil alleging the industrys climate negligence contributed to her mothers death during a deadly heat wave. And in November, Washington residents brought a class action lawsuit claiming fossil fuel sector deception drove a climate-fueled spike in homeowners insurance costs. Advertisement Advertisement These novel cases reflect the lived realities of climate harm and push the legal system to grapple with the full scope of responsibility, said Merner. Hawaii this year also became the 10th state to sue big oil over alleged climate deception, filing its case just hours after the Department of Justice took the unusual step of suing Hawaii and Michigan over their plans to file litigation. It was a clear-eyed and powerful pushback to Trumps intimidation, Merner said. Accountability shield Big oil ramped up its efforts to evade accountability for its past actions this year, said Wiles. They were aided by allies like Trump, who in April signed an executive order instructing the Justice Department to halt climate accountability litigation and similar policies. In July, members of Congress also tried to cut off Washington DCs access to funding to enforce its consumer protection laws against oil and gas companies for environmental claims by inserting language into a proposed House appropriations bill. A committee passed that version of the text, but the full House never voted on it. Advertisement Advertisement 2025 also brought mounting evidence that big oil is pushing for a federal liability shield, which could resemble a 2005 law that has largely insulated the firearms industry from lawsuits. In June, 16 Republican state attorneys general asked the Justice Department to help create a liability shield for fossil fuel companies against climate lawsuits, the New York Times reported. Lobbying disclosures further show the nations largest oil trade group, as well as energy giant ConocoPhillips, lobbying Congress about draft legislation on the topic, according to Inside Climate News. Such a waiver could potentially exempt the industry from virtually all climate litigation. The battle is expected to heat up next year. We expect they could sneak language to grant them immunity, into some must-pass bill, said Wiles. Thats how we think theyll play it, so weve been talking to every person on the Democratic side so that they keep a lookout for this language. What to watch in 2026: plastics and extreme weather cases Despite the challenges ahead, 2026 will almost definitely bring more climate accountability lawsuits against not only big oil but also other kinds of emitting companies. This year, New Yorks attorney general notched a major win by securing a $1.1m settlement from the worlds biggest meat company, JBS, over alleged greenwashing. The victory could inspire more cases, said Merner, who noted that many such lawsuits have been filed abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Wiles expects more cases to accuse oil companies of deception about plastic pollution, like the one California filed last year. He also expects more lawsuits which focus on harms caused by specific extreme weather events, made possible by advances in attribution science which links particular disasters to global warming. Researchers and law firms are also developing new theories to target the industry, with groundbreaking cases likely to be filed in 2026. Companies have engaged in decades of awful behavior that creates liability on so many fronts, he said. We havent even really scratched the surface of the numerous ways they could be held legally accountable for their behavior. The New Year is shaping up to be very busy on the Illinois political scene with the primary in March and the midterms in November expected to revamp the congressional delegation. And then, there is the campaign for governor, along with the fall kickoff to the Chicago mayor's race. For any student or lover of politics, 2026 will be nothing short of a banner year with so many races and a bumper crop of candidates vying for what could be an unprecedented number of open congressional seats. Voters will have plenty to think about this year. Advertisement Advertisement "It's going to be a very active and volatile year, for Democrats in particular. You've got four congressional races, four open seats that are going to be extremely competitive," said ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington. And there are a host of candidates running in the primary for those Democrat-held House seats. In the race to replace Rep. Danny Davis, 13 Democrats are running in the 7th District primary. Rep. Jan Schakowsky's 9th District has drawn interest from 17 candidates. With Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi giving up their seats to run for the U.S. Senate, Kelly's 2nd district has 10 Democrats in the primary, and there are another eight in Krishnamoorthi's 8th District. "A lot of women are running, which is very good. You know, some old timers are running, but the progressive young folks are doing a heck of a job. They're not so much talking issues as they are talking how much Donald Trump doesn't belong in the White House," said Mercury Public Affairs Illinois Co-Chair Thom Serafin. Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Dick Durbin's decision to retire set the political dominoes in motion and opened the door for a combined 17 Democrats and Republicans to run to replace him. "I think the generational change has been a long time coming, and a lot of people are excited about getting some fresh faces and some new perspectives in Congress, particularly from Illinois," Washington said. Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget battle defeat to a group of renegade Chicago City Council members could make for a challenging new year for him. "The city council is emboldened. They won a big victory with this budget, and I think that they're going to be loaded for bear, and they're going to be looking for more victories, and they're not going to be holding back," Washington said. Advertisement Advertisement A weakened Johnson could spur a lot of challengers to file petitions next fall to run against him. "I think he's going to be one of the two candidates in the runoff in the spring of '27 which is, you know, a long way away, but everybody's positioning themselves now for getting into that race," Serafin said. Billionaire Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is running for a third term, with six Republicans set to square off in the primary to challenge him in November. "I think JB Pritzker's job is going to be to get out the vote, to make a very definitive statement by winning in a landslide. He's going to want to really win big this time around, particularly because he has presidential aspirations," Washington said. With so many races, that also means voters will face an avalanche of political ads on TV, in their mailboxes and on their electronic devices. The primary election is only two-and-a-half months away. Warning: This post mentions murder, intense violence, and rape. As a person who derives a lot of fulfillment from always learning more about history, it's seldom that I see a history discussion I don't take a moment to learn more from. So, when I saw this post on the popular Ask Reddit forum wherein user Cool-Chipmunk-7559 asked, "Whats the scariest WWII fact or story that you know of?" I wanted to see what people had to say in response. The answers were sobering, disturbing, and morbid. Because it's so important to keep these stories alive, I thought I would share. So, here are some of the downright scariest things that occurred during World War II: 1. "The Holocaust and the extermination camps, of course." Gregory Rodriguez / Getty Images u/FlyAirLari 2. "The Battle of Stalingrad was a black hole of death. When combining both sides, there was an average of about 10,000 casualties per day. Thats an entire town, every day, for 200 days straight." Universal History Archive / Getty Images u/pangolinparty999 Related: If You Can Name These 10 Vintage Toys, You Definitely Grew Up Before The Internet Existed 3. "During the Frankfurt Trials against concentration camp officers, the statements of witnesses were recorded. I once listened to one where a woman described how she covered her ears to not hear the screaming of the kids who were thrown into burning crematory ovens when there was a lack of ammunition to kill them first. Since then, I remember her voice and words every time I put a new log into the fireplace. Will surely be like that for the rest of my life." Keystone-france / Getty Images u/gsteen4711 4. "The one that always freaked me out is how entire towns in Europe would just vanish overnight during evacuations or retreats. Like one day it's a normal community, the next day its abandoned and silent. Something about that emptiness feels so eerie." Mondadori Portfolio / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement u/KingInternational801 "Something like 17,000 villages and hamlets between Germany and Russia disappeared during the war. Destroyed, burned, and gone." u/majoraloysius 5. "People are still dying from WWII unexploded munitions." Hulton Deutsch / Getty Images u/almostsweet 6. "People survived for days in the sunken ships after Pearl Harbor." Hulton Archive / Getty Images u/HayTX 7. "I had a Holocaust survivor who came to speak to us schoolkids of being in the camps when he was a child. He and his friends would chase each other for fun, jumping over the bodies of the dead that had starved from the night before. That stayed with me." Hulton Archive / Getty Images u/actuallyacatmow 8. "The Nazis wanted to exterminate the entire Jewish race. Literally make them extinct on the planet. Doesn't get scarier than that, in my opinion." Print Collector / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement u/TerribleBid8416 Related: Only 90s Mall Rats Will Be Able To Name All 14 Of These Now-Defunct Stores 9. "What stays in my mind was when my grandmother told me how incredibly sad it was when all the people with a disability disappeared . Some managed to hide their kids, but she still remembered one kid from her childhood with Down syndrome, who was apparently very sweet and one day he was just gone, and his mother couldn't stop crying." Dukas / Getty Images u/Wanttoknow7802 10. There was a difference (with a few notable exceptions) between the Nazis' concentration camps and extermination camps. The extermination camps were mostly a function of Aktion Reinhard , the liquidation of the Jewish ghettos in occupied Poland; these facilities operated from 1942-1943." Galerie Bilderwelt / Getty Images "The reason that they stopped operating wasnt because of resource constraints or wartime misfortune for Germany. They stopped operating because they had accomplished their task: the ghettos were empty; they didnt have any more people to kill. 'Leftovers' (e.g. Hungarys Jews) were sent to Auschwitz, which operated as a partial extermination facility, partial concentration/slave labor camp. Often the Holocaust is presented, at a macro level and rightfully so, as a failed attempt to eradicate Ashkenazi Jews, but IMO its chilling to realize that in specific areas, specifically in the extermination camps that are widely known, it actually did 'succeed' because they ran out of people to murder." Advertisement Advertisement u/Throwaway5432154322 Jemal Countess / Getty Images u/NonStarGalaxy 12. "Probably the Bombing of Dresden . The use of incendiary bombs caused fires and extreme temperatures in the city. I remember seeing/reading somewhere that people took cover in bomb shelters, but the heat caused the people there to basically melt into oily puddles of goo . I've seen other photos where there are ashen remains of people from such shelters, and where it looks like their heads/brains popped from the heat." Picture Alliance / Getty Images u/PickleDiego 13. "The average life expectancy of a Red Army soldier that came to Stalingrad was about 24 hours . However, that number is misleading, as it includes the command and soldiers in fortified, backward positions. The average life expectancy of a Red Army soldier who came to Stalingrad to actually fight was way less than 24 hours ." Sovfoto / Getty Images u/ir_blues Related: 15 Things That Were Totally Normal A Few Decades Ago But Just Seem So, So Wild Today 14. "The Manhattan Project scientists couldn't rule out the possibility that detonating the nuclear bomb could incinerate the whole atmosphere." Historical / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement u/Keljulvan 15. "Good people, people just like you or me, could do very horrible things under the right conditions." Unknown Author / Via commons.wikimedia.org, Bettmann / Getty Images u/Ok_Ball_1371 "I went to Auschwitz a few months ago. Life-changing experience. One of the main points my tour guide would stress was that SS officers, Rudolph Hoess, prisoners, guards, all of them were identical to us. The exact same species. ANYONE could be an SS officer with the right circumstances leading up to it. But also, anyone could be an Oskar Schindler, or a Father Maximilian Kolbe. We all have the choice to do amazing and courageous things just like them." u/TJeffersonsBlackKid 16. "The Dirlewanger Brigade . I did not get far on that Wiki article." u/Lost_Equal1395 "I've heard people say that the Japanese were actually more evil because of Unit 713 and Nanking. These people haven't heard of Dirlewanger." Advertisement Advertisement u/Lost_Equal1395 "The Nazis committed their own version of Unit 731, with Josef Mengele and the like. The Nazis also committed mini-Nanjing massacres all over the Soviet Union. I would say the Japanese and Nazis were equally monstrous." u/Vinny_Lam 17. "The Ustase scare the fuck outta me. They were Croatians who sided with the Nazis and committed atrocities so disgusting, even the visiting German Nazi top brass had to tell them to calm down." Keystone / Getty Images u/0ldgregg "Great answer. The Ustase were beyond evil. They used crosscut saws to decapitate their victims, and they had a policy of having their concentration camp guards not use guns when dispatching their victims; they would have to use blunt or stabbing weapons, and would make people fight to the death sometimes. I don't understand how people can be so abyssal in their humanity." Advertisement Advertisement u/koalamurderbear "Yeah, they invented a new kind of knife, the 'srbosjek.' The translation literally means 'Serb cutter,' but they killed Jews and Roma, of course." u/TehnoMuda 18. Allegedly , "There's still gold and paintings stolen from Jews in Swiss banks." Hum Images / Getty Images u/jaceinthebox 19. "There's a sunken liberty ship with about 1,000 tons of TNT still in the Thames estuary in England. The mast is still visible." Gareth Fuller - Pa Images / Getty Images u/castler_666 20. "My great-grandfather's family and extended family did not come to America when he did, prior to WWII beginning. The small town that most of his family was from was along the railroad that eventually led to Auschwitz. If the Nazis who transported Jews along that route saw a Synagogue along that route, they would exit the train and rape and murder, then set the towns on fire and leave everyone for dead." Galerie Bilderwelt / Getty Images "I remember the day he sat and told the entire family that he lost almost our entire family lineage in one of those attacks by the Nazis. Our family, at least his side, were Greek/Russian Orthodox religious people. There was no war engagement with their town, so the loss of life was not even accounted for or written anywhere, not until well after the wars had ended. These innocent people were slaughtered like animals and had no justice on their behalf. Their ages ranged from infants to older people." Advertisement Advertisement u/settebella Related: Older People Are Spilling The Details On Almost Every Facet Of Life, And I Can't Stop Reading u/Livid-Application155 Fpg / Getty Images u/Necro_Badger 23. And finally: "Honestly, the scariest thing is remembering how real people lived through that like, entire cities wiped out overnightit gives me chills just thinking about it." u/SweetOpheliiaaa These are all a lot to take in. If you feel like sharing anything, feel free to leave a comment below. Or, if you prefer, you can write in to the anonymous form below. Please note: some comments have been edited for length and/or clarity. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here . Also in Rewind: People Are Discussing The Historical Facts That Are So Heartbreaking They've Stuck With Them Forever, And I Think I Could Cry Also in Rewind: These 32 Very, Very, Very Random Photos Will Unlock Core Memories From The '90s You Didnt Know You Still Had Also in Rewind: 17 Celebrities Who Were Forced To "Hide" Their Ethnicity To Make It In Hollywood Read it on BuzzFeed.com Its a new year, which means another fresh round of state laws is about to take effect. Although the legislative session ends in March, most new laws take effect in May, 60 days after the final day of lawmaking. Laws dealing with government funding typically take effect in July at the beginning of each new fiscal year, while others must wait until the new year. Twenty-five such laws take effect to ring in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement One of the most noticeable changes taking place is that Utahns who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, will no longer be able to purchase soft drinks using their benefits. Its not technically due to a newly-effective law, but comes after the federal government granted a waiver to allow the state to restrict the purchase of soda following the passage of HB403 earlier this year. The SNAP program helps those who are facing food insecurity and in need of nutrition, said Rep. Kristen Chevrier, R-Highland, the bills sponsor. We dont want to undermine health and fuel chronic disease by subsidizing the purchase of sugary drinks. This innovative change will improve our nutrition program and overall health outlook in the state of Utah. Heres what else changed when the clock struck midnight on New Years Eve: New alcohol laws New state liquor store in Salt Lake City opens on June 3, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News HB437 makes several changes to laws around drunk driving and alcohol consumption. For starters, bars, restaurants and liquor stores will be required to check the ages of all patrons, a change from previous law that only required age verification for customers who appear to be 35 years of age or younger. If youre over the age of 35, youre still allowed to take it as a compliment when your bartender asks for your ID. Advertisement Advertisement The bill also requires those convicted of an extreme DUI to be barred from purchasing alcohol for a period of time, and creates a unique drivers license or identification card with features indicating that the holder of the card is prohibited from buying alcohol. Policing and crime SB83 requires law enforcement agencies to create and maintain policies about investigating alleged violations of jail release agreements, jail release court orders, protective orders or stalking injunctions. Environment and outdoors A firefighter watches as a plane drops fire retardant on the Willard Peak wildfire in the mountains above North Ogden on Aug. 14, 2025. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News HB48 makes several changes to mitigate wildfire risks in places where urban infrastructure is at risk of wildfire. The bill requires insurers to use the states high-risk wildland urban interface boundary when assessing the risk of fire. It also requires insurers to provide justification if it raises rates by at least 20% or drops coverage due to wildfire risk, according to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Property owners in high-risk areas can also request lot assessments to develop personalized risk mitigation strategies from counties and cities, according to the division. Advertisement Advertisement Also known as the Species Protection Funding Act, HB378 creates new funding mechanisms for the states Species Protection Account in part by taxing wind and solar plants. Wind and solar plants that generate 660 or more kilowatts of energy will also need to include systems to store energy in order to qualify for tax credits under SB192. Business and taxes Jeremy Grimshaw gets a haircut at Salt Lake Barber Company in Salt Lake City on July 25, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Big changes are coming to the cosmetology industry, thanks to SB330, which dramatically lowers the number of hours of training one must complete in order to become a licensed cosmetologist, nail technician, eyelash technician, esthetician or barber. SB333 lets cities and counties opt into a major sporting event venue zone to help fund venues and infrastructure for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. Advertisement Advertisement HB58 directs the Uniform Building Code Commission to collect data on building inspectors across the state and report the findings to the Legislature each year. It also creates unlawful and unprofessional conduct provisions for licensed building inspectors. HB60 is an annual clean-up tax bill, according to sponsor Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, which makes several technical changes to the Utah State Tax Commission and tax exemptions or credits for commercial energy, income tax and the enterprise zone tax credit. SB202 makes several changes to property tax collection in the state. It requires counties to provide the State Tax Commission with preliminary assessments before that information is given to county auditors and requires the commission to take corrective action if county officers fail to perform duties for property assessment. The law also removes the requirement that counties advertise public hearings on tax changes in newspapers, instead requiring that they simply advertise electronically for at least 14 days. Advertisement Advertisement Property managers will be required to be licensed under HB337, which also gives the Real Estate Commission authority to make administrative rules governing the practice. SB13 allows certain rental businesses to charge a fee of 1.5% for heavy equipment rentals to be used as a reimbursement for property taxes. Licensing for certified public accountants is changing in 2026. SB15 removes the hours requirement to become licensed and allows someone with a valid license from another state if they are in good standing and can prove they have completed the equivalent training or education required in Utah. Counties have typically been allowed to add up to a 1% tax on restaurants, but SB91 allows them to apply the same tax to certain prepared foods in convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores. Advertisement Advertisement SB219 changes the formula used to calculate sales for a financial institution in Utah. SB316 gives the Military Installation Development Authority more say in how tax revenues are spent in military development areas. Transportation Cars slowly move through traffic on southbound I-15 in Lehi on May 23, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Owners of interstate commercial trailers that are not travel trailers can register their vehicles with a special lifetime license plate under HB166. Owners of other vehicles, such as trailers, electric vehicles, off-highway vehicles and street-legal all-terrain vehicles, can also register their vehicles for two years instead of one, thanks to HB514. HB190 requires owners of motorcycles to attach the license plate to the vehicle itself, not to their jacket or backpack. It also clarifies the definition of lane filtering which means passing between other vehicles while traffic is stopped from lane splitting, which is passing between other vehicles while traffic is moving. Advertisement Advertisement The law prohibits motorcyclists from performing wheelies on the highway and treats lane splitting while traffic is moving as an infraction, subject to suspension of the motorcycle endorsement for 90 days. HB261 requires private property owners who enforce towing at a parking lot to publish information about their towing agreement in public. Government and elections The Utah Lieutenant Governors Office will be required to update the states financial disclosures website to give the ability to search for political contributions or expenses made by a particular person, thanks to HB95. Health HB493 creates an online system to allow health professionals to complete death certificates online. The same system will notify health professionals if a death requires further review by the medical examiner. Advertisement Advertisement SB134, the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act, allows Utahns to create an optional advance health care plan that grants a person the power of attorney to make medical decisions on their behalf if they are unable to make those decisions for themselves. Advance directives can also authorize providers to make decisions in limited circumstances. Other changes Several laws make minor changes to laws or recodify existing sections of code, like HB20, which tweaks sections related to property tax relief. SB200 adjusts the statewide fees for boat registration. Three people were injured when a fire tore through a warehouse in North Amityville. Firefighters pulled out of the Albany Avenue building when the roof collapsed during the firefight, which started just after 10:30 p.m. Thursday. One worker and two firefighters were checked out at the scene for minor injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation. ---------- * More Long Island news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. Police are investigating two shootings at parties at two different short-term rental homes across the Houston area overnight. Surveillance video obtained by ABC13 captured sounds of gunshots and fireworks up above as police confirm five people were shot at a short-term rental home on Live Oak near Elgin. Police say four of those injured needed to be taken to the hospital, and the fifth had a graze wound. Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday morning, as people left the property on Live Oak, they declined to speak with ABC13 about what happened. HPD says people at the party are cooperating very little as authorities work to determine who did this and why. Police say after 2 a.m., there was another shooting at a different short-term rental property on Yorkshire, where two people were hurt. HPD confirms one of the two victims is a man who is critical at the hospital after being shot in the chest. On Thursday, Jan. 1, a new short-term rental ordinance goes into effect in Houston to regulate and limit situations like the shootings from overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors along Live Oak tell us they support the new ordinance that will require short-term rental owners to pay annual fees, have emergency contacts for the properties around the clock, and prohibit rentals from being advertised as event spaces. Law enforcement is looking for anyone with information on either of these shootings. For updates on this story, follow Daniela Hurtado on Facebook, X and Instagram. NEED TO KNOW 95 passengers and nine crewmembers fell ill during a Celebrity Cruises voyage in late December Symptoms reported included vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps The Celebrity Eclipse made a round-trip voyage Dozens of passengers fell sick on a Celebrity Cruises voyage in late December. According to the CDC, 95 of the 3,042 passengers aboard the Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship reported becoming sick during the voyage, which lasted from Saturday, Dec. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Nine crewmembers also reported being ill during the trip, which was a round-trip voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., making stops in the Caribbean, per data tracked by Cruise Mapper. After departing the Florida port, the ship made stops at St. Johns, Antigua, Philipsburg, St. Maarten, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata-Amber Cove, Dominican Republic before returning to Florida. Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Cruises The outbreak was reported to the Vessel Sanitation Program on the final day of the trip. The predominant symptoms experienced by the ill passengers and crew members were vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. The exact cause of the outbreak remains unknown. Advertisement Advertisement In response to the wave of illness, Celebrity Cruises "increased its cleaning and disinfection procedures" along with consulting VSP about "sanitation cleaning procedures and reporting ill cases." The crew also "collected stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases" to be tested, and isolated the sick passengers and crew. Per the CDC, VSP "remotely monitored the situation, including review of the ship's outbreak response and sanitation procedures." PEOPLE reached out to Celebrity Cruises and did not receive an immediate response. The CDC reported 22 outbreaks on cruise ships in 2025. Sixteen of these outbreaks were reported as norovirus. Before the Celebrity Cruises outbreak, the CDC reported a norovirus outbreak infecting over 100 passengers who were aboard a 133-day cruise around the world. Advertisement Advertisement The ship's stops included the U.S., England, Mexico, Japan and South Africa after departing from Germany in November. Daniel Knighton/Getty Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Cruises Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In order to stay safe and healthy when aboard a cruise ship, the CDC recommends washing your hands often, drinking water to stay hydrated, and taking care of yourself. If you do fall sick while on a cruise, tell the ship's medical center and follow their instructions. Read the original article on People At least 10 people have been killed in protests in Iran against the country's authoritarian rule, the human rights organization Hengaw said on Friday, as the demonstrations entered their sixth day. The Norway-based group, which maintains a network of contacts in Iran, said it had verified the identities of 10 people and is aware of 80 other people who have been arrested. The current protests in Iran were triggered by a sudden collapse in the value of the local currency last Sunday. At first, traders in the capital Tehran took to the streets, but protests have since spread to other parts of the country and other sections of the population. Advertisement Advertisement There were serious riots in the west of the country on Thursday. Eyewitnesses have reported a massive deployment of security forces, who they said moved into the cities and took up positions at important transport hubs. However, it was mainly in rural areas that dramatic scenes and street battles between demonstrators and security forces have taken place. Trump vows to defend protesters against violence US President Donald Trump has pledged his support to those taking part in the protests, saying the US would protect them against any violence. "If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Advertisement Advertisement "We are locked and loaded and ready to go," he wrote, leaving open what specifically he intends to do. The US and Iran have been arch-enemies since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and have no formal diplomatic relations. In June, the US military joined Israel's war against Iran and bombed key nuclear facilities there. The US and Israel accuse Iran of wanting to build a nuclear bomb, a charge that Tehran denies. Iran warns against interference Ali Larijani, secretary general of Iran's powerful Security Council, responded to Trump by writing on X: "Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying America's interests." Advertisement Advertisement "The American people should know - Trump started this adventurism. They should be mindful of their soldiers' safety," he warned in a post in English. "We distinguish between the stance of the protesting shopkeepers and the actions of disruptive actors," he said. Observers say it is unclear how the protests will develop. "Regardless of their political orientation, none of the opposition factions has yet succeeded in establishing powerful organizations or lasting networks that could steer the protests," writes historian Arash Azizi in a guest article for the US magazine The Atlantic. "Without such an orientation, the current protests are likely to lose momentum and fizzle out." Advertisement Advertisement Danny Citrinowicz, a researcher at the Israeli research institute INSS, said Trump's statement presents a dilemma for the administrations's policy towards Iran. "Support to the protesters - danger of deteriorating into a war. No-support - a hard blow to anyone who is thinking now or in the future of going out to demonstrate in Iran," he wrote on X. Iranian actress expresses solidarity with protesters The Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani expressed her solidarity with the protests, writing on Instagram on Friday: "My heart beats with the people of Iran." "The people are exhausted by injustice, corruption, and an economy that crushes them, while oligarchs grow richer and foreign powers exploit the crisis," she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Farahani, who recently starred in the US television series "Invasion," has been living in exile since 2008. Disgruntled voices from Tehran The current unrest is "like a fire smouldering under the ashes," says an Iranian professor who wishes to remain anonymous. "It was only a matter of time before it broke out." In Tehran, the political and economic centre of the country, many residents have been worried about their future for several years. "I saw the protests up close myself. Many were people from Generation Z young people who have neither hope nor motivation," says Mortesa, 37, a fitness trainer. "The country actually has enough income, but it doesn't reach the people." Advertisement Advertisement Mila, 36, a teacher, also feels the hopelessness. "Like my friends and colleagues, my situation is bad. Everyday life is hard to bear, leisure time and travel are hardly possible," she says. "People must retain the right to protest," she demands. Even wealthy traders are now complaining. Mohammad-Javad, 43, who runs a jewellery shop in Tehran's Grand Bazaar, closed his shop last Sunday. "We simply don't know what prices to set anymore." With the fluctuations on the foreign exchange market, he has to make corrections every hour. "How are we supposed to explain this to customers? Things can't go on like this. It's as simple as that." Berlin calls on Tehran to respect right to demonstrate The German government has also called on Iran's leadership to respect freedom of assembly, noting that the country is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of demonstration. Advertisement Advertisement In response to a query from dpa, a spokesman for the Foreign Office in Berlin said the government was monitoring the protests very closely. "We take reports of excessive use of force against demonstrators very seriously," he added. Mayor Mamdanis promise to freeze rents for roughly 2 million New Yorkers survived a late-game challenge when a homeowner advocate on Friday night rejected ex-Mayor Adams 11th hour offer for her to serve on the citys Rent Guidelines Board. Christie Peale, the CEO of Center for NYC Neighborhoods, was quietly nominated by Adams on Wednesday, his final day in office, to become a member on the board, which sets the rates landlords of stabilized apartments can legally raise rents by each year. Her nomination, among others, was made with the apparent goal of seating an Adams-appointed majority to block Mamdanis campaign pledge to freeze rents for the citys roughly 2 million stabilized tenants. But in a statement on Friday night, Peale said that she isnt accepting Adams appointment. The rejection came after the Daily News first reported earlier in the day on Adams effort to install her on the board. Advertisement Advertisement I decided it was not appropriate for my nomination to the Rent Guidelines Board to move forward at this time, said Peale, whose organization provides legal assistance and other services for low-income homeowners in the city. Adams attempted last-minute appointment of Peale came after another Adams pick, Merril Lynch financial advisor Lliam Finn, had on Tuesday also declined an offer from the ex-mayor to join the board. The appointment of Finn was one of four Adams made to the RGB on Dec. 18. Peales withdrawal means Mamdani will be able to make an appointment for that RGB seat. Advertisement Advertisement He also has the ability to name picks for four of the boards nine other seats, including its chair, meaning a five-member majority can be made up of Mamdani appointees. The other four members are Adams appointees whose terms arent up until 2027. Still, that breakdown gives Mamdanis campaign promise a big boost, as a rent freeze can be enacted by a simple majority of the boards members. The board convenes every summer to set the permissible rates landlords can jack up rents by on stabilized apartments. Dora Pekec, Mamdanis spokeswoman, didnt immediately return a request for comment on Peales withdrawal. Earlier in the day, Pekec said Mamdani would fill the position if Peale pulled out. The board is supposed to be independent and tasked with studying market conditions to determine an appropriate rate for annual rent increases on stabilized tenants. Mamdani, though, has specifically promised to only appoint board members committed to enacting 0% increases in each of the four years of his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Landlord groups have signaled they are likely to file lawsuits challenging any rent freeze enacted under Mamdani. But the new mayor, who campaigned on a promise to make New York City more affordable, says a freeze is warranted at a time that rents have hit record highs. Even before Peale bowed out, some sources close to Mamdani told The News they were more hopeful about Peale than Finn, citing her work on affordability issues. In her statement, Peale, whose group works with city government agencies like the Department of House Preservation and Development, said she looks forward to working with the Mamdani administration in her current role. Advertisement Advertisement Across our housing ecosystem, tenants, owners of small homes, and neighborhoods throughout the city feel the urgency to address the affordability crisis, she said. Ive dedicated my career to preserving and expanding affordable homeownership for working- and middle-class New Yorkers, and I look forward to working alongside the Mamdani administration to slow displacement, stabilize communities, and create new opportunities for affordable homeownership. Even before Peale formally rejected her nomination, Mamdani said Thursday that hes hopeful his freeze will happen no matter what. I continue to be confident that the Rent Guidelines Board will assess the landscape for tenants of rent-stabilized units across the city and find that they are in dire need of relief, he said. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the eastern state of Brandenburg is taking back its lawsuit against a domestic intelligence agency which had classified it as a suspected far-right extremist party six years ago, justice authorities said Friday. The announcement was made by the Potsdam Administrative Court. The lawsuit also referred to a mention in official reports in 2019 and 2020 by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which is the official name of the domestic intelligence agency. Advertisement Advertisement The court said that oral arguments scheduled for January 14 and 15 will be cancelled. The state chairman of the AfD in Brandenburg, Rene Springer, explained the reasons for the move: "With the classification as 'confirmed right-wing extremist' that has now taken place, the previous lawsuits against the observation as a suspected case have been settled." There was no longer any legal basis for the proceedings, he added. The withdrawal of the lawsuit was a formal step following what Springer called a "politically motivated escalation." "The decisive question remains the new classification," Springer asserted. Advertisement Advertisement According to the court, the Brandenburg AfD's lawsuit against the classification of the regional association as a confirmed right-wing extremist organisation in 2025 will continue to be reviewed. A date for a hearing has not yet been set. Students work on math at at St. Joseph Academy in central Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on May 13, 2024. The school was taught by parents during the 2023-2024 school year, but switched to a hybrid classical school for the 2024-2025 school year. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Alternative instruction enrollment continues to rise in South Dakota, breaking 12,000 students enrolled in 2025, according to data released recently by the state Education Department. The growth comes as private and public school enrollment is declining in the state. Across the state, 12,433 school-aged children are enrolled in alternative instruction, which includes homeschooling and some private schools such as online, hybrid and microschools that are unaccredited, or accredited by an entity other than the state. Students notify the state when they enroll in alternative instruction. Rising Alternatives Examining the impact, causes and concerns surrounding the rapid growth of alternative instruction options in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Read the series > Enrollment in alternative instruction has nearly tripled since 2015 now making up 7.6% of children receiving an education in the state. The growth comes as public education enrollment decreases in the state for a second consecutive year. Public education peaked in South Dakota in 2023, with 137,759 students enrolled. This year, 135,577 students are enrolled in public schools. South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden told lawmakers during his budget address earlier this month that his administration expects public school enrollment to continue to decrease next year, due to growing alternative instruction enrollment and lower birth rates. Advertisement Advertisement State-accredited private school enrollment including religious and tribal schools decreased slightly to 15,043 this year. Enrollment is still higher than 2023, when it was 14,741. The Sioux Falls School District reported the largest increase in alternative instruction this year, with 131 more students enrolled. Harrisburg (78), Brandon Valley (67) and Rapid City (64) were also among the highest increases in alternative instruction enrollment in the state. McLaughlin and Burke school districts reported some of the highest percentage increases of students enrolling in alternative instruction since last year. In McLaughlin, 18 students enrolled in alternative instruction in 2025, a 157% increase from seven registered the year before. In Burke, 41 students enrolled in alternative instruction in 2025, a 156% increase from 16 in 2024. In the days leading up to New Year's Eve, AI-generated posts flooded social media, showing fireworks over the Brooklyn Bridge. These posts claimed the fireworks would be part of the citys New Years Eve festivities. The videos were apparently convincing enough that thousands of people showed up along the Brooklyn waterfront to see the display for themselves. AI ads mislead thousands about NYE fireworks The large crowd of people was duped by fake ads about a fireworks show at the Brooklyn Bridge. As midnight hit, nothing happened. No fireworks. The huge crowds waited for hours, only to be let down. Advertisement Advertisement Marco Abbiati, a New Yorker, took to Instagram to explain what went wrong. "Last night, thousands of people went to DUMBO & the Brooklyn Bridge expecting New Years Eve fireworks," he wrote on Instagram. "They waited for hours in the cold and nothing happened. Why? Because in the past few days, social media pages and AI-generated posts shared videos of fireworks at the Brooklyn Bridge, claiming they were for NYE. Those videos were actually from July 4th." The AI posts were misleading, falsely suggesting that the Brooklyn Bridge would host a fireworks display similar to those in other major cities. However, no such event had ever been scheduled. In fact, Brooklyn does not typically have fireworks on New Years Eve. Instead, a handful of other spots in the city are known for their smaller displays. Abbiati, who also mentioned that many of the pages promoting the hoax were run by individuals outside of New York City, pointed out how social media and AI can mislead users when not fact-checked properly. "Many of those pages are run by people who dont live in NYC and have never experienced New Years Eve here," he explained. Reactions on social media Social media users quickly reacted to the viral misinformation. TikToker @alldaynyc posted a video showing the disappointed crowd in Brooklyn, mocking the situation. Yo, this is incredible. Look at all the people lined up in Brooklyn thinking they about to see fireworks on the Brooklyn Bridge, he said. "They came here because they follow a bunch of AI slop, TikTok, and Instagrams. [...] Stop following these fugazy pages." Some New Yorkers responded to the incident with humor. "A real NYer knows there's no NYE fireworks over there only Coney Island and some other unofficial spots," one commenter joked. Another wrote, "April fools in December " Advertisement Advertisement Others expressed concerns about the dangers of blindly trusting online content. "This is actually quite scary that this many people don't fact-check what they see on here ," one TikToker said. Another questioned, "How did police not see this huge crowd and tell them there were no Brooklyn Bridge fireworks?" 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Two attorneys say they plan to file a federal lawsuit against the Oklahoma County jail, accusing it of violating inmates constitutional rights by holding people behind bars days after judges ordered their release, following a News 4 report revealing releases and broader concerns about jail operations. News 4 recently reported about Ashley Bailey, an Oklahoma County Detention Center (OCDC) inmate who a judge had ordered be released from jail. Despite the judges order, the jail kept her behind bars for an additional five days beyond the date the judge ordered she be let out. Advertisement Advertisement The attorneys say the jail violated Baileys constitutional rights and claim they are doing it to more than just her. Its traumatic in there, Bailey said. ACA premium subsidies expire, impacting over 300,000 Oklahomans Ashley Bailey said she will always remember what she experienced in the Oklahoma County jail. The people are not your friend, Bailey said. The walls are bright colors, so its hard to sit in there and, you know, like be able to bounce your thoughts off the walls, Bailey said. They took my mat, and I ended up having to sleep on the floor. Inhumanity, really. The woman who did my fingerprints was purposely trying to hurt me; she was grabbing my fingers and slamming my hands down, and she thought it was funny, Bailey said. Advertisement Advertisement And most of all, the fear. There arent officers on the pod when everybody is out and about and thats how, you know, gang members fight, and thats how people get hurt, Bailey said. Every second youre in there, youre concerned for your life. Bailey especially remembers how she felt when release day came Hey, you know youre going to get out, Bailey said. Youre going to go back to see your family. And then went. I said I thought I was supposed to be out, Bailey said. Youre like, oh my God, what is going on? What did I do? How do I fix this? Bailey agreed to serve 30 days in jail in exchange for pleading guilty to a minor, non-violent charge. Advertisement Advertisement News 4 first reported her story a couple of weeks ago, while Bailey was still in jail, as her mom was desperately trying to figure out why her daughter was still locked up. Attorneys Travis Vernier and Annie Rynning saw the story. Living a healthier lifestyle as we head into the New Year Im reading that article, and I see that the jail then admits fault on that to the news, Rynning said. Specifically, a jail spokesperson told News 4: The delay resulted from a miscalculation on our part regarding the timing of the individuals release related to a county jail time sentence the individual was serving on a separate case. Once the issue was identified, staff acted immediately to correct it, and the individual was released to the diversion hub. We apologize for the error and the delay this caused. We have reviewed the process to ensure accuracy going forward. Advertisement Advertisement And Im like, oh my gosh, this is like a lawsuit waiting to happen, Rynning said. She filed that thought away until the following week, when she heard from the family of one of her other clients, Selvan Lucas. Lucas was supposed to be let out of jail to begin probation after pleading no contest to a minor charge. He was ordered to be released by the judge on Friday morning, Rynning said. And then Im getting a call from his family Saturday at around 12:00 that, hey, Annie, hes still in jail. I had already, like, signed the paper and everything, Lucas said. So why did it take so long? And I called [Vernier], and Im like, this is crazy, Rynning said. Heres yet another person thats being held at the jail violating, willfully violating a judges order to be released. Advertisement Advertisement Rynning was able to track down Bailey to represent her. Now, she and Vernier plan to file a federal lawsuit against the jail on behalf of Bailey and Lucas. Our founding generation would be shocked if the government got to put you in jail and hold you there unless it has cause, Vernier said. Its unlawful. Its unconstitutional. Its a violation of their civil rights. And they say its not isolated. A few months ago, News 4 reported data shows the jail is regularly keeping certain inmates locked up an average of two and a half days after they have already posted bond. I had a celly too, Lucas said. He was supposed to be out. They paid the bond at eight at night. But then he was still there with me, too. Advertisement Advertisement Theres plenty of other examples where people post bond, or they were held on many civil charges, Vernier said. And its been documented publicly, public hearings and in news reports for years. In August, the jails chief administrator blamed the problem on staffing. Something like this shouldnt require vast amounts of staffing, Vernier said. You have an order to release somebody, you put them on a list, and then you start the process of making that happen. Their lawsuit will ask federal courts to order the jail to put proper staffing and monitoring in place, and to ensure inmates are actually released when theyre supposed to be. Advertisement Advertisement Rising costs force dozens of metro restaurants to shut down in 2025 I want justice for all of those who have been harmed, Bailey said. Whether its thisor the jails skyrocketing number of inmate deathsthe attorneys say its time for a bigger shakeup, even if it means letting the federal government take over. Oklahoma County jail is by far the worst jail in Oklahoma, Rynning said. And might I say in my opinion, its the most dangerous, deadly jail in America. This is a systemic problem, Vernier said. Its not just a bad cop or a bad detention officer. This is a system-wide problem that needs to be fixed. Advertisement Advertisement They understand it may be hard to find sympathy for people who went to jail. They agreed to take responsibility for what happened, and they agreed to pay the consequences of their actions, Rynning said. And they did. But justice was still not done for them. But they point outthey are humans too. Im just like your daughter or your mother, Bailey said. I remember praying, please dont please God, you know, send me an angel. Keep me safe. News 4 reached out to a jail spokesperson for a response to the impending lawsuit and is still waiting for an answer. 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) The first place in the world to legalize voluntary euthanasia 31 years ago could this year become the last part of Australia to secure the same legal reform as the Northern Territory government on Friday announced plans to legislate for doctor-assisted dying for a second time. The Northern Territorys world-first laws passed in 1995 were overturned by the Australian Parliament two years later and after four terminally ill patients were legally helped to die. Since then, all six Australian states have passed assisted dying laws and the Australian Parliament has lifted the ban on the two territories, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory, passing such laws of their own. Advertisement Advertisement The Australian Capital Territory passed its voluntary euthanasia laws in 2024 and Northern Territory Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Friday that lawmakers in her jurisdiction would consider a bill by mid 2026. Lawmakers would be allowed to vote on it according to their own consciences rather than being expected to follow a party line. Legislating for the rights of the terminally ill is one of the most sensitive and complex reforms any government can undertake, Boothby said in a statement. Were taking the time to get this right. Were working carefully and consultatively not rushing it and we are committed to getting the balance right. A parliamentary committee recommended in September 2025 that a doctor-assisted suicide law be adopted by the Northern Territory, as well as recommending a public education campaign be launched to raise awareness and counter misinformation particularly in remote and Indigenous communities. Advertisement Advertisement Drafting of the bill was underway, Boothby said. We wont shy away from difficult issues and we are committed to progressing these reforms carefully, thoughtfully and responsibly, Boothby said. The Northern Territory has several unique characteristics and challenges among Australian states and territories. The territory has by far the smallest population of the eight Australian jurisdictions: 260,000 people scattered across an area almost the size of France. Australia's population currently is 28 million. While Indigenous people accounted for 3.8% of the Australian population of 25 million at the last census in 2021, they account for more than a quarter of the Northern Territory population. Advertisement Advertisement Indigenous views vary on voluntary euthanasia. Some Indigenous people are suspicious of the medical system and fear they could be killed against their wishes. Others advocate for equitable access to assisted dying with strong cultural safeguards. There also are conflicting cultural beliefs surrounding death. Northern Territory Legislative Assembly Speaker Robyn Lambley said establishing adequate education about the assisted dying law for Indigenous people, many of whom dont speak English as a first language, was probably unrealistic. I dont think were ready," Lambley said in an online post. "Maybe well never be ready in the Territory. Aboriginal people have reluctance around accessing health services for anything, even having babies." It will be a disaster. I dont think it will work. We just need to take it at our own pace, she added. BECKLEY As 2025 concludes, civic leaders, community organizers and small business owners are reflecting on the impact the year had on the city of Beckley. For better or worse, time changes all things. From the highest levels of city government to the storied halls of local art galleries, 2025 brought significant change to the community. The Chamber of Commerce continued to induct new businesses into the local economic ecosystem through ribbon-cutting ceremonies, while regional health care providers expanded access to more people and areas. Nonprofit organizations stepped up to support the community after the federal government failed to fund SNAP benefits following a record-setting shutdown. Meanwhile, protesters voiced dissent against the reigning administration, and the local art scene surged with new galleries, exhibitions, films and creative projects. Advertisement Advertisement Beckleys civic activism in 2025 ranged from organized protest to a single person deciding her voice would not be silenced. In February, a local group demonstrated in Beckley as part of a national day of protests, with organizer Kris Kincaid telling local news outlets that participants were responding to actions in Washington they believed threatened democratic norms and equal rights. Later in the year, national outlets reported that Kendra Sullivan, a West Virginian who grew up in Beckley, returned to the city and staged a one-woman No Kings protest along a main road after realizing no local rally was scheduled. She remained nearly two hours, drew confrontation and a police response to check on her safety, and later said messages from strangers who learned about the protest made clear how even a lone, local act can resonate beyond the moment. Local artists and organizers said growth was especially visible in the arts, from childrens classes to public murals and downtown events. Jose Rizo, a local business owner and curator, said he observed steady momentum across multiple institutions. I think the art scene in Beckley in the last year has been great, Rizo said. He pointed to youth engagement at the Beckley Art Center, noting that its offerings help widen participation early. [Sandy Shaw] has a lot of great classes for kids and I think shes really getting the community involved in the arts. And this starts with kids, Rizo said. Tamarack also continued supporting artists statewide, according to Rizo. Advertisement Advertisement Rizo said he maintained his normal pace of exhibitions in 2025 while larger community events continued to grow. Typically, I put on about three shows a year, he said. And then this past year I did three big ones. He credited BEX with driving much of the citys public art presence through murals and said the summer festival he partners on with the organization continued to expand. So, most of the murals and public artwork are because of BEX, Rizo said. Looking ahead, he said the work is not slowing down, citing discussions around another major downtown mural and plans to extend shows beyond the city. Were talking about doing a big mural in downtown Beckley, he said, adding that he has an exhibition tentatively planned in Lewisburg and another in the works in Charleston. Health care expansion remained a major theme throughout 2025, with Vandalia Health and its partners advancing new facilities, technology and emergency-response capacity across southern West Virginia. In Beckley, officials broke ground Oct. 27 on the 24,000-square-foot, two-story CAMC Beckley Outpatient Center on Harper Road. Slated for completion in mid-2027, the facility is designed to consolidate primary care, pediatrics, surgical specialties, orthopedics, imaging, lab services and an on-site pharmacyreducing travel burdens and keeping care closer to home. The Beckley Cancer Center also unveiled a mobile imaging lab housed in a tractor-trailer through CAMCVandalia Health and Akumin to expand oncology imaging access in underserved areas. Advertisement Advertisement In Beaver, HealthNet Aeromedical Services kicked off yearlong 40th anniversary open houses, highlighting a nonprofit network founded in 1986 by Vandalia Health, WVU Medicine and Marshall Health Network. HealthNet has transported more than 120,000 patients with no fatalities, operates 10 twin-engine helicopters and recently took delivery of four new aircraft, with a fifth expected by years end as part of an investment exceeding $35 million. For the Beckley-Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, 2025 centered on both signature events and practical economic development. Our annual dinner and award celebration is always kind of our signature event, CEO Michelle Rotellini said. That took place in May, and it was a wonderful event. Rotellini also highlighted the chambers Future Forward Summit and Expo as a way to connect business leaders, entrepreneurs and community stakeholders around growth and long-term planning. This is the time where we bring different business leaders, entrepreneurs and community change makers together to explore the future of the economic growth in southern West Virginia, she said. This years summit included a presentation by WVUs John Deskins and a housing needs assessment conducted by Bowen National Research, Rotellini said, along with speakers covering planning, zoning and business resources. Advertisement Advertisement Beyond meetings and panels, Rotellini said the chamber remained active in events designed to strengthen downtown activity and community identity. We are also in charge of the Appalachian festival and arts and crafts fair, she said. We did some work in downtown revitalization this summer with Second Saturday and helped to incubate the Holiday Market in downtown Beckley. Taken together, 2025 was less about a single headline and more about sustained effort by community organizers to revitalize the energy of downtown foot traffic. From the chambers initiatives in downtown Beckley to the regions art galleries, 2026 appears poised to hold even more promise as time marches forward. 2024 was good, 2025 was better, Rizo said. So, I really think that 2026 is going to be even better. Tensions over the Taiwan Strait are likely to persist in 2026, but analysts expect Washington and Beijing to manage risks to ensure that reciprocal state visits planned for the new year are not derailed. Beijing launched massive live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday, less than a fortnight after Washington announced its largest-ever arms sale to the self-ruled island. The People's Liberation Army said the drills served as a warning to "independence forces" and against external interference. Last Friday, in response to Washington's US$11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan, Beijing imposed sanctions against 20 US defence firms and 10 industry executives. Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The arms sale has added uncertainty to bilateral relations and US President Donald Trump's planned visit to Beijing in April. However, on Monday, Trump downplayed concerns, describing Beijing's latest military exercises as routine activities "for 20, 25 years" and citing his personal rapport with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "I have a great relationship with President Xi, and he hasn't told me anything about it," Trump said, referring to the PLA drills. Advertisement Advertisement Beijing has frequently warned countries against official contact with Taiwan, stressing that the issue is "the core of China's core interests". Diao Daming, a professor at Renmin University's school of international studies, characterised Sino-US relations over the past year as "generally stable" and said China's position had been consistent and unwavering to maintain this stability. Whether future high-level interactions would be affected ultimately depended on the attitude of the US side, Diao said. He added that recent tensions over Taiwan, which prompted many to stress the need to manage risks, stemmed from America's unilateral provocations. Advertisement Advertisement "China's reasonable and resolute countermeasures are, in essence, intended to urge the US to return to honouring its commitments, so as to minimise unnecessary conflict and avoid unnecessary risks," Diao said. Washington has long held a policy of strategic ambiguity about whether it would come to Taiwan's defence if the island were attacked. A PLA warship conducts live-fire drills at an undisclosed location near Taiwan on Monday. Photo: Handout via AFP alt=A PLA warship conducts live-fire drills at an undisclosed location near Taiwan on Monday. Photo: Handout via AFP> Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China, to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Diao said the Taiwan issue did not appear to be a primary concern for Trump, suggesting the US leader did not consider it a core interest. "But a correct choice must be made on this critical issue, and short-term or narrow domestic interests in America should not be allowed to undermine the broader interests of the China-US relationship as a whole," he added. Diao said that if the US honoured its commitments and approached China in a respectful, stable and cooperative manner, then it might be possible to foster conditions for future high-level engagement. Shen Dingli, a prominent scholar of international relations based in Shanghai, said Beijing would carefully calibrate its response to the Taiwan issue and that Washington's arms sales were likely to "continue to ramp up in the coming 10 years". Advertisement Advertisement He said bilateral engagement was still necessary to mitigate risks. "The more difficult China-US relations become, the more the two sides need to strengthen engagement, especially high-level exchanges," he said. "Refusing exchanges should not be used as a tool to punish the US, nor should maintaining exchanges be regarded as a reward." The two powers reached a trade truce in October with a summit between Xi and Trump in South Korea. Immediately after the meeting, the White House and Beijing notably omitted any mention of Taiwan from their official statements. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Busan, South Korea, on October 30. Photo: Reuters alt=US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Busan, South Korea, on October 30. Photo: Reuters> Advertisement Advertisement Following the meeting, Trump announced he would travel to the mainland in April, with Xi expected to reciprocate with a state visit to the US. Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University, said that although there may be a period of turbulence over the Taiwan issue, tensions were likely to ease before Trump's planned April trip. The recently approved arms sale did not change the overall military balance, and Washington had sought more economic benefits, he added. "If Trump does not visit, it would not be convenient for the Chinese side to visit [the US] either," Wang said. "There is a pattern to let tensions flare up for a while, release the pressure and then manage the differences as the visit approaches." Advertisement Advertisement Song Luzheng, a research fellow at Fudan University's China Institute, also said the US arms sale was not a new factor shaping relations. He expected generally stable ties in 2026, pointing to the planned reciprocal visits and two summits. This year, China is scheduled to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting in Shenzhen, while the United States will host the Group of 20 summit in Miami. Song noted that, as hosts, both sides "would naturally hope for wide participation" and suggested that China-US ties were "unlikely to experience major turbulence in 2026". For Beijing, maintaining a stable relationship would be essential to ensuring a favourable international environment, he added. Advertisement Advertisement "Since Trump's return to office, China's strategy has become very clear: to use pressure to push negotiations and to use negotiations to stabilise the relationship." 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 2026 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2026. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. The Iowa Board of Nursing has issued a warning to a nurse suspected of being intoxicated at work and failing to report two arrests for drunken driving. (Photo by Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty Images) The Iowa Board of Nursing has issued a warning to a nurse suspected of being intoxicated at work and failing to report two arrests for drunken driving. In 2020, the Board of Nursing charged Mandi Irlbeck of Harlan with excessive use of alcohol that might impair a licensees ability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety. The board alleged that in May 2020, Irlbeck came to work in a condition unfit to work. The board did not disclose the nature or place of her employment. Advertisement Advertisement In additional, the board said it received information that Irlbeck excessively uses alcohol. In a settlement, Irlbeck agreed to have her license placed on probation for 18 months, during which she would not use alcohol and would enroll in a chemical screening program. In July 2025, the board received a complaint that Irlbecks coworkers suspected she had been intoxicated while working as a nurse. While looking into that matter, the board learned Irlbeck had failed to report a 2024 conviction for drunken driving during a period when she worked at a MercyOne medical facility. The board also learned Irlbeck was then facing a charge of second-offense drunken driving that was still working its way through the courts. That charge stemmed from a May 2025 incident in which Irlbeck was pulled over near Logan and, according to police, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.235% almost three times the legal limit for driving. Advertisement Advertisement Court records show Irlbeck subsequently pleaded guilty to the second-offense drunken driving charge and, according to the board, she was fired from her place of employment due to concerns with her use of alcohol. The Board of Nursing charged Irlbeck with being convicted of an offense that directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the nursing profession, and with engaging in behavior that is contradictory to professional decorum. The board and Irlbeck recently agreed to a settlement that calls for Irlbeck to accept a warning that states any future infractions may result in some form of discipline. As part of the settlement, Irlbeck also agreed to enroll in the Iowa Practitioner Health Program. Her nursing license remains in full effect. Board takes action in other nursing cases Other Iowa-licensed nurses whose cases recently came before the Board of Nursing include: Advertisement Advertisement Melynda Albert of Muscatine The board alleges that while Albert was working in a Bettendorf assisted living facility in April 2023, she was suspected of taking a vial of morphine from a residents supply. Court records indicate the theft occurred at The Summit, a residential care facility in Bettendorf, and that the victim was a dying hospice patient. Albert was criminally charged with unlawful possession of a prescription drug, possession of a controlled substance and fifth-degree theft. She later pleaded guilty to the possession charge and the two remaining charges were dismissed and was placed on probation. In December 2023, Albert was criminally charged with theft, and later convicted, for stealing items at a Walmart store. In August 2024, she was charged with violating the terms of her probation in the morphine-theft case by failing to complete a substance-abuse evaluation as ordered. In December 2024, she was cited for driving with an open container of alcohol in the car. Advertisement Advertisement In April 2025, District Associate Judge Michael Motto ruled Albert had successfully completed the terms of her probation in the morphine-theft case and ordered that all charges in the matter be expunged from the public court record although those records remain accessible to the public. Board of Nursing documents indicate the panel filed a set of disciplinary charges against Albert in June 2025, although the written charging documents in the case have not been publicly disclosed. As part of a recent settlement agreement with the board, Albert has agreed to an indefinite suspension of her license that will remain in effect until the completion of a substance-abuse evaluation that indicates it is safe for Albert to practice, at which point her license will be placed on probation for one year. Jaclyn Zabolotny of St. Cloud, Minn. In May 2025, Zabolotny applied for an Iowa license to work as a registered nurse. Board records indicate that on her application she reported a criminal history and an out-of-state disciplinary case. An investigation showed that in May 2017, while working as a licensed nurse in Minnesota, Zabolotny was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance procured by fraud or deceit. She later pleaded guilty to the charge and successfully completed probation in 2019, after which her criminal conviction was expunged. According to board records, Zabolotny admitted she obtained a prescription for an opiate using the credentials of a nurse practitioner so she could get some sleep and keep working the 60 to 90 hours per week she was scheduled. According to the board, Zabolotny regrets this decision and knows it was wrong. Noting that Zabolotny has completed a substance abuse evaluation, recommended educational courses, and mental health counseling, and has maintained an unconditional nursing license in Minnesota since February 2021, the Iowa board agreed to issue her a license free and clear of any restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Angela Gaynor of Sioux City Board records indicate Gaynors Iowa license to practice nursing expired in 2018. In February 2025, she applied for license reactivation and disclosed a 2019 criminal conviction for felony credit card fraud, which resulted in a deferred judgment and three years of probation. In October 2020, Gaynor entered a guilty plea to a charge of violating her probation by testing positive for THC and alcohol. In January 2022, she stipulated to a second probation violation resulting from her refusal to enter a residential treatment program. In January 2023, Gaynor was successfully discharged from probation. In deciding to grant Gaynors request for a reactivated Iowa license, subject to two years of probationary status, the Board of Nursing noted Gaynor was forthcoming regarding her criminal history and drug use, and that she had been sober for 15 years before suffering a relapse. Nikki Smith of Waterloo Board records indicate Smith applied for licensure in November 2024. A board review of her criminal history showed a conviction for first-offense drunken driving in July 2020, violation of a no-contact order in October 2022, a second-offense drunken driving charge in May 2024, and domestic-abuse assault by display or use of a weapon in May 2024. Smith subsequently completed a substance-abuse evaluation, a domestic abuse program and a drinking drivers class, according to the board. Noting that Smith was forthcoming regarding her criminal history and that she took full responsibility for her mistakes, the board agreed to issue Smith a license, subject to one year of probationary status. Ursella M. Washington of Perry The Board of Nursing has charged Washington with committing an act that might adversely affect the physical or psychosocial welfare of a patient; failing to assess, accurately document, evaluate, or report the status of a patient, and failing to respond to a board investigation or subpoena. The board has not disclosed any information as to the alleged conduct that gave rise to the charges or when it may have occurred. A disciplinary hearing on the matter is scheduled for April 23, 2026. Although the charges were only recently made public, state records indicate they were approved by the board on Sept. 8, 2025. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Brazil ended 2025 with one of the lowest unemployment rates since official records began more than a decade ago. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, or IBGE, the unemployment rate stood at 5.2% in the rolling quarter from September to November 2025. That was the lowest level since 2012, when the current comparable schedule began. Latin America's largest economy now has 5.6 million people unemployed, down 7.2% from three months earlier and 14.9% from a year ago. Nearly 1 million Brazilians found jobs in 2025, according to official figures. Advertisement Advertisement The data also show a sharp decline from the previous quarter, when unemployment was 5.6%, and from the same period in 2024, when it reached 6.1%, underscoring a steady downward trend throughout the year. Employment reached a record more than 103 million people, while the employment rate among the working-age population rose to about 59%, another high in the statistical series. Job growth across several sectors, particularly services, public administration and public safety, helped drive the improvement in the labor market. The institute also reported a drop in the labor underutilization rate, which includes workers seeking more hours or better use of their skills. That indicator fell to its lowest level in recent years, suggesting an improvement in overall job quality. Advertisement Advertisement Brazilian media highlighted the figures as a sign of economic recovery and labor market strength in the South American country. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed the data on social media, calling it "a record in the historical series" and a reason for optimism heading into 2026. "While 2025 is not over yet, we keep breaking records. Lowest unemployment in the historical series and rising income for the population," Lula wrote recently on X. The figures have also fueled debate over the composition of new jobs and the persistence of informal employment, an issue that has accompanied recent labor market gains. Advertisement Advertisement The 5.2% unemployment rate marks not only a statistical milestone but also reflects a sustained recovery in Brazil's labor market after years of economic volatility and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local analysts say that if the trend continues, it could support domestic consumption and boost business confidence in 2026. The labor data also carry political weight as Brazil approaches October presidential elections, in which Lula is seeking re-election. By Nate Raymond Jan 2 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday that California's ban on openly carrying firearms in most parts of the state was unconstitutional. A panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided 2-1 with a gun owner in ruling that the state's prohibition against open carry in counties with more than 200,000 people violated the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Advertisement Advertisement About 95% of the population in California, which has had some of the nation's strictest gun-control laws, live in counties of that size. U.S. Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke, who was appointed by Republican President Donald Trump, said the Democratic-led state's law could not stand under the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 landmark gun rights ruling. That decision, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v Bruen, was issued by the court's 6-3 conservative super majority and established a new legal test for firearms restrictions. The test said they must be "consistent with this nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation." VanDyke, whose opinion on Friday was joined by another Trump appointee, said the latest case "unquestionably involves a historical practice open carry that predates ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791." Advertisement Advertisement He noted that more than 30 states generally allow open carry. California itself allowed citizens to carry handguns openly and holstered for self-defense without penalty until 2012, he said. "The historical record makes unmistakably plain that open carry is part of this Nations history and tradition," VanDyke said. The ruling partially reversed a 2023 decision by a lower-court judge who had rejected a 2019 challenge to the law by gun owner Mark Baird. While the appeals court largely sided with Baird, it rejected his related challenge to Californias licensing requirements in counties with fewer than 200,000 residents, which may issue open-carry permits. Advertisement Advertisement Senior U.S. Circuit Judge N. Randy Smith, who was appointed by Republican former President George W. Bush, dissented, saying his colleagues "got this case half right" as all of California's restrictions complied with the Supreme Court's ruling. A spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat who defended the state's ban, in a statement said his office is considering its options. "We are committed to defending California's common sense gun laws," the spokesperson said. The 2022 Supreme Court ruling has prompted court cases nationwide challenging modern firearm restrictions, including in California. A 9th Circuit panel in September 2024 upheld a California law that prohibits people with concealed-carry permits from carrying firearms at several categories of "sensitive places" like bars, parks, zoos, stadiums and museums. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Cynthia Osterman) The family woke up to two holes in their lanai screen and one hole in the glass window of their bedroom. All three holes were from two bullets. The homeowners believe the shooting happened sometime after midnight. They believe the shooters were celebrating the new year. I was shocked, couldnt believe it could be true, the homeowner said. She didnt want to show her face or be named. Shes worried whoever fired those bullets could come back. Advertisement Advertisement She lives in the house with her parents. The shattered window is in her parents bedroom. Her mother, who has a cold, was in the room sleeping at the time of the shooting. She said a wooden stand in front of the window stopped the bullet. If the wood barrier wasnt there, it would have hit them. It would have gone straight into the bed, she said. If that would have happened, it would have been a different call we would have had to make. Unfortunately, theyre not the only Central Florida family that had a close call. Volusia County deputies arrested a man named Alex Gomez for firing into a house. It happened after midnight. Deputies say a woman was sleeping in her Deland home when the bullet flew through a wall. It landed under her pillow. The family in the Falcon Trace neighborhood has a message for all gun owners. Advertisement Advertisement If you are going to have a gun, you have to be a safe gun owner, the woman said. You are not supposed to be shooting in the air, celebrating anything. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis (left), Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond (center) and Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner (right) at the annual Dentons Legislative Conference on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, held at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. (Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Stricter cellphone bans, more focus on STEM and increased school efficiency are shaping up as some of the highest-priority education debates Indiana lawmakers will tackle during a fast 2026 legislative session that starts back up next week. The session will be shorter than usual ending by late February after legislators already convened for two weeks in December on redistricting. Senate bills must be filed by Jan. 9, and House bills by Jan. 14. Advertisement Advertisement Multiple education bills have already moved, and one a cellphone crackdown proposal was heard in the Senate education committee in early December. Caucus leaders in the Republican-dominated General Assembly wont formally roll out their priority agendas until next week, however. At an annual legislative conference hosted last month in Indianapolis, lawmakers and Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner previewed a crowded policy landscape shaped by academic recovery concerns, declining enrollment, student disengagement and growing unease about childrens use of technology. Cellphones in classrooms and beyond One of the most visible education debates of the coming session is already underway: whether Indiana should expand restrictions on student cellphone use to cover the entire school day. Under current law approved by lawmakers in 2024 schools must prohibit cellphone use during instructional time unless a teacher permits it for academic purposes. Senate Bill 78 would go further, requiring public schools to ban cellphone use from bell to bell, including during lunch and passing periods, with limited exceptions. The bill already received public testimony in the Senate Education Committee in December and was authored by committee chairman Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond. Raatz said the committee is likely to vote on the measure early this month. Advertisement Advertisement Supporters argue the change would reduce distractions and improve student focus and mental health. Opponents including some parents and students have raised concerns about safety, emergencies and local control. Jenner signaled broader alarm about technologys impact on children, calling for a statewide conversation that extends beyond classrooms. I cannot tell you how much it is impacting our children, Jenner said. We are seeing seven- and eight-year-old[s] with social media accounts. We are seeing nine-year-old[s] on anxiety medicine because theyre obsessed with the number of likes and the comments. House Education Committee Chair Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, said lawmakers are also exploring ways to regulate social media platforms themselves, particularly the algorithms that keep children engaged. Advertisement Advertisement Were also looking at some language that could potentially avoid litigation, but goes after the algorithms, Behning said. Thats whats getting the endorphins that impact their cognitive ability. More work on literacy Lawmakers and education officials continue to tout Indianas recent gains in early literacy, driven by state investments in reading instruction and intervention. But Jenner said the work is far from finished and may prompt additional statutory changes on top of major policies passed in the last two sessions. Weve seen some great success in reading, but we have a lot more work to do, Jenner said, noting that the state saw a 5% jump in reading proficiency. Current law requires schools with fewer than 70% of students reading proficiently to participate in a state literacy cadre program, which provides targeted, evidence-based instructional support for teachers. What we wanted to see is should we adjust that percentage a bit, or should we do a rolling average of some sort, Jenner said. She emphasized that any changes should avoid creating an unfunded mandate. Advertisement Advertisement One persistent challenge, she added, is middle school literacy. The only needle that we have not moved in Indiana is middle school reading, Jenner said, pointing to seventh- and eighth-grade outcomes as key concerns heading into 2026. Doubling down on STEM Beyond literacy, lawmakers and state officials signaled a renewed push to strengthen math and STEM instruction an area they acknowledged is lagging behind recent reading gains. STEM is shorthand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Behning said Indianas success with literacy initiatives could serve as a model for future investments in math, particularly early numeracy. Advertisement Advertisement We know that if were going to be successful in STEM, we have to be successful in math, Behning said. He pointed to the states literacy cadre as an approach lawmakers could look to replicate in math classrooms. Behning added that many educators were never trained in foundational, explicit skills in math, leaving schools struggling to improve outcomes without additional state support. Funding equity and school operations Education funding is also expected to remain a flashpoint, particularly for districts with weak property-tax bases. Rep. Ed DeLaney, an Indianapolis Democrat who sits on the House Education Committee, warned that public schools share of the state budget has declined over the past decade and urged greater state investment to support high-need districts. If we move money to them from the state, he said, that may free up some local property taxes. But legislators are also watching closely as Indianapolis leaders advance recommendations from the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, which calls for a new authority to manage school facilities and transportation across traditional public, charter and innovation schools. Advertisement Advertisement Supporters say the plan could reduce costs and allow school boards to focus more on classroom outcomes. Critics worry about local control and whether similar models could spread statewide. I think well be able to learn some things and probably apply them more broadly in Indiana, Jenner said, while stressing that conversations around consolidation and shared services look very different outside Indianapolis. Rural lawmakers and education leaders, she added, are closely watching how urban proposals could influence policy elsewhere, particularly in counties facing population decline, long bus routes and limited resources. Jenner cautioned legislators against using enrollment alone to drive decisions, however, instead urging them to weigh student outcomes and fiscal health when considering changes. Advertisement Advertisement I would challenge the General Assembly that those are the two elements, at the very least, that we need to understand statewide, Jenner said. Other priorities rolling in Education advocacy groups are also beginning to roll out their own legislative priorities, calling on lawmakers to address school funding, staffing and student supports. The Indiana Coalition for Public Education has called for greater state investment in K-12 schools, more equitable funding for districts with limited property-tax bases, and caution against additional mandates without funding. Meanwhile, the Indiana School Boards Association is urging lawmakers to focus on local flexibility, shared services, school safety and workforce-related learning, while reducing regulatory burdens on districts. The Indiana State Teachers Association, the states largest teachers union, has not yet released its 2026 agenda. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX EDITORS NOTE: This story contains descriptions and video that readers may find disturbing. As young partygoers rang in the New Year at a packed bar in the Swiss Alps, the celebrating quickly turned into a nightmare when a devastating fire tore through the basement, killing at least 40 people and injuring 119 others. The blaze at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana has been described by Switzerlands president as one of the countrys worst tragedies. As families anxiously await word about missing loved ones and experts work to identify the victims, authorities are still piecing together how the fire started and why it spread so fast. Advertisement Advertisement Swiss authorities said Friday that the champagne sparklers were the likely cause of the fire, though the official inquiry remains ongoing. Emerging videos and eyewitness accounts reveal a deadly combination of hazards: fire-prone ceiling paneling and a crowded bar packed with young patrons funneling toward a narrow escape route. A night of revelry Le Constellation, located in the heart of Crans-Montana, a luxury ski resort in the French and German-speaking canton of Valais, is a popular nightspot among young locals and visitors. Around 200 people were inside the venue on New Years Eve, according to eyewitnesses, ready to celebrate 2026 with music, drinks and dancing. Sparkles that turned to smoke Imagery widely shared online show staff in motorcycle helmets perched on others shoulders, holding champagne bottles with sparklers amid the packed crowd. Advertisement Advertisement One clip shows at least six bottles raised in the air as flames and smoke erupt from the ceiling. An image shared on social media shows what appears to be a waiter holding champagne bottles with sparklers attached to them. A portion of this image was blurred by CNN to protect identities. - From social media Another image shows the ceiling on fire. A portion of this image was blurred by CNN to protect identities. - From social media The sparklers appear to have ignited what experts believe is acoustic paneling on the ceiling, a material designed to improve sound but that can also be highly flammable. Independent fire consultant Stephen MacKenzie described it as plastic petrol, adding: Thats why were seeing reports of many of the young people with a first, second, third and unfortunately, fourth degree burns. Swiss chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud told reporters on Friday that investigators are looking into the installation of foam paneling at the bar, and if it complied with regulations. A fast-spreading fire Once the fire broke out, it spread quickly. Advertisement Advertisement One video shows a young man attempting to put the fire out by hitting it with a cloth, while others record on their phones or continue dancing, seemingly unaware of the imminent danger. Once the ceiling was on fire, within about 10 seconds the entire nightclub was on fire, one witness said. Another eyewitness, Axel, who did not give his surname, told Reuters news that he and others in the bar didnt initially realize the danger was serious. We were yelling, Fire! Fire! and then we thought it was a joke or that it wasnt necessarily serious. And then suddenly, a huge cloud of black smoke, we couldnt breathe anymore, he said, describing how he eventually got upstairs and smashed a window to get out. Horrific escape As smoke filled the lounge and the fire blazed, partygoers rushed toward a narrow staircase. Advertisement Advertisement Video verified by CNN shows dozens trapped at the exit, with one person jumping through a window as thick, red smoke engulfed the building. MacKenzie explained the fires rapid spread through a process called a flashover, in which nearly everything in a room ignites almost simultaneously. Combustions pick up at ceiling level, causing the fire to spread laterally, he said. This process is like a stone drop in an ocean, with smoke rippling out sideways and starting to preheat everything in front of it. When the fire door was opened it could have created a chimney effect which accelerated the flow of smoke and combustible gases upward, MacKenzie said. The smoke is actually on fire a flashover, he added. Advertisement Advertisement On Friday afternoon Pilloud, the Swiss prosecutor, said all signs supported that theory: As things stand, everything points to the fire starting from sparklers or flares placed in champagne bottles that came too close to the ceiling, which very rapidly led to a flashover fire. Le Constellation was split across at least two levels, with stairs leading to a basement level as seen in a photo posted by the bar's management to TripAdvisor in August 2016. - From Le Constellation Laetitia Place, a 17-year-old partygoer from Lausanne, recounted her harrowing escape from the fire, saying that there was a crush at the narrow exit that made it difficult for others to get through. The first stairs are pretty easy to get through since theyre wide and all that. But after that, theres the small door where everyone was pushing, and so we all fell, we were piled on top of each other, some people were burning, and some were dead next to us, the teenager told Reuters. Video obtained by CNN shows multiple people lying motionless outside, while bystanders try to help. Advertisement Advertisement Local resident Samuel Rapp, 21, witnessed that aftermath. There were people screaming, and then people lying on the ground, probably dead. Emergency services arrive Swiss emergency services launched a response within minutes of the fire, transporting the injured to hospitals across Switzerland and abroad. Around 50 patients have been or will be transferred to hospitals in other European countries for specialist treatment, authorities told journalists on Friday. The aftermath of a fire at a ski resort in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, is seen in this screengrab from police video on Jaunary 1. - Police Cantonale Valaisanne Edmund Coquette told CNN-affiliate RTL Germany that he saw bodies on the streets, and young people totally burned in the face, who were missing fingers. A man living near Le Constellation, who ran to assist people fleeing the burning building, described searching for an emergency exit behind the bar and finding a jammed door with people trying to get out. The man, Paolo Campolo, told French media outlet 20 Minutes that he asked the fire captain for help but soon decided to intervene himself. Advertisement Advertisement We didnt wait. With someone who happened to be passing by, we broke the door open and got the people out, Campolo said from a hospital bed. Dr. Robert Larribau, head of emergency care at Geneva University Hospital, told CNN that most patients the hospital received were 15 to 30 years old, many with extremely serious injuries caused by flashover and possible backdraft. Flashover typically causes severe burns, particularly on the face, beck and upper limbs, often combined with critical inhalation injures from radiant heat and superheated gases. Backdraft, an oxygen-driven explosion, can cause instantaneous fatal burns and toxic inhalation. An investigation has been opened into the circumstances surrounding the fire and how it spread so quickly, as Swiss officials said Friday that the two French owners of the bar have been interviewed by police to gather information. Advertisement Advertisement CNN has reached out to the owners of the bar through their businesses but is yet to receive a response. Meanwhile, as of Friday evening, many loved ones of the victims and injured were still waiting for answers, and authorities continue the process of identifying the dead. CNNs Martin Goillandeau, Billy Stockwell, Henrik Petterson, Nic Robertson, Joseph Ataman, Duarte Mendonca and Camille Knight contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images In a statement posted yesterday ahead of New Year's celebrations in China, President Xi Jinping remarked on the nation's technological advancement and execution of its latest five-year plan, while calling the reunification of Taiwan "unstoppable." While the statement in itself is hardly new, there are mounting tensions in the area that may raise the level of concern among multiple interested parties. China has executed military "drills" around Taiwan on multiple occasions over the past few decades, but the latest "Justice Mission 2025" exercises have raised more than a few eyebrows. The drills in 2022 and 2024 already encircled the island and poked into the Philippine Sea, but according to a map in a Reuters article, the past year's operations increased in both their scale and intensity. Advertisement Advertisement The exercises prompted an ambassador meeting with representatives from the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India, though there are currently no details on their discussions. Some outlets remark that these exercises are seen as a response to the $11.1 billion weapons deal between the U.S. and Taiwan, announced in December 17. It can be argued that such a large-scale operation would have been decided on and planned much longer ago, though. China's Xinhua state agency published an article about the drills, with a key sentence being that they simulate an operation to "press and contain separatist forces while denying access to external interference" an approach summarized as "sealing internally and blocking externally." Some analysts note that the regularity of these drills seems to imply a Chinese tone shift from reaction to regular provocation. Additionally, they consider that the consequences of a war with Taiwan would hurt the larger nation, turning it into a pyrrhic victory. To state that a Chinese takeover of Taiwan would have major global consequences is an understatement. The vast majority of advanced chip production, particularly but not only 2 nm and smaller chips, comes from Taiwan. There are chipmaking facilities coming online from TSMC, Intel, and Samsung in other countries, but only a couple have very recently started operations (Intel and TSMC in Arizona). And most advanced packaging still happens on the island. Advertisement Advertisement Even with chipmaking fully taking place outside of Taiwan, the nation's location close to China and its established trade routes and general infrastructure can't be easily replicated elsewhere, at least for the time being. The advanced EUV lithography machines are exclusively made by Dutch company in ASML, who has noted in numerous occasions that the machines in Taiwan all have remote kill-switches in case the worst happens. Other countries aren't sitting by and watching idly, either. In 2023, Congressman Seth Moulton stated that the U.S. could hit TSMC's facilities in case of an invasion, while Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that such an event would signal an "existential crisis" for the nation, and allow for military operation under Japanese law. A couple years ago, the Phillipines, who regularly sees the ghost of future China in its sea, has granted the U.S. access to military bases pointing to Taiwan. Clearly, there's a path for this situation to become a global conflict, affecting far more than the tech industry and the wider economy. And that's almost certainly one of the major reasons things haven't yet escalated further. Because a global economic crisis on top of a region-spanning military conflict isn't likely to be good for any government, at least in the short term. A church at the center of a massive human trafficking and money laundering case wants millions of dollars in cash, gold and silver and luxury automobiles returned to it, arguing in a new lawsuit that although two Michigan-based church leaders have been charged with crimes, the church itself has clean hands. The federal government's August seizure of $4.2 million from five bank accounts, plus other assets seized from in and around church-owned properties, such as silver bars, gold coins, $1.8 million Iraqi dinars, a 2024 Rolls Royce and other luxury cars, "is causing substantial hardship to a legitimate business operation," and interfering with religious freedom, the Kingdom of God Global Church argues in a lawsuit filed Dec. 30 in federal court in Detroit. Church Pastor David Taylor, 53, is charged in federal court in Detroit with human trafficking conspiracy, forced labor and money laundering and is being held without bond, court records show. Church Executive Director Michelle Brannon, 56, faces similar charges and was released Sept. 30 on a $10,000 unsecured bond, records show. Advertisement Advertisement According to the indictment, Taylor led a life of luxury while soliciting individuals from across the country to work in his call centers, requiring each to meet goals related to pledged donations and/or phone calls made to prospective donors. The callers would pretend to be collecting for causes such as clean drinking water in poor countries. Taylor demanded the victims cut off ties with any family or friends who questioned Taylor or the church, the indictment alleges. No dating or outside employment was allowed, and victims were required to sleep at the call center and work without pay, the government alleges. In the lawsuit, church attorney Jorin Rubin said the church, organized in Missouri, has global operations and owns property in Taylor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; St. Louis and Houston, all of which were searched by federal agents with warrants and had assets seized as part of the investigation. The United States of America, which is the only defendant in the lawsuit, "should immediately release all of the funds held in the ... bank accounts and all of the precious metals, jewelry, cash and clothing in its possession," Rubin wrote. "There is no dispute that the (bank) accounts are owned by the church and not the defendants. The indictment does not specifically describe any connection between the financial transactions and the seized bank accounts." Advertisement Advertisement Larry Margolis, an Ann Arbor attorney representing Taylor in his criminal case, said Dec. 31 his client fully supports the return of all seized property to the church. "There is no merit to the charges against (Taylor) as he and the complainants were at all times exercising their First Amendment rights to freely practice their religion," Margolis said in an email to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. "These complainants are all competent and consenting adults who voluntarily joined the church and then proceeded to enjoy its benefits for years, some for a decade. They were free to leave the church at any time." Margolis said he will continue to seek the release of Taylor, pending trial. Advertisement Advertisement John Rogers, a Missouri attorney representing Brannon, said in a Dec. 31 email he had not yet reviewed the lawsuit and had no comment. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Church targeted in human trafficking case wants riches returned GENEVA A lawsuit filed by a Geneva woman has been set for a jury trial in June of 2027 after her common law husband was shot and killed. Amanda Beemiller filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a Pizza Hut operator and delivery driver relating to the July 2023 death of Matthew Lambert, following a shooting in the city. Beemiller is the administrator of Lamberts estate, and mother of his three children. She is suing SFR X Holdings, LLC, the operator of the Pizza Hut, and a delivery driver after the shooting death of Lambert, according to a lawsuit filed in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court. Advertisement Advertisement The suit was filed earlier this year, and is scheduled for a June 2027 jury trial, with mediation scheduled for 2026, according to Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court records. The lawsuit alleges the driver was working for Pizza Hut on July 9, 2023, and was carrying a concealed weapon. It also alleges Pizza Hut does not allow drivers to carry a firearm while working. An altercation regarding the drivers speed occurred, which led to the shooting, the lawsuit states. It claims the driver utilized the firearm when Lambert approached his vehicle. The lawsuit claims the driver negligently shot and killed Lambert without reasonable justification, and the operator of the Pizza Hut was negligent. Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for the holding company and the driver admit only to the basic facts that the driver worked for Pizza Hut, but deny all wrongdoing. They further state Beemiller is not entitled to damages as a common-law wife. An Ashtabula County Grand Jury declined to indict the delivery driver, indicating he acted in self-defense the day of the shooting. Lamberts father, Taz, was charged and pleaded guilty to negligent assault, related to the altercation according to Western County Court records. The lawsuit alleges the restaurant operator and the driver are legally responsible for damages incurred by the family after Lamberts death. The operator and driver deny responsibility. The new year is bringing warmer than normal temperatures across much of the U.S. including the Northern Rockies and Great Plains, while coastal California faces warnings for a couple of feet of coastal flooding and storm surge through the weekend. A strong system is forecast to arrive off California and the Pacific Northwest, bringing more heavy rain and mountain snows in the region, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Weather Prediction Center. The strong low pressure system is approaching with unfortunate timing, just as some of the highest astronomical tides of the year arrive along the Pacific Coast through the weekend. Coastal flood advisories are in effect along parts of the south central Oregon coast and northern California, including the Bay area, the National Weather Service has warned. Advertisement Advertisement The low pressure system is forecast to bring strong southerly winds, generating storm surge that will help contribute to minor to moderate coastal flooding near shorelines and tidal waterways around San Francisco Bay, and from north of Point Reyes southward to Big Sur along the coast. In San Francisco, high tides are forecast to be more than 2 feet above normal on Saturday and nearly that high again on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 4, thanks to the front and the alignment of the Earth, Moon and Sun. A similar forecast for coastal flooding is in effect along Coos Bay, Oregon and the surrounding estuaries. From a short-lived tornado warning to flooding, Southern Californians' Christmas Eve is being shaped by the weather amid an atmospheric river that officials have warned about for days. People sit on the roof of a building while they are stranded during floods partially submerging the surrounding area in the aftermath of torrential rains, in San Bernardino County, California, U.S. December 24, 2025 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. A vehicle stands across flood waters flowing on a road after torrential rains in San Bernardino County, California, U.S. December 24, 2025 in this screengrab from a handout video. Flood waters flow as houses ad trees remain partially submerged after torrential rains in San Bernardino County, California, U.S. December 24, 2025 in this screengrab from a handout video. A helicopter flies over a flooded area after evacuating people stranded on the roof of a building in the aftermath of torrential rains, in San Bernardino County, California, U.S. December 24, 2025 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Flood waters flow as houses remain partially submerged after torrential rains in San Bernardino County, California, U.S. December 24, 2025 in this screengrab from a handout video. People get into a helicopter after they were stranded on the roof of a building as floods partially submerged the surrounding area in the aftermath of torrential rains, in San Bernardino County, California, U.S. December 24, 2025 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Cars drive through a large puddle at Cortez Street in El Rio as a major storm moved across Ventura County, Calif. on Dec. 24, 2025. A tree limb was left dangling on some wires on Orange Drive and Balboa Street in El Rio as a major storm moved across Ventura County, Calif. on Dec. 24, 2025. Cars drive through a large puddle at the intersection of Cortez Street and Ventura Boulevard in El Rio as a major storm moved across Ventura County, Calif. on Dec. 24, 2025. Steve Cruz, a Camarillo city worker, moves large chunks of a fallen tree off Santa Rosa Road after a major storm moved across Ventura County, Calif. on Dec. 24, 2025. A car drives through a flooded road on La Cienega Boulevard on Dec. 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif. A major winter storm rolled into California on December 23, forcing hundreds of evacuations in burn areas while threatening flooding and travel delays through Christmas for much of the state, officials said. A "strong atmospheric river brings heavy rain, snow, and wind to California through Friday," the National Weather Service said in a statement on December 23, warning anyone in northern, central and southern parts of the state to "exercise extreme caution." Heavy rain is seen from Kenneth Hahn Park blocking the view of the city skyline on Dec.24, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif. A major winter storm rolled into California on December 23, forcing hundreds of evacuations in burn areas while threatening flooding and travel delays through Christmas for much of the state, officials said. A "strong atmospheric river brings heavy rain, snow, and wind to California through Friday," the National Weather Service said in a statement on December 23, warning anyone in northern, central and southern parts of the state to "exercise extreme caution." (Photo by Apu GOMES / AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776435280 ORIG FILE ID: 2252763571 Workers cut and move a tree which fell at the Westfield Topanga shopping centre in the Canoga Park area of Los Angeles, Calif. on Dec. 24, 2025. Shoppers walk through a parking lot on a rainy Christmas Eve morning at the Westfield Topanga shopping centre in the Canoga Park area of Los Angeles, Calif. on Dec. 24, 2025. A man checks the damage caused by driving through a flooded road on La Cienega Boulevard on Dec. 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif. A major winter storm rolled into California on December 23, forcing hundreds of evacuations in burn areas while threatening flooding and travel delays through Christmas for much of the state, officials said. A "strong atmospheric river brings heavy rain, snow, and wind to California through Friday," the National Weather Service said in a statement on December 23, warning anyone in northern, central and southern parts of the state to "exercise extreme caution." A car drives through a flooded road on La Cienega Boulevard on Dec. 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif. A major winter storm rolled into California on December 23, forcing hundreds of evacuations in burn areas while threatening flooding and travel delays through Christmas for much of the state, officials said. A "strong atmospheric river brings heavy rain, snow, and wind to California through Friday," the National Weather Service said in a statement on December 23, warning anyone in northern, central and southern parts of the state to "exercise extreme caution." Cars drive through puddles as heavy rain falls due to an atmospheric river, in an intersection in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, Calif. on Dec. 24, 2025. Cars drive through puddles as heavy rain falls due to an atmospheric river, in an intersection in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, Calif. on Dec. 24, 2025. City workers try to remove a tree that felt on a wall next to the Hollywood Water Reserve on Dec.24, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif. A major winter storm rolled into California on December 23, forcing hundreds of evacuations in burn areas while threatening flooding and travel delays through Christmas for much of the state, officials said. A "strong atmospheric river brings heavy rain, snow, and wind to California through Friday," the National Weather Service said in a statement on December 23, warning anyone in northern, central and southern parts of the state to "exercise extreme caution." Leticia Serafin (R) cooks tamales with her husband Paul Fonseca, center, and friend Pedro Jimenez, who holds up his phone light, ahead of the atmospheric river storm on Dec. 23, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. The couple lost their home of 25 years in the Eaton Fire and are residing in a donated travel trailer on their property as they make plans to rebuild. They make tamales every year to distribute to family and friends on Christmas Eve, and continued the tradition this year. A flood watch will be in effect for much of the region through Christmas Eve, with evacuation warnings in place for residents near recent burn areas. Meteorologists are calling for five straight days of precipitation, with the highest rainfall totals predicted for Christmas Eve, along with heavy snow in higher elevation mountain regions. Strong atmospheric river brings floods, snow, high winds to California 1 of 20 From a short-lived tornado warning to flooding, Southern Californians' Christmas Eve is being shaped by the weather amid an atmospheric river that officials have warned about for days. People sit on the roof of a building while they are stranded during floods partially submerging the surrounding area in the aftermath of torrential rains, in San Bernardino County, California, U.S. December 24, 2025 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Severe thunderstorms are possible along the Oregon and California coasts on the weekend. From Friday night through Monday, a general 2-4 inches of rain is forecast, with locally higher amounts along the coast north of Los Angeles, AccuWeather reported on Jan. 1. Advertisement Advertisement The rain could exacerbate already wet conditions in California from other recent rain. It rained on the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year's Day for the first time in years, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department reported rescuing more than 100 people and one dog from flooding on Christmas Eve. Water floods down a gutter as parade attendees wear ponchos as they walk up Colorado Blvd in the rain before the start of the 137th Rose Parade on New Years Day in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2026. The moisture also means snow in the Sierras, and AccuWeather reported it could lead to a long stretch of wintry conditions along the higher elevations of Interstate 80, possibly bringing several feet of snow to Donner Pass, enough to force the road to close. Here is a detailed summary on the very wet start to the current water year through December across Southwest California.https://t.co/Q78445OgGh#CAwx #LARain pic.twitter.com/rlIP4fC1iO NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 1, 2026 Warmer temperatures likely in Central U.S. Far to the east, a warming trend could bring temperatures that range from 15-30 degrees above normal in the Plains, the weather service said. Further east, more heavy lake effect snow is forecast across portions of the Great Lakes, in far northwest Pennsylvania and portions of western New York state. The weather service reported 16 inches of snow in Oswego, New York on New Year's Day. Advertisement Advertisement Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, has covered climate change, weather and other news for decades. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coastal flooding in California, rare rain fell on Rose Bowl Parade Authorities are investigating a suspected fatal mountain lion attack after a woman was found dead on a hiking trail in Colorado on Thursday. In a news release on Thursday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said that hikers reported seeing a mountain lion near a person lying on the ground on the Crosier Mountain trail in unincorporated Larimer county at around 12.15pm local time on Thursday. The hikers scared the lion from the area by throwing rocks at the animal, according to officials, and then attended to the woman but were unable to find a pulse. Advertisement Advertisement Related: Trump administration to dismantle key climate research center in Colorado CPW officers, along with Larimer county sheriff deputies, Estes Park police and Glen Haven Area volunteer firefighters responded to the area and conducted an extensive search for mountain lions. One lion was located at the scene and shot and it ran from the area, authorities said. The lion was later located and it was euthanized the news release added. A second mountain lion was then discovered nearby and also euthanized, authorities said. It is unknown if one or multiple animals were involved in the suspected attack, authorities said, adding that according to CPW policies, wildlife involved in attacks on humans must be euthanized to ensure public safety. Advertisement Advertisement The news release states that pathologists will perform a necropsy on the animals, checking for abnormalities and neurological diseases like rabies and avian influenza. According to CPW, mountain lion attacks on humans in Colorado are considered to be rare, with 28 previous attacks reported to CPW since 1990 and the last fatal attack occurred in 1999. According to the CPW website, there are between 3,800 and 4,400 mountain lions in Colorado. Flags are flying at half mast in Colorado to honor former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheynne), who walked on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. When he became a United States senator in 1993, he became the only Native American to serve in the Senate in over 60 years. Since then tributes have poured in on his life and legacy. Heres what people have been saying about the life that Sen. Campbell led. Colorado Governor Jared Polis I am saddened to hear of the passing of Senator Nighthorse Campbell. From being an Olympic athlete, to jewelry designer, horse trainer and then public servant at the state and federal level, he lived many different lives in his own unique way and always found a way to give back and serve. He was the only Native American in the United States Senate when he served, and also served the United States with distinction in the US Air Force. And he worked tirelessly to help build the National museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. He will be missed here in Colorado and across the country, and his contributions leave a lasting legacy to our state and nation. Advertisement Advertisement We did not attain our online goal. Please support our year-end campaign. CLICK HERE TO DONATE. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Candidate for New Mexico Governor Ben Nighthorse Campbell's legacy will forever be remembered. His leadership paved the way to include Indigenous voices. I'm sending his family, loved ones, and community my most heartfelt condolences. Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Candidate for U.S. Senate He worked every day in a system that was not designed with him in mind. His place in history and the remarkable life he led ensure he wouldnt be the last.Im sad that he has walked on but grateful for all he has left us. Advertisement Advertisement Miigwech, Senator. Mark Macarro (Pechanga), President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Ben Nighthorse Campbell stood at the intersection of our peoples history and future. His extraordinary life and accomplishments broke barriers and left a path for all those who seek to follow as leaders in Indian Country and in America. I will miss the counsel and wisdom of my old friend Read NCAI's entire statement. Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca The Seneca Nation joins all Native Nations in expressing our gratitude for the life and leadership of Senator Campbell and sharing our grief at the news of his passing. As the only Native American serving in Congress during his years in office, Senator Campbell passionately advocated in Washington for all Native people and our sovereign rights. He was an incredible representative for all of us, just as he was for his constituents in Colorado throughout his decades of service in Congress and in the Colorado State Legislature. South Dakota State Sen. Red Dawn Foster (Lakota/Navajo) I am deeply saddened to learn of Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbells passing. Advertisement Advertisement I first met Senator Nighthorse Campbell as a young girl when I was the Denver March Powwow Princess. I was honored to dance beside him during the Grand Entry and although I didnt quite understand what a US Senator was, I knew he was important. Afterwards, while visiting with him, I told him that I was on the student council and wanted to be a senator one day. He laughed and said that was a wonderful goal, adding that he could tell I had a heart for the people and that I would make a fine senator. Nedra Darling, past Public Affairs Director for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior Very sad! Thank you, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. It was so awesome that you and my dad were comrades on the art show trail when I was very young traveling with him doing my homework and reading books. And then many years later working at the Commerce department for the Census Bureau and introducing you to our Director. That was so much fun. You helped our tribal program and so many more Native people in their early careers in DC. You brought so much to Congress and represented Indian Country, making sure our voices were heard and action taken. May be an image of text U.S. Senator John Hickenlopper (D-CO) He was always generous to me with his time and wisdom, Sen. John Hickenlooper wrote in a remembrance on Wednesday. I will not forget his acts of kindness. He will be sorely missed. Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums ATALM joins Indigenous communities across the country in mourning the passing of Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Senator Campbell was a statesman, artist, and cultural leader whose lifes work reshaped how Native peoples are seen, heard, and respected in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement His leadership helped open doors for Native voices in national institutions, and his artistry reminded the world that Native creativity is not a relic of the past, but a living, evolving force. The institutions and communities ATALM serves continue to benefit from the pathways he forged. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net This article was originally published in Chalkbeat. Colorado parents will soon be able to get partial refunds on certain upfront fees theyve paid to child care centers if their children dont land a seat there within six months. A new Colorado law that takes effect on Jan 1. aims to ease the cost burden on families who pay waitlist, application, or deposit fees to child care programs that their children dont end up attending. It requires child care providers to provide the refunds if a child has not been offered a spot within six months and the parent requests the refund in writing, such as by email. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Democratic lawmakers pushed for the proposal during the 2025 legislative session, citing instances where families sometimes pay fees of $100 or more to a dozen or more child care centers as they search for a slot. Advertisement Advertisement The law applies to fees paid on or after Jan. 1, 2026, so families wont be able to obtain refunds until they hit the end of the six-month window in July 2026 or after. Families who are offered a spot at a child care center but decline it arent eligible to recoup any of the fees they paid. Under the law, providers are allowed to keep a reasonable portion of the waitlist, application, or deposit fee to cover administrative costs. That amount is $25, according to a Colorado Department of Early Childhood document released Thursday. Besides the refund provision, the new law requires child care programs to disclose their tuition and fees when a prospective family requests pricing information, joins the waitlist, enrolls in the program, or when the provider changes the fee schedule. It doesnt require that tuition and fees be posted publicly. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Republican and conservative commentators criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdanis pledge to bring the warmth of collectivism to the city on Thursday during his swearing-in ceremony. We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism, vowed Mamdani to cheers from the audience during his swearing-in ceremony. Conservatives on social media, however, were less attracted to the idea. The quiet part is no longer said out loud. New York City embraces communism. https://t.co/vSlLIU8giU Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) January 1, 2026 So many people have fled Communism and forced collectivism. Watching one of the largest cities elect someone who wants to impose that ideology here is horrific. This isn't just about rhetoric. The human costs of these policies will be very real. Best of luck, NYC. https://t.co/UObHCUz1kV AG (@AGHamilton29) January 1, 2026 The warmth of collectivism? That sounds rather chilling actually reacted New York Post correspondent Lydia Moynihan, while Trump nominee Mark Walker claimed, Right out of Joseph Stalins 1928 play book forcing collectivism on the Russian people. Taking away the individuals right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (property) is communism in its purest form. Americas greatest threat now lies within. The warmth of collectivism? That sounds rather chilling actually https://t.co/NEapvdreYp Lydia Moynihan (@LJMoynihan) January 1, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Right out of Joseph Stalins 1928 play book forcing collectivism on the Russian people. Taking away the individuals right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (property) is communism in its purest form. Americas greatest threat now lies within. https://t.co/Oyp1zwIn75 Mark Walker (@RepMarkWalker) January 1, 2026 No, actually, we are Americans and we dont believe in that sh*t, protested Megyn Kelly, while Manhattan Institute fellow Ilya Shapiro wrote, My family fled the warmth of collectivism No, actually, we are Americans and we dont believe in that shit https://t.co/o2QHKu8blV Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) January 1, 2026 My family fled the warmth of collectivism https://t.co/1HvHsFECOG Ilya Shapiro (@ishapiro) January 1, 2026 After being sworn in as New York Citys new mayor by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mamdani described Sanders as the man whose leadership I seek most to emulate. Sanders then spoke to the crowd, demanding that the wealthy and large corporations start paying their fair share of taxes, before leading the audience in a chant of, Tax the rich! Mamdani the citys first Muslim mayor was sworn into office using a Quran, prompting Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to remark that the enemy was inside the gates. Watch above via CBS New York. The post Conservatives Hit the Roof Over Mamdanis Inauguration Day Vow to Bring The Warmth of Collectivism to NYC first appeared on Mediaite. SALEM, Ore. (KOIN) The man at the center of a controversy in Salem is speaking out. Kyle Hedquist is a convicted murderer who is facing backlash for his appointment to a public safety committee. Hedquist shot and killed 19-year-old Nikki Thrasher in 1994 in southern Oregon; he later admitted to his crime. Woman, 82, found in woods after dog kept her warm After nearly 30 years in prison, former Oregon Governor Kate Brown commuted Hedquists life sentence in 2022; hes been a free man ever since. Kyle Hedquist. January 1, 2026 (KOIN). I have spent the last well over 30 years now trying to evaluate how did I get there, Hedquist told KOIN 6 News. I think about it every day and its tough. Advertisement Advertisement Now, Marion County leaders want to pump the brakes on Hedquists recent reappointment to a public safety committee. Two years ago, in the midst of relearning how to live outside of prison, Hedquist was elected by the Salem City Council to serve as a volunteer on a police oversight group. Its a position he applied for, claiming he wants to make the city a safer place. I have been on ride-alongs. I have interacted with the police department on multiple occasions. Ive been to briefings. Theres never been a problem, Hedquist said. Last month, the council re-elected him. He also recently joined the Civil Service Commission, which essentially oversees the work of local fire departments. Advertisement Advertisement Multiple cougar sightings reported within 24 hours in Oregon City: What to know But these recent appointments do not sit well with everyone. Among the most vocal is Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson. For years, shes been pushing for Hedquist to be removed from his roles, ever since he was released from prison, along with his appointment to the police oversight group in 2023. She claims there was little to no background check on Hedquist during his first appointment. Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson. January 1, 2026 (KOIN). Mr. Hedquists crimes make him an inappropriate person to oversee anything that police officers do, DA Clarkson said. We wouldnt put a bank robber as the president of another bank. We wouldnt give a child molester the ability to run a daycare. There are things that we do in our past that are going to make us ineligible, unqualified or inappropriate, to do things in our future. Advertisement Advertisement 1 seriously hurt in stabbing at SE Portland Safeway While Clarkson believes people can change, she also thinks theres a fine line that shouldnt be crossed in cases like this. Its also about victims. And its also drawing a line for victims and victims families, she said. In separate social media posts last month, Salem city councilors say theyre split on whether Hedquists appointments should be reconsidered. As the future of his positions hangs in the balance, all Hedquist can do is be patient, something he learned during his more than a quarter of a century behind bars. They most certainly can take me off of every panel if they so choose. At the end of the day, I just, I just want to be a better person. And I, and I believe that this city wants to be better, Hedquist said. Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Morning Digest Salems next city council meeting is January 12th, although the agenda for that meeting has not yet been released. 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 KOIN.com. (Stock photo by Getty Images) A state licensing board has sanctioned a mental health counselor for allegedly failing to maintain professional boundaries with a client. According to the Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals, Jerome Miller, who has practiced mental health counseling in Des Moines, was issued a three-year temporary license in August 2022. The board alleges it fielded complaints alleging Millers conduct was unprofessional and demonstrated a failure to maintain professional boundaries with a client. Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX According to the board, in July 2024, Miller disclosed personal information about himself to a client, which the client stated made them feel uncomfortable. Miller also hugged the client, the board alleged, telling the client they gave good hugs. The board says the client also alleged Miller made other inappropriate comments, undisclosed by the board, which Miller denied. The board charged Miller with engaging in unethical conduct, including, but not limited to, improper sexual contact with a client or making suggestive or improper remarks to a client. The case was resolved with a settlement in which Miller agreed to accept a warning that any future misconduct could result in additional discipline. Advertisement Advertisement Miller, whose license has expired, also agreed to complete six hours of board-approved education in area of professional boundaries, plus six hours of board-approved education in the area of professionalism. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Yemen's more than decade-long civil war has flared up after a United Arab Emirates-backed separatist movement swept through territory in the south, splintering the Saudi-led coalition. Yemen's more than decade-long civil war has flared up after a United Arab Emirates-backed separatist movement swept through territory in the south, splintering the Saudi-led coalition that was created to fight the Iran-aligned Houthi group. Below are details of the key factions in the conflict in Yemen, which has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises: The Houthis The Yemeni conflict was triggered when the Houthi movement, formally named Ansar Allah, ousted the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government of then-president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi in late 2014. Advertisement Advertisement The group remains the dominant military force in the country, controlling the capital Sanaa and Yemen's populous northern highlands. It is estimated to control territory where between 60% to 65% of Yemenis live. The Saudi-led coalition accuses Iran of arming, training and funding the Houthis. The group denies being an Iranian proxy and says it develops its own weapons. HOUTHI TERRORISTS carry weapons as they stand near the site of Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, in September. (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS) The Houthis have demonstrated their missile and drone capabilities during the Yemen war in attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE, targeting oil installations and vital infrastructure. Seen as part of a regional alliance known as the "Axis of Resistance" backed by Iran, the Houthis have also rallied behind the Palestinians in the Gaza war, lobbing drones and missiles at Israel and attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis have proven resilient, defying over ten years of bombing by the Saudi-led coalition, as well as US and British strikes in recent years. Saudi Arabia Riyadh entered Yemen when it led the military coalition against the Houthis in March 2015, seeking to restore Hadi's government. Saudi Arabia sought to prevent an Iran-aligned group from consolidating power on its southern border. Riyadh and Tehran, despite a China-brokered thawing of relations, have long been regional rivals and deeply distrust one another. STC The Southern Transitional Council, which was trained and equipped by the United Arab Emirates, seeks secession for the south, which was an independent state until unification with the north in 1990. The southern leadership at the time tried to secede in 1994 but was swiftly beaten by then-president Ali Abdallah Saleh's army. Advertisement Advertisement The STC, led by Aidarous al-Zubaidi, is ostensibly part of the Saudi-led coalition but declared in 2020 it would establish self-rule in the south. Tensions peaked in December 2025 when the group seized large swathes of land in Hadramout and Al Mahra provinces and swept to the borders of Saudi Arabia, challenging the regional heavyweight's influence. Islah party The Yemeni Congregation for Reform, better known as al-Islah, is a Sunni Islamist movement with historic ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. It is a key faction within the recognized government but is viewed by the UAE and the STC as a terrorist organization. Its major stronghold has long been Marib, the country's sole gas-producing region with one of its largest oilfields. UAE The UAE joined the Saudi-led coalition and was among its most effective ground forces. A withdrawal of UAE troops was announced in 2019 and completed in 2020, but it maintained influence on the ground through the STC and other factions. Abu Dhabi is motivated by its antipathy towards the Muslim Brotherhood and securing shipping lanes in the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden, analysts have said. The Saudi-backed government The eight-member Presidential Leadership Council, led by Rashad al-Alimi, is the internationally recognized authority in Yemen but faces dwindling power. It was formed in Riyadh in April 2022 to replace former president Hadi and unify anti-Houthi forces, but the council has been paralyzed by the divisions it was meant to solve. Advertisement Advertisement Following the STCs December offensive, the governments effective control is likely now limited to small, isolated pockets, and is reliant on Saudi airpower. National Resistance Forces The National Resistance Forces are a well-equipped anti-Houthi force led by Tarek Saleh, a nephew of former Yemeni president Saleh and a member of the PLC. Originally established with UAE support to battle the Houthis on Yemen's west coast, the force has maintained ties to Saudi Arabia and aims for a unified Yemen, positioning itself as a counterweight to both the Houthis and southern secessionists. There are plenty of mistakes people make while traveling by train. Pick the cheapest ride, and you'll probably be stuck on a train moving slower than drying paint. Pick the wrong type of train, and you could be spending money faster than the blink of an eye. Knowing how to choose the right type of long-distance train is crucial, and when it comes to train systems, Asia's dominance in the sector far exceeds any other continent worldwide. China currently has the top spot for the most bullet trains, as well as the fastest, and this country will soon offer the world's second-fastest train, and no, it's not Japan. South Korea's government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport just revealed on December 22 that the world's second-fastest bullet train is scheduled to join its fleet in 2030 for test operations, and expect it to be fully commercialized for the public by 2031. Capable of speeds reaching a staggering 230 miles-per-hour (370 kilometers-per-hour), the new EMU-370 train is a next generation high-speed train that's going to put South Korea on the map when it comes to bullet trains that promise lightning-fast trips. Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI), along with seven public and private organizations, led a national research and development program spanning the length of three years from April 2022 to December 2025, to design the highly anticipated EMU-370 train project that cost a total of 15.23 million dollars (22.5 billion Korean won). The EMU-370 was designed to have a fully functional top speed of up to 253 miles-per-hour (407 kilometers-per-hour), making the trip from Seoul to Busan in just under two hours, when typically it would take two-and-a-half hours. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 50 Weird Travel Facts You Should Know South Korea's new EMU-370 will be a breakthrough for rail travel in Asia People waiting on train platform - Jacktamrong/Shutterstock One of the best places to take a day trip if you're staying in Seoul, is the coastal town of Busan, which will now be more accessible than ever. Currently, the EMU-320 (KTX-Cheongyong) is South Korea's fastest train, however the EMU-370's impressive stats speak for themselves. Set to seat 479 passengers with a two decibel reduced indoor noise level, and a motor capacity of 560 kilowatts, the EMU-370 puts out 47.4% more power to the equivalent of about 75 midsize family sedans with a sleek aerodynamic design, making it the sportscar of the train world. Currently, China's CR450 high-speed train is in testing, with speeds reaching approximately 249 miles-per-hour (400 kilometers-per-hour), and is the world's leading passenger bullet train, which is set to launch in 2027 for commercialized public use. Other countries that have bullet trains, such as France, Germany, and Japan, who were the first to have a bullet train in 1964 called the Shinkansen, reach a top speed of approximately 200 miles-per-hour (320 kilometers-per-hour). With technological advances in rail speeds, tracks must also naturally be upgraded. According to the head of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Railway Bureau, there must be significant improvements before the EMU-370 can reach full speed. Without halting operations of the railway, replacing ballast tracks with concrete tracks on some sections will be done during a four-hour period in which trains do not run. The ministry official stated they expect South Korea's high-speed rail to exceed 217 miles-per-hour (350 kilometers-per-hour) in the near future, which would secure South Korea's spot as a top player within the high-speed railway sector for years to come. Advertisement Advertisement Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Explore. The loss of a longtime companion is a pain many peopleand coyotesknow all too well. About a decade ago, scientists discovered that coyotes mate with just one partner in their lifetimes. But more recent research has turned to the sadder side of their lifelong love: the grief of widowhood. Scientists hope their inquiries can build compassion for these oft-misunderstood carnivores and perhaps guide the development of new mental health treatments for humans. Advertisement Advertisement We have this opportunity to really understand what happens during loss and how that might translate to improved outcomes for people who have extended grief, says neuroscientist Sara Freeman, an associate professor of biology at Utah State University who is studying the changes that occur inside the brains of coyotes that have lost their mates. (Why this coyote and badger 'friendship' has excited scientists) Together forever About 3 to 5% of mammals are known to be monogamous, meaning they select one mate for life. Still, many monogamous species such as wolves cheat, says Stan Gehrt, longtime coyote researcher and professor of wildlife ecology at The Ohio State University. This doesnt seem to be the case for coyotes. Gehrt co-authored a 2012 study that found 100% faithfulness among coyote pairs, meaning they practice an even rarer form of commitment called genetic monogamy. Focusing on urban coyotes in the Chicago area, researchers collected genetic information and found no evidence of cheating partners among 18 litters of 96 offspring, something that Gehrt calls pretty remarkable. Since then, he and his team have collected 10 additional years of unpublished data that backs up their original conclusions. Advertisement Advertisement Having multiple partners has evolutionary benefits including increased reproductive success and genetic diversity. But genetic monogamy has advantages, tooit allows coyotes to have larger litters since dads take an active role in pup care, Gehrt says. It also helps them establish and maintain their territory, as the duo marks and defends it together when theyre not busy mating or caring for their young. Gehrts team has found that Chicagolands coyotes stay with the same partner forever, despite many opportunities to rendezvous with new lovers in a dense urban setting. The one exception is the death of a mate. It's just an amazing thing, Gehrt says. That means that a coyote, when they finally select their mate, thats potentially the only animal they're going to live with for the rest of their life. So that's a really big decision. Advertisement Advertisement (Coyotes have expanded their range to 49 statesand show no signs of stopping) 'Til death do us part Much like humans, coyotes display grief-like behaviors after losing a partner. Gehrt recounts a story about a female that he and his team temporarily trapped in order to replace a tracking collar. Her mate stayed close to her during the process, and when Gehrt briefly took her into the lab, her male companion howled nonstop until Gehrt returned her. There was clearly a lot of emotional stuff going on with that animal, he says. Signs of grief in coyotes include persistent long howls that some scientists describe as mournful, lethargy, decreased appetite, and a diminished spiritthey may hang their head low, for instance. Bereaved coyotes may also return to a spot where a partner or pup was last seen. Coyotes arent the only animals that express behaviors that could be interpreted as grief. Prairie voles, small stocky rodents that also practice genetic monogamy, display what Freeman, the Utah State University neuroscientist, calls a depressive-like behavior during experimental swim tests following the loss of their mates. Freeman, who studied these animals alongside Larry Young, a scientist well-known for his work examining prairie vole pair-bond formations, says that normally these creatures will swim around and try to get out, but those who have lost a partner are more apt to float like they dont care. Advertisement Advertisement For the past six years Freeman has focused on the behavioral, hormonal and neural basis of coyote monogamy. Her team conducts field studies at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Wildlife Research Center in Milville, Utah, whose Predator Research Facility keeps a captive coyote population for research that helps guide management strategies for their wild counterparts. For a recent paper, Freeman and colleagues mapped and evaluated changes in the receptor for a hormone called corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) in coyote brains following the loss of their partner. CRF, found in both human and coyote brains, is activated in response to stressors such as grief and alerts the bodys stress system, known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, ultimately releasing cortisol into the bloodstream. Cortisol, sometimes referred to as the stress hormone, increases when we feel some sort of psychological or actual stress and plays a key role in the fight or flight response. (Downtown coyotes: Inside the secret lives of Chicago's predator) The researchers obtained brain samples from six deceased coyotes, three of which were widows. They found that CRF receptors in the olfactory tract, the region of the brain responsible for processing smell, as well as the hippocampus, the brains learning and memory site, increased in widowed coyotes compared to non-widows. Advertisement Advertisement Freeman surmises that grief could alter coyote brain neurochemistry to coordinate memory function and sensory processing. This might aid widows in detecting social scents in their environmentsay, urine from their lost mate as they try to find them or the odor of a new potential partner. She warns that the study shouldnt be generalized too broadly. The sample size was small, all of the coyotes were female, and each female had been widowed for different amounts of time: three days, four months and 14 months, respectively. Still, such research could begin to fill important gaps about coupling in monogamous species, says Freeman, who adds most other inquiries have focused on how pair bonds form. Her teams investigations could also eventually help guide grief treatment in humans because of our shared biology with coyotes. This could include the development of new drugs and even non-pharmaceutical approaches to stress and grief such as exercise programs, she says. Physical activity such as yoga, running, walking and martial arts have already been linked with better grief outcomes for people who have lost a loved one. Compassion breeds conservation Apart from possible applications to humans, Freeman hopes her work can help build compassion for coyotes, which are often regarded as pests and targeted in wildlife killing contests and by frustrated landowners. Some pet owners also have negative views of these wild canids because of fears that they will kill their cat or dog. Freeman suggests people might think twice about shooting a coyote if they knew that its mate would experience psychological distress similar to a person who has lost a spouse. Advertisement Advertisement While not endangered, coyotes play an important role in their ecosystems. Julie Young, who oversaw the USDA's Predator Research Facility in Utah for 11 years and is now director of Utah State Universitys Berryman Institute, says that coyotes eat a lot of fruit and help disperse seeds throughout the landscape via their excrement. This could help mitigate the effects of climate change due to increased carbon storage potential, according to one study she co-authored. Human coexistence with coyotes has another advantage, according to Young. If one coyote in a pair is killed, that can start a cascade effect where territory is lost, new coyotes move in and coyote-on-coyote strife ensues. These issues can spill over to the human world, resulting in problem coyotes. Gehrt has seen firsthand how highlighting coyotes monogamous nature can change minds. For years, he and his colleagues have given public talks to help demystify urban coyotes and shift peoples negative attitudes about coexistence. Nothing really convinced people or didn't really change their attitude that much until we started talking about this stuff, which is the monogamy, he says. And it's weird, but you can just see the people in the audience, their faces change. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. A dispute over personal property at the Solomon Homes community in Johnstown sparked a violent altercation that led to a 17-year-olds shooting death in August, investigators said. But the fatal shooting of Aquon Tillman, of Johnstown, has been determined to be justified as an act of defense by a bystander, who rushed to protect an unarmed man whom Tillman was trying to gun down, Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer said Wednesday. Neugebauer said Johnstown Housing Authority surveillance video showed Tillman first used deadly force Aug. 31 exiting Solomon Homes Building 14, confronting an unarmed Johnstown man and brandishing a weapon before opening fire. Advertisement Advertisement During that span, the man being targeted by Tillman never presented a weapon of any kind, Neugebauer added. A nearby bystander witnessed the incident and exited his vehicle to defend the man being pursued. Using his own weapon, he fired at Tillman, striking him, investigators said. Under Pennsylvania law, a bystander may use deadly force to protect another when the circumstances that the bystander reasonably believes them to be would justify the use of deadly force by the person or people whom they are seeking to protect from death or serious bodily injury, Neugebauer said. In this instance, the bystander reasonably believed that the mans life was in danger, and the facts indicate that he was in actual danger, Neugebauer said, adding that the man at whom Tillman was firing was unarmed and in an open area with no way to protect himself. Advertisement Advertisement That means no criminal charges are applicable in relation to the fatal shooting. The Johnstown Police Department investigated the case, and its findings were reviewed by Neugebauers office before his decision this week. Neugebauer said the case was a tragedy regardless of what the final investigation revealed. At the end of the day, a 17-year-olds life was cut short, he said. This is a tragic example of how a situation can quickly escalate with devastating results, Neugebauer said. Our thoughts and prayers are with this young mans friends and family. Tillman was transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center for treatment after he was struck by gunfire. He died of his injuries in the operating room, the Cambria County Coroners Office said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Neugebauer said the man who fired his weapon in an act of defense remained at the shooting scene and was fully cooperative with authorities. He also surrendered his weapon to police as evidence. In the aftermath of the August shooting, police and prosecutors said they gathered evidence and interviewed multiple people at the scene. Neugebauer said investigators talked to the man who was being targeted by Tillman and he also cooperated with police. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will no longer fly to and from the Greater Binghamton Airport in New York starting in February. According to the airline, service to the New York airport will end with a final scheduled flight on Feb. 14, 2026 as we adjust our network to best align with customer demand. Customers with existing bookings will be reaccommodated, a Delta spokeswoman said in a statement shared with Channel 2 Action News. Advertisement Advertisement The airline said it will still serve the region through other airports, including Syracuse, Elmira and Ithaca, which together offer a broad range of destinations and increased connectivity across Deltas network. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Delta said Binghamton customers will be able to access Delta service within short driving distances via: Advertisement Advertisement Syracuse (SYR): Service to hubs including ATL, DTW, JFK, LGA, and MSP Elmira (ELM): Service to DTW Ithaca (ITH): Service to JFK In a statement shared by the airport just before the new year, officials said Air service decisions involve many factors that are outside the control of local airports and communities. We are in active discussions with Delta and are working closely with our state, local, and federal partners to re-establish passenger service as soon as possible. The airport statement said they are meeting with other airlines to potentially expand air service and are focused on providing reliable, accessible air travel options for the people and businesses of the Greater Binghamton region. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Democrats are bullish that a laser-focus on the economy which helped deliver wins across the country in 2025 will buoy them in the midterms. But in one of the first major races of 2026, some candidates are betting that affordability messaging lends itself to a familiar issue and one that Democrats have increasingly moved away from in recent years: democracy. Ahead of the February special election for New Jerseys 11th District, former Rep. Tom Malinowski recently hosted a town hall with Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin about defending our democracy from Trump, followed by a democracy dialogue with New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim. In a screening process for an endorsement from county leaders, Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett discussed his experience with addressing affordability only after he argued that sending a voting rights lawyer to Congress is essential to protecting American democracy. And visitors to Lt. Gov. Tahesha Ways campaign site see her prominently described as a democracy champion. Advertisement Advertisement In the years after the 2021 Capitol riot, Democrats have grappled with how to message on democracy an issue that has proven to motivate their base but has not been as effective with swing voters who have rising costs top of mind. In 2024, some Democrats expressed concern about then-Vice President Kamala Harris focus on fascism criticisms while Donald Trump led on the economy. And further down the ballot, even Democrats running against Republicans who had connections to the insurrection said that their message had to be about more than just democracy. Now, Democrats are feeling good about their affordability-focused message for the midterms and show little appetite for relitigating what went wrong in 2024. The crowded Democratic primary in NJ-11 is the latest test of the partys evolving messaging on democracy, an issue the congressional hopefuls contend goes hand-in-hand with talking about affordability. Theres a relationship between the unbridled corruption we're seeing and affordability, said Malinowski, who often highlights being in the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and calling for Trumps impeachment. Ill call out the consultant class for suggesting we should only talk about the price of eggs and assume that voters don't care about right and wrong. They care about both. A dozen Democrats are in the running to succeed Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill, who vacated her seat after her blowout win in November. The North Jersey district leans Democratic, and the primary victor will face off in April against Randolph Township Mayor Joe Hathaway, the only Republican to file in the race. Advertisement Advertisement Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, who is viewed as one of the frontrunners for the Democratic primary, said that democracy and affordability are not mutually exclusive, pointing to issues like the Trump administrations freezing of Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and funds for infrastructure projects. Im talking a lot about the fact that we need leadership that puts the working families of this district first to make it more affordable, because economic insecurity itself overall makes it a lot easier for leaders like Trump to undermine basic democratic norms, and by extension divide our communities, Gill said. As this issue first emerged and you saw it in 2023 and 2024, even going back to 2021, it emerged as a more abstract existential issue. But I think right now, based on the general chaos that is coming out of Washington, people are connecting the dots. Recent polling has shown that a majority of voters dont think democracy is working though Democrats tend to be more pessimistic on that outlook. And while economic issues emerge as a top issue in surveys, threats to democracy are not far behind. A recent poll from Quinnipiac University, which showed the economy and preserving democracy tied for the top issue, also found that more than half of respondents thought that Trump is going too far with his presidential powers. Although the overwhelming takeaway from Novembers elections was that Democrats won because of affordability messaging, democracy wasnt completely absent. In New Jersey, Sherrill warned that democracy is under attack and criticized what she called Trumps global extortion racket. Across the country in California, Democrats had a huge win with their redistricting ballot initiative, which was framed as a fight for democracy. Democrats have also aggressively gone after Trump regarding the release of the Epstein files in an effort to portray him as corrupt. Advertisement Advertisement What we've seen in the Trump administration is not the abstract messaging about democracy that failed to carry the day, Norm Eisen, co-executive chair of nonpartisan Democracy Defenders Fund, said at a recent press conference. When you have the corruption, which we know the American people don't like, that's not abstract. That's very concrete. And when that corruption furthermore hits them in the affordability and health care pocketbook, it's a gut punch to the American people. That makes the breakdown of the more abstract principles of democracy real. The upcoming special primary election will be an opportunity for Democrats to fine-tune that message one that may not be embraced as much in more competitive seats among a friendly electorate. The 11th District has one of the highest median household incomes in the country with a deeply involved grassroots base. And in the primary, the electorates core are folks who have been going to No Kings rallies who very much care about what tariffs are doing to the cost of living as well as Trumps actions without regard to Congress and the courts, Malinowski said. We need to figure out as a party who can be messengers who reach people preemptively and make it clear there's a connection between bills and a functioning democracy, said J-L Cauvin, a comedian and lawyer who is also vying for the seat. In a district like this you can say democracy applause. In others, you might need to say A+B=C in terms of those tariffs, its not constitutional. The NJ-11 hopefuls suggest that in the second Trump administration, democracy messaging is more tangible for voters than it was during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement The way in which the Trump administration is not just disrespecting guardrails in our democracy, but actively trying to knock them down, gives people a very real and credible concern that the aim is to make it more difficult for vulnerable voters to vote, Bartlett said. People are seeing what seemed like the barriers that protected us on a whole host of issues are giving way. I think theres a real recognition that that puts American democracy at risk in 2026 and 2028, and people are deeply concerned about that. Part of that argument also involves the administrations aggressive policies regarding immigration. While Democrats primarily attribute affordability as the reason why voters who backed Trump in 2024 swung to Democrats in 2025, the administrations high-profile deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement was also a motivating factor. And for some candidates, its personal. Gill, whose wife is Colombian, said that ICE attacking Black and Brown communities is not abstract as he raises his two kids. Co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy and former Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) staffer Analilia Mejia, another candidate in the race, pointed to her background as a daughter of immigrants who grew up working class: We don't have the privilege to ignore the consequences of a frayed democracy, she said. I don't have the privilege to ignore the loss of due process when ICE agents are allowed to break windows over babies or slam women to the ground without consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Democracy is also a natural topic for Way, who has served as the secretary of state since 2018. She touted being the only candidate who was sued by Trump and national Republicans over election administration and voter registration records, adding that shes also been successful in lowering costs and expanding health care. We can all walk and chew bubblegum at the same time, Way said. Protecting our democracy for me has always been a means for economic opportunity. Its the foundation, because everything we value is at risk without a healthy democracy. Deputies are investigating a reported shooting in Harrison Township early Friday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Around 1:57 a.m., crews were dispatched to the area of the 2000 block of Palisades Drive on reports of a shooting, according to a Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Sergeant. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement The victim later arrived at Miami Valley Hospital North with a gunshot wound to their foot. Hospital staff told the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office that the victim, only identified as a male, claimed to have been the victim of an attempted robbery in the 1900 block of Republic Drive, according to a sheriffs office spokesperson. The spokesperson added that the victim did not want to cooperate with the investigation. Deputies are investigating the incident and reviewing video recordings from the neighborhood to determine more information. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Deputy A. Duecker arrested 42-year-old Aaron James Eichheim Narva on Dec. 30 after responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle on Hawks Prey Drive. Narva was wanted for burglary in Larimer County, Colo., leading to extradition, and for multiple charges in Douglas, Wyo. Upon arrival, Deputy Duecker made contact with Narva and discovered he was wanted in Colorado for a burglary that had occurred on Dec. 11, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Action 9: Man says used car ad made him suspicious, others report similar case Further checks revealed that while he was wanted in Wyoming, those charges were not extraditable outside the surrounding states. During the investigation, Deputy Duecker and Sergeant N.G. Hodges developed probable cause to search Narvas vehicle. The search revealed drug paraphernalia in plain view, along with numerous tools and miscellaneous items. The Fort Collins Police Department was contacted to gather more details about the burglary warrant that Narva was facing. They provided a list of stolen property related to the December incident. Advertisement Advertisement As deputies continued to search the vehicle, they matched several items found inside to the list of stolen property from Colorado. This led to Narva being charged with felony possession of stolen goods and felony possession of burglary tools. In addition to the felony charges, Narva was also charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Deputy Duecker served the outstanding warrant from Colorado as part of this investigation. Narva remains in custody pending extradition to Colorado to face the charges against him. VIDEO: Man says used car ad made him suspicious, others report similar case The Sandy Springs Police Department revealed new details about the recent arrest of Tuskegee University Police Chief Kareem Easley. Channel 2 Action News was the first to report on Easleys arrest on Thursday, when university officials confirmed he was arrested and was placed on leave. Easley, who was hired by the university in October, was charged with driving under the influence on New Years Day. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement According to police, Easley was found driving the wrong way on a one-way street around 5:50 a.m. on Thursday. Officers stopped Easley near New Northside Drive and Powers Ferry Road and performed a DUI investigation, police said. Police said he was arrested for driving the wrong way on a one-way roadway and DUI - alcohol less safe before being transported to the City of Smyrna jail. In a statement shared with Channel 2 Action News on Thursday, Tuskegee University said they are committed to the rule of law and will not rush to judgement pending a full internal investigation. In an abundance of caution, Chief Easley has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Assistant Chief Darrius Jones will serve as Acting Chief of Police during this period. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Does Florida have too many counties? One local state lawmaker is making the argument that its time we start seriously asking that question. Florida has 67 counties, and 29 - or almost half of them - are considered fiscally constrained, which essentially means theyre strapped for cash. If the Governor gets his way and drastically slashes counties ability to generate revenue through property tax, those counties stand to lose the most. Advertisement Advertisement State Representative Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) explained many of the fiscally constrained counties are more or less a vestige of Jim Crow Born in the early 1900s as part of a power struggle between the segregationists in North Florida and the more progressive South over representation in the state house. Any area of the state had a vested interest in becoming a county because it gave them a member of the Florida House of Representatives, said Duggan. Ultimately, the way regions secured house members shifted to one based on population, rather than one based on county status. But we are left with the artifacts of that mindset in the form of all of these counties, said Duggan. Advertisement Advertisement The result is 29 counties - some with populations lower than 10,000 - that now struggle to raise the tax revenue necessary to provide the services required of an area with county status. Its five constitutional officers. Its a school district. Its a prison farm. Its fire rescue, said Duggan. Now, with the Governor proposing $300 million in the state budget to backfill the budgets of fiscally constrained counties in the event voters agree to reduce or eliminate property taxes in 2026, Duggan argued lawmakers should seriously consider whether the state really needs 67 counties in the modern era. Should this county even exist by itself, or should it be combined with some other county, so we can lower the overhead that we have to backfill? said Duggan. Advertisement Advertisement And he said eliminating or consolidating counties is something the legislature has the ability to do on its own, as county boundaries are defined in state statute. I just think its time for a perhaps a conversation around reexamining those assumptions, and do we continue to go forward with 67 counties? Maybe we should only have 40, said Duggan. Duggan noted that state lawmakers could not change at least some county names, as theyre mentioned in the state constitution. Duval, thanks to the legislation that consolidated the county and the City of Jacksonville in 1968, is among them. So, Jags fans need not worry, the Duval chant is safe. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] A dog stranded on an island in South Carolina's Waccamaw River was successfully rescued by first responders Tuesday afternoon, and has since been reunited with its owner. Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR) crews were dispatched to the Chris Anderson Landing off East Highway 9 in the Longs community after receiving reports of a dog in distress, alone on a river island. Horry County Fire Rescue The rescue operation involved boat crews from HCFR Station 40 (Hickory Grove) working alongside environmental officers from the Horry County Police Department. The team successfully reached the island, secured the dog with a leash, and transported the animal safely back to shore. "The very agreeable dog was happy to be saved," HCFR officials reported on social media. US Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing backlash on the internet for a recent social media post intended to highlight the merits of Donald Trumps administration. Bondi recently appeared to try to praise Trumps attempts to curb the substance abuse issue in the US by sharing some statistics on social media. However, the post drew criticism as the graph seemed to highlight former president Joe Bidens efforts to do the same, apparently causing her to delete her post. Pam Bondi deletes post after getting caught lying Pam Bondi is currently under fire for inadvertently commending Joe Biden for tackling the drug problem in the US while trying to compliment Donald Trump. The Florida-born politician recently took to her X (formerly Twitter) profile to share data regarding the deaths caused by drug overdose between October 2015 and October 2024. Advertisement Advertisement With the help of the said graph, she tried to credit the Trump administration for successfully reducing the death toll through its reforms by stating, Since day one, the Trump Administration and this Department of Justice have been fighting to end the drug epidemic in our country. President Trump closed the border. DOJ agents have seized hundreds of millions of potentially lethal fentanyl doses. We are aggressively prosecuting drug traffickers and cartel leaders. These are the results. Elections have consequences. Electing President Trump and enforcing the law is saving American lives. (via The Daily Beast) However, the graph shared by Bondi highlighted that drug-related deaths actually hit a decade-high between 2019 and 2021, during which Trump was serving his first term as president. The toll then plateaued for the 2022-2023 period before experiencing a sharp decline between 2024 and 2025, appearing to reflect the success of the Biden administrations policies surrounding the issue. Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California was quick to point out Bondis error and reposted her tweet on his X profile after the Attorney General decided to delete her post. Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on Mandatory. The post Donald Trumps Attorney Deletes Post After Accidentally Praising Biden Report appeared first on Reality Tea. Donna Marriott, 90, wife of J.W. Bill Marriott, Jr., chairman emeritus of Marriott International, died on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. I first met the girl of my dreams sitting on a bench at a bus stop at the University of Utah, said Bill Marriott in a press release. She has blessed my life and the lives of our children and grandchildren for over 70 years. It has been a joyful marriage and partnership. I will dearly miss her. I love her with all of my heart. Bill and Donna Marriott on their wedding day in 1955. Donna Marriott, 90, died on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. Donna Marriott was born June 10, 1935, in Evanston, Illinois. After losing her mother at age 12, Donna helped raise her siblings. Advertisement Advertisement Married 70 years ago in 1955, the Marriotts raised four children Debbie, Stephen, John, and David. They have 15 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. According to Marriotts obituary: Donna was known for her devotion to family dinners, her hands-on approach to parenting, and her joy in celebrating holidays surrounded by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Faith was described as a cornerstone of her life, with service and leadership roles as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Marriott also chaired the American Heart Associations Heart Luncheon in Washington, D.C., one of the organizations largest fundraisers. She lived a life of quiet strength, unwavering faith, and enduring love, a legacy cherished by her family and friends, according to her obituary. Advertisement Advertisement Marriotts loving relationship with her husband stands out. Donna and Bill shared a deep and enduring love, marked by weekly date nights and summers spent with family in New Hampshire, according to her obituary. Their bond sustained them through lifes joys and sorrows, including the loss of their eldest son, Stephen, in 2013. A private memorial service will be held for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, the Marriott family requests contributions be made to the American Heart Association of Greater Washington DC Region. A driver is in custody after leading Chicago police on a chase and crashing into a CPD van on the city's West Side early Thursday morning, officials said. Police said officers on routine patrol saw a vehicle that matched the description of a wanted car in the Lawndale neighborhood's 3800-block of West Harrison Street just after 3 a.m. When officers tried to stop the car, police said, the driver tried to flee and struck a CPD van. The driver then tried to flee on foot but was taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement The driver was taken to a local hospital for injuries suffered during the crash. Two officers were taken to a local hospital and have since been treated and released. Investigators recovered a weapon, and charges are pending. Police did not immediately provide further information. A strong earthquake rattled southern and central Mexico on Friday, killing at least two people and injuring several. Officials said there did not appear to be major damage from the quake. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.5. Its epicenter was near the town of San Marcos in the southern state of Guerrero, near the Pacific coastal resort town of Acapulco. It occurred at a depth of 21.7 miles, 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo, Guerrero. The quake was felt more than 250 miles away in Mexico City. Advertisement Advertisement Residents and tourists in Mexico City and Acapulco rushed into the streets when the shaking began. Tourists remain outside after evacuating their hotels during a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Acapulco, Mexico, on Jan. 2, 2026. / Credit: Francisco ROBLES /AFP via Getty Images Karen Gomez, a 47-year-old office worker living on the 13th floor of an apartment building in Mexico City, told Agence France-Presse that a siren woke her up. "I woke up in terror. My cellphone alert said it was a powerful earthquake," she said. The civil defense agency reported various landslides around Acapulco and on other highways in the state. Local officials said a 60-year-old man in Mexico City died of his injuries after falling while evacuating his second-floor apartment in the capital, AFP reported. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed the death in a statement posted on social media. In a separate statement on social media, she said at least 12 people were injured in the quake. Advertisement Advertisement The second death was reported nearby in Guerrero. Gov. Evelyn Salgado told reporters a 50-year-old woman died after her home collapsed. A tourist is assisted after being evacuated from a hotel during a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Acapulco, Mexico, on Jan. 2, 2026. / Credit: Francisco ROBLES /AFP via Getty Images (Francisco ROBLES /AFP via Getty Images) President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose first press briefing of the new year was interrupted by the quake, said she spoke with Salgado, who initially told her there was no serious damage reported. Jose Raymundo Diaz Taboada, a doctor and human rights defender who lives on one of the peaks ringing Acapulco, said he heard a strong rumbling noise and all the neighborhood dogs began barking. "In that moment the seismic alert went off on my cellphone," he said, "and then the shaking began to feel strong with a lot of noise." Advertisement Advertisement He said the shaking was lighter than in some previous quakes and he had prepared a backpack of essentials to be ready to leave as the aftershocks continued. He said he had been unable to reach some friends who live along the Costa Chica, southeast of Acapulco, because communications were cut. People seek safety in a parking lot after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Mexico City, on Jan. 2, 2026. / Credit: Gerardo Vieyra/NurPhoto via Getty Images Mexico is situated between five tectonic plates and is one of the world's most seismically active countries. In January 2025, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook a region of southwest Mexico. The tremor was about five miles from Coalcoman de Vazquez Pallares, a municipality of around 20,000 people, about 372 miles west of Mexico City. The quake struck at a depth of 53 miles. Advertisement Advertisement In 1985, an 8.1 magnitude quake centered on the Pacific coast ravaged much of central and southern Mexico, killing thousands and causing severe damage in Mexico City. A 7.1-magnitude quake on Sept. 19, 2017, killed 369 people, most of them in the capital. Exactly five years later, on the same date in 2022, central Mexico was hit by another quake, just hours after millions of people had taken part in a mock earthquake safety exercise. The repercussions of the 7.6 magnitude quake extended as far as 1,500 miles north, where four-foot-tall waves began churning inside a Death Valley cave called Devils Hole. ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina was prevented, officials say High school softball coach recruited ex-player in murder plot, prosecutors say Mamdani signs executive orders undoing some of Eric Adams' orders "Man overboard!" That cry is one of the worst things you can hear while you're on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. It means someone has spotted a passenger or crew member either going over the side of the ship or in the water, and a life is at stake. A 77-year-old woman went overboard on the Holland America cruise ship Nieuw Statendam out of Fort Lauderdale, about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, Thursday, Jan. 1, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The eight-hour search was suspended by 5:30 p.m. after cruise ship personnel and Coast Guard crews covered more than 690 square miles. Advertisement Advertisement Last month, a 4-year-old child fell off a Carnival Cruise Line ship while it was docked in the Bahamas and her mother jumped in after her. Both were rescued. In June 2025, a man jumped in after his daughter fell overboard during a Disney cruise; both of them were safely retrieved as well. Kimberly Burch, the fiancee of Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe, died in March after falling from the Royal Caribbean vessel, Explorer of the Seas. While these tragic accidents make the news, they're actually fairly rare. How easy is it to fall overboard on a cruise ship? It's not easy at all. All ships have "safety barriers that are regulated by U.S. Coast Guard standards and prevent a guest from falling off," according to Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli. Every open deck and balcony is required to have railings "not less than 42 inches from above the cabin deck," according to the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 (CVSSA), with thick metal or Plexiglas panels underneath to prevent anyone from slipping through. Advertisement Advertisement That's usually about chest height for the average person. Some cruise lines are adding overboard detection sensors which use thermal cameras and micro radars to detect incidents and alert crew members. How do people fall off cruise ships? "I'll stress that people don't just fall over the side," said Brian Salerno, senior vice president of global maritime policy at Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's leading trade group. "There are railings and they're pretty high. It's almost always the result of an intentional act." Standing on deck chairs, climbing on the railing and other unsafe practices can lead to tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Alcohol can play a role in overboard incidents, said Michael Winkleman, a maritime attorney with Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., who has represented travelers in overboard cases. "Usually, it's just people not making smart decisions because they're dramatically overserved and they end up going over," he said. But security cameras often indicate the jump was intentional, as seems to have been the case with 30-year-old Jaylen Hill in July 2023. Hill was reported missing by family members on the Carnival Elation and the cruise line said surveillance video showed him jumping over the side. The U.S. Coast Guard search was called off about 36 hours later. Occasionally, it's the result of a crime. In January 2018, Lonnie Loren Kocontes, 62, of Safety Harbor, Florida, was sentenced to life in prison for strangling his ex-wife and throwing her body off a cruise ship in the Mediterranean in 2006 in order to inherit more than $1 million. That same year, a Kansas woman died after falling from the balcony, but it wasn't an accident. Eric Duane Newman, 55, of Topeka, pleaded guilty in 2019 to second-degree murder for strangling Tamara Tucker, 50, of Lawson, Missouri, and pushing her off. What happens when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship? When the call goes out, the ship goes into emergency mode. The bridge will contact the Coast Guard and a search will begin. The ship will stop and the crew will try to pinpoint where and when it happened so they can start a thorough search in that area. Advertisement Advertisement The captain also will notify other ships in the area who are then obligated to help search. The ship will keep searching until the Coast Guard clears it to continue its voyage to the next port. The Coast Guard will continue searching, widening the radius of the search based on probable locations, conditions and ocean currents, until they feel they're unlikely to find the person. What should I do if I see someone go overboard on a cruise ship? If you see someone fall or jump off a cruise ship, immediately throw them a flotation device if there is one nearby. Life buoys and orange life rings are available throughout the ship. Having something to hang onto increases the person's chances of staying afloat and makes them easier to spot. Shout out or notify a crew member as soon as you can and note the time so the bridge officers can identify the exact position of the ship at that time. Speed is of the essence. A cruise ship travels miles in a few minutes and does not turn around quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Describe the person as best you can, including how fit they appeared, what they were wearing and if they were holding anything that might float, as all those factors will affect likely survival times. What should I do if I go overboard on a cruise ship? Don't panic. Find something that floats, if you can. Treading water can be exhausting in the open ocean "Even a small buoyant device will help you something you can use with your arms around or your neck over just to help relieve some of the stress if you're not a great swimmer or you're having a hard time staying afloat," survival expert Cat Bigney told The Insider. Don't drink any salt water and if you're fortunate enough to have any fresh water with you, conserve it. If you can, pull off some clothing and wrap it around your head to avoid the sun. Advertisement Advertisement If there are floating things around you, such as garbage, collect what you can to make yourself easier to spot. The Coast Guard has an increasing radius to search depending on where they think you are and anything at all you can to do increase your chances can help. How many people have gone overboard from a cruise ship? Worldwide, as of 2026, 431 cruise and ferry passengers and crew have gone overboard since 2000, according to a list from CruiseJunkie. Which is a lot, but it's also a very small percentage of the total passengers. An estimated 37.7 million people took cruises in 2025, according to an annual report from Cruise Lines International Association, and the number is expected to grow this year. Generally speaking, cruises are pretty safe. Do people die when they go overboard? Not necessarily. It depends on whether the person was conscious when they went over, if they were injured by the fall or impact with the water, how well they can swim or if they have a flotation device, the sea and weather conditions, the water temperature, and how quickly the crew or the Coast Guard can rescue them. There are also the risks from overexposure, hypothermia, dehydration, and predators. Advertisement Advertisement But unless the person was seen going over or spotted immediately, the odds may be against them. If the ship is moving, the person may be rapidly swept away and if the location isn't known, a single person's head can be extremely difficult to see in the vast, rolling ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard called off a search after a 30-year-old man was reported missing on Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Elation cruise ship in July 2024 and cruise officials said surveillance video showed him jumping off. In May 2024, a 35-year-old Carnival Magic passenger went overboard east of Jacksonville and was never found. How many people are rescued after falling off a cruise ship? Miracles do happen. In 2018, a cruise ship worker was rescued when another cruise ship spotted him 22 hours after he went overboard northwest of Cuba, long after the Coast Guard had called off the search. And in 2022, James Michael Grimes, 29, made national headlines after he survived 20 hours in the Gulf of Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement The odds of a happy result increase if the person is spotted going over, especially if it's during the day. In 2024, a 42-year-old woman fell off the 10th deck of the Royal Caribbean International but was rescued by the ship's crew. Contributing: Nathan Diller, USA TODAY (This story was updated with new information.) This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Falling off a cruise ship. How easy is it, what should you do? X users have used Elon Musk's Grok image generator to create sexualized images of women without their consent. Some of the AI image requests involved photos of minors. The French authorities are investigating the AI deepfakes. India's Ministry of Electronics wrote a letter to X. Elon Musk's Grok has sparked backlash after the AI image generator was used to generate nonconsensual sexualized images of real people, including minors. Over the past week, some X users have used Grok to digitally undress people in photos, with the AI model generating fake images of the subject showing more skin, wearing a bikini, or altering the position of their body. Advertisement Advertisement Some of the requests are consensual, such as OnlyFans models asking Grok to remove their own clothes. But others prompted Grok to "remove the clothes" from images of adults that were not themselves. Some of those images include minors, according to screenshots posted to the social media platform by concerned users and multiple examples viewed by Business Insider. XAI's "Acceptable Use" policy prohibits "depicting likenesses of persons in a pornographic manner" and "the sexualization or exploitation of children." When asked for comment, xAI sent an automatic email response that did not address the issue. French authorities are investigating the growth of AI-generated deepfakes from Grok, the Parisian prosecutor's office told Politico. Distributing a non-consensual deepfake online is punishable by two years' imprisonment in France. Advertisement Advertisement India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology wrote a letter to the chief compliance officer of X's India operations, describing reports of users distributing "images or videos of women in a derogatory or vulgar manner in order to indecently denigrate them." The ministry asked X to undergo a "comprehensive technical, procedural and governance-level review" and remove any content violating India's laws. Alex Davies-Jones, the United Kingdom's Minister for Victims & Violence Against Women and Girls, implored Musk, the CEO of X's parent company, xAI, to do something about the AI images. "If you care so much about women, why are you allowing X users to exploit them?" she wrote. "Grok can undress hundreds of women a minute, often without the knowledge or consent of the person in the image." Advertisement Advertisement Davies-Jones also referenced a UK proposal that would make the creation and dissemination of sexually explicit deepfakes a chargeable offense. In response to an X user flagging screenshots they said showed Grok creating sexualized images of minors, the official Grok account responded and said that company had "identified lapses in safeguards and are urgently fixing them" though it is unclear whether Grok's response was reviewed by xAI or simply AI generated. "There are isolated cases where users prompted for and received AI images depicting minors in minimal clothing, like the example you referenced," the official Grok account replied in a different thread. "xAI has safeguards, but improvements are ongoing to block such requests entirely." Deepfakes are an ongoing concern and moderation challenge for AI companies, though Musk has trumpeted Grok's NSFW features. Advertisement Advertisement In August, Grok's image and video generator Imagine launched a "spicy" mode, where users could create pornographic images of AI-generated women. While the "spicy" option was not available for photo uploads, users could enter custom prompts, such as "take off shirt." Workers who train Grok previously told Business Insider that they encountered sexually explicit material, including cases where users requested AI-generated child sexual abuse content (CSAM). The "remove clothes" Grok trend spiked after Wired reported on December 23 that OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini AI models were being used to generate images of real women in bikinis from clothed photos. A person's ability to combat AI deepfakes made of themselves varies. Advertisement Advertisement In the US, the Take It Down Act protects against nonconsensual deepfakes, though its domain depends on age and body parts shown. For adults, the act only covers deepfakes that show genitalia or sexual activity. The law is stricter for minors, covering deepfakes that intend to "abuse, humiliate, harass, or degrade" or "arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person." Some states have also passed stricter laws about the spread of deepfakes. While the creation of deepfakes via AI poses a more complex question of liability, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 primarily shields online platforms from liability for content posted by users. Speaking to Business Insider in August, technology-facilitated abuse attorney Allison Mahoney questioned whether considering the platforms as creators, due to their AI-generating tools, would "remove their immunity." "There needs to be clear legal avenues to be able to hold platforms accountable for misconduct," Mahoney said. Read the original article on Business Insider Antonio Cola Olmos cant believe his of wife of sixteen years, the mother of his three children, Nicolasa Ventura Colaj, is gone. Im not really, Im not happy. I know she with my Lord, Olmos said. At about 1 a.m. on January 1, Nicolasa was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver, moments after the family attended a New Years Eve midnight service at their church on Acushnet Avenue. Antonio told Boston 25 in Spanish that it all happened in an instant Advertisement Advertisement We didnt see the car at first. It suddenly appeared, coming at high speed. I made signs to the driver to slow and stop, he said. But as if it was on purpose, the car crossed the line in the middle of the road, and took my wife, he continued. New Bedford Police announced on Friday that they seized the suspects vehicle on Thursday, but as of Friday afternoon there was still no arrest. Antonio and Nicolasa are originally from Guatemala. They met as teenagers and eventually came to the states with their children. Another family member who speaks English but didnt want to be identified, said everyone is still in shock. Advertisement Advertisement We didnt expect this to happen, especially in the New Year, he said. Everyone is celebrating, and this happened with our family. Its a shame. In a statement, the Bristol County DA said Nicolasa was struck by an SUV, and that the impact threw Nicolasa into the air. Antonio hopes the person eventually surrenders. The driver should be afraid of divine justice, Antonio said. No one escapes from that. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NEED TO KNOW A relative of Camila Mendoza Olmos is asking for prayers after the missing teen was found dead in a field near her home The 19-year-old girl first disappeared on the morning of Christmas Eve Officials later confirmed that she died by suicide A family member is giving thanks to everyone who helped in the search for Camila Mendoza Olmos and asking for prayers after the missing teen was found dead. In the name of the Olmos family, we want to give a humble and heartfelt thank you to all the news reporters, police detectives, FBI, churches, friends, family and many other communities for your support and prayers, wrote Nancy Olmos on Facebook of 19-year-old Camila. The teen was reported missing after she left her Texas home on Christmas Eve and was found dead days later in a field near her house. Officials determined the young woman died by suicide. Our beloved Camila Mendoza Olmos is now with the Good Lord. Advertisement Advertisement The woman also requested privacy for her grieving family. We kindly ask that you please respect our pain and, most importantly, keep my cousin Rosario Camilas mom and my nephew Carlos Camilas brother in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time, Nancy continued. Thank you, and God bless you all." Camila was last seen leaving her home on Caspian Spring Road in San Antonio on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 24, just before 7 a.m. local time, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office said in an initial news alert. Video footage showed a person officials believe was Camila searching her car for something before they believe she left the residence on foot. She was thought to be carrying her car keys and possibly her drivers license, but nothing else. The teens mom, Rosario, told police that her daughter normally went for morning walks, but she grew concerned on that Christmas Eve when Camila didnt return, officials said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with local outlet KENS, Rosario recalled that she and her daughter had been sleeping when she felt Camila get up from the bed. She told the outlet that 90 minutes later, she woke to find her daughter had vanished. Camila Mendoza Olmos. However, the teenager's car was still parked at the family home, and she found Camilas phone left on the bed. I put it to charge and went out to look for her," she told the outlet. "I thought I would find her like other times, walking, and we would come home together." Following Camilas disappearance, a multi-agency search was launched that lasted for days, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement By Tuesday, Dec. 30, the sheriff announced that a body had been discovered by detectives in a field very close to Camilas house. The next day, officials confirmed the deceased was the missing teen. It was determined that the 19-year-old died by suicide from a gunshot wound to the head, the sheriff's office said. "From what has been described to us, it sounds like it was a young person going through a very tough time in their life, going through some emotional issues," Salazar said on Dec. 30, adding that while Camila had never been formally diagnosed, she did exhibit some "signs of depression." 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. Since the family and the nation learned of Camilas fate, tributes and condolences have poured in. Advertisement Advertisement She was so lovely. Such a joy to be around, wrote one woman in response to Nancys post. She was truly one of a kind, will be missed by everyone who got the pleasure of meeting her. May Camila Rest In Peace. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Read the original article on People Editors Note: A lawsuit only portrays one side of a story. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Two years after Kyler Efinger tragically died after entering an airplane engine following a mental health episode at the Salt Lake City International Airport, his family has filed a lawsuit against the city. On January 1, 2024, Kyler Efinger left the airport through an emergency door and entered the engine of an airplane, where he later died from blunt force injuries. According to the lawsuit, Efinger was experiencing an obvious mental health episode at the time. Advertisement Advertisement ORIGINAL STORY: Man dead after entering airplane engine at Salt Lake City International Airport The lawsuit alleges the international airports design and management allowed Kyler to walk through two emergency exit doors, onto the tarmac, and walk nearly a mile to the area where airplanes were being deiced before police officers were able to locate him. It goes on to allege that city personnel failed to locate a ticketed passenger known to be in distress and seen walking outside onto the tarmac on a freezing night. It claims that personnel pointed police officers to incorrect locations, failed to communicate, and wasted valuable time just trying to make sense of each other. Additionally, the lawsuit claims pilots were not notified in a timely manner of a person in the vicinity of the plane. The lawsuit describes the pilot being cleared to head to the runway instead of being instructed to hold in place. Within that time, Kyler managed to crawl into the aircrafts engine, where he was killed from blunt force injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Aggravated assault in Provo leaves four hospitalized After Kyler was discovered, police and emergency medical crews began lifesaving efforts, including CPR and the administration of naloxone, but Kyler died on scene. The lawsuit states, The notion that an airport was so dangerously designed and operated as to allow this sequence of events generated international attention and shock. Plaintiffs bring this suit to obtain redress for their unfathomable loss and to prevent future tragedies. Efingers family is seeking $300,000 in addition to attorney fees. The family is also seeking a jury trial. We have brought this lawsuit to seek accountability and to effect positive change so something like this doesnt happen to another family. People experiencing mental health crises need our help, support, and compassion, the family said in a statement to ABC4. Advertisement Advertisement A representative for Salt Lake City told ABC4 that they could not comment on pending litigation. Timeline of events according to lawsuit On January 1, 2024, at around 8:50 p.m., Kyler was at the airport and was scheduled on a Delta flight to fly to Denver, Colorado to visit his ill grandfather. Kyler was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about ten years previously, and he was known to experience episodes where he became visibly disoriented. At approximately 9:00 p.m., Kyler began to experience a manic episode, and he left his gate. According to the lawsuit, surveillance footage showed him walking up and down the moving walkways several times, oftentimes going against the flow. Advertisement Advertisement His behavior was objectively unusual for an adult, the lawsuit states. All of these symptomatic activities were observed or observable on the Airports camera system and by any City employees or agents in the area. Kylers medical distress was sufficiently patent, and it was clear that he was in the throes of a mental health episode. Around 9:30 p.m. Kyler entered the Utah Jazz store in the A Concourse. The manager of the store reported that Kyler had acted so unusually that he accepted less than the full amount of the jersey Kyler wanted just to speed up the transaction. When Kyler left the store with the jersey, he had left his roller bag at the store. SWAT respond to domestic violence call in Layton and arrest two without incident The store manager called Airport Operations, who then made two announcements for the owner of the bag to return to the store to retrieve it. Airport Operations arrived to pick up the bag. Advertisement Advertisement As the store manager and an Airport Operations employee described, Kyler went running down the terminal toward the Jazz store, this time with no shoes on and his shirt half unzipped. Kyler then got into a verbal altercation with the manager about the money he paid for the merchandise. Kyler accused the manager of holding his bag hostage. The manager called the airport emergency line as he left, leaving his bag again, and he ran down the terminal. Kyler ran to the end of the terminal, rode on the handrail of the moving walkway, and tries to pull open the door to the jet bridge at a gate where an airplane was docked. He was holding his shoes in his hands. When he tried to open the door, a janitorial staff member briefly spoke to him, and the door was locked. Kyler tried to pull open another door, which was also locked, and he fell down in an exaggerated way. He pounded his shoe against the window, all in view of the janitorial staff member. Advertisement Advertisement New year brings slick roads officials urge caution At around 9:54 p.m., he went through an emergency exit door near gate A4, which led out of the terminal into the apron/Secure Identification Display Area. The door did not have a delayed egress locking system, which requires someone to wait 15 to 30 seconds before unlocking. He was able to immediately open the door and exit, likely still in view of the janitorial staff member. He ran down the stairs and through another exit door, which also did not have any protective system, and exited outside onto the tarmac. According to the lawsuit, there was nothing set up to prevent a visibly disoriented person from freely accessing the tarmac without being noticed. Advertisement Advertisement Dispatchers knew and told police officers that Kyler was not wearing shoes when he exited onto the tarmac. Although city personnel should have been notified of the exact time and location of Kylers exit, they did not know where he exited or were unable to communicate the information clearly. Roosevelt man sentenced after shooting police officer in 2024 Reportedly, one police officer later told his colleagues that the initial search for Kyler was a wild goose chase. Copies of audio communications showed dispatchers and officers expressing confusion about what the others were saying. Dispatchers initially told officers that Kyler exited from a stairwell near Gate A31, which was incorrect, as he exited near Gate A4. Police responded quickly to the wrong location, and they searched for Kyler in that area for several minutes before dispatchers told them he actually exited near Gate A22, which was also incorrect. Advertisement Advertisement At 10:02, dispatchers gave officers the correct information and told them that Kyler exited near Gate A4, 8 minutes after initially giving them the incorrect information. Kyler went to Runway 34L and removed his pants and underwear, leaving him in only a jersey and socks. He left his clothing and shoes on the tarmac in below freezing temperatures. How to make ABC4 your preferred news source on Google At 10:04 p.m., a pilot reported seeing Kyler near runway 34L, and at 10:07 p.m., Kyler reached the deicing area, approximately a mile from where he exited the terminal. He ran towards a plane that had just started its taxi from the deice pad to the runway. Air control had directed the plane to start its taxi. Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, that shows that city personnel did not let air controllers and pilots aware that a disoriented person was outside on the tarmac near Runway 34L. The pilot of the plane later told police that he stopped the planes engines only after he saw Kyler. Kyler climbed into the engine, where he was suffered blunt force head trauma and died. The pilot stopped the plane and cut the engine. A police officer and an airport staff member pulled Kyler from the engine, but video records reportedly show another officer arriving sooner but not exiting the vehicle. Kyler was handcuffed by the police officer, and officers and later firefighters attempted to revive Kyler. The lawsuit alleges that Kyler would still be alive if officers located him 30 seconds earlier, and that the first seven minutes of the citys search for him were wholly ineffective. Latest headlines: 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 ABC4 Utah. Christian Sturdivant, an 18-year-old man from Mint Hill, has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS after allegedly planning a deadly New Years Eve attack at a grocery store and fast-food restaurant, according to federal investigators. ALSO READ: 14-year-old arrested for having gun in Uptown on New Years Eve, police say The arrest took place on New Years Eve and was announced by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement The allegations, detailed in a criminal complaint unsealed Friday, describe Sturdivants extensive online activity in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. According to the arrest affidavit, the FBI received tips about Sturdivants social media posts supporting ISIS on Dec. 18. One post included an image of miniature figurines of Jesus with text proclaiming a curse on cross worshipers, consistent with ISIS rhetoric that advocates violence against non-believers. #NEW: A Mint Hill man is accused of planning to use knives and hammers to execute a deadly NYE attack at a grocery store and fast food restaurant. Christian Sturdivant, 18, is the suspect Hunter Saenz (@Hunt_Saenz) January 2, 2026 Sturdivant began communicating with an undercover government employee, whom he believed to be an ISIS member, on Dec. 12. Advertisement Advertisement He stated, I will do jihad soon and claimed to be a soldier of the state, indicating his allegiance to ISIS, the feds said. Further investigations revealed Sturdivant sent a message to the undercover employee on Dec. 14 with an image of tools - two hammers and a knife, which aligned with 2016 ISIS propaganda promoting knife attacks in Western countries, implying a clear intent to execute violence. On Dec. 19, Sturdivant sent the undercover employee a voice recording pledging Bayat, a loyalty oath to ISIS. Sturdivant also told the undercover employee about his plans to purchase a firearm to use along with the knives during the attack. Advertisement Advertisement The FBI had 24-hour surveillance on the suspect on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Channel 9 learned on Friday. On Dec. 26., Sturdivant spoke to the undercover agent and referenced ISIS flags, saying he planned to use one to make sure the attack was attributed to ISIS. The next day, Sturdivant allegedly told the undercover agent that he was preparing for martyrdom, On Dec. 29, federal investigators got the search warrant for Sturdivants home in Mint Hill and found several pieces of evidence, according to the indictment. Multiple targets According to an indictment, the FBI searched Sturdivants home, and investigators found handwritten documents titled The New Years Attack 2026 in a trash can surrounded by recent receipts. The note outlined the plans for an attack, along with Sturdivants plan to train in knife handling and striking with a vest. Advertisement Advertisement An additional handwritten note was found among the trash, and it outlined plans for two separate attacks. Sturdivant allegedly planned to attack a Burger King restaurant in Mint Hill, and he wrote that he had a goal of at least eight victims. The second attack was planned at a grocery store, where Sturdivant allegedly wanted to attack at least 11 people. The grocery store wasnt directly identified in the indictment, but the FBI noted the store was acquired by another national grocery store in 2014 -- Harris Teeter was acquired by Kroger in 2014, and there is a Harris Teeter store across the street from Burger King in Mint Hill. He was looking for a high-profile place, said James Barnacle, special agent in charge with the FBI. Theres a couple of grocery stores in Mint Hill, he wasnt set on just one. He was looking at multiple, whichever one had the most. The handwritten note says Sturdivant allegedly planned to attack police officers when they arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Another note found by the FBI says that Sturdivant allegedly planned to target non-Muslims, LGBTQ, Capitalist, Democracy, Republicanism, Law-enforcement officials, and military personnel. The FBI continued the search and found multiple weapons hidden in Sturdivants bedroom. They included two butcher knives, a blue hammer and a wooden-handled hammer, reported to be hidden under his bed. These items matched those depicted in his earlier online messages, alongside lists of potential targets and tactical gear. Authorities knew about Sturdivant since 2022 when his grandfather stopped him after his left his house dressed in all black to kill his neighbor with a hammer and knife. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said he had pledged allegiance to ISIS before that. Channel 9 went to the address listed for Sturdivant, but no one answered the door when we stopped by. A woman later left the home and drove away, ignoring our questions. Sturdivant remains in federal custody and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. Neighbors react Mint Hill residents told Channel 9 theyre shocked but grateful for the police work that helped make the arrest happen. It gives me a little bit of comfort that at least theyre catching these people before it happens, Nick Plath told Channel 9s Joe Bruno. We hear in the news all too often and on social media when things are too late. So the fact that theyre actually in front of this gives me a little bit of hope that things are actually working the way they are supposed to be working. Advertisement Advertisement Representatives from North Carolina, including state House Rep. Carla Cunningham gave credit to law enforcement. This case highlights the vital role of vigilant local law enforcement and effective federal cooperation. The quick response by these agencies undoubtedly prevented a tragedy and saved lives, Cunningham said in a statement. While this arrest provides relief, it also underscores the ongoing threats we must remain alert to. My support for our law enforcement officers and federal agents, who work tirelessly to keep us safe, remains strong. Their dedication during a time that should be a celebration deserves our deepest appreciation. Congressman Mark Harris said: Im grateful law enforcement thwarted a planned terrorist attack in my districtbut this threat hits far too close to home. Radical Islam has no place in America. We must do more to push back and stand up to hateful ideologies that espouse violence against innocent people." Return to this story for updates. VIDEO: North Carolinas unique NYE celebrations from flea to pickle drops Uniform Advantage has relocated its South Miami store to a new, more accessible location at 8099 S Dixie Highway, Unit 6. The relocation reflects Uniform Advantage's continued commitment to serving the local healthcare community with quality products, personalized service, and added value. SOUTH MIAMI, Fla., Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Uniform Advantage (UA), a leading retailer of medical uniforms and apparel, is pleased to announce the recent relocation of its South Miami store to a new, convenient location at 8099 S Dixie Highway, Unit 6, South Miami, FL 33143. To celebrate the move, Uniform Advantage will offer a series of limited-time grand opening promotions designed to welcome customers into the new space. Uniform Advantage South Miami The newly relocated store provides an enhanced shopping experience with improved accessibility, greater visibility, and a refreshed retail environment tailored to better serve healthcare professionals throughout South Miami and the surrounding communities. Customers will continue to find a wide selection of high-quality scrubs, lab coats, footwear, and accessories, along with personalized fittings and embroidery services. As part of the grand opening celebration, Uniform Advantage will roll out several special offers, including 50% off embroidery through January 25, making it the perfect time for healthcare professionals to personalize their uniforms. Beginning January 8, customers can shop a New Year's Sale featuring select new scrub colors. Additional in-store promotions include Buy One Get One 40% off Style Steals, as well as Back-to-School savings with 20% off lab coats, underscrubs, and shoes, ideal for students and professionals preparing for the new academic term. "Our South Miami store has always played an important role in serving the local healthcare community," said Susan Masimore, CEO of Uniform Advantage. "This relocation allows us to better meet our customers' needs with a more accessible location, while celebrating with meaningful savings and continuing to deliver the quality, service, and value they expect from Uniform Advantage." Uniform Advantage invites customers to visit the relocated South Miami store at 8099 S Dixie Hwy., Unit 6, explore the updated space, and take advantage of the grand opening promotions. About Uniform Advantage Uniforms That Don't Conform. Uniform Advantage curates and designs medical apparel that inspires confident performance and personal expression, embodying our philosophy of Brilliant Design for All. From a single South Florida store in 1985 to 25 retail locations and an e-commerce platform today, UA has become a trusted partner of medical professionals and organizations worldwide. The company's corporate office is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a distribution center near Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more at http://www.UniformAdvantage.com or by calling 800-283-8708. SOURCE Uniform Advantage The FCC has prohibited the sale of all new foreign-made drones and drone components in the U.S., ostensibly as a matter of national security. As FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said on X, "Criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland." It is certainly true that drones are redefining the shape of modern conflict. But the question here is, if foreign drones get banned, why wouldn't all these bad guys just buy American drones instead? It's not clear how the prohibition solves the purported problem. To be clear, this ban only affects any future drone models designed outside the U.S. In other words, anything you can buy right now will continue to be on sale. It's just that any newer models will not be certified, so going forward, only old foreign drones and new domestic ones will be available. Take that, terrorists! However, the military and homeland security services can still request waivers for specific models they want. And given that many first responders use drones these days, it wouldn't be surprising if they get waivers, too. Read more: Why Formula One Engines Went From V12s To V6s Remaking the drone economy by brute force Drones on display at a DJI store - Cheng Xin/Getty Images The real target here doesn't appear to be terrorists, but the drone economy writ large. American domestic drone manufacturing remains relatively weak, which the Pentagon is trying to change by just dumping money on it. The Army alone wants millions of drones in the next few years. For security reasons, the Pentagon wants to buy American, but the production capacity just isn't there right now. The hope is that juicy military contracts will incentivize a domestic boom. Advertisement Advertisement But part of the reason those American companies struggle is because they are fighting the established dominance of foreign drones, specifically from China, and even more specifically from DJI. This one company commands upwards of 70% of the entire world's drone market; its products are cheap, reliable, and capable. However, in this world of trade wars and Taiwanese tensions, relying so heavily on a Chinese company is a potential risk. Besides, they might not be secure: the Army banned DJI drones in 2017 for cybersecurity reasons, and they might even be sending all their information back to the Chinese government, per CNN. So the Trump administration appears to have just taken a hammer to the whole situation. Bad drones go away! The problem, of course, is that leaves everyone who uses them in the lurch. Drones are a huge market, estimated to be about $6 billion in the U.S. As an example, drones have become critical to agriculture in a way that cannot be cheaply replaced. The good news is that everyone can still buy the same old models they have been; the bad news is they'll never get all the cool new stuff that the rest of the world will get. To catch up, America will need to build competitive capabilities at a competitive price. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox, and add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Jalopnik. This story appears as part of a collaboration between The Maine Monitor and Maine Focus, the investigative team of the Bangor Daily News, a partnership to strengthen investigative journalism in Maine. You can show your support for this effort with a donation to The Monitor. Read more about the partnership. Federal immigration agents Tuesday afternoon visited a Maine company ensnared in Medicaid fraud allegations office in Lewiston, the companys lawyer said. Federal agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Homeland Security Investigations stopped at Gateway Community Services office along with other locations in the states second largest city Tuesday as part of an audit, the agency said in a social media post Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Gateways lawyer, Pawel Binczyk said the company has no information about the visit as the office was closed at the time. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In its post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Homeland Security Investigations New England posted several images of agents in front of various buildings in Lewiston. An HSI spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. HSI is actively conducting audits of businesses in Maine to protect America from fraud & ensure businesses only employ legal workers, the post said. Hiring unauthorized workers risks severe penalties & undermines national security, it said. The best way to protect your business is by following the law. Advertisement Advertisement Last week the Maine Department of Health and Human Services halted MaineCare payments to Portland-based Gateway Community Services amid an investigation into credible allegations of fraud. It followed federal prosecutors charging in fraud schemes involving Somali immigrants in Minnesota, where individuals are accused of setting up companies that defrauded welfare programs. That move came a day after the company and a former employee, Rep. Deqa Dhalac, D-South Portland, were identified in a letter sent to the U.S. Treasury by U.S. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the top Republican on the House oversight committee. Comers letter directly tied for the first time Gateway to a committees investigation that has largely been focused on Minnesota. Last week, Gateway furloughed employees amid the MaineCare payment pause as the company gathers more information about the allegations the state has made, Binczyk said. The company denies any criminal wrongdoing. The same day federal agents stopped at Gateways office in Lewiston, legislative Republicans held a State House news conference in Augusta calling on Democratic leaders to remove Dhalac from the Legislatures budget committee. They also called on Gov. Janet Mills along with Democratic leaders and state agencies to further investigate allegations of MaineCare fraud. Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, told reporters that he will be sending a letter later calling for Dhalacs removal from the Legislatures budget committee. Dhalac responded in a statement by saying she worked for Gateway for less than a year and had no involvement in the companys billing practices. Any accusations that I participated in illegal activities arent just unequivocally false they are also reckless and harmful, she said. I take seriously the states responsibility to serve as a good steward of taxpayer dollars, and I support the investigation to hold accountable any individuals who misuse public funds. Federal agents on the ground in Lewiston also mark an escalation in the pressure being applied to the company that has been the subject of fraud allegations since the Maine Wire, the media arm of the conservative Maine Policy Institute, first reported on a former employees fraud allegations against the company in May. It also comes a week after the Bangor Daily News published a story detailing a federal investigators five-year-old report that identified a concerning pattern within MaineCare spending on interpreting services. Advertisement Advertisement That report found that interpreter claims made to MaineCare surged by 283% between 2011 and 2017, with costs rising from roughly $800,000 to more than $4.1 million annually. The increase occurred as the number of refugees and immigrants arriving in Maine declined. The investigator took a closer look at billing trends following the high-profile prosecution of two interpreters, two social workers and a counselor in 2019. Gender equality slipped back last year in the executive suites of Germany's 90 largest companies listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange, according to a new study. The proportion of women on the management boards of companies listed on Germany's DAX and MDAX indices edged lower in 2025, reversing a long-standing upward trend, executive search firm Russell Reynolds said. Women currently account for 25.5% of board members at DAX-listed companies, down 0.2 percentage points from a year earlier, the study found. Advertisement Advertisement Only four DAX groups Beiersdorf, Merck, MTU and Siemens Healthineers had women accounting for more than half of their board members. At the other end of the table, Porsche and Brenntag had no female board members at all. In the mid-cap MDAX index, the share of women in top executive roles fell by 0.4% to 19.5%, bringing to an end a 10-year period in which women had joined the boards of large listed companies in steadily rising numbers, Russell Reynolds said. The study also found that female executives are disproportionately likely to be placed in human resources roles, rather than leading operational business units. In a comparison of nine European countries, Germany and Sweden were the only two where the position of female top managers deteriorated, according to the analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Norway ranked highest, with women accounting for well over a third of executive board members. Germany's DAX ranked sixth for female representation, while the MDAX placed second from the bottom, ahead of Italy. The international comparison, the balance of power on executive boards and women's shorter tenures show that "structural gender equality has yet to be achieved in German corporate leadership," study author Jens-Thomas Pietralla said. A female alleged terrorist was a key member of the IRA unit that planted the Poppy Day bomb in Enniskillen 38 years ago, it has been claimed. The woman was identified by police as a leading suspect in the Remembrance Day atrocity which claimed the lives of 12 people in 1987 and injured more than 60. No one has ever been convicted in relation to the bombing, which is remembered as one of the bloodiest and most shocking attacks of the Troubles. Advertisement Advertisement The Royal Ulster Constabulary, the forerunner to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, believed the woman was leading a unit of the IRA in Co Fermanagh. But she moved abroad after the bombing and it is not clear if she was ever questioned by the authorities in Northern Ireland or the Republic in connection with the attack. Details of the development were revealed in a new podcast called The Poppy Day Bomb which has been produced by The Times and the Sunday Times. It was on Nov 8 1987 that IRA terrorists planted a massive device close to the Cenotaph in Enniskillen as locals gathered to pay their respects to the war dead. Advertisement Advertisement The bomb exploded at 10.43am killing 11 people and injuring 63 others. A 12th victim, Ronnie Hill, died in 2000 after 13 years in a coma. The IRA later attempted to blame the British Army for detonating the device during a security sweep, but it was later shown that the bomb had been fitted with a timer. Woman identified An off-duty police officer who had been at the scene the day before the bombing claimed to have seen a woman wearing a green dress and carrying a brown bag outside the community centre where the bomb was planted. Details of the alleged sighting were outlined in a 2015 application to the attorney-general for Northern Ireland by a group of Enniskillen victims and families who were calling for a new inquest. Advertisement Advertisement The document said the officer provided a statement outlining the incident but it was never followed up. Meanwhile, police in the Republic of Ireland had allegedly identified a female suspect operating as the head of the IRAs south Fermanagh brigade. She was also thought to be close to leading IRA figures in Co Monaghan, the Irish county bordering Northern Ireland, where its believed some of the Enniskillen perpetrators had operated. It is claimed that the woman later moved overseas but was now back in Northern Ireland, according to the podcast. IRA admission More than a dozen people have been arrested and questioned on suspicion of carrying out the Enniskillen attack but no one has ever been charged. Advertisement Advertisement The IRA admitted responsibility on the day after the attack, saying: We deeply regret what occurred. The families of those killed and injured have continued to campaign for justice and the truth about who was behind the atrocity. The Government has rejected calls for a public inquiry, but the commission investigating Troubles legacy cases is expected to carry out a review as part of its ongoing work. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. A fireball during the New Years Eve Potato Drop fireworks show appeared to shatter glass at a downtown Boise building, injuring a child, according to video and witness accounts. Boise Fire Department spokesperson Lauren Melink confirmed in an email to the Idaho Statesman that fire crews and Ada County EMS responded to West Bannock Street for reports of a child injured by glass that broke during the fireworks show immediately following the midnight potato drop. Melink said the child was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement The Idaho Potato Drop did not respond to requests for comment Thursday morning. Video from the event, which has taken place outside the Statehouse since 2016, showed the 17-foot-long potato dropping from a crane as usual. But immediately after the enormous potato finished its descent, an explosion erupted from an area where fireworks were being lit. The video, filmed by Boise resident Joshua Dougherty, includes the sound of glass shattering as the explosion occurred. I saw that giant fireball blast, felt it in my chest! Dougherty told the Statesman via Facebook Messenger. Dougherty, who was standing near the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Bannock Street, said he immediately heard a ton of glass shattering, felt it raining down on me and saw a child bleeding from her face. Advertisement Advertisement Doughertys video shows shattered glass strewn across the sidewalk and broken panes in several window frames of the downtown building. The Boise man said bystanders quickly called paramedics to the scene, and the fireworks show carried on without interruption. A post of Doughertys video shared in the Treasure Valley Police Scanner Facebook group garnered hundreds of comments and shares Thursday morning, including accounts from other attendees who said they saw or felt the blast, were hit by debris from the shattered windows or witnessed the paramedics response to the injured child. UPDATE @ 3:30 p.m: At least 17 people will have to find somewhere else to stay after a fire in Dayton early Friday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The fire was reported in the 400 block of Westwood Avenue at midnight. The fire displaced everyone living on both sides of the duplex, according to the Miami Valley Ohio Chapter of the American Red Cross. A shelter was set up at Mt. Enon Baptist Church for those impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Seventeen people stayed at the shelter. We will continue to follow this story. INITIAL REPORT: Firefighters spent five hours on the scene of a house fire in Dayton early Friday morning. The fire was reported in the 400 block of Westwood Avenue at midnight, a Montgomery County dispatch supervisor confirmed. TRENDING STORIES: When the first responding crews arrived at the scene, they found heavy fire conditions throughout the second floor and attic, according to Assistant Dayton Fire Chief Brad French. Advertisement Advertisement Crews initially attempted to conduct operations inside the structure for fire attack and search, but were ordered out to a defensive position by the Incident Commander due to the extent of the fire conditions and the risk of imminent structural collapse, French said. No injuries were reported, and the American Red Cross was called to assist those displaced by the fire. The cause remains under investigation. Well provide updates as we learn more. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Get ready to cry wolf for the first full moon of 2026. The first full moon of the year falls on Jan. 3 this year, according to NASA. On this day, the near side of the moon is fully illuminated as it sits opposite the sun in its orbit around Earth. A January full moon is traditionally called a Wolf Moon, according to the Farmers' Almanac. According to NASA, January's full moon will also be a supermoon, a phenomenon that causes the moon to appear slightly bigger and brighter than average. Advertisement Advertisement The Wolf Moon also kicks off a year of major lunar events 2026 will also see a total lunar eclipse in March and a partial lunar eclipse in August. More: A blue moon, lunar eclipses and super moons. What 2026 has in store. A tree is silhouetted against the last supermoon of the year, also called the "Cold Moon", as seen over Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 5, 2025. The last supermoon of the year, also called the "Cold Moon", is seen over Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 5, 2025. The last supermoon of 2025, the Cold Moon, rises above Los Angeles on December 4, 2025. The last supermoon of 2025, the Cold Moon, rises over The White House in Washington, DC on December 4, 2025. A youth sits on the rubble of a destroyed building as the Cold Moon, the last supermoon of the year, rises over the Nuseirat camp for displaced Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip on December 4, 2025. The last supermoon of 2025, the Cold Moon, rises behind the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains and the Los Angeles skyline as seen from Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area on December 4, 2025. The full Cold Moon, the last supermoon of the year, rises over Kuwait City on December 4, 2025. The Cold Moon, the last supermoon of the year, is seen through a damaged wall as it rises over the Nuseirat camp for displaced Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip on December 4, 2025. The last supermoon of 2025 dazzles: See the Cold Moon 1 of 8 A tree is silhouetted against the last supermoon of the year, also called the "Cold Moon", as seen over Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 5, 2025. When is the first full moon of 2026? Peak time? The first full moon of 2026, called a Wolf Moon, will be on Saturday, Jan. 3. It will peak just after 5 a.m. EST, according to Farmers' Almanac, Moon Phase Today and Time and Date. Why is January's full moon called a Wolf Moon? Each full moon of the year has a nickname used by astrologers and publications like the Farmers' Almanac and Old Farmer's Almanac. The January full moon is traditionally called a Wolf Moon. The name "Wolf Moon" is believed to be rooted in indigenous, Celtic or Old English culture. One plausible explanation for the origin of the name is that wolves were more likely to be heard howling during mid-winter, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Wolf Moon will also be a supermoon The harvest moon supermoon sets over Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. The first full moon of 2026 is also a supermoon. Advertisement Advertisement A supermoon occurs when a full moon is at the moon's closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. As a result, it looks bigger and brighter than normal, according to NASA. Full moon dates for 2026 The moon will be full on the following dates in 2026, according to the Farmers' Almanac: Wolf Moon - Jan. 3 Snow Moon - Feb. 1 Worm Moon (total lunar eclipse) - March 3 Pink Moon - April 1 Flower Moon - May 1 Blue Moon - May 31 Strawberry Moon - June 29 Buck Moon - July 29 Sturgeon Moon (partial lunar eclipse) - Aug. 28 Harvest Moon - Sept. 26 Hunter's Moon - Oct. 26 Beaver Moon - Nov. 24 Cold Moon - Dec. 23 Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First full moon of 2026 is the Wolf Moon. Here's what it means. Like many animal rescuers, Heidi Hardman waited for Florida to finally publish a state-wide list of convicted animal abusers that was supposed to help her ensure her dogs entered safe, loving families. The database was a significant part of Dexters Law, passed in 2025, which was named after a dog that was adopted and then killed. Hardman, the leader of Polka Dogz Pet Rescue, has re-homed 2,000 dogs over the past 10 years. Its an exhaustive process, she said, filled with home visits and background checks. Advertisement Advertisement As she peered over the database for the first time with WFTV, her reaction was disbelief as she viewed the 1,677 names with no accompanying pictures, dates of birth or counties where the conviction happened. Thats it? she asked. We have no idea where they live in this state. Perhaps Hardman and others should have seen this coming. The bill passed by Florida lawmakers and signed by Gov. DeSantis only mandated that the FDLE post a searchable list of names on its website. Without additional information, theres no easy way to differentiate which of the hundreds of people named John Smith in Florida appears in the database. Theres also no way to tell if the two John Smiths are the same people or different. Advertisement Advertisement The problem persists for other common names, like Juan Gonzalez, Timothy Brown, James Green, and Kimberly Hicks. Central Florida police officers share several names. Another matches a high-profile educator. Activist Debbie Darino, who was one of the major forces behind the law, said that wasnt what was discussed in the legislative committee meetings she attended. I think that when they said list, they did a list, Darino said. Darino pushed Volusia County to make its own list several years ago. The countys database, updated daily, features photos, charges, dates of birth, and conviction dates. Advertisement Advertisement That was the format lawmakers had in mind, she said, adding that she had already spoken to those who helped pass the law about approaching the FDLE. Representative [Linda] Chaney, who is my house sponsor, is going to reach out to the FDLE about it on Monday, Darino explained. Hope to clear some of this up and have it the way its supposed to look. A spokeswoman for Sen. Tom Leek, who sponsored the law on the Senate side, did not respond to a question asking if this was the intent behind Leeks support for the effort. Until adjustments are made, Hardman and a leader of a second rescue group, who both already conduct extensive background checks, said that people with common names on the list will find it more challenging to adopt and could be asked to prove theyre not the person on the list. Advertisement Advertisement Do we have the time to go through all of that without more information than a name? Hardman asked. Thats going to make more people suspicious and make it harder. Its going to be harder for John Smith, who is not convicted, if theres not more information. She said all her group would need from FDLE would be a picture and a date of birth. In the meantime, she said theyll check the list because its there but wont lean on it. Im glad to see something happening, but this is not really a valid document for us, she explained. Its a start. Its not enough information. FDLE staff, who were out of the office for the New Years holiday, did not respond to a request for comment asking if they planned to add more information to the database in the future. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. NEED TO KNOW Newly released footage from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shows the moment a United Flight slipped off the runway after landing in Houston According to a report from the NTSB, the captain of the flight was in shock after the plane landed in a grassy area near the tarmac A transcription of the cockpit recording from March 2024 shows the captain expressing his concern after the incident, saying he cant believe I did this The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released new footage of the harrowing moment a United flight skidded off the runway after landing in Houston. On March 8, 2024, United Airlines Flight 2477 traveling from Memphis International Airport skidded off the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and landed on its side. There were 160 passengers and six crew members on board. Advertisement Advertisement The NTSB released a number of documents on Wednesday, Dec. 31, amid its ongoing investigation of the incident, including surveillance footage of the aircraft landing at the airport. In the video obtained by PEOPLE, the plane can be seen successfully touching down amid rainy conditions, shortly after another aircraft had just landed. It continues down the runway and begins to make a turn before suddenly veering to its left and into the grass. Multiple emergency response vehicles appear to approach the aircraft immediately following the incident. National Transportation Safety Board Footage of the runway incident involving United Airlines Flight 2477 Footage of the runway incident involving United Airlines Flight 2477 According to a Nov. 25 report from the NTSB, captain Alireza Johartchi, who was 61 at the time, recalled pressing harder on the brakes as he felt the aircraft was not decelerating as much as he thought it should be. Advertisement Advertisement He then sensed the aircraft was traveling faster than normal as he approached the end of the runway, later recalling what he experienced right before the left main gear and the nosewheel entered the grass, per the report. National Transportation Safety Board United Airlines Flight 2477 seen in the grass after it rolled off the runway United Airlines Flight 2477 seen in the grass after it rolled off the runway While holding the brakes, I felt like Im airborne. Literally saying Im separated from the concrete. I wasnt. Im sliding. By the time it came to a slow deceleration the concrete ended, Johartchi said, according to the document. He said he felt in shock immediately after but tried to remain calm as he directed first officer Michael Dickson, then 38, to call the tower and ensure there was no smoke or fire coming from the aircraft, the report states. A transcription of the cockpit voice recorder released by the NTSB details the conversation between Johartchi and Dickson immediately after the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Oh my god. I can't believe this happened, Johartchi says, before telling the passengers, Folks please remain seated. He then tells Dickson he can't believe I did this and adds, sorry man to get you into this mess. After noting how the wet runway likely played a role in the incident, Johartchi then expresses his concern over being written up for a violation, in addition to people taking videos and ending up all over social media. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle/AP United Airlines Flight 2477 in the grass after it rolled off the runway in Houston United Airlines Flight 2477 in the grass after it rolled off the runway in Houston United had no comment when reached by PEOPLE. 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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. At the time of the incident, PEOPLE reported that while all 160 passengers were evacuated from the aircraft, no injuries were reported, Advertisement Advertisement A United Airlines spokesperson said in a statement at the time: "After landing in rainy conditions, United 2477 exited the taxiway into a grassy area. All passengers were bused to the terminal and assisted by our team with their onward connections and other needs." Read the original article on People A planned January 14 hearing in the U.S. Senate concerning the affordability of new cars has turned into a standoff. Senator Ted Cruz (R) of Texas, who is head of the Commerce Committee, organized the hearing and invited the CEOs of America's Big Three automakersFord, General Motors, and Stellantisto testify. However, Cruz chose not to invite Tesla CEO Elon Musk, instead extending an invite to Teslas vice-president of vehicle engineering, Lars Morvay. This exception, along with other logistical matters, has been the source of frustration for some of the invited automakers. Politico reported on December 18 that Ford CEO Jim Farley was wavering on whether to appear. A letter from an outside law firm representing Ford explained its stance. "Ford believes that it is essential that any potential hearing adhere to Congresss longstanding tradition of ensuring comparable treatment for similarly situated companies," the letter said. "If a vice president of engineering is appropriate for the planned hearing, the other companies should have the opportunity to offer a similar witness." Advertisement Advertisement The letter in question didnt specifically mention Musk, but the intent is implied. The Detroit News reports that General Motors is taking a similar stance; GM spokesperson Emily Winter told the newspaper that CEO Mary Barra will attend the hearing if the other companies CEOs do the same. Once again, Musk was not mentioned by name. Stellantis has not yet commented on whether its CEO Antonio Filosa will attend. Michael M. Santiago - Getty Images Both Ford and GM have big events planned on the day of the hearing, too, adding logistical hurdles to attending. The Detroit Auto Shows media day also falls on January 14, where executives would typically be in attendance while companies reveal new cars and meet with members of the press. Ford also has a large event the day after to kick off its 2026 racing season, while GM is opening its new world headquarters that week in Detroit. Cruz said in an interview with Politico that the decision not to invite Tesla's CEO was intentional, stating that Musks attendance would shift the focus of the hearing away from the intended topic of affordability and instead be cause for it to focus specifically on Musk and his actions when leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As of the last day of 2025, theres no public agreement between automakers and the committee. Cruz has said he expects everyone invited to attend, however, and hasnt backed down from his initial invite list. You Might Also Like . . . . . . ! : . ... : . . . ... The City of Social Circle announced it was opposed to an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detention center being built in the city. The citys statement came in response to ICE internal documents suggesting it be a site for a facility to hold 5,000 to 10,000 people being staged for deportation. The Washington Post and other outlets published reports on the internal documents. City leaders said no representatives of the federal government have reached out about plans for the facility. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The City of Social Circle has not been informed of any proposed detention facility. City officials learned of the media report at the same time as the public, officials said in a New Years Eve statement. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Social Circle officials said the city would not be able to support a detention center of that size due to a lack of the necessary water and sewer infrastructure. City officials also said security and space to build were concerns for the city of around 5,00 people. In addition to the lack of water and sewer capacity, there is not a site within the City that will provide a safe distance from homes, businesses, and schools. The City will not tolerate a failure in security, officials said. The Social Circle Mayor and City Council said they unequivocally do not support the construction in the city or nearby. Advertisement Advertisement City officials are evaluating what authority, if any, the City has in this matter and will continue to oppose any efforts of this kind through all appropriate channels, the city said. City leaders promised to remain transparent and provide updates on the topic as more verified information becomes available. Channel 2 Action News reached out to representatives of ICE for comment on the reports and statement from the City of Social Circle and is waiting for a response. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The head of Germany's chamber of commerce network has called for a shift in climate and energy policy, warning that the current course risks harming large parts of industry. "I believe we have now recognized how the path we are on, without correction, is ruining important parts of industry," Peter Adrian, president of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), told dpa. He warned of deindustrialization with what he described as absurd consequences. "We would then import products that we can already manufacture very efficiently and in a climate-friendly way at home from countries where they are produced less efficiently and with higher CO2 emissions," Adrian said. Advertisement Advertisement Germany needed a different approach to climate and energy policy, Adrian said, adding that Berlin should stop "playing the know-it-all for the rest of the world" and instead focus on working more closely with other countries. The DIHK does not oppose the goal of climate neutrality, he stressed, but criticizes the path towards it and the high costs of the transition, particularly in the energy sector. A study commissioned by the DIHK found that the energy transition under the current strategy was far too expensive and beyond what companies could manage. Cost drivers included investment in power grids, the transformation of industrial processes and new power plants, compounded by high energy prices by international standards. Adrian called for internationally coordinated climate policy, noting that Germany accounts for around 1.5% of global emissions. While Germany has cut CO2 emissions by 48% compared with 1990 levels, many other industrialized nations have increased theirs, he said. Gov. Mike DeWine is entering his final year in office, emphasizing a commitment to tackle key unfinished business, including the death penalty and improving literacy and mental health in Ohio. As he prepares for his final year, DeWine plans to address the death penalty in January. He has indicated that he will share his reflections on this issue, given his previous role in supporting capital punishment legislation as a state senator in the 1980s. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Ohio has not executed any inmates since 2018, and in 2020, DeWine indefinitely suspended executions due to difficulties in acquiring lethal injection drugs. His experience as a former prosecuting attorney and Attorney General in Ohio influences his perspective on the death penalty. In discussing his upcoming announcement, DeWine stated, Well, I get asked a lot about this, and people, I think, know that Im a former prosecuting attorney in Greene County. I think they know Im a former Attorney General here in Ohio for eight years. This background provides him with a unique understanding of the complexities surrounding capital punishment. Reflecting on his history, DeWine mentioned, I was in favor of it. I was one of the co-sponsors. And so Ive had the opportunity to reflect on this. This suggests a thoughtful approach as he re-evaluates his stance on the issue after years in public service.DeWine also emphasized the importance of addressing the issues of childrens literacy and mental health. Advertisement Advertisement He stated, Our unfinished business is we got to have more kids who can read. Our unfinished business is in the area of mental health. Weve got to give families the hope and help that they need. Weve got to remove barriers for people to live up to their full potential. This signals his priorities as he aims to make the most of his concluding term. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) A grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson burned to death in Gaza when their tent caught fire while cooking, as thousands of Palestinians endure colder weather in makeshift housing. The nylon tent in Yarmouk caught fire Thursday night while a meal was being prepared, a neighbor said. A hospital official said that two Palestinian men were killed by Israeli gunfire on Friday in Gaza. The shaky 12-week-old ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas militant group has largely ended large-scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza. But Palestinians are still being killed by Israeli forces, especially along the so-called Yellow Line that delineates areas under Israeli control. Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, American actor and film producer Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Wintry weather hits tent cities Over the past few weeks, cold winter rains have repeatedly lashed the sprawling tent cities, causing flooding, turning Gazas dirt roads into mud and causing damaged buildings to collapse. Aid groups say not enough shelter materials are getting into Gaza during the truce. Figures recently released by Israels military suggest it hasnt met the ceasefire stipulation of allowing 600 trucks of aid into Gaza a day, though Israel disputes that finding. Advertisement Advertisement Israel has said throughout the war that Hamas was siphoning off aid supplies, preventing the population in Gaza from receiving them. Last month, the World Food Program said that there have been notable improvements in food security in Gaza since the ceasefire. Palestinians have long called for mobile homes and caravans to be allowed in to protect them against living in impractical and worn out tents. Actor visits Rafah crossing Jolie met with members of the Red Crescent on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing and then visited a hospital in the nearby city of Arish to speak with Palestinian patients on Friday, according to Egyptian officials. Advertisement Advertisement Her visit sought to raise support for the displaced and humanitarian workers in the crises in Gaza as well as in Sudan, Jolie's team told The Associated Press in a statement. What needs to happen is clear: the ceasefire must hold, and access must be sustained, safe and urgently scaled up so that aid, fuel and critical medical supplies can move quickly and consistently, at the volume required, Jolie said about Gaza. Reopening the crossing, which would allow Palestinians to leave Gaza especially the ill and wounded who could get specialized care unavailable in the territory has been contentious. Israel has said that it will only allow Palestinians to exit Gaza, not enter, until militants in Gaza return all the hostages they took in the attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the war. The remains of one hostage are still in Gaza. Israel also says Palestinians wanting to leave Gaza will have to get Israeli and Egyptian security approval. Egypt, meanwhile, says it wants the crossing immediately opened in both directions, so Palestinians in Egypt can enter Gaza. Thats a position rooted in Egypts vehement opposition to Palestinian refugees permanently resettling in the country. Advertisement Advertisement For more than two decades until 2022, Jolie worked with the U.N. refugee agency, including as a special envoy. Gaza's humanitarian situation On Friday, the foreign ministers of Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, expressed concern about Gaza's humanitarian situation. The situation has been compounded by the continued lack of sufficient humanitarian access, acute shortages of essential life-saving supplies, and the slow pace of the entry of essential materials," according to the joint statement. The Palestinian death toll from the war is at least 71,271, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians in its count. The Israel-Hamas war began with the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, two Palestinian men were killed in separate incidents by Israeli gunfire in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, a hospital official said. Israel's military said troops operating in the southern Gaza Strip killed a person who crossed the Yellow Line and approached the troops, posing an immediate threat to them." West Bank raids Meanwhile, Israel continues operating in the occupied West Bank. On Friday, the Palestinian Prisoners media office said that Israel carried out numerous raids across the territory, including the major cities of Ramallah and Hebron. Nearly 50 people were detained, following the arrest of at least 50 other Palestinians on Thursday, most of those in the Ramallah area. Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military said there were arrests made of people involved in terrorist activity." Last week, a Palestinian attacker rammed his car into a man and then stabbed a young woman in northern Israel, killing both of them, police said. The Palestinian Prisoners Society says that Israel has arrested 7,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem this year, and 21,000 since the war began. The number arrested from Gaza isn't made public by Israel. ___ Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. ___ Find more of APs Israel-Hamas coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 2:18 p.m. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A 49-year-old Green Bay man facing multiple charges for an alleged fifth OWI after officials say he crashed into a state trooper was in court for his preliminary hearing. Court records show that Jonathon Jeske was in court, in custody at the Brown County Jail on January 23 for the hearing, with an attorney present for him. They waived the right to a preliminary hearing, and the court bound him over to an assigned branch. The present bond was continued, and his arraignment was set for February 12 at 1:30 p.m.; however, the defense requested a new judge.. UPDATE: Preliminary hearing scheduled for Green Bay man arrested for 5th OWI after crashing into a state trooper WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21 10:19 a.m. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A preliminary hearing is now scheduled for the Green Bay man who was arrested for his 5th OWI after allegedly crashing into a state trooper on New Years Day. Advertisement Advertisement Court records show that 49-year-old Jonathon Jeske was in court, in custody from the Brown County Jail on Friday, January 16, for a status conference. While in court, Jeske and his attorney put in a request for a bond modification, which was denied by the court. The present bond was continued, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on January 23. UPDATE: Status conference scheduled for Green Bay man arrested for 5th OWI after crashing into a state trooper WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7 8:20 a.m. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A Green Bay Man arrested on the morning of New Years Day for his 5th OWI after crashing into a state trooper now has a status hearing scheduled at the Brown County Court House. Court records show that 49-year-old Jonathon Jeske made his initial appearance in court on January 2 as he faces several charges. Advertisement Advertisement While in court, the Green Bay man was given a $350 signed cash bond under the conditions that he has absolute sobriety, must wear a SCRAM device, cannot operate a motor vehicle without a valid drivers license, and is to have no presence in taverns and/or liquor stores or bars. Jeske is scheduled to be back in court at 9:30 a.m. on January 16 for a status conference. ORIGINAL: Green Bay man crashes into state trooper, arrested for 5th OWI THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 9:14 a.m. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A Green Bay man is now in custody for his 5th OWI offense after crashing into a state troopers squad car Thursday morning. According to a release from the Wisconsin State Patrol Northeast Region Fond du Lac Post, a vehicle on the I-43 northbound ramp to I-41 deviated into a lane at 1:04 a.m., making contact with a troopers squad car. Advertisement Advertisement Wisconsin woman arrested for 4th OWI following hit-and-run crash Jonathon Jeske Shortly after the crash, the trooper initiated a traffic stop with the suspect vehicle coming to a stop on I-41 southbound at State Highway 29. Officials say the trooper observed signs of impairment and the driver, identified as 49-year-old Jonathon Jeske, was arrested for his 5th OWI offense. In addition to the felony 5th OWI offense, Jeske is currently being held at the Brown County Jail on the following potential charges: Battery to Law Enforcement Resisting an Officer Hit-and-run of an Occupied Vehicle No other information is available at this time and the results of an evidentiary blood draw is pending. Advertisement Advertisement 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. HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) One person was killed and three people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash Thursday at the intersection of Floyd Thompson Drive and Commander Shepard Boulevard near NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton Police said. A passenger in the vehicle that attempted to turn on Floyd Thompson Drive died in the crash. The driver of that vehicle was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, and another passenger in that vehicle suffered non life-threatening injuries, police said. The driver of the vehicle driving south on Commander Shepard Boulevard also suffered non life-threatening injuries, according to police. (WAVY viewer photo Doug Hall) (WAVY viewer photo Doug Hall) (WAVY photo Patrick Driscoll) (WAVY photo Patrick Driscoll) (WAVY photo Patrick Driscoll) (Photo Hampton Police) (Photo Hampton Police) The call for a two-vehicle crash came in around 9:57 p.m. at the intersection of Commander Shepard Boulevard and Floyd Thompson Drive, with officers arriving at the scene to find one vehicle with three people inside and a second vehicle with a single driver. Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary investigation indicated that the victims vehicle was traveling north on Commander Shepard Boulevard and was trying to make a left turn onto Floyd Thompson Drive when another vehicle traveling south on Commander Shepard Boulevard struck the victims vehicle in the intersection, according to police. After colliding, the cars crashed into the ditch next to homes in the Langley Mobile Home Village. 10 On Your Side spoke to a woman who was driving out of the community when the crash happened. I saw this car coming from all the way down that way, they were flying, said the woman who wanted to remain anonymous. Advertisement Advertisement She says she knew right away that it was a serious situation and called police. I called 911 and said a real bad accident happened. They have to be hurt because it looks real bad, please go help them. Then I hung up the phone and I started praying. Hampton Polices Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the crash. Check with WAVY.com for updates. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News 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 WAVY.com. Happy New Year! Congress officially lets Obamacare subsidies lapse As the calendar flipped to 2026 on Thursday, millions of Americans who purchase their health insurance through Obamacare are ringing in the New Year with an unwelcome gift: health care premiums that are more than doubling in most cases. At midnight, the Obamacare subsidies that had helped many Americans afford insurance finally expired, after lawmakers failed to agree on a plan to extend the enhanced tax credits. Now, Americans who rely on Obamacare are hoping Congress might be able to address the skyrocketing premiums in the next few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement By the middle of January, the House is expected to pass a Democratic bill to renew the subsidies for three years. That bill will not become law it already failed in the Senate previously but lawmakers in both parties hope the legislation will spur Congress to rally around what has long proved elusive: a bipartisan agreement to address Obamacare costs. Well send it over to the Senate, and the Senate will work on doing a compromise, Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., told MS NOW in December. Hopefully, he said, the Senate will amend it and send it back to us in a way that we can get on both sides to support it. A bipartisan group of senators appeared to be making some headway ahead of the holidays on a potential deal, which would combine extending the subsidies for a shorter period of time one or two years coupled with reforms such as income caps. Advertisement Advertisement A source familiar with discussions confirmed to MS NOW that conversations between members have continued during the holiday recess. Of note, one of the senators leading the talks Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio previously told reporters that as part of any deal, lawmakers hope to reopen the Obamacare enrollment period through the end of February, to take that pressure point off. That would address a longstanding concern of many Democrats, who argued that because lawmakers failed to address the subsidies before the enrollment window closed in December, many on the Obamacare marketplace may have opted for lower quality coverage or no insurance at all. Although Democrats have long pointed to a three-year extension of the subsidies as their preferred path forward, several did not object outright when MS NOW pressed them in December about the possibility of an amended plan. Advertisement Advertisement If we had to compromise some, I think thats OK, said Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz.. Ill see what it is, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., told MS NOW. Of course, negotiations in the Senate could still go sideways. Previous negotiations have fizzled out repeatedly. And plenty of lawmakers including some Republicans have been clear that Congress inability to act before premiums spiked was a total failure. Those were the words moderate Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley of California used in December when asked about the expiring subsidies. Were talking about small business owners and their employees, independent contractors, gig workers, freelance workers, Uber drivers, retirees who arent eligible for Medicare who now are on the cusp of paying a very high price because of Congresss failure to act, Kiley said. Advertisement Advertisement But Thursdays expiration of the subsidies was a long time coming. The expiration itself was no surprise. Democrats had warned for months that the subsidies were set to lapse, even making their extension a central demand during this falls record-breaking government shutdown. Republicans who control both chambers of Congress and the White House largely objected, arguing the Affordable Care Act is unworkable and reiterating long-standing calls to scrap and replace it. After more than 15 years, however, Republicans have never coalesced behind a viable alternative to Obamacare. Under political pressure, House Republicans last month passed their own go-it-alone health care bill. But that legislation did nothing to address the subsidies, and it stands zero chance of clearing the Senate or becoming law. Advertisement Advertisement Amid the stalemate, four Republicans from competitive congressional districts crossed party lines in December to sign onto a discharge petition to force a House floor vote on the Democratic bill extending the subsidies for three years. The strategy now is simple, if not fragile: House Democrats, joined by a handful of Republicans, will pass the three-year bill by mid-January. And then once the legislation reaches the Senate, lawmakers can replace it with a bipartisan deal that can overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold, sending the bill back to the House for final passage. Thats the plan, at least. The lapse of the enhanced subsidies comes as the calendar turns to a pivotal election year one that will determine if Republicans maintain their trifecta in Washington or if Democrats can notch control of at least one congressional chamber, unlocking oversight powers theyve promised to exercise over the Trump White House. Advertisement Advertisement Democrats are betting the higher premiums will resonate with voters in Novembers midterm elections and cost Republicans. In the lead-up to New Years Day, Democrats repeatedly messaged on the issue, hitting the GOP over the pending spike in premiums. Republicans dont give a damn about Americans losing their health care, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York posted on social media on Wednesday. In a statement released on New Years Eve, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that while Republicans chose to do nothing and ignore the pain families will feel starting tomorrow, Senate Democrats are fighting to lower costs, protect coverage, and make life more affordable not harder for American families. Advertisement Advertisement Some moderate Republicans admit this could be an electoral problem. As Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., told MS NOW, if lawmakers fail to act and premiums go up, Its going to hurt Republicans. Polling from last year appears to back that up. A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted in mid-December found that 68% of Americans want to see the Obamacare tax credits extended including more than 40% of Republicans. Mychael Schnell contributed to this report. The post Happy New Year! Congress officially lets Obamacare subsidies lapse appeared first on MS NOW. This article was originally published on ms.now SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX5/KUSI) Heavy rain soaking San Diego on New Years Day caused widespread flooding and prompted multiple water rescues across the county, as storm runoff overwhelmed roads and drainage systems and left drivers and pedestrians trapped in fast-moving water. Some of the most severe flooding was reported in Mission Valley, a low-lying area known for flooding during periods of sustained rain. Water remained pooled in parts of the neighborhood hours after the heaviest rainfall, underscoring how quickly conditions deteriorated. Emergency crews responded to numerous rescue calls throughout the day, including along Fashion Valley Road, where rising floodwaters stranded motorists. In one incident, firefighters rescued one adult and one child from a Jeep that became partially submerged as water levels rose rapidly. Advertisement Advertisement San Diego Fire-Rescue officials said another rescue unfolded nearby at Camino de la Reina and Avenida del Rio, where a man became trapped underneath a bridge as floodwaters surged. Search-and-rescue teams deployed a raft to reach him and safely pulled him out before transporting him to a hospital for medical evaluation. This is about as bad as Ive seen it, said Mission Valley resident Steven Shadpour, who noted that flooding has been a recurring issue in the area. They told us when I bought the place that Mission Valley is lower elevation, so whenever it rains, it floods down here. Fire officials emphasized that many of the rescues were preventable and urged the public to avoid flooded roads. Crews also responded to other storm-related emergencies across the county, including a rescue at Lake Hodges, where a woman was swept by floodwaters and later rescued by helicopter. Advertisement Advertisement 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. More than a million Georgians are facing higher insurance premiums after federal help officially expired. Channel 2S Michael Doudna reports some families say they are already feeling the effects. For years, the federal government subsidized Affordable Care Act plans to help keep prices low, but they were not extended last year as part of the Big Beautiful Bill. But some say that without subsidies, they may not be able to pay premiums and afford to live. Advertisement Advertisement So these are the like heat lamps that I use, um, for like the hot food spreads that I do, Teresa Acosta said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Her old life sits in boxes and bins, a life as a self-employed caterer packed up because of skyrocketing healthcare costs. To be able to marry my passion with a career that was sustained by family changed everything for me, and that was taken away, Acosta said. She says she is now looking for a full-time job with health insurance because she simply cannot afford the premiums without the now-expired Affordable Care Act subsidies. Advertisement Advertisement My rate went up 620%, more than seven times what I paid in 2025, Acosta said. According to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an estimated 1.4 million Georgians will pay more for health care without the subsidies, and experts fear the rising prices will result in thousands losing healthcare coverage. Georgias premiums have increased almost 200 percent. And the numbers we are seeing are just staggering, said Whitney Griggs of Georgians for a Healthy Future. For Teresa Acosta, health insurance is a necessity.- Her youngest son, Bauer, has Type 1 diabetes and needs healthcare to survive. Advertisement Advertisement A lot of fear, not sure how were going to make it into the new year, she said. So, as the year turns to 2026, Acosta is looking for work that can keep her family healthy, praying that something changes soon. I know Im not alone in this, but it feels very lonely, she said. It is estimated that 200,000 people decided not to re-enroll in their health care plans. How many of those found another option for health insurance is unclear. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] How different will next year look from this year in Hillsborough County schools? At a recent Hillsborough school board workshop, board members talked through a range of issues they may or may not update in the next policy cycle, which begins next year. Among them: Vaping, student wellness, bullying and the process for parents to complain about classroom materials. The board is required to review its policies at least every two years. The changes will be presented at hearings early next year, where the public will have a chance to weigh in before the board takes a final vote. Advertisement Advertisement Here are the changes that are moving forward as well as a few topics of concern that arent likely to get new policies in 2026. Vaping The school board recently moved forward a policy that would expand the definition of tobacco free environments to include nicotine-dispensing devices, which are not limited to e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes and replacement cartridges. The district will also expand signage to clearly indicate no tobacco or vaping is permitted around school facilities. Deputy superintendent Chris Farkas said after a pilot program in some high school bathrooms this fall, the district plans to install sensors at all high schools in the spring. The sensors, designed by Motorola, go off when they detect vaping. Paired with hallway cameras to see who is entering and exiting the restrooms, they have helped identify students who vape. Advertisement Advertisement Its a huge epidemic in our schools, board member Jessica Vaughn said. When we have our student forums, the students who come say one of the biggest concerns is vaping and whats happening in the bathroom. Bus policies The board also advanced a policy that would allow school bus drivers to be trained to manage student behavior and allow the district to establish more policies about entering and exiting buses. The policy states that students are required to remain seated; follow driver instructions; use low voices; and keep their hands, feet and objects to themselves. It also applies the districts bullying policies to buses. The amendments come after increased reports of bus fights, board members said. I fear for the safety of other students as well as our bus drivers Perez said. Reserve funds School board members also moved forward a policy that would require the district to maintain a reserve funding balance double what the state requires 7% instead of 3%. Advertisement Advertisement The districts chief financial officer said if the reserve were to fall below the required 3%, the superintendent would have to notify the state. If it didnt improve in two years, the state could issue mandates controlling the district. Though board members expressed concerns over their ability to continue to provide teachers with raises, they supported securing the districts long-term financial viability amid a rocky relationship with the state. I am just not going to be responsible for the financial decline and takeover by the state of this district, board member Stacy Hahn said. They get rid of the superintendent, they get rid of every board member, they get rid of the CFO, and the state runs the district. The state has also looked at changing some policies down the road, or not changing them at all. Among them: Wellness The board deferred putting forth a policy dealing with state law changes, including a free employee assistance program, changing sexual health education to reproductive health and disease prevention, requiring 150 additionalminutes of physical education for K-5 students and banning food-related fundraisers until 30 minutes after the last lunch period at a school. Advertisement Advertisement Board member Jessica Vaughn pointed to a previous meeting where a kindergarten teacher cried while tellingthe board about how overwhelmed she was this year. Were putting the responsibility of the state-mandated time on our kindergarten teachers, who are already overworked, she said. I understand that all teachers are certified to teach P.E., but that time with an actual P.E. teacher is a concern to me. Bullying and harassment The board did not hear amendments to the bullying and harassment policy at its workshop, which would add to the policy hate speech, defined as any conduct or communication demeaning another individual on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, national origin of descent, health status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by federal law. The policy will be heard at a later workshop. Public complaints A new policy proposed by Hillsborough Superintendent Van Ayres would have struck a passage out about matters regarding instructional materials from the existing public complaint policy and created a separate one called public complaints regarding courses of study. Advertisement Advertisement The new policy would have explicitly stated that the board was committed to providing materials in accordance with Florida statute and Florida Department of Education rules. It also would have said the superintendent would develop a procedure to handle objections to books and other materials, and that the board would provide open access to all materials. The policy also said no material could be removed except by action of the board. The board failed to reach consensus that a new policy was needed. Board member Jessica Vaughn worried it would box them in. Were going to follow the law, she said. If the commissioner or somebody contacts us and they say were breaking the law (over a book), its going to be removed. But I dont need this policy. I think it creates less flexibility. I think it creates more problems. Others felt it was redundant. Advertisement Advertisement Were going to refer to the law no matter what, board member Nadia Combs said. We have the law. We have a policy. Divya Kumar is a reporter covering education as members of the Tampa Bay Times Education Hub. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund by clicking here. Miho peninsula elongating into Suruga Bay is famous as the swimming beach looking at Mt. Fuji. Various activities such as yacht, board sailing, fishing and dragnet fishing by watching the ships in the port. Photos courtesy of Metropolis Magazine () Frigid winds are sweeping into Tokyo from the northern plains and Japanese alps, and all we want to do is get away. Most would turn to the turquoise seas and forests of Okinawa, and for good reason. While Okinawa offers comfort during the winter, it falls short of the traditional tropical experience. Additionally, the three-hour flight time, crowded tourist destinations, the expense of renting a car for mobility, and the bustling atmosphere around the American military base can be somewhat discouraging. However, the good news is that Japan is replete with hidden winter gems that can thaw the chill from your bones. For reference, Tokyo features an average high of 10C (50F), a daily mean of 5C (41F), and an average low of 1C (34F) in January, with five rainy days. Here are five unconventional destinations that will warm you right up even in the heart of winter. Hachijo Island Average high: 13C (87.5F) Daily mean: 10C (82F) Average low: 8C (78.5F) Located less than an hours flight from Tokyo, Hachijo Island stands as the nearest subtropical paradise to the city. It offers a comfortable blend of spring and autumn-like weather during January and February, along with abundant hot springs and notably warmer nights. This unique climate fosters the thriving of wildlife and flora rarely found in central Japan, including spunky aloe covering the hillsides and ashitaba (Angelica keiskei), a member of the carrot family that is often used in local cuisine. Numerous onsen resorts provide vacation accommodations. You can even enjoy winter surfing, snorkeling, and diving in a wetsuit since the warm Kuroshio ocean current keeps water temperatures above 19C (98F) all year round. The small, remote island guarantees sparkling sunsets and sunrises over the sea, and magnificent starry skies. Must-do Hike Mt. Hachijo-Fuji, the tallest mountain in the Izu island chain. Hikers will encounter grazing cattle, stunning waterfalls, and ocean views. Must-see Enormous humpback whales, which can only be sighted in winter and spring. Must-eat Local seasonal fish in the shimasushi style, with a distinct dipping sauce and mustard instead of wasabi. Kagoshima Average high: 13C (87.5F) Daily mean: 9C (80F) Average low: 5C (41F) Kagoshima has earned its nickname as the Naples of Japan. Exuding a laidback lifestyle culture and with lush islands dotting the sea, Kagoshimas balmy climate is a full-step up from Tokyos in midwinter, with plenty of sunshine. The active volcano Sakurajima makes for a stunning backdrop looming large out of the sea. Theres a free daily eruption show from viewpoints accessible via a 15-minute ferry ride. However, venture further south, and the mystical isle of Yakushima awaits. The emerald, ancient forests served as inspiration for the setting of the Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke. Although there are hikes for all fitness levels, a 10-hour hike will lead you to the worlds oldest living tree, estimated to be 7,200 years old. Must-see and do Shiroyama Park. This mountain park located at the site of a former castle offers unbeatable views of downtown Kagoshima and Sakurajima. Visitors can also take a dip at the Castle Park Hotels hot spring bath and learn about history and culture at the Reimeikan Museum. Must-eat Kagoshima black beef (some of the best steak in Japan) and spongy karukan (grated yam cakes). Beppu Onsen Average high: 10C (50F) Average low: 8C (46F) Onsen vents: 2,909 On the surface, Beppu Onsen isnt warmer at all in comparison to Tokyo. However, this Kyushu resort town is home to eight natural hot springs, sixteen municipal bathhouses, nearly 3,000 hot spring vents, and 130,000 tons of hot water gushing out of the ground every day. This steamy city is 90 minutes from Fukuoka and its green mountain backdrop is nothing short of a bathers paradise. Elegant Japanese-style bath houses with aroma baths and waterfall massages sound pretty good, but theres more. Visitors can submerge in naturally-heated sand baths, skin-nourishing mud baths, and herbal steam rooms. Must-see Sweeping views of Beppu City and the bay from the top of the Beppu Ropeway on Mt. Tsurumi. This is the only warm destination on our list where you can go straight from playing in mountain-top snow to a steaming hot mud bath in the sunshine. Must-eat Another cant-miss experience is tea and pastries at one of Beppus iconic tea rooms. Three good options are Okamotoya Shop for a varied menu and wooded scenery, Morihan Bettei for its mountain-top location, and Beppu Amami Chaya for authentic, regional cuisine. Shizuoka City Average high: 12C (55F) Daily mean: 7C (46F) Chance of sunshine: 68% Shizuoka is one of the sunniest cities in Japan. This makes its balmy midwinter days extra tolerableespecially when there are sticky-sweet strawberries to be picked, and striking views of Mt. Fuji to soak up. Located just an hour from Tokyo on the shinkansen (three hours on local trains or the highway bus), Shizuoka is an easy, cheap weekend trip to catch some extra rays and fresh Pacific air. There are two main ways to enjoy the citys remarkable scenery. One is to ascend past the second-most important shrine in Japan dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu (Kunozan Toshogu Shrine) to Nihondaira, a mountaintop park in the middle of the city with sweeping views. For those willing to forego exercise, there is also a ropeway. The other is to explore the pine-forested Miho no Matsubara and witness Mt. Fuji towering straight over the ocean. Must-do Tea brewing experienceShizuoka is the locus of Japans tea production. Stay extra toasty with fresh tea at Ihachinouen, a tea terrace high in the hills near the city. Must-eat Strawberries. Shizuoka is just as famous for its strawberries as its teaand the fruits are sweetest when freshly picked. There are over a dozen orchards along the coast, including Hagiwarano Orchards and Marutoyo Strawberry Farm. Nachi-Katsuura Average high: 11C (84F) Average low: 5C (73F) Chance of sunshine: 67% This dreamy coastal town is well off the beaten track. Located at the tip of the rugged, wild Kii Peninsula in the sacred heart of Japan, a full four hours by train from Nagoya or Osaka, visiting Nachi-Katsuura is an all-out adventure. But thats exactly the point of visiting the center of Japans mystical, Buddhist-Shinto spirituality. Since ancient times, pilgrims have traveled well-worn trails into the depths of the Kii Peninsula to visit the Kumano Kodo shrine. Nachi-Katsuura features one of the most sacred stops on this journey, Nachi Falls, a towering waterfall with a 133-meter vertical plunge. The scenery is truly unforgettable when viewed from the mountaintop Kumano-Nachi Taisha Shrine, a world heritage site. Featuring a temperate coastal climate and numerous hot spring resorts, Nachi-Katsuura is comfortable in winter and makes for a truly traditional Japan travel experience. Must-see The coasts of Wakayama are stunning, with rugged green cliffs and ultramarine blue waters. Numerous observation decks, spas, and shrines dot the coastline. Must-eat The seafood found in Nachi-Katsuura is as fresh as it gets. Local izakaya are renowned for their delectable sushi, like the top-notch quality at Ichirin or creative tuna dishes at Bodai. metropolisjapan.com Asif Amin Cheema's family says, as far as they have been told, he is being deported on Thursday evening. The 63-year-old Humboldt Park sub shop owner's family said he boarded a plane at Chicago O'Hare International Airport that will take him to Pakistan, where he will be hours away from any help or family if and when he arrives. "Last night is a night people celebrate, and we couldn't," said Asif's daughter, Rabia Amin. "We haven't been able to do that, because how can you, when half of your heart is gone?" Advertisement Advertisement The family says they did not have the luxury of contemplating a New Year's resolution. Instead, they were scrambling for a last-minute solution to bring their father home. "No family should have to stand at a podium like this just to make sure their loved one has access to medication, legal counsel and basic dignity," Rabia said. Asif's family says the father of five has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since September after agents carried out an order of removal that had been open for decades. "This removal order is from the early 90s, and it has never been executed. There's never been any enforcement against him even though it has existed," said immigration attorney William McLean. Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security released a statement on Thursday evening, saying in part, "Asif Amin Cheema is an illegal alien from Pakistan who illegally entered the United States in 1989 and has had a final order of removal, issued by a federal immigration judge." Asif's family has been fighting to get him out ever since he was taken into custody. "It still confuses us to this day, because my dad had a valid work permit for years," Rabia said. "He wasn't scamming anything. He wasn't scamming the system. He had a green card interview earlier this year, so that is why we are so puzzled as to how this removal can still exist." Asif's family and attorney say he has no criminal record and his only hope was to build a life for his family in Chicago, where they have lived for decades now. Advertisement Advertisement "A week before he was taken, we were sitting in my office, in my clinic, I was showing him, 'Baba. these are the efforts that you -- these are your efforts. I'm able to open up my office because of your efforts,'" said Hamna Amin, Asif's daughter. "My dad is, and always will be, a proud American." The family said they have been in touch with Asif, but they are worried, as he has been transferred to multiple detention centers. "It's mental torture, and it's physically exhausting," Rabia said. "I mean, just last night, he was told he's getting transferred out of Indiana. He was bought to Broadview, and now, he's back in Indiana, and we still don't know why." Asif's daughters say their concerns over his health are growing after he was reportedly hospitalized and without medication for days at a time while in custody. Advertisement Advertisement "It's been a nightmare, to say the least," Rabia said. "We are very family-oriented. We all live at home. We lean on our dad for everything, emotional support, financial support, and it's been very hard for us." Asif's family has been trying to run his sub shop for the last few months. Customers joined his family as they made their last-minute plea to anyone who can help. "His entire life has revolved around making sure his children were safe, supported and loved. He taught us to value hard work, integrity, and faith to us. He is not just a case number or a file. He is our home," Hamna said. "Our family has been forced into fear and uncertainty watching someone we love suffer, not just because he's dangerous, he's not dangerous at all, but because the system has failed to see him as a human." The family's attorney says they have filed lawsuit against the feds, including ICE agents who were part of his removal. Advertisement Advertisement "This is not justice. This is not public safety, and this is not what our immigration system should look like in America," Rabia said. "People are not disposable. Families matter, and this system must change. Until our government recognizes the humanity behind these cases, families like mine will continue to pay the price." The lawsuit includes an emergency temporary restraining order to keep him in the country. "We are about exhausted, and I mean that in a lament term and a legal term," McLean said. The family's attorney told ABC7 that they did everything they could up until the last minute, and they will do everything they can to bring Asif back. Advertisement Advertisement Full DHS statement: "Asif Amin Cheema is an illegal alien from Pakistan who illegally entered the United States in 1989 and has had a final order of removal, issued by a federal immigration judge. On Sept. 17, 2025, ICE officers arrested Cheema during a targeted enforcement operation. At the airport, when officers attempted to board him for his flight, he claimed chest pains. Out of an abundance of caution, Cheema was immediately transported by ambulance to a hospital, where he was medically cleared within hours. Conveniently, during this brief hospital stay, a stay of removal was filed, but rejected by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Cheema remains in ICE custody, pending his removal home. Cheema received all medications and received prompt and appropriate medical attention, as evidenced by his ambulance transport and hospital evaluation." Snow squalls moved quickly through parts of Philadelphia on Thursday, but the ice they left behind caused hazardous conditions on untreated roads, triggering multiple crashes and injuries across the city. In Manayunk, icy streets led to back-to-back crashes on the 200 block of Leverington Avenue within minutes. "I was a little nervous walking around. It's, I mean, if I slip, I'm going down that hill," said Emma Field of Pittsburgh, who was walking in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Raven Brown of Roxborough was riding in the passenger seat when her cousin lost control of their car on the icy street and slammed into a parked vehicle. "We couldn't stop," Brown said. "This could have been so much worse, could have kept going down the street and hit that house." Brown said the ice was difficult to detect. "It's just icy all over. You would think that it's not that icy when you look at it, but it's just black ice, it's very hard to even tell if it's safe to come down these streets," she said. "I feel like they should salt the roads, especially over here, because it's so hilly, so like stuff like this don't happen." Advertisement Advertisement Minutes later, another crash occurred a few hundred feet up the road. Tanya Breslow of East Falls said she narrowly avoided being hit. "I was a little shaken up because that could have been us," she said. Breslow described losing control of her car moments earlier. "I thought there was something wrong with my brakes. I just slid," she said. "We pulled over, tried to figure out what to do, and I saw another car right over here. They just slid and smashed right into this truck. It's awful." Similar conditions were reported in East Falls, where a two-car pileup on Stanton Street drew neighbors outside to help stranded drivers. Advertisement Advertisement "It gets icy on this street. People don't realize how icy it is and start going sideways and take out a few cars," said Allen Carson of East Falls. "I heard people sliding down and the crunching of cars, so I came out to put a little ice down, and hopefully we can get them out of here." Carson suggested the timing may have contributed to the untreated roads. "Maybe no one was expecting this," he said. "I'm sure being a holiday doesn't help." While no serious injuries were reported in Manayunk or East Falls, officials said three people were injured in Feltonville earlier in the day, two critically, when a driver lost control on snow and ice and struck a utility pole at G Street and East Wyoming Avenue. The city said Thursday afternoon that the Streets Department had trucks treating roads and added more crews throughout the day as conditions evolved. IDF forces rescued an Israeli civilian from the Palestinian village of Hizma after he became trapped there during a military blockade imposed following stone throwing on Highway 60. The IDF rescued an Israeli civilian from the Palestinian village of Hizma, north of Jerusalem, on Thursday evening, Ynet reported. The civilian entered the village, but was trapped inside after the military imposed a blockade in response to locals throwing stones at an Israeli vehicle traveling on Highway 60, the report noted. Advertisement Advertisement The military has not commented on the incident at the time of writing. Authorities rescue Israeli woman from Jericho in Area A While Hizma is in Area C as part of east Jerusalem, over the past weeks, multiple Israelis have been rescued from Area A after unintentionally and in some incidents, intentionally, entering the PA-controlled area. Authorities rescued a 22-year-old Israeli woman from Jericho in Area A of the West Bank on Wednesday night, Maariv reported. Israelis visit the Hasmonean Palaces in the city of Jericho, in the West Bank, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, during the Hanukkah holiday, December 21, 2025. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90) The woman was then handed over to the IDF to be transported out of Area A, and the case was handed over to the Israel Police for investigation. On Sunday, three Jewish Israelis similarly entered Jericho after making a navigational mistake before being rescued. Two additional Israelis entered Area A on Sunday while under the influence of alcohol. Advertisement Advertisement The two were spotted entering a garage in Tulkarm, which was reported to the Civil Administration. They were subsequently turned over to the IDF for transport out of the West Bank, before the incident was handed over to the Israel Police for further investigation. At least six additional incidents of Israelis entering Area A also occurred in December 2025. Amir Bohbot, James Genn, and Goldie Katz contributed to this report. The IDF announced it killed a terrorist after it approached troops stationed in southern Gaza. It also conducted strikes in Lebanon after what Israel describes as ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. The IDF killed a terrorist who attempted to cross the Yellow Line and approach troops stationed in southern Gaza, the military said on Friday. "Following the identification, the troops eliminated the terrorist in order to remove the threat," the military said. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, the military announced it had struck Hezbollah infrastructure in several areas of southern Lebanon, hitting a training compound used by the groups Radwan Force and military structures used to store weapons, the army announced on Friday. The strikes came amid what Israel describes as ongoing violations of ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon, and were carried out to remove threats to Israeli troops and civilians, according to the IDF. Earlier Friday, sirens sounded in the Baram area in northern Israel when an interceptor was launched at a suspicious aerial target, which was later determined to be a false alarm, the army said. Radwan Force site, weapons storage hit According to the IDF, the targeted training compound was used by Radwan operatives for shooting exercises and other weapons drills, intended for planning and executing attacks against Israeli forces and civilians. The military said additional strikes hit structures recently used to store weapons for Hezbollah activity. The army said Hezbollahs conduct, including training and entrenchment near the border, contravenes the ceasefire framework and poses a direct threat to Israel. The IDF will continue to operate in order to remove any threat to the State of Israel, the statement added. Former Gaza hostage Romi Gonen delivers a raw account of isolation, sexual abuse, and survival in Hamas captivity, telling Channel 12s Uvda that no one will silence her story anymore. Former Gaza hostage Romi Gonen recounted her recovery process since her release from Hamas's terror captivity in the Gaza Strip, in the second part of an interview with Channel 12's "Uvda" broadcast on Thursday evening. Freed Gaza hostage Romi Gonen describes her time in Gaza terror captivity in an interview broadcast on Channel 12, January 1, 2026. (credit: UVDA/CHANNEL 12) Advertisement Advertisement "It was very important for us to hear that nothing happened. Wow, it's...it's hard to say. On the one hand, I feel relieved to hear that no one has reached the situation I was in, but...it's just not fair," she said, holding back tears. "It's...I'll carry this my entire life, because when I arrived on the 34th day [after the October 7 massacre], I went down to the tunnel alone, and I was there for 24 hours alone in silence. That crushes you," Gonen continued, as tears began to fill her eyes. "I had to be alone with it, and it's not easy, I kept telling myself, 'You're strong, you're strong,' No! I'm not strong, and no, you can't heal from such a thing, you can't," she says, beginning to cry and struggling to speak through the emotions. "How do you cope? How can we go through captivity when, after less than a month, three different guys [sexually] assaulted me? How can we move on? How can you continue to be with them without fear of it happening again? It's just not fair!" she affirmed, trying to work through the tears. Former hostage Romi Gonen speaks to Channel 12's ''Uvda'' about her experiences in Hamas's terror captivity, December 25, 2025. (credit: SCREENSHOT/UVDA/CHANNEL 12) "Only when the other girls arrived, and we started talking and sharing experiences, did I suddenly understand that I was in by far the worst situation of them all. Not even by a little - I was in a horrible situation. How do you recover from such a thing?" she asked, continuing to cry. Advertisement Advertisement The "girls" Gonen referred to were IDF Observers Agam Berger and Liri Albag. Dafna and Ela Elyakim, 15 and 8-year-old sisters, joined them on the following day. Shortly after, they were joined by Chen Almog-Goldstein and her three children, Agam (17), Gal (11), and Tal (9), along with Mia Schem, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, and IDF Observer Naama Levy. Emily Damari also joined them on the 40th day. Left alone for 34 days in apartments above ground, moved to tunnels, joined by others Gonen recounted how she was held by herself for 34 days in apartments above ground before being taken down to the terror tunnels. "Suddenly, one of the commanders came up to me and told me that 'maybe two girls will come here soon.'" She recalled how she told him, 'Not maybe, bring them - I need them." Advertisement Advertisement Berger entered the tunnel wearing a hijab, Gonen said. Berger sat down on the mattress, and Gonen turned to her and said, "Can I please just get a hug?" "That's all I needed. I needed someone to hug me for a moment. Think about it, for 35 days, I was alone without any physical contact with human beings - except for the contact that is bad [referring to sexual assault," she commented. "Then, Liri comes in. They lowered them one after the other, and she joined in the hug," Gonen added. When the young Elyakim sisters came in, she recounted how she understood that they had been alone until now, and how that realization "shattered" her. Emily Damari (L) and Romi Gonen (R) in pictures taken before the October 7 massacre; illustrative. (credit: Hostage and Missing Families Forum) She also noted how she and Damari have been inseparable since joining each other 40 days after the massacre. Advertisement Advertisement "If I hadn't had Romi with me in captivity, I would have died," Damari commented. Damari also noted how she realized at an early stage that Gonen had been abused before they met. "I think that was also one of my first questions - whether something had happened to someone?" Damari added. Gonen speaks to Hamas arch-terrorist Izzadin al-Haddad Two weeks after Gonen was taken down into the terror tunnels, the first hostage return deal began. In the following days, the terrorist guards realized that she was shaken by an incident that occured in one of the apartments that she had been held in. The following day, while the first round of hostages were being released, the terrorists returned to the captivity cage. "They told me to put on a hijab because I am not going home. I am going to the commander's room upstairs," she recalled. Advertisement Advertisement She recounted how she was led through the tunnels to a room located on a higher level, with a telephone waiting there for her. "I picked up the phone, and he said 'Hello' to me. I realized that he speaks Hebrew. He asked me to tell him everything that happened," she said. He listened and told her that "He wants to make some kind of deal. 'I will put you at the top of the list [of people to be released], and in return, you will promise me that you will keep quiet [about your experiences].' I, of course, thought 'What do I care, as long as he puts me at the top of the list? I want to go home, and then we will deal with the promise," she remembered, saying that she promised the terror commander. Gonen added that she realized retrospectively that the commander on the end of the phone was Izzadin al-Haddad, then-head of Hamas's Gaza Brigade, who has since been promoted to commander of Hamas's so-called military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. Advertisement Advertisement "I spoke with the number one terrorist in Gaza now," she commented. Gonen: 'Nobody will silence me any more' Gonen recalled how the realization of her coming release came as a surprise. On the morning of her release, 471 days after being taken captive from the Nova music festival, the terrorists called her to come watch television at 10:26 a.m. A terrorist told her, "You are going out now alone, and a vehicle will be waiting for you in the street." She was sent out of the tunnel along with Emily Damari. "It was a messed-up scene. We walked down the street like that, and we were like, 'We are walking down the street in Gaza alone,'" she added. Advertisement Advertisement Hamas terrorists collected them from the street, uniting them with fellow hostage Doron Steinbrecher, who was being released at the same time. Before reaching the handover point, the terrorists transferred them to another vehicle, where Haddad was waiting for them in the front seat. "He turned around and said 'Hello, girls' to us. He then asked me if I remembered our promise. I told him yes, and he told me, 'See, you went out first,'" she recalled. "He then said he hoped I would keep the promise, and I told him I would," she added. "They often silenced my story and told me not to tell it. Now I am here, sitting in front of the camera, and honestly, no one will silence me anymore. It happened to me, and it is terrible, and I deal with the consequences of it day by day, but I am here. I beat it. I am in the aftermath, and I am much stronger than it," she concluded. Kashinda Robinson wasn't expecting to end 2025 with a phone call from Gov. Mike Braun's office, letting her know she was going to get a pardon the first one the Indiana Republican governor has issued since taking office almost a year ago. The 38-year-old mom of three, a Walmart employee and church youth minister, had submitted a clemency request years ago to the state of Indiana after her 2013 conviction here for promoting prostitution. "I just found out Tuesday night," said Robinson, who now lives in Columbus, Ohio. "I cried. I had no words. I'm praising God." Advertisement Advertisement The pardon from Braun came after a unanimous recommendation from the Indiana Parole Board, according to the governor's office. "It is clear that Kashinda Robinson has demonstrated a life transformation and has committed to serving others who face similar challenges," the governor's office said in a statement. Braun's spokesperson said it was the first case since taking office "to make its way through the pardon process and come with a recommendation from the board for a pardon." Braun's predecessor, Eric Holcomb, issued seven pardons during his first year in office, and granted clemency to five others in later years. An executive order announcing the pardon was signed by Braun on Dec. 29. Advertisement Advertisement Robinson said she used to check in frequently about her case status, but gave up on monitoring it after not hearing much. "After the first year, I was like 'OK, I'm putting it in God's hands," Robinson said. "It's been a long process, a long journey." Robinson said her 2013 conviction was a "dark time" in her life but has been trying to move past it by ministering to others. She completed her sentence over 10 years ago and is hoping to pursue a counseling career. "God used that," she said. "I'm ever so blessed that the Lord saw fit, even in my darkness, to bring light." Advertisement Advertisement Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 'I'm praising God': Gov. Mike Braun issues first pardon as governor MADISON Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said impeaching Judge Hannah Dugan is not at the top of his 2026 priorities, but stood by eventually seeking her removal if she does not resign after her felony conviction for obstructing a federal immigration arrest. Vos said in a wide-ranging Dec. 30 sit-down interview that he's following Dugan's situation and will consider taking action if Dugan doesn't relinquish her seat willingly. "A lot of people when she was first charged were pushing me to do something, you've got to impeach her, you've got to get her. And I said she deserves her day in court," Vos said. "Well, now she's been found guilty, so we have to act." Advertisement Advertisement Dugan, who was found guilty of a felony count of obstructing federal agents seeking to make an immigration arrest outside her courtroom, is seeking a new trial and no sentencing date has been set. She was found not guilty on a lesser misdemeanor charge of concealing a wanted person. Vos and Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August, in a statement the day after Dugan's conviction, vowed to impeach if she didn't "resign from her office immediately." In the Dec. 30 interview, Vos said he hopes that when the Assembly returns in January for session days, Dugan will have already stepped away from her position, as dictated by the Wisconsin Constitution after a felony conviction. If not, he says lawmakers will be "forced" to do something. "We can't just let it go," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Under state law, impeachment may be used by state lawmakers to remove state officers for corrupt conduct in office or for committing a crime. If the Assembly votes to impeach Dugan, the Senate will hold a trial on whether to remove her. If the Senate votes in favor of her impeachment, she would be removed from office. The case stems from April, when federal immigration officers appeared outside Dugan's courtroom at the Milwaukee County Courthouse to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was charged with battery. Flores-Ruiz illegally re-entered the U.S. in 2013. More: Hannah Dugan verdict sends message to judges: 'Tread very lightly' Advertisement Advertisement Dugan learned of the planned arrest from her clerk. She went to the main corridor with another judge, questioned the agents, and directed them to the chief judge's office, who was working on a plan for how such arrests were to be treated. Dugan returned to her courtroom, moved Flores-Ruiz's case up first and then directed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a non-public door and into a hallway used by judges and staff, witnesses testified. Flores-Ruiz and his attorney emerged into the public corridor. Federal agents followed them. He was arrested outside the courthouse after a brief foot chase. A week later, FBI agents arrested Dugan and led her from the courthouse in handcuffs. Advertisement Advertisement Dugan is facing a maximum of five years in prison, though she is likely to face far less time, if she serves any. The judge in her case has not yet set a sentencing date, and her attorneys plan to seek a new trial. Whatever the outcome the case is likely headed to the Court of Appeals and potentially to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Dugan with pay after the federal charges were filed. She makes nearly $175,000 a year. Vos said he also plans for the Assembly to vote in January on a bill that would require judges to be suspended without pay while charges are pending in cases of judicial misconduct. Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Impeachment of Judge Hannah Dugan not Vos' top priority in 2026 Indiana officials have asked a federal court to lift a long-standing injunction blocking the placement of a Ten Commandments monument at the Statehouse. (Courtesy) Gov. Mike Braun and Attorney General Todd Rokita want a federal judge to lift a decades-old ban on the placement of a Ten Commandments monument at the Indiana Statehouse grounds. A motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on Tuesday argues that the original legal standard used to block the monument has since been overturned by Supreme Court decisions and that existing law now allows historical displays with religious content. Advertisement Advertisement The case has reemerged amid separate legislative and judicial battles over Ten Commandments displays in other states. In contention now is an 11,500-pound limestone monument that was donated by the Indiana Limestone Institute in 1996. Then-Indiana Republican Rep. Brent Steele arranged for the donation and placement of the monument, which was intended to be installed near the site of the former Ten Commandments display on the Statehouse lawn, according to court filings. The attorney general described the top portion of the monument as consisting of a 4-foot, 4-inch tall block of limestone that sits atop a larger rectangular base that is also made of limestone. The Ten Commandments are inscribed on one side of the block and the Bill of Rights are etched on the opposite side. Smaller sides of the monument contain the preamble to the 1851 Indiana Constitution, as well as a dedication showing the monument was a gift from the limestone institute. A yearslong battle A similar Ten Commandments display donated by the Fraternal Order of Eagles previously stood on the Statehouse lawn for more than three decades before it was vandalized and removed in 1991. Advertisement Advertisement In 2000, then-Gov. Frank OBannon accepted the replacement monument, but the Indiana Civil Liberties Union sued, claiming the monuments placement on state property would violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction later in 2000, concluding that the states purpose for erecting the monument was religious, not secular, and that a reasonable person would regard it as an explicit endorsement of the Ten Commandments. Story continues below. b977dfd6-2de2-4c1a-8493-8c474a352163 The preliminary injunction was later affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and has remained in effect ever since. Advertisement Advertisement In their latest motion, however, Indiana officials contend the original injunction rests upon legal principles that can no longer be sustained because the Supreme Court has discarded the Lemon test the 1971 standard that until 2022 guided Establishment Clause analysis. Rokita additionally said in a news release that the Statehouse grounds feature many monuments and markers celebrating Indianas and Americas heritage. This monument belongs among them as a reminder of core principles that have guided our nation, he continued. After all these years, its time to place this historical recognition where Hoosiers and visitors can appreciate its significance in our common story. In the same release, Braun added that the monument reflects foundational texts that have shaped our Nations laws, liberties, and civic life for generations. Advertisement Advertisement Restoring this historical monument, the governor said, is about honoring our heritage and who we are as Hoosiers. Rokita further argued in court filings that the state should be able to erect the monument because subsequent U.S. Supreme Court rulings evaluate religious displays based on historical practices rather than the old Lemon standard used. The Republican attorney general pointed to the 2005 Van Orden v. Perry case, for example, in which the high court justices allowed a Ten Commandments monument to remain on the Texas State Capitol grounds as part of a broader historical setting. Opposition and pending legislation Civil liberties groups have long been opposed to such a display on state grounds, though. Advertisement Advertisement In similar disputes, courts across the country have blocked laws requiring Ten Commandments displays in public schools. A federal appeals court ruled in June that a Louisiana law requiring posters of the Ten Commandments in every classroom was unconstitutional under longstanding First Amendment precedent. And in Texas, a federal judges November order forced several school districts to remove classroom posters of the Ten Commandments and concluded that a state law mandating such displays violated the Establishment Clause. Still, the fight over religious texts in public spaces isnt limited to the Statehouse lawn. A new bill pending in the Indiana legislature, authored by Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, seeks to require each school corporation to place a durable poster or framed picture representing the text of the Ten Commandments in each school library and classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Davis House Bill 1086 has been assigned to the House Education Committee, but its not clear whether it will receive a hearing. Similar legislative attempts in the Hoosier legislature have been unsuccessful. If the federal judge grants Indianas motion, the monument could be placed near its originally intended location on the Statehouse grounds. The plaintiffs which include the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana have 14 days to file a response. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX According to the indictment, the guards exploited their public positions and the authority granted to them and allowed vehicles carrying illegal immigrants to pass through the checkpoint. The State Attorneys Office on Thursday filed an indictment with the Jerusalem District Court against three security guards who served at a security checkpoint in the Givat Zeev area, along with additional defendants, on a long list of offenses, including bribery, receiving bribes, giving bribes, and attempted transportation of illegal immigrants. The offenses were allegedly committed over an extended period in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement According to the indictment, the guards, Fadi Fares, 43, from Hurfeish, Abdallah Ibrahim, 31, from Abu Ghosh, and Abdul Rahman Saif al Din, 31, also from Abu Ghosh, exploited their public positions and the authority granted to them and, in a systematic manner and in exchange for payment, allowed vehicles carrying illegal immigrants to pass through the checkpoint. This was done in violation of established procedures, without security screening, and notwithstanding the security risk posed by their actions. POLICE ARREST suspect thought to have allowed illegal immigrants through border, November 30, 2025. (credit: Police Spokesperson ) A coordinated pattern allowing illegal immigrants into Israel The indictment further states that, in one instance, the guards coordinated in advance to implement this method and to permit unauthorized vehicles to pass through the checkpoint. On that day, while one of them was stationed at the checkpoint, he allowed two vehicles carrying illegal immigrants to pass after the second guard had provided him in advance with their details. In return for allowing the vehicles through, the defendants demanded and received substantial bribe payments. After crossing the checkpoint, the illegal immigrants entered the Givat Zeev area and continued on their way without any security screening. Advertisement Advertisement According to the indictment, this was a fixed and coordinated pattern of operation, in which vehicle details were transferred in advance, guard positions were switched, and steps were taken to conceal the acts and avoid detection by law enforcement authorities. The indictment also states that the additional defendants, Ahmad Julani, 40, from Jerusalem, and Iyad Abu Ghanem, 25, from Taiba, were involved in transporting theillegal immigrants and paid bribes to the guards, thereby taking an active part in the criminal mechanism. The State Attorneys Office has asked the court to order the defendants held in custody until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against them. In the detention request, among other things, attorney Ariel Iluz of the Jerusalem District State Attorneys Office wrote that the respondents systematically and extensively brought illegal immigrants into the country over a long period of time, while committing bribery offenses and for financial gain. As detailed in the indictment, the respondents actions were carried out during a sensitive security period, during which the State of Israel has been engaged in fighting on multiple fronts. Irans Defense Ministry export body is offering cryptocurrency payments for military contracts, signaling a new way to bypass sanctions on arms sales. Iran's Defense Ministry Export Center, known as Mindex, is offering the ability to pay contracts in the form of cryptocurrency, "agreed upon in the contract," the website states in its frequently asked questions section, verified by The Jerusalem Post on Thursday evening. According to the London-based outlet, The Financial Times, the offer appeared sometime within the past year. Advertisement Advertisement The outlet noted that this "appears to mark one of the first known instances in which a nation state has publicly indicated its willingness to accept cryptocurrency as payment for the export of strategic military hardware." The Mindex website's products section does not list prices, but includes categories such as "Rocket and Missile," "Aviation," "Military Vehicles," "Propellant and High Explosives," and others. The Mindex website's frequently asked questions section addresses concerns that purchasers may have about sanctions on Iran. Iranian missiles are displayed during the 46th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran, February 10, 2025. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA) "Given the sanctions on Iran, what is the guarantee that the contract will be executed and the product will reach the destination country?" the website asks. Advertisement Advertisement "The necessary guarantees will be given to the buyer at the time of signing the contract. It should be noted that, given the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding circumvention of sanctions, there is no problem in implementing the contract. Your purchased product will reach you as soon as possible," the answer reads. Iran has been known to attempt to use cryptocurrency to fund the regime amid intensifying sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Iranian regime's history of links with cryptocurrency as sanctions evasion strategy In September, Israel's National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing ordered the seizure of 187 crypto wallets it claimed belonged to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In December, an INSS report emerged detailing how the IRGC's Quds Force built a sophisticated, law-evading mechanism to support its aviation and weapons smuggling industries. Advertisement Advertisement This included Iranian airlines, such as Mahan Air and Qeshm Air, which IRGC-QF operates, being used to transport weapons on ostensibly civilian flights. In June, anti-regime hacktivist group "Gonjeshke Darande" (Predatory Sparrow) announced that it stole $48 million in cryptocurrency belonging to the regime, which was being used to fund terror activities. However, such use of Iranian cryptocurrency has not emerged only in the past 12 months. In June 2023, then-defense minister Yoav Gallant ordered the seizure of millions of dollars belonging to IRGC-QF and Hezbollah, in what was then the largest seizure of cryptocurrency from the terror groups to date. Yonah Jeremy Bob, Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff, and Reuters contributed to this report. The concept, intended for terrorist prisoners, is meant to reduce escape attempts and save millions of shekels annually in personnel costs. TheIsrael Prison Service sent senior officers on a study visit to the Hamat Gader crocodile farm in northern Israel on Thursday to review a plan to surround a future high-security prison with crocodiles. The concept, intended for terrorist prisoners, is meant to reduce escape attempts and save millions of shekels annually in personnel costs. Advertisement Advertisement IPS officers were briefed on crocodile behavior, handling protocols, associated risks, and the projected cost of acquiring about 60 crocodiles to encircle the facility. The initiative is being prepared in advance of any formal decision to build the detention site. Last week, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed the concept of a detention center surrounded by crocodiles, Israeli media reported. The plan would include building the facility close to Hamat Gader, which currently houses about 250 crocodiles of various breeds. A crocodile (Crocodylus Acutus) rests at the National Zoo of Managua November 13,2007. (credit: OSWALDO RIVAS/REUTERS) 'Relatively small sum compared to security investment a prison requires' A small crocodile would cost about $8,000, and a large crocodile about $20,000, according to a source familiar with the plan. The National Security Ministry would purchase smaller, still-dangerous crocodiles that would grow within the compound, the source added. Advertisement Advertisement This is a relatively small sum compared with the security investment a prison requires, and the results would be even better, the source told Maariv. Care and maintenance are simple and relatively inexpensive, and the ministry will buy the small crocodiles, which are also dangerous, and these will grow inside the compound. Shir Perets contributed to this report. Israel used its Farsi channel to amplify messages of resistance as protests spread in Iran. IsraelPersian, the official Farsi social media page of the Foreign Ministry, has been sharing posts encouraging the anti-regime protesters across Iran on Thursday. The pinned message at the top of the account's X/Twitter feed asks, "What do the Iranian people want?" A post from Thursday afternoon appears to show authorities spraying protesters with water cannons. Advertisement Advertisement The caption on the post reads "The people of Iran are not afraid of a delusional and disillusioned government. On the contrary, it is the government that trembles at the power of the people." The following post discusses the protesters' motives. "The Iranian people are out in the streets today, loudly. There are hundreds of reasons, including that they don't want this government, a government that poured its money down the throats of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis terrorists and destroyed their economy for nuclear ambitions. The Iranian people deserve better than this," it reads. Foreign Ministry mocks Khamenei, IRGC as cowering Then, a post shows a cartoon of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders hiding in a room as protesters break through the door. Advertisement Advertisement The caption on the post reads "The destruction calendar they [the Islamic Republic regime] had set for Israel has now been set for themselves." The final post shared on Thursday evening shows a picture of a lion and sun, symbols traditionally linked with Iran's pre-Islamic Revolution, and still used by anti-regime and pro-monarchy activists, with a sandglass depicting time running out for the Islamic Republic's regime. The caption for the post reads "The rise of Iranian lions and lionesses to fight against darkness. Light triumphs over darkness." There's great news for home chefs who prefer imported Italian pasta over American brands. Amid concerns that tariffs could kick favorite Italian pasta brands out of grocery stores, the United States has reversed course after completing an initial review of the alleged U.S. pricing practices of 13 Italian pasta brands. Higher pasta tariffs were initially passed by Congress in September, with the U.S. imposing a 92% anti-dumping duty on top of the existing 15% tariff on products imported from the EU, citing concerns that Italian pasta prices were too low. Anti-dumping duties are designed to protect American industries from unfair competition from foreign companies selling products that are lower than the fair domestic price. A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Commerce says that the decision was made after careful analysis of each company's practices, and that a "post-preliminary analysis indicates that Italian pasta makers have addressed many of Commerce's concerns raised in the preliminary determination," according to Reuters. For shoppers concerned about how steep tariffs could affect grocery costs, this news is a welcome reprieve. La Molisana and Garofalo are the two biggest importers of pasta to the U.S. among the 13 affected by the previous tariff increase. The new tariff imposed on La Molisana is 2.26%, while Garofalo is responsible for 13.98% and the remaining importers will be required to pay a 9.09% duty. This news comes two months after it was announced that proposed tariffs on red meat, coffee, and other imported foods would not proceed as planned, and follows the recent decision to postpone proposed duty increases on imported furniture. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 10 Mistakes To Avoid When Dining In Italy How long the reprieve lasts depends on a final review in March 2026 A person holding a package of La Molisana pasta in a store - Inga Fortuna/Shutterstock Though these Italian pasta imports are safe from prohibitively high tariffs now, it's important to note that this reprieve is the result of preliminary reviews by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The final conclusions of these reviews will not be made public until March 2026, and it's possible that some of the pasta brands under scrutiny will still face additional tariffs. This could result in higher taxes imposed on American importers and an increase in pasta prices in stores. A final decision will be made as to long-term tariffs on imported pasta from Italy on or after March 12, 2026. In the meantime, the European Commission has stated publicly that it is ready to intervene in negotiations to pave the way for fair rates. While some global brands saw tariffs coming and figured out how to avoid them by moving production facilities out of China, that approach won't work for Italian food importers. However, it's possible that pasta importers will be able to negotiate a favorable long-term solution by adjusting pricing on U.S. products indefinitely. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Tasting Table. MAGA commentator Eric Daugherty labelled Jack Smith as a TYRANT after the former special counsel accused Donald Trump of criminal involvement in inciting the January 6 riot. Daughertys fiery comments came after Smiths 255-page testimony to Congress, which was delivered on December 17, was released. During his testimony, Smith said his team had proof beyond reasonable doubt that Trump had sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election with the riot. His investigation had been dropped, though, when Trump took office for a second time. Advertisement Advertisement "HOLY CRAP. Special Counsel Jack Smith said during his Congressional testimony President Trump did NOT have a 1st Amendment Right to say the 2020 election was fraudulent," Daugherty wrote on X. "THIS GUY IS A TYRANT! No free speech for Trump? Lock Jack Smith up." Jack Smith says that Donald Trump had a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 election, which culminated in the January 6 riots (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Daugherty, who is the Chief Content Officer at RightLine, was referring to a remark made by Smith during his testimony. However, Smith, who had led the 2022 investigation into Trumps involvement in the January 6 attack on the Capitol, had actually said that the president was allowed to say whatever he wanted about the election. Smiths caveat, though, was that Trump could not use false statements to prevent the government from carrying out its regular functions. Advertisement Advertisement "There is no historical analog for what President Trump did in this case, Smith told Congress. As we said in the indictment, he was free to say that he thought he won the election. He was even free to say falsely that he won the election." "But what he was not free to do was violate Federal law and use knowing -- knowingly false statements about election fraud to target a lawful government function, he continued. That he was not allowed to do. And that differentiates this case from any past history." The January 6 riots saw protestors storming Capitol Hill in a bid to prevent the certification of the election (AFP/Getty) Smith went on to say that his investigation was completely impartial and actually hinged on evidence provided by members of Trumps own party. "We had an elector in Pennsylvania who is a former Congressman who was going to be an elector for President Trump who said that what they were trying to do was an attempt to overthrow the government and illegal, he said. Our case was built on, frankly, Republicans who put their allegiance to the country before the party. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has not been criminally convicted of any involvement in the January 6 attack, which saw his supporters storm the U.S. Capitol to prevent the certification of Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election. In one of the final acts of his first administration, Trump called on Mike Pence to derail Bidens certification since the then-vice president was given the role of overseeing the transfer of power. Trump ordered Mike Pence to not certify Bidens win, but the vice president refused (REUTERS) When Pence was poised to hand over the election to the winning candidate, Joe Biden, Trump unleashed his rage on X. Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify, he seethed, in a tweet obtained by American Oversight. USA demands the truth! Advertisement Advertisement His supporters were later heard shouting hang Mike Pence, according to Politico. In his testimony, Smith said Trumps actions endangered the life of his own Vice President. Since winning a second term in office, Trump has issued pardons or commutations for more than 1500 people convicted or charged in connection with the riots. Fourteen members of the far-right group Proud Boys were included in the pardon. "These people have been destroyed," Trump said at the time. "What they've done to these people is outrageous. There's rarely been anything like it in the history of our country." Washington A federal judge on Friday ordered the Virginia man suspected of leaving two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic National Committees in 2021 to remain detained in the run-up to a criminal trial. U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh granted the Justice Department's request to keep the suspect, Brian Cole, in custody while he awaits a trial on two criminal counts. He has not yet entered a plea to the charges, which stem from the alleged planting of two improvised explosive devices near the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the RNC and DNC on Jan. 5, 2021, the night before the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Sharbaugh wrote in a 19-page opinion that "the government carried its ultimate burden to demonstrate that there are no conditions of release the Court could impose to reasonably assure the safety of the community." Advertisement Advertisement The decision came after Cole appeared in court Tuesday for a hearing on whether he should remain detained pending trial. Justice Department lawyers had argued in a legal filing that Cole poses an "intolerable risk" to the community and urged the court to keep him in custody "considering the extreme and profoundly serious nature of his crimes, the overwhelming evidence of his guilt, the years he has spent deceiving those around him to avoid accountability, and the intolerable risk that he will again resort to violence to express his frustration with the world around him." But in arguing for his release, Cole's lawyers said he has lived "without incident" in the nearly five years since the bombs were planted and has no criminal history. His legal team wrote in a filing ahead of the hearing that Cole had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Level 1 is the least severe form on the spectrum, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Advertisement Advertisement The FBI had worked for years to track down the perpetrator who planted the devices on Jan. 5, releasing video footage and photos to the public in hopes of identifying the suspect. The bombs, which did not detonate, were not discovered until the afternoon of Jan. 6, as local and federal authorities were overwhelmed when a mob of President Trump's supporters breached the U.S. Capitol in an effort to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 election. Cole was arrested last month after investigators looked at cellphone records, purchasing history and vehicle movements. Prosecutors said that during an interview with investigators after his arrest, Cole confessed to constructing the devices, filling them with explosive powder and setting the timers to detonate. He also said that he had driven to Washington on Jan. 5 to attend a protest over the outcome of the 2020 election and did not tell his family that he was going to a demonstration in support of Mr. Trump, Justice Department lawyers wrote in their filing. During the post-arrest interview, Cole denied any intent to interfere with Congress' certification of the 2020 election results, prosecutors said. Still, Sharbaugh, the magistrate judge, wrote in his opinion that "the resulting fear and alarm followed all the same and how could it not?" Advertisement Advertisement While Cole's lawyers had noted that the devices did not detonate, and said they believe they would not have, the court called that argument "decidedly unpersuasive." "After all, Mr. Cole reportedly stated that he planted the devices one of them underneath a public bench, no less hoping they would detonate and that there would be news about it. Mercifully, that did not happen," Sharbaugh wrote. "But if the plan had succeeded, the results could have been devas[ta]ting: creating a greater sense of terror on the eve of a high-security Congressional proceeding, causing serious property damage in the heart of Washington, D.C., grievously injuring DNC or RNC staff and other innocent bystanders, or worse." He continued: "Simply put, the nature and circumstances of the charged offenses here are gravely serious, so this factor points strongly toward pretrial detention." Sharbaugh also found the weight of evidence against Cole to be "significant," citing phone, vehicle and financial records. Advertisement Advertisement Cole faces two criminal offenses, but the magistrate judge put off immediately accepting an indictment returned by a grand jury convened in the District of Columbia Superior Court on Monday. Sharbaugh, who serves in the U.S. district court, said the use of a local grand jury to charge federal crimes raises additional questions. While a different federal judge in Washington ruled in November that judges must accept indictments for federal offenses returned by local grand juries, he put his decision on hold while an appeals court considers the issue. Later Friday, Sharbaugh issued an order accepting that two-count indictment returned by the local grand jury, "on the understanding" that prosecutors would pursue a new indictment from a federal grand jury when the panels reconvene in the new year. High school softball coach recruited ex-player in murder plot, prosecutors say Mamdani signs executive orders undoing some of Eric Adams' orders Trump now says he had CT scan, not MRI in October L3Harris Technologies has secured a Space Development Agency contract worth up to $843 million to build 18 more infrared national-security missile-tracking satellites, which will undergo integration and testing at the defense giant's Palm Bay campus. L3Harris' secretive $100 million satellite facility at Building 31 off Palm Bay Road has scaled up to full production as major contracts are rolling out for President Donald Trump's future "Golden Dome" defense system against incoming ballistic and hypersonic missiles. L3Harris is proud to support SDA in its mission to deliver a next generation, layered defense architecture that can track threats in real time, L3Harris CEO and Chair Christopher Kubasik said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Defeating the hypersonic missile threat begins in space, and our Tranche 3 satellites will advance our proven, on-orbit tracking and targeting capability needed to protect our homeland," Kubasik said. This artist's rendering depicts L3Harris Technologies-developed satellites for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 3 Tracking Layer program, which will provide infrared sensing, advanced on-orbit data processing, and detection of hypersonic and ballistic missiles. Golden Dome: L3Harris building 'persistent starer' missile-tracking satellites in Palm Bay The $843 million SDA contract includes ground software, operations and sustainment functions for the 18 satellites, which will be deployed in the military agency's future Tranche 3 constellation. During a Building 31 media tour earlier this month, L3Harris displayed eight satellites under varying stages of assembly. These satellites' sensor-equipped payloads which will operate in low-Earth orbit in the SDA's Tranche 1 Tracking Layer were transported from an L3Harris facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Palm Bay, where workers install propulsion, solar-power wings and other components. Advertisement Advertisement The eight satellites will be transported to California for future launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Looking ahead, L3Harris received a January 2024 contract worth up to $919 million to design and build 18 infrared space vehicles for the SDA's Tranche 2 missile-tracking constellation. The 94,000-square-foot Palm Bay facility will integrate those satellites during 2026, with launches planned in 2027. Tranche 3 should launch during the 2029 fiscal year, an SDA press release said. The L3Harris $843 million contract is part of the future network of 72 missile-tracking satellites worth about $3.5 billion. The other participating companies: Lockheed Martin: up to $1.1 billion for 18 satellites. Rocket Lab USA: up to $805 million for 18 satellites. Northrop Grumman: up to $764 million for 18 satellites. Advertisement Advertisement The constellation will include a mix of missile warning and missile tracking, with half the constellations payloads supporting advanced missile defense missions to pace evolving threats," SDA Acting Director Gurpartap GP Sandhoo said in a press release. "The addition of these satellites will achieve near-continuous global coverage for missile warning and tracking, along with payloads capable of generating fire control quality tracks for missile defense," Sandhoo said. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space. Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY, where he has covered news since 2004. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Advertisement Advertisement Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Palm Bay L3Harris facility to integrate, test $843M 'Golden Dome' satellites Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty, D-Martin, speaks on the House floor in 2023. (LRC Public Information) The General Assemblys last remaining Democrat from Eastern Kentucky announced she will not seek reelection. Instead, Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty will run for district court judge. The Martin Democrat, who has represented the 95th House District since 2019, shared her decision in a New Years Day post on Facebook. She said she plans to serve the remainder of her term in the House. Advertisement Advertisement She thanked her constituents for their support, and said some of her proudest accomplishments included backing funding for the Mountain Parkway Expansion through Prestonsburg and for straightening a road to John M. Stumbo Elementary School. In addition to serving as your State Representative, for over 20 years, I have worked as an attorney representing our local families, Laferty wrote. I hope my record of hard work, and always trying to do whats right for my community, helps you to support me in this election, as well! Once again, I humbly ask for your trust and vote! Kentucky Democrats once held political strongholds throughout the Appalachian part of the state and began losing ground around the start of the century. At present, Democrats have 20 seats in the state House to the Republicans 80. Last year, the last remaining Eastern Kentucky Democrat in the Senate, Sen. Robin Webb of Grayson, switched parties. At the time, Webb said she joined the Republicans, not because she was leaving the Democratic Party, but the party left me. Advertisement Advertisement In the 2024 election, Tackett received 56% of the vote, or 10,721 votes, over Republican Brandon Spencer, who received 8,330 votes, or 44%. The 95th House District includes Floyd and part of Pike counties. NEED TO KNOW At least 17 people have died since Monday, Dec. 29, due to severe weather in Afghanistan According to a spokesperson for the Herat governor, the dead include five members of the same family Around 1,800 families have reportedly been affected by flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall and snow At least 17 people are dead due to extreme weather in Afghanistan. On Thursday, Jan. 1, a spokesman for Afghanistans national disaster management authority announced that 17 people have been killed and 11 others are injured after flash floods hit multiple parts of the country, the Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement The deaths include five members of the same family, who were inside a property when its roof collapsed on New Year's Day, said Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, a spokesperson for the Herat governor, per AP. Two children are reportedly among the victims. AP Flash floods sparked by heavy rain and snowfall affected roughly 1,800 families. Flash floods sparked by heavy rain and snowfall affected roughly 1,800 families. 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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The majority of the weather-related fatalities have been since Monday, Dec. 29, Afghanistans National Disaster Management Authority told AP. Around 1,800 families have been affected by the flash floods that were triggered by heavy rain and snowfall. Advertisement Advertisement Infrastructure has also been destroyed and livestock killed across Afghanistans central, northern, southern, and western regions. Assessment teams have been sent to the areas worst affected, while surveys are set to take place to determine outstanding needs, per AP. The extreme weather events come just days after the United Nations and other aid agencies said Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the worlds largest humanitarian crises in 2026. A $1.7 billion appeal has been launched to assist nearly 18 million people in urgent need. PEOPLE has contacted the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority for further comment. Read the original article on People LEWISBURG Cherished Cats Rescue Alliance and borough resident Cheslee Hibler ended 2025 in the purr-fect way. Hibler, a lab coordinator in the Physics & Astronomy department at Bucknell University, adopted the 1,000th and 1,001st cats through the 501(c)(3) nonprofits Scratching Post Cat Cafe at 230 Market St., Lewisburg. Volunteers and board members surprised Hibler with a small celebration after the adoption paperwork was signed on Dec. 31. I grew up with cats, Hibler said. I was always going to end up adopting a cat or two once I was settled. I like cats. I like their personalities. Theyre a little judgmental but cuddly too. Advertisement Advertisement Hibler adopted Louie and Archie, two siblings born in mid-2025. Hibler noticed Louie from the cat cafe window, arranged a visit and was told Louie had a brother. They both liked me, Hibler said. We bonded quickly. Im pretty excited. Its a little wild that its the 1,000th adoption. Its a nice surprise. Hiblers parents, Pat and Jan Hibler, were also visiting from Texas for the holiday season and joined Hibler in the celebration. Hibler was presented with a coffee mug featuring pictures of the animals and a balloon. Louie and Archie and their three siblings were being fostered by Macy Starks, 14, of Mifflinburg. She described the cats as playful. Louie is affectionate and likes to be around other cats, while Archie is cuddly, outgoing and likes to meet people. Advertisement Advertisement Cherished Cats Rescue Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on saving feline lives in central Pennsylvania. It is the parent organization of The Scratching Post, which opened in November 2017. Co-founder Angie Brouse said the Alliance has facilitated just under 2,100 adoptions, while the cat cafe has completed 1,000 over the last eight years. Its been a goal weve had, Brouse said. We celebrated 500, and we always questioned how long we could keep it going. Most cat cafes have a hard time staying afloat, so this is a big celebration for us. These not only save lives, but theyre going to great homes. Were still going strong. Lets get to 1,500. Brouse said the organization averages about 200 adoptions a year. People from five to six neighboring states travel to the cafe to set up adoptions. It was one of the first cat cafes in Pennsylvania. (The Center Square) Following days of civil unrest in Iran, President Donald Trump issued a warning to the Iranian regime that the U.S. is prepared to take action if civilians are shot. Trump posted the warning overnight Friday, indicating he may be throwing support behind the uprising in the Islamic Republic sparked by economic decline. If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United State of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go, the president posted to his Truth Social Account. Advertisement Advertisement The warning came on the heels of the president hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when the two leaders reportedly discussed the potential of future strikes on Iran if the Islamic Republic attempts to rebuild its nuclear capabilities, following U.S. strikes in June that targeted the countrys nuclear sites. I hear Iran is looking to rebuild its facilities again, and if they do we will have to knock them down again, the president told reporters during a press conference Monday. Were going to have no choice but very quickly to eradicate that build up. So I hope Iran is not trying to build up, as Ive been reading. Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council for Iran, snapped back at Trumps post, signaling possible retaliation if the U.S. decides to get involved. With the stances taken by Israeli officials and Trump, the behind-the-scenes of the matter has become clear. We consider the positions of the protesting merchants separate from those of the destructive elements, and Trump should know what American interference in this internal issue is equivalent to chaos acrost the entire region and the destruction of American interests, Larijani posted on X. The American people should know that it was Trump who started the adventurism. They should look after their soldiers. The civil uprising in Iran follows a pattern of Iranian citizens protesting the brutal regimes grip on its citizens. The most recent unrest occurred in 2019, with one of the most significant events taking place in 2009, known as the Green Movement, which resulted in millions of Iranian citizens demonstrating against the government. Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A Maryland man who won a $250,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket returned to lottery headquarters eight years later to collect a $50,000 Powerball prize. The Prince George's County man, who nicknamed himself "The $50,000 Man," told Maryland Lottery officials he bought his Powerball ticket for the Oct. 18 drawing from the Exxon at 6500 Suitland Road in Morningside. He visited lottery headquarters in Baltimore on Friday to collect a $50,000 prize from matching four white balls in the drawing. Advertisement Advertisement "I would have been a little happier if I had matched one more number, but this is still a great prize," the federal employee said. The winner, who previously won $250,000 from a scratch-off ticket in 2018, said he was shocked to discover he had scored big for a second time. "I found out I won by scanning the ticket on the app," he said. "When I saw $50,000, I had to check the numbers again. I just didn't believe it." The winner said his previous prize went toward a new car and boosting his savings. He said he does not yet have any plans for his latest windfall. A 31-year-old man is accused of recording people on hidden cameras in a popular restaurant's bathroom, according to court documents. Court records show that on Dec. 30, two videos were discovered from a hidden camera inside the bathroom of the Lupe Tortilla near Katy Freeway and Echo Lane. The videos showed a female child and a woman undressed, the records added. It's alleged that the 31-year-old Lupe Tortilla employee, Bayson Elias Pu, hid those cameras in the bathroom. He was arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 31, by the Hedwig Village Police Department and is now facing a felony for invasive visual recording. Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Lupe Tortilla said the recording device was found by one of its team members on Dec. 30, reportedly soon after its placement, and told management immediately. Michelle Tortorice, the customer relations coordinator for Lupe Tortilla, sent this statement: "Lupe Tortilla confirms that on December 30, 2025, a recording device placed in a restroom at one of its Houston-area locations was discovered by a restaurant staff member shortly after its placement. Restaurant management took immediate action by contacting local authorities. Lupe Tortilla places the highest priority on the safety, privacy, and well-being of its guests and team members. We are cooperating fully with the Hedwig Police Department as they investigate the matter. We appreciate their prompt response and professionalism. Advertisement Advertisement We are grateful to the team members and managers whose attentiveness and quick action helped bring the matter to the attention of authorities, contributing to a swift response. For more than four decades, Lupe Tortilla has been proud to serve the Houston community and remains committed to maintaining the trust of our guests, neighbors, and team members. Further details will be provided as appropriate and consistent with the ongoing investigation." Along with the statement, Tortorice provided a timeline of events according to Lupe Tortilla, including the team member finding the device on Dec. 30, Hedwig police being notified shortly after, and an individual being detained by police in connection with the investigation on Dec. 31. Pu was granted a $150,000 bond, which he has since posted. Pu is scheduled to be back in court on Friday. For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, X and Instagram.. MAGA bloodlust is in the air as a cloud of racism and conspiracy theories swirl amid conservatives attempts to portray Minnesotas Somali community as rife with criminal fraudsters. And some are even calling for the states Democratic governor, Tim Walz, to possibly face execution. As my colleague Julianne McShane recently explained, the MAGA movements current obsession with alleged social services fraud in Minnesota coincided with a racist rant that President Donald Trump unleashed toward Somalis at a Cabinet meeting last month. Advertisement Advertisement Conservatives have cherry-picked news reports and relied on dubious allegations from influencers including one steered by Minnesota Republicans to portray Somalis as synonymous with fraud, despite the fact that the person convicted of overseeing the fraud in question is a white woman named Aimee Bock. Nonetheless, right-wing streamer Zack Hoyt who goes by Asmongold told his followers this week that the falsity-filled allegations should result in entire Somali families being denaturalized and deported. (I recently wrote about Hoyt due to his public support for subjecting pro-immigrant protesters to slave labor.) Hoyt also had a stark message for the White House. If JD Vance does not push for treason with capital punishment against Tim Walz, do not vote for him, he said. If Trump does not deliver that, do not vote for him. Unless the most extreme, dramatic, brutal, aggressive option is on the table, Im staying home. Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the Right Angle News Network shared a clip of the rant on X, summarizing Hoyt as saying that entire families must be denaturalized and deported, and that the officials who allowed it to happen must face treason and capital punishment charges. Musk shared the Right Angle News Networks post and added: That is whats needed to stop the fraud. Many in the MAGA movement seem to have a conniption any time that someone anywhere utters a critical word about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, at times accusing them of glorifying violence. Meanwhile, some conservatives including Musk, the presidents top campaign donor are pushing for Minnesota leaders to face the death penalty. And this is just months after two Democratic state lawmakers in Minnesota were shot, one of them fatally, in what appears to have been political assassination. Looking at the state of the union through that lens, it could not be clearer that these conservatives are actual advocates for political violence in America. The post MAGA influencer flaunts bloodlust in call for Tim Walz to possibly face execution appeared first on MS NOW. This article was originally published on ms.now Snow blankets the Maine State House in Augusta, on Dec. 19, 2023. (Photo by AnnMarie Hilton/Maine Morning Star) When Maine lawmakers return to Augusta in January, they will face an agenda shaped as much by federal policy shifts as by ongoing state issues held over from last session, including rising health care and energy costs, immigration enforcement, tribal sovereignty, and a justice system strained by chronic underfunding. Hundreds of bills were carried over from the first of the two-year session of the 132nd Legislature. But since then, the future of several safety net programs that help Mainers with food, health care and utility costs have become increasingly uncertain due to federal policy changes: tens of thousands of Mainers are bracing for higher insurance premiums, electricity rates are slated to increase, and new work requirements go into place for federal food assistance programs. Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature will have to decide if and how the state can fill in funding gaps left by federal changes. At the same time, lawmakers are expected to revisit contentious debates that stalled last year, including over data privacy protections, tribal sovereignty, and how far Maine should go in insulating local communities from federal immigration enforcement. Many of the issues lawmakers will confront next year are not new, but advocates have told Maine Morning Star the stakes are higher now. In several policy areas, legislators will be forced to choose between incremental fixes and broader structural reforms, which could shape Maines economic and legal landscape for years to come. Heres a look at some of the major issues lawmakers will consider: Health care Approximately 60,000 Mainers are expecting to see health care costs skyrocket because of the pending expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, which subsidize the cost of marketplace health insurance for millions of Americans. That combined with federal changes to eligibility for MaineCare, the states Medicaid program that provides coverage for thousands of low-income families, health care will be a priority for the Legislature to tackle next session. Advertisement Advertisement The increasing cost of MaineCare was the source of last years $118 million budget shortfall, which Democrats plugged with the two-year budget passed by the majority party in March. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX While there are no specific bills carried over from last session to address additional health care funding gaps projected due to federal rollbacks, lawmakers can utilize placeholder bills, such as LD 378, titled An Act to Strengthen Health Care in Maine, as well as the supplemental budget to appropriate needed funds. The Legislatures health insurance committee will take up at least two relevant bills LD 910, which would increase transparency in health insurance reporting, and LD 961, which would remove some barriers for nurse practitioners to provide care carried over from last session when lawmakers reconvene. Immigration Gov. Janet Mills last month announced her intention to allow certain restrictions on local involvement in federal immigration enforcement to become law (though that wont take effect until later in 2026). Advertisement Advertisement But that does not mean lawmakers wont be continuing to debate how the state should intervene in President Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda. The bill the governor is letting become law, LD 1971, places restrictions on enforcement activities absent formal agreements with federal authorities, which is currently the case for all local and state agencies in Maine. But lawmakers carried over into the next session a related bill LD 1259, which would explicitly prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from entering into formal agreements of that sort. Lawmakers will also consider several new immigration-related bills, including proposals focused on protecting against erroneous detentions, preventing immigration enforcement in places like schools and hospitals, and clarifying language to ensure jails can refuse to detain people on civil immigration offenses on behalf of federal authorities. Read more about these bills here. Energy costs As energy costs continue to rise, lawmakers across the political spectrum have said they are committed to finding ways to alleviate the pressure on Maine ratepayers. Advertisement Advertisement In late November, the Public Utilities Commission announced new electricity prices for 2026. Both Central Maine Power and Versant customers can expect to see their bills increase by an average of $13 to $17, according to an analysis by the Office of Public Advocate. Last session, legislators passed a law that is meant to lower the cost of net energy billing, a renewable energy credit program that receives a lot of blame for rising costs, though regulators have said the increases have more to do with the volatility of natural gas and other fossil fuel prices. One idea that will be on the table in 2026 is an energy tax credit. There are two proposals one from a Republican and one from a Democrat seeking to use this as a mechanism to offset costs for Maine households. With one of the bills carried over from last session, Rep. Kilton Webb (D-Durham) is proposing new legislation that would create a $50 a month tax credit for qualifying low-income ratepayers. Advertisement Advertisement Details are not yet available for another new bill, sponsored by Sen. Denise Tepler (D-Sagadahoc), titled: An Act to Reduce Household Energy Costs and Increase Appliance Affordability in Response to Federal Cuts. Wabanaki rights The movement to return more sovereignty to the Wabanaki Nations is poised to continue in the upcoming legislative session with both sweeping and piecemeal proposals. The Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Mikmaq Nation collectively known as the Wabanaki Nations are treated differently than other federally recognized tribes, more akin to municipalities than sovereign nations because of a 1980 land settlement agreement. Wabanaki leaders have said that their Tribes signed the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act to get fair compensation for stolen lands, not to give up the level of sovereignty that has been interpreted by the state and courts to date. Advertisement Advertisement Two bills that the Legislature will contemplate next year are nearly identical to past proposals that were blocked either by Mills or through the Legislatures opaque funding process. LD 785 is omnibus legislation that would implement the remaining recommendations of the 2019 state task force that studied the issue, while LD 395 focuses on just one of the recommendations, restoring the Wabanaki Nations access to beneficial federal laws. Among the many federal laws that do not apply to the Wabanaki Nations is one that offers federally recognized tribes the right to exclusively regulate and take in revenue from gambling on tribal lands. Lawmakers earlier this year attempted to give the Wabanaki Nations exclusive rights to operate internet gaming in Maine and afford the Tribes more revenue from gambling at private casinos. The latter legislation is being carried over into next session, while the igaming bill was held by the governor, meaning Mills can either veto it within the first three days of session or allow it to become law without her signature. Data privacy The Maine Legislature has debated how aggressive the state should be in protecting consumer privacy online for the past several years. But competing proposals along with sizable behind-the-scenes influence from lobbyists have left the state without a comprehensive data privacy law. Advertisement Advertisement When lawmakers return in January, the issue will again be in play. There remains stiff opposition from some lawmakers and local businesses to the stricter proposal, even though its been the favorite of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee so far. This plan mirrors a law that took effect in Maryland in October, a deviation from the more than a dozen states that have adopted a model favored by industry groups. Some of the resistance is similar to that seen in Maryland, including concerns about untested language, but businesses are also worried about financial impacts on top of an already uncertain economic landscape, including President Donald Trumps tariffs. Indigent defense Despite a dire lack in funding for Maines public defender system and hundreds of indigent defendants waiting for their court-appointed attorneys, the Legislature last session failed to make up for a $13 million budget shortfall. The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services needs that money to continue to pay their rostered attorneys, who take up a bulk of indigent defense cases, past April. Lawmakers on the Legislatures Judiciary Committee were caught between two competing realities, co-chair Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland) explained in September: The need for [Public Defense Services] to have additional funding and the lack of a surplus of resources for the Legislature to appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Several bills related to indigent defense, including some broader reforms that were carried over, will be taken up this coming session. These include LD 1941, which would reestablish parole, and LD 449, which proposes conditional discharge for certain defendants reforms that advocates believe would help alleviate the backlog and the hundreds of Mainers that have routinely be held in jail awaiting representation Waste With the facility that takes more than half of Maines landfill waste expected to reach capacity in just a couple years, lawmakers have been trying to balance environmental concerns with the states growing trash problem. Last legislative session more than half a dozen bills were introduced to address relations between the Juniper Ridge Landfill and its Old Town neighbors, as well as the waste itself that ends up in the landfill. Lawmakers and advocates in October toured three waste facilities to see for themselves how the state is handling the roughly 1.8 million tons of waste generated each year. Advertisement Advertisement Much of the debate last session involved loopholes that permit out-of-state construction debris to be trucked into Maine. Casella, which operates Juniper Ridge, has argued its necessary to stabilize the wet sludge waste at the facility. Legislative leaders approved an emergency proposal, LD 2070 from Rep. James Dill (D-Old Town),that would prohibit the state Department of Environmental Protection from issuing landfill expansion permits that would alter freshwater wetlands. This proposal comes after the state signaled its support for expanding Juniper Ridge, despite objections from environmental advocates, the local community and the Penobscot Nation. Environmental advocates argued against the expansion in court this summer. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner on Friday said President Donald Trumps explanation of his aspirin use makes no sense. Trump, 79, told The Wall Street Journal that he has a reason for taking a high dose of the drug against the advice of his doctors and despite the visible bruising its caused on his hands. Politics: Walz Condemns Trump's 'Depraved' Remarks Baselessly Implying Minnesota Governor Had State Rep Killed I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart, he told the newspaper. Does that make sense? Advertisement Advertisement Reiner said it doesnt noting that blood thinners such as aspirin dont literally thin the blood, as Trump seems to think. Its not like changing something from gumbo to chicken soup, he said. It doesnt make it thinner. It makes you less likely to clot. Reiner, who was a longtime cardiologist for the late former Vice President **** Cheney, said many patients were once given aspirin to prevent heart attacks, but that advice has changed over the years, especially for people over 70. Politics: Trump Contradicts Kremlin Claim That Ukraine Drone Strike Targeted Putin Residence Not only is there no benefit in terms of just primary prevention trying to prevent a cardiac event by giving them aspirin that there can be hazard, he said. And the hazard can be bleeding, significant bleeding. Advertisement Advertisement Trump, he noted, told the Journal that hes taking 325 mg of aspirin daily. But the dosage that we use for patients even with documented coronary artery disease is a quarter that, is 81 mg per day, Reiner said. So why is the president taking an unorthodox dose of aspirin? Trump, he pointed out, has been frequently seen with bruises on his hands. Hes often used bandages and concealer to cover them up, as in this image from December: A bandage is seen on the hand of President Donald Trump while he walks the red carpet before the 48th Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 7 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson via Associated Press The White House has said the bruising is due to both aspirin use and frequent handshaking. However, The Wall Street Journal said there have been several instances in which his hand has been cut, leading to bleeding that has alarmed witnesses. One such incident happened at the 2024 Republican National Convention when Pam Bondi future attorney general high-fived Trump, nicking him with a ring in the process. Politics: JD Vance Says Drugs Drove Venezuela Strikes, Treats Oil As An Afterthought Trump in the WSJ interview dismissed it as a slight little cut. Advertisement Advertisement The bruises, and use of concealer to cover them, have become a regular part of his appearance. The president admitted that his doctors want him on the lower dosage of 81 mg per day, but said hes ignoring that advice because hes a little superstitious. That revelation baffled Reiner. If you were bruising a lot, and your doctor says youre on too much aspirin, why wouldnt you go down to the lower dose? he wondered. It makes no sense to me. See more of his analysis below: President Trump tells the WSJ that he's taking more aspirin than doctors recommend. Is that a good idea? Dr. Jonathan Reiner weighs in. pic.twitter.com/tpzqipXMBE The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) January 2, 2026 Political Updates Read the original on HuffPost New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used his executive powers to revoke a handful of orders put into place by his predecessor after the former mayor was federally indicted, including a directive that expanded the definition of antisemitism and another that barred city employees and agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel. Mamdani signed the orders on Thursday afternoon, just hours after his inaugural ceremony at City Hall. As part of the move, he rescinded directives signed by the former mayor, Eric Adams, after September 26, 2024 the date Adams was indicted. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mamdani said that was a date that marked a moment when many New Yorkers decided politics held nothing for them. Advertisement Advertisement Adams has denied any wrongdoing, and the Trump administration later sought to drop those charges against Adams, which were eventually dismissed by a judge. Mamdani also signed additional executive orders Thursday concerning housing an issue that he focused on heavily during his campaign. The orders require the administration to do an analysis of how housing development can be sped up and to create an inventory of city-owned land where housing can be built and submit the report by the summer. Adams executive orders, meanwhile, issued in the closing days of his term, were seen by Mamdani supporters and some lawmakers as an effort to undercut Mamdanis agenda. Advertisement Advertisement It was also a chance for Adams to tout his support for Israel in contrast to Mamdani, who is a fierce critic of the Israeli government. The 34-year-old democratic socialist had been eyed with concern by many Jewish leaders since his meteoric political rise began last year. One of the revoked orders blocked all city agencies from divesting from Israel and the other expanded the definition of antisemitism to match the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, which classifies some criticism of Israel as antisemitic. Mamdani defended his orders during a press conference on Friday, telling reporters some Jewish organizations in the city also shared his concerns with the expanded definition of the term. In explaining his directive, Mamdani pointed out new mayors have the choice to either sign a continuation of previous orders, revoke them or amend them. What we will do is actually deliver on our commitment to protect Jewish New Yorkers in a manner that is able to actually fulfill that, Mamdani said. Advertisement Advertisement The move by Mamdani so early in his new administration raised concern and criticism from some Jewish leaders. In a social media post, Israels Foreign Ministry accused Mamdani of fueling antisemitism and multiple Jewish organizations, including the UJA Federation of New York and the New York Board of Rabbis, issued a joint statement critical of his order saying it reversed significant protections against antisemitism. While we welcome Mayor Mamdanis Executive Order seeking to better protect houses of worship, and his continuation of Mayors Office of Combating Antisemitism, our community will be looking for clear and sustained leadership that demonstrates a serious commitment to confronting antisemitism, the statement said in part. New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman, supported Mamdanis move saying Adams executive orders adopted a flawed and far too broad definition of antisemitism, and that prohibited city agencies from boycotting Israel. She also said the organization backed his reversal of another Adams-era executive order, which had allowed federal immigration authorities into the citys Rikers Island jail complex. Advertisement Advertisement That order violated New York Citys sanctuary laws, served no legitimate public safety purpose, and was a gift to the Trump administrations cruel deportation agenda, Lieberman said. As mayor, New York Citys chief executive has wide powers at their disposal. While some orders can be seen as somewhat symbolic, they can also have a more sweeping impact through the outright implementation of policy, the reorganization of municipal agencies and enforcement action that local government must take. Mamdani has said he believes in Israels right to exist but that the Israeli government should not give preferential treatment to Jewish people, saying it should guarantee equal rights for all citizens. He is also a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement a global campaign calling for using nonviolent tactics in support of Palestinian human rights. While supporters believe the movement puts pressure on Israel, critics argue it is antisemitic. Mamdani did not entirely undo all of Adams orders focused on antisemitism. The citys Office to Combat Antisemitism, created under Adams in May of last year, will remain in place, but Mamdani is reorganizing its structure, a common move for new administrations. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SAN FRANCISCO If Zohran Mamdani represents the rise of progressive politics in America, San Francisco is fast becoming the deflating counterpoint for the left. It isnt just that liberal lion Nancy Pelosi is on her way out or that moderate Democrats, backed by wealthy tech investors, have trounced the left in election after election over the last five years. Its that San Francisco progressives who have been lost in a fog here paying the price for voters frustrations over street conditions, homelessness and a drug addiction epidemic have seen liberals in another big city suddenly supplant them. At a series of meetings organized by socialists and other progressive groups here in recent months, the contrast with New York hung over the gatherings , stirring a sense of envy and anger. Many in San Francisco said it feels as if their city now belongs to the billionaire class. Advertisement Advertisement The takeover is classic: San Francisco is the jewel in the crown of the crypto and tech industries, vented Aaron Peskin, a progressive former president of the Board of Supervisors who lost last years mayoral election. They want this to be the symbolic elite tech capital of the world. Its a bicoastal split screen that speaks to a realignment of Americas progressive power base. In New York, Mamdani, a democratic socialist who took office on Thursday, was swept into power on promises of free buses, childcare and widespread rent freezes. In San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie, an heir to the billion-dollar Levi Strauss fortune, has focused on austerity measures, beefing up policing, reviving a hollowed-out downtown core and supporting the booming artificial-intelligence industry. San Francisco, once an incubator to a host of modern progressive ideas from the LGBTQ+-rights movement to ethnic studies in classrooms and protections for undocumented immigrants, has changed. Even progressives acknowledge it isnt the liberal trendsetter of yesteryear. That shift has already upended the national political narrative around the city. For decades a lefty caricature and punching bag for conservatives, pundits and politicians on the right are now racing to make Mamdani the face of the Democratic Party in the midterms. Meanwhile, moderates in San Francisco, while celebrating their victories, hold their city up as a warning sign for what they cast as the excesses of the left. Advertisement Advertisement The message is you can take things too far, said Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party and a moderate whos helped lead the citys centrist shift. She added, Dont expect that voters wont notice forever. Or as Chris Larsen, a billionaire crypto titan who has been pouring money into local elections, put it: The cost issue was the overriding thing in New York. Whereas, in San Francisco, it was cleaning the mess that the far left created over the last decade It was safe, clean streets and getting back our reputation, which I think we largely have now. San Francisco progressives have a different assessment, arguing the Bay Area citys changing politics are largely a testament to unfettered political spending by the ultra wealthy. Tech investors have outsize influence in San Francisco, a city of less than than 850,000 people where a few million dollars can blanket the local airwaves with ads. New York City is roughly 10 times larger and the countrys most expensive media market. The Big Apple also has more working-class voters and people of color. Advertisement Advertisement Silicon Valley interests have poured tens of millions of dollars into San Francisco elections over the last five years, often propelling messages about the citys pandemic decline and blaming progressives for crime in the city. That branding problem has been really brutal, said Jen Snyder, a veteran San Francisco consultant who volunteered on Mamdanis campaign. New York is so massive the left can survive and thrive despite hostile spending. And Mamdani is hardly alone in New York. The city currently has nine democratic socialist state lawmakers and three city councilmembers in office. The contrast in San Francisco is glaring: After years of progressives gaining power, voters in 2022 recalled progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin and three school board members who had pushed to rename public schools even as classrooms remained empty during the pandemic. Moderates then won a majority on the citys Board of Supervisors, including ousting socialist Supervisor Dean Preston in a district that includes the Haight Ashbury, one of the citys liberal enclaves. Advertisement Advertisement Lurie, a former nonprofit executive, was elected after pouring more than $9 million of his familial wealth into the race and appealing to voters anger over the citys sluggish post-pandemic recovery. He has since presided over a public-relations comeback, promoting the citys falling crime rates and lower number of tent encampments, trends that took root many months before his election. Now even some Republicans are reassessing whether San Francisco is a useful punching bag. Former Fox News host Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for governor, said he counts Lurie as well as San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan another moderate Democrat from Silicon Valley as friends. Mamdani is actually, in terms of policy, following in the footsteps of what we've seen here in California for years, with disastrous results, Hilton said. Then, in a remark that would once have been unthinkable coming from a Republican about a San Francisco mayor and that would elicit groans from the left here he added that Lurie and Mahan offer a new course by taking a pragmatic, common sense approach to solving problems. As Delmarva residents were ushering in 2026, TidalHealth was busy welcoming its first babies of the new year in Maryland and Delaware. Get to know them here. Eden couple has first baby of 2026 at TidalHealth in Salisbury Spencer Morgan Stanley is TidalHealth Peninsula Regionals First Baby of 2026, born New Years Day at 2:19 a.m. to Megan and Ethan Stanley of Eden, Spencer Morgan Stanley, the first child of Megan and Ethan Stanley of Eden, was born at 2:19 Jan. 1 at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury. Spencer weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces and 20 inches in length. OC'S BIG PENGUIN SWIM IN PHOTOS: Penguin Swim participants take frigid Ocean City plunge to benefit AGH Laurel woman has first baby of 2026 at TidalHealth Nanticoke Kylan Amari Cannon is TidalHealth Nanticokes First Baby of 2026, born to Zhania Cannon of Laurel on Jan. 1 at 8:40 a.m. Kylan Amari Cannon was born to Zhania Cannon of Laurel at 8:40 a.m. Jan. 1 at TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford. Advertisement Advertisement He measured 7 pounds, 13 ounces and 22 inches in length at birth. Gifts provided to the First Baby of the New Year are courtesy of the TidalHealth Junior Auxiliary Board. Since 1924, it has donated nearly $10 million to expansion projects, medical equipment, supplies and services at TidalHealth. VANESSA PARRAZAL CASE UPDATE: Maryland woman remains in ICE detention in Louisiana. Latest on case This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: TidalHealth welcomes Maryland, Delaware 1st babies of 2026. Meet them Merced College is making sure there's a clear path to pursue a legal career. Dean Joe Serena says the college is introducing the California LAW Pathway starting in the spring. It's a statewide program designed to diversify the legal field and expand opportunities for aspiring lawyers from underrepresented communities. "Having this pathway is nice because the students have not only a location and points of contact with a deputy counselor, faculty champions, myself and others, but they'll have this whole support system," Serena said. Advertisement Advertisement Students will receive orientations, counseling, mentorship and added experiences that will help set them up for success. "They are going to be able to attend conferences and trainings that provide them with a lot more background. They're also going to go on field trips to some of these law schools, so it really brings it all together for the students," Serena said. Students still have to pay for their normal coursework, but everything else is free of charge. There are no specific major requirements or prerequisites. Students in the pathway will receive a certificate of completion and priority admission to the law schools that take part. Advertisement Advertisement Serena says they have the backing of faculty with law degrees, the college board president and the Merced County District Attorney, so they're excited to see where this goes. "Having their backing is awesome. We're going to lean on their support, their experience and their mentorship to really help out our students," Serena said. The first cohort will launch next semester. Students can fill out the interest form by clicking here. For news updates, follow Jessica Harrington on Facebook, X and Instagram. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Standing side-by-side with President Donald Trump outside his residence in Palm Beach, Florida, dressed in a twinning suit and tie, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grinned as the U.S. leader responded to a question from a reporter about whether his Israeli counterpart should be pardoned in his trial for bribery and fraud. "He's a wartime prime minister who is a hero," Trump said. "How do you not give a pardon? I think it's a very hard thing not to do it." While the meeting on Monday at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate focused on pressing Middle East issues such as Iran and Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza, for Netanyahu, it was also a domestic power play. The premier's visit to the United States, which is expected to conclude on Thursday, paused his cross-examination in Case 4000, in which Netanyahu is charged with bribery and fraud for allegedly advancing regulatory decisions in exchange for favorable press coverage. Netanyahu has denied all charges and described the case as a "witch hunt." The trip also gave Netanyahu a public relations boost ahead of elections in Israel in the new year. They will be the first since the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, which shattered his security credentials in the eyes of much of the public. During their joint news conference, Trump repeatedly praised Netanyahu, saying that if there had been another leader in place on Oct. 7, it's possible "Israel would not exist" right now. "Trump gave him his campaign for the next elections," Gershon Baskin, an Israeli commentator and former back-channel negotiator with Hamas, said of Trump's praise, describing the news conference as "bewildering." "All he has to do is keep repeating: 'Without Netanyahu, Israel doesn't exist,'" Baskin said. Netanyahu's critics have accused him of dragging out regional conflicts and amping up alleged threats from Iran to distract from his legal woes and the deeper probing of the security failings that led to the Hamas attacks. Out of 60 scheduled hearings since Netanyahu's trial testimony officially began in June, only 15 have gone ahead without being canceled or cut short, according to a count by Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The prime minister has blamed ongoing conflicts or security concerns for canceling more than a dozen sessions. But ever a political survivor, Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has managed to cling to his position as a seemingly endless slew of domestic scandals and investigations have nipped at his heels. In recent days, Israeli media outlets have published reports detailing what they said were missed warnings from Egypt about the security situation in Gaza ahead of Oct. 7. At the same time, what is known in Israel as "Qatargate" - an allegation that members of the prime minister's office were paid by Qatar to promote its interests - has returned to haunt Netanyahu as potential new details were leaked online. Opposition politicians in Israel have described the Qatar-related accusation as an act of treason and demanded Netanyahu's resignation. In Gaza, Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition have been reluctant to move forward with a U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement that was brokered in October. The deal, hailed by Trump, brought much of Israel's military actions to a halt. But the next phase could pave the way for a return of the Palestinian Authority, the body that governs the Palestinian-controlled parts of the West Bank, as well as new Palestinian police forces and near-total Israeli withdrawal. Baskin is among those in Israel who view Netanyahu's renewed focus on Iran, which he says is rebuilding its missile capacity after Israeli strikes in June, as an effort to distract attention from Gaza. Ahead of the meeting in Florida, there was an expectation that "Trump is going to let Bibi have it" over Gaza, said Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States. But the appearance by the two leaders appeared to be "pretty much a love fest," he said. Oren said one of the most remarkable comments came from Trump when he pledged potential military action against Iran. "I hope they're not trying to build up again," Trump said of Tehran's missile arsenal. The U.S. also carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites in June. "Because if they are, we're going to have no choice but very quickly to eradicate that buildup," he said. Despite criticism from his MAGA base that he is prioritizing foreign policy over domestic issues, "Trump put a credible military threat back on the table," Oren said, adding that Netanyahu's decision to tell Trump he had been awarded the Israel Prize, the state's highest cultural honor, appealed to the president's ego. "It's one of these Bibi strokes of brilliance that he does occasionally," Oren said, employing a commonly used nickname for Netanyahu. The prime minister is legally obliged to hold elections this year. His right-wing Likud party took a beating in public opinion polls after Oct. 7, but has clawed its way back to the top spot, with a slim lead over its nearest rival. "Netanyahu will conduct polls over the weekend, and if the needle moves even slightly, I believe he will trigger elections," said Gayil Talshir, a political scientist at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. "He won't find a better jumping-off point than this." But while his appearance with Trump appeared outwardly as a win for Netanyahu, it was unclear exactly what took place at the meeting behind closed doors. Trump said that Hamas would be given a "very short period to disarm," or there would be "hell to pay" if the militant group did not comply. Other countries, he said, are prepared to go in and "wipe them out." Trump has struggled, however, to get countries to sign onto a stabilization force for Gaza, which would monitor the enclave's demilitarization. The few nations that have expressed some willingness to join were clear that they do not want to confront Hamas. Still, the president and his team are committed to rolling out the next phase of the plan and establishing a Palestinian technocratic committee for Gaza, Baskin said. On Iran, while Trump said he would support military action, he also said that the missile buildup was not confirmed. "The American method is to provide public backing while dictating what will happen behind closed doors, and in my estimation, that is exactly what occurred," Talshir said. Netanyahu has little ability to resist U.S. demands conveyed behind the scenes, she said. "Excessive compliments come with a price," Yossi Verter, a political analyst and columnist at Haaretz, wrote. He pointed to Trump's break with Netanyahu on the role of Turkey in Gaza. Israel is adamantly opposed to allowing Turkish forces enter the enclave as part of the stabilization force. But Trump waved away those concerns, saying Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is "a very good friend of mine." "I do respect him and Bibi respects him, and they're not going to have a problem," he said. In the meantime, Netanyahu invited Trump to Israel to receive his award in April, an opportunity for the prime minister to get another boost for his campaign, critics said. "It will be a massive festival, which Netanyahu will milk for all it's worth," Verter said. "Just a few months before the elections." (COMMENT, BELOW) Virginia voters cast their ballots at a precinct inside Libbie Mill Library on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025. (Photo by Marcus Ingram for the Virginia Mercury) When the Indiana state Senate recently rejected a mid-cycle partisan redistricting of its congressional delegation, it was not only a rebuke to President Donald J. Trump; it also upheld a norm that has guided American democracy for more than a century. Since the early 1900s, states have almost never redrawn congressional maps outside the decennial census, except to comply with court orders or to make minor technical corrections. That restraint has served an important stabilizing function. Advertisement Advertisement History suggests that midcycle gerrymanders lead to greater division and polarization, and more volatility in the Congress. And the impact may hit closer to home, if Virginia voters uphold Democratic legislators current effort to reshape the states political maps. Earlier fights America has experienced mid-decade redistricting battles before, including a failed attempt in Virginias legislature by GOP leaders in 2013 but they have largely been confined to the 19th century.Between 1870 and 1896, mapmaking became a weapon in a relentless partisan war. And the federal courts largely ignored review of these plans. During this period, partisan gerrymandering was indistinguishable from racial gerrymandering, as Black voters were a monolithic Republican voting bloc targeted by Democrats, primarily in the South, which was rebuilding after losing the Civil War and facing scores of newly franchised voters who had previously been enslaved. Democrats in Alabama redrew congressional maps in the mid-1870s to pack nearly all Black Belt counties into a single district to reduce Republican seats. Ohio was the biggest culprit in the 19th century redistricting wars. It had the third-largest congressional delegation at the time behind New York and Pennsylvania. As control of the states General Assembly flipped between Republicans and Democrats between 1876 and 1892, partisans in the legislature redrew maps seven times, creating massive swings in the makeup of their congressional delegation, and influencing which party had the majority in the U.S. House. Advertisement Advertisement Like today, the impetus for these state actions came from national leaders. In 1878, the Democratic Speaker of the House implored Ohio and Missouri to act to save their majority. The two states complied, flipping nine seats to the Democrats and preserving their slim majority in the House. Because the U.S. House was smaller then (293 members in 1878 versus 435 today), small swings in congressional delegations had greater impact. And, like today, small party majorities in the House made partisan gerrymanders attractive options to gain an advantage or fight the opposition. In 1888, for example, Republicans in Pennsylvania responded to Ohios efforts by carving 21 pro-Republican districts out of 28 statewide, just enough to move the House into GOP hands. The era was marked by shifting majorities, rapidly redrawn maps, and sudden swings in the size and orientation of state delegations. There were fewer states, no one person, one vote standard, no independent commissions and virtually no judicial review. Redistricting was a political free-for-all. Party leaders gradually concluded that midcycle redistricting was creating too much chaos, and their numbers dramatically decreased after 1896. Advertisement Advertisement For more than a century, we believed we had left this chaos behind. Back to the future: Why Texas matters Apart from Texas in 2003 and Georgia in 2005, recent mid-cycle revisions have been rare and used mainly to correct errors or comply with court orders. The 2025 Texas mid-cycle gerrymander marks a return to this earlier era and has opened a new front in our partisan conflict. Conservative legislatures in Missouri and North Carolina quickly joined this Trump-supported effort to influence the mid-terms by passing new maps. Democrats felt they had no option and moved forward with their own plans. California voters have now authorized a new Democratically flavored map for 2026, and Virginia Democratic state legislators proclaim their desire to create a 10-1 Democratic congressional majority in a state where Republicans received 42.2% of the vote in the last gubernatorial election. New York and Illinois may soon follow, even if they wait until next year. Advertisement Advertisement States race to outmaneuver rivals, each pushing the envelope of partisan advantage. The redistricting process risks becoming a rolling, perpetual conflict rather than a once-a-decade recalibration. The Supreme Courts retreat The Supreme Courts role is central to this shift. The court, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, has been eroding 50 years of federal court redistricting oversight since landmark cases like Baker v. Carr (1962), which established the one person, one vote principle and forced states to draw districts of equal population size. In LULAC v. Perry (2005), the Court upheld the practice of mid-decade redistricting for partisan purposes.But its most significant decision was Rucho v. Common Cause (2019), where the Supreme Court held that federal courts should not review partisan gerrymanders, defining such disputes as political questions. And, in the recent Texas case, the majority ignored evidence that race was considered by the legislators and upheld the map as a purely partisan action thereby shielding it from federal scrutiny. Racial gerrymandering remains reviewable under Shaw v. Reno (1993), but the pending case of Louisiana v. Callais could restrict that avenue as well. The erosion of federal oversight returns primary authority to the states just as in the 19th century. The gamble History shows hyper-partisan maps can backfire. In the 1880s and 90s, parties would gain power in state legislatures and proceed to draw new maps with small margins for error. Missouri Democrats in 1892 engineered a 132 partisan advantage in its delegation only to lose eight seats two years later when the national tides shifted and the Republican landslide brought GOP control of the U.S. House. Advertisement Advertisement Texas may face similar risks. The states new map relies heavily on 2024 voting patterns. By 2026, an anti-Trump backlash coupled with demographic shifts especially among Hispanic voters could make several engineered safe seats unexpectedly competitive. Barriers exist in other states as well. California has provided itself some protection against court challenges because its map enjoys the imprimatur of a constitutional amendment approved by the voters. Virginia legislators are trying to do the same but will need to convince voters to approve a constitutional amendment before new maps are adopted. Missouris plans are now threatened by a 300,000-signature petition drive that mayplace the GOPs new maps directly before the public for an up-or-down vote. Expect court challenges to these maps to include arguments they are too late in the cycle to be implemented, a claim that the Supreme Court has found appealing in the past. Power in the states As the U.S. Supreme Court withdraws from oversight, state laws and constitutions grow more significant. The problem is that every state has its own constitution, laws and precedents. Today, eleven states already restrict mid-decade redistricting, including Colorado, where its Supreme Court struck down a 2003 Republican attempt to redraw congressional districts after the party gained control of the legislature. Several other states permit challenges to partisan gerrymanders. Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, the Alaska Supreme Court invalidated two state senate districts as constitutional violations of equal protection. Michigan and Wisconsin courts have historically shown willingness to engage such claims. Oregon and New York constitutions explicitly prohibit map-drawing that favors or disfavors parties or incumbents. Courts in New Mexico and Kentucky acknowledge a willingness to evaluate partisan-gerrymander claims, even as they have not yet overturned them. State supreme courts in North Carolina and Ohio struck down partisan gerrymanders, only to reverse themselves after political turnover on the bench. Yet uniformity remains elusive. Courts in Kansas, Nevada, New Hampshire and North Carolina presently embrace the U.S. Supreme Courts view that partisan gerrymanders are political questions better left to legislatures. And the composition of state Supreme Courts can change dramatically, and with it, rulings on the constitutionality of partisan maps. This patchwork ensures that challenges will succeed in some states but not others, deepening an already troubling trend toward national division. A nation dividing itself Texas did merely not redraw its congressional lines. It revived an old practice at precisely the moment when federal oversight is diminishing and partisan stakes are growing. The result is a redistricting system that increasingly resembles the volatile 19th-century environment only now with a larger Congress, more diverse electorate, sophisticated data tools and far more at stake. If this trend continues, redistricting will shift from a decennial process to a continuous political battlefield, intensifying division among the states and accelerating the geographic, political and cultural split already reshaping the nation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Mint Hill man Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested for planning an attack in support of ISIS on local businesses, according to the FBI. (Photo: Gaston County Sheriff's Office) Federal law enforcement officials announced Friday that they had foiled a planned attack in support of ISIS in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on New Years Eve. According to Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, the suspect is 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, an American citizen and Mint Hill resident. Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson said the man had been in contact with ISIS members in Tiktok chatrooms and had pledged allegiance to ISIS while planning a New Years Eve terrorist attack on a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill. He started reading ISIS material, started going to ISIS websites, making Tiktok videos, and eventually reached out to what he thought was a member of ISIS. In reality, it was an undercover agent with NYPD in New York, Ferguson said. He was preparing for jihad, and innocent people were going to die, and we were very, very fortunate they did not. Ferguson said Sturdivant intended to use knives and hammers and planned to wear a Kevlar vest, but also planned to die in the attack. He was under surveillance for two weeks before his arrest on New Years Eve, Ferguson said. At no time was the public in harms way. James Barnacle, the FBI special agent in charge of the Charlotte field office, said Sturdivant had been under psychological care in recent years. He said Sturdivants grandfather had stopped him from attacking neighbors when the suspect was 14. Advertisement Advertisement His family actively hid knives and weapons from him, Barnacle said. Barnacle said the FBI had been watching Sturdivant during that period in 2022, but stopped its investigation when the teen entered mental health treatment. But last month, when Sturdivant turned 18, Barnacle said, he resumed trying to contact members of ISIS and was immediately flagged by a number of law enforcement agencies. Barnacle said Sturdivant was seen as a credible threat. He wrote a manifest. He stole two hammers out of the storage shed and hid them in his house. He reached out to an undercover agent and requested guns. Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson said the FBI first tried to have Sturdivant involuntarily committed, but a state magistrate denied the petition. So they obtained a warrant and arrested him for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a charge that can carry a prison sentence of 20 years. Sturdivant is currently being held without bail in the Gaston County jail. No attorney or public defender was listed for him at midday Friday. Governor Josh Stein said in a statement, Thanks to the work of the FBI and vigilant law enforcement, this potential attack was stopped before anyone was hurt. I am grateful to the brave officers who keep us safe every day. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Gleason for the Western District of North Carolina and DOJ Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat with the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) A hard worker, jokester, kind hearted, compassionate, generous and a dear friend. Those are just a few of the words used to describe what the late Adrian Perez meant to so many across St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri, two communities that have shown an outpouring of support this week following Perez's sudden passing on Sunday, Dec. 28. Born on Dec. 29, 1979, in Queretaro, Mexico, Perez made St. Joseph his second home for more than 25 years, catering food for numerous events and businesses, building friendships and becoming a distinguished leader along the way. Advertisement Advertisement His popular food business, Adrian's Tacos, allowed him to share the taste of authentic Mexican cuisine across Northwest Missouri and make invaluable friendships with many people, especially local businesses like River Bluff Brewing and Smooth Endings Fine Wine, Spirits and Cigars. Smooth Endings general manager Rebeca DiGerlamo met Perez when he first started selling food for customers on their outside patio. As DiGerlamo got to know Perez more, they exchanged ideas on how to grow their respective businesses, which eventually blossomed into successful joint events. Adrian was a business man, and was always trying to elevate his business. He helped me elevate mine, and our bond grew through sharing ideas," DiGerlamo said. "From that point, we both realized how important business was to each other. That's when I think our friendship went to the next level." Throughout his time in St. Joseph, Perez grew to become like family to countless people. Anabel Garcia, an employee at Smooth Endings and former employee at Adrian's Tacos, cherished his unwavering kindness and generosity from the first time they met. Advertisement Advertisement "When I got here (Smooth Endings), I met Adrian through my sister. I remember him being such a nice person, a wonderful person," Garcia said. "A wonderful friend to everybody. He was always smiling." Since Perez's passing, numerous businesses, residents and organizations have expressed their condolences to his family and friends on social media, each providing a unique perspective of the caring and compassionate person he was. "Our community has tragically lost an excellent friend. We've had the pleasure of working with Adrian since we were brand new, and it will never be the same without him here with us on Tuesdays. We will miss him dearly," River Bluff Brewing posted through Facebook in a statement on Dec. 29, 2025. A loving husband and father with two sons, Perez was a proud family man and an active member of Latinos Connect and the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. Advertisement Advertisement As of Thursday, Jan. 1, just over $5,000 has been raised on Gofundme to help support Perez's family and legacy, with more than 80 people contributing. "Our hearts go out to the family of Adrian Perez, and we offer our love and prayers, hoping they find comfort and peace during this difficult time, St Joseph MO Local Eats said in Facebook statement on Monday. A public Celebration of Life and Rosary in honor of Perez will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2 at St. Patrick Catholic Church located at 1723 S. 12th St., followed by a memorial mass at 6:30 p.m. The California Department of Motor Vehicles said this week that approximately 325,000 Californians will be required to replace their Real ID licenses because of a software error. In the coming weeks, DMV officials said, about 1.5% of those holding Real IDs will be notified that they need to take action to ensure continued compliance with federal REAL ID regulations. The DMV is informing affected individuals of the steps they need to take, officials said in a news release issued Wednesday. Fees associated with reissuing the IDS will be waived for those affected. Advertisement Advertisement DMV officials said the problem was discovered after a review of technology systems revealed that some legal immigrants had been issued Real IDs that did not expire at the same time as their authorization to remain in the country. The Real ID Act was signed into law in 2005 and established security standards for state-issued IDs for things like boarding planes. But implementation was repeatedly delayed, and the requirement finally went into effect in May of 2025. DMV officials said they discovered that a small subset of Real IDs issued to lawful permanent residents applied the standard credential renewal interval in some cases, instead of the expiration of a REAL ID holders authorized stay. We proactively reviewed our records, identified a legacy system issue from 2006, and are notifying impacted customers with clear guidance on how to maintain a valid California-issued credential, DMV Director Steve Gordon said. For nearly 99% of REAL ID holders, no action is required. The DMV remains committed to serving all Californians and ensuring REAL ID credentials meet federal standards. Officials said the problem came about because of legacy coding from 2006. But the release added that all those who had been issued Real IDs received them only after the federal system had verified their lawful presence in the country, and that no one who was undocumented got one. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. PEOPLE AFFILIATED with Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hold signs during a vigil to honor colleagues and others who have been killed during the war in Gaza outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, US, December 6, 2023. (photo credit: REUTERS/JEENAH MOON) The well-known medical organization is one of several dozen NGOs prohibited from operating in Gaza and the West Bank since January 1. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) practiced advancing an extreme anti-Israeli narrative under the guise of humanitarian activity, claimed Israeli ministry documents viewed exclusively by The Jerusalem Post. The well-known medical organization is one of several dozen NGOs prohibited from operating in Gaza and the West Bank since January 1. The move was announced by Israel on Monday and has been met with significant international outrage. Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to the media on Wednesday, the minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, claimed that security investigations determined that employees of certain international organizations operating in Gaza were directly involved in terrorist activity. With regard to MSF specifically, Chikli claimed it maintained active ties to designated terrorist organizations: in June 2024, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative was identified as an MSF employee, and in September 2024, another MSF employee was identified as a Hamas sniper. Chikli added that, despite repeated and explicit demands, the organization did not provide full transparency regarding the identities, roles, and activities of those individuals. Under Israels current regulatory framework, licenses can be revoked for the following reasons: participation in efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel; legal warfare against IDF soldiers; Holocaust denial; and denial of the October 7 massacre. Advertisement Advertisement As seen, revocation is explicitly allowed for organizations that are actively pro-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, which MSF is. VIEW OF humanitarian supplies for Gaza, with the logos of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) and World Health Organization, stored at the Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses storing aid, in the Egyptian border town of El-Arish, Egypt, April 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Pool/File Photo) Israel will not allow humanitarian frameworks to be exploited for terrorism, said Chikli. The message is unequivocal: humanitarian aid is welcome; terror under the guise of humanitarianism is not. Documents viewed by the Post shed more light on the reasoning behind the ban on MSF, the most well-known and arguably the most reputable of the banned groups. One reason cited in the documents is that none of the organization's four branches, which registered in 2025 for a license to operate in Gaza, passed the check. Advertisement Advertisement MSF Spain, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands allegedly did not provide comprehensive staff lists including details of Palestinian employees as explicitly mandated by the registration guidelines. MSF accused of terrorist ties Israel assessed that the MSF branches were operating under the pretext of humanitarian activity, while in practice advancing an extreme anti-Israeli narrative, maintaining affiliations with terrorist entities, promoting boycotts, and willfully disregarding the registration obligations. What terror ties is the organization accused of maintaining? Israels Inter-Ministerial Team said it identified substantial indications of direct or indirect affiliations between MSF Belgium and terrorist organizations. Advertisement Advertisement An MSF employee in Gaza, Fadi Al-Wadiya, was revealed to be a senior operative of Islamic Jihad and an expert in rocket systems, as evidenced in the MSF Belgium report and corroborated by IDF publications. Another staff member, Mahmoud Abunejeila, has publicly expressed support for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Under Section 7.1(3) of the guidelines, Israel can deny an organization that has members who are terror operatives or who maintain ties with a proscribed terror group. With regard to MSF France, Israel claims it has an explicit agenda promoting political boycotts and arms embargoes against Israel. Advertisement Advertisement It cited the organizations calls for an end to military support to Israel, as well as public support for BDS events. MSF France has also repeatedly accused Israel of genocide and ethnic cleansing as well as intentional starvation of the people in Gaza. Israel found this to be contrary to the neutrality expected and thus grounds for denial. "Such narratives, when disseminated by an international humanitarian body, carry dangerous implications: they undermine Israels legal standing, fuel hostile initiatives in diplomatic and legal arenas, and serve as a catalyst for campaigns of boycotts, sanctions, and isolation," the documents read. Such narratives, when disseminated by an international humanitarian body, carry dangerous implications: they undermine Israels legal standing, fuel hostile initiatives in diplomatic and legal arenas, and serve as a catalyst for campaigns of boycotts, sanctions, and isolation, the documents read. Advertisement Advertisement MSF Belgium has also accused Israel of crimes against humanity and, according to Israel, presents the Jewish state as systematically oppressive, colonial, and discriminatory. The documents accused MSF Belgium of aiming to undermine the very status of the State of Israel as a democratic state. Following an assessment of all of the above, the Inter-Ministry Team concluded that MSFs operations are at an extremely high risk level and pose significant exposure to the security of Israel. The documents cited the organizations failure to comply with basic registration as an additional sign of bad intentions and lack of transparency. Advertisement Advertisement As an alternative to the MSF branches, the documents recommend expanding the entry of professionals and teams from other health and medical organizations that meet regulatory requirements and adhere to the principles of neutrality and transparency. It lists IMC, MedGlobal, and UK-MED as potential alternatives. MSF International said on Wednesday that the Palestinian health system is decimated, essential infrastructure is destroyed, and people struggle to meet basic needs. People need more services, not less. If MSF and other NGOs lose access, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians would be cut off from essential care, it said. Advertisement Advertisement The IDF, however, disputed this, saying the banned groups have produced only 1% of the aid and that many of them have been banned throughout the war, such that the current ban changes nothing on the ground. Overall, the 24 organizations that have not been banned are producing 99% of the total aid volume, according to Israel, the IDF added. Almost 12,000 Minnesotans have applied for the states new paid leave program since applications opened earlier this week, according to the Department of Employment and Economic Development. Applications for bonding leave for new parents began in early December. As of Friday morning 11,883 people have submitted applications, according to DEED. Of those, the state has completed reviews of 6,393 leaves. The paid leave program was passed by the DFL-controlled Legislature in 2023. It allows employees to take up to 20 weeks off work each year. Its funded through a payroll tax paid for by workers and employers though initial costs were seeded by $668 million from the historic $18 billion state revenue surplus. Minnesota now joins 12 other states in offering such a program. Advertisement Advertisement For more information on how it works go to twincities.com/2025/10/04/mn-paid-family-medical-leave-program-jan-1-how-will-it-work/. Critics of the proposal such as the National Federation of Independent Business and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce say they worry it will cost much more than initially estimated. Washington State, for instance, has seen the costs of its program grow beyond expectations. In September, an actuarial report found the program could face a $346 million deficit by 2029 and a nearly $1 billion deficit by 2030 under the current tax rate limits. However, Greg Norfleet, the chief architect of the program at DEED, has said he is confident that Minnesotas system will work as intended. Norfleet developed a similar program for Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Matt Varilek, DEED commissioner, said the initial nearly 12,000 applications shows how popular the program is among Minnesotans. The initial launch was going well, Varilek said in a statement Friday. Our website is managing traffic well and our contact center team is prepared to answer questions from Minnesotans who need assistance, Varilek said. Were proud and excited to implement this program for Minnesota. Based on independent projections, DEED expects about 130,000 approved claims in the first year. How to apply Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota workers were able to apply for paid leave beginning Dec. 31, 2025. Go to paidleave.mn.gov to apply and to learn more about eligibility and benefits. To call the paid leave contact center dial (651) 556-7777 or (844) 556-0444 (toll-free) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It will be closed during state holidays. Nearly all the victims who were hospitalized in the Brown University shooting have been discharged from the hospital. According to Rhode Island Hospital, eight of the nine victims have been discharged from the hospital. One of the nine remains in stable condition. Two students were killed, and nine others were injured after a gunman opened fire at one of the universitys engineering buildings Additionally, a professor at MIT was gunned down in his Brookline residence. It was later revealed that the Brown University shooter and the professor had a shared history. Advertisement Advertisement The gunman was later found dead from an apparent suicide in a New Hampshire storage facility. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The driver of a car carrying British boxer Anthony Joshua that was involved in a fatal crash in Nigeria has been charged with reckless and dangerous driving, police in southwestern Nigerias Ogun State say. Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was driving the boxer and two of his friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, on a busy highway linking Lagos and Ibadan on Monday when the Lexus SUV in which they were travelling rammed into a stationary truck. The defendant was granted bail in the sum of 5 million naira ($3,480) with two sureties. He was remanded pending when he meets his bail condition, police spokesman Oluseyi Babaseyi told the AFP news agency on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Kayode has been held in police custody since he was discharged from hospital on Thursday. Nigerian police and state officials said Ayodele and Ghami died at the scene while Joshua and the driver sustained minor injuries. Preliminary investigations showed that the vehicle was moving at an excessive speed and had burst a tyre before the crash, the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency in Ogun State, where the accident occurred, told AFP earlier in the week. After leaving the hospital on Wednesday, Joshua and his mother paid their respects at the funeral home where the bodies of his friends were being prepared for repatriation. A government source suggested to AFP on Thursday that the remains of the victims may have been repatriated to the United Kingdom. Joshuas whereabouts are unknown. Friday is the second day in office for New York City's new mayor and Zohran Mamdani is already looking to follow through on campaign promises. On his second day in office, Mamdani announced an effort to get more people involved in city government -- a move meant to mirror the grassroots energy of his successful campaign. The creation of the Office of Mass Engagement will be led by Tascha Van Auken, the head of his huge campaign volunteer network. Advertisement Advertisement "For too long, city government has only listened to the wealthy and well-connected while working New Yorkers remain further and further disconnected from those elected to serve them," Mamdani said. "The Office of Mass Engagement will fundamentally change this, creating a deeper connection between City Hall and community organizations, faith-based groups, and everyday New Yorkers looking to make their voices heard." He started his day on Friday morning like an everyday New Yorker himself, greeting commuters on a packed W train as he rode from Astoria, Queens to City Hall. He gripped an iced coffee in one hand as he shook hands with the other commuters -- laughing and joking with riders, while taking countless selfies. "I love your energy, you're awesome," one rider told him after shaking hands. Advertisement Advertisement Asked by another rider how long he would be commuting from Queens, he said "for just a little bit longer," indicating he would be moving into Gracie Mansion soon. His first attempt to tap to ride using his cell phone failed, forcing him to try another turnstile. "Not working, that's a real New York experience," he said When asked about this weekend's fare hike to $3, which he opposed during the campaign, Mamdani said he will show it is "out of step with what New Yorkers need at this moment." "I made it very clear that I think that public transit should be something that each and every New Yorker can afford, when I was in the state legislature, I introduced legislation that would have frozen the fare where it was, this only heightens the urgency to make buses fast and free across all five boroughs of New York City," he said. Advertisement Advertisement On Friday afternoon, Mamdani also announced Ali Najmi as the chair of the Mayor's Advisory Committee on the judiciary. He was a legal advisor on the campaign and will now advise Mamdani on judicial appointments. The new mayor hit the ground running on Thursday, signing five executive orders, three of them aimed at confronting the city's housing crisis. The first executive order he signed revoked all executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams the day after Adams was federally indicted. One revoked executive order barred city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel. Another adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism that equates some forms of anti-Israel criticism, like opposition to Israel's ethnically Jewish character, with antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani said he would not revoke Mayor Adams' creation of the city's office to combat antisemitism. However, Mamdani said he would not revoke Mayor Adams' creation of the city's Office to Combat Antisemitism. The new mayor also signed an executive order establishing that he will have five deputy mayors, fewer than during the Adams administration. Mamdani's three other executive orders focused on housing. One of those orders will revive the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, which will serve as a central coordinating body to defend tenants' rights, stand up to landlords, and ensure city agencies act swiftly on behalf of renters facing unsafe or illegal conditions. The other two executive orders establish task forces related to accelerating housing development. Advertisement Advertisement ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More New York City news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. The Justice Department sued Virginia for granting in-state tuition to undocumented students, saying the policy violated federal law by favoring those students over citizens who live outside Virginia and don't qualify for in-state benefits. The lawsuit, filed Monday in the Eastern District of Virginia, asks a federal judge to bar the state from enforcing the policy, saying it "is not only wrong, but illegal." "In Virginia and nationwide, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens," said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a news release. "This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country." Virginia is the seventh state to be sued by the Justice Department over similar policies across the country. Currently, 22 states and the District of Columbia have laws or policies that grant in-state tuition to undocumented students. In Virginia, any student, regardless of legal status, who attends two years of high school in Virginia and who paid, or whose parents paid, state income taxes, among other requirements, can receive in-state tuition and other aid. The law was passed in 2020, when Ralph Northam (D) was Virginia's governor. In Republican-led states such as Texas and Oklahoma, state attorneys general made settlement agreements with the Trump administration this summer that struck down policies providing in-state tuition to undocumented students. The resolutions were approved by local federal judges. In Texas, that deal was cemented and approved by the court within six hours of the Justice Department's suit, drawing complaints from students and activists that they were denied a meaningful opportunity to oppose the effort. Both of those settlement agreements remain under review by appellate courts. The department's efforts to obtain similar judgments eliminating in-state tuition policies in Kentucky, Illinois, Minnesota and California remain pending in district courts. An estimated 510,000 undocumented students attend institutions of higher education across the country, including roughly 13,000 in Virginia, according to the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, an advocacy group made up of U.S. college and university leaders. Costs at top Virginia universities can vary by tens of thousands of dollars for in-state and out-of-state tuition. At the University of Virginia, for example, the cost of in-state undergraduate tuition for a first-year student ranges from roughly $16,500 to $27,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year. The cost to out-of-state students can exceed $66,000. It was not immediately clear how the state of Virginia will respond. Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera and the offices of outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares, both Republicans, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. A spokesperson for Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) also did not respond to a request for comment. State Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko (D), who was one of the co-sponsors of the legislation to allow students access to in-state tuition, said it aimed to stabilize Virginia's economic future by educating kids who could work in high-demand jobs in health care, education and technology. "That is a good thing for our economy and society - to have educated people who are in Virginia," she said. "These are some of the hardest working kids, and I believe they deserve access to a degree." She said she hopes Spanberger will stand up to the Trump administration and defend the policy once she takes office Jan. 17. Sookyung Oh, the executive director of the Asian American advocacy group Hamkae Center, said her organization worked alongside coalition partners to help draft portions of the original bill to ensure it complied with a federal code. That code requires that if a noncitizen is granted a postsecondary educational benefit on the basis of residency, then a U.S. citizen must also be granted that same benefit. Oh argued that policies like Virginia's - which grants in-state tuition not based on residency but based on high school attendance, among other requirements - do not prevent a U.S. citizen in another state from qualifying for in-state tuition. "This is a policy that benefits all students," she said. Other states have raised similar arguments in court, though no federal judges have ruled on this question yet. The Justice Department argued in its complaint that, following President Donald Trump's executive orders to limit benefits for undocumented immigrants, any aid given to those immigrants must also be available to citizens, regardless of where they live. Department lawyers argued the policy does not do that, and is therefore discriminatory. Department lawyers asked the court to issue a permanent injunction that would bar the state, including future leaders, from granting the benefits. (COMMENT, BELOW) If you don't want to deal with Metro North and hundreds of thousands of revelers to see the ball drop in Manhattan this New Year's Eve, you'll have a second chance in warm summer weather. For the first time ever, the venerable New Years Eve ball drop, a Times Square spectacle every year since 1907, will happen twice in a single year. The Constellation Ball, the ninth and largest version of the New Years Eve sphere, will be lighted and sent up its 139-foot pole atop the One Times Square building on Tuesday, Dec. 30. Advertisement Advertisement Watch the test: How the ball drop fared. Learn more: Quirky New Year's Eve drop traditions. At 11:59 p.m. ET, the 12-foot, 12,350-pound ball will make its 60-second descent to usher in the new year. But thats not all. At 12:04 a.m., the ball will be relighted in the red, white and blue design of America250, a nonpartisan commemoration of the nation's 250th anniversary. On July Fourth, it will drop to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Its the first time the ball will drop twice in one year. America250 will kick off the semiquincentennial year on New Years Eve in Times Square the most watched celebration on the planet signaling that the largest and most inspiring celebration and commemoration in our nations history is underway in 2026, Rosie Rios, chair of America250, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement NYC's New Year's Eve ball: The Times Square ball will drop twice in 2026: Here's when and why Where can I celebrate the New Year in the Lower Hudson Valley? If you'd like to celebrate closer to home, the White Plains ball drop may be your best option. The White Plains Business Improvement District said the viewing area for the White Plains New Year's celebration will open at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, New Year's Eve, at Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue. Other gated access points include Main Street and Church Street, Court Street and Martine Avenue, Martine Avenue and Mamaroneck Avenue and Renaissance Square and Williams Street. Advertisement Advertisement Local band RockSteady will headline the event and fireworks will follow the ball drop at midnight. Admission is free for all who wish to attend. For more information, visit the White Plains BID website. Local New Year's Eve celebrations: 6 kid-friendly New Years Eve events in Westchester, Rockland How New York City's New Year's Eve ball works The balls have been redesigned periodically to incorporate new technology. Starting in 2009, the the ball was been permanently installed year-round on top of One Times Square. It serves as a landmark and tourist attraction in Manhattan. The Constellation Ball contains 5,280 Waterford crystals and LED light pucks capable of producing more than 16 million colors. Advertisement Advertisement The ball is affixed to a 139-foot mast and lowered over the course of one minute using a powerful hydraulic winch installed at the base of the mast. A view of the Times Square New Year's Eve ball during a media tour in Times Square in New York City, on Nov. 24, 2025. The Times Square ball will be dropped as part of New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31. The brand-new ball is the ninth iteration since the Times Square New Year's Eve tradition began in 1907. When did the New Year's Eve tradition start? Times Square has celebrated New Year's Eve for 122 years, starting in 1904 with a fireworks display by the owners of The New York Times in the newspapers new headquarters. When fireworks were restricted, organizers used lighted spheres for New Year's celebrations in Times Square. They were based on what are called chronographic spheres, or time balls, used by mariners in the 1800s to set ship clocks and navigation instruments. The Times Square ball will be lit twice this year, but it was left dark twice during World War II. It was not lighted or dropped for New Year's Eve in 1942 and 1943 because of wartime blackout restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement CONTRIBUTING: USA TODAY's Saman Shafig and Amaris Encinas. SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; america250.org; timessquareball.net This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NYC New Year's Eve ball will drop twice in 2026. Here's why Two conservation groups are suing Alaska's Board of Game over a program that authorizes helicopter shooting of both brown bears and black bears across a sprawling 40,000-square-mile zone in the state's southwest. What's happening? As the Center for Biological Diversity detailed, it brought the case before the state superior court alongside the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, claiming the Mulchatna bear control program violates Alaska's constitutional requirement to manage wildlife sustainably. The state's highest court has previously ruled this provision covers all wildlife, bears included. Advertisement Advertisement Under a previous version of this program, state officials shot 175 brown bears and another five black bears over the 2023-2024 season. The reinstated program allows officials to shoot bears regardless of age, with no limit on how many can be killed, through 2028. The targeted area lies just miles from Lake Clark National Preserve and Katmai National Park, putting bears that travel across protected and unprotected territory at risk. "This is a disgraceful misuse of public resources and a betrayal of the trust Alaskans place in their wildlife managers," said Cooper Freeman, Alaska director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Advertisement Advertisement "State officials should protect all of our wildlife for future generations, not flaunt their power by orchestrating the mass killing of iconic bears with no scientific basis." The program has caused outrage on social media. "Stop letting politicians run natural resources programs," one Instagram commenter wrote. "Hand them to biologists." 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. Another pleaded, "This should never happen! Please save the bears and other wildlife!" Why is this program concerning? A state court already invalidated an earlier version of this program in March 2025, ruling it was adopted without reliable scientific information about how many bears actually live in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Months later, state officials reinstated it without first gathering the population data that the ruling had called for. Bears are irreplaceable to their ecosystems, carrying seeds and distributing nutrients across wide areas. A program that lacks both kill caps and population counts could throw wildlife numbers off balance across the region and affect nearby communities and protected lands. According to the Royal Society, "Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth, including humans." A shift in the natural order can impact everything from water and air quality to the human food supply. Advertisement Advertisement Predators, such as bears, are essential for controlling prey populations. In Scotland, for example, experts are considering reintroducing wolves to reduce the number of deer, which are growing out of control and preventing the growth of important shrubs. "How we treat our animals, our elders, our veterans, and our most vulnerable shows us exactly who we are as a country," one Instagram user commented. What can I do to help protect Alaska's bears? If you want to support bear protection efforts, donate to or volunteer with the Alaska Wildlife Alliance or Center for Biological Diversity. Meanwhile, contacting Alaska state legislators to oppose predator control programs that lack scientific backing can help inform lawmakers of public perception. Advertisement Advertisement Sharing information about this lawsuit with friends and family can also encourage public pressure for wildlife protections based on science, not politics. 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. With surging habitat shortages, more and more large predators are being pushed closer to populated areas. Officials in Vernon, British Columbia, have issued a warning to residents and imposed a lockdown at a nearby preschool after multiple sightings of a cougar roaming the area were reported. What's happening? According to Vernon Morning Star, the Raising Stars preschool told parents to "[keep] your children close and quiet, heading directly into the school." Advertisement Advertisement The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service responded by steadily monitoring the cougar's whereabouts in case any incidents arose. While cougars are not naturally hostile toward humans, resource shortages and habitat loss are major contributors to bringing them out of their comfort zones. In this case, the lone cougar was not actively seeking out human-wildlife conflict. However, the COS laid out some guidelines for handling a potential encounter: keep the animal in sight, appear large and intimidating, and back away slowly. Why is this important? When natural wildlife environments are disrupted by human interference, whether through deforestation or loss of the ecosystem, more issues are likely to occur. Advertisement Advertisement As habitat loss is perpetuated by climate change, it is crucial to ensure safe conditions for each functioning environment. This includes issues like the one in Vernon, where people can remain wary and educated about what to do in the presence of a cougar. Wild animals that find themselves in human-dominated areas they don't understand, especially if said areas encroach upon previously wild land, respond with confusion and even retaliatory fear. In order to avoid interactions that could lead to injury on either side, it is important to understand why and how wildlife functions. Groups such as the COS help maintain a healthy level of knowledge and caution, so that people aren't terrified of wildlife but know better than to approach or antagonize. What's being done about this? To retain biodiversity and keep human-wildlife conflict to a minimum, conservationists have proposed a few ways to alleviate stressors. Advertisement Advertisement Important wildlife locations and habitats should be maintained and protected. People should be educated on how to deal with unexpected encounters. Animal populations should continue to be studied to better understand how human interference can contribute to habitat loss. As a result, the security of each functioning ecosystem is better preserved and respected. 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. (File photo by Getty Images) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and local advocates are defending Ohios child care system after comments from the Trump administration accusing another state of child care fraud. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said states would need to provide justification proving that federal child care funds are being spent on legitimate entities. The comments followed fraud allegations in Minnesota related to the states child care programs, stemming from a YouTube video by a right-wing social media influencer. The allegations particularly targeted child care centers run by Somali citizens of the state. Advertisement Advertisement The allegations led the Trump administration to freeze federal funding going to the child care sector in Minnesota, which owners and Democrats in the state said would cause major problems in an already struggling sector. While DeWine said people are rightfully concerned about the Minnesota child care fraud allegations, he defended Ohios nearly 5,200 state-funded facilities. In a recent statement, the governor said with the sheer number of facilities there is certainly the potential for fraud, but Ohio has several ways of countering the threat. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement He noted the practice of paying facilities based on attendance instead of enrollment, a new provision inserted into the states most recent operating budget. DeWine also said the Ohio Department of Children and Youth has a system in place verify attendance and review childcare programs, along with investigating allegations of fraud. The department has a comprehensive review process of child care programs that receive state dollars that includes a review of family eligibility, unannounced health and safety inspections, and financial management reviews, DeWine said in a statement. Advocacy groups in the state said the child care system in Ohio certainly has room for improvement, and faces struggles based on cost and accessibility, but the threat of fraud isnt on the list of widespread problems. Advertisement Advertisement Ohio has strict child care regulations and inspections, said Tami Lunan, who leads The CEO Project, which focuses its advocacy on parents, child care providers, teachers, and women of color who work in what the group calls the care economy. Lunan said delaying or freezing funding to providers would be a disaster because of the already thin margins under which child care centers operate. Ohios child care providers, many of whom are small business owners, women, and people of color, operate under constant scrutiny and accountability while serving working-class families who rely on stable, affordable care, Lunan said in a statement. Suggesting otherwise without evidence is dangerous and inappropriate to the providers who are doing essential work and following the law. Advertisement Advertisement In a Jan. 1 press release, the think tank Policy Matters Ohio said lawmakers need to address workforce shortages, low wages, high costs and other issues, rather than focusing on misleading claims about child care. The organization furthered DeWines and other advocates statements that Ohios system includes strict oversight and crucial accountability measures. Ohio already has strong systems in place to protect children and taxpayers, Policy Matters senior project coordinator and child care researcher Ali Smith said. Licensed child care providers undergo routine, thorough, unannounced inspections every year, and those reports are available for anyone to review. Suggesting that oversight is lax is simply not true. Advertisement Advertisement Citing data from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, Policy Matters said the department received 124 fraud allegations in 2025, and 61 of those resulted in overpayments being paid back to the state. A dozen programs were closed by the Department of Children and Youth in that year. This is how accountability and transparent oversight are supposed to work, Policy Matters stated in its release. DeWine noted this data as well, adding that 30 other programs accused of fraud were operating in accordance with state and federal laws, and 21 are still being reviewed. Smith encouraged caution for families seeing unsubstantiated claims of fraud on social media or elsewhere, citing examples of viral videos that were taken during holiday breaks when facilities were closed. We urge Ohioans to rely on official sources, rather than social media speculation, Smith said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Police in Columbus, Ohio, are asking for the public's help as they search for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a dentist and his wife on the city's Near East Side. Officers were dispatched just after 10 a.m. on Dec. 30 for a welfare check, according to a statement from the Columbus Division of Police. When they arrived, they found two adults identified as Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39 both with apparent gunshot wounds. The two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Investigators said no weapons were found at the scene and there were no signs of forced entry. Two children, a 1-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, were found inside the home uninjured. Advertisement Advertisement A coworker had called 911 after Spencer Tepe failed to show up for work at a dental clinic in Athens and could not be reached, CBS affiliate WBNS reported. Columbus police went to the home and knocked on the front and back doors repeatedly, but no one answered. Later that morning, another worried coworker called 911 from outside the home and told the dispatcher they could hear kids inside. A friend got into the house and saw Spencer's body. Spencer and Monique Tepe / Credit: Rob Misleh Investigators are now seeking video, photographs or other digital evidence that may show suspicious people or vehicles in the area around the time of the shooting. They are particularly interested in footage from the surrounding neighborhood between midnight and 9 a.m. on Dec. 30. The area of interest is bordered by Summit Street to the east, North Grant Avenue to the west, East 7th Avenue to the south and East 11th Avenue to the north. Advertisement Advertisement Information may be provided anonymously, police said. In a statement released by family, loved ones described Spencer and Monique Tepe as devoted parents and partners whose lives were centered on service, family and community. "We are heartbroken beyond words," the statement said. "While no outcome can ever undo this loss, our family is committed to seeing this tragedy fully and fairly brought to justice, and to honoring Spencer and Monique by protecting the future of the children they loved so deeply." ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina was prevented, officials say High school softball coach recruited ex-player in murder plot, prosecutors say Mamdani signs executive orders undoing some of Eric Adams' orders The DeWine administration said Ohio's day care system is fundamentally different from other states after the Trump administration announced a national pause on federal child care payouts over unproven online rumors of widespread fraud by Somali immigrant-run day cares. DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney said Jan. 1 that Ohio's attendance-based system effectively shields it from fraudulent attempts to claim publicly funded child care funding. On New Year's Eve, DeWine issued a statement saying the state has robust anti-fraud measures in place in its Department of Children and Youth (DCY) day care system. Related Child Care article: 161 Child Care, subject of viral video allegations, is newly licensed Advertisement Advertisement "We believe our attendance-based payment system and other anti-fraud measures make Ohio fundamentally different than any state that has seen a payment freeze," Tierney said. "It significantly addresses the 'ghost enrollment' and 'ghost attendance' concerns raised on social media." The Department of Health and Human Services has frozen childcare payments to Minnesota in the wake of what the agency says is "blatant fraud" at daycares in the state, and has tightened restrictions for other payments across the country while it reviews them, USA Today reported. ABC News reported the administration is pausing child care funding to all states, and funds will be released only when states prove they are being spent legitimately. The review comes after a flurry of online allegations stemming from a viral video allegedly showing abandoned day cares among the Somali immigrant community in Minnesota, which led to a response from Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native, and the FBI "surging" resources to investigate, according to USA TODAY. Advertisement Advertisement Newer videos claim that some Columbus day care centers are used as fronts to collect state funding by claiming enrollment for non-existent children. The Dispatch has found evidence refuting claims made against two centers in Columbus. One was recently licensed, and the other was inspected in November with children present. Some GOP Ohio lawmakers are calling for their fellow Republican state officials to investigate claims made in the videos. Columbus police have urged day care workers to call 911 if people trespass or harass them. Officers have been called to three centers this week. DeWine, state department highlighted anti-fraud measures In his Dec. 31 statement, DeWine said Ohio pays facilities based on attendance, not on enrollment, paying only for the days a child is in care. Paying based on attendance uses taxpayer dollars only when a child is actually physically at the childcare facility. This is verified by requiring a PIN and photo confirmation, or a location-specific QR code. Advertisement Advertisement DeWine said that while the former Biden administration required all states to pay by enrollment by August 2026, Ohio has not adopted that requirement, and the Trump administration is currently reviewing those requirements. DeWine said the DCY has a comprehensive review process for childcare programs that receive state dollars, including reviews of family eligibility, unannounced health and safety inspections, and financial management. He also said the DCY uses monthly cross-department data analytics to identify fraud, waste, and misuse of funds. In its own statement, DCY said it "has worked toward stronger accountability, smarter oversight, and responsible stewardship of public funds, while preserving access for eligible families and compliant child care providers. "This work began long before recent headlines through thorough data review, unannounced visits, ongoing monitoring, along with making necessary changes to policy and practice to ensure the integrity of our program," spokesperson Jodi Norton Trimble said. "But with any system, fraud has potential to exist." Advertisement Advertisement Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio likely protected from Trump day care funding freeze, DeWine says COLUMBUS Nearly 200 fire departments will soon have access to additional funds to upgrade their emergency radio communication equipment. The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal has announced the recipients of the 2026 MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications Systems) Grant. During this grant cycle, 198 fire departments representing 63 counties across Ohio were awarded a combined total of nearly $4 million. Upon signing agreement letters, the selected fire departments will receive the funds in early 2026. Area recipients include: Advertisement Advertisement Adams County: * West Union Fire Department and Life Squad Lawrence County * Decatur Volunteer Fire Department * Windsor Township Volunteer Fire Department Pike County * Benton Township Volunteer Fire Department * Scioto Township Volunteer Fire Department Scioto County * Minford Volunteer Fire Department * Morgan Township Volunteer Fire Department * Nile Township Volunteer Fire Department * Otway Volunteer Fire Department * Union Township Volunteer Fire Department The MARCS radio system provides statewide, secure, reliable public service wireless communication for first responders. The system allows first responders to seamlessly communicate with each other, as well as with other agencies that may be responding to an incident. Costs to acquire and operate the advanced MARCS radio system technology can be significant, which highlights the importance of these grants in helping to ensure fire departments of all sizes are able to access these valuable tools. Advertisement Advertisement This grant funding is a major resource for fire departments across Ohio, especially since it helps give them access to MARCS radios that they might not otherwise be able to purchase, said Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. These radios help first responders better serve Ohio communities and protect those who call them home. The MARCS Grant is available annually to fire departments with service areas of 25,000 residents or less. Up to $50,000 per department is available through the grant. Priority funding goes to departments applying as part of a regional or countywide effort, as well as departments that show they are prepared to immediately begin using the MARCS radios upon receiving the funds. Since 2020, the Division has awarded more than $24 million to fire departments across the state specifically through the MARCS Grant program, and an additional $13 million through its other grant programs to support equipment and training needs at departments. For additional details on grant funding, visit the Divisions interactive Grants Dashboard at com.ohio.gov/SFMDashboard. Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, will try again to extend Oklahomas eviction timeline after Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed a similar measure last legislative session. Kirt hopes to lessen the burden on courts and renters by removing weekends and holidays from the period tenants have to appear in court after getting an eviction summons with Senate Bill 1209, a new measure she filed in advance of the 2026 legislative session. When the banks are closed, when nonprofits that might be able to help tenants are closed, that wouldnt be part of the eviction timeline, Kirt said. I do feel like its kind of the bare minimum. Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma has one of the quickest eviction processes in the country, churning out more than 237,000 eviction filings since March 2020, according to data collected by the nonprofit Legal Services Corporation. Hearings have to be set within 10 days of an eviction being filed, a window that includes weekends and holidays, according to the nonprofit Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, which provides help in eviction court for people with limited income. Tenants are only required to receive three days notice of their hearing. This means someone could learn on a Thursday they have to be in court the following Monday, leaving little time to find a way to pay past-due rent or to arrange child care and time off to appear in court. County courts are especially busy around the end of the month, said Greg Beben, a Legal Aid attorney. And by including weekends and holidays in the eviction timeline, courts are forced to squeeze more cases into a smaller period of time. The week of Christmas alone, Oklahoma County District Court had nearly 450 cases on its dockets for two days. Renters who appear for a hearing could have just minutes to make their case. Beben said he and his colleagues expected to turn potential clients away during the Dec. 22 and 23 eviction dockets because of high case loads and a limited number of Legal Aid attorneys. Legal Aid has fewer attorneys to help tenants due to declining funding, Beben said. Advertisement Advertisement We simply do not have enough attorneys to represent as many tenants as we expect to apply with us at dockets that have over 220 cases, Beben said. Smaller dockets would change that. Beben said adding days to the eviction timeline would give attorneys more time to prepare defenses and negotiate with landlords and their attorneys. A longer timeline would also likely result in fewer eviction filings. As it stands, Oklahomas eviction process is extremely unforgiving for tenants, Beben said. Even if a tenant isnt removed from their home, having an eviction filing on their record can add challenges to securing new housing and employment. A bill Kirt introduced last legislative session that would have extended the eviction timeline passed the House and Senate. But the governor ultimately vetoed the measure, saying it would make the already burdensome and difficult process of obtaining an eviction that much more burdensome. Advertisement Advertisement Kirt said she hopes those who opposed last years measure will find SB 1209 more agreeable since it only removes holidays and weekends from the eviction timeline, rather than adding five days between delivery of a court summons and an eviction hearing, as the 2025 measure intended to do. Preventing evictions saves landlords apartment-turnover costs and keeps families housed, saving the community money that would otherwise be spent on homeless and emergency services, she said. It can take as little as two weeks for someone to be locked out of their home after an eviction action is filed against them. Extending the timeline, even a little, would help when an emergency comes up, like the temporary loss of federal food benefits in November, Kirt said. With such a tight timeline so few days it really means if someones even a few days behind in terms of getting their paycheck, or if theres a small glitch, like a car breakdown or a doctors visit, that can be enough for someone to be evicted, Kirt said. It doesnt have to be this way, she said. The Frontier is a nonprofit newsroom that produces fearless journalism with impact in Oklahoma. Read more at www.readfrontier.org. The Frontier is a nonprofit newsroom that produces fearless journalism with impact in Oklahoma. Read more at www.readfrontier.org. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bill could slow Oklahoma's eviction timeline, which includes holidays The Oneida Nation, located in Green Bay, Wisc., is seeking legal advice on how to disengage from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracts after learning that one of its subsidiaries was awarded more than $6 million in federal agreements, prompting sharp criticism from tribal members and Native advocates. Federal contract records show that Oneida-Stantec JV LLC, a Milwaukee-based joint venture that operates under the Oneida Engineering and Support Services Group holding company, secured two ICE contracts in late 2025 totaling more than $6 million. We did not attain our online goal. Please support our year-end campaign. CLICK HERE TO DONATE. Advertisement Advertisement Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. The first contract, valued at $2.6 million and awarded in September, covers facility condition assessments and property inventory services over a three-year period. A second contract, worth $3.9 million, was awarded in December to provide construction and design quality assurance services for an ICE project in El Paso, Texas. The contracts were first reported by a social media activists. The social media posting was seen by Oneida Nation citizens and others who raised concerns about the Nation profiting from immigration enforcement activities, including detention and deportation. In an initial statement, the Oneida Nation Business Committee said it was conducting due diligence to address the issue in a legal and transparent manner. In a follow-up statement issued Dec. 31, the committee condemned the subsidiarys involvement and announced concrete steps to prevent similar situations. Advertisement Advertisement The Business Committee passed a resolution requiring all tribal entities to disengage from any contracts or agreements involving ICE. Leaders said the decision was guided by the Nations Good Mind Principles, which emphasize ethical responsibility and alignment with community values. The controversy follows a similar disclosure last month involving the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, whose leaders confirmed that a tribally affiliated company had obtained a contract connected to ICE detention operations. In that case, tribal officials moved swiftly, terminating senior executives associated with the subsidiary and publicly reaffirming the tribes opposition to immigration detention. Native advocates pointed to that response as an example of accountability, and some urged the Oneida Nation to take comparable action. Oneida Nation officials said they are reviewing internal oversight policies for subsidiaries and joint ventures to ensure future business activities align with tribal values. Official statements and updates have been posted on the Nations website and social media platforms. Advertisement Advertisement About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net Outlook Therapeutics has received the US Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) complete response letter (CRL) regarding the biologics licence application (BLA) resubmission for ONS-5010/LYTENAVA (bevacizumab-vikg) to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). The FDA stated it cannot approve the application in its current form and requested confirmatory further evidence of efficacy, without specifying the type of evidence required. In the CRL, it noted that additional mechanistic and natural history data submitted with the BLA did not change its prior review conclusion, while one adequate and well-controlled study showed efficacy. Advertisement Advertisement The BLA resubmission for ONS-5010 was supported by data from the NORSE clinical trial programme, including the pivotal NORSE TWO trial and confirmatory safety and efficacy data from other NORSE studies. These included NORSE EIGHT, a non-inferiority study comparing ONS-5010 and ranibizumab in a 12-week trial of treatment-naive patients, with the primary efficacy endpoint at eight weeks. The company maintains that this data set supports the case for US approval. Outlook Therapeutics is evaluating all potential pathways for approval in the US and continues efforts to expand in Europe and other regions. LYTENAVA (bevacizumab gamma) has marketing authorisation from the European Commission in the EU and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK for wet AMD treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Outlook Therapeutics CEO Bob Jahr said: Our goal has always been to provide wet AMD patients and their physicians with a safe, consistent, FDA-approved alternative to compounded Avastin manufactured in the US, and that goal has not changed. We are disappointed and disagree with this decision, but we remain fully committed to taking all necessary steps to receive approval in the US. We continue to believe strongly in the clinical need and commercial potential of the first on-label bevacizumab product for patients in the US that is specifically formulated, manufactured, and packaged for intravitreal use. In November 2024, Outlook Therapeutics second attempt to obtain US approval for its wet AMD therapy, Lytenava, suffered a setback as the therapy failed to meet a key endpoint in the Phase III NORSE EIGHT trial. "Outlook Therapeutics receives FDA response on ONS-5010 for wet AMD" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. RAYTOWN, Mo. In the two years she has lived at Bowen Tower, Cynthia Barlow's apartment has flooded, been plagued by mold and been infested with cockroaches. The building's heat stopped working. When the elevators broke over the summer, emergency workers carried a sick neighbor down 10 flights of stairs. Meanwhile, Barlow's rent for the two-bedroom unit increased from $993 per month to $1,213. Growing frustrated, she hung fliers in the elevators and hosted potlucks, persuading a majority of tenants in the 90-unit building to join the Bowen Tower Tenant Union and stop paying rent until conditions improved. So far, they've won a meeting with the landlord, and a judge has knocked thousands of dollars off the rent debt of one resident facing eviction. "I got tired of being treated the way I was treated," Barlow said. The rent strike is part of a strategy that housing activists have started to replicate in midsize cities across the country. Tenant organizing is more common in liberal coastal metropolises like Los Angeles and New York - which recently elected Zohran Mamdani, a former tenant organizer, as its mayor. But rent strikes have been almost unheard of in places like Kansas City, Missouri, where according to Zillow the median rent increased 4.4 percent in the last year, twice the rate of the national average. Now, tenants in at least three buildings around the city have formed unions. Similar groups have popped up in Bozeman, Montana; Louisville; and New Haven, Connecticut. The country's renters are at a "total breaking point," said Tara Raghuveer, founding director of the Kansas City Tenants Union, also known as KC Tenants, an activist group. "When you get displaced from Chicago as a tenant, you might end up in a place like Kansas City. When you get displaced from Kansas City, you might end up in a Raytown, Missouri. When you get displaced in Raytown, Missouri, I do not know where you're supposed to go." Raghuveer said her group, which launched in 2019, has recently honed its focus on using tenants' economic leverage - their rent checks - to extract broad improvements and protections, not just for individual buildings but on a wide scale. "If we are only organizing block by block, we are going to lose," she said. "We can't let ourselves be wholly consumed by getting the elevator fixed or even by getting a collectively bargained lease agreement - as important as those things are to the material realities of the tenants that we're organizing. We have to be focused on much larger-scale economic disruption." But there are risks. In Missouri - and most of the country - renters lack legal protections, and tenants like Barlow face eviction and homelessness if their strategy fails. The California-based real estate company Alta/CGHS, which owns Bowen Tower, has sent eviction notices to 28 tenants since the rent strike started and is refusing to renew some leases. If tenants don't pay their rent, eviction is inevitable, said Greg Salyers, a minority partner in the firm. Without rent checks, "you can't pay your mortgage, you can't pay a staff to fix things," he said. "It's a business." Salyers acknowledged the building's maintenance issues, including with its heating and cooling systems, elevators, mold, plumbing and pests. But he said the owners have spent more than $1 million making repairs since 2024, including $250,000 on plumbing. About five units did not have working heat as of mid-December, but residents were told they could be placed in a hotel or compensated while they waited for window units to be installed, he said. They received a similar offer when the elevators stopped working for five days over the summer. "We want this to be a well-run building with tenants who are happy," Salyers said. Salyers said the company is eager to work with tenants individually, but the company refuses to acknowledge the Bowen Tower Tenant Union. And he described KC Tenants, which has been working with the group, as an "unethical" third party that is "muddying" the company's communication with tenants and spreading falsehoods to "smear" the owners. He also accused tenants of delaying repairs by intentionally concealing issues in their units from building management so they could be photographed and shared on social media to encourage the rent strike effort. Barlow, 59, said that when she moved to Bowen Tower, it was advertised as a quiet place for people 55 and older on the border of Kansas City. But she found the red brick building, which stands out as the lone high rise in an otherwise flat, suburban landscape, to be home to children and recently homeless families. Promised perks, including free internet and shuttle service, never materialized, Barlow said. Many tenants spend 60 percent of their income on rent, according to an analysis by KC Tenants. Salyers said that he has been to the building several times and that some young children may live there, but he wasn't aware of it. Those types of issues are handled by the property management company, Lynd Living, he said. Lynd Living did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Late last year, Barlow said, she came home to find her apartment floor wet. A pipe in the wall was leaking, she said, and the walls and carpet were damp. Days later, as she waited for the building manager to make repairs, she said, she learned that one neighbor's leak was so bad, they had an overflowing barrel of water. "I don't care if you are homeless," she said. "You don't put nobody in no conditions like that - period." Around that time, Barlow said, she watched a news report about tenants at an apartment building in nearby Independence who refused to pay rent for eight months because of dangerous living conditions. That strike, which KC Tenants helped organize, ended after tenants secured a new contract that froze rent levels and prohibited the building from being sold without tenant approval. Sitting on the couch she would later throw away because of mold, Barlow watched and rewatched news clips about the nearby rent strike. "It kind of inspired me," she said. She started talking to other residents about the building's problems. At first, many were reluctant to confront the landlord and afraid of being evicted, she said. Then the heat in the building went out. To warm his apartment, one of Barlow's neighbors, who is partially blind, turned on his oven and left its door open. After that, Barlow said, "people started speaking out." Herbert Kelley, a Bowen Tower resident, was among them. "I had mold, mildew, water coming in from between the walls, soaking in the carpet," Kelley said. When "a water pipe busted on the side of my kitchen and water ran all out the wall," he did the repairs himself. So when he heard about the tenants union, Kelley said he thought, "It's worth a try." As enthusiasm mounted, Barlow contacted KC Tenants, which went door to door talking to residents about the building's maintenance problems. A few months later, a majority of Bowen Tower residents voted to form a tenants union and secured a meeting with one of the building's managers. Unsatisfied with the progress, they declared a rent strike. Within weeks, some residents began receiving eviction notices - a swift reaction that had prompted other tenant groups in town to back down and worried veteran KC Tenants organizers. At a mid-October rally in a Raytown parking lot, Bowen Tower residents voted to stay the course. "Right now, I'm seeing everybody thumbs-up," KC Tenants organizer Justin Stein said. "Hell yeah." In early November, Yolanda Washington, 69, appeared at the county courthouse, packed with KC Tenants members wearing matching yellow T-shirts, to face trial for nonpayment of rent. Washington, who has lived in the building for six years, owed $12,000 and should be evicted, lawyers representing building management told the judge. She stopped paying rent because the property manager didn't fix her leaking, moldy sink, Washington told the judge, and she had been feeling sick for months. "I need my health to take care of me and my husband. I'm almost 70, and he's 74. We can't do this," she said on the steps of the courthouse after the trial. A few weeks later, the judge ruled that the landlord had "violated the warranty of habitability by failing to address" maintenance issues "in a timely manner." Washington's apartment was worth only $500 a month, not the $1,058 the building had charged, according to the ruling, which ordered her to pay just $5,000 in back rent. The building is now refusing to renew Washington's lease. "I'm not going to get put out," Washington said. "The Lord is not going to allow that to happen." A judge reduced a second Bowen Tower resident's back rent in late December; five more tenants are awaiting rulings, with another three scheduled to appear in court in January. Barlow is scheduled for eviction court in January, and Bowen Tower management hasn't renewed her lease. She hopes to move to Virginia someday to be near the beach and her grandchildren. But for now, "am I giving up?" Barlow said, sitting in her living room, where a piece of unfinished plywood covers a vent where drywall was removed to fix a leak. "Nope." (COMMENT, BELOW) Wet and shivering, I rose from the outrigger of a Polynesian voyaging canoe. Wed been at sea all afternoon and most of the night. Id hoped to get a little rest, but rain, wind and an absence of flat space made sleep impossible. My companions didnt even try. It was May 1972, and I was three months into doctoral research on one of the worlds most remote islands. Anuta is the easternmost populated outpost in the Solomon Islands. It is a half-mile in diameter, 75 miles (120 kilometers) from its nearest inhabited neighbor, and remains one of the few communities where inter-island travel in outrigger canoes is regularly practiced. My hosts organized a bird-hunting expedition to Patutaka, an uninhabited monolith 30 miles away, and invited me to join the team. Advertisement Advertisement We spent 20 hours en route to our destination, followed by two days there, and sailed back with a 20-knot tail wind. That adventure led to decades of anthropological research on how Pacific Islanders traverse the open sea aboard small craft, without modern instruments, and safely arrive at their intended destinations. Wayfinding techniques vary, depending upon geographic and environmental conditions. Many, however, are widespread. They include mental mapping of the islands in the sailors navigational universe and the location of potential destinations in relation to the movement of stars, ocean currents, winds and waves. Western interest in Pacific voyaging Disneys two Moana movies have shined a recent spotlight on Polynesian voyaging. European admiration for Pacific mariners, however, dates back centuries. In 1768, the French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville named Samoa the Navigators Islands. The famed British sea captain James Cook reported that Indigenous canoes were as fast and agile as his ships. He welcomed Tupaia, a navigational expert from Raiatea, onto his ship and documented Tupaias immense geographic knowledge. European explorers were impressed by the navigational skills of the people they encountered in the Pacific islands. Science & Society Picture Library via Getty Images In 1938, Maori scholar Te Rangi Hiroa (aka Sir Peter Buck) authored Vikings of the Sunrise, outlining Pacific exploration as portrayed in Polynesian legend. Advertisement Advertisement In 1947, Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian explorer and amateur archaeologist, crossed from Peru to the Tuamotu Islands aboard a balsa wood raft that he named Kon-Tiki, sparking further interest and inspiring a sequence of experimental voyages. Ten years later Andrew Sharp, a New Zealand-based historian and prominent naysayer, argued that accurate navigation over thousands of miles without instruments is impossible. Others responded with ethnographic studies showing that such voyages were both historic fact and current practice. In 1970, Thomas Gladwin published his findings on the Micronesian island of Polowat in East Is a Big Bird. Two years later, David Lewis We, the Navigators documented wayfinding techniques across much of Oceania. Many anthropologists, along with Indigenous mariners, have built on Gladwins and Lewis work. A final strand has been experimental voyaging. Most celebrated is the work of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. They constructed a double-hull voyaging canoe named Hokulea, built from modern materials but following a traditional design. In 1976, led by Micronesian navigator Mau Piailug, they sailed Hokulea over 2,500 miles, from Hawaii to Tahiti, without instruments. In 2017, Hokulea completed a circumnavigation of the planet. Advertisement Advertisement In traversing Earths largest ocean, one can travel thousands of miles and see nothing but sky and water in any direction. Absent a magnetic compass, much less GPS, how is it possible to navigate accurately to the intended destination? Looking to the stars Most Pacific voyagers rely on celestial navigation. Stars rise in the east, set in the west, and, near the equator, follow a set line of latitude. If a known star either rises or sets directly over the target island, the helmsman can align the vessel with that star. However, there are complications. Which stars are visible, as well as their rising and setting points, changes throughout the year. Therefore, navigation requires detailed astronomical understanding. Advertisement Advertisement Also, stars are constantly in motion. One that is positioned directly over the target island will soon either rise too high to be useful or sink below the horizon. Thus, a navigator must seek other stars that follow a similar trajectory and track them as long as they are visible and low on the horizon. Such a sequence of guide stars is often called a star path. Of course, stars may not align precisely with the desired target. In that case, instead of aiming directly toward the guide star, the navigator keeps it at an appropriate angle. A navigator must modify the vessels alignment with the stars to compensate for currents and wind that may push the canoe sideways. This movement is called leeway. Therefore, celestial navigation requires knowledge of the currents presence, speed, strength and direction, as well as being able to judge winds strength, direction and effect on the canoe. During daylight, when stars are invisible, the Sun may serve a similar purpose. In early morning and late afternoon, when the Sun is low in the sky, sailors use it to calculate their heading. Clouds, however, sometimes obscure both Sun and stars, in which case voyagers rely on other cues. Navigating requires deep understanding of waves, in the form of both swells and seas. AP Photo/Esteban Felix Waves, wind and other indicators A critical indicator is swells. These are waves produced by winds that blow steadily across thousands of miles of open sea. They maintain their direction regardless of temporary or local winds, which produce differently shaped waves called seas. Advertisement Advertisement The helmsman, feeling swells beneath the vessel, gleans the proper heading, even in the dark. In some locations, as many as three or four distinct swell patterns may exist; voyagers distinguish them by size, shape, strength and direction in relation to prevailing winds. Once sailors near their target island, but before it is visible, they must determine its precise location. A common indicator is reflected waves: swells that hit the island and bounce back to sea. The navigator feels reflected waves and sails toward them. Pacific navigators who have spent their lives at sea appear quite confident in their reliance on reflected waves. I, by contrast, find them difficult to differentiate from waves produced directly by the wind. Birds headed for home at the end of the day provide a clue about where land lies. Ecaterina Leonte/Photodisc via Getty Images Certain birds that nest on land and fish at sea are also helpful. In early morning, one assumes theyre flying from the island; in late afternoon, theyre likely returning to their nesting spots. Navigators sometimes recognize a greenish tint to the sky above a not-yet-visible island. Clouds may gather over a volcanic peak. Advertisement Advertisement And sailors in the Solomon Islands Vaeakau-Taumako region report underwater streaks of light known as te lapa, which they say point toward distant islands. One well-known researcher has expressed confidence in te lapas existence and utility. Some scholars have suggested that it could be a bioluminescent or electromagnetic phenomenon. On the other hand, despite a year of concerted effort, I was unable to confirm its presence. Estimating ones position at sea is another challenge. Stars move along a given parallel and indicate ones latitude. To gauge longitude, by contrast, requires dead reckoning. Navigators calculate their position by keeping track of their starting point, direction, speed and time at sea. Some Micronesian navigators estimate their progress through a system known as etak. They visualize the angle between their canoe, pictured as stationary, and a reference island that is off to one side and represented as moving. Western researchers have speculated on how etak works, but there is no consensus yet. For millennia, Pacific voyagers have relied on techniques such as these to reach thousands of islands, strewn throughout our planets largest ocean. They did so without Western instruments. Instead, they held sophisticated knowledge and shared understandings, passed by word of mouth, through countless generations. Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Richard (Rick) Feinberg, Kent State University Read more: Richard (Rick) Feinberg has, in the past, received research funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute for Mental Health, and Kent State University. He is a member of the American Anthropological Association, the Association of Senior Anthropologists, and the Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania. He has maintained connections with people of the islands on which he has conducted research. The parents of a 15-year-old boy are suing a school in Studio City after their son was fatally pinned between two vehicles in the schools parking lot. On June 4, Cosmo Silverman, 15, had just completed his last day of freshman year at Campbell Hall, a private Episcopal school. Just after 3 p.m., as he was walking between vehicles in the parking lot, he was struck by a driver in a Rivian SUV. The sudden maneuver pinned his body between the Rivian and a Volvo SUV in front. Advertisement Advertisement Paramedics rushed Silverman, along with his father, who witnessed the crash, to the hospital where the boy died from his injuries. Two other students and three adults also suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the incident. Cosmo Silverman, 15, had just completed his last day of freshman year at Campbell Hall in Studio City when he was struck by an SUV and fatally pinned between two vehicles at the schools parking lot on June 4, 2025. (Silverman Family) The scene at Campbell Hall in Studio City where a 15-year-old student was struck and killed. June 4, 2025. (KTLA) A 15-year-old male high school student was gravely injured in the parking lot of Campbell Hall in Studio City on June 4, 2025. (KTLA) Cosmo Silvermans family is suiing Campbell Hall, alleging school officials were aware of the parking lots design dangers but did nothing to address the repeated complaints from parents. (KTLA) Campbell Hall is a private Episcopal school in Studio City with a list of notable alumni. (KTLA) A 15-year-old male high school student was gravely injured in the parking lot of Campbell Hall in Studio City on June 4, 2025. (KTLA) The scene at Campbell Hall in Studio City where a 15-year-old student was struck and killed. June 4, 2025. (KTLA) A 15-year-old male high school student was gravely injured in the parking lot of Campbell Hall in Studio City on June 4, 2025. (KTLA) Campbell Hall is a private Episcopal school in Studio City with a list of notable alumni. (KTLA) Silvermans parents are now suing Campbell Hall, alleging that school officials were aware of the parking lot dangers and, despite repeated complaints, did nothing to address the problem. The couple said the school did not have an established crosswalk, which forced students to walk through lines of moving vehicles every day when leaving the campus. According to the suit, on the day Silverman was killed, school employees who were usually assigned to help direct traffic in the lot were somehow not present. Advertisement Advertisement What you had was a bunch of kids without adult supervision, who were forced to walk in between moving traffic, said Robert Glassman, the attorney representing the boys family. People were complaining to the school saying, This isnt safe, this is dangerous, change it, and they didnt listen, they didnt take it seriously. This was a preventable tragedy. Theres no reason this should have happened. Glassman alleges that Campbell Hall was not in compliance with regulations for school parking lots and that the boys family tried but failed to resolve the issue with the schools insurance company because they refused to take responsibility. Since the boys death, Glassman said the school added a crosswalk, a fence along the pickup line and a stop sign in front of the walking path. The suit goes on to say that had those safety measures been implemented before Silvermans death, the fatal incident may have been prevented. Advertisement Advertisement This is a wake-up call to every school up and down the state of California, Glassman said. If parents are complaining about something at the school, do something about it before a child gets killed. 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 KTLA. President Donald Trump finishes his inaugural address as Vice President JD Vance applauds during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) Curtis Yarvin, the right-wing philosopher who reportedly influenced Vice President JD Vance, described the Trump administration as a tragedy that has already lost in a new article warning that President Donald Trump and his allies could spend the rest of their lives behind bars. The story now seems clear: the second Trump administration is a tragedy, wrote Yarvin a close associate of billionaire Trump allies Elon Musk and Peter Thiel in a Substack article on Sunday. I hate to say it, but it looks like the administration has already lost. Advertisement Advertisement Yarvin explained that while the Trump administration had a massive amount of Rubicon energy, which could have been used to effect real change, the administration had blown that energy by failing to couple it with execution against the Deep State. The administration failed, collectively, to realize that (a) the excitement of potential real change was how all its crackling political energy was generated, and (b) the energy would stop if the offensive stopped moving, he explained. And Rubicon energy is hard to turn back on againfar harder than to kindle in the first place. Curtis Yarvin explains that the Trump Admin has settled into govern when it should have leaned heavily into regime change Now the Rubicon energy is gone and admin officials are likely to face mass prosecution along side prominent supporters pic.twitter.com/eEqE0OK0Js Auron MacIntyre (@AuronMacintyre) January 1, 2026 Yarvin warned that unless the energy could be rekindled with some kind of very sharp conflict or crisis, the Republican Party would be wiped out in the midterm elections and pushed permanently on the defensive. Yarvin went on to predict harsh reprisals for anyone who had anything to do with this little failed revolution, including marginal Trump administration officials. Advertisement Advertisement They will prosecute everyone, for anything. They will treat Trump appointees like January 6 trespassers. Even if you held some obscure cultural or scientific position, he warned, adding that actual, straight-out corruption in the admin would also come back to bite Trump and his allies. Yarvin continued: Last winters shock-and-awe Trump is vanished now. The administration is simply too well-integrated with the permanent government. This marriage is terrible, but it is still a marriage. The windows Trump would be breaking are now his own. This is why existential action is only possible at the beginning of a presidential term. [] Trumps tragic flaw is purely Shakespearean. It is the opposite of the accusations constantly hurled at him. Trump does not actually want full power. Rather, he is afraid of it. And it is not just him. He is actually far less afraid than the people around him. Criticizing Trumps self-congratulatory boasting from a throne of brass, Yarvin warned that Trump will spend the rest of his life in court or in jail if the Republican Party is defeated in 2028. This will also be true of all prominent Trump supporters, appointees, donors, etc, he concluded. This will be an all-you-can eat barbecue of fully-funded lawfare and endless fawning PR. Every Democratic prosecutor in the country will find a way to do her part in cleaning up the ruins of Trumpism. That is, rounding up and bayoneting the defeated veterans. The post Philosopher Who Influenced JD Vance Calls the Trump Administration a Tragedy That Has Already Lost first appeared on Mediaite. The driver of a 2024 Freightliner plow truck died Thursday, Jan. 1 after a crash on Grinnold Road in the town of Troupsburg. New York State Police were dispatched to Grinnold Road for a reported rollover crash involving a plow truck with reported entrapment at approximately 6:56 a.m. A 44-year-old man was extricated from the plow truck and transported by emergency medical services to St. James Hospital in Hornell before police arrived. He succumbed to his injuries while en route to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Troopers located a 2024 Freightliner plow truck off the south shoulder of the roadway, resting on its passenger side, according to police. The vehicle had exited the road for an unknown reason. The Steuben County Coroner responded and ordered an autopsy to determine the official cause of death, police said. The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing. The identity of the driver was not released. This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Plow truck driver dies after crash on Grinnold Road in Troupsburg A man has been arrested in connection with a Christmas Day shooting in Cambridge. Nelson Portillo, 34, of Cambridge was arrest on Friday after leaving himself and another person injured. At approximately 3:20am on December 25th Cambridge Police were dispatched to a home on Howard St. following a 9-1-1 call that reported a fight. Upon arrival, officers located Portillo and another individual suffering from gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Officers provided life-saving treatment to the individuals until Cambridge Fire and EMS arrived. They were both transported to local hospitals. According to Cambridge Police, Portillo discharged a firearm inside of a residence during a gathering, striking himself and another person. Portillo is facing multiple charges including with Assault & Battery with Dangerous Weapon, Discharge of a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Building and Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License. Portillo was arraigned in Cambridge District Court and will be held pending a dangerousness hearing. The shooting remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Over the course of the day, motorcycle patrols wrote 108 traffic tickets and confiscated two ATVs and a dirt bike, which were transferred for forfeiture proceedings. Southern District Police, Border Guard members, and other law enforcement members were active in the village of Tarabin as part of "Operation New Order" on Wednesday, police said. The operation is part of a campaign intended to crack down on crime. Advertisement Advertisement Over the course of the day, motorcycle patrols wrote 108 traffic tickets and confiscated two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and a dirt bike, which were transferred for forfeiture proceedings. Nine other suspects were also arrested in Tarabin, with an improvised weapon being seized. In addition, detectives arrested 11 illegal residents in Jenin and Nablus as part of the operation, bringing them in for questioning. WEAPONS FOUND above a kindergarten in Rahat during Operation 'New Order,' December 31, 2025 (Police Spokesperson) Criminals store stolen IDF weapons on kindergarten roof Based on intelligence gathered, the Rahat police and National Guard soldiers raided a kindergarten in Rahat. During the raid, they located weaponry stolen from the IDF that was stored there by criminals, police confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement The IDF has discovered weapons hidden in places meant for children several times before. On December 25, forces located approximately 10 mortar bombs hidden inside a childrens blanket in a residential building in the Beit Hanun area. Riverview is home to skilled roofing contractors known for quality workmanship and reliable service. Many handle both residential and commercial projects, offering everything from repairs to full replacements with materials built for Floridas humid, storm-prone climate. Below are the top roofing contractors in the area. HELSINKI (AP) Finnish authorities have arrested two members of a cargo ship's crew in connection with damage to an undersea telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland that occurred earlier this week between the capitals of Finland and Estonia, police said Thursday. The damage was discovered early Wednesday in Estonias exclusive economic zone. The cable belongs to Finnish telecommunications service provider Elisa and is considered to be critical underwater infrastructure. Helsinki police have opened an investigation into aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Advertisement Advertisement Officials placed two other crew members under travel bans as a result of the ongoing investigation, Helsinki police said in a statement Thursday. Police would not release the ranks of the crew members aboard the ship, their nationalities or other details. The ship, named the Fitburg, was flagged in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It had been traveling from Russia to Israel. The 14 crew members hail from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and were detained by Finnish authorities. Finnish National Police Commissioner Ilkka Koskimaki said earlier this week that the ship was dragging its anchor for hours when it was discovered in Finlands exclusive economic zone. He noted investigators are not speculating on whether a state-level actor was behind the damage. Advertisement Advertisement Finnish Customs discovered structural steel in the cargo that originated in Russia and falls under sanctions imposed by the European Union, the agency said in a statement. "Import of such sanctioned goods into the EU is prohibited under EU sanctions regulations," the statement said. Finnish Customs continues to investigate the sequence of events and the applicability of EU sanctions legislation to this case. The undersea cables and pipelines crisscross one of the busiest shipping lanes in Europe, linking Nordic, Baltic and central European countries. They promote trade and energy security and, in some cases, reduce dependence on Russian energy resources. Finnish authorities last year charged the captain and two senior officers of a Russia-linked vessel, the Eagle S, that damaged undersea cables between Finland and Estonia on Christmas Day in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement The Finnish deputy prosecutor general said in an August statement that charges of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications were filed against the captain and first and second officers of the oil tanker. The officers, whose names were not made public, denied the allegations, the statement said. However, a Finnish court in October dismissed the charges because the damaged cables were outside Finland's territorial waters. The Kremlin previously denied involvement in damaging the infrastructure, which provides power and communication for thousands of Europeans. The Eagle S was flagged in the Cook Islands but had been described by Finnish customs officials and the European Unions executive commission as part of Russias shadow fleet of fuel tankers. Those are aging vessels with obscure ownership, acquired to evade Western sanctions during the war in Ukraine and operating without Western-regulated insurance. For the West, such incidents are believed to be part of widespread sabotage attacks in Europe allegedly linked to Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Cincinnati police have named the 11-year-old girl who was fatally shot in a West End park on New Year's Day. QueenEr'Re Reed died at Cincinnati Children's hospital on Jan. 1 after police found her shot at Laurel Playground just after 6 p.m, according to a Jan. 2 release. In November 2023, 11-year-old Dominic Davis was shot and killed one block away from Laurel Park. Five others were injured in the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call 513-352-3542. This story has been updated with the correct spelling of QueenEr'Re Reed's name. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police name 11-year-old killed in West End New Year's Day shooting Two people were shot and killed in two separate shootings at the start of the new year. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, one of the shootings is being investigated by Trotwood Police, and the other is being investigated by Dayton Police. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement In Trotwood, around 2:44 a.m., police were called to Sheiks Restaurant and Lounge on Salem Ave. The Montgomery County Coroners Office confirmed to News Center 7 that they were called to a fatal shooting. Shortly after, in Harrison Township, around 2:53 a.m., Montgomery County Sheriffs Deputies were called to reports of a person shot on Fairport Ave. The victim, only identified as a 31-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Dayton Police Lieutenant Eric Sheldon confirmed. Dayton Police told News Center 7 that the shooting happened about a half mile away, on North Gettysburg Ave. Advertisement Advertisement Its time for us to pull together and make a change. The shootings and killings is just got out of hand, and we dont want our kids to be statistics, Dorthea Foster of Dayton said. News Center 7 is working to learn who died in both shootings. Police said they have no indication these two shootings are connected. We will continue following this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. "Social Mobility in Early Modern Europe," the history teacher wrote on her whiteboard. "Who can define social mobility?" "The ability of groups or individuals to move up or down in a culture," one student offered. "Right but don't read from your notes," said the teacher, Ms. Reburiano. "Now, what are some examples of this bubbling up in, say, Renaissance Venice?" "The merchant class!" one student said. "Capitalism!" said another. "And in Henry the Eighth's England?" Ms. Reburiano asked. "Land ownership!" "And in Hinduism, you can be reincarnated as a different caste," another student added. "Um, yes," the teacher said, pausing. "But what needs to happen in that case?" "You need to pass away," a student whispered. And that is precisely what is different about today and about the high school I was visiting, the Vertex Partnership Academies in the Bronx. This public charter school, where kids graduate with an International Baccalaureate, opened four years ago. It is the brainchild of author and education innovator Ian Rowe. "Social mobility is why we built this school," Rowe took this opportunity to tell the class. "As you learn this history, it's also your reality." The reality I saw on my visit last week was uplifting, because the students were getting so many different opportunities and expectations. The latter included: uniforms. "Where's your tie?" Rowe asked a student he saw in the hall. He buttoned down the collar of another. Also: no phones in school. Also: Memorize and take to heart four cardinal virtues, including, "I lead my life with self-discipline because I am responsible for my learning and behavior." As for opportunities? The students read classics, starting with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. They also get intense math (at least it looked intense to me I couldn't solve for x) and even philosophy. The class we popped into was studying Kant. Then, juniors and seniors who choose a career pathway get to pick a concentration: biomedical engineering, computer science or early childhood. The early childhood students spend six weeks their junior year observing in a Montessori classroom. Senior year? They student-teach. They graduate with the ability to go straight into a real-world job in education. Kpodo, a sophomore, told me about his summer internship in neuroscience. "They showed us how they test drugs on a rat's brain. Most people would be disgusted. I was exhilarated!" The lab was at Columbia University, a place he was already familiar with because his mom works there. As a security guard. Other students told me about their school field trip to the Supreme Court. The kids here are, for the most part, minorities. They hail from 100 different schools in the city and get in by lottery, not on the basis of scores or a report card. "The 10th grade me and the eighth grade me are like two different people," said sophomore Biarlis. "Back in eighth grade I wasn't really bad, but I used to talk back." When she got to Vertex, "There were so many rules I didn't agree with!" But gradually, "I realized the rules benefit me." The school isn't all rules and homework. There's art, games at lunch, and a student production. Last year it was "A Midsummer Night's Dream," which involved some special effects that did not go as planned. "We tried to do a smoke machine, but it was too much smoke," recalled Kpodo. "Wayyyyy too much." Everyone had to be evacuated even the girl in an inflatable costume. "There were fire trucks, alarms, the whole thing," Rowe recalled, shaking his head with a smile. "But then we came back in and finished the production." Obstacles overcome. A show that went on. Kids graduating with job prospects, European history and Kant under their belt (and tie). Sounds like social mobility to me. A man is dead after a reported shooting in Dayton early Friday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Around 5:55 a.m., crews were dispatched to an alley behind Illinois Avenue, just off Wyoming Street, on reports of a shooting. I was getting ready for work, and some gunshots came out, a 911 caller told dispatchers. The caller also told police he spotted a gun near the victim. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement When officers got to the scene, they found a 44-year-old man in a vacant lot, according to Dayton Police Lieutenant Eric Sheldon. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Montgomery County Coroners Office responded. As shown on News Center 7 at 5:00, neighbors said they were awoken by the gunfire. Three to four shots. I woke up, saw the fire department, the lights, went to take my dog to pee out back, and saw the dead body, Heather Brown said. The reported shooting is under investigation by the Dayton Police Departments Homicide Unit. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A man has been arrested after a large-scale illegal marijuana operation was found inside a home in Grafton. According to police, a 27yearold man was taked into custody on charges related to the operation of an illegal marijuana cultivation facility in a residential neighborhood. According to officials, additional individuals connected to the grow have been identified and are expected to face similar charges. Advertisement Advertisement The arrest followed a lengthy investigation conducted by Grafton Detectives in collaboration with the Blackstone Valley Drug Task Force. When officers executed a search warrant at the home, they uncovered a significant number of marijuana plants along with evidence of a largescale, unregulated growing operation hidden within the home. These unregulated illegal grow operations pose serious dangers to our residential communities, Grafton police said in a release. The modifications required to power these facilities create significant fire hazards that can endanger entire neighborhoods, they added. In other communities, similar operations have resulted in homes being destroyed or condemned due to unsafe wiring, overloaded electrical systems, and structural damage. Advertisement Advertisement Police also said additional dangers, including hazardous chemicals, mold growth from excessive humidity, and strong odors, can disrupt the quality of life for nearby families. The incident remains under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NEW BEDFORD New Bedford Police say they have made a "critical breakthrough" in the hit-and-run killing of a 33-year-old New Bedford mother early on New Year's Day and have seized the vehicle involved. Police say they "have identified, located, and seized the vehicle involved in this incident. We are continuing to piece together the events that took place during this terrible tragedy and anticipate that justice will be served swiftly." New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody stated on a social media post, Our thoughts are with the family. This was a promising life cut short unnecessarily. I want to commend the work of our detectives and highlight the effectiveness of collaboration with the state police and District Attorneys Office personnel thus far. Their expeditious work to bring justice to Nicolassa and her family exemplifies the compassion and dedication of all agencies involved. Advertisement Advertisement A GoFundMe has been established to cover memorial expenses and burial back in Guatemala for Nicolasa Ventura Colaj, the 33-year-old mother of three killed after leaving church shortly after midnight on New Years Day. She was coming out of the service at Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Latinoamericana, 1805 Acushnet Ave., and was celebrating the New Year with her family. A GoFundMe has been established to cover memorial expenses and burial back in Guatemala for Nicolasa Ventura Colaj, the 33-year-old mother of three killed after leaving church shortly after midnight on New Years Day. According to the Bristol County District Attorneys Office, as Colaj crossed the roadway, she was struck by an SUV and thrown a distance. The SUV then fled the area. Colaj was transported to St. Lukes Hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Advertisement Advertisement Colaj is survived by her husband, Antonio Colaj Olmos, a 4-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 11 and 15. A loving mother and God-fearing woman She was remembered as a loving mother and a God-fearing woman. When she entered a room she made everyone feel happy, she lightened up the mood always. Nicolasa was always smiling and she was generous. She was an exemplary and virtuous woman. Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores Executive Director Adrian Ventura said Nicolasa had been a member of CCT, which advocates for immigrant workers rights. He said her death had caused great pain to her family and was a shock to the community. He called for solidarity and justice on her behalf. Meeting to be held outside church Saturday Ventura said a meeting would be held outside the church at 1805 Acushnet Ave. Saturday at 1 p.m. in support of justice for Nicolasa and to pray for her. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Police have 'breakthrough' in New Bedford fatal hit-and-run Matt McCoy was reelected chair of the Polk County Board of Supervisors at the board's first meeting of 2026. Mark Holm was elected vice chair. In a 3-2 vote, supervisors approved McCoy as chair at a meeting on Friday, Jan. 2. Supervisors Angela Connolly and Tom Hockensmith voted against the reelection. Supervisors also approved Mark Holm in a 4-1 vote to replace Supervisor Jill Altringer as vice chair. Hockensmith voted against Holm's election. The split vote Friday underscores a board that's been largely divided on multiple issues the past year, with Connolly and Hockensmith overruled by their peers. Advertisement Advertisement Connolly told the Des Moines Register Friday she voted against McCoy as chair because she thinks someone else could've held the role, adding she could've done it if she had the votes. Connolly served as board chair in 2024. In a speech at Friday's meeting, McCoy called 2025 a "change-making" year, pointing to the board's successes such as reducing Polk County's property tax levy by 10 cents, relocating the county's elections office to the Polk County River Place building, 2309 Euclid Ave., and publishing the Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment (CISWRA) study, a water quality study the county commissioned. In another change, starting Jan. 13, supervisor board meetings will take place every other Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m., according to the news release. From left: Polk County Supervisors Jill Altringer, Matt McCoy and Mark Holm listen to a speaker during a Polk County Board of Supervisors meeting at the Polk County Administration Building on July 29, 2025, in Des Moines. Supervisors Tom Hockensmith and Angela Connolly were present remotely. The updates to the schedule were announced amid an election year for county supervisors, with three seats open on the five-member board. Supervisors are elected for four-year terms. Advertisement Advertisement McCoy announced his reelection bid in mid-November to represent District 1, which includes Des Moines' southwest side, West Des Moines, Clive and Windsor Heights. Veteran supervisors Tom Hockensmith, who represents District 4, and Angela Connolly, who represents District 5, announced they would retire from their seats at the end of their term. Long-time Des Moines City Council member Joe Gatto announced his intent over the summer to run for Hockensmith's seat. Democratic Iowa State Sen. Izaah Knox announced his bid for Connolly's District 5 seat in late 2025. Board supervisor and staff meeting schedules can be found on the county's website at: polkcountyiowa.gov/board-of-supervisors/meeting-agenda-and-minutes/ Advertisement Advertisement Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Polk County supervisors reelect chair, roll out new meeting schedule Enhanced tax credits that have helped reduce the cost of health insurance for the vast majority of Affordable Care Act enrollees expired overnight as 2026 arrived, cementing higher health costs for millions of Americans at the start of the new year. Democrats forced a 43-day government shutdown over the issue. Moderate Republicans called for a solution to save their 2026 political aspirations. President Trump floated a way out, only to back off after conservative backlash. In the end, no one's efforts were enough to save the subsidies before their expiration date. A House vote expected in January could offer another chance, but success is far from guaranteed. Advertisement Advertisement The change affects a diverse cross-section of Americans who don't get their health insurance from an employer and don't qualify for Medicaid or Medicare a group that includes many self-employed workers, small business owners, farmers and ranchers. It comes at the start of a high-stakes midterm election year, with affordability including the cost of health care topping the list of voters' concerns. "It really bothers me that the middle class has moved from a squeeze to a full suffocation, and they continue to just pile on and leave it up to us," said 37-year-old single mom Katelin Provost, whose health care costs are set to jump. "I'm incredibly disappointed that there hasn't been more action." Subsidies helped reduce costs since pandemic Advertisement Advertisement The expired subsidies were first given to Affordable Care Act enrollees in 2021 as a temporary measure to help Americans get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats in power at the time extended them, moving the expiration date to the start of 2026. With the expanded subsidies, some lower-income enrollees received health care with no premiums, and high earners paid no more than 8.5% of their income. Eligibility for middle-class earners was also expanded. On average, the more than 20 million subsidized enrollees in the Affordable Care Act program are seeing their premium costs rise by 114% in 2026, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF. Those surging prices come alongside an overall increase in health costs in the U.S., which are further driving up out-of-pocket costs in many plans. Advertisement Advertisement Some enrollees, like Salt Lake City freelance filmmaker and adjunct professor Stan Clawson, have absorbed the extra expense. Clawson said he was paying just under $350 a month for his premiums last year, a number that will jump to nearly $500 a month this year. It's a strain for the 49-year-old but one he's willing to take on because he needs health insurance as someone who lives with paralysis from a spinal cord injury. Others, like Provost, are dealing with steeper hikes. The social worker's monthly premium payment is increasing from $85 a month to nearly $750. Lori Hunt of Des Moines, Iowa, spoke with CBS News during the congressional stalemate in October and said she "couldn't afford" health insurance without the subsidies. "I'd have to cancel my insurance," Hunt said, joking that her insurance would consist of "thoughts and prayers." Advertisement Advertisement Hunt survived breast cancer three years ago and was laid off from her job in 2025. Without the subsidies, she expected her ACA premium would jump to about $700 per month. "It would be more than my mortgage payment," Hunt said. Many expected to go without coverage Health analysts have predicted the expiration of the subsidies will drive many of the 24 million total Affordable Care Act enrollees especially younger and healthier Americans to forgo health insurance coverage altogether. Over time, that could make the program more expensive for the older, sicker population that remains. An analysis conducted last September by the Urban Institute and Commonwealth Fund projected the higher premiums from expiring subsidies would prompt some 4.8 million Americans to drop coverage in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement The impact could be greatest in Florida, which has the largest number of ACA enrollees of any state more than 4.7 million, according to KFF data. Texas is next, with more than 3.9 million, followed by California, Georgia and North Carolina. / Credit: KFF Data/CBS News Kylie Barrios, a 30-year-old Florida resident, said she expected to be among those losing coverage. "Our health insurance premium is effectively tripling from 2025 to 2026," she told CBS News in December, saying it would rise from about $900 to $2,500. Provost, the single mother, said she is holding out hope that Congress finds a way to revive the subsidies early in the year but if not, she'll drop herself off the insurance and keep it only for her 4-year-old daughter. She can't afford to pay for both of their coverage at the current price. Advertisement Advertisement But with the window to select and change plans still ongoing until Jan. 15 in most states, the final effect on enrollment is yet to be determined. Last year, after Republicans cut more than $1 trillion in federal health care and food assistance with Mr. Trump's big tax and spending cuts bill, Democrats repeatedly called for the subsidies to be extended. But while some Republicans in power acknowledged the issue needed to be addressed, they refused to put it to a vote until late in the year. In December, the Senate rejected two partisan health care bills a Democratic pitch to extend the subsidies for three more years and a Republican alternative that would instead provide Americans with health savings accounts. In the House, four centrist Republicans broke with GOP leadership and joined forces with Democrats to force a vote that could come as soon as January on a three-year extension of the tax credits. But with the Senate already having rejected such a plan, it's unclear whether it could get enough momentum to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Americans whose premiums are skyrocketing say lawmakers don't understand what it's really like to struggle to get by as health costs ratchet up with no relief. Many say they want the subsidies restored alongside broader reforms to make health care more affordable for all Americans. "Both Republicans and Democrats have been saying for years, oh, we need to fix it. Then do it," said Chad Bruns, a 58-year-old Affordable Care Act enrollee in Wisconsin. "They need to get to the root cause, and no political party ever does that." Barrios, who said she has generally voted Republican, said she would like politicians to "act on those values that they ... claim to protect." Advertisement Advertisement "The whole system feels as though it's failed and isn't advocating for me as a small business owner, as somebody who wants to become a mom and have a family," she said. Police report details charges against Patriots' Stefon Diggs, who denies the allegations Tony Dokoupil: Don't just trust me. Make me earn it. Millions facing health care cost increases as tax credits lapse Credit: @Osint613/ X Pro-Palestinian activists attacked machinery and spray-painted slogans at a Scottish aerospace factory, footage shared online has shown. Protesters smashed their way into the Bruntons Aero Products site, on an industrial estate outside Edinburgh, shortly after midnight on New Years Day. The firm appeared to have been targeted because it supplies specialist parts for defence companies Leonardo and BAE Systems, both of which have been heavily criticised for their alleged links to Israel. Advertisement Advertisement The activists, masked and wearing the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh, used hammers to strike at computer servers in the factory before spray-painting There is only one way this ends and Drop Leonardo on the companys equipment. The pro-Palestinian group broke into the facility in Musselburgh and left graffiti that said Theres only one way this ends Footage further showed fire extinguishers being emptied into machinery. Police said they were investigating the incident. No named organisation has taken responsibility for the break-in, with online speculation attributing the attack to an autonomous group. A Police Scotland spokesman said: Around 12.35am on Thursday, Jan 1 2026, officers received a report of a break-in and damage at a premises on Eskmills Road, Musselburgh. Inquiries are ongoing. The hammer-wielding activists damaged CNC machines, servers, and computers on the site Baroness Foster, the Tory peer, posted on X reacting to the footage: Treason and terrorism... all rolled into one. Advertisement Advertisement Leonardos Edinburgh site has been the target of attacks by pro-Palestinian activists since the beginning of Israels war with Hamas. Last July, activists from Shut Down Leonardo Edinburgh were arrested after a van was driven into a fence surrounding a factory belonging to the defence company. The group said the firm was targeted because it makes components for F-35 fighter jets. The defence company insisted it did not directly supply equipment to Israel. Protesters also blocked the entrance to the site by parking a van across it in a separate incident in August. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. NEED TO KNOW Michael Abatti, 63, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 31, in Navajo County Superior Court during his first court appearance after being extradited to Arizona from California He is accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife, Kerri Ann Abatti, 59, at their second home in Pinetop, Ariz. Authorities allege Michael Abatti traveled from El Centro, Calif., to Pinetop on Nov. 20, carried out the killing and then immediately returned to California A prominent California farmer charged in the shooting death of his estranged wife was extradited to Arizona and has pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge. Michael Abatti, 63, entered the plea Wednesday, Dec. 31, in Navajo County Superior Court during his first court appearance after being extradited from El Centro, Calif., where he was arrested last month in the killing of Kerri Ann Abatti, 59, the Navajo County Attorney's Office said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement She was found dead at their second home in Pinetop, Ariz., where she moved after they separated. Abatti is being held on a $5.5 million bond in the Navajo County Jail, prosecutors said. His defense attorneys, Owen Roth and Danni Iredale, tell PEOPLE they have concerns about Abatti's health and if he is released, he would be continuing his medical treatment and abide by the bond conditions. "At this time we are asking the public to withhold judgement," Iredale said. "For decades he's been a pillar of the community, contributing to charitable causes and he's entitled to a fair shake in our justice system just as anyone who stands accused of a serious crime is." Advertisement Advertisement Authorities allege Abatti traveled from El Centro to Pinetop on Nov. 20, carried out the killing and then immediately returned to California. The Navajo County Sheriff's Office said in a news release on Dec. 23 that searches of "residences, properties, vehicles and camp trailers" associated with the Abatti family in El Centro, Calif., were searched and that investigators seized "a significant amount of evidence" which subsequently led to Michael Abatti's arrest. As for motive, Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse said in a later press conference that he couldn't speak to exactly what it would be but noted the impending divorce of the couple. "The only thing that's glaring that I think everybody already knows, there's a divorce in place and they weren't able to come to a resolution," Clouse said. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The couple owned Abatti Farms in El Centro, according to the Desert Sun, which obtained copies of their divorce filings. The divorce reportedly came as a surprise to Michael, who claimed Kerri left in August 2023 when he was away on a fishing trip, per the outlet. A pre-trial conference and release hearing is scheduled for March 17 in Navajo County Superior Court. Read the original article on People Its no secret that for many Nashvillians, 2025 may have turned out to be a pricey year. After all, median property values jumped by a record 45% across Davidson County after reappraisals this year, and the passage of Nashvilles $3.8 billion budget in June solidified that many homeowners were indeed staring down a higher property tax bill. But where exactly does that influx of money even go? As 2025 draws to a close, and as some Nashvillians may have already paid this year's bill, heres a breakdown of what types of services are funded with the money generated from property taxes. What are property taxes anyway? Property taxes are the fees owners pay based on their propertys assessed value, a percentage of a propertys overall worth. The more a property is worth, the higher the property tax bill. Advertisement Advertisement In Tennessee and across the country, property taxes are levied by local governments, not by the state or federal government. Taxes paid to the state government usually come from some combination of income and sales taxes, though Tennessee doesnt have a personal income tax. At the federal level, theyre derived from income and payroll taxes. That means that renters dont directly pay property taxes, though tenants might contribute indirectly through rent payments. There are different assessment ratios that factor into a final tax bill depending on the type of property, whether residential or commercial. The area of Davidson County you live in also affects your tax bill; there are different tax rates for the countys urban services district, which houses most of Nashvilles urban core, and the general services district, including the rest of Davidson County. Where does the money go? Property taxes typically fund most, if not all, of a local governments services. Advertisement Advertisement Thats true for Nashville, where about 57% of the $3.8 billion fiscal year 2025-2026 budgets revenue comes from property tax payments. The remaining 43% comes from a combination of a local option sales tax, other governmental agencies and other revenues. The city publishes exactly where that money is directed in a guide on its website. More than a third of the next budget is allocated toward education, and another roughly 21% toward public safety and justice. General government expenses and debt service take up about 11% each, with the remaining smaller chunks of tax dollars going toward things like infrastructure and transportation, health and social services, and recreation and culture. Other examples of resources that receive funding through Nashvilles budget, beyond those broader categories, include salaries for city employees, from Metro Nashville Public Schools to first responders, emergency maintenance costs, and the public library system. Advertisement Advertisement This years tax bills began hitting the mail in early October, and homeowners will have until Feb. 28 to pay them. Who gets a say? While Nashville has mechanisms for the general public to get involved with the decision-making process for where to spend all that money, its Mayor Freddie OConnell who proposes each annual budget and the Metro Nashville Council that has the final say in approving the document. The city offered a short-lived participatory budgeting program, a citizen-led process to pitch and vote on neighborhood projects to be funded by a pool of residual pandemic relief dollars, but it lasted only a few budget cycles before it was discontinued. Beyond that, residents get a chance to give feedback on the budget during a public hearing each summer. Advertisement Advertisement Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him with questions, tips and story ideas at ahornbostel@tennessean.com. Get Davidson County news delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville property taxes: What do they pay for? An ultra-conservative state legislator has filed a joint resolution seeking an amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution he says would give lawmakers the power to temporarily freeze, suspend or withhold state-appropriated funding from Oklahomas public colleges and universities. Rep. Gabe Woolley, R-Broken Arrow, said on Wednesday, Dec. 31, the aim of House Joint Resolution 1037 is to increase public accountability and oversight of Oklahoma higher education. Critics counter that Woolleys resolution, which ultimately seeks to amend the Oklahoma Constitution, pushes a political agenda thats not helpful. "Simply put: it is unserious and should be treated as such," said House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City. Advertisement Advertisement Woolley's proposal comes as the University of Oklahoma navigates a controversy surrounding a failing grade given to a politically conservative student, who turned in an essay that used principles from the Bible to argue for what the student believes are gender norms. At a December meeting of the OCPAC Foundation, a far-right think tank, Woolley presented the student, Samantha Fulnecky, with a formal statement of recognition. State Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, who leads the Legislature's far-right Freedom Caucus, also praised Fulnecky at the meeting and criticized OU, which initially placed the class instructor on leave before eventually saying the instructor no longer would teach at the university. Punishing a student for quoting Scripture while tolerating violence against conservatives shows exactly who runs the leftist asylum at OU, Jett said. Oklahoma taxpayers should not continue bankrolling indoctrination mills that violate the First Amendment. Placing the instructor on leave is not sufficient. Its another weak and cowardly response. In early December, the Freedom Caucus issued a list of demands of OU, which included an immediate reversal of the failing grade and a public apology to Fulnecky, a legislative audit of ideological bias in curriculum, grading and hiring, and cuts to state funding for higher education institutions until free speech and religious liberty are verifiably protected so conservatives are no longer targeted while leftists rage and roam across campus violating the rights of others. Advertisement Advertisement The Freedom Caucus said if OU President Joseph Harroz and university regents refused major, immediate reform, the caucus would introduce defunding legislation. Its uncertain if Woolley worked with any legislators who are known Freedom Caucus members on the resolution; he is not one of the 11 publicly known members of the caucus. Woolley didnt immediately respond to an email sent to his House office on Friday regarding the resolution. A spokesperson for OU declined to comment about about the resolution on behalf of the university. A proposed resolution by Rep. Gabe Woolley, R-Broken Arrow, could give lawmakers authority to temporarily freeze funding to state colleges and universities. Sean Burrage, the chancellor for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the executive agency that oversees public higher education in the state, said that agency was aware of Woolleys proposed legislation. Advertisement Advertisement The State Regents take their responsibility to allocate funding appropriated by the Legislature to Oklahomas public colleges and universities very seriously, Burrage said. Increasing the number of engineers, teachers, computer scientists, and nurses among graduates in other critical fields that require college degrees is key to Oklahomas economic future. We work closely with the governor and Legislature to align funding decisions with state workforce priorities. Under the resolution, any funding action taken by the Legislature would apply only to state-appropriated dollars and would not affect tuition, fees or private funds. Any freeze, suspension or withholding of funds would be limited to a maximum of two years, with funding automatically restored at the end of that period unless lawmakers take further action. The Legislature would also have the ability to modify, extend within the allowed timeframe or terminate the action early. Woolley said the joint resolution, if passed, would allow the people of Oklahoma to hold our publicly funded universities and colleges accountable. How tax dollars are utilized should always be subject to the will of the people." For the resolution to become law, it would first need to receive majority votes in both the state House and Senate, which would place it on a future statewide ballot as a state question. Then a majority of Oklahoma voters would have to approve it. Advertisement Advertisement "The practices that take place within our educational institutions have implications that reach every Oklahoman when graduates enter the workforce, the classroom or the public square," Woolley said. "We must make sure that entities using taxpayer dollars are working in the best interest of the people of Oklahoma." Munson, who is an announced Democratic candidate for the governor's office in 2026, said the resolution is a "distraction" from "real issues" facing Oklahoma. "This legislation is a threat to our public universities that if they do not comply with the political and ideological agenda of a handful of lawmakers, they will lose funding, which will only harm our universities and students," Munson said. "It is not a way to protect Oklahomans or our universities; it is a way to scare them into submission and ultimately infringe on our constitutional freedoms." Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, called the proposal unnecessary, referencing a politically polarizing former state schools superintendent. Advertisement Advertisement We dont need more Ryan Walters-style attacks on education, Kirt told The Oklahoman. Rather than punishing schools over political agendas, we should all be focused on how more young Oklahomans can access higher education and career opportunities. We should focus on people over politics. The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to begin Feb. 2. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Rep. files resolution to give lawmakers power to freeze college funding Andre Michael Redmond, 40, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the murder of 36-year-old LaKeisha Malone in Evanston, according to Hamilton County court records. Hamilton County court records indicate that Redmond has been charged with murder related to Malones death, which occurred in the 1800 block of Hewitt Avenue. Cincinnati police responded to the scene just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday and classified the investigation as a suspicious death being handled by the Homicide Unit. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement At the scene, officers found Malone suffering from injury, and the coroner was observed by our news partners at WCPO-TV, arriving shortly thereafter. Prosecutors informed the court that Redmond allegedly caused Malones death through blunt force trauma inflicted with a homemade wooden club. During a court hearing on Wednesday, prosecutors detailed that Malone may have been sleeping at the time of the attack. One detective described the scene on Hewitt Avenue as one of the bloodiest scenes that he has been at. Additionally, prosecutors reported that children were present in the home when Redmond attacked Malone, adding to the severity of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Redmond is currently held at the Hamilton County jail on a $2 million bond, as he awaits further proceedings in connection with the murder charges, according to WCPO-TV. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] It was an education. There was a lot of traffic, and nearly every destination seemed to involve a highway frequently more than one. Waze would send us hurtling onto a freeway, then instruct us almost at once to get ready to exit to another. Often that meant crossing three or four lanes of fast-moving cars with little margin for hesitation. Miss your moment, and you didn't just miss an exit; you were launched onto an entirely different trajectory. And the interchanges! The first time I glimpsed one of those vertiginous stacks of concrete roadways braided together and soaring overhead in multiple tiers I was awestruck. The High Five Interchange in downtown Dallas looked less like a familiar transportation system than a feat of extreme civil engineering. What impressed me even more was the calm competence of Dallas drivers, who navigated this airborne latticework as if it were the most natural thing in the world. They merged, exited, and soared with practiced ease, usually at 70 miles an hour. For all its hyperactive complexity, there was an exhilarating efficiency to the traffic. Cars moved. Lanes appeared where they were needed, and the system had the capacity to absorb the volume. After the initial intimidation wore off, I realized I was having an experience I don't usually get at home: Driving in Dallas was not miserable. The contrast between Dallas and Boston isn't just anecdotal. It shows up clearly in the numbers. The latest Global Traffic Scorecard from the transportation analytics firm INRIX confirms what Boston drivers already know in their bones. Traffic in New England's most important city is among the most congested in America. INRIX ranks Greater Boston as the nation's fifth-worst metropolitan area for driving, with the average driver losing 83 hours a year sitting in traffic the equivalent of two full workweeks squandered behind the wheel. Greater Dallas, by contrast, ranks 19th. Rush-hour congestion there robs the average motorist of only 44 hours a year five hours less than the national average. Expressed in dollars, Boston's sclerotic traffic costs a typical driver $1,529 yearly; the comparable figure for Dallas is just $810. That contrast might strike some people as counterintuitive. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, with more than 8.3 million residents, is far more populous than Greater Boston and continues to grow rapidly. It has more people, more sprawl, and far more vehicles. Yet highway congestion there is markedly less punishing. Boston's traffic woes are so familiar that they have become a journalistic cliche. News stories refer to the city's "infamously clogged road network" or its "notorious road congestion," as though these were immutable geographic features, like the Charles River or the Harbor Islands. The assumption seems to be that traffic misery is simply the price Boston must pay for being Boston. But congestion is not a law of nature. It's the predictable consequence of policy choices. The most important difference between Boston and Dallas is not driver behavior, population growth, or geographical layout. It's the stark contrast in how the two regions think about highway capacity. In Texas, planners and political leaders have operated on a straightforward premise: If a metropolitan region is growing, its transportation infrastructure must grow with it. Highways are treated not as moral failures or regrettable necessities, but as essential economic arteries. The result is a road network designed sometimes extravagantly so to accommodate demand rather than suppress it. In Massachusetts, the governing philosophy has long run in the opposite direction. New highway construction is viewed with deep suspicion, if not outright hostility. Adding lanes is dismissed as futile or counterproductive or not considered at all. Instead, the emphasis is on reducing demand for driving and shifting trips to other modes of transportation. That outlook is on display in the coverage of Boston's latest ignominious showing in the INRIX rankings. "The congestion comes as little surprise to some experts and advocates who've long clamored for leaders to wean the city and the state off its car dependence," the Globe reported. Typical of those experts and advocates is Reggie Ramos, the executive director of Transportation for Massachusetts, who insists that "the Boston area hasn't sufficiently invested in modes of transit that can take cars off the road." When policymakers in Massachusetts talk about relieving traffic congestion, what they have in mind is not making traffic move faster, but making driving less common. Congestion, in this view, is less a signal of insufficient infrastructure than a judgment about how people choose to travel. But for the overwhelming majority of residents, driving their own cars is the only form of transportation that makes sense. No matter how much they are hectored to switch to mass transit, they have sensible reasons not to do so. That was true even before COVID-19 struck. Five years later, transit ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels. For most workers, most families, and most trips, driving is not a lifestyle choice to be corrected but a practical necessity. Dallas accepts that fact and plans accordingly. Boston resists it then expresses frustration when the resistance produces gridlock. To be clear, this is not an argument for mindless sprawl or for replicating Texas-style interchanges along the Jamaicaway. It's an argument for intellectual honesty. A region that refuses to expand highway capacity while its economy and population continue to demand mobility will get exactly what Greater Boston has: chronic congestion, wasted time, and a daily tax on ordinary life. One way to see how misguided Boston's approach to congestion has become is to imagine it applied elsewhere. When the price of ground beef or chicken rises, no Massachusetts official suggests people should be eating less, or sees higher prices as a way to nudge consumers toward vegetarianism. Costly groceries are understood as signs of supply failing to keep up with demand a problem to address, not a policy lever to change the public's behavior. Severe highway congestion, which increases the cost of everyday life, is treated very differently. Instead of being recognized as evidence that roadway capacity has not kept pace with the region's needs, it is often framed as a tool for discouraging driving and reshaping behavior. In practice, clogged roadways merely redistribute pain. People with the most flexibility professionals who can work from home, people who can afford homes in Boston's nearest suburbs, commuters with off-peak schedules adapt. Everyone else pays the price in lost time, stress, and foregone opportunities. None of this means that Boston should aspire to Texas-style sprawl, or that every traffic problem can be solved by pouring concrete. Construction engineers in the 21st century have more sophisticated and sensitive options for expanding highway capacity than was the case a generation ago. But a modern metropolitan economy cannot function on 1970s highway capacity plus moral scolding. Dallas traffic does not move more smoothly because its residents are especially virtuous or more patient. It moves because its leaders accept growth as a fact and mobility as a necessity. To them, congestion isn't proof that highways don't work. It's proof that people need to go places. Until Massachusetts decides that mobility is something to be enabled rather than discouraged, Boston will remain world-class in many things. But getting people where they need to go, when they need to go there, will not be one of them. Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission. (COMMENT, BELOW) Rhode Island Senate President Valarie Lawson, foreground, and House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, background. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Heading into his sixth year leading the chamber, Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi has mastered the art of satisfying a flurry of funding requests despite an ever-present budget deficit. This year feels different. Its going to be a challenging year, Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, said in an interview in mid-December. Its going to be by far, the most challenging year Ive had as speaker. Advertisement Advertisement The biggest source of his holiday headache: the federal government, which under President Donald Trump has upended once-reliable federal funding streams for state and local government. Nearly $135 million in federal grants for state energy programs, infrastructure projects, public health initiatives and education programs have been cut off, or rendered inaccessible due to new strings attached to the money, according to an Oct. 30 analysis by the Rhode Island Office of Management and Budget. Meanwhile, major changes to federal health care and food assistance programs under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will kick tens of thousands of vulnerable residents off critical safety net programs, simultaneously forcing state agencies to invest millions of dollars in personnel, IT and consultants to meet new federal mandates. The most sweeping changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dont kick in for one or more years. But legislative leaders are trying to prepare now for the financial and human costs. Everything is on the table, Senate President Valarie Lawson said in a separate interview. Theres tremendous need here in Rhode Island, and we cant abandon these people. Advertisement Advertisement Lawson is fresh to the role, having ascended in the final throes of the 2025 session. Her rise to power was fraught with tension and grief after the death of her predecessor, former Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, in April. Lawson, an East Providence Democrat and president of the state teachers union, acknowledged the public controversy permeating the upper chamber even before Ruggerios death. But the wounds inflicted by the Trump administration might offer a chance for lawmakers to find common ground in standing against federal funding cuts and policy changes. Most people who are here really feel like their priority is to get things done for Rhode Island, just like its my priority, and thats our driving force here, Lawson said. Were all professional here, and I really do think that members of this chamber care about policy, and this is where they want the energy of the chamber to be as well. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi says the 2026 legislative session will be the most challenging in his six years leading the chamber. At right is House Majority Leader Christopher Blazejewski. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) Here are the top talking points when the gavel bangs on Tuesday, Jan. 6, marking the start to a new session: Health care Looming Medicaid cuts will kick 33,500 Rhode Islanders off the government health benefits program by the end of 2026. But Rhode Islands fragile health care system is already suffering. Advertisement Advertisement Uncompetitive reimbursement rates with neighboring states have sapped the states supply of health care providers, including primary care doctors and nurses. Insurance premiums have spiked by double-digit percentages, yet insurance companies are still struggling to remain solvent amid rising health care costs of their own. Cash-strapped hospitals cant keep up with the volume or cost of uninsured patients, a situation that will grow more dire if the buyer of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital cant close the deal by mid-January. The two safety net hospitals have ridden a roller coaster of uncertainty since their owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, filed for bankruptcy in January 2024. Prospective buyer The Centurion Foundation is still struggling to secure the investor-backed bonds needed to finalize the purchase and prevent the facilities from imminent closure. The two hospitals treated 50,000 emergency room visitors last year and employ more than 2,700 people. But legislative leaders have not yet suggested forking over state funding to keep them afloat as Mass Gov. Maura Healey did in 2024 after Steward Health Care filed for bankruptcy and sold its Massachusetts hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Shekarchi and Lawson are still hoping Centurion will close the sale by a Jan. 15 deadline set in federal bankruptcy court in Texas. If not? Then there might be more efforts in the state, Shekarchi said. Even if Centurion closes the sale successfully, hes anticipating some asks from the nonprofit buyer, though what and from whom remain unclear. Well address that when we get there, but we have to close the deal first, Shekarchi said. Lawson said keeping Roger Williams and Fatima open is paramount to our health care system. The Senates 2026 policy wish list features other health care items, too: creating a medical school at the University of Rhode Island, banning insurance companies from requiring pre-authorization for mental health visits piggybacking on the 2025 law that ended pre-authorizations for primary care and regulating pharmacy benefit managers to make prescriptions more affordable. Advertisement Advertisement When we talk about health care, were looking at short-term, medium- and long-term, Lawson said. We need a fully functioning health care system so we have affordable, attainable access to health care. Creating a medical school at URI would cost $225 million over the first decade, including substantial state contributions along with private and philanthropic funding, according to a preliminary report commissioned by a state consultant. Its an expensive proposition, and its long, Shekarchi said, noting the 10 years it would take before doctors graduated and were serving the community. A legislative commission exploring the topic is expected to issue a final report in January. Senate President Valarie Lawson listens as the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on advancing amended legislation restricting the sale of assault-style weapons to the Senate floor on June 18, 2025. Behind her is Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Education, housing Also costly: drastic changes to the education funding formula. A task force created by the Rhode Island Foundation has recommended major overhauls to the calculations that fund local education districts, including placing a greater responsibility on the state to level the playing field for low-income students and non-native English speakers. Advertisement Advertisement Lawson and Shekarchi both said they were aware of the forthcoming report, but said it was too early to comment. Lawson, who spent more than three decades as a teacher in East Providence Public Schools, remains hungry to expand access to free school meals to all students, regardless of income, as nine other states have done. I still think its really important, because its removing an obstacle for kids to succeed, Lawson said. Kids who are fed, they achieve higher standards and test scores. The $40 million price tag has been a sticking point in recent years across both sides of the rotunda, but lawmakers are exploring ways to boost federal spending to cover the costs, Lawson said. Advertisement Advertisement If education is Lawsons strong suit, Shekarchi has made housing his focus tackling the many local land use rules making it harder to build and renovate fast and affordably. He again expects to release a multi-bill housing package this year that would cut red tape in local and state housing laws, though hes awaiting final recommendations from the pair of legislative commissions considering housing affordability and land use. Workforce Intertwined with housing availability and affordability is the states talent pool. Fresh off the loss of Hasbro Inc., which cemented plans to abandon its century-old Rhode Island roots for a fresh new office in Bostons Seaport district by the end of 2026, Shekarchi is keeping in close contact with other major state employers like CVS Health and FM. So far, executives at these companies have not given any hints they intend to abandon or reduce their local footprints, Shekarchi said. Keeping major corporations happy relies not only on face time with Smith Hill leaders; they want access to workers, something Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks said was a major reason why the toy and gaming empire is moving to Boston. Thats why the Rhode Island Senate has thrown its weight behind a $65 million workforce innovation center at the Community College of Rhode Islands Warwick campus. The new building, funded via borrowing put to voters on the November 2026 ballot, would serve as a centralized hub for career and technical programs in critical industries like health care, defense, manufacturing, IT, construction and renewable energy, according to informational materials provided by the Senate on CCRIs behalf. Sunlight pokes through clouds above the Rhode Island State House. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Eye on 2026 elections Eleven months out, conversations over candidates seeking state office in 2026 are flowing, including speculation over whether Shekarchi will run for governor. Shekarchi remained tight-lipped, promising an announcement sometime in the first quarter. Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Dan McKee and his 2022 rival, Helena Buonanno Foulkes, are already jousting in what is shaping up to be a competitive Democratic primary, while a handful of Republicans have declared their candidacies, including former aide to Gov. Don Carcieri, Aaron Guckian. All 113 members of the legislature will also be up for reelection in 2026 an unspoken yet obvious factor that hangs over Smith Hill every two years. A trio of incumbent Democrats already face challengers propped up by a new, conservative-leaning political action committee, The League of RI Businesses. Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone and Majority Whip David Tikoians attendance at fundraisers for two of the legislative challengers raised eyebrows. But Lawson has stayed away from the debate, and even Ciccone said he has not decided whether he will back his niece, Laura Turini, in her campaign to unseat Sen. Bridget Valverde of North Kingstown. Lawson and Ciccone appeared an unlikely pairing when matched in April, with starkly different views on guns, abortion and other social issues. But Lawson sees value in a number two with different opinions; after all, its the same dynamic that characterized her relationship with Ruggerio as his majority leader last year. Advertisement Advertisement We all have to deal with different opinions and thoughts in the chamber, so I think its an asset, she said. And without major gun safety legislation on the horizon this year at least, not yet their policy differences might remain more veiled. Sen. Frank Ciccone, a Providence Democrat, takes a phone call before the start of the Rhode Island Senates floor session on April 1, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Tax the rich revisited Ciccone and Lawson share interest in a tax on top earners, though Ciccone draws the line at $1 million minimum. In 2025, proposed legislation sought to add a 3% surtax on the top 1% of earners, which would affect roughly 5,700 state tax filers who earned $625,000 or more. It failed to advance in either chamber. Those are middle class people, still saving, Ciccone said of the lower threshold. Lawson said she was open to either version of a tax on top earners, noting the need to generate more income as federal funding shrinks. A 3% tax on the top 1% of earners would bring in $190 million annually for the state, according to analysis coupled with the 2025 bill. Shekarchi reverted to his signature phrase when asked about his interest in a wealth tax. Its all on the table, he said. Massachusetts voters in 2022 approved a ballot measure adding a 4% surtax on income over $1 million. But the Commonwealth exempts taxes after death on estates up to $2 million a higher threshold than the $1.8 million exemption limit in Rhode Island.. We need to be comparable to what our neighbors are doing, Shekarchi said. McKee, who gets first crack at a fiscal 2027 spending plan, also signaled new openness to a tax on high earners in an interview with the Providence Journal. Excavators and cranes seen near the eastbound Washington Bridge in East Providence on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Washington Bridge While legislative leaders get final say in the states annual tax and spending plan, Shekarchi deferred to the executive branch on whats next for the Washington Bridge. Coming off what he considered a successful oversight hearing in November led by former U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha, Shekarchi did not see additional action items for the legislature to take on. This is an executive function, and were waiting for the governors budget, were waiting for the transcript from the hearing, and were also waiting for some information to come from the [Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)] Shekarchi said. Lawson, who travels the traffic-snarled span each day to and from work, said she was focused on restoring both the infrastructure and public faith in government. An out-of-service Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Bus seen near the agencys Providence headquarters on Dec. 17, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) RIPTA The cash-strapped Rhode Island Public Transit Authority faces a projected deficit of nearly $15 million for fiscal 2027, despite lawmakers directing new revenue sources to the transit agency through gas taxes and the state highway maintenance account in 2025. Yet RIPTA was still forced to enact sweeping service cuts to two-thirds of its routes starting last fall. Shekarchi still sees room to right-size the agency, reducing frequency of low-ridership routes and overhead cost. The long-awaited efficiency study published in August also focused on slashing service to close the perennial agency budget gap. Transit advocates have questioned the seemingly singular focus among lawmakers on cutting costs at RIPTA, while expenses at other behemoth state agencies, including RIDOT, swell. Shekarchi acknowledged that other branches of government could benefit from some scrutiny of returns on investment. But, he continued, Were not a business, were not a corporation. We serve people. The voting board is shown in the Senate Chamber at the Rhode Island State House. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Lightning round Q & A Will Sen. Frank Ciccone keep his federal firearms license? Yes. The Providence Democrat says he has no interest in giving up the license, and recently received a call from someone looking for something, although he hasnt sold a gun since December 2024. Is Sen. Val Lawson reconsidering giving up her day job amid continued scrutiny of ethical conflicts? No. The Senate President insists she is no different than any other member of the part-time legislature, many of whom also face personal and professional conflicts in certain bills. Has House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi smoothed things over with Gov. Dan McKee? It seems like it. Despite the governor refusing to sign the fiscal 2026 budget, prompting harsh words exchanged with legislative leaders, Shekarchi said he still has a good working relationship with the executive branch. Will there be legislation related to the Brown University mass shooting? Too soon to tell. House Majority Leader Christopher Blazejewski, who lives in the East Side neighborhood where the shooting occurred, said his family and the wider community will be forever changed by the tragedy. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Republicans want comprehensive oversight of Michigans 2026 election. What does that mean? In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent Nov. 13, Michigan Republicans asked the federal government to provide comprehensive oversight of the states 2026 election. But the letter doesnt specify what comprehensive oversight means. And its not clear that the people who signed the letter agree on the meaning either. A total of 22 Republican state legislators from both the Senate and the House signed on to the letter, including Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, Sen. Ruth Johnson a former Michigan secretary of state and Rep. Rachelle Smit, who leads the House Election Integrity Committee. Advertisement Advertisement The letter asks the U.S. Justice Department to deploy official election monitors and provide comprehensive oversight for Michigans 2026 primary and general elections. It cites a number of concerns about Secretary of State Jocelyn Bensons administration of the election, from the fact that she is running for governor in the 2026 election to her alleged violations of election law. It is not unusual for secretaries of state to oversee elections in which they are candidates. Benson ran the 2022 election that won her a second term, for instance, and Johnson oversaw two separate elections as secretary in which she was also on the ballot. In Michigan, while the secretary of state sets rules and regulations, it is local clerks who typically work with voters more directly, creating a layer of separation between the states highest election official and the voters who may or may not be supporting them. Its not clear if the Justice Department will take the matter on, but Johnson told Votebeat on Thursday that department officials were already meeting on the request. She said she didnt know who specifically was involved, and a spokesperson for the department did not respond to a request for comment. Nebulous views of oversight The first part of the Republicans request federal election monitors isnt unusual. Monitors watch polling places and vote-counting centers to ensure workers are following processes appropriately. Under President Joe Biden, the Justice Department sent monitors to 27 states in the 2024 general election, including Michigan, and sent monitors for Michigans primary election as well. Under President Donald Trump, it sent monitors to California and New Jersey earlier this month after similar requests from members of the GOP in both states, but those monitors were uninvasive and may not have visited certain jurisdictions at all. Advertisement Advertisement Comprehensive oversight, though, is a more abstract idea. To Johnson, oversight in 2026 would be something that has to be worked out, because you always have to balance everything. In an interview with Votebeat, she did not go into specifics about what type of intervention she might welcome in Michigan, although she offered one example of something she hopes federal involvement could accomplish: ensuring people dont vote twice. Thats already rare in Michigan. Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, pursued charges against several people in an investigation of double voting last year. Charges were dropped against most, while one was sentenced to probation this year. But a 2022 statewide audit found that, out of more than 11.7 million votes cast from May 2019 to March 2021, 99.99% were not duplicate votes. Advertisement Advertisement Nesbitt didnt offer much detail about what federal oversight could look like, either. We arent leaving any options off the table, he said in an emailed statement. The level of federal intervention in Michigans election is going to depend entirely on Jocelyn Bensons willingness to cooperate with the DOJ and follow the law. Im confident the DOJ will do whatever is necessary to ensure our next election is free of any manipulation. Nesbitt said that Benson should welcome DOJ oversight if elections are as secure as she claims. Johnson, meanwhile, said she would primarily like to see oversight from someone independent. Johnson argued that circumstances are different from when she was secretary of state and administering elections in 2014 and 2018. I was nonpartisan in every single way, she said. I got in trouble with some people in my own party because of it. Benson, she said, has not been the same. Advertisement Advertisement The Michigan Department of State argues that it isnt true. Elections in Michigan are among the most transparent, secure and accessible in the nation, Angela Benander, a spokesperson for MDOS, said after the letter was released last week. Next years election will be no different, Benander continued. Yet by pouring gasoline on our democracy and asking the DOJ to light a match, these lawmakers ignore these truths. They instead use dangerous, false rhetoric to encourage President Trump to illegally interfere in our states ability to hold fair and free elections. Federal intervention has few precedents Experts say the federal governments ability to intervene in elections is limited. The Constitution is very clear, for example, that states get to establish the times, places and manner of elections. Historically, when the federal government has gotten involved in elections, it has usually been through legislation. During Reconstruction, for instance, Congress passed a series of Enforcement Acts that made it a federal crime to interfere with elections. However, that was at a time when Ku Klux Klan members were using violence to prevent Black voters from casting ballots a radically different circumstance than the ongoing lawsuits and alleged conflicts of interest Benson faces today. Advertisement Advertisement The timing of the letter is also unusual, said David Becker, an election lawyer who worked in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and now leads the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research the general election is nearly a full year away. I dont know of a single instance in all of DOJ history where a jurisdiction that wasnt previously monitored had monitors assigned more than a few weeks before, he said. This story was produced by Votebeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. (NewsNation) Russia reportedly has asked the White House to end the U.S. Coast Guards efforts to seize an oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean after the crew of the vessel painted a Russian flag on the side of the ship. Last month, the Bella 1 was on its way to Venezuela to get oil when the U.S. military tried to board it in the Caribbean for allegedly flying a false flag. Now, the ship has sought to identify itself as a Russian-affiliated vessel. A Trump administration official would not confirm whether Russia has asked Washington to back off, a development reported Thursday by The New York Times, citing two unnamed sources. Advertisement Advertisement Venezuela seeks to criminalize oil tanker seizures as Trump puts pressure on Maduro This is a Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel that has transported sanctioned oil. This vessel was deemed stateless after flying a false flag. This vessel has a judicial seizure order, and the crew will be subject to prosecution for any applicable violation of federal law, the official told NewsNation. U.S. forces have already seized two rogue oil tankers in the Caribbean as the Trump administration applies military pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by squeezing his countrys oil-based economy. Diplomatic intervention from Russia on behalf of the Bella 1 comes as the U.S. is trying to help broker a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv to end the war in Ukraine. Coast Guard continues search for boat survivors of Tuesday attack As part of the White Houses Venezuela strategy, the Pentagon also has destroyed dozens of alleged drug boats and killed more than 100 people in international waters. The most recent strikes took place Tuesday and Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement In the earlier attack, the military targeted a three-vessel convoy. After one boat was destroyed, occupants of the other two boats jumped overboard before U.S. forces struck the vessels, U.S. Southern Command said. The Coast Guard says it was notified Tuesday by the Department of War of mariners in distress in the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating search and rescue operations with vessels in the area, a spokesman said. 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 NewsNation. Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia's military struck United Arab Emirates-backed separatists in Yemen on Friday, prompting an unofficial declaration of "war" from the Southern Transitional Council. Representatives of the separatist Southern Transitional Council in Yemen's Hadramout Governorate accused Saudi forces of bombing their fighters while they were near Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia. They say a state of war exists in the province, but no casualty reports were provided for the military strike that involved Saudi ground and air forces. Advertisement Advertisement The Hadramout province is situated in eastern Yemen and about 500 miles east of Yemen's capital city of Sanaa, with Saudi Arabia to its north and the Gulf of Aden to its south. Hadramout Gov. Salem al-Khanbashi dismissed the STC's war declaration and said the military operation by Saudi Arabia sought to "peacefully and systematically" regain military bases controlled by the STC, Al Jazeera reported. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have become involved in the internal conflict in Yemen, with the Saudis backing the Yemeni government and the UAE the STC. Saudi and Yemeni officials have accused the UAE of arming STC separatists and encouraging them to seize parts of southern Yemen's Hadramout and al-Mahra provinces. Advertisement Advertisement STC representatives have said they intend to hold a voter referendum in two years to decide if an official declaration of an independent state will be delivered. Yemen already is in a deadly civil war that started in 2014, and the STC's planned vote could make the fighting more frequent and intense and worsen conditions in what is considered one of the world's most impoverished nations. The civil war has created famine conditions within the nation that already has experienced many deadly conflicts since the civil war began. ADEN, Yemen (AP) Yemen 's separatist movement on Friday announced a constitution for an independent nation in the south and demanded other factions in the war-torn country accept the move in an escalation of a confrontation that has pitted Gulf powerhouses Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against each other. The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council depicted the announcement as a declaration of independence for the south. But it was not immediately clear if the move could be implemented or was largely symbolic. Last month, STC-linked fighters seized control of two southern provinces from Saudi-backed forces and took over the Presidential Palace in the south's main city, Aden. Members of the internationally recognized government which had been based in Aden fled to the Saudi-capital Riyadh. On Friday, Saudi warplanes bombed camps and military positions held by the STC in Hadramout province as Saudi-backed fighters tried to seize the facilities, a separatist official said. It was the latest direct intervention by Saudi Arabia, which in recent weeks has bombed STC forces and struck what is said was a shipment of Emirati weapons destined for the separatists. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the UAE announced early Saturday it had completely withdrawn all its troops from Yemen, something it pledged to do after the confrontation. Ostensibly, Saudi Arabia and the UAE and their allies on the ground in Yemen have all been part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who control the north in the country's decade-long civil war. The coalition's professed goal has long been to restore the internationally recognized government, which was driven out of the north by the Houthis. But tensions between the factions and the two Gulf nations appear to be unraveling the coalition, threatening to throw them into outright conflict and further tear apart the Arab world's poorest country. Southern separatists' declaration The head of the STC, Aidarous al-Zubaid, issued a video statement Friday saying that the constitution his group issued would be in effect for two years, after which a referendum would be held on exercising the right to self-determination for the people of the South. During those two years, he said, the relevant parties in north and south Yemen should hold a dialogue on a path and mechanisms that guarantee the right of the people of the South. Advertisement Advertisement He said that if the other factions don't agree to his call or if they take military action, all options remain open. The 30-article constitution proclaimed the creation of the State of South Arabia," covering the same territory of the former Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen, the independent southern state that existed from 1967-1990. It seemed to be the most overt move yet by the STC toward its long-proclaimed goal of independence. In the confusion that has reigned in the south in recent weeks, it was not clear what practical impact it would have. But the declaration could set back efforts to avert an outright conflict between the separatists and the rest of the Saudi-led coalition. The UAEs Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday that the country was dealing with the situation with restraint, coordination, and a deliberate commitment to de-escalation, guided by a foreign policy that consistently prioritizes regional stability over impulsive action. Advertisement Advertisement The UAE Defense Ministry early Saturday said its withdrawal of troops from Yemen was complete. It provided no details on the number of soldiers and equipment moved, but there had been multiple Emirati military cargo flights heading in and out of Yemen in the last few days. The UAE forces follows the implementation of a previously announced decision to conclude the remaining missions of counterterrorism units, a Defense Ministry statement said. The process has been conducted in a manner that ensured the safety of all personnel and carried out in coordination with all relevant partners. Saudi warplanes strike as fighting continues in the south The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen demands the withdrawal of the STC-linked Southern Shield forces from the two governorates they seized, Hadramout and Mahra, as part of de-escalation efforts. The STC has so far refused to hand over its weapons and camps. Advertisement Advertisement Saudi-backed fighters, known as the National Shield Forces, advanced on two STC-camps in Hadramout, said a senior STC official, Ahmed bin Breik, a former governor of the province. The separatist forces refused to withdraw and in response, Saudi planes struck the camps, he said. Mohamed al-Nakib, spokesperson for the STC-backed forces, said the strikes caused fatalities, without providing details. The Associated Press couldnt independently verify that claim. He told the AP later Friday that intense clashes erupted between his forces and the National Shield forces across several areas of Hadramout. It was not clear if the Saudi-backed forces succeeded in retaking the camps. Advertisement Advertisement Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout who was chosen Friday by Yemen's internationally recognized government to command the Saudi-led forces in the governorate, said the move to reclaim the camps was not a declaration of war and is not seeking an escalation. He said it was a pre-emptive measure to remove weapons. Escalating tensions In a post on X, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, said the kingdom had tried all efforts with STC for weeks "to stop the escalation" and to urge the separatists to leave Hadramout and Mahra, only to be faced with continued intransigence and rejection from Aidarous al-Zubaidi." Al-Jaber said the STC had not permitted a Saudi delegation's jet to land in Aden, despite having agreed on its arrival with some STC leaders to find a solution that serves everyone and the public interest. Advertisement Advertisement Yemens Transportation Ministry, aligned with STC, said Saudi Arabia on Thursday imposed requirements mandating that flights to and from Aden International Airport undergo inspection in Jeddah. The ministry denounced the decision. There was no confirmation from Saudi authorities. A spokesperson with the transport ministry told the AP late Thursday that all flights from and to the UAE were suspended until Saudi Arabia reverses these reported measures. ___ Khaled reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. After eight hours, a search has been suspended for a 77-year-old cruise passenger who went overboard on Thursday, Jan. 1, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The ship was the Nieuw Statendam, a Holland America Line cruise ship that sailed out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Dec. 27 for a seven-day New Year's-themed cruise, according to ABC News. The ship's scheduled Jan. 2 Key West stop was canceled due to the search. "We are deeply saddened to confirm that while sailing in waters north of Cuba, a guest on Nieuw Statendam went overboard earlier today," Holland American Line said in a statement shared with ABC News on Thursday. "Our family assistance team is supporting the guest's family, and our thoughts are with the guest's loved ones during this difficult time." Advertisement Advertisement Here's what we know. Who fell overboard from a Holland America cruise ship on New Year's Day? As of Friday, Jan. 2, the name of the 77-year-old woman has not been released. Can you survive? How easy is it to fall overboard on a cruise ship? Where did a woman go overboard from a Holland America cruise ship? #HappeningNow @USCG crews are searching for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard the cruise ship Nieuw Statendam approx. 40 miles NE of Sabana, Cuba, Thursday.#USCG Cutter William Trump & Air Station Clearwater MH-60 crews are conducting searches. #SAR pic.twitter.com/zHfu7lfMQH U.S. Coast Guard Southeast (@USCGSoutheast) January 1, 2026 The woman fell while the ship was about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, according to a U.S. Coast Guard post on X. The Air Station Clearwater MH-60 helicopter crew and the crew of the Cutter William Trump assisted in the search, the Coast Guard said, which ultimately covered more than 690 square miles. By 5:30 p.m., the search was suspended "pending the development of new information," the Coast Guard said. What is the Nieuw Statendam cruise ship? Introduced in December 2018, the 975-foot-long, 99,500-ton Nieuw Statendam was Holland America Line's second Pinnacle Class ship. Advertisement Advertisement The ship carries 2,692 guests and features live shows, casino gambling and multiple restaurants. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coast Guard suspends search for Florida cruise passenger who went overboard A second man has been arrested in connection with a deadly triple shooting in Mattapan. 20-year-old Kwessi Silcott of Mattapan turned himself in around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday. Silcott is charged with first-degree murder and carrying a firearm without a license. The first suspect, 22-year-old Dkhrai Wornum-Brown, of Dorchester, was arrested Tuesday morning. He appeared in court and was held without bail. He is due back in court on February. 5 for a probable cause hearing. Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, October 11, around 1:24, officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation and reports of multiple people shot in the area of 2 Hiawatha Road in Mattapan. Upon arrival, officers located three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. All three victims were treated at the scene and transported by Boston EMS to local hospitals. On Friday, November 7, 2025, one of the victims, 18-year-old GKiyah Lewis of Malden, died from her injuries. The other two adult male victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Silcott is set to appear in Boston Municipal Court in Dorchester on Friday. The shooting remains under investigation, anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470. Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Folks sick of winter's cold should see a reprieve from the icy weather the week of Jan. 5, forecasters said. Temperatures are likely to be much warmer than average across a wide expanse of the country, the National Weather Service said in an online forecast posted Jan. 2. "Milder air will surge east next week as winter takes a breather," said Washington Post meteorologist Ben Noll on X on Friday Jan. 2. Advertisement Advertisement The warmth will be a welcome relief from the recent cold pattern that's overspread much of the nation. People gather on Washington Street as snow falls during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City, December 26, 2025. New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast. Alex Zagajewski clears snow on a sidewalk on North Main Street in Brewster, N.Y., during a steady snowfall Dec. 26, 2025. Geese fly as people walk across the Bow Bridge in a snow-covered Central Park in New York City on December 27, 2025. New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast. People walk with their dog in the snow in Central Park in New York City on December 27, 2025. New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast. A snow plow clears snow on Brooklyn Bridge as snow falls during a winter storm in New York City, U.S., December 26, 2025. A Delta Air Lines plane prepares to take off during a winter storm at Greater Rochester International Airport in Rochester, New York, U.S., December 26, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. People walk by the Grand Central Station as snow falls during a winter storm in New York City, U.S., December 26, 2025. A person looks on as snow falls during a winter storm in New York City, U.S., December 26, 2025. A person jumps in the air in Times Square as snow falls during a winter storm in New York City, U.S., December 26, 2025. People walk outside of Grand Central Station as snow falls during a winter storm in New York City, U.S., December 26, 2025. People are hit by snow from a snow plow at Bryant Park ice rink during a winter storm in New York City, U.S., December 26, 2025. A pedicab tour guide, dressed in a Santa Claus costume, rides during a snowfall in Times Square on December 26, 2025, in New York City. A woman uses her smartphone during a snowfall in Times Square on December 26, 2025, in New York City. NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 26: People walk through snow in Manhattan on December 26, 2025 in New York City. Cars slowly navigate Route 22 in the Town of Southeast during a steady snowfall Dec. 26, 2025. See the magic and chaos of holiday snowfall in the Northeast 1 of 15 People gather on Washington Street as snow falls during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City, December 26, 2025. New York City received around 4 inches of snow overnight. Airlines canceled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period Friday, with severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast. Pattern change Large-scale climate patterns that guide our weather will be shifting next week, forecasters said. Senior Meteorologist Noah Bergren from FOX35Orlando on an X post from Jan. 2 called for a "BIG pattern flip starting mid-next week, lasting through about January 11th." Parts of the nation that have been seeing persistent cold for weeks will finally see milder temperatures later next week. "Beyond early next week, the dip in the jet stream in the Northeast, which has been responsible for the waves of Arctic air, will retreat into Canada," according to an online forecast from Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. Much warmer temperatures are forecast to spread across the central and eastern U.S. next week, forecasters said. How warm will it get? Notably warmer weather is likely in the east, particularly the Northeast "where it's been a popsicle of late," Bergren said. "In Florida, I could see a few days 80-85 degrees Jan. 9-11!" Advertisement Advertisement The weather service said that temperatures will also be quite warm in the Plains, where temperatures of 15 to 30 degrees above average will be common. Daily records for warm lows and highs could be set across the Intermountain West and Plains. Unseasonably warm weather will then gradually expand and spread eastward through the week, bringing temperatures that are some 15 to 25 degrees above average to the Mississippi Valley and eventually 10 degrees above average for the East Coast, after a colder than average start to the week across the Northeast, the weather service said. By Wednesday Jan. 7, Atlanta will be in the 70s and 50-degree highs will push as far north as Philadelphia, according to Weather.com. The eastern half of the nation will be turning warmer next week as milder Pacific air moves across the country.. However, the West and Southwest should remain near or below normal temperature-wise much of the week. What about snow? A parade of clipper storms and frigid air from Canada will continue to cause wintry woes for travelers from the Great Lakes region to parts of the Northeast through this weekend and for the first day back to work and school for millions on Monday, Sosnowski said. Advertisement Advertisement In spite of the warmer temperatures, areas with snow cover that become wet from melting during the day may freeze at night, posing hazards for pedestrians and motorists, AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said. The trend toward milder temperatures is forecast to be associated with below-average snowfall for much of the United States into mid-January, Noll said on X. Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, focusing on weather and climate issues. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: January thaw coming for eastern half of US. See when. 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IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. As news reports proliferate of multimillion-dollar -- and possibly billion-dollar -- fraudulent diversions of government funds involving Minnesota's Somali immigrant community, it may be time at one year's end and the next one's beginning to take a longer look at America's experience with immigration, and to seek the guidance of the first and one of its two greatest presidents. The Founding Fathers were aware that their new nation was gifted with vast acreage, but only 4 million people were counted in the first decennial Census in 1790. The Constitution's first words, drafted by the gifted wordsmith Gouverneur Morris, stated that its authority came from "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common Defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity." There is a tension in these words: The new federal government is designed to guarantee liberty but also to "insure" tranquility, all for the existing citizenry and for their descendants. But not just for them. Article I, Section 8, Clause 4 grants Congress the power "to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization ... throughout the United States." Leave aside, for a moment, current controversies over whether and how the federal government can prevent the states from obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The larger point is that the Framers envisioned that it was possible and desirable that foreign migrants enter the U.S. and, under specified terms and conditions, become full citizens. This was inconsistent with British and European ideas, which envisioned that people born within a kingdom would remain subjects of its monarch for life. This was the basis on which the British impressed American seamen, capturing them in ships and enrolling them in the Royal Navy -- the main reason Congress declared war in 1812. The Founders' attitude toward immigration and citizenship was enunciated best by the man who presided over the Constitutional Convention and who was elected unanimously as the first president, George Washington. After his election, Washington embarked on carefully choreographed tours of the northern and then the southern states. The story is told vividly in Nathaniel Philbrick's 2021 book "Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy." On his northern trip, Washington skipped Rhode Island, which didn't ratify the Constitution until May 1790, but he paid a special visit in August 1791. There, he made a point of stopping at the Touro Synagogue in Newport, where the Jewish community dated back to 1658. Washington was very much aware that Article VI of the Constitution stated that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." And he certainly knew that the text of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which would be approved by Congress in September and ratified by the states in December, provided that "Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." These again were departures from British and European experience. Membership in the British Parliament was open only to members of the established churches of England and Scotland, and would be until 1829. Almost every part of Europe excluded or imposed special restrictions on Jews. Washington addressed the Touro congregation, in words echoing in part the welcome of its Warden, Moses Seixas, and spoke words that deserve to be remembered today. "The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy -- a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike the liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship." He went on. "It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support." In the 340 words of Washington's letter is encased enduring guidance for immigration policy. He endorses the idea of the moral equality of all citizens and contemplates that citizenship will be extended widely, to the benefit of the nation. So much for the foolish notion that somehow "heritage Americans," descendants of Washington's 4 million contemporaries, have some entitlement to deference. But there is also the notion of reciprocity. Washington's default assumption is that people of many different backgrounds can be good citizens. But the assumption is rebuttable: They must also, he adds, give the U.S. "on all occasions their effectual support." Thus, Congress has the task of making prudential choices as to who can be naturalized and under what conditions -- and it can provide, as it has, that citizenship once granted can be revoked under extraordinary and clearly defined circumstances. Those prudential decisions are often controversial. Even in the Ellis Island era (1892-1924), immigration was not unrestricted: Chinese were excluded, Latin Americans were disfavored, and stringent public health restrictions were enforced, theoretically by federal inspectors but in practice by steamship companies, which did not want to provide free return passage for rejected applicants. Some look back on the Immigration Act of 1924, which almost cut off immigration from southern and eastern Europe, as necessary for assimilating migrants from different cultures, although immigration fell toward zero in years of depression and war (1930-45) and was partially blocked by the Iron Curtain even longer (1947-89), and assimilation was fostered during World War II and actively encouraged by articulate elites for the first two-thirds of the twentieth century. With elites skeptical of assimilation over the last half-century, it's not incompatible with Washington's vision to restrict immigration from cultures that are adversarial to or incompatible with the wide range of acceptable American cultural folkways. But we block migrants from hostile venues; what about the people there who reject those cultures and cherish America's? In addressing such issues, it's worth keeping in mind the counsel Washington provided in Newport 234 years ago, and the constitutional framework, including the supremacy of federal laws over state preferences, that he did so much to create. Mamdani sworn in: Zohran Mamdani, 34, was sworn in as the new mayor of New York City on New Year's Day, at an abandoned subway station underneath City Hall. This was followed by a public ceremony above ground, where fellow socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (IVt.) swore in the new mayor. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.) was also in attendance. Since his upset primary victory back in June, there's been a lot of tea reading about how Mamdani will actually govern. Will he be the hard-left ideologue that makes the buses free or a more pragmatic executive focused on doing what's necessary and realistic to get the trains to run on time? Advertisement Advertisement While the new mayor has given some hints at moderation over the past few months, his inaugural remarks were anything but moderate. "To those who insist that the era of big government is over, hear me when I say this: No longer will City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers' lives," said Mamdani. "We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism." On policy, Mamdani reiterated his campaign trail pledges to make buses and childcare free, freeze rents in rent-stabilized units, and create a Department of Community Safety as a social services-focused supplement to the city's police force. Don't Panic: That all is certainly worrisome for anyone who's been trepidatious about what a Mamdani administration will mean for the size and scope of city government. The new mayor's promise to "free small business owners from the shackles of bloated bureaucracy" is less than encouraging in the wider context of his remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Those concerned about the Big Apple turning red still have a few reasons to be cautiously optimistic that Mamdani's plans to remake New York City into a socialist utopia will fail. Within the next couple of weeks, Mamdani will have to release a balanced budget for the city government. His plans for some $10 billion in new spending will have to reckon with the fact that the city has a current budget gap of some $810 billion that legally needs to be closed first. Any hope of doing so by raising taxes on higher-income residents and corporations, as Mamdani has promised to do, will require approval from state politicians who've been lukewarm, if not outright hostile, to the idea of approving local tax hikes. His plans for fare-free transit and a rent freeze will require sign-offs from a state transit agency and a Rent Guidelines Board that Mamdani does not exercise unilateral control over. Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, Mamdani's decision to have his official swearing-in ceremony at the abandoned City Hall subway station is more than a little ironic. His symbolic intention was to signal his administration's commitment to running a city government that pulls off big, bold projects. It's more than a little awkward then that the City Hall station was part of the city's first subway system that was built and operated by private contractors. "I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist," said Mamdani during his remarks. The powers of his office are not particularly geared toward ideological, activist government. That doesn't mean Mamdani's tenure will be good for the city. It does put some practical limits on just how bad it can get. As Katherine Mangu-Ward writes in Reason's latest print issue, "Mamdani can't ruin New York." Advertisement Advertisement Trump rolls back National Guard deployments: On New Year's Eve, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he would be removing federalized National Guardsmen from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, following a string of adverse court decisions. "Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren't for the Federal Government stepping in. We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!" said the president. Trump's comments came on the same day that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ordered him to return control of the California National Guard to Gov. Gavin Newsom. The week prior, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency decision blocking the Trump administration from deploying federalized National Guardsmen to support immigration enforcement operations in Illinois. Scenes from D.C.: Meanwhile, here in the nation's capital, the presence of uniformed National Guardsmen on city streets remains an ongoing phenomenon. Despite legal objections from the city's attorney general, courts have looked more favorably on the president's power to deploy guardsmen in the federal district. Advertisement Advertisement There are now 2,500 troops, drawn from the National Guards of D.C. and ten states with Republican governors, on city streets, reports WTOP. Their numbers have increased since the fatal shooting of a West Virginia National Guard member last month, and court documents suggest troops would continue to patrol the city through the summer. This journalist spotted a squad of five guardsmen outside the liquor store on New Year's Eve. After a few months of their presence, it's hard to get too alarmed about their being here on a practical level. The guardsmen themselves mostly just stand around talking amongst themselves. That's not particularly threatening. It also doesn't feel particularly necessary. There remains something deeply un-American about uniformed military personnel performing routine policing tasks, and that won't change in the New Year. Quick Hits I'll be writing Roundup for the next few weeks while my colleague Liz Wolfe tends to her new baby. Until she's back, please direct all your angry emails to me. Some 40 people were tragically killed in a fire at a Swiss ski resort bar during a New Year's celebration. Officials have yet to determine what caused the conflagration, although they have ruled out a terrorist attack. In 2026, politicians won't be able to stop talking about affordability. I wrote about how this is good news for free market politics. Anti-government protests have erupted in Iran. Trump has said the U.S. is ready to intervene if the government fires on peaceful demonstrators. California's billionaires say they'll leave the state if voters pass a punishing new wealth tax. The state's unionized health care workers need to collect 875,000 signatures to place their proposed one-time, 5 percent wealth tax on individuals with a net worth of over $1 billion on the November 2026 ballot. The post A Socialist Swearing In appeared first on Reason.com. The United States and Israel have agreed on a two-month deadline for the disarmament of the Palestinian Islamist militia Hamas, a well-placed source familiar with the issue told dpa on Wednesday. This was agreed upon by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their talks in Florida on Monday, the source said. The Israel Hayom newspaper had previously reported on this without subsequent official confirmation. Advertisement Advertisement Expert teams from both countries are working "to establish clear, mutually agreed criteria defining what would constitute the practical disarmament of Hamas," the paper wrote after the meeting. According to media reports, Hamas may be willing to surrender heavy weapons such as rockets but keep light weapons. However, Israeli representatives are concerned that Hamas could try to retain most of the weapons and military capabilities it currently has at its disposal. Both Israel and the US agree that such a scenario would be unacceptable, Israel Hayom wrote, citing the leaders' talks. Netanyahu reportedly told Trump that Hamas still has around 60,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles at its disposal in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement The newspaper added that it had been agreed that the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza would also include the destruction of its underground tunnel system. If this fails, Israel would resume its military operations against the group. "If Hamas does not disarm, as is widely expected in Israel, responsibility for the next steps would revert to Israel and the Israel Defense Forces," the paper wrote. Investing.com -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the importance of ties with Beijing and reaffirmed his nations "respect" for the "one-China" stance regarding Taiwan during an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV before meeting with President Xi Jinping. "The healthy development of South Korea-China relations depends on full respect for each others core interests," Lee stated, according to CCTVs Chinese translation of the interview. "With regard to Chinas most core concern, the Taiwan issue, we will uphold our position of respecting the one-China stance." Taiwans current ruling party has consistently rejected Beijings claims to the island. Advertisement Advertisement Lee highlighted the shared history of China and South Korea in fighting Japanese aggression during World War II and stressed the importance of learning from historical lessons. He clarified that South Koreas military alliance with the United States does not necessitate confrontation with China. Addressing broader bilateral matters, Lee expressed his governments desire for a "new, equal, cooperative relationship" with China, particularly in artificial intelligence and other high-technology sectors. The South Korean president also called for more regular dialog between the two nations, proposing annual summit meetings with Chinas president going forward. Related articles South Koreas Lee affirms one-China stance ahead of Xi meeting 17 Undervalued Small-Cap Tech Stocks Primed to Outperform in Q4 10 Beaten-Down Large-Cap Tech Stocks Offering Solid Upside Potential Indian employees earn the most money in Germany, according to a study published on Friday. The gross median wage for Indian workers in 2024 was 5,393 ($6,320) per month, the German Economic Institute (IW) said. They are followed by Austrians (5,322), Americans (5,307) and Irish (5,233). German employees have an average gross income of 4,177, while foreign employees collectively have an average of 3,204. Advertisement Advertisement The IW says the reason for the high incomes of Indian employees is the higher level of earnings in technical positions. Many Indians work in Germany in academic STEM professions (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Between 2012 and 2024, their number increased almost ninefold to more than 32,800. Around a third of full-time Indian workers aged between 25 and 44 are employed in this sector. According to the study, this development is also due to the sharp increase in Indian students in Germany. Many successfully completed their studies, then remained in Germany and contributed to research, the authors write. The annual number of patent applications from inventors with Indian roots increased 12-fold between 2000 and 2022. "Without skilled immigration, growth in the German economy would hardly be possible today especially in the STEM professions and in terms of innovative strength," says IW expert Axel Plunnecke. Skilled immigration from India is "a particular success story," he adds. Advertisement Advertisement Another reason for the high wages including for immigrants from Austria and the US is that many employees work in economically strong, urban centres with higher wage levels. Since 2012, the German government has been specifically recruiting skilled workers from outside Europe, especially for academic STEM professions. The analysis took into account nationals of countries with more than 5,000 full-time employees in Germany. It was based on statistics from the Federal Employment Agency. A solo hiker who authorities believe was killed by a mountain lion on a remote Colorado trail on New Year's Day was not the first person to encounter one of the predators in the area in recent weeks. Gary Messina said he was running along the same trail on a dark November morning when his headlamp caught the gleam of two eyes in the nearby brush. Messina used his phone to snap a quick photo before a mountain lion rushed him. Messina said he threw the phone at the animal, kicked dirt and yelled as the lion kept trying to circle behind him. After a couple of harrowing minutes he broke a bat-sized stick off a downed log, hit the lion in the head with it and it ran off, he said. Advertisement Advertisement The woman whose body was found Thursday on the same Crosier Mountain trail had wounds consistent with a mountain lion attack, said Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. An autopsy is scheduled for next week, said Rafael Moreno with the Larimer County Coroner's Office. Prior warnings and the hunt for a culprit Wildlife officials late Thursday tracked down and killed two mountain lions in the area one at the scene and another nearby. A necropsy will help determine if either or both of those animals attacked the woman and whether they had neurological diseases such as rabies or avian flu. A search for a third mountain lion reported in the area was ongoing Friday, Van Hoose said. Nearby trails remained closed while the hunt continued. Van Hoose said circumstances would dictate whether that lion is also killed. Advertisement Advertisement Based on the aggressiveness of the animal that attacked him on Nov. 11, Messina suspects it could be the same one that killed the woman on New Years Day. I had to fight it off because it was basically trying to maul me, Messina told The Associated Press. I was scared for my life and I wasnt able to escape. I tried backing up and it would try to lunge at me. The 32-year-old man from nearby Glen Haven, Colorado, reported his encounter to wildlife officials days later who posted signs to warn people about the animal along trails in the Crosier Mountain area northeast of Estes Park, Van Hoose said. The signs were later removed, she said. Mountain lions don't often attack humans Advertisement Advertisement Mountain lion sightings in that area east of Rocky Mountain National Park are common, Van Hoose said, because it offers good habitat for the animals: Its remote with thick forests, rocky outcroppings and lots of elevation changes. Yet attacks on humans by the animals are rare, and the last suspected fatal encounter in Colorado was in 1999, when a 3-year-old boy disappeared in the wilderness and his tattered clothes were found more than three years later. In 1997, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion and dragged away while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park. Two hikers on Thursday saw the victim's body on the trail at around noon from about 100 yards (meters) away, Van Hoose said. A mountain lion was nearby and they threw rocks to scare it away. One of the hikers, a physician, attended to the victim but did not find a pulse, Van Hoose said. The victim will be publicly identified following the autopsy by the coroner, who is also expected to provide a cause of death. Advertisement Advertisement Mountain lions also known as cougars, pumas or catamounts can weigh 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and grow to more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. They primarily eat deer. Colorado has an estimated 3,800 to 4,400 of the animals, which are classified as a big game species in the state and can be hunted. Back away slowly. Do not run Thursday's killing would be the fourth fatal mountain lion attack in North America over the past decade, and the 30th since 1868, according to information from the California-based Mountain Lion Foundation. Not all of those deaths have been confirmed as mountain lion attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Most attacks occur during the day and when humans are active in lion territories, indicating the animals are not seeking out the victims, according to the advocacy group. About 15% of attacks are fatal. As more people live, work, and recreate in areas that overlap wildlife habitat, interactions can increase, not because mountain lions are becoming more aggressive, but because overlap is growing, said Byron Weckworth, chief conservation officer for the foundation. To reduce the risk travel in groups, keep children close and avoid dawn and dusk when lions are most active, Weckworth said. During an encounter, maintain eye contact with the lion, make yourself appear larger and back away slowly; don't run, he said. Last year in Northern California, two brothers were stalked and attacked by a lion that they tried to fight off. One of the brothers was killed. SWANSEA The Swansea community is mourning the loss of an elementary school student who died over the holiday break. Superintendent of Swansea Public Schools Scott Holcomb responded Friday, Jan. 2 with a letter to families and staff about the death of second-grader Mason Stringer. It is with heavy hearts that we share the heartbreaking news of the unexpected death of one of our students. We hold Masons family, friends, classmates, teachers, and all who loved him close in our thoughts and hearts during this time of profound loss. Advertisement Advertisement Stringer, a student in Ms. Robinsons class, the letter read, attended Gardner Elementary School. Holcombs letter offers guidance and support to school community The death of a child touches us in different ways. It can leave us feeling heartbroken and confused as we navigate the emotions that come with grief, Holcomb wrote. Gardner Elementary School in Swansea on Jan. 2, 2025. In the days ahead and upon students return to school, additional therapeutic and counseling supports will be made available to staff and students at Gardner, and at Elizabeth S. Brown Elementary School where Stringers brother is a student. School counselors, adjustment counselors, and other trained professionals will be present to offer care, comfort, and a listening ear to any student or staff member in need, Holcomb wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Support will be offered, to anyone who may need it, as we recognize that many members of our school community may be impacted. Families are encouraged to reach out to their school if they feel their child would benefit from additional assistance, Holcombs letter read. Families directed to resources and materials Holcombs letter lists books and materials that could offer thoughtful, age-appropriate guidance for navigating the loss of a community member through conversations among families at home. Good Grief , a website that offers age-appropriate guidance for talking with children about death, grief reactions to expect, and ways to support children through loss. National Alliance for Childrens Grief , an online resource that provides articles and caregiver toolkits focused on helping children cope with grief. Sesame Street in Communities Grief, a guide that offers child-friendly language, videos, and activities designed to help young children understand and express feelings related to loss. Holcombs letter recommends families use simple, honest, and age-appropriate language to speak about the event and reassure students that they are safe, loved, and cared for, and that feelings of sadness, confusion, or even uncertainty are natural. Advertisement Advertisement These conversations, wrote Holcomb, may be ongoing and student questions are expected. Out of respect for the Stringer familys privacy, we ask that you hold them in your thoughts and heart while honoring their need for space as they grieve, Holcomb wrote. No other information related to the death is known at this time. We are a deeply caring and connected community. In moments like this, our compassion, kindness, and willingness to support one another matter more than ever, Holcomb wrote. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Swansea mourns the loss of Gardner Elementary School student A court awarded custody of 6-year-old Dominique Moody to her aunt, Tonya McKnight, in 2021, but the decision ended tragically with a report of severe abuse leading to her death. Moody was born on Jan. 20, 2019. Following concerns about her mothers ability to care for her due to drug addiction and instability, a court granted McKnight sole legal and physical custody of Dominique. Court records reveal no mention of the unsanitary and hazardous conditions present in McKnights home. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Advertisement Advertisement Police reports indicate that Dominique was found in a shocking state, weighing only 27 pounds at the time of her death, having been confined in a dog cage and bound with duct tape. The home was described as infested with rats and roaches and cluttered with garbage, and some rooms had animal and human feces, creating a very hazardous living environment. This situation raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the system meant to protect vulnerable children. There was allegedly a lack of oversight, as court documents revealed no information on the homes conditions when custody was granted to McKnight. Advertisement Advertisement The serious nature of such neglect has led many, including family members of Dominique, to claim the system failed her. Dominiques family reported that they attempted to regain custody of the child and expressed disbelief at the circumstances that led to her suffering. They have voiced their frustration over what they perceive as systemic failures to protect their loved one from abuse. The family mentioned they had concerns about the aunts ability to care for her and felt ignored by the authorities. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services expressed their condolences, stating they hearts break for the family, friends, and community impacted by the tragic death of this child. Advertisement Advertisement However, they did not disclose specifics about any prior interventions or the frequency of check-ins with the family. Further investigations into the case are ongoing. VIDEO: Family of six-year-old found dead in east Charlotte says system failed to protect her Target is preparing to issue settlement checks totaling $4.6 million to about 13,700 current and former employees, following a class action lawsuit over unpaid wages. Lead plaintiff Krystal Sadler filed the lawsuit, Sadler v. Target Corp., in November 2022 on behalf of hourly, non-exempt workers at Targets New Jersey distribution centers. Sadler alleged that the company failed to compensate employees for all time worked, including mandatory security screenings and long walks to and from their workstations before and after scheduled shifts, which is required by New Jersey law. Advertisement Advertisement Target denied the wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid protracted litigation. Under the terms of the agreement, eligible workers who were employed at the Burlington, Perth Amboy, and Logan Township facilities from August 6, 2019, onward are expected to receive payments calculated on a pro rata basis based on Targets payroll records. Eligible workers at Target facilities in Burlington, Perth Amboy, and Logan Township, New Jersey, since August 2019, will receive pro-rata payments based on payroll records (Getty Images) Employees do not need to take action to receive a payment. Those in the suit who do not opt out by the current deadline, set for February 13, 2026, will automatically receive settlement checks once the court grants final approval. A federal court denied Targets request to pause the case in March 2025. Now, a fairness hearing is scheduled for February 24, after which distribution is expected to begin. Advertisement Advertisement The settlement funds are allocated with roughly $2.75 million set for employee payments, about $1.53 million for attorneys fees, and $10,000 awarded to Sadler, according to Sourcing Journal. Recipients will receive appropriate tax forms reflecting the portions of the payment treated as wages or non-wage compensation. The Independent has contacted Target representatives for comment. The New Jersey lawsuit alleged Target did not pay workers for required time, including security checks and long walks, as mandated by state law (AFP via Getty Images) Meanwhile, two plaintiffs filed a similar complaint against Target in New York in August 2025. Jeanna Kratzert, a former worker at Targets Wilton warehouse, and Neil Mosher, a current employee at the same facility. An additional former employee from the Amsterdam warehouse joined the lawsuit through an amended complaint filed in November 2025. Advertisement Advertisement The New York lawsuit alleges that unpaid walking time can cost workers $1,000 to $2,000 per year, totaling more than $2 million in unpaid wages. "In this day and age, there is no technological barrier to paying plaintiffs and other employees for such time," the New York filing said. "Target already tracks the times plaintiffs and other employees enter and, in some cases, leave the building, so it can readily calculate the time plaintiffs and other employees spend walking to and from their assigned time clocks inside the warehouse." An 18-year-old is recovering after being shot in the middle of the afternoon near Langhorn Street and Westview Drive on New Years Eve. Atlanta police said the shooting happened around 3 p.m. on the Westside Trail. The teen is expected to be OK, but investigators are still searching for the person responsible and say the victim did not know the shooter. I was completely shocked, said Gabriel Mack, who uses the trail. Advertisement Advertisement Others said the incident reflects broader concerns about youth gun violence. With the uptick in youth gun violence, its really scary, said Vanessa Giovanni-Rampa. Its really sad. Mack told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers he was trying out the Westside Trail. I know that they expanded the Westside recently, so I was trying to check it out, he said. But the shooting has him reconsidering. I like it because its quiet over here, but at the same time, that may be a risk, so I may shift to the Eastside a little bit more until I find out more about whats happening over here, Mack said. Some neighbors said they were unsettled by the crime scene but not surprised. Advertisement Advertisement I was saddened to hear that it happened, but I wasnt overly surprised, said Illya Davis, who lives nearby and uses the trail several times a week. Davis said addressing crime requires tackling other issues. If there was some form of retribution or oversight, I think we could reduce it, but Id appreciate the poverty be addressed first, he said. I wish the lawmakers could instead invest in programs for the youth, Giovanni-Rampa added. Davis also said more development could improve safety on the Westside Trail. If you look around theres not anything here. Its rather desolate if you were to walk back this way, so I think they had a good idea, bad execution, and Im hoping that it will be modified over time, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Despite the shooting, some people said they will continue using the trail. It doesnt deter me from wanting to walk here or spend time here, Emma Tobin said. Davis echoed that sentiment: It wont deter me, no. I think its more anomalous than anything else, so Im fine walking. If I took that disposition, then I would never go anywhere, he said. Atlanta police said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A Texas appeals court ruled this week that Attorney General Ken Paxton does not have the authority to enforce a rule requiring large counties to provide detailed prosecutorial data and case materials to his office. In a decision issued Tuesday, the 15th Court of Appeals concluded Paxtons office exceeded its statutory authority when it adopted a regulation compelling district attorneys in the states most populous counties to submit extensive reports and internal records to the attorney general. The ruling marks the second time a Texas court has blocked the rule. A Travis County district court previously issued a temporary injunction preventing enforcement, which remains in place as the case returns to the trial court. What The Rule Would Have Required The rule, known as Chapter 56, took effect in April and applied only to counties with populations of 400,000 or more a threshold that currently includes 13 counties statewide. Advertisement Advertisement Under the rule, district attorneys would have been required to submit quarterly reports to the attorney general detailing a broad range of prosecutorial decisions. Those reports included data on indictments of peace officers, prosecutions under the Texas Election Code, cases involving the discharge of a firearm, and instances in which arrests for violent crimes did not result in indictments or were resolved through deferred prosecution or dismissed charges. The rule also authorized the attorney generals Oversight Advisory Committee to request full case files including correspondence, internal notes, and other documentation in any criminal matter the committee determined implicated the interests of the state. In addition, prosecutors would have been required to turn over communications with federal agencies and nonprofit organizations related to charging decisions, as well as internal correspondence tied to assistant prosecutors resignations following complaint processes. The reporting requirements included retroactive disclosure obligations dating back to January 1, 2021, unless a district attorneys office qualified for limited affidavit-based exceptions. Lawsuits From District Attorneys District attorneys from multiple counties sued to block the rule, arguing it violated the Texas Constitution, exceeded the attorney generals authority, and required disclosure of confidential and privileged information. Advertisement Advertisement Three lawsuits were filed in May by prosecutors from Travis and El Paso counties; Harris, Dallas, and Bexar counties; and Fort Bend and Williamson counties. In granting the initial injunction, Travis County District Judge Catherine Mauzy wrote that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits and that complying with the rule would require offices to expend significant resources, personnel time, and taxpayer funds. County officials also argued the statute Paxton cited to justify the rule a 1985 law directing prosecutors to report information to the attorney general in the form that the attorney general directs does not authorize the sweeping oversight framework created by Chapter 56. Competing Views On Oversight Paxton has defended the rule as a transparency measure, arguing it would allow the public to better evaluate the performance of locally elected prosecutors and impose accountability on those accused of declining to prosecute certain crimes. District attorneys counter that the rule would divert resources away from prosecuting offenders and expose sensitive victim and case information. Several lawsuits also argue the rule improperly expands the definition of official misconduct and violates separation-of-powers protections in the Texas Constitution. Broader State Context The ruling comes amid broader efforts by state leaders to expand oversight of local prosecutors. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Gov. Greg Abbott has urged lawmakers to create a chief state prosecutor position that could bypass district attorneys who decline to pursue certain cases. Legal observers have raised similar constitutional questions about the limits of state authority over locally elected prosecutors. With the appeals court decision, enforcement of Paxtons data-collection rule remains on hold while litigation continues in district court. Nearly 24,000 people, including 301 faculty and staffers of the University of Oklahoma, have signed a petition calling for more transparency from OU officials after a former graduate assistant was fired from teaching. Mel Curth was removed in December after giving a failing grade to Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at OU who used her Christian beliefs to defend her stance on gender roles on a psychology essay. Curth filed an appeal Dec. 30, which will be considered by OU's Institutional Equity Office. The OU chapter of the American Association of University Professors delivered a petition to OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., Friday, Jan. 2. It calls for university officials to: Advertisement Advertisement Disclose full details about the policies and processes that led to Curth's dismissal. Reaffirm the right of OU faculty and instructors to teach, grade and research free from political interference, unlawful mandates or pressures that inhibit authentic engagement. Work with the campus community to develop clear guidelines for faculty, staff and administrators when responding to political attacks. "When the university stands firmly on the side of academic freedom, integrity, and its own stated values, we all flourish students, faculty, staff, and the broader communities we serve," the petition reads. The petition had garnered 23,786 signatures as of Jan. 2, including at least 185 faculty members, or 8.6% of total faculty, according to data from OU's Norman campus in Fall 2024. Additionally, 116 staff members signed onto the petition along with 1,780 alums. Of OU's student body, 336 graduate students and 793 undergraduate students signed the petition. Advertisement Advertisement Curth's attorney, Brittany Stewart, said Curth denies that she engaged in any discriminatory behavior and that it's her position that the investigation was flawed, failed to consider all possible motives and issues and that new evidence has come to light that undermines the investigation's conclusion. OU had said Curth's prior grading standards and her critical comments about Fulnecky's essay led the university to believe she was "arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper." The assignment at the center of the essay debate asked students to discuss how people are perceived based on societal gender expectations. In her essay, Fulnecky argued that traditional gender roles should not be considered stereotypes. She referenced 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." In grading Fulnecky's essay, Curth said Fulnecky failed to use empirical evidence and criticized parts of the essay as being offensive. In one passage, Fulnecky wrote, "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." Curth's appeal will now be considered by the University of Oklahoma's Institutional Equity Office. Her attorney, Brittany Stewart, expects the university to respond by mid-January. Advertisement Advertisement Stewart noted that when Fulnecky sent her original complaint to the university, she included "overtly political actors" like former Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who has supported the teaching of Christianity in public schools. OU did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the petition. In past unsigned statements, the school has said it 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 lecturers impermissible evaluative standards. OU AAUP's petition has received signatures from 85 countries and all 50 U.S. states, including nearly 5,000 from Oklahoma. "Protecting academic freedom is not merely a procedural necessity; it is central to the excellence, boldness, and civic commitment that define the Universitys mission and will shape its impact for generations to come," the petition reads. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Petitioners demand transparency after OU fires Mel Curth Donald Trump may now be having trouble walking across flat surfaces. The president appeared to be hiding a slight limp as he was filmed walking with his wife, Melania, at Mar-a-Lago. The new speculation over the 79-year-olds health came after he revealed in an interview that he tried compression socks for his swollen ankles and used makeup to cover the bruising on his hands caused by large daily doses of aspirin. Advertisement Advertisement The popular anti-Trump X account Call to Activism posted a clip of Trump appearing to drag his right leg as he walked down a runway toward the press gathered to snap attendees of his ritzy New Years Eve party. The account, which has over 1.1 million followers, wrote, Trump just showed up at Mar-a-Lago to celebrate New Years, dragging his right leg, and quickly adjusted his walk when he realizes the cameras are on. Whats Trump hiding?" Donald and Melania Trump attended the New Year's party at Mar-a-Lago with their son Barron. / Instagram In the clip, Trump can be seen slightly limping as he enters the frame, but after a few steps, he adopts a steadier gait before he and First Lady Melania Trump stop to pose for photographs. Viewers were split on whether the clip showed a new medical malady for the oldest president in American history or if it was no big deal. Advertisement Advertisement It pretty obvious [sic] he is dragging his right leg. If Biden had done that every news station would have this video up all day all time about his health, wrote one suspicious viewer on X. Honestly? Probably nothing, said a less-convinced X user. He knows the cameras are always watching, so of course he adjusted. Not every awkward step means theres something being hidden. On Monday, the nearly octogenarian president had difficulty descending four small steps at Mar-a-Lago. On multiple occasions, he has descended the steps on Air Force One at a snails pace. He has also been filmed struggling to walk in straight lines and dragging his right leg in public for years. Advertisement Advertisement Wednesdays Mar-a-Lago entrance comes amidst intensified speculation about Trumps health issues, which the Daily Beast has led the charge in covering. These include persistent bruising on his hands, difficulty sleeping through the night and staying awake during the day, and chronic venous insufficiency, which has caused his ankles to swell. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump personally called the publication to complain about the persistent coverage of his health and attempted to set the record straight on some health mysteries that have dogged his second term. Trump told the publication that he takes quadruple the common dose of aspirin for cardiac prevention, and that is what causes the bruising on his hands. Trump said the mysterious bruising on his hand was due to the high daily dose of aspirin he takes for The piece did not address speculation about Trumps ambling gait. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the presidents Mar-a-Lago entrance. When the Daily Beast reported on Trump taking a circuitous route between Marine One and Air Force One in September, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told the publication, You must be f-----g blind or stupid, because that was a perfect walk. Donald Trump has publicly humiliated his spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt by contradicting her repeated reassurances and excuses about his health woes. Since Trump, 79, returned to office last January, speculation has raged over bruising on his hands and about his cognitive ability, particularly after he underwent a mystery scan in the fallwith the Daily Beast leading the way on reporting the presidents various medical issues, including his swollen cankles. Leavitt, 28, has repeatedly claimed the reason for the discoloration on the back of his right handwhich the president has covered up with band-aids, bandages, and thick make-upis that as a man of the people, Trump meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other president in history. Advertisement Advertisement While Leavitt has also attributed the bruising to the presidents routine aspirin use, she has often led her responses to questions about Trumps hands by blaming his handshaking, including when questioned on the matter earlier this month by the Beasts political correspondent Farrah Tomazin. The president is literally constantly shaking hands, the Oval Office is like Grand Central Terminal, she explained earlier this month. Makeup covers a bruise on the back of Trump's hand as he hosts French President Emmanuel Macron for meetings at the White House in February 2025. / Chip Somodevilla / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Days after the bruising appeared to spread to Trumps left handwhich he does not use to greet peoplethe president on Thursday gave a revelatory interview about his health to The Wall Street Journal. Trump offered a different reason for the bruising: overuse of aspirin and his thinning skin. Advertisement Advertisement He told the Journal that he takes 325 milligrams of aspirin a dayfour times the 81-milligram low dose commonly used in daily therapy, per the Mayo Clinicdespite conceding his doctors have urged him to take less. The bruise is visible during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in the Oval Office in August 2025. / Chip Somodevilla / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images This higher-than-recommended aspirin use, Trump said, has become a central factor in the bruising thats been spotted on his hands. But he told the outlet he refuses to reduce the dose because hes been on the same routine for decades, and is a little superstitious. Trump also said he wears makeup because he has soft skin, and it bruises when it gets whacked. Discussing an episode in which Attorney General Pam Bondi, 60, nicked him during a high-five, he told the Journal: The ring hit the back of my hand, and, yes, there was a slight little cut. A bandage was visible on Trump's right hand during an event at Mount Airy Casino Resort on December 9, 2025. / Alex Wong / Getty Images He added that he puts makeup on his hands after he gets whacked again by someone, saying: I have makeup thats, you know, easy to put on, takes about 10 seconds. Advertisement Advertisement Trump also gave more details about his October scan, further embarrassing Leavitt, who has fended off repeated inquiries about it from the White House podium. She at first repeatedly answered questions without naming the test and leaning on scripted assurances about his condition. On October 23, she declined to specify what test he received. On November 4, pressed on why Trump had a week earlier described it as an MRI, she said she would check back, while insisting he was in optimal physical health and framing the Walter Reed visit as a routine follow-up. Trump told people he'd had an MRI when he apparently hadn't, for reasons that remain unclear. / REUTERS When asked again on November 12, Leavitt leaned on the language of the doctors memo, reiterating that Trump received advanced imaging as part of a routine exam and that physicians considered him in exceptional condition, without explaining why the imaging was ordered. Leavitts position remained the same until December 1, when Trumps physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, released a memo describing cardiovascular imaging. Leavitt told reporters the screening was normal and positioned the disclosure as transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Even then, the White Houses preferred shorthand remained advanced imaging, rather than a clear, consistent label for what Trump had undergone. In the Journal interview, Trump said hed been telling people it was an MRI, but then corrected it: It wasnt an MRI It was less than that. It was a scan. He complained that getting the test had handed critics ammunition because it fueled questions about whether something was wrong. The Journal reported that Trump and Barbabella ultimately characterized the procedure as a CT scan performed to rule out cardiovascular issues, with no abnormalities found. Leavitt is Trump's loyal mouthpiece, repeating clear falsehoods on a range of matters, even though they are obviously untrue. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Leavitt is quoted in the Journal saying the White House had often referred to the procedure as advanced imaging, while not addressing why Trump didnt correct the MRI/CT description sooner. In the Journal article, Trump also discussed his cankles and why he apparently cannot stay awake during public meetings. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and Leavitt for comment. President Donald Trumps bold claims that his policies delivered an unprecedented jobs boom for American-born workers are at odds with data showing a weaker market than under his predecessor. Trump, 79, has repeatedly boasted that all new job gains have gone to U.S.-born workers since he returned to office. In the year before my election, all net creation of jobs was going to foreign migrants. Since I took office, 100 percent of all net job creation has gone to American-born citizens, Trump said during an address to the nation last month. One hundred percent. Donald Trump has cracked down on illegal immigration since returning to the White House last January. / Nic Antaya / Getty Images Administration officials have parroted that rhetoric, saying on X in November that what Trump is doing for our workforce is nothing short of HISTORIC. Advertisement Advertisement While other Presidents allowed foreign workers to flood the job market, President Trump is working to ensure ALL jobs created go to our workers, the U.S. Department of Labors X account posted. Meanwhile, Trumps right-hand man, Vice President JD Vance, has been aggressively backing his governments handling of the economy. Just last month, against the backdrop of pessimistic unemployment data, Vance graded Trumps economic performance A plus-plus-plus-plus. He has also praised the administration for bringing jobs back to America. We had a policy in this country for 40 years of shipping American jobs overseas... There is going to be a massive exception to that 40-year trajectory of American decline, and thats the second Trump admin, he said in discussion with Breitbarts Matthew Boyle in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Economists, however, are calling Trumps bluff. Citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Washington Post reported Friday that the labor market itself has weakened, leaving U.S.-born workers modestly worse off than they had been under former President Joe Biden. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment. The unemployment rate has been rising for both native-born and foreign-born adults, Jed Kolko, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a former Commerce Department economist, told the Post. Experts have challenged Donald Trump's bold jobs claims. / Win McNamee / Getty Images According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment among native-born workers was higher in late 2025 than a year earlier. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for U.S.-born workers rose from 3.9 percent in November 2024 to 4.3 percent in November 2025. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Economic Policy Institute, Trumps claims that his immigration policies are creating job market opportunities for U.S.-born workers are false and based on a misreading of data from the household survey. If anything, the job market for U.S.-born workers is worse so far in 2025 than it was in preceding years, senior economist Ben Zipperer wrote in September. In August , Jed Kolko, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and undersecretary for economic affairs at the US Department of Commerce under Biden, accused the president of committing a multiple-count data felony in trumpeting a jobs boom for native-born Americans. Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement to the Post that mindless nitpicking doesnt change the simple fact that President Trump has done more for American workers than any president in history by cracking down on visa program abuses, successfully negotiating new trade deals, securing our border, and carrying out the largest mass deportation of illegal aliens. Rogers said those policies ensure American-born workers can finally benefit from our new economic resurgence. President Donald Trump issued vetoes for the first bills of his second term, including a bipartisan bill intended to provide funding for a water infrastructure project in Colorado, a measure that passed the House and Senate unanimously. The Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act was set to provide clean water to rural parts of Colorado. "Enough is enough. My administration is committed to preventing American taxpayers from funding expensive and unreliable policies," Trump wrote in a veto letter sent to Congress. "Ending the massive cost of taxpayer handouts and restoring fiscal sanity is vital to economic growth and the fiscal health of the nation." Alex Brandon/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump listens during a news conference with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump also vetoed the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendment Act, a bipartisan bill that aimed in part to optimize water flow into part of Everglades National Park designated for the Miccosukee Native American tribe and to incorporate the Osceola Camp into the Miccosukee Reserved Area to improve the governing structure of the tribe. Advertisement Advertisement "[D]espite seeking funding and special treatment from the Federal Government, the Miccosukee Tribe has actively sought to obstruct reasonable immigration policies that the American people decisively voted for when I was elected," Trump wrote in his veto. "My Administration is committed to preventing American taxpayers from funding projects for special interests, especially those that are unaligned with my Administrations policy of removing violent criminal illegal aliens from the country." The Miccosukee tribe was part of the opposition to the construction of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" migrant detention facility in the Everglades. Meet the Native American tribe that beat the Trump administration in court -- for now Trumps veto of the bipartisan bill supporting the Colorado project comes at a time when he has fractious relations with some of the state's political leaders. Advertisement Advertisement The bill was co-sponsored by House Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who defied the Trump administration by signing onto the Epstein discharge petition that forced a vote on a measure to compel the DOJ to release the files. The pipeline would provide water to residents of Boebert's district. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - PHOTO: Rep. Lauren Boebert arrives at the U.S. Capitol Building on December 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. "This isn't over," Boebert said on social media on Tuesday, responding to the White House's veto announcement. Democrats also are responding to the bills veto, with Colorados Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper lambasting Trump on social media, with both accusing him of playing partisan politics. "Trump just vetoed my Arkansas Valley Conduit bill -- passed unanimously to deliver clean, affordable water to Southeast Colorado," Bennet said. "This isnt governing. Its a revenge tour." Advertisement Advertisement "Donald Trump is playing partisan games and punishing Colorado by making rural communities suffer without clean drinking water," Hickenlooper said , adding that Congress should overturn Trumps veto. Tyrone Siu/Reuters - PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol at sunset in Washington, D.C., Dec. 23, 2025. Since the bill cleared both chambers unanimously, Congress could overturn Trumps veto. Doing so would require passing the measure by a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Trump vetoed ten bills total during his first administration, only one of which -- the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 -- was overridden by Congress. Trumps veto also comes two weeks after he attacked Colorado Gov. Jared Polis for refusing to release former Mesa County, Colorado, clerk Tina Peters from prison following her receiving a presidential pardon. Trump claims to pardon jailed Colorado election clerk Tina Peters, but state officials contend it's unconstitutional Advertisement Advertisement Peters was convicted on state charges for a scheme to tamper with voting systems driven by false claims about the 2020 election. Trumps pardon power does not extend to state crimes. "The poorly run state of Colorado with a governor whose incompetent and frankly, with a governor that won't allow our wonderful Tina to come out of a jail, in a high intensity jail because she caught people cheating on an election and they said she was cheating," Trump said on Dec. 15. He added, "She wasn't cheating. She went over, she looked at one of the election scams going on. And because she did that, they put her in jail for nine years." (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) President Donald Trump reportedly ordered his motorcade to stop at a Florida strip mall Friday morning so he could purchase supplies for his $400 million White House ballroom. White House pool reports said the presidential motorcade arrived at a shopping center in Lake Worth, Florida at 9:46 AM so Trump could go shopping at Arc Stone & Tile, an importer of Italian marble. Advertisement Advertisement When pressed, a White House official said that the president is purchasing lake and onyx, at his own expense, for the White House ballroom. Although he may pay for the materials himself, The New Republic pointed out that the president was shopping for his construction project on the taxpayers dime. Trump has brought his longtime obsession with marble to his second term, pushing for it to appear just about everywhere, TNR reported, noting that Trump redid the bathroom in the White House Lincoln Suite entirely in marble, and he has proposed marble armrests for the Kennedy Center, claiming it would be unlike anything ever done or seen before!' Trump proudly shared photos of the Lincoln bathrooms marble makeover replete with gold fixtures, writing on Truth Social in October that the art deco green tile style used in the 1940s was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era. Advertisement Advertisement I did it in black and white polished Statuary marble, Trump continued. This was very appropriate for the time of Abraham Lincoln and, in fact, could be the marble that was originally there! Trumps ballroom construction program came under fire immediately after he began tearing down the entire East Wing of the White House. The president initially said the ballroom would cost around $200 million, before revising it to $400 million. Trump has said the ballroom is completely privately funded. Trump has been staying at his private Florida club at Mar-a-Lago for New Years Eve celebrations. He also met there with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The post Trumps Motorcade Reportedly Stops At a Random FL Strip Mall So He Could Buy Marble For His Ballroom Project first appeared on Mediaite. Iran threatened American interests across the Middle East on Friday after Donald Trump warned that the US army is locked and loaded if Tehran kills protesters. As the country is rocked by the most significant demonstrations since 2022, Trump said the US military would come to the rescue of Iranian protesters if they are violently killed. At least seven people have been killed so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, sparked in part by the collapse of Iran's currency. Protestors have been heard calling for the overthrow of supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Advertisement Advertisement If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue, Trump warned. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP he added. It was not clear from his comments what assistance the US would offer the protesters. Donald Trump has threatened Iran with war over fresh protests in the Middle Eastern country (AP) Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the Ayatollah, said Irans national security was a red line, not material for adventurist tweets. Any intervening hand nearing Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response, he said in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after, Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker who serves as the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, claimed without evidence that Israel and the US were stoking the demonstrations. Trump should know that intervention by the US in the domestic problem corresponds (to) chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the US interests," he wrote on X, which the Iranian government blocks. The people of the US should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers. Protestors have blocked the roads in Irans major cities as tensions continue to build (Fars News Agency) The protests in Iran have primarily centred on the countrys economic hardships, many of which have persisted since the U.S. first imposed tariffs on the countrys government in 2018. The last widespread protests in Iran took place in 2022 following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman accused by morality police of not wearing her veil properly. Her death triggered protests that spread across the country and rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Irans four-decade-old Islamic theocracy. Advertisement Advertisement Social media video obtained by the BBC showed cars being set ablaze and roads blocked in the capital Tehran, as well as Azna and Kouhdasht. However, one of Trumps former loyalists has slammed the president for wanting to get involved in unrest overseas. An overturned car and multiple fires burn as protesters chant outside a police station (Social media) Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ended 2025 with a furious post on X, in which she claimed that Americans were planning a tax revolt over Trumps involvement in foreign wars. Trump spent the weekend with Zelensky and Netanyahu, Pentagon fails audit again, meanwhile Americans are planning a tax revolt because they dont know what else to do to get their elected officials to stop their money from being given to thieves, foreigners, and foreign wars, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Greene previously criticized Trump for authorizing a strike on three nuclear facilities in Iran in June 2025. Nicknamed Operation Midnight Hammer, the strike saw fourteen bunker buster bombs being unloaded on the facilities in a bid to prevent Iran from allegedly developing a nuclear weapon. The bombing was the only direct US involvement in Israels war with Iran, which also ended in June. Some of the protestors have been heard calling for the overthrowing of Ayatollah Khamenei (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader) As tensions soar with Iran just days into 2026, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer warned that the US needs to exercise extreme caution if further strikes go ahead. Well, it depends on what the target is, he told The Chris Salcedo Show on Thursday. There are a number of things that are going on right now that we could be helpful with. One of those things, obviously, is the unrest in the street, he added. We want to make it very clear, were against the mullahs and theocracy, not the people of Iran. Lake sturgeon can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh 200-300 pounds roughly the size of a female ostrich. Some have lived up to 150 years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says. Lake sturgeon is just an incredible fish," Tennessee Valley Authority Fisheries and Aquatic Monitoring Manager Lyn Williams said. "Its a fish that could be here when my great, great grandkids could be here. While their prehistoric origins date back at least 200 million years, the sturgeon's fate in Middle Tennessee now rests in the hands of several partner agencies as volunteers and fish and wildlife officials try to strengthen local populations. Advertisement Advertisement Just a few decades ago, the fish was a common sight in local waterways, Williams said. He added that modern-day obstacles like water quality conditions, dam construction and commercial harvesting have effectively removed it from the states natural resources. "Back in the 90s, there was a joint effort as part of the Lake Sturgeon Working Group to reintroduce this native species back into our waterways, and weve been working on it ever since," Williams said. Tennessee Valley Authority Fisheries and Aquatic Monitoring Manager Lyn Williams drives the boat during the annual 2025 sturgeon survey in Gallatin. Bringing back the dinosaur fish Lake sturgeon has been locally extinct in Tennessee since the 1970s. According to the Tennessee Aquarium, the effort to reestablish sturgeon in the Volunteer State began in 1998 with the formation of the Southeast Lake Sturgeon Working Group, a collaborative partnership between more than a dozen nonprofits, universities and state and federal agencies that includes Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement The involved process of raising new generations of sturgeon begins each spring when biologists and wildlife managers collect eggs from wild spawning Lake Sturgeon in Wisconsins Wolf River, where the species population numbers remain healthy, the Tennessee Aquarium said in a release. Once hatched, juvenile sturgeon are sent from federal hatcheries to partnering propagation facilities, like the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institutes freshwater field station in Chattanooga, where they spend months in the care of reintroduction biologists until they can be returned to their ancestral waters. Since the start of reintroductions in 2000, the coalition has raised and released more than 430,000 sturgeon into the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. These decades-long stocking efforts are working to restore reproducing populations across the state, officials say. Advertisement Advertisement And the result of that work is finally beginning to foster change as the species conservation status in Tennessee decreased from endangered to threatened earlier this year. (Its) an adjustment that reflects the long-term impact of the restoration program, Tennessee Aquarium Vice President of Conservation Science and Education Dr. Anna George said of the conservation status decrease in prepared statements. The annual TVA/TWRA sturgeon study After sturgeon died out in Tennessee, TVA and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency joined the effort to bring them back. As part of that effort, the two agencies and other partners conduct a yearly sturgeon survey to track the health of the species. Williams, TVA Fisheries Biologist Justin Wolbert and TWRA representatives recently met on a cold morning near North Cairo Boat Ramp, at 799 Zieglers Fort Road in Gallatin, to set about the work of studying sturgeon. Advertisement Advertisement We set a series of trotlines out here every night for the week, and well go check them in the mornings and assess any of the lake sturgeon we catch, measure them and weigh them, assess them for health, any injuries, that kind of thing and release them and send them on their way, WIlliams said. Its just a way for us to check in on the reintroduction efforts weve been working on with partners like the TWRA since the late 90s. Tennessee Valley Authority Fisheries Biologist Justin Wolbert holds a lake sturgeon caught on a trotline near the North Cairo Boat Ramp in Gallatin. Researchers use trotlines to catch sturgeon in different reservoirs. A mix of worms and cut bait is used on each line, adorned with 50 hooks each. TVA and TWRA each have a total of eight lines in the water set in pairs, for a total of 400 hooks per agency. Advertisement Advertisement Twenty sturgeon were caught that chilly morning between the two agencies. Our main efforts right now are to get our population to the point where it's self-sustaining and can reproduce on its own, and right now its requiring us to do annual releases, but this is a really slow growing fish . they live over 100 years and females a lot of times wont start producing eggs until their around 20 years old. Left, a juvenile lake sturgeon one year after release in 2024. Right, a lake sturgeon released in 2008. Williams hopes one day people will be able to fish for sturgeon in Tennessee waterways like other states. If you think about the timeline its been about 20-25 years," he said. "Last year, our partner KWRA found the first female where she had eggs, so its a critical time for the program and we're hoping to see some natural reproduction soon. Advertisement Advertisement The species is known to travel long distances, so it's likely anglers may catch lake sturgeon in waters throughout the state. But watch out. What to do if you catch a sturgeon? Because lake sturgeon is currently threatened in Tennessee, it is illegal to possess one. Anglers cannot fish for sturgeon in Tennessee waters and must release any incidental catches immediately. Researchers use a trotline to catch sturgeon in different reservoirs to weigh, measure and check their general health. Heres what to do if you accidentally catch one. TWRA encourages anglers to report relevant information from incidental catches like the time and location of capture and length of the fish. Angler reports are important because the data provides important growth and movement information needed to monitor the success of the lake sturgeon reintroduction program, TWRA says. The agency also says the reports also guide ongoing restoration efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Photos of incidental catches are also appreciated, so long as they can be done without harming the fish. Tips to remember when taking photos with sturgeon include avoid holding sturgeon by its tail and remember fish cannot breathe while they are out of the water. In appreciation for reporting this information, anglers receive a Lake Sturgeon Certificate. Information can be submitted by: For those interested in learning more about lake sturgeon or watching a live feed of lake sturgeon at the Tennessee Aquarium, visit tnaqua.org/livestream/lake-sturgeon-cam/. Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 'Dinosaur' fish making a comeback in Tennessee rivers. What to know Police have arrested two suspects following a triple shooting that left two men dead and another injured on New Year's Day in Northeast Philadelphia. Cara Williams-Reeves, 44, and Tyriq Williams, 21, have been arrested and charged with murder and related offenses. Two arrested following deadly New Year's Day triple shooting in Northeast Philadelphia RELATED: 2 dead after New Year's Day triple shooting in Northeast Philadelphia The incident happened around 11:15 a.m. Thursday on the 7100 block of Oakland Street. Advertisement Advertisement When police arrived, they found 52-year-old Luis Colon suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. He was rushed to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:55 a.m. Luis Colon Police say Williams-Reeves and Williams went to Colon's house to initiate a confrontation with his stepdaughter. The suspects are reportedly family members of the stepdaughter's ex-boyfriend, who was not there at the time. Investigators say Williams-Reeves and another unidentified female began assaulting Colon's stepdaughter and wife on the front lawn. When Colon tried to intervene, Williams and 21-year-old Quadir Tull pushed him away and pulled out guns. Advertisement Advertisement Colon then pulled out his own gun, according to police, and a shootout began between the three men. Police say the suspects then fled in a dark-colored Chrysler 300, which later arrived at Temple University Hospital carrying two additional gunshot victims. Williams was treated for a gunshot wound to the hand and is in stable condition. Tull suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at 11:52 a.m. The incident remains under investigation. Many people have been injured in an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to official reports provided on Friday. President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media that preliminary information suggests two missiles struck a residential area in the city. The exact number of victims is still unknown. "Unfortunately, this is how the Russians treat life and people," Zelensky wrote on X. "They continue killing, despite all efforts by the world, and especially by the United States, in the diplomatic process. It is only Russia that does not want this war to end." Advertisement Advertisement Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov initially reported on Telegram that 16 people had been injured and significant damage had been caused after a high-rise building was hit. In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, a 51-year-old man was fatally injured in a Russian attack, Governor Olexander Prokudin said. Attacks on a thermal power plant could lead to interruptions in the heating supply, he added. The Ukrainian Energy Ministry said on Friday morning that Russia had once again attacked energy infrastructure, particularly in the Zaporizhzhya and Mykolaiv regions. As a result of the damage caused by Russian attacks, many regions of the country only have electricity for a few hours a day. In the largely occupied Luhansk region, more than 85,000 energy customers were without power after Ukrainian attacks, the Russian state news agency TASS wrote, citing the occupation authorities. Four cities and neighbouring settlements were affected. The information provided by the warring parties cannot be independently verified. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. Contract negotiations between the University of Pittsburgh and the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown are ongoing, officials from both sides said. Proposals have been traded between the parties several times since the last contract expired June 30, but to no avail. Pitt-Johnstown employees represented by the union were set to strike in October because there was no movement, but that action was postponed, Local 32BJ shop steward Brian Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Theyre basically citing the state laws that we cant strike right now, he said. The laws being addressed by officials at Pitts main campus in Oakland, according to Smith, are Pennsylvanias Act 195 of 1970 and Act 88 of 1992. Act 195 establishes the rights of public employees to organize and bargain collectively through selected representatives, and Act 88 relates to collective bargaining for public school employees and creates timelines and procedures for negotiations, advisory arbitration, mandates for fact-finding and limits on strikes. Smith said its unclear to him how those laws relate to the union that encompasses maintenance technicians and custodial and grounds crews at Pitt-Johnstown. Still, the union has not picketed in accordance with the statutes. Advertisement Advertisement Multiple issues on both sides have held up a new contract since negotiations started. Union members said in September that wages and rising out-of-pocket health care costs were sticking points for them. Smith has said the local is seeking a cost-of-living increase. He also said that the university is now requesting the addition of an exit clause in the new contract that allows the school to avoid raises for the members if expected state or federal funding isnt received. The union has pushed back against that proposal. A Pitt representative said official comments on negotiations are limited at this time, but provided a statement. Advertisement Advertisement The union has not yet been able to provide a response to the universitys Nov. 6 counterproposals but has agreed to an extension through Jan. 31, it said. Pete Schmidt, SEIU 32BJ Western Pennsylvania district director, said that the extension through the end of January is accurate and that the parties are scheduled to meet again Jan. 13. The bottom line is we want something more solid financially and not just another one-year agreement, he said. Schmidt said the university claims it cannot commit to increases for local members. That comes on the heels of Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel receiving a 32% pay increase from the trustees board in December. According to TribLive.com reporting, as of Thursday her annual salary is $1.25 million. Advertisement Advertisement Also, the board approved yearly retention bonuses for Gabel through 2030, with increases from $100,000 to $150,000 in 2028 and $200,000 in 2029 and 2030, TribLive.com reported. Schmidt said that he has nothing against the chancellor and that she deserves appropriate pay for her responsibilities. But to know shes receiving a substantial raise when the university says it cant commit to increases for Local 32BJ members is not only disheartening, but also a slap in the face, he said. After the vote on her raise, Gabel said in a statement that she is grateful for the increase and plans to donate it to student causes at Pitt. Schmidt said hes interested to know how that will be carried out. By Jana Winter WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday ordered that the man accused of planting pipe bombs in Washington the night before the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack should remain behind bars while his case moves forward. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Brian Cole, 30, to be held without bail as he faces two criminal charges related to the attempted bombings at the Democratic and Republican party headquarters. Cole, who faces two explosives-related charges, has not yet entered a plea. Advertisement Advertisement Sharbaugh also agreed to accept an indictment returned by a local grand jury in Washington, charging Cole with the same two offenses. The defense challenged the use of a local grand jury to secure a federal indictment, but the judge agreed to accept it after prosecutors said they would soon ask a federal grand jury to separately sign off on the charges. Sharbaugh concluded in his ruling that the U.S. government's evidence against Cole was strong and that the pipe bombs sparked fear and alarm ahead of the congressional certification of the election even though they did not explode. "If the plan had succeeded, the results could have been devastating: creating a greater sense of terror on the eve of a high-security Congressional proceeding, causing serious property damage in the heart of Washington, D.C., grievously injuring DNC or RNC staff and other innocent bystanders, or worse," Sharbaugh wrote. A lawyer for Cole argued during a December 30 court hearing that he should be released on strict conditions, pointing to his lack of criminal history and family support. Advertisement Advertisement The attorney said a defense expert was prepared to testify that the devices were not capable of detonating. The FBI has concluded the pipe bombs were viable. Federal prosecutors have said in a court filing that Cole confessed to planting the pipe bombs and told investigators after his arrest he thought the 2020 election had been tampered with." President Donald Trump had falsely claimed that the election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, was marred by fraud. According to the filing, Cole said he didn't like either political party. The pipe bombs were not discovered until about 1 p.m. on January 6, diverting police resources just as a mob of Trump supporters surged into the Capitol. (Reporting by Jana Winter. Additional reporting by Andrew Goudsward; editing by Scott Malone and David Gregorio) Routine health concerns can occasionally turn into life-altering medical mysteries. That was the case for two women who sought answers for symptoms doctors could not explain for months. What's happening? According to the New York Post, Virginia gym owner and mother Ashley Courtney began experiencing rashes, hives, heart palpitations, and swelling in 2019, including during pregnancy. Courtney said she visited 11 doctors over more than a year, went to the emergency room, and was tested for other serious conditions before getting answers. Advertisement Advertisement It wasn't until Courtney went to get her hair done and her hairdresser suggested alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne illness caused by bites from the Lone Star tick. Testing later confirmed the diagnosis. The NYP cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that said alpha-gal syndrome has affected up to 450,000 Americans, with cases concentrated in Eastern and Southern states. Symptoms can include delayed allergic reaction, gastrointestinal distress, hives, and anaphylaxis following exposure to meat or mammal-derived products. This can include something as unexpected as shampoo. Courtney said she found herself avoiding food, social gatherings, and household products out of fear. Advertisement Advertisement "I felt like I was allergic to existing," Courtney told the NYP. In another case, Debra Schaefer from New York started experiencing symptoms after working as a camp counselor in 2023. After multiple doctor visits, the syndrome was identified. Schaefer also recalled a tick crawling on her husband, who was later diagnosed with the same illness. "I realized later that I was in anaphylactic shock," Schaefer told the NYP. "It's scary that the ER didn't know what was happening." Why are tick-borne illnesses a concern? Tick-borne illnesses are becoming more common as global temperatures rise. Ticks thrive in warm, damp conditions, and as thermometer readings creep up, the range of places that the creatures can survive expands. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, as warmer seasons last longer throughout the year, the time that ticks can breed and survive also increases, leading to a greater threat of associated diseases. The Lone Star tick, which carries alpha-gal syndrome, has been spreading across the United States. This means that anyone venturing into outdoor spaces needs to be vigilant to avoid exposure. What's being done about awareness? Courtney and Schaefer, who have been impacted by the syndrome, have worked to improve awareness of alpha-gal syndrome by speaking about their experience so doctors can recognize symptoms earlier, according to the NYP. Talking with friends and family about these risks can encourage discussions about how environmental changes can have an impact on human health. Wearing long-sleeved clothing when out on walks in wild spaces can also help, as can tick repellent. Advertisement Advertisement "The hardest thing was that I wasn't an average case," Courtney said. "I wish [doctors] would have taken me more seriously." Reducing our production of planet-warming pollution can slow the rate of rising global temperatures and make it more difficult for ticks to survive. Small steps like avoiding single-use plastics and eating more plant-based meals can help, but bolder moves, such as installing solar panels or switching from a gas-guzzling car to an electric vehicle, can significantly cut your personal polluting impact and save money at the same time. 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 federal judge in Utah ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a man whom officials acknowledge was wrongfully deported, ruling he must be brought back within 21 days in compliance with previous court orders. District Judge Jill Parrish issued the ruling on Wednesday to return Federico Reyes Vasquez after administration officials acknowledged they had removed him despite court directives that he must remain in Utah while his court case is pending. Reyes Vasquez was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in mid-December, but his detainment has been under review after his family filed a motion that said he was being unlawfully held. Parrish ruled on Dec. 22 not to remove Reyes Vasquez from the country while his detainment was being reviewed, but he was deported the next day in direct violation of the courts Order, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Although administration officials say ICE agents knew of the order preventing his removal, officials tasked with removal operations were unaware and carried out the deportation. ICE agents later said they would coordinate with (Reyes Vasquezs) attorney to facilitate his return to the United States if Petitioner so chooses, which his lawyers have confirmed he wants. Its not entirely clear the justification behind Reyes Vasquezs original detainment. His family submitted a habeas corpus petition on Dec. 19 alleging unlawful detention after Reyes Vasquezs son claimed he was unable to obtain any information about his fathers condition from ICE. In that petition, his son Esggar Reyes alleged that his lawyer attempted to call the Salt Lake City ICE field office but the phone was automatically disconnected, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Three days later, Parrish ruled that Reyes Vasquez not be removed or transferred to any facility outside of the Utah district. In her ruling on Wednesday, Parrish noted that Reyes Vasquez is being held in central Mexico and may lack the funds to easily return. As a result, the district judge ruled the Trump administration must either provide transportation or financial support to return him to the United States. Administration officials must also coordinate housing for Reyes Vasquez when he is returned. Reyes Vasquezs attorneys could also be eligible for other payment, Parrish ruled, inviting them to submit an interim request for other costs related to his return. The Trump administration has until Jan. 20 to return him, and officials must submit a status report to Parrish within 10 days. Another Republican state lawmaker is facing an intraparty challenge as he seeks reelection later this year. Scott Stephenson, a law enforcement leader and former chairman of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, announced this week that he would run for Utah House District 44, which is currently held by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan. For too long, our district has lacked real representation, Stephenson said in an announcement video. Our voices are dismissed, our concerns ignored. As a result, residents rightfully feel like politicians are putting their personal agendas ahead of representing those who put them in office. Advertisement Advertisement We deserve better, he added. Teuscher announced he would seek reelection on Wednesday, setting up a contest between two Republicans for the seat. Utah gave me the chance to learn, serve, work and build a life, Teuscher said in a Facebook post announcing his reelection campaign. I want to protect those opportunities and make sure our state remains a place where families can thrive. I want my kids, and yours, to grow up in a state that protects freedom, strengthens families, supports great schools, welcomes innovation and prepares the next generation to build an even better future. In a sense, the 2026 race wont be the first time Teuscher and Stephenson have faced off. Teuscher was the sponsor of HB267 last year, a bill banning public unions from collectively bargaining to negotiate wages and benefits. As the executive director of the Utah State Fraternal Order of Police, Stephenson was part of a coalition of labor groups that fought to have the law overturned. Advertisement Advertisement The law was eventually repealed in December, and lawmakers have said they will work with labor groups to craft policy on the issue going forward. Teuschers not the only Republican lawmaker facing a challenge from within the party this year. Freshman Rep. Doug Fiefia, R-Herriman, said he plans to challenge state Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, rather than run for reelection in November. Jake Hunsaker, a businessman who ran for Congress as a Republican in 2022, said he is running to fill Fiefias seat in the House. At the same time, Rep. Mike Kohler, R-Midway, is not running for reelection. He has served since 2021 representing Summit and Wasatch counties in the Utah House of Representatives. Advertisement Advertisement My six years have been a great experience, but its time for someone else to represent this district, Kohler told KSL. I look forward to more time with my family. Thanks to the voters of Wasatch County and Park City for the opportunity to represent them. Candidates for state legislative seats can file until Jan. 8, so several sitting lawmakers have signaled their intent not to seek reelection as the deadline approaches. They include Majority Assistant Whip Bridger Bolinder, R-Grantsville; Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Syracuse; Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City; Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay; Rep. Christine Watkins, R-Price; Rep. Matthew Gwynn, R-Farr West; and Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton. Contributing: Daniel Woodruff Valneva and the Serum Institute of India (SII) have ended a license agreement for chikungunya vaccine supply in Asia after only a year of working together. The agreement, signed in December 2024, saw Valneva partner with SII to support the availability of the former company's one-shot vaccine, which is known under the brand name Ixchiq in approved regions, in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). SII is the worlds largest manufacturer of vaccines by number of doses. However, just a year on, the two companies have decided to discontinue the agreement. Valneva said it wanted to assume direct control over its supply chain and commercialisation for endemic high-risk countries. Advertisement Advertisement The French vaccine speicalist did not immediately respond to Pharmaceutical Technology when asked for further comment. In July 2024, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) gave $41.3m in funding to Valneva to expand access of Ixchiq. This included supporting clinical trials in vulnerable groups, as well as aiding technology transfer to an additional manufacturer to supply the vaccine to Asian LMICs. Chikungunya, caused by its namesake virus, is a mosquito-borne disease mainly found in tropical regions. The most affected subcontinental region in Asia is the southeast, with India reporting the highest number of cases in 2025, as per data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. For a while, Ixchiq was the only licensed vaccine against the virus, though this changed when Bavarian Nordics Vimkunya entered the market in February 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Safety concerns linked to Ixchiq created a turbulent past year for Valneva. In August 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned Ixchiq amid reports of serious adverse events (SAEs). The licence suspension means the vaccine a key product in Valnevas commercial portfolio is currently prohibited from being shipped or sold in the US. Europe lifted a temporary restriction on the vaccine in July 2025. In financial reports from the first nine-months of 2025, the company downgraded its 2025 guidance, despite revenue growth. Valneva said it expected sales of between 155m ($179.7m) and 170m, down from a 170m-180m target revealed in its Q1 report. In November, Valneva decided to decrease its operational footprint in France by shutting a facility tasked with both operational and research and development (R&D) activities. In an emailed statement to Pharmaceutical Technology at the time, a company spokesperson said that 30 positions would be terminated as part of the move. Ixchiq is one of three commercial vaccines developed by Valneva, alongside Ixiaro/Jespect for Japanese encephalitis and Dukoral for cholera. Advertisement Advertisement "Valneva takes back charge of chikungunya vaccine supply in Asia" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said claims that his government engages in drug trafficking are lies, and he is willing to meet with President Donald Trump amid rising tensions. Maduro on Thursday accused the Trump administration of knowingly making false claims of drug trafficking, including recent comments by Trump saying Venezuela's alleged drug trafficking is akin to using weapons of mass destruction "Since they cannot accuse me, since they cannot accuse Venezuela of having weapons of mass destruction, since they cannot accuse us of having nuclear rockets, of preparing a nuclear weapon, of having chemical weapons, they invented an accusation that the United States knows is as false as that accusation of weapons of mass destruction, which led them to an eternal war," Maduro said while referencing the Iraq War. Advertisement Advertisement The Venezuelan president offered to work with U.S. officials to oppose drug trafficking and repeated his prior offers to meet with Trump to discuss the U.S. military targeting alleged drug vessels, seizing oil tankers and blockading Venezuelan ports. "The U.S. government knows, because we've told many of their spokespeople that, if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we're ready," he said in a taped interview on Venezuela's state-owned channel teleSUR. The Venezuelan president also suggested his country and the United States could work together to enable U.S. firms to invest in Venezuela's oil industry "whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it." Maduro refused to comment on a recently reported U.S. strike on an alleged drug-processing facility located among docks on Venezuela's Caribbean coastline. Advertisement Advertisement The CIA also has refused to comment on the strike, which Trump announced on Monday and said "knocked out" a drug facility on Saturday night. The president in October announced he authorized the CIA to undertake operations in Venezuela but did not say what kind. The Defense Department also sent a carrier strike group to the Caribbean to stop alleged drug-trafficking fast boats from transporting drugs intended for the United States and Europe and more recently to blockade Venezuelan ports amid seizures of sanctioned vessels. The White House has said the strikes on the alleged drug boats are intended to stop South American drug cartels from sending drugs to the United States, which has some U.S. officials questioning the legality of such strikes. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Southern Command announced two more boat strikes that killed five in international waters on New Year's Eve. The United States began striking the alleged drug boats in September and has sunk at least 36 and killed at least 115. Most of the drug boat strikes, 23, have occurred in the eastern Pacific Ocean and away from Venezuela, while 11 others occurred in the Caribbean Sea, with another two in undisclosed locations. The United States also has placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro and recently sanctioned some of his family members for their alleged roles in drug trafficking. Trump also has accused Maduro of intentionally sending criminals and others to the United States during the Biden administration, including members of the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua gang that he has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com Washington Governor Bob Ferguson is urging homeowners impacted by the intense flooding in December to apply for state disaster assistance. The $2.5 million in funding is part of the $3.5 million unlocked by Fergusons disaster declaration, according to a news release from the governors office Friday. The first $1 million was distributed over five days to more than 2,600 households that were most in need. Apply online, by phone, or in person Those who suffered damages are encouraged to submit an Unmet Needs Assessment Form. The process can be started by entering the households ZIP code on the Salvation Armys website. Officials explained that after filling out the form, case managers will determine eligibility for Household Needs Grants. Advertisement Advertisement To qualify for a grant, the household must be in either King, Snohomish, Skagit, or Whatcom counties, earn 80% or less of the area median gross income, and show their primary residence was destroyed or seriously damaged. Those who submit the form will also be asked to provide supporting documents. A list of acceptable documents can be found here. Households can also apply by phone at 833-719-4981, or in person at a Disaster Assistance Center in the county where they live. Disaster Assistance Center locations The King County Disaster Assistance Centers are located at the Auburn Library, the King County Library System Administrative Office, and the Carnation Library. The Snohomish County Disaster Assistance Centers are located at the VOA-WW Sky Valley Center. Advertisement Advertisement Disaster Assistance Centers for Skagit and Whatcom counties are planned for the second week of January. While we work to apply for federal assistance to obtain more extensive relief, this flexible state funding will help people deal with their immediate [needs] in the aftermath of this crisis, Ferguson stated in the release. We are doing all we can to help our communities recover from this historic disaster. More information about flood assistance can be found here. Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here. You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters. 2025 was not kind to the Washington, D.C., restaurant industry, as closures of full- and limited-service establishments reached a three-year high and nearly doubled the number of closures from 2022. New data from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington shows that 92 restaurants closed during the year, exceeding 73 closures in 2024. In 2022, 48 closures were reported. Mid-priced restaurants those averaging $21 to $40 per person experienced the steepest losses in sales, visits, and profits, while premium dining ($41-plus) grew share. There are some 2,660 restaurants in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Seventy-two percent of mid-priced restaurants reported lower sales during the summer months, compared to 60% each for upscale and fast-casual concepts, and 44% of fine-dining restaurants. No casual-dining restaurants reported sales growth to the RAMW, while 22% of fine dining, and 20% of fast casuals reported revenue growth. Traffic trends were no better; 76% of mid-priced restaurants experienced fewer diners, compared to 60% for upscale casual dining, and 56% for fine dining. The RAMW reported that two key groups of diners downtown workers and tourists pulled back the most. Tourism Economics estimates a 5.1% drop in tourism to the D.C. area in 2025, attributed to factors such as the deployment of federal troops and the government shutdown. Restaurants that middle-class families have long depended on are disappearing, RAMW chief executive officer and president Shawn Townsend said in a statement. Policies working against affordability are falling hardest on neighborhood restaurants that serve neighborhood families. Restaurants in the market experienced plummeting reservations following President Trumps deployment of the National Guard and federal troops in August, while the local economy suffered from the 43-day government shutdown, which impacted approximately 1.25 million federal workers. Some of this impact will continue, as unemployment filings in October, when the federal governments deferred resignation program ended, jumped to 1,470 a week, which is nearly triple the amount from October 2024. Federal employment in Greater Washington fell 4.5% in the first six months of 2025, a loss of 17,000 jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Federal layoffs remain a top concern for the industry, with 83% of operators expressing serious concern about the issue. Eighty-eight percent of area businesses said their success depends on the federal government as the regions top employer. The same number of operators (83%) expressed serious concern about immigration specifically, disrupted operations from detained authorized workers. More than one in 10 restaurants (16%) reported they had employees with work permits detained, or workers with no criminal record deported (12%). More than half of operators (53%) experienced staff being stopped or questioned while going to or from work, and 73% of restaurants reported at least one direct impact from immigration actions. Immigration policy now ranks as D.C. operators top legislative issue, with 87% saying policies that support the restaurant workforce are extremely or very important. According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants make up about 22% of all U.S. workers in the foodservice industry. Hiring outlook Because of the markets significant challenges in 2025, just 7% of mid-tier restaurants plan to add servers, bartenders, bussers, or hosts in the near-term, while 13% plan to add kitchen staff, managers, or admin positions. Advertisement Advertisement Among fine-dining operators, 44% plan to hire servers or bartenders, while 33% plan to add kitchen staff. Upscale casual restaurants have a similar outlook, with 33% planning to hire both front- and back-of-house staff. Fast casual concepts are the most bullish on hiring, with 60% planning to hire kitchen staff and 50% planning to add support staff. Notably, a majority of all segments said they plan to cut hours. The RAMW is a regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area. It was established in 1920. This data was compiled based on a member survey conducted in the fall, as well as a compilation of news and industry reports. Contact Alicia Kelso at Alicia.Kelso@informa.com Follow her on TikTok: @aliciakelso Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A pair of rings accidentally thrown into the trash at an Iowa hospital were recovered thanks to medical staff, maintenance workers and a portable X-ray. Susan Sinnwell said she didn't realize until the day after having an X-ray performed on her hand at Grundy County Memorial Hospital that she had thrown the napkin containing her grandparents' wedding rings into the trash. "When I threw the napkin away, it sounded funny when it hit the garbage," Sinnwell told Iowa's News Now. "But I didn't think anything of it at the time." Advertisement Advertisement Maintenance crews set about the process of searching for the rings, and discovered the trash in question had been mixed with several days worth of waste and put through a compactor. They went through 50 to 60 trash bags using a metal detector, but had no luck. Craig Buskohl, imaging manager at the hospital, brought a portable X-ray machine to the hospital's ambulance bay to more quickly search through the garbage. He said it took about 45 minutes and 35 images to locate the rings. "It was really rewarding," Buskohl said. "Honestly, I didn't think we were going to find them -- but we did." Sinnwell was grateful to have the rings returned to her. "From the moment I connected with the team at GCMH, I felt reassured by their calm, caring approach," she told hospital officials. As the federal and state crack down on efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion affects Tampa Bay, a new group is looking to buck the trend. The Wesley Chapel Black Chamber of Commerce will officially launch in 2026. Just because its more challenging doesnt mean that the work shouldnt be done, said co-founder Chad Cooper. Its essential that, in this climate, we exist. Supporting Black and minority-owned businesses will be the chambers focus, but, Cooper said, membership is open to all. Advertisement Advertisement The chamber aspires to partner with the Tampa Bay Chamber and the Pasco Economic Development Council as a part of its efforts to help businesses grow and gain visibility. In other words, Cooper said, the goal is to give historically underrepresented businesses a seat at the table. Black entrepreneurs are driving innovation and growth in our communities every day, Cooper said in an October news release. Yet, too often, those businesses lack the representation, resources, and advocacy they need to thrive. Cooper, who recently moved to the area, has led similar initiatives in New Mexico and New Orleans. His advocacy had its genesis in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Amid the angst of a week spent searching for his missing father and grandmother, Cooper says he was struck by how many people were helpless, left with no choice but to wait for an obtuse bureaucratic response. Noticeably, Cooper said, a majority of these people were Black. Advertisement Advertisement He was compelled to help them become less reliant in the event of catastrophe, and decided to do so by lending his expertise as a financial adviser. Before moving to Tampa Bay, Cooper helped the Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico grow to the point where it could support businesses not just with educational events, but with small loans, too. Meeting (Chad) and hearing his vision, I immediately wanted to partner with him in this endeavor, said TaJuan DeVore, a founding member of Wesley Chapels chamber. DeVore, who recently started working as an independent consultant after more than 20 years with a corporation, said she feels fortunate to have the chance to help establish the chamber at such an opportune personal moment. She hopes to help others with the transition from employee to entrepreneur. Advertisement Advertisement There is plenty of internal confidence in the chambers future, but Cooper says there is still a long way to go. While the organization has elected its first board of directors, and the announcement of its first CEO is imminent, it is still awaiting the approval ofits nonprofit status and are currently self-funded. We have a dedicated group of people who are committed to making this organization successful, Cooper said. In the long run, however, other funding sources will be essential, Cooper said. The chamber is working on determining which resources - at the city, county, state and federal level - are available. Private benefactors will be another crucial funding avenue. It is possible that the chambers quest for government funding proves frustrating, or even fruitless. But, Cooper said, the present resistance to equity-focused initiatives makes the chambers work all the more important. What started as a conversation about Coopers past work has grown into an organization set to debut. Theres excitement, Cooper said. Theres passion around what were trying to do. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard a Holland America cruise ship that sailed out of Florida. Officials said the woman was reported overboard the Nieuw Statendam about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba on New Years Day. Fireworks cause major Riverview house fire on New Years Day Multiple crews were out searching for her Thursday by sea and air. They covered 690 square miles, and after about eight hours, decided to call off the search. Advertisement Advertisement Records show the ship left Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 27 for a New Year-themed cruise. The ship was scheduled to make a stop in Key West on Jan. 2 before returning to port. This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app. 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 WFLA. A woman found dead on a hiking trail in Colorado was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack, the state's first fatal attack since 1999, authorities said. The woman was discovered on Jan. 1 when two hikers came upon a mountain lion lying partially over her body on the Larimer County hiking trail, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said. The death is considered a suspected mountain lion attack pending a report by the coroner's office, agency spokesperson Kara Van Hoose told the Coloradoan, part of the USA TODAY Network. Advertisement Advertisement Van Hoose said the suspected attack happened at about 12:15 p.m. on the Crosier Mountain Trail, just south of Glen Haven. The trail is about 70 miles northwest of Denver. Two men, one a physician, saw the mountain lion lying over the woman from about 100 yards away, Van Hoose said. They threw rocks at the animal as they approached and the mountain lion was scared away. "It was acting protecitvely over the person when the two men saw it," Van Hoose said. The physician said he did not find a pulse, according to Van Hoose. VanHoose said an extensive search for the lion was led by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and other agencies. Searchers were helped by helicopters and houndsmen to track lions in the area. One was found, and an officer shot it, but it ran away. It was tracked and euthanized. Advertisement Advertisement A second lion was found in the area and it also was euthanized, said Van Hoose, who added agency policy calls for euthanizing wildlife involved in human attacks. She said the agency will conduct necropsies on the two sub-adult to adult mountain lions checking for abnormalities and neurological diseases like rabies and avian influenza. How rare are fatal mountain lion attacks? Prior to this incident, there have been 28 mountain lion attacks of humans in Colorado, including three that were fatal, Van Hoose said. The last attack happened in 2023 near Buena Vista, over 175 miles away. The state's last fatal mountain lion attack was on Oct. 2, 1999, when 3-year-old Jaryd Atadero went missing while hiking with a group on the Big South Trail in the Roosevelt National Forest of Larimer County. His body was discovered by two Fort Collins hikers near where he was last seen June 4, 2003. The case resulted in extensive national and international media coverage. If proven to be a mountain lion attack, it will be the fifth in Larimer County and third since 2019. Advertisement Advertisement In March 2020, a rabid mountain lion attacked two people, including a sheriff's deputy, west of Loveland. That mountain lion was found at a nearby home and shot by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers about an hour after the attack. In February 2019, a local runner was attacked by a young mountain lion while running on ice-covered trails west of Fort Collins. The man fought and killed the mountain lion during the attack. According to the nonprofit Mountain Lion Foundation, there have been roughly 30 reported fatal mountain lion attacks in North America since 1868. A 2011 study found mountain lion attacks are relatively rare, with about four to six per year in the United States and Canada. In 2025, a 4-year-old in Washington state was bitten by a mountain lion and an 11-year-old was attacked and bitten by one outside her Malibu, California, home. In 2024, California saw its first fatal mountain lion attack in 20 years when a man was killed and his brother was injured. Colorado has a healthy mountain lion population, estimated at 3,800 to 4,400 adult lions, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. In 2024, Colorado voters defeated Proposition 127, a ballot initiative to ban mountain lion hunting, by a 55% to 45% margin. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Mountain lion attacks, kills woman in Colorado A flag of the UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) flutters on a military patrol truck, at the site of a rally by STC supporters in Aden, Yemen, January 1, 2026. (photo credit: REUTERS/Fawaz Salman) Flights were halted on Thursday at Yemens Aden international airport, the main international gateway for regions of the country outside Houthi control. The Saudi-backed governor of Hadramout in Yemen said on Friday that a "peaceful operation" would be launched to reclaim military positions seized by southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates. Yemen's UAE-backed southern separatists seized large parts of the country from its internationally recognized government last month in a move viewed by Saudi Arabia as a threat. Advertisement Advertisement This announcement came shortly after Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Yemen said that Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, the leader of Yemen's UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, refused permission to land the previous day for a plane carrying a Saudi delegation to Aden. Zubaidi issued directives to close air traffic at Aden airport, the ambassador, Mohammed Al-Jaber, added in a post on X/Twitter. Flights were halted on Thursday at Yemens Aden international airport, the main international gateway for regions of the country outside Houthi control. Damaged military vehicles, reportedly sent by the United Arab Emirates to support Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatist forces, following an air strike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in the port of Mukalla, southern Yemen, on December 30, 2025. (credit: AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES) Saudi-Yemeni tensions continue to build Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on vehicles that it said had been smuggled to Mukalla Port from the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Advertisement Riyadh said that recent gains by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen in the past weeks were approaching a red line. Saudi Arabia called out the UAE by name in an unusual type of dispute in the Gulf. The Gulf is generally conservative in its policies, and its countries are reluctant to argue. There are exceptions, such as when Riyadh led several countries in cutting ties with Qatar in 2017. Saudi Arabia backs the Yemeni government, which is weak and doesnt control much of the country. In a region already teetering on the edge, Yemens rapidly evolving situation on the ground is raising alarm bells, Arab News says. While international observers continue to place their bets on diplomacy and de-escalation, there is growing concern that the country may be inching toward a dangerous regional conflagration. Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Kyrylo Budanov, an enigmatic millennial spymaster, as his new chief of staff, tasking him with rebuilding the armed forces and helping lead peace negotiations. Gen Budanov, dubbed the god of the poker face by military bloggers, has directed several attacks on Russia as the head of Ukraines military intelligence. The 39-year-old, who was once part of an elite Ukrainian commando unit secretly trained by the CIA, replaces Andriy Yermak, the top aide who quit amid a corruption investigation. Advertisement Advertisement The post had been left open since the end of November, when Mr Yermak who was Mr Zelenskys closest ally and the second most powerful man in the country stepped down after his home was raided as part of an alleged 75m kickback scheme in the energy sector. He has not been accused of wrongdoing. Andriy Yermak, the predecessor to Gen Budanov, had been accused of centralising power and scheming against political foes - Gleb Garanich/Reuters At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, the development of the defence and security forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track of negotiations, said Mr Zelensky. Kyrylo has specialised experience in these areas, and sufficient strength to deliver results. The spy chief confirmed that he had accepted the offer in a post on Telegram, saying: For me, it is an honour and a responsibility, at a historic time for Ukraine, to focus on critically important issues of our states strategic security. Gen Budanov, who has headed Ukraines military intelligence agency since 2020, is regarded as the audacious mastermind behind bold attacks beyond enemy lines, including an explosion on the Russian-built Crimean bridge over the Kerch Strait in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Given his god of the poker face nickname by Artur Rehi, an Estonian military blogger, the enigmatic intelligence chief has supervised attacks on Russian command structures, logistics hubs, naval assets and energy facilities, and admitted to assassinating quite a few Russian propagandists in 2023. Mr Zelenskys new chief of staff has close ties with the Ukrainian president - AFP The spy chief has largely been left to run his department as he sees fit, but has close ties with Mr Zelensky. His distance from Mr Yermak, with whom he was said to be at loggerheads, is likely to be an asset as the Ukrainian president attempts to signal a political overhaul after a period of instability in Kyivs corridors of power. Gen Budanovs appointment is also thought to signal Mr Zelenskys intent to sharpen the governments focus on security and defence development, as Ukraine prepares to move into its fifth year of war in February. Advertisement Advertisement As chief of staff, his first task will be to update and submit for approval the strategic foundations of our states defence and development, as well as the subsequent steps, Mr Zelensky said. The combat veteran has little experience in politics but enjoys close ties with presidential allies, as well as huge domestic popularity, which could bolster the tarnished image of the office. Rebuilding Ukraines armed forces will be part of Gen Budanovs brief - Andriy Andriyenko/AFP Gen Budanovs secretive operations in the 2014 Donbas war where he was wounded three times, including with a fragment of an anti-personnel mine which hit just under his heart saw him become Ukraines youngest two-star general. He is regarded as a highly competent operator, but this has led to him being targeted repeatedly by Russia. He has survived more than 10 assassination attempts. In 2023, he was targeted with a missile strike on the headquarters of the military intelligence directorate in Kyiv. The same year, his wife survived a poisoning attempt. Advertisement Advertisement On Christmas Day, he visited troops on the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region, praising soldiers who had stayed in position to hold the front line so that the darkness that devours life does not advance further. A December poll by Socis, a Ukrainian sociology company, found that Gen Budanov enjoyed the second-highest level of public trust among Ukrainians after Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Mr Yermak, his unpopular 54-year-old predecessor, had been accused of centralising power and scheming to oust his many political foes, including Gen Budanov. The former chief of staff oversaw peace negotiations but was dubbed a bipartisan irritator by one insider at the US-brokered talks for his abrasive style and lack of familiarity with Washingtons inner workings. Advertisement Advertisement But Gen Budanov is one of Ukraines most popular public figures, particularly among young people, commands deep respect among Kyivs allies and has been regarded as a potential future challenger for the presidency. Olga Rudenko, the chief editor of the Kyiv Independent, said that for Mr Zelensky, appointing Gen Budanov would mean neutralising a key political rival. It will tie Budanov to this administrations brand, including potentially to an unpopular peace deal, which can slash his personal rating, she wrote on social media. It is still unclear who will fill Gen Budanovs shoes within Ukraines military intelligence. On Dec 8, Mr Zelensky included the spy chief in a shortlist of possible successors to Mr Yermak alongside several other high-ranking officials, but expressed concerns about filling his current position. Advertisement Advertisement I dont want it to be like in a game of Jenga, when you pull out one piece and everything falls apart, the Ukrainian president said. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed the head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff on Friday, a move that comes as the US leads a diplomatic push to end Russia's nearly four-year war. In announcing the appointment of Lieutenant General Budanov, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs to focus on security issues, the development of its defence and security forces and peace talks, areas overseen by his office. "At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track of negotiations, and the Office of the President will primarily serve the fulfillment of these tasks of our state," Zelenskyy said in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy's previous chief of staff Andrii Yermak resigned after anti-corruption officials raided properties linked to Yermak as part of an investigation into alleged graft in the energy sector. Referred to as the man "without a smile" in Ukrainian media, 39-year-old Budanov is one of the countrys most recognisable and popular wartime figures. He has led Ukraines military intelligence agency, known as HUR, since 2020. Originally from Kyiv, he studied at a military academy in Odesa before being deployed to eastern Ukraine during Russia's initial invasion of the country in 2014, where he is said to have taken part in special operations and intelligence missions. Advertisement Advertisement Budanov himself did not reveal much about his service except for stating he was injured three times, including once with shrapnel close to his heart. A gunshot wound to the elbow has left him with a visible stiffness in his right arm. According to a HUR spokesman, Budanov has been the target of "more than 10" attacks. In 2019, his car exploded in Kyiv, an attack attributed at the time to Russian security services. Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, 2 January, 2026 - AP Photo Ukrainian intelligence operations Since Russias full-scale invasion, Budanov has become a prominent face of Kyiv's intelligence effort, regularly appearing in interviews and briefings that mix strategic signalling with psychological pressure on Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement He has frequently warned of Russias long-term intentions toward Ukraine and the region, while portraying the war as an existential struggle for the country's statehood. Under Budanov, the HUR expanded its operational footprint, coordinating intelligence, sabotage and special operations to degrade Russian military capabilities far beyond the front lines. Ukrainian officials have credited military intelligence with ops targeting Russian command structures, logistics hubs, energy infrastructure and naval assets, including strikes deep inside Russian territory and occupied areas. Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, 2 January, 2026 - AP Photo His appointment to lead the office of the president marks an unusual shift, placing a serving intelligence chief at the centre of Ukraine's political and diplomatic coordination. Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy has framed the move as part of a broader effort to sharpen the focus on security, defence development and diplomacy. "Kyrylo has specialised experience in these areas and sufficient strength to achieve results," Zelenskyy said. Budanov said on Telegram his new position is "both an honour and a responsibility at a historic time for Ukraine to focus on the critically important issues of the states strategic security." In the February/March 2026 issue of Reason, we explore Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's policy goals and what they mean for New York City. Click here to read the other entries. Central to Zohran Mamdani's 2020 campaign for New York State Assembly was a pitch to radically constrain law enforcement. "Queer liberation means defund the police," he posted two days after securing his seat representing Astoria, an apt coda to that election season. It was November 2020, just months after the George Floyd protests begana time when calls to defund the police were more common. Such a plan was arguably always a tougher sell in a mayoral campaign where candidates have to court a more politically diverse electorate than the one in western Queens, a district that overlaps with that of the socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.). Advertisement Advertisement Which helps explain why Mamdani pivoted fairly dramatically on criminal justice in his run to be mayor of America's most populous city. "I am not defunding the police," he said on the campaign trail. "I am not running to defund the police." One way he has tried to show he is serious about that promise: asking Jessica Tisch, who was an ally of Mayor Eric Adams, to stay on as New York City police commissioner. That type of law enforcement partnership would have been difficult to imagine with the Mamdani who made his political debut just over five years ago. What might their differences mean for New York City? On one hand, not much. A great deal has been made, for example, of Mamdani and Tisch diverging considerably on New York's state bail law, which bars judges from contemplating a defendant's dangerousness when making decisions about bond. It is the only state with that ban. While Tisch's skepticism of that policy has meritnearby New Jersey successfully eliminated cash bail in 2017 but did so in favor of a risk-based systemneither she nor Mamdani has the power to alter the legislation. The same goes for their disagreements on New York's Raise the Age law, which diverted most 16- and 17-year-old alleged offenders out of adult court. Mamdani likes the law; Tisch is against it. That debate is important, but it ultimately rests with state legislators. Advertisement Advertisement Other differences are more consequential, or at least have potential to be. Currently, the city's Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) can recommend disciplinary action after investigating allegations of misconduct at the New York Police Department (NYPD). The final say, however, belongs to the commissionersomething Mamdani campaigned on revoking. The dispute over where that power should reside reached a fever pitch this summer, right in the heat of the New York mayoral campaign, when Tisch rejected a CCRB finding that an officer should be fired in connection with a fatal 2019 shooting. In that case, Lt. Jonathan Rivera inserted himself into a vehicle as a suspect, Allan Feliz, attempted to drive away from a traffic stop. When the car sped forward, Rivera shot Feliz in the chest. At trial, a judge did not buy Rivera's testimony that he feared Feliz was poised to run over his colleague, Officer Edward Barrett. Tisch instead cited a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who wrote that Rivera had "a reasonable perceptionor at least not an obviously unreasonable one" that deadly force was justified. (James declined to prosecute Rivera in criminal court.) Whatever you think of Tisch's decision, her record on law enforcement misconduct may surprise those whose impression was formed solely by the headlines about Rivera. "Not only has Tisch signaled a greater willingness to discipline officers more frequently" than her predecessors, reported Gothamist last year, but "she's also imposing tougher penalties." And despite Mamdani's campaign emphasis on depriving the commissioner of veto power over officer discipline, he praised Tisch's efforts to "root out corruption" as something that united the two. Advertisement Advertisement They are decidedly not united on how many NYPD officers there should be and, in some sense, on what they should be doing. Tisch expressed support for Adams' plan to add 5,000 officers to the force, which has decreased in recent years, whereas Mamdani wants to keep the current head count. Perhaps more notable are their differing enforcement priorities. A hallmark of Tisch's tenure has been her focus on low-level offensesincluding open drug use, prostitution, and fare evasionto crack down on public disorder. "When neighborhoods are plagued by issues such as aggressive panhandling, unruly street vending, public urination, abandoned vehicles, it gives the impression of an unsafe community," she said in January 2025. The NYPD has credited that strategy, often referred to as broken windows policing, with the city's recent crime decline. Mamdani also prefers a prevention-oriented approach, but it bears no resemblance to Tisch's. He has said that police officers should be free to target major crimes. To accomplish that, he campaigned on creating a Department of Community Safety, with a budget over $1 billion, that would seek to address poverty and inequality; it would also divert lower-level calls to mental health specialists and social workers. While focusing police resources on serious offenses is an appealing idea, it's worth noting that New York City already has a hefty social safety net. Which ideological vision for the NYPD will win out will become clearer with time. Shortly after announcing Tisch would stay on, Mamdani unveiled his public safety transition team. Among others, it includes Alex Vitale, a sociologist who has argued we should abolish police. The post Will Zohran Mamdani Defund New York City Police? appeared first on Reason.com. In a speech following his public swearing-in, Mamdani promoted core campaign promises of universal childcare, affordable rents and free bus service. Democrat Zohran Mamdani became New York City's mayor on Thursday, vowing during a public swearing-in ceremony on the steps of City Hall to enact an aggressive agenda aimed at making the nation's largest city more affordable for working people. Mamdani, a member of his party's left-wing democratic socialist faction, was elected last November in a prominent victory that could this year's midterm elections that will determine control of the US Congress. Some Democrats have embraced his style while Republicans portray him as a foil on the national political stage. Advertisement Advertisement The 34-year-old campaigned heavily on cost-of-living issues and was sharply critical of Republican President Donald Trump, whose approval rating has fallen over the past year amid economic concerns. Many of New York's 8 million residents - some with hope, some with trepidation - expect him to be a disruptive political force. In a speech following his public swearing-in, Mamdani promoted core campaign promises of universal childcare, affordable rents and free bus service. "We will answer to all New Yorkers, not to any billionaire or oligarch who thinks they can buy our democracy," he said. "I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist." New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji react as confetti falls during his inauguration ceremony in New York City, U.S., January 1, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon) Crowd chants tax the rich The program for Mamdani's inauguration included remarks by US Senator Bernie Sanders and US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, fellow democratic socialists at the vanguard of the Democratic Party's liberal wing. Advertisement Advertisement Sanders, whom Mamdani calls his inspiration, defended Mamdani's agenda. "Making sure that people can live in affordable housing is not radical," Sanders said. "It is the right and decent thing to do." The crowd of several thousand cheered loudly when Sanders called on America's millionaires and billionaires to pay more in taxes, breaking into a chant of "tax the rich." Even with temperatures well below freezing, the city set up a viewing area along Broadway to allow thousands more to watch a livestream of the ceremony, which included musical performances. Mae Hardman-Hill, 27, volunteered for Mamdani's campaign and said it felt like his political momentum was growing. Advertisement Advertisement "I'm a native New Yorker. I've watched the city like you just become less and less affordable, less and less livable," Hardman-Hill said. "I'm really excited for ... regular people to get some power back again." Prior to the public ceremony, Mamdani was privately sworn in as New York City's mayor in the first minutes of the New Year on Thursday at the historic City Hall subway station, which was decommissioned decades ago and is accessible only a few times a year through guided tours. Reflecting his Muslim faith, he used a Quran, Islam's holiest book, for his swearing-in, a first for a New York City mayor. Republicans blast Mamdani Hours after Mamdani took office, the lead group tasked with electing Republicans to the US House of Representatives sought to portray him as a "radical socialist." Advertisement Advertisement "Every time Mamdani opens his mouth or swipes his pen, he tattoos the Democrat Partys failures onto every House Democrat facing voters in 2026," spokesperson Mike Marinella said in a statement that signaled the sizable role Mamdani is likely to play on the national campaign stage. Mamdani, a former state lawmaker, promised a freeze on rents and free buses and childcare, building a campaign around affordability issues that some have seen as a path forward for the Democratic Party around the country ahead of November midterm elections. Dean Fuleihan, the incoming deputy mayor, told the Financial Times that Mamdani will move ahead with plans to increase taxes on millionaires to pay for his campaign promises and balance New York's budget. He added that he doesn't expect rich people to leave the city as a result of potentially higher taxes. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has said she opposes raising personal income taxes but is considering raising corporate taxes to pay for a potential budget shortfall amid federal cuts. Advertisement Advertisement In one early reversal, Mamdani said on Wednesday that he would no longer seek to end mayoral control of New York City's public school system, the largest in the US, naming veteran educator Kamar Samuels as chancellor. Mamdani inspired a record-breaking turnout of more than 2 million voters and took 50% of the vote in November, nearly 10 points ahead of Andrew Cuomo running as an independent and well ahead of Republican Curtis Sliwa. Inauguration of a new era The Uganda-born Mamdani has been a sharp critic of Trump on issues such as immigration and said his differences with the president were numerous after a warm White House meeting. Mamdani raised $2.6 million for the transition and celebrations from nearly 30,000 contributors, more than other mayors on record this century, both by the total and single donations, according to official campaign data that presents disclosures of inaugural expenses beginning with Michael Bloomberg's first term in 2001. Advertisement Advertisement As mayor, Mamdani will move from his one-bedroom Astoria apartment, protected from sharp price hikes by the city rent-stabilization program, to Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City mayors on Manhattan's upscale Upper East Side. Bankers and others in New York, the nation's financial capital, had expressed concern about Mamdani, but since his election, many have explored how to work with him. His career began as a founding member of Talking Heads, but after the bands breakup he went on to build a legendary solo career as well, with songs that reflect the colourful imprint of his creative, ever-restless mind. His new album, Who Is The Sky?, released this year, is no exception it is filled with joyful and cinematic moments. David Byrne last performed in Budapest in 2009, making his return on June 18 at the Budapest Arena a truly special occasion. In 2023, Byrne brought his triumphant American Utopia era to a close, after the album and tour evolved first into an acclaimed Broadway production and then into an HBO film directed by Spike Lee. After wrapping up the project, he once again started recording the chords and melodies that came to mind. These very rudimentary songs gradually began to take shape over time just Byrne on acoustic guitar, singing over a programmed loop or beat. And as the world and his ongoing American Utopia Broadway run came to a halt, Byrne, like much of humanity, found himself asking: Do I like what Im doing? Why am I writing songs, why am I doing this job, or anything at all? Does any of it even matter? His attempts to answer these weighty questions can be heard on Who Is The Sky?, his first collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Kid Harpoon (Tom Hull Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus) and the New York-based chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra. The album also features guest appearances by Hayley Williams (Paramore), longtime collaborator St. Vincent (she lives just around the corner from the studio, Byrne notes), and The Smile drummer Tom Skinner. The album builds on the optimistic themes of American Utopia and its supporting tour, and even more directly connects to the messages of the Grammy-winning Broadway show and the film adaptation. With this work, Byrne continues his lifelong exploration of human connection and the potential for social unity against the chaotic backdrop of the world. Who Is The Sky? is particularly cinematic, humorous and joyful, yet filled with thoughtful insights: that love is inexplicable, that enlightenment means something different to every person, and that its always a good idea to moisturize whether you wake up with baby-soft skin the next morning or not. Above all, the songs highlight Byrnes enduring gift for walking the fine line between avant-garde experimentation and accessible pop. Byrne was inspired to involve Ghost Train Orchestra after hearing their 2023 tribute album honoring Moondog, the blind New York composer and street poet. Later that year he even joined them onstage during a Brooklyn performance. The 15-member Ghost Trains diverse instrumentation including drums, percussion, guitar and bass alongside strings, woodwinds and brass sparked Byrnes imagination: What if these new songs of mine sounded like that? He asked if they would like to serve as his band for the Who Is The Sky? recordings and they quickly agreed. Thanks to this remarkable collaboration, Who Is The Sky? achieves a light, radiant diversity that both lifts the spirits and invites reflection on lifes small and large questions. And this is the journey David Byrne now invites the Hungarian audience to join on June 18 at the Budapest Arena. Tickets: livenation.hu The legendary German rock band Scorpions celebrated their 60th anniversary this year with a massive concert in their hometown of Hanover, and next year they will once again embark on a tour to honor these magical, success-filled six decades. Naturally, the band has not forgotten its Hungarian fans: on June 20 they will shake the MVM Dome with their timeless hits. Its strange to think that 60 years ago, the young Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, and Matthias Jabs were still pushing their instruments in wheelbarrows through the streets of Hanover, a city just awakening from the paralysis of World War II. Over the past six decades, the world has changed tremendously in every sense: the city has been beautifully rebuilt, and Scorpions have become a source of national pride for Germany, just like their famous brands such as Mercedes or BMW. The godfathers of classic rock have always been open to adventure and fortunately, the world has welcomed them with open arms: they have played thousands of concerts in all corners of the globe. In 1988, they became the first Western rock band to play five consecutive sold-out shows in Soviet-era Leningrad, and they were among the first to perform in China and Southeast Asia, opening doors for other Western bands. The band has also sold more than 100 million records and has been a regular on the worlds most prestigious charts since the beginning keeping track of their gold certifications is nearly impossible. Over the decades, bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Korn, and System of a Down have covered their songs. Their mega-hit "Rock You Like a Hurricane" alone has been covered more than 150 times by various artists. This proves that the legacy and influence of Scorpions on rock music are indisputable. Even beyond their 60th anniversary, the members are driven by performing together, touring, and the love of their audience. Scorpions will celebrate this milestone with their Hungarian fans as wellso everyone should be there on June 20 at their concert in the MVM Dome. Tickets: Livenation.hu YTalk141 | Have you ever wondered what a countrys year looked like just by listening to its leaders new year speech? If you listened to President Xi Jinpings 2026 New Year message, you would have heard about some truly epic moments from China in 2025. It was a year filled with high-tech wonders, cultural hits, and major milestones. Let me take you through some of the most memorable "scenes" from that speech. 202620252025 | | | | Chinas latest population strategy is raising condoms cost to encourage more children, but citizens are mocking the policy and experts warn of unintended consequences. Frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits are endemic and infect everyone whether they realize it or not. The greed of plaintiffs, attorneys, medical experts, and malpractice carriers, coupled with the ineptitude of the tort system, causes avoidable costs. Everyone pays the price. Some plaintiffs sue for medical malpractice just because they harbor a grievance against a doctor and their claim has no attributable merit. Plaintiff attorneys, who are looking for business, advertise if we dont win, you dont pay. Once they attract such a client, they hire a medical expert and pay this expert to opine that there is medical malpractice. Then they file a lawsuit, and the doctor, who is the subject of this grievance, is served. The doctor notifies the malpractice carrier. The carrier hires a defense attorney. The defense attorney hires another medical expert who is paid to opine that there is no medical malpractice. There is discovery and eventually a trial. The outcome is not as uncertain as one might believe. Most of the time, physicians prevail. However, this cascade of events is repeated 85,000 times a year. The cost exceeds $56 billion per year. Curiously, this figure has not changed since first published 15 years ago. Although there are $56 billion at stake, the attitude fostered by many is this is just the cost of doing business. To those, I have two words: avoidable costs. If $56 billion is just the cost of doing business, in what world are there no incentives to control costs, particularly avoidable costs? If you are of the notion that you are insulated from avoidable costs, I disabuse you of that notion with one question: What happens whenever you make an appointment with a doctor? Here is what happens. Unless you see concierge physicians (which is another story altogether), if you think that you made an appointment with your private doctor, you are sadly mistaken. You made an appointment with an agent of a network. The doctor is an agent of the network because the doctor found a way to control his or her avoidable costs by joining a network. An increase in a medical malpractice premium is no longer their financial burden. The network covers the doctor, and the network may, itself, be self-insured. In return, you become a bargaining chip for the network in its negotiations with your health insurance because the network is paid by it according to capitation or the number of insured lives enrolled in the network. Whether you realize it or not, when your doctor joined the network, you became enrolled. In addition, the doctor delivers care to you in accordance with best practices. Best practices are not standards of care; they are designed to reduce costs for the network. Remember this the next time you receive a bill for a medical service. Plaintiff attorneys claim that they are only doing their jobs and they are paid by contingency fees only when they win. By doing their jobs, plaintiff attorneys file 85,000 malpractice lawsuits per year, many of which are frivolous. Whether a client realizes it or not, the client often covers litigation expenses, avoidable or not. Plaintiff attorneys could not care less because they make over $2 billion per year just from settled cases (27,000 settlements). Defense attorneys also claim that they are only doing their jobs, but they are paid billable hours by the malpractice carrier. They make another $2 billion, win or lose, whether the claim is frivolous or not. Medical experts make still another $2 billion per year. Medical experts are not called hired guns by accident. In the final analysis, these account for $6 billion of that $56 billion which began this discussion of avoidable costs. The $56 billion are, ultimately, paid by malpractice carriers, which are paid by networks in the health care system, which are paid by health insurances, Medicare, and Medicaid, which are paid by you and by your taxes. I develop a decision-making tool, which determines if a complication is a medical error or an error-of-nature with 95 percent confidence. Errors-of-nature instigate frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits and underlie most avoidable costs. Because my tool is used only by me, I would be the first to admit that it does not control this virtual epidemic of frivolous lawsuits. However, at least I am protected. You are not. Howard Smith is an obstetrics-gynecology physician. The series had originally been postponed and has now been officially rescheduled. The Indian team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on August 28. Police have confirmed that the tournament in question is a privately organised local league. The police are currently examining how and why the Palestinian flag was displayed during the match. Business reality show Shark Tank India Season 5 is all set to return with its new season and brand-new judges. The show will feature the original line-up of Sharks while also introducing fresh faces. When we think of peacekeeping missions, images of armored vehicles and blue helmets often dominate the narrative. Rarely do we picture the quiet, relentless battle fought within the walls of a makeshift hospital, where saving lives becomes an act of defiance against chaos. Yet, in Abyei, Sudan, that was our reality. We arrived expecting logistical challenges, but nothing prepared us for the disarray that greeted us at the UN Level II Hospital. Equipment lay scattered, essential areas were poorly organized, and the facility bore the scars of years of neglect. It was less a hospital and more a shell of one. And then, before we could even catch our breath, war came knocking. Barely five days into our effort to restore order, conflict erupted between the Ngok and Twik Dinka factions. Casualties poured in, turning our under-resourced, understaffed unit into the epicenter of a mass-casualty crisis. We were nowhere near operational readiness, yet the mandate was clear: Save lives. And so we did, not because conditions were ideal, but because failure was not an option. In peacekeeping medicine, ingenuity is not a luxury; it is survival. I recall one harrowing moment when a critically injured fighter needed an urgent blood transfusion. We had no transfusion set. In that instant, hesitation meant death. So I improvised, fashioning a makeshift filtration chamber from sterile gauze to create a temporary, safe transfusion system. It was unconventional, but it worked. That patient lived because we refused to surrender to limitations. This is the essence of health care leadership in conflict zones: Innovate or lose a life. The unpredictability of war extends beyond trauma care. Pregnant women arrived amid the chaos, often without clothing or supplies. As a trained nurse-midwife, I found myself delivering babies in conditions that would make any textbook shudder. My team donated personal items to ensure dignity for mothers and warmth for newborns. In those moments, the first cry of a child was more than a sound; it was a declaration of resilience, a reminder of why we serve. But the challenges were relentless. Resupply delays forced us into rationing every glove, every analgesic, every piece of gauze. Leadership meant more than clinical expertise; it demanded calm, focus, and the ability to inspire a team under crushing uncertainty. And then came the day armed factions stormed the hospital, enraged that we were treating their opponents. We stood between our patients and imminent violence, negotiating neutrality while continuing lifesaving interventions. In that crucible, health care became inseparable from diplomacy and courage. Managing a team in such an environment is a test of every leadership theory ever taught. There are no rotations, no reinforcements. The team you start with is the team you finish with. That reality places immense responsibility on the nurse manager to maintain cohesion, competence, and emotional stability. Communication becomes a lifeline, sometimes in broken Arabic when translators vanish. Advocacy for staff welfare and patient safety remains non-negotiable, even when space and supplies conspire against you. And mentorship is not a buzzword; it is the difference between a colleague breaking under combat stress and finding the strength to carry on. Through it all, patient safety remains the unwavering compass. Regardless of faction, culture, or chaos, every patient deserves respect, dignity, and impartial care. In Abyei, this principle was tested daily as we treated opposing fighters side by side. It demanded not just clinical judgment but emotional intelligence and diplomatic skill. Reflecting on that mission, I realize Abyei was more than a deployment; it was a crucible. It stretched me beyond my limits, sharpened my resilience, and forged leadership qualities I did not think or know I possessed. It taught me that excellence in health care does not depend solely on infrastructure or technology, but on the ingenuity of clinicians, the unity of a committed team, and the courage to adapt in real time. In the end, peacekeeping medicine is not about heroics; it is about humanity. It is about transforming uncertainty into coordinated action and preserving life against all odds. And if there is one truth that Abyei etched into my soul, it is this: In the midst of chaos, true leadership emerges through the relentless act of saving lives when everything else is falling apart. Benedicta Yayra Adu-Parku is a nurse midwife in Ghana. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Nathan Cowley from Pexels Every summer in Australia, millions of people head to the beach, and every year, thousands are rescued by lifeguards or Surf Life Savers and even surfers or other bystanders. Tragically, many people lose their lives on our coasts. The red and yellow flags, iconic to many Australians, are meant to be a simple and easy to understand message. They denote a safe and patrolled place to go in the water at the beach. Surfers are supposed to surf outside the flags, while others swim (or wade, or frolic) between the flags. But for many international visitors, the message is less clear. They may not make sense to people born overseas. Research shows international students often misinterpret what beach flags indicate, rely on visual cues like other swimmers, or assume calm water is safe. These flags are not universal. Around the world, beach safety is communicated in different ways, with different colors, symbols, messages, and even patrol systems. Despite the significant efforts of water safety organizations, drowning rates continue to rise in Australia, and people born overseas make up a substantial proportion of these deaths. The system isn't working. What do the flags mean, and why do they matter? The red and yellow flags have been a part of Australian beach culture and safety since the 1930s. They've been marking the patrolled area of the beach ever since. The idea is that if someone swims between these flags, they are under the watchful eye of professional lifeguards and/or volunteer surf lifesavers. Usually, the flags are positioned on an area of beach away from rip currentsthe fast-flowing, seaward channels of water responsible for an average 26 drownings a year and the vast majority of surf rescues. But recent studies found that about 70% of South Korean university students and 60% Japanese students interpreted the red and yellow flags as indicating a dangerous area. And a study conducted in the Netherlands showed only 3.4% of surveyed participants correctly interpreted the red and yellow flags. About 40% thought they denoted danger. These results should be no surprise. Other global safety systems such as road or workplace signs use red to mean danger or prohibition, yellow for caution, and green as safety or permission. Even half of domestic Australian university students surveyed thought red and yellow flags marked a safe area, so surfers should also stay between the flags. In fact, surfers are not supposed to surf between the flags. The global picture Globally, beach flag systems are not standardized. For instance, in Brazil, Spain, and some areas of the United States, beaches use a traffic-light color system: green for safe, yellow for caution, and red for danger or closed conditions. Portugal sometimes adds purple flags to warn of marine stingers such as jellyfish. In some northern parts of Spain, yellow flags are sometimes used to mark designated "cooling off" areas where people are allowed to swim or bathe to cool down, despite red "danger" flags also being in place. The International Life Saving Federation recommends a global set of eight beach safety flags, including the familiar red-and-yellow for patrolled swimming areas, red for high hazard, yellow for medium hazard, and black-and-white for watercraft zones. Unlike some countries, the federation explicitly discourages green flags to denote "safe" conditions, on the grounds that no beach or even patrolled area can ever be completely risk-free. Communicating beach safety Even if people don't know what the flag colors mean, in Australia beach signs often say "swim between the flags." But research at Bondi Beach in Sydney found that around 30% of overseas-born beachgoers misunderstood this message. They thought "swim between the flags" meant only people who can actually swim should go there. In other words, if they weren't good swimmers, they believed they should stay outside the flags. This is exactly the opposite of what the safety message intends. Translation tools are not a reliable fix. A recent study found key hazard terms are incorrectly translated by Google Translate. Take, for example, the term "shore dump" (which means a place where big waves can suddenly break, and "dump" a swimmer underwater). This phrase is currently rendered in simplified Chinese as "" (an bian lese chang), which means "a place on the shore to dump rubbish." "Shore break" (which means the same thing) appears in Korean as " " (haean hyusig), meaning "shore relaxation." This creates serious risks. Where to from here? Redesigning the flags might help. A recent study conducted in Europe developed and examined a modified version of the red and yellow beach safety flag, incorporating a pictogram of a lifesaver. This study found adding the pictogram nearly doubled participants' correct understanding of the flags. Some experts have also advised that changing "swim between the flags" to "stay between the flags" could improve the translation because "swim" has different connotations in different cultures and languages. Some people might think you should only swim between the flags if you're a strong swimmer or planning to swim laps. Simply changing the colors of flags for Australian beaches may not be enough. The red and yellow flags are tied to a century of lifesaving culture, volunteerism, and community trust. But that legacy shouldn't stop us from testing whether green flags improve our beach safety communication. Key medical concepts Drowning This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain January is consistently Australia's busiest month for moving housearound 14-18% of the yearly total, far higher than any other month. When people choose a new neighborhood to live in, there are many factors to weigh up such as price, commute time, school zones and general convenience. But research shows less obvious aspects of a neighborhood such as walkability, aircraft noise and tree canopy can measurably improve or worsen daily health and long-term well-being. Yet they rarely make it onto anyone's checklist when choosing where to live. Here are simple clues to get a sense of how these underrated factors will affect life in a new place. Walkability Walkability describes how easily people can reach everyday destinations on foot. It reflects a combination of how well connected streets are, distance to shops and services and how pleasant and practical it is to walk. A recent study of over two million house moves in the United States found people who relocated to more walkable neighborhoods took about 1,100 extra steps per day. This level of extra activity is associated with better health by lowering risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and early death. Other studies consistently link walkable areas with better mental health and lower car dependence. Walkability can vary widely even within the same city and similar price ranges, so it's worth checking. Two easy tools help assess it: the Community Walkability Map run by the Heart Foundation, which estimates which destinations are reachable with a 520 minute walk from any address. the Australian Urban Observatory, which gives a walkability score to each suburb based on housing density, street connectivity and access to local services. The tool has other liveability indicators and makes it possible to compare between suburbs and against the city average. Aircraft noise and flight paths Research shows long-term exposure to aircraft noise can worsen health in several ways. People living under frequent flight paths have been found to face higher rates of heart disease and poor mental health. Night-time aircraft noise is linked to sleep disruption, including more awakenings and less deep, restorative sleep. The noise can also affect children's learning, with noise exposure associated with poorer attention and reading development when schools sit directly under busy flight corridors. Most major airports in Australia offer tools to check noise levels for a specific location. Aircraft noise exposure depends on where flight paths sit, how low planes fly, and how frequently they pass over a neighborhood. In Melbourne, residents can access detailed reports for a given address which combine noise-contour maps, flight-path overlays and expected noise levels for individual properties. Other cities don't have access to this level of detail. How loud is too loud? At night, a good rule of thumb is that aircraft noise at 55 decibels and up will cause frequent negative effects, such as disturbed sleep and higher health risks. This figure comes from the nighttime noise guidelines issued by the World Health Organization. Australian aviation guidelines use 70 decibels as the threshold for a "noisy event" likely to disturb indoor activity. The way a house is designed makes a difference. Double-glazed windows, sealed frames and newer insulation can reduce how noisy it is inside. If your research suggests a new place may be exposed to aircraft noise, it's worth checking window quality and insulation. Tree canopy and urban heat Tree canopy plays a major role in how hot a neighborhood feels. Suburbs with fewer trees and less green space absorb and radiate more heat, meaning they are significantly hotter than leafier suburbs. Streets with more trees and shaded surfaces can be 510C cooler on hot days. Higher local temperatures are linked to greater heat stress, worse sleep during summer nights, and less outdoor activity. Tree canopy and heat exposure are easy to check. States such as South Australia offer urban heat and tree canopy maps, while Victoria has an Urban Forest visual tool for central Melbourne and less detailed equivalents over a broader metropolitan area. Using the satellite view on a mapping app can work to give a quick sense of how shaded a street is and whether the surrounding area is dominated by trees, paved surfaces or open, unshaded areas. Not just nice to have Many people don't check how walkable, noisy or leafy an area is before deciding to move there. But these factors have a real impact on quality of life and health. There's a broader planning challenge here. More walkable neighborhoods lead to significantly more walking, aircraft noise worsens sleep and tree canopy can dramatically cool neighborhoods. This means these issues aren't just nice to have. They should be thought of as core public health infrastructure. Connected street networks, reliable shade, quieter residential zones and easy access to daily services should not be luxuries confined to the high-priced areas often coded as "leafy" suburbs in Australia. Newer developments often lack the mature tree canopy of older suburbs. While it takes time for trees to mature and produce their cooling canopy, this can be sped up with strategic planting of large, spreading trees, consistent irrigation in early years and protection of verge and open-space planting areas. Local planning rules can help by creating tree canopy targets and space for deep-rooted trees. Similarly, detailed data on aircraft noise should be accessible and easy to interpret in all cities with major airports, not just in Melbourne. As thousands of Australians prepare to move house this month, it's a good time to think about what we value in a neighborhoodand how we could expand access to these desirable attributes. Planning for walkability, heat resilience and low noise are matters of equity. Healthier urban environments should be available to everyone, not just those who can afford them. Key medical concepts Cardiovascular DiseasesDiabetes This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Illustration of a finger-stick blood test for hepatitis C, with a sketch of the hepatitis C virus inserted. Credit: Alice C. Gray A new rapid test for hepatitis C could help identify many more patients who could be cured of the deadly disease, but its use may be limited unless insurers' reimbursement rises to cover its high cost, according to researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Hepatitis C virus, also known as HCV, attacks the liver. While some people clear the virus without treatment, about 70% develop chronic infections that can cause cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. Patients often have no symptoms, and most are unaware they are infected. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 4 million Americans have chronic hepatitis C. Available treatments, however, clear the infection in about 90% of patients. For this reason, the CDC recommends that every adult be tested for the virus at least once, and that testing be repeated for those in high-risk groups, such as people who inject drugs or are on hemodialysis. Changing trends in hepatitis C infection Early screening efforts were highly successful, in part because when HCV tests became available in the 1990s, older Americans had the highest rates of infection. These patients have been relatively easy to contact and bring in for follow-up care. In recent years, however, the rate of acute and chronic infection has been rising among younger adults, largely due to the opioid and injection drug-use epidemic. These people, who are often seen in community clinics and emergency rooms, frequently do not get started on treatment. "Our clinicians say that if they were able to go NIH with these lab results for these patients while they are still in the ER or clinic, they would be able to convince them to start treatment right on the spot," said senior author Dr. Alexander Greninger, professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the UW School of Medicine. Advantages and costs of the new test The new finger-stick test, which detects the presence of the virus's RNA, can be performed in a doctor's office, clinic or emergency room, and provide results within an hour. The advantage of such "point-of-care" tests is that they make it possible to start patients on treatment while they are still in the clinic or emergency room, thereby making it much more likely they will be cured. To assess the cost of implementing the new test, Greninger and his colleagues analyzed how HCV testing was done across the UW Medicine health care system from 2017 to 2024. The study appears in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. The UW Medicine system includes a major medical center on the UW campus, a large public county hospital in downtown Seattle, a community hospital in north Seattle, and primary- and specialty-care clinics around King County. The data collected informed their projection of cost after the recently approved Cepheid Xpert HCV test was adopted in different scenarios. Unlike older HCV tests, which can be run in large batches, the Cepheid tests are more expensive and, because they must be run one at a time, require more lab staff time. The researchers estimated that the cost of performing one Cepheid test was approximately $91.00. Cost efficiency and implementation strategies "Even a minimal implementation of this test, such as restricting it to orders from the county hospital emergency room, would increase overall HCV testing lab costs by 22%, while broader implementation would cost millions of dollars, at a time of declining test reimbursements and challenging budgets throughout health care," said first author Dr. Emily Helm, a UW Medicine resident in laboratory medicine and pathology. Dr. H. Nina Kim, professor of medicine, Division of Allergy and Infections Diseases at the UW School of Medicine was also a co-author of the study. Restricting use of the test to settings where high-risk patients are most likely to be seen would be most cost-efficient, Helm said. For example, about one-third of the King County, Washington, cases are diagnosed in Harborview Medical Center's emergency department, where more than 10% of HCV tests were positive. Limiting the new test to this emergency department would increase lab costs by about $550 per infection detected, Helm said. Testing hospitalized patients at Harborview (the public county hospital managed by UW Medicine) was also relatively cost-efficient compared to other approaches, the analysis found. Potential for hepatitis C eradication With new treatments, it is possible to essentially eradicate HCV if patients can be identified and started on treatment, Greninger said. "But eradicating HCV is about finding casesthe diagnosticsand the challenge is to find new ways to implement these tests that are affordable," he said. "We've created entirely new models of paying for curative HCV antivirals and perhaps we need to be thinking the same thing for diagnostics." Publication details Emily W. Helm et al, Optimizing hepatitis C virus testing in the era of point-of-care RNA diagnostics, Journal of Clinical Microbiology (2025). DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01259-25 Journal information: Journal of Clinical Microbiology 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: BTK inhibition reduces the size and number of B cell-rich leptomeningeal aggregates in SJL/J adoptive transfer EAE mice. Credit: Nature Immunology (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41590-025-02359-5 A new University of Toronto-led study has discovered a possible biomarker linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression that could help identify patients most likely to benefit from new drugs. The findings were published today in Nature Immunology and validated in both mouse models and humans. "We think we have uncovered a potential biomarker that signals a patient is experiencing so-called 'compartmentalized inflammation' in the central nervous system, a phenomenon which is strongly linked to MS progression," says Jen Gommerman, a professor and chair of immunology at U of T's Temerty Faculty of Medicine. "It's been really hard to know who is progressing and who isn't." Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world with over 4,300 Canadians diagnosed with the condition each year, according to MS Canada. Understanding progressive MS and treatments Roughly 10% of people with MS are initially diagnosed with progressive MS, which leads to a gradual worsening of symptoms and increasing disability over time. Patients initially diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, the more common form of the condition, can also go on to develop progressive MS. "We have immunomodulatory drugs that can modulate the relapsing and remitting phase of the disease," says Valeria Ramaglia, a scientist at the University Health Network's Krembil Brain Institute and an assistant professor of immunology at Temerty Medicine. "But for progressive MS, the landscape is completely different. We have no effective therapies." Ramaglia, who co-led the study with Gommerman, notes that until their study, the research field did not have a good model that replicates the pathology of progressive MS. University of Toronto professors Jennifer Gommerman (left) and Valeria Ramaglia (right). Credit: Julia Soudat/University of Toronto Developing a new mouse model To understand the mechanisms driving progressive MS, the researchers developed a new mouse model that mimics the damage in the brain's gray matter seen in people with progressive MS. A hallmark of this so-called gray matter injury is compartmentalized inflammation in the leptomeninges, a thin plastic wrap-like membrane that encases the brain and spinal cord. Using their mouse model, they also observed a roughly 800-fold increase in an immune signal called CXCL13 and significantly lower levels of another immune protein called BAFF. By treating these mice with BTK inhibitor drugswhich are currently being tested in clinical trials to target progressive MSthe researchers mapped out a circuit in the brain that led to gray matter injury and inflammation. They also found that BTK inhibitors restored CXCL13 and BAFF levels to those seen in healthy mice. These results led the researchers to hypothesize that the ratio of CXCL13 to BAFF could be a surrogate marker for leptomeningeal inflammation. Testing the biomarker in humans To test the validity of their findings in humans, the researchers measured the CXCL13-to-BAFF ratio in postmortem brain tissues from people who had MS and in the cerebrospinal fluid of a living cohort of people with MS. In both cases, a high CXCL13-to-BAFF ratio was associated with greater compartmentalized inflammation in the brain. Thus far, BTK inhibitors have seen mixed results in clinical trials with people with MS. Ramaglia says that without an easy way to detect leptomeningeal inflammation, the trials likely enrolled participants who did not have this feature and were unlikely to benefit from the drug. Any positive results from people with compartmentalized inflammation would then be diluted. "If we can use the ratio as a proxy to tell which patients should be treated with a drug that targets leptomeningeal inflammation, that can revolutionize the way we do clinical trials and how we treat patients," says Ramaglia. Next steps for research and treatment As she builds her own research program at the Krembil Brain Institute, Ramaglia is continuing to collaborate with Gommerman to explore how the CXCL13-to-BAFF ratio can be used to advance precision medicine for people with MS. They are working with the pharmaceutical companies behind the BTK inhibitor trials to look at whether the participants who responded the most to the drugs also had high ratios of CXCL13 to BAFF. Ramaglia is also planning to look at CXCL13 and BAFF levels in people with early MS to see if it can predict who is likely to develop progressive MS later. She credits her time as a research associate in Gommerman's lab as playing a key role in helping her become an independent investigator. "Jen's lab was a huge stepping stone for me. She gave me the space and independence to build my own research." Publication details Lymphotoxin-dependent elevated meningeal 1 CXCL13:BAFF ratios drive grey matter injury, Nature Immunology (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41590-025-02359-5 Journal information: Nature Immunology Setting the wheels of the Thackeray juggernaut in motion, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray met cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at the latter's residence on Thursday evening to discuss the campaign strategy for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election. Their meeting, which took place behind closed doors, focused on a campaign strategy that includes joint mega-rallies at Shivaji Park and in Thane, Deputy CM Eknath Shindes home ground, said sources. The cousins also discussed a joint manifesto revolving around Marathi, Mumbai and Thackeray, apart from the thorny issue of rebels and disgruntled party workers. The five-point handshake agreement To calm the nerves of disgruntled party workers and "upset" office bearers, the cousins are pitching a unified front based on five non-negotiable promises. Both Thackeray brothers are personally reaching out to upset party workers and leaders. The five-point discussion points are: The Marathi Manoos Ultimatum: This is being framed as the "last election" for the survival of the Marathi identity in Mumbai. It is a do-or-die battle for Marathi people in Mumbai. The Promotion Ladder: Any worker or leader who stands firm now is guaranteed an upgraded position and better status within the party hierarchy. Your Voice Matters: Local leaders will have a direct say in the next election; issues raised at the grassroots will finally reach the top. Battle for the Brand: The election isn't just about seats; it's a crusade to protect the "Thackeray Brand" from opponents trying to dismantle the late Bal Thackerays legacy. Ward-First Development: Post-election, the wards of loyal workers will be given priority for all development works and infrastructure funding. Cousins in the Trenches While Raj Thackeray met workers who were initially sceptical of the UBT tie-up, he isn't pulling any punches. Sources claim Raj is showing workers "on-paper proof" of the threat to the Marathi vote. "We did not ask for more seats. We should think about the interest of the Marathi people rather than our own selfish interests," Raj reportedly told his cadre. On the other side, Uddhav Thackeray is playing the "emotional card" with his signature soft-spoken style, urging rebels to think of the city's future. He told disgruntled members to "make their own decisions", but to never lose sight of Mumbais soul. The Ground Reality: "Tying the Knot" In Parel, the heartbeat of Sena politics, the alliances impact is already being felt. Sharadha Jadhav, UBT candidate for Parel, confirmed the ground-level synergy. She said, speaking to Mumbai Mirror, "We are together. We are taking meetings with both party workers. There will be good coordination at the local level." Sachin Padwal, another UBT heavyweight, echoed the sentiment, stating, "Now we will start meeting with MNS members and office bearers. This meeting will help for better coordination." However, the road isn't without bumps. One candidate from the Western Suburbs admitted that coming together after 20 years is no easy feat. "Yes, there is a problem. We need better coordination, but we are trying to tie the knots properly," they confessed. As the candidates appeal to the emotions of the electorate, the message is clear: the opponents are trying to end the Thackeray era. For the cousins, this isn't just an election it's a fight for the very name that built Mumbai. The Thane police have launched an investigation into an alleged multi-crore stock market investment scam that may have cheated thousands of investors across Maharashtra. Three people Priti Rane, her husband Sachin Rane, and Sagar Karivdekar are under scrutiny. Police sources said the scam is estimated at around Rs 180 crore based on preliminary findings, though the actual amount could run into several hundred crores. Following multiple complaints from investors, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has begun an inquiry into the case. We have received information from several investors regarding Priti Rane and others. We are conducting an inquiry and, prima facie, the matter appears to involve cognisable offences, said Assistant Inspector Mohini Patil. According to investor Abhijeet Sawant (29), he first came in contact with Rane through an online advertisement for stock market classes during the Covid-19 lockdown. During and after the lockdown, Rane allegedly enrolled over 12,000 students in online and offline trading courses. Sawant said investors were promised monthly returns of 45 per cent. Investments were routed through Sagar Karivdekar, a resident of Sindhudurg. They executed a memorandum of understanding on stamp paper while collecting the money. In the document, Sachin Rane introduced himself as a mentor, Sawant said. Sawant invested Rs 5 lakh in December 2024, lured by the promise of a 4 per cent monthly return. He said returns were credited for two months before payments abruptly stopped, prompting him to suspect a Ponzi-type operation. Another investor, Narayan Malusare (29), invested Rs 9 lakh in September 2023 and received returns until May 2025. This period, police said, coincides with the time when a majority of investors stopped receiving payouts. Rane allegedly told investors that Karivdekar had disappeared with the funds. An investor from Pune later traced Karivdekar to his residence in Sindhudurg but did not find him there. However, the investor reportedly found luxury vehicles including a Porsche and a Mercedes-Maybach parked at the premises. It is also alleged that Karivdekar owns a BMW X7 and two Lamborghini Urus. On December 2, 2025, Priti and Sachin Rane, along with a few individuals claiming to represent the investors, signed an undertaking acknowledging their liabilities. The document lists 1,246 investors and states that the Rane couple owes a total of Rs 180 crore. Rane had reportedly told police that she was registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). However, a check on SEBIs official website showed that neither Priti Rane nor the firms mentioned on her social media profiles RS Consultancy Pvt Ltd and Mind Stock Innovations are registered as SEBI intermediaries. When Mirror contacted Priti Ranes phone number, the call was initially answered by a staff member who identified himself as Santosh. Another person, who identified himself as Deshmukh, later said Rane was in Sawantwadi and claimed that investors money was being returned. However, Sawant, who is awaiting a refund of Rs 5 lakh, said he received only Rs 25,000 about 10 days ago. I want a refund of my entire investment, he said. Indian fashion enters 2026 with fewer illusions and sharper instincts. Behind the gloss of store launches, US tariffs totalling 50 per cent have helped drive a 13 per cent year-on-year drop in textile and apparel exports (the US accounts for nearly 30 per cent of the total). With GST up from 12 to 18 per cent and AI-driven job losses reshaping creative work, growth is now harder and less automatic. Redefining survival Payal Singhal, whose occasion-wear label serves clients in India and the US, sees the slowdown as both structural and cultural. The market is over-cluttered and the customer is confused, she says. If fashion weeks dont discern between what is a designer and what is a mass brand, what are we expecting customers to do? Going into 2026, her response is to pare back output: Were intentionally producing less. My benchmarks now are calm, profitability and stabilitynot scale. She feels, Only the fittest will survive. Its not about design anymore. Its about business structure and brand recall. Aneeth Arora, founder of pero, offers a different kind of resilience. Her slow, small-batch artisanal brand was among the earliest Indian firms to establish a presence in Italy and Japan, markets that are historically difficult to access. When you build relationships over time and focus on quality, not quantity, shocks dont affect you in the same way, she says. Today, peros business is split almost evenly between India and overseas. Were not highly dependent on any one market. Collaborations with Liberty London and Hello Kitty are designed to expand reach without overproduction. Anjali Patel Mehta, founder of Verandah, frames the moment as one for deliberate risk management. I chose a more expensive, compliant structure because the world will change, and I didnt want to be exposed when it does. Her company is registered in the US and operates with full local compliance. Her conscious resort wear label retails at 140-plus global stockists, including Bergdorf Goodman and Moda Operandi in the US, without operating a single flagship store, focusing on demand-led production and long-term planning. I wont open a store if the math doesnt make sense. I dont have money for vanity projects, she adds. Mehta notes that 2025 was a strong year for Verandah, with demand outpacing supply. Market choice With volatility now a constant, Indian designers are sharpening their approach to market selection, compliance and partnerships. Dhruv Kapoor, known for his modern, experimental, denim-centric brand, sees 2026 as the era that rewards consistency over expansion. Consistency itself becomes momentum, he says. In a considered market, long-term relationships matter more than chasing volume. While Western markets are tighter and more selective, Kapoor observes momentum building in Russia, Korea, Japan, China, Australia and the Middle East. On January 15, Kapoor will open his first standalone store in Delhi, a deliberate investment in presence and craft as culture is becoming increasingly digital and AI-driven. His response, going into 2026, has been to rethink collections: Production is more intentional now. Theres a greater focus on expanding proven bestsellers, reducing risk on new silhouettes and building modular pieces that work across seasons and markets. Longevity, he adds, is increasingly defined by adaptability and real-life relevance. On the luxury handloom front, restraint is often a necessity rather than a choice. Manish Saksena, business lead at the handloom-focused textile brand Aadyam Handwoven, says, Buyers are more careful about how much they stock, with growing pressure for just-in-time deliveriesa challenge for handmade systems built on slow, deliberate processes. With the US a very small part of Aadyams business, its focus remains on Europe and a strong domestic market. The key is working with buyers who understand our backend processes and can manage expectations around handloom, he adds. The brand plans to expand into new artisan clusters and broaden its range across price points. Rather than signalling alarm, Saksena sees the current global slowdown as something the system will absorb over time, provided international growth is guided by alignment and education. Mehta draws a distinction between export manufacturers and designer brands. Tariffs squeeze exporters on low-margin, high-volume models. But designer brands, if they know their customer and control production, can still selleven with tighter margins. The pressure, she says, lies less in demand than in compliance, legislation and the cost of doing business. Demand is selective, not absent. She describes diversification as survival, not ambition. Putting all your eggs in one market doesnt make sense anymore, Mehta says. The world is too volatile for that. New intentional customer Perhaps the most consequential shift is in consumer behaviour. Designers describe buyers who are more deliberate, patient and discerning than ever. Interest hasnt vanished but behaviour has changed, Singhal stresses. NRI clients are finding ways to work around tariffsrerouting shipments or waiting longerrather than abandoning purchases. In 2026, Indian fashion is learning that visibility does not always translate into viability. The year ahead will favour those who can turn presence into practice, and intention into sustainable business. 2025 was an exhilarating year for art and culture in Mumbai, and Im grateful to be writing this column as the city steps into a new chapter of creative energy. With the Mumbai Mirror back in circulation, it feels fitting to spotlight whats bubbling across the citys stages, studios, clubs, and cafes. Here are five trends shaping the future of Mumbais cultural landscape: Art: Established names, experimental moves Mumbais art scene is now witnessing bold experimentations by both established and emerging players. Veterans like Sakshi Gallery are preparing to celebrate 40 years with a landmark programme in 2026. Chatterjee & Lals recent move to a new space in Horniman Circle marks a renewed curatorial ambition. Meanwhile, younger galleries like Art and Charlie in Bandra are creating space for experimental practice and cross-disciplinary exhibitions. This isnt just about decentralising geography, its about reinvigorating programming and reimagining what it means to show, sell, and support contemporary art in Mumbai. Theatre: New voices, new platforms The Prithvi Theatre Festival was packed this year, a reminder that Mumbais love for theatre has never really gone away. But whats changing is whos creating and how. Teen Payacha Ghoda, a Marathi play produced by BhaDiPa, demonstrated how digital creators are now making the leap into serious theatre production. BhaDiPa is also preparing to launch RADA, Indias first Marathi pop culture festival, in 2026. At the same time, the return of the Vasant Gujarati Theatre Festival at the NCPA suggests that institutional support for regional language theatre is slowly returning. From intimate black boxes to packed auditoriums, the stage is alive with possibility. Cinema: Cinephilia beyond the multiplex The multiplex may still dominate box-office numbers, but Mumbais cinephiles are building a parallel film culture that goes well beyond the big screens of Andheri and Lower Parel. Film clubs like Filium, Versova Homage Screenings, and Secret Cinema are creating spaces for conversations around cinema, not just celebrity. These pop-ups and curated showcases are steadily drawing in loyal audiences. Meanwhile, the National Museum of Indian Cinema has become an unlikely but welcome venue for film screenings, retrospectives, and workshops. Mumbai is slowly rediscovering its cinephilic soul, one screening at a time. Music: new venues, renewed vibrations Theres a quiet live music renaissance underway. The Strangers Choirs recent performance at Godrej Design Lab in Vikhroli wasnt just another gig: it was an electric moment that brought together musicians, designers, and audiences in a truly collaborative spirit. The anticipated reopening of Blue Frog at Ballard Estate promises to restore a sense of community to the citys music scene. From indie pop to jazz, from rooftop concerts to grungy mill gigs, Mumbais sonic landscape is shifting. And this time, its less about big names and more about shared spaces, co-created sounds, and experimental energy. Literature: From anchors to upstarts The Literature Live! Festival and the Kala Ghoda Festival continue to anchor the citys literary conversation, but a flurry of smaller gatherings is reshaping Mumbais reading culture. Broke Bibliophiles is back with its Brunch & Books series at Bombay Sweet Shop, offering literary intimacy with a side of nostalgia. The Thane Litfest, which saw its inaugural edition in 2025, has quietly built a reputation for showcasing new writers and building hyperlocal literary ecosystems. Even poetry has found a new home in surprising venues, from co-working spaces to stand-up comedy venues. The result is a literary culture that feels less siloed, more social, and deeply personal. The city, the imagination, the future From gallery walls to theatre backrooms, from film clubs to rooftop gigs, Mumbai isnt just returning to culture - its pushing it forward. This is a city that has never lacked for imagination. But if 2025 was a year of creative resurgence, 2026 must be the year we build upon that momentum. With major urban transformations underway, from the Mumbai Coastal Road project to the proposed redevelopment of the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, change is comingwhether we like it or not. Whats missing from these plans, however, is a serious commitment to cultural infrastructure. As we rebuild roads and reimagine skylines, we must also ask: where will the imagination live? If we do not create space for our citys culture, we risk strangling its spirit. Mumbai needs libraries as much as highways, black box theatres as much as business parks, experimental labs as much as exhibition centres. It needs to treat art not as an afterthought, but as a necessity. Because for Mumbai to thrive, its imagination needs space to breathe. Anish Gawande is a seasoned art and culture writer with deep insight into Mumbais creative ecosystems and contemporary artistic trends As the global race to dominate the artificial intelligence industry accelerates, the giants of Silicon Valley are promising to pour billions of dollars into India. Amazon, Microsoft and Google have pledged a combined $67.5 billion in Indian investments since October. Eighty per cent of those commitments have come this month. Much of the cash is earmarked to build massive data centres to process chatbot queries; other initiatives include training programs for domestic software talent and a push for greater AI use among small businesses. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, and its rival Anthropic, the maker of Claude, have both opened offices in India this year. (The Post has a content partnership with OpenAI.) A revolving door of top tech executives, from Microsofts Satya Nadella to Intels Lip-Bu Tan, have met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month to speak about AI and semiconductors. In February, the country will host an international AI summit - the first to be held in the global south, according to the Indian government. It comes amid a frenzy of spending and expansion in the broader AI industry and mounting fears of a tech bubble. Big firms are spending billions of dollars to build their own infrastructure and lure users to their chatbots and AI-enhanced tools. And India - with more than 1 billion internet users and a wealth of software talent - is emerging as a must win-market, financial analysts say. In Silicon Valley, everyone knows right now: Its game-on in India, said Dan Ives, managing director of Wedbush Securities. Tech leaders are promising an array of benefits. They say data centre investments will create jobs; students will find chatbots essential for homework and exam prep; AI tools will make large and small businesses more efficient and profitable. The AI opportunity in India is immense, Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google holding company Alphabet, said in August. But behind the gaudy investment figures and rosy projections, there are real reasons for concern, according to AI scientists, human rights experts and internet freedom activists. The primary worry revolves around the construction of data centres, which require massive amounts of power and water, and could lead to shortages in Indian communities already facing a resource crunch, environmentalists warn. Economists fear the widespread adoption of AI could also disrupt the labour market, especially Indias hugely important outsourcing industry. Silicon Valley companies are outpacing attempts by Indian engineers to build their own language models, and Beijing has better control of hardware supply chains - putting both countries ahead of India in the AI race, said Apar Gupta, founder of Indias Internet Freedom Foundation. He also noted that Indias consumer market is highly price sensitive, and the millions of users U.S. firms are banking on might not be willing to pay the premium for their AI tools. Its like many moon shots, Gupta said of Silicon Valleys AI strategy for India. Part of it is a hypothesis. Part of it is aspiration. A looming disaster The AI push in India is likely to start with a surge in data centre construction. Microsofts December 9 announcement of a $17.5 billion investment in India - its largest ever in Asia - included a plan to build a sprawling data centre complex in the southern city of Hyderabad. Set to go live in mid-2026, the company estimates it will be roughly the size of two major sporting stadiums. Google is also planning a formidable physical presence. The company said in October it will invest $15 billion in India between 2026 and 2030. The centrepiece will be a 1 gigawatt-scale data centre in the southeastern city of Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh state, which has already allocated 480 acres of land to the project, according to local government records obtained by The Post. Raj Reddy, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, said data centres are crucial for companies racing to train and improve their large language models. And they can be built far more cheaply here than in the United States, especially if Indian authorities are willing to subsidise the cost. It is truly a question of economics, Reddy said. If you can get the same solution for 50 per cent of the price, or 70 per cent of the price as in the USA, then you would set it up there. But data centres place a significant strain on local energy and water supplies, which has contributed to a growing grassroots backlash across the U.S. - and could create even more acute pressures in the worlds most populous nation. Already, activists in Vizag are lining up against Googles data centre project. They complain that the cash subsidies greenlit for the project - up to $2.4 billion, according to the government records - will divert public funds from health, education and rural development. Also, they say, the region faces groundwater shortages, erratic rainfall and an overburdened power grid. This project represents a looming environmental and economic disaster, the Indian-based Human Rights Forum said in an October statement, deepening corporate capture of resources under the guise of technological advancement. Google did not respond to a request for comment. Andhra Pradeshs chief minister and the states IT Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Why pay for it? Silicon Valleys other major push in India is for users, as analysts warn that tech companies continue to rack up expenses without a path to profitability. JP Morgan calculated in November that the tech industry must generate an extra $650 billion in revenue every year if AI investments forecast through 2030 are to earn even a modest 10 per cent return, according to the Financial Times. Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, said in August that India is already ChatGPTs second-largest market. It is also the second largest market for Anthropics Claude large language model, accounting for 7 per cent of global users, a September company report showed. Expanding in India may be particularly vital for OpenAI, analysts said. ChatGPT is still the worlds most popular chatbot, with 800 million users. But the number of users on the ChatGPT mobile app plateaued this summer. To capture more Indian subscribers, OpenAI has offered a 12-month free trial for its lower-tier ChatGPT Go subscription, which costs roughly $5 per month and offers limited access to its higher-end models. But Gupta, of the Internet Freedom Foundation, said it will be difficult to get customers here to pay for subscriptions, noting the cost of its lowest-tier membership is similar to a monthly cellphone data plan. To attract new users at scale, he said, tech companies will need to demonstrate that AI tools are integral to daily life. Global competition Indias own ambitions in the competition for AI supremacy are still coming into focus. The Indian government has committed just $1.2 billion toward AI development - a fraction of the amount being spent in the country by top U.S. firms. A major feature of the governments plan is the purchase of more than 18,600 high-end computing chips, called GPUs, that help power the creation and training of large language models. Anirudh Suri, a tech expert and nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in New Delhi, said it remains to be seen if India will become a major global player in AI, with the country lagging well behind Washington and Beijing in infra and investment. Supriya Kumar and Gerrit De Vynck in San Francisco contributed to this report. Nineteen artists. Diverse geographies. Different mediums. One shared and universal language of love. Thats the theme that binds together Ishq, the latest staging by RadiantArts, which is a female-led platform for Dawoodi Bohra artists. The participating artists have used a variety of materials and elements including geometry, natural pigments, and fabric, to explore themes of identity, spirituality, religious philosophy and cultural heritage, reflecting the communitys evolving artistic voice. The fusion of heritage and innovation highlights the versatility and creativity of Dawoodi Bohra artists across different generations and styles, says Dr Zaenab Imaduddin, the platforms founder. The many forms of love Imaduddin, who is presenting a watercolour series inspired by Fatimid philosophy and the rituals of hospitality, says that the inspiration for the theme emerged from a conversation with younger members of the community, during which she realised their yearning for community and a sense of belonging. Ishq is a classical theme everybody is either in love or in search of love. Everybody wants to belong. We left the interpretation of the theme open, she explains. Her watercolours reimagine Iznik florals and traditional motifs to reflect on love, connection and the intimacy of belonging. The series is inspired by a Fatimid philosophical text that describes love as something that grows organically from a seed into a tree. I was deeply moved by how closely this mirrored the way hospitality functions in lived experience. I began to see hospitality not as a social formality, but as a process through which love, trust, and belonging quietly take root over time. Sacred surrender For Alefiya Abbas Ali, who is the exhibitions curator and a renowned traditional Islamic artist, love took the language of Sufi symbolism Fana, Baqa, and Insan-e-Kamil reimagining the cypress and blossom as metaphors for surrender, unity, and divine love. My artistic process is a spiritual exploration of ishq, dissolving the self into the divine. Using the Islamic illumination technique with natural pigments and pure shell gold, Im creating a luminous journey, she shares. While the cypress tree symbolises spiritual steadfastness, the blossoms encircling it blur boundaries, signifying the souls union with the Divine, echoing Rumis poetry and Sufi philosophy (Wahdat al-Wujood: unity of existence). London-based Fatema Halvadwalas The Story of the Sun, on the other hand, is an oil painting where the fallen stars trace the trembling outline of ishq. Halvadwala, who is known for her layered symbolism and East-West visual dialogue, approaches the theme as a tapestry of devotion, history, and inner truth. And then theres Yemeni artist Mazher Nizar, whose piece represents a living metaphor a spirited horse charged with longing and a wise hoopoe carrying the weight of understanding come together to reveal ishq as the exquisite tension between pursuit and peace. Love letters Calligraphy is well-represented through the exhibition, with Surat-based Mohammed Moiny crafting patterns of divine unity and creation that stand at the intersection of Islamic geometry and Arabic calligraphy, and Huzaifa Bamboat, a calligrapher with decades of practice in Egypt, paying homage to classical scripts through measured strokes. Arabic calligraphy is one of the three integral facets of Islamic art, alongside geometry and biomorphic patterns. A hallmark of Arabic calligraphy is its rhombic dotbased proportional system, developed by Ibn Muqlah and perfected over centuries to preserve structure and balance, explains Huzaifa Savai, a Mumbai-based calligrapher who has trained at Aljamea- tus-Saifiyah, which is the Dawoodi Bohra communitys premier educational institute and received specialised instruction in the Thuluth script. Whether through tradition or innovation, each artist is an essential link in the time-honoured chain that is the Dawoodi Bohra cultural heritage. This, as Dr Imaduddin concludes, is a living continuation of Fatimid artistic traditions that is often underrepresented: Our aesthetics emphasise clarity, harmony, and purpose where beauty is woven into architecture, manuscripts, calligraphy and daily life. We aim to honour this heritage while reimagining it in a way that remains relevant and meaningful today. Ishq: Longing, Belonging & Beyond is on display at Favre Leuba Hall in Badri Mahal, Fort, until January 6 Sonora, CA A spunky canine that won Farm Dog of the Year surprised many attendees at the 107th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. Meet Willy, a miniature dachshund, not the typical breed thought of as a farm working dog. At the meeting held in Anaheim recently, Willy earned the $1,000 Grand Prize in the fifth annual California Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year Contest. Open to members, the competition involves submitting photos of the pooch and answering questions about them. Two-year-old Willy, adopted in February 2023, belongs to Marshal Hagedorn, owner of Hagedorn Forestry Management, a Shasta and Tehama counties tree feller and cattle runner in the Montague area near the Klamath National Forest. Along with his girlfriend, Bailey Thomas, they quickly noticed that Willy became an active member of the ranch, helping control critters like rabbits and ground squirrels. He has never been trained to corral livestock and uses his bark and energy to move calves and even larger cattle. Thats just it. Hes so small, and when he comes out of the grass at full speed, they dont really know what to think, shared Hagedorn. State Farm Bureau officials provided this list of the winners: Sacramento, CA Hundreds of new laws are taking effect in California covering a range of issues. During the last legislative session, over 790 bills were signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. They cover issues ranging from immigration to wildfires, artificial intelligence, social media, and renter protections. Included is a bipartisan package of more than 20 bills aimed at improving resources for Californias response and recovery efforts in the future for natural disasters like wildfires. There is a 19-bill package to help tenants in the state and reduce the overall cost of living for renters. The states minimum wage went up by 40 cents to $16.90 per hour, and there are increased restrictions on plastic bags at grocery stores and new regulations on food delivery services. Social media companies are required to make the process of deleting and canceling their accounts easier and more straightforward. Four new bills deal with cracking down on puppy mills, including a prohibition on third-party pet brokers. To read an earlier story on new traffic laws in 2026, click here. Tools that power artificial intelligence devour energy. But attempts to shield regular Californians from footing the bill in 2025 ended with a law requiring regulators to write a report about the issue by 2027. If that sounds pretty watered down, it is. Efforts to regulate the energy usage of data centers the beating heart of AI ran headlong into Big Tech, business groups and the governor. Thats not surprising given that California is increasingly dependent on big tech for state revenue: A handful of companies pay upwards of $5 billion just on income tax withholding. The law mandating the report is the lone survivor of last years push to rein in the data-center industry. Its deadline means the findings wont likely be ready in time for lawmakers to use in 2026. The measure began as a plan to give data centers their own electricity rate, shielding households and small businesses from higher bills. It amounts to a toothless measure, directing the utility regulator to study an issue it already has the authority to investigate, said Matthew Freedman, a staff attorney with The Utility Reform Network, a ratepayer advocate. Data centers enormous electricity demand has pushed them to the center of Californias energy debate, and thats why lawmakers and consumer advocates say new regulations matter. For instance, the sheer amount of energy requested by data centers in California is prompting questions about costly grid upgrades even as speculative projects and fast-shifting AI loads make long-term planning uncertain. Developers have requested 18.7 gigawatts of service capacity for data centers, more than enough to serve every household in the state, according to the California Energy Commission. But the report could help shape future debates as lawmakers revisit tougher rules and the CPUC considers new policies on what data centers pay for power a discussion gaining urgency as scrutiny of their rising electricity costs grows, he said. It could be that the report helps the Legislature to understand the magnitude of the problem and potential solutions, Freedman said. It could also inform the CPUCs own review of the reasonableness of rates for data center customers, which they are likely to investigate. State Sen. Steve Padilla, D-Chula Vista, says that the final version of his law was not the one we would have preferred, agreeing that it may seem obvious the CPUC can study data center cost impacts. The measure could help frame future debates and at least says unequivocally that the CPUC has the authority to study these impacts as demand from data centers accelerates, Padilla added. (Data centers) consume huge amounts of energy, huge amounts of resources, and at least in the near future, were not going to see that change, he said. Earlier drafts of Padillas measure went further, requiring data centers to install large batteries to support the grid during peak demand and pushing utilities to supply them with 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 years ahead of the states own mandate. Those provisions were ultimately stripped out. How Californias first push to regulate data centers slipped away Californias bid to bring more oversight to data centers unraveled earlier this year under industry pressure, ending with Gov. Gavin Newsoms veto of a bill requiring operators to report their water use. Concerns over the bills reflected fears that data-center developers could shift projects to other states and take valuable jobs with them. A September Stanford report on powering California data centers said the state risks losing property-tax revenue, union construction jobs and valuable AI talent if data-center construction moves out of state. The idea that increased regulation could lead to businesses or dollars in some form leaving California is an argument that has been brought up across industries for decades. It often does not hold up to more careful or long-term scrutiny. In the face of this opposition, two key proposals stalled in the Legislatures procedural churn. Early in the session, Padilla put a separate clean-power incentives proposal for data centers on hold until 2026. Later in the year, an Assembly bill requiring data centers to disclose their electricity use was placed in the Senates suspense file where appropriations committees often quietly halt measures. Newsom, who has often spoken of Californias AI dominance, echoed the industrys competitiveness worries in his veto message of the water-use reporting requirement. The governor said he was reluctant to impose requirements on data centers, without understanding the full impact on businesses and the consumers of their technology. Despite last years defeats, some lawmakers say they will attempt to tackle the issue again. Padilla plans to try again with a bill that would add new rules on who pays for data centers long-term grid costs in California, while Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-San Ramon, will revisit her electricity-disclosure bill. Big Tech warns of job losses, but one advocate sees an opening After blocking most measures last year and watering down the lone energy-costs bill Big Tech groups say theyll revive arguments that new efforts to regulate data centers could cost California jobs. At a CalMatters event in November, Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Ahmad Thomas argued that California must compete to attract investments like the $40 billion data-center project Texas secured with Google. Any policy making deals like that tougher next year would provoke conflict, he added. When we get to the details of what our regulatory regime looks like versus other states, or how we can make California more competitive thats where sometimes we struggle to find that happy medium, he said. Despite having more regulations than some states, California continues to toggle between the 4th and 5th largest economy in the world and has for some time, suggesting that the Golden State is very competitive. Dan Diorio, vice president of state policy for the Data Center Coalition, another industry lobbying group, said new requirements on data centers should apply to all other large electricity users. To single out one industry is not something that we think would set a helpful precedent, Diorio said. Weve been very consistent with that throughout the country. Critics say job loss fears are overblown, noting California built its AI sector without the massive hyperscale facilities that typically gravitate to states with ample, cheaper land and streamlined permitting. Data-center locations driven by energy prices, land and local rules have little to do with where AI researchers live, said Shaolei Ren, an AI researcher at UC Riverside. These two things are sort of separate, theyre decoupled, he said. Freedman, of TURN, said lawmakers may have a bargaining chip: if developers cared about cheaper power, they wouldnt be proposing facilities in a state with high electric rates. That means speed and certainty may be the priority, giving lawmakers the space to potentially offer quicker approvals in exchange for developers covering more grid costs. Theres so much money in this business that the energy bills even though large are kind of like rounding errors for these guys, Freedman said. If thats true, then maybe they shouldnt care about having to pay a little bit more to ensure that costs arent being shifted to other customers. ___ This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. By ALEJANDRO LAZO/CalMatters CalMatters Cultural & Historical Significance The name Aman holds profound cultural significance in Ethiopia, particularly within the Amharic-speaking community where it originates. As the primary official language of Ethiopia, Amharic carries deep historical roots dating back to the Solomonic dynasty, and names like Aman reflect core values that have been cherished for centuries. The concept of peace (aman) is central to Ethiopian cultural identity, representing not just the absence of conflict but harmony, stability, and the ideal state of community relations. In a region that has experienced various conflicts throughout history, the name embodies a collective aspiration for tranquility and serves as a reminder of the importance of peaceful coexistence. The name is often given with the hope that the child will embody these peaceful qualities and contribute to harmony within their family and community. It also reflects the Ethiopian tradition of naming children with meaningful attributes that express parental hopes and societal values, making Aman more than just a name but a blessing and aspiration for the individual's life path. January 1, 2026: New ship building programs remain behind schedule and over budget. Thats because American shipyards lack the capacity and skilled workforce to build the ships needed. The solution is to retire obsolete ships, modernize shipyards and adopt realistic shipbuilding efforts. Spending more money on shipbuilding wont work if you dont have the shipyards and skilled workers. The United States must adopt a program of shipyard modernization workforce recruiting and training. Implementing rational shipbuilding goals will mean fewer ships for a while. That wont encourage China to attack as they realize that this new American program will put more ships in service on a sustained basis. Meanwhile a half dozen Virginia class SSNs could shut down most Chinese imports and exports. There are also lessons to be learned from our allies. South Korea and Japan use a modular approach, with components of ships built in many different shipyards and land based facilities. These components are brought to shipyards and rapidly reassembled into new ships. Then there are important lessons from the past. In the early 1990s, with the Cold War over, and the mighty Soviet fleet rapidly falling apart, only about 25 percent of American warships were at sea at any one time. Since September 11, 2001, there's been a lot more to do, and about half the fleet has been at sea at any one time. Most of this has to do with counter-terrorism operations, and support of operations in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, and keeping an eye on Chinas growing naval forces. To make this possible, the navy changed the way it went to sea. Gone were the regular, clockwork, six month deployments of carrier and amphibious task forces. Now these units are deployed for shorter periods, giving the crews more time in port, and more reason to stay in the navy. Too many long deployments made sailors choose between the navy and family, and the navy usually lost out. The U.S. Navy still spends more time at sea than any other, thus maintaining skills that are second to none. But that requires billions of dollars a year for fuel and spare parts, not to mention the months ships must spend getting major maintenance after years at sea. If the money doesn't keep coming for this, the U.S. Navy will end up like the Soviet fleet, rotting away from lack of maintenance and training. Twenty years ago, the number of ships in the U.S. Navy hit a new low, with only 296 combat ships in the fleet. This was the lowest it has been since just before World War I, over 80 years ago. But the American fleet was still the largest and most powerful in the world. Since 1914, the average size of ships has gone up, crew size has gone down and combat power per ship has increased enormously. Towards the end of the Cold War, the navy was headed for a 600 warship fleet. But the end of the Cold War in 1991 saw the mighty Soviet Union fleet disappear as a combat force. This left America, and its allies, with uncontested control of the high seas. But the navy found itself worrying more about supporting the war on terror, and operating off coasts, not chasing down Russian nuclear subs on the high seas. To that end, the U.S. Navy sought to build a new class of smaller, coastal fighting ships, and unmanned drones to operate off carriers. The drones were particularly important, because they could fly long range bombing missions without wearing out human crews. Smart bombs allowed carriers to do a lot more damage with the same amount of bombs. This was a vital consideration for the navy, as they could only drop the bombs they had with them. New, more automated ships meant less strain on the smaller crews, and better living conditions. Even with new building programs, the navy doesnt expect to get much larger than 310-360 ships in the next twenty years. Individuals named Eburscon typically exhibit strong connections to tradition and nature, often displaying deep-rooted loyalty to family and community. They tend to be patient and enduring, much like the yew tree itself, with an ability to withstand challenges while maintaining their core values. Their connection to ancestral lands often makes them excellent stewards of both natural environments and cultural heritage, showing wisdom in preserving what matters most. Eburscons are frequently seen as pillars of their communitiesreliable, grounded, and possessing an almost timeless quality in their approach to life. They often demonstrate remarkable resilience and the ability to adapt while staying true to their principles. Their personality combines the yew's symbolism of protection with the practical wisdom of someone who understands the importance of both growth and preservation, making them natural leaders who value sustainability and long-term thinking over quick gains. In contemporary times, Helena has experienced a significant revival and maintains steady popularity across many cultures. The name appeals to modern parents seeking a classic yet distinctive choice that bridges traditional elegance with contemporary sophistication. In English-speaking countries, it has climbed popularity charts while avoiding over-saturation, making it an ideal choice for parents wanting a recognizable but not overly common name. Its international versatility is particularly valued in our globalized world, with variations of Helena being popular across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. The name's strong historical and literary associations give it depth and character, while its melodic sound and feminine ending align with current naming trends. Helena strikes a perfect balance between being substantial enough for professional life yet soft enough for personal intimacy. Its usage spans diverse socioeconomic and educational backgrounds, though it remains particularly popular among families with European heritage or those valuing classical education and cultural literacy. The name's enduring appeal suggests it will continue to be a sophisticated choice for generations to come. Individuals named Iov are typically perceived as deeply principled, patient, and resilient. They often exhibit remarkable endurance in facing life's challenges, drawing strength from their convictions and faith. Their steadfast nature makes them reliable and trustworthy companions who maintain composure even in difficult circumstances. The biblical association lends them an aura of wisdom and spiritual depth, often making them sought after for counsel and guidance. Iovs tend to be introspective and thoughtful, with a strong sense of purpose that guides their decisions and actions. They are not easily swayed by temporary trends or popular opinion, preferring to adhere to their established values and beliefs. This can sometimes be perceived as stubbornness, but it more accurately reflects their commitment to principles they consider fundamental. Their quiet determination and ability to persevere through adversity often inspire those around them, making them natural leaders in situations requiring moral courage and long-term vision. Cultural & Historical Significance Maahes was an important lion-headed deity in ancient Egyptian religion, primarily worshipped as a god of war, protection, and weather. His name translates to 'he who is true beside her,' referring to his role as protector of his mother, either Bast or Sekhmet. As the son of Ra (or sometimes Ptah) and the feline goddess Bast, Maahes represented the fierce, protective aspects of lion symbolism in Egyptian culture. He was particularly associated with the execution of enemies and the protection of sacred spaces and rulers. Maahes was worshipped in various cult centers, most notably at Leontopolis in the Nile Delta, where lions were kept in his temple precincts. His worship gained prominence during the New Kingdom and continued through the Late and Ptolemaic periods, often associated with royal power and military might. The deity embodied the dual nature of lions in Egyptian thoughtboth as destructive forces and as protective guardians, reflecting the balance between chaos and order central to Egyptian cosmology. His imagery frequently appeared in royal contexts, emphasizing the pharaoh's role as protector of Egypt and executor of divine justice. By downloading Emory news media, you agree to the following terms of use: Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License By exercising the Licensed Rights (defined below), You accept and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License ("Public License"). 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The Russian government overreacted, as it tends to do, arresting thousands of Russians for casual comments about the son of a friend who might be sent to Ukraine. When the Russian government decides that dissent among the public about the war, even if its not criticism, arrests must be made and the people must be made to understand that all Russians support what is being done in Ukraine. Most Russians do, but the government believes that rounding up and punishing a few thousand people will inspire everyone else to keep quiet. What is happening now is part of a decades-long transformation of Russian attitudes towards their government and vice versa. Over a decade ago Russian opinion polls revealed that a decade long transformation back into a police state was losing popularity. Most Russians believed the government was prosecuting protestors and reformers out of spite, not because the accused have broken any laws or threaten public order. Russians want order and prosperity, but it was becoming increasingly clear that most Russians did not want their police state past restored. This was particularly the case when the government tried to take control of organizations that provided useful independent opinions. Thus the surprising, to the government, public opposition to attempts to curb the independence of the Academy of Sciences. This organization was government controlled during the Soviet period, but was always respected because science was one of the few areas where the communists made Russians proud. The Academy became independent of the government after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. The current government sees the Academy of Sciences as another base for malcontents and critics. In this case, the scientists had more support than the government. Despite the growth of public opposition, Russia continues its transformation back into a police state. Its not just reformers who are attacked; foreigners are demonized and foreign aid organizations were recently banned. The government wants to eliminate independent Russian charities as well. This was based on the fear that any independent organization was a potential threat to the state. Very Soviet, and this attitude had some support inside Russia where paranoia thrives because many still see enemies of the state wandering around everywhere. The new police state mentality requires a lot of external enemies to make Russians frightened enough to tolerate all the new restrictions. This includes using the state-controlled media to demonize the traditional Soviet era enemies of Western Europe and the United States. This caused a lot of anger and frustration in Western Europe. For example, government propaganda complaining about Western anti-missile systems as a ploy to disarm Russia, not stop missile attacks from Iran or North Korea, was seen as absurd by other Europeans. This paranoia, constantly delivered by state controlled media, finds many receptive minds inside Russia. Here, paranoia about the outside world, especially the West, has been a cultural staple for centuries. Senior Russian military leaders openly discuss how Russia might be forced to attack Western anti-missile systems, in self-defense. This was mainly for internal consumption but it alarmed foreigners. Despite growing government persecution, often using the same methods the Soviets invented, pro-democracy and anti-corruption groups continue to hold public demonstrations. There was also growing discontent among senior government officials about the return to the Soviet past. Unlike the Soviet bureaucrats, the current ones are more aware of the outside world and understand that police states are not as economically successful as true democracies. Early in the Soviet period those with knowledge of the outside world were purged, and usually killed, from the leadership. Currently, pro-Soviet style officials believe that police-state powers make it easier to take down corruption. This was depicted as a fantasy by reformers, who pointed out that communist police states only remain uncorrupt for a brief period before the rot sets in. The big problem in Russia was that for centuries the government has been a police state, one imposed by allegedly enlightened czars. The Soviets dumped the monarchy, expanded the police state, and suppressed the market economy. That did not work, but theres no general agreement in the current leadership about exactly why. Many Russians just feel more comfortable with a strong man in charge, be they czar, communist, or the deliberately macho Vladimir Putin. Most Russians will tolerate a tyrant if there is peace and prosperity. But this time around Russians want some limits on their protective tyrant. Senior Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday expressed concern over the law and order situation in the state, saying the recent incident in Faridabad had created fear among people across Haryana. Speaking to reporters in Rohtak, Hooda said the incident was "very unfortunate" and claimed that a sense of insecurity prevails in the state. "The entire state is scared. They arrested two people yesterday, but it feels like there is no government in Haryana," he alleged. Targeting the BJP-led state government, Hooda also questioned its priorities, accusing it of prioritising electoral gains over governance. Referring to the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, he said the scheme was launched with an eye on votes. Hooda demanded that the government take concrete steps to restore public confidence and ensure that strict action is taken against those responsible for disturbing peace and order in the state. Earlier, the newly appointed DGP, Ajay Singhal, formally took charge at the police headquarters in Panchkula. Senior police officers welcomed him with bouquets, while police personnel accorded him a guard of honour. Speaking to reporters after assuming charge, DGP Ajay Singhal highlighted the Haryana Police's achievements in addressing various challenges. "Whether it was fighting terrorism, controlling crime, or maintaining law and order, the Haryana Police have been successful and appreciated across various platforms," he said. Expressing gratitude to the state leadership, DGP Singhal said, "I am very grateful to our Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who entrusted me with this responsibility, and I will try my best to live up to his instructions and the expectations of the people of Haryana." He further added, "The Haryana Police, when faced with challenges, have confronted them head-on, and we have been successful in every area. Whether it was fighting terrorism, controlling crime, or maintaining law and order, we have been appreciated across various platforms. "Earlier, DGP Ajay Singhal received a ceremonial guard of honour upon his arrival at the state police headquarters in Panchkula. (ANI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Thursday, detailed a "hectic" schedule, noting that he was unable to hold any important discussion with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah when they both attended the 93rd Sivagiri Pilgrimage at the Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala. Vijayan shared details about the start of his day and the scheduling issue involving the Karnataka CM. "I reached the venue in the morning, expecting the Karnataka Chief Minister to arrive earlier. However, he arrived only after the programme had begun, during the welcome address. Since a Cabinet meeting was scheduled thereafter, the presiding address was deferred, and I was invited to speak earlier." He said that a Cabinet Meeting was scheduled later, which resulted in him speaking before the presiding speaker, which is a departure from the norm. "I publicly stated that I would have to commit what might seem like a breach of protocol. Normally, when the Karnataka Chief Minister is speaking, it is natural justice for me to remain seated. But the Cabinet meeting compelled me to leave early." Before the Cabinet session, the Chief Minister visited actor Mohanlal's home to pay respects following the passing of his mother. Immediately following his official duties, he travelled to Dharmadam to honour the late former public representative K.K. Narayanan before his cremation. "It was an exceptionally demanding day, and there was no opportunity to discuss other issues," the Chief Minister explained. However, he remained firm on his views regarding national and international human rights issues. Responding to queries about his critiques of "bulldozer justice" and minority rights in states like Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister insisted that silence is not an option. "We respond strongly. At times, we even respond to events beyond the country's borders, as we have done in the case of Gaza. That is the normal approach," he said. "When helpless people are subjected to destruction, a natural response arises. What came from my side was such a response" Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday detailed the ongoing demolition drive of illegally built houses in Kogilu village near Yelahanka in Bengaluru, stating that at least 164 sheds have been demolished after issuing notices to the residents. He stressed that the residents refused to leave despite being told the sheds had been built on government land. "A total of 164 sheds were demolished. Notices were issued to all of them. Despite being informed that this was government land and being asked to vacate, they refused to leave," he said. He held the local revenue officials and tehsildars for the illegal encroachment, saying such dwellings are not possible without their knowledge. (ANI) Former Diplomat KP Fabian said India must rely on diplomacy while dealing with the situation in Bangladesh amid growing concerns over reported violence and instability in the country against religious minorities. He said there have been repeated attacks, including incidents targeting Hindus, and described the situation as one of "anarchy", stressing that India cannot afford to remain "diplomatically inactive". Speaking to ANI, Fabian on Thursday said, "It may not be the fourth attack. There have been many attacks on Hindus. There is anarchy in Bangladesh. India has to use diplomacy. Yunus is technically in charge. So, can we stop talking to him? We cannot and we should not. Did the foreign minister meet with Yunus? No. India seems to be diplomatically inactive." His remarks come after recent incidents of violence against religious minorities have been reported in Bangladesh. A Hindu garment factory security guard, identified as Bajendra Biswas (42), was shot dead inside the factory premises after a colleague allegedly opened fire using a government-issued shotgun during duty hours. Police said the accused, Noman Mia (29), was also serving as an Ansar member at the same factory unit. The 27-year-old Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was brutally killed in Mymensingh, 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. Meanwhile, a day earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in Dhaka and conveyed India's deepest condolences on the death of his mother, former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "On arrival in Dhaka, met with Mr Tarique Rahman @trahmanbnp, Acting Chairman of BNP and son of former PM of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia." He said he handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tarique Rahman. "Handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi. Conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India," Jaishankar said. He also expressed confidence in Khaleda Zia's legacy and its relevance to bilateral ties. "Expressed confidence that Begum Khaleda Zia's vision and values will guide the development of our partnership," he added. (ANI) China's recent live-fire military exercise has heightened strains between Taiwan and Beijing. The United States stepped in earlier this week, calling on China to reduce its military pressure campaign against Taiwan, Focus Taiwan reported. "China's military actions and statements toward Taiwan and other regional actors unnecessarily raise tensions," said Tommy Pigott, the U.S. State Department's principal deputy spokesperson, on Thursday, according to Focus Taiwan. "We call on Beijing to show restraint, halt its military intimidation of Taiwan, and pursue meaningful dialogue instead," Pigott stated. "The United States remains committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and rejects any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo, including through force or coercion," he added. China's latest round of large-scale military drills surrounding Taiwan has drawn sharp international criticism, with governments and lawmakers warning that China's actions risk destabilising the Indo-Pacific and escalating regional tensions. The two-day exercise, which concluded on December 31, involved extensive naval and air deployments and was widely seen as a show of force aimed at pressuring the self-governed island. The European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines all voiced serious concern over the drills. In a statement, the European External Action Service stressed that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are vital to global security and prosperity, warning against any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo through coercion or military means. The PLA conducted military exercises dubbed "Justice Mission-2025" from Monday to Tuesday across five maritime areas and airspace surrounding Taiwan, describing them as a "stern warning" to so-called "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, reported Focus Taiwan Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported on Tuesday that the PLA launched 27 rockets on the second day of the drills, with 10 landing in waters within Taiwan's 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone, marking the closest Chinese live-fire activity ever recorded near Taiwan. On Friday the Ministry said, 6 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. 2 PRC balloons were also detected during this timeframe. The Taiwan's authorities say their Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded. (ANI) Inqilab Moncho, a mass cultural movement formed during the 2024 July uprising, has announced a 'March for Justice' from January 3 (Saturday) until January 6, demanding justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman bin Hadi, Prothom Alo reported. Sharif Osman Hadi, an Inqilab Moncho convenor and one of the prominent figures behind the July uprising last year, which led to the ousting of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime, was pronounced dead on December 18, after he was shot at close range on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area. The organisation said its members will reach out to the government, political parties and people in remote areas to seek support in ensuring justice. They have also called for the identification of those involved in the murder and the filing of a charge sheet by January 7, warning of a final phase of protests if their demands are not met, Prothom Alo reported. On January 2, Inqilab Moncho held a blockade in the Shahbagh region, demanding justice in the murder of Osman Hadi. During the rally, Inqilab Moncho leaders reminded Bangladesh's interim government of the deadline for initiating and expediting the trial into Hadi's killing, noting that only 22 days were left of the 30-day deadline provided by the movement for the matter, The Daily Star reported. Addressing the rally, Abdullah Al Jaber, the movement's member secretary, warned that if the government fails to complete the judicial process within the timeline, the group will launch a campaign demanding the government's resignation, The Daily Star reported. "There are 22 days left, and we are moving forward according to this timeline. If the government fails to complete the trial of Hadi's murder within this period, we will launch a movement to topple the government," Jaber said, as quoted by The Daily Star. "A government that cannot identify the killers, submit a charge sheet, or inform the people about the progress of the investigation has no moral right to stay in power. If the state cannot maintain law and order and its intelligence agencies are unable to act, we do not want to see such a helpless authority ruling the country," he added, as quoted by The Daily Star. (ANI) 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." More than 40 hospitals and 244 health Centers have resumed operations in Khartoum, Sudans capital, following extensive damage sustained during the conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the Sudan Doctors Network. The update was issued on Wednesday (31 December 2025). The network reported that the reopened facilities form part of 120 hospitals and 288 health Centers that were damaged during fighting in the capital. During the first year of the war, nearly 70 per cent of Khartoums hospitals were fully or partially forced out of service due to shelling, looting and acute shortages of medical supplies. More than 120 public and private hospitals were looted, significantly weakening the capitals ability to meet rising healthcare demands. Key national health infrastructure, including the National Public Health Laboratory and the Central Blood Bank, also suffered severe damage, disrupting diagnostic services and blood transfusions and increasing risks for emergency and critical patients. Despite losses estimated at over $500 millionincluding the destruction and looting of medical warehouses, transport fleets and administrative officesthe network noted a gradual recovery in 2025. Drug coverage reportedly reached 80 per cent, with medicine availability rising to 88 per cent, compared with less than 40 per cent the previous year. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has killed thousands and displaced millions. While the Sudanese army announced in May 2025 that Khartoum State had been cleared of RSF forces, the paramilitary group continues to control most of the Darfur region, underscoring the fragile and uneven nature of Sudans recovery. The reopening of health facilities in Khartoum signals a cautious but meaningful step towards restoring essential public services amid one of the countrys most devastating crises. Education Minister Mohamed Saad Berrada presented detailed parliamentary testimony defending Moroccos preschool development program, community school operations, and new teacher statute implementation. While acknowledging structural constraints, he highlighted substantial progress achieved since 2018. Rural preschool enrollment now reaches 81%, exceeding urban rates and representing dramatic improvement from 35% in 2018. Berrada attributed this advancement to absence of rural landownership complications and National Human Development Initiative support since 2018, particularly for facility construction and program development. The preschool program was launched officially in July 2018, in Skhirat, under Royal Patronage, with implementation relying on management delegation to regularly evaluated associative partners. The system currently employs approximately 50,000 educators, including 20,000 in rural areas. This year the department integrated 42,000 additional students and opened 1,500 new classes, expecting to bring national preschool rates to 85% by year-end, and targeting total generalization by 2028. The ministry adopted territorial micro-planning approaches based on interconnected databases, integrating the Masar preschool database with primary education systems to precisely identify unschooled children and deficit zones. Berrada emphasized professional situation improvements for preschool educators, requesting all associations abandon fixed-term contracts favoring indefinite contracts enabling seniority recognition. The ministry ensures strict subsidy payment timelines, with regional academies required to pay associations September 1 and January 1 preventing salary delays. Social coverage regularization proceeded with all associations, particularly smaller ones, guaranteeing educators social protection and affiliation to the Mohammed VI Foundation for Education-Training Social Works, ensuring rights equivalent to teachers. Regarding community schools, Berrada acknowledged multiple constraints, noting success requires effective school transport, parental adhesion, and solid pedagogical projects. He suggested progressive organization allowing children to remain in satellite primary schools for grades one and two before joining community schools for grades three and four. The new teacher statute, described as a strong social dialogue moment, involves budgetary commitments exceeding 20 billion dirhams. Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed victory against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), while emphasizing that national reconciliation remains possible. Speaking on Sudans 70th Independence Day, on Thursday January 1, Burhan said the conflict has united the Sudanese people and strengthened national resolve, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan, where fighting has displaced tens of thousands. The RSF controls most of Darfur, while the army holds large parts of the remaining states, including the capital Khartoum. Burhan also acknowledged political forces supporting the army and reiterated that reconciliation is open to all willing to join. The conflict, ongoing since April 2023, has killed thousands and displaced millions. The expansion has sparked international cybersecurity concerns after a warning in Norway about remote manipulation vulnerabilities, prompting experts to urge cyberaudits for imported EV systems. The new generation of Chinese electric buses is seen as a significant improvement over previous models, with drivers praising them for being easier and more comfortable to operate. Chinese manufacturers like BYD, Yutong, and King Long are rapidly increasing their market share across Southeast Asia as governments push to fully electrify their public bus fleets by 2030. Chinese-made electric buses are rapidly gaining ground across Southeast Asia as governments push to decarbonize public transport and Chinese manufacturers seek growth beyond a slowing home market, according to Nikkei Asia. In Jakarta, that shift is already visible. Transjakarta, the capitals main bus operator, introduced electric buses from Chinas BYD in 2022. It now runs 420 electric buses nearly 10% of its fleet including models from Skywell and Zhongtong, and plans to fully electrify its 10,000-bus fleet by 2030. For veteran driver Muhammad Iqbal, the change has been dramatic. A decade ago, Chinese buses in Indonesia were known for breakdowns and even fires, forcing operators to rely on Japanese and European brands. Now, Iqbal says the new electric models are easier and more comfortable to drive. It's more comfortable to drive this electric bus, he said. It uses an automatic transmission, and drivers don't have to queue at the gas station each [night] before returning [the buses]. Nikkei writes that Chinese firms dominate the global electric bus export market, led by Yutong and King Long. In the first half of 2025 alone, China exported about 9,000 electric buses worldwide a 124% increase from a year earlier. Southeast Asia still represents a small share of that total, but demand is accelerating. In Indonesia, BYD has partnered with local manufacturer VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas, which opened an assembly plant in Central Java in May. The facility, capable of producing 3,000 vehicles a year, currently builds about 200 and aims to deliver 80 buses to Transjakarta by early 2026. Forty percent of the buses components are locally sourced, qualifying the company for government incentives. Growth is also spreading regionally. Malaysia operates more than 140 electric buses and plans to deploy thousands over the next five years. Singapore has already ordered hundreds of electric buses from Chinese suppliers and aims to electrify half its fleet by 2030. The Philippines and Indonesia have set similar targets, driven by national EV policies. Vietnam and Thailand are exceptions. Vietnams local manufacturer VinFast dominates its electric bus market, while Thailand is prioritizing rail investment over bus electrification. The rapid expansion has also raised cybersecurity concerns. In November, Norways public transport operator warned that Chinese-made buses could be vulnerable to remote manipulation, prompting investigations in Europe. Chinese manufacturer Yutong rejected the claim. Indonesian cybersecurity expert Pratama Persadha cautioned that vehicle data could be exploited and urged governments to require cyberaudits for imported EV systems. As analyst Mark Manantan put it, Whoever the company is, there will always be a cybersecurity risk. By Zerohedge More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Another setback in RussiaUkraine peace talks and persistent tensions around Venezuela failed to jolt oil markets out of their New Years lull. 02 January, 2026 Another round of failed Russia-Ukraine peace talks and continued tensions around Venezuela have failed to wake oil prices from their New Years slumber, with ICE Brent staying put around the $60 per barrel mark on the first trading day of 2026. Whilst unlikely, the upcoming OPEC+ meeting on Sunday could provide some excitement as Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to fight a covert proxy war in Yemen. Oil Prices Post Weakest Year Since 2020. Oil prices have shed 19% in 2025 year-over-year, with ICE Brent settling on the last day of the year at $60.85/barrel, the largest annual slide in percentage terms since 2020 and their third straight year of declines, the longest negative pricing streak on record. US Sanctions More Venezuelan Oil Tankers. The administration of Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on four oil tankers associated with Venezuelan oil deliveries, including the ultra-large crude carriers Della and Valiant, further ratcheting pressure on the government of Nicolas Maduro. Mexicos Largest Untapped Field Changes Hands. The UKs leading oil producer Harbour Energy (LON:HBR) has been appointed the operator of the shallow water 750 MMbbls Zama field, Mexicos largest untapped upstream project, after heavily indebted Pemex relinquished its operatorship. Lebanon Seeks Waning Egyptian Gas Flows. Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding with Lebanon to supply the Levantine nation with natural gas as Beiruts power plants continue to run on diesel; however Lebanon currently lacks any import infrastructure and Egypts own output keeps falling. OPEC+ Expected to Keep Quotas Flat. As OPEC+ members are slated to meet on January 4 to discuss production quotas in Q1 2026, with industry participants widely expecting another roll-over as ICE Brent hovering around $60 per barrel and differentials at 5-year lows put oversupply risks at the forefront. Related: Where are The World's Rare Earth Minerals Located? Serbias Embattled Refiner Gets Much-Needed Waiver. Serbias state oil company NIS has received an OFAC waiver from the US Department of the Treasury, allowing it to restart its activities until at least 23 January 2026 as it continues to search for potential buyers for Gazproms 11% stake in the firm. Russian Pipeline Gas Exports to Europe Collapse. Deliveries of Russian pipeline gas by Russias gas major Gazprom (MCX:GAZP) to Europe fell to their lowest annual level in 50 years, a mere 18 bcm in 2025 with just TurkStream operational, marking a 90% plunge from the all-time high recorded in 2019. Chinese Teapots Fire on All Cylinders. Chinas independent refineries have ramped up their runs to a 20-month high in December, with even small teapots reaching a 58% utilization rate as margins of Shandong plants reached $8/barrel, thanks in large part to ample volumes of sanctioned feedstocks. US Congress Not to Extend Oil Spill Tax. The US Congress has voted against extending the Oil Spill Liability Fund tax for 2026, up until now a $9 cents per barrel levy that crude exporters and refiners were obliged to pay, increasing the Superfund tax instead from $0.16/barrel to $0.18/barrel. Turkey to Expand into Somalias Offshore. Turkeys state oil firm TPAO has agreed to start exploration drilling offshore Somalia in 2026, with recently acquired ultra-deepwater drillship Cagri Bey slated to arrive in the countrys waters in February, expanding on Ankaras large military presence in the country. India Slaps Import Tariffs on Cheap Chinese Steel. Indias government imposed a three-year import tariff on selected steel products to safeguard its domestic producers from cheaper Chinese competitors, setting the levy in its first year at 12%, lifting shares of major Indian companies by 3-5% this week. Beijing Blasts Europes CBAM Implementation. As Europes Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) launched its final financial phase on January 1, Chinas Ministry of Commerce called the EUs measures unfair and discriminatory, pledging to take countermeasures to defend its national interests. EU Car Ban Reversal Lifts Platinum Prices. The European Unions scrapping of its previous 2035 deadline to ban new sales of conventional fossil-fuelled cars (and catalytic converters) has helped platinum post its biggest monthly gain in 39 years last month, up 33% month-on-month to $2,478 per ounce. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The December 29 Mar-a-Lago meeting did nothing to alter the trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine war. Trumps engagement with Zelensky after speaking with Putin kept channels open but produced nothing concrete. Zelenskys public openness to referendums and discussions about territory has been loosely interpreted by some as some sort of readiness to concede territory but it is simply a move to keep talks alive. There is still no evidence that the Kremlin feels time, pressure, or risk accumulating in a way that would force concessions. The situation in Venezuela has further escalated after a drone strike on a port facility linked to the Maduro government, an incident Trump publicly said was carried out by the United States, without details, with later reports attributing the strike to a CIA operation. Nothing has been formally confirmed. Venezuelan authorities accused U.S. intelligence of direct involvement and raised security measures following the attack. This coincides with more maritime interdiction warnings and the release of more political prisoners by Caracas under the weight of U.S. pressure. Reactions among Venezuelans have diverged, with some exile groups supporting U.S. action and many inside the country opposing escalation over concerns about retaliation and economic fallout. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict The situation in Venezuela has further escalated after a drone strike on a port facility linked to the Maduro government, an incident Trump publicly said was carried out by the United States, without details, with later reports attributing the strike to a CIA operation. Nothing has been formally confirmed. Venezuelan authorities accused U.S. intelligence of direct involvement and raised security measures following the attack. This coincides with more maritime interdiction warnings and the release of more political prisoners by Caracas under the weight of U.S. pressure. Reactions among Venezuelans have diverged, with some exile groups supporting U.S. action and many inside the country opposing escalation over concerns about retaliation and economic fallout. The December 29 Mar-a-Lago meeting did nothing to alter the trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine war. Trumps engagement with Zelensky after speaking with Putin kept channels open but produced nothing concrete. Zelenskys public openness to referendums and discussions about territory has been loosely interpreted by some as some sort of readiness to concede territory but it is simply a move to keep talks alive. There is still no evidence that the Kremlin feels time, pressure, or risk accumulating in a way that would force concessions. Irans currency slide is now disrupting basic commercial activity. Sections of Tehrans bazaar and surrounding wholesale districts have shut repeatedly as the rial weakens further, particularly in electronics, metals, and other import-dependent goods, with traders suspending sales because prices cant be set reliably. Merchants are pulling inventory, slowing wholesale turnover, and holding dollars or hard goods as exchange rates move intraday. Protests linked to the economic disruption have led to arrests and reports of multiple deaths (unconfirmed officially). Security forces have kept the situation contained so far, but the involvement of bazaar networks complicates enforcement and limits how aggressively closures can be broken up. The resignation of the central bank governor has not stabilized expectations, and informal exchange rates continue to weaken, with trader behavior reflecting an assumption that depreciation is ongoing. Topping things off for Tehran, there have reportedly been renewed private talks between Israeli and U.S. officialdom about possible future strikes on Iran, raising tensions as Gaza plans struggle to stay alive. And back in Gaza, Hamas has begun internal procedures to select new members of its political bureau after several senior figures were killed during the war. The process is taking place while fighting continues in Gaza and while the leadership remains split between Gaza, the West Bank, and external locations, with communications disrupted by Israeli strikes and movement restrictions. The selection is being handled internally, without public voting, and without a published timetable or platform. The move comes as U.S. and Israeli coordination has tightened under Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, and as regional mediators are not advancing political arrangements that would involve Hamas retaining authority in Gaza. Any changes to the leadership will occur under continued military pressure and without Hamas being included in post-war governance discussions. Discovery & Development Pakistans state driller Oil & Gas Development Company said it struck a fresh oil and gas discovery at the Baragzai X-01 well in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with test flows around 4,100 bpd of crude and roughly 10.5 MMcf/d of gas. The find was announced this week and is being pitched as a small but meaningful dent in Pakistans import bill. Its not a revolutionary change, but for a country bleeding FX on energy, barrels at home still count. Expect officials to oversell it. Chinas offshore producer CNOOC reported a new oilfield discovery in the Bohai Sea. The find benefits from proximity to existing offshore infrastructure, which typically shortens the path from discovery to production in the basin. CNOOC described reservoir conditions as favorable and indicated the project could move quickly toward development. The discovery is consistent with Chinas ongoing push to slow offshore decline rates. ConocoPhillips encountered gas at the Charlemont-1 well in the Otway Basin offshore Australia. The well logged gas shows, but recoverable volumes and commercial viability have not yet been confirmed. Any new supply would be relevant as Australias east coast gas market tightens later in the decade. Further appraisal will determine whether the find progresses toward development. Chevron said it began oil production at its South Ndola platform offshore Angola, tied into existing Block 0 infrastructure near the Malongo terminal. The project is a small, low-cost addition using existing facilities rather than a standalone development. Oil will be processed locally, with associated gas sent to Angola LNG. First oil was reached late in the year. Mergers, Deals, and Acquisitions Frontera Energy signed a crude supply agreement with a Chevron unit for up to $120 million of oil deliveries in 2025. The deal covers crude from Fronteras Colombian operations and is priced against international benchmarks. It gives Frontera a firm outlet for next years production as Colombian exports remain sensitive to transport and pricing constraints. NewMed Energy and its partners, including Chevron, approved the export development plan and associated agreements for a roughly $35 billion gas export project linked to Israels Leviathan field. The plan focuses on expanding export capacity, with gas destined for regional markets and potential LNG routes. Key commercial and development approvals are now in place, allowing the project to move forward. The development is designed to increase exports rather than boost domestic supply. Woodside Energy signed a binding LNG supply agreement with Turkeys state energy firm BOTAS. It covers about 5.8 billion cubic meters of LNG over up to nine years starting in 2030. The deal converts a non-binding heads of agreement signed in September into a firm commitment. Most of the LNG will be supplied from Woodsides under-construction Louisiana LNG project in the United States, with additional volumes coming from its global portfolio. Louisiana LNG received final approval earlier this year and is scheduled to deliver first gas in 2029. These are parallel tracks. Saudi Arabia is using airpower to disrupt supply routes where it can. It does not control the territory through which those routes pass. At the same time, Saudi Arabia carried out limited airstrikes earlier this week against port adjacent storage and logistics sites linked to unauthorised weapons movements. The strikes focused on coastal and eastern supply routes. They did not target front-line positions and did not change control on the ground. Aden airport was not involved. The STC has refused to withdraw from provinces near the Saudi border, despite Saudi demands. Southern forces remain in place, and pressure from Riyadh has not changed their position. Saudi Arabia has no mechanism to compel withdrawal without escalation. Aden is the interim capital and the main southern logistics hub. The closure shows that the government cannot impose decisions at key infrastructure sites and that Saudi Arabia does not control the forces operating there. Security and access are decided by southern forces aligned with the UAE, not by Riyadh or the government it supports. Earlier this week, Aden airport (in Yemens interim capital) was shut after a dispute between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and UAE-aligned STC forces over control of airport operations and security. Government officials attempted to assert authority over the site, which was refused by STC security forces on the ground, leading to a total suspension of flights. Earlier this week, Aden airport (in Yemens interim capital) was shut after a dispute between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and UAE-aligned STC forces over control of airport operations and security. Government officials attempted to assert authority over the site, which was refused by STC security forces on the ground, leading to a total suspension of flights. Aden is the interim capital and the main southern logistics hub. The closure shows that the government cannot impose decisions at key infrastructure sites and that Saudi Arabia does not control the forces operating there. Security and access are decided by southern forces aligned with the UAE, not by Riyadh or the government it supports. The STC has refused to withdraw from provinces near the Saudi border, despite Saudi demands. Southern forces remain in place, and pressure from Riyadh has not changed their position. Saudi Arabia has no mechanism to compel withdrawal without escalation. At the same time, Saudi Arabia carried out limited airstrikes earlier this week against port adjacent storage and logistics sites linked to unauthorised weapons movements. The strikes focused on coastal and eastern supply routes. They did not target front-line positions and did not change control on the ground. Aden airport was not involved. These are parallel tracks. Saudi Arabia is using airpower to disrupt supply routes where it can. It does not control the territory through which those routes pass. Authority over ports, airports, and transit corridors in the south remains divided. The UAE is not directly enforcing decisions in the south, but its aligned local forces control security, ports, and key command structures. Those forces are not taking direction from Riyadh. Saudi Arabia carries the risk of enforcement, shipping disruption, and diplomatic fallout without controlling the actors on the ground. The result is a significant vulnerability. Airports, ports, and transit corridors can be shut when authority is contested. Shipping, insurance, and humanitarian access face higher risk even though front lines are unchanged. The same structure is now present in Sudan, where Saudi Arabia and the UAE back different actors while formally supporting stability. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been managing different objectives in Yemen for years. What has changed is that the gap is now producing visible disruption rather than being contained through workarounds. Riyadh is focused on limiting escalation tied to borders, ports, and shipping exposure. The UAE is focused on preserving influence through local forces without carrying enforcement or diplomatic risk. Those approaches were tolerated in parallel. They are now colliding. This weakens Saudi Arabias position against the Houthis. Southern disputes absorb attention and constrain Saudi options elsewhere. There is no unified structure capable of applying pressure across fronts or enforcing commitments. The Houthis do not need to advance or escalate. Time favors them as long as coordination remains broken and Saudi leverage is diluted. Red Sea risk rises even without a new phase of fighting. Ports, airports, and transit routes are more exposed because authority on land is contested. Saudi airstrikes against supply routes add uncertainty without establishing control. Shipping and insurance decisions are reacting to gaps in enforcement rather than changes on the battlefield. This is one venue weighing heavily on Riyadh. Essentially, its carrying escalation and reputational risk without getting any control. On the other hand, the UAE retains influence without responsibility. The Houthis benefit from delay. Red Sea security becomes harder to guarantee because no actor can impose decisions across the full chain from shore to sea. Coal India Limited, the biggest coal producer in the worlds second-biggest coal user, opened this year its online coal supply auctions directly to buyers in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, as Indian coal supply has swelled amid weaker-than-expected demand in recent months. Amid an oversupply of coal and weaker demand, India and its top state coal producer are looking to optimize domestic supply and monetize exports to neighboring countries. Until 2026, only middlemen could bid in Coal Indias online supply auctions. This has now changed with the new policy. In a first, effective January 1, 2026, CIL has permitted coal consumers located in the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, who wish to import coal from India, to directly participate in the Single Window Mode Agnostic (SWMA) auctions conducted by the company, Coal India said in a statement on Friday, as carried by The Economic Times. Opening SWMA e-auctions to foreign buyers reflects CIL's calibrated approach to market expansion while fully safeguarding domestic coal requirements. This step enhances transparency, competition and global market integration, a senior company official told the publication. Opening the e-auctions directly to buyers sent Coal Indias shares rallying by 7% on the local stock exchange at close on Friday. Coal-fired power generation and capacity installations in India continue to rise and coal remains a key pillar of Indias electricity mix with about 60% share of total power output. Despite booming renewable capacity additions, India continues to rely on coal to meet most of its power demand as authorities also look to avoid blackouts in cases of severe heat waves. Coal will still be a key part of Indias power system for the next two decades, Rajnath Ram, adviser for energy NITI Aayog, said in September. We cannot be subjective about coal. The question is how sustainably we can use it, the official noted. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Venezuela is ready to accept U.S. investment in its oil, Nicolas Maduro said late on Thursday, in a stark softening of the rhetoric from the embattled Venezuelan leader. Maduro suggested serious talks between Venezuela and the United States in an interview aired on Venezuelan state TV late on New Years Day. If they want Venezuela's oil, Venezuela is ready to accept U.S. investments like those of Chevron, when, where and how they want to make them, Reuters quoted Maduro as saying in the interview. We must start to speak seriously, with the facts in hand. The U.S. government knows that, because we have said it a lot to their interlocutors, that if they want to speak seriously about the agreement to battle drug trafficking, we are ready to do that, the Venezuelan leader said. He also told the interviewer, To the people of the United States I say what I have always said, Venezuela is a brother country... a friendly government. The U.S.-Venezuela tensions have escalated since early December, when U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade offshore Venezuela to halt sanctioned tankers shipping oil and products to and from the South American country. The blockade forced re-routing of tankers, delays in exports, and led to declines in revenues for Maduros government. Venezuela has also reportedly begun shutting wells that pump extra-heavy crude in the Orinoco Belt, as the U.S. blockade is squeezing shipments and filling up storage space. PDVSA, the key handler of Venezuelas crude exports, mostly to China, began disabling producing wells in the Orinoco Belt a few days ago, following a decision taken on December 23, sources with knowledge of the plans of state oil firm PDVSA told Bloomberg earlier this week. President Trump also said early this week that the United States hit a dock on a shore, where alleged drug boats load up. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Russias Novatek exported 21 cargoes of liquefied natural gas to China from its Arctic LNG 2 facility last year, data from Kpler cited by Reuters has shown. Arctic LNG 2 is under EU and U.S. sanctions. One more LNG cargo went to China from Gazproms Portovaya facility, also under Western sanctions. Chinas CNPC and CNOOC are shareholders in Novateks Arctic LNG 2, with a 10% stake each. Russias total exports of liquefied natural gas to China in 2025 hit an all-time high despite the sanctions, with September flows specifically doubling from a year earlier, to 1.6 million tons from 751,000 tons. Novatek specifically is estimated to have sold more than 1 million tons of liquefied gas from Arctic LNG 2 to China between June and November. Cargo-loading accelerated markedly since August, with Vortexa reporting in September that there were six loaded LNG carriers in transit, carrying gas from the Gydan Peninsula. The surge in Russian LNG shipments comes amid a general softening in demand for the superchilled fuel in China. For most of 2025, imports were weaker than in 2024, but towards the end of the year, they picked up, booking rather solid increases on an annual basis. In November, LNG imports into China went up by 13.6% on the year to 6.94 million tons, and early data from Kpler suggested flows were even higher in December, hitting 7.17 million tons. The November and December hikes followed a stretch of 12 months during which LNG imports were on the decline. Among the reasons, in addition to softer demand, was a substantial rise in domestic natural gas production and higher pipeline gas imports, especially from Russia, via the Power of Siberia pipeline. Overall, Chinese LNG imports for 2025, therefore, are expected to be lower than the total for 2024, when imports were driven higher due to a push to fill up gas storage facilities. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Turkey will start drilling in a deepwater offshore location in Somalia next month in what would be the countrys first foray in deepwater drilling, Ankaras energy minister told media today. Alparslan Bayraktar did not provide details about the drilling program, only noting that the Somalian project would be Turkeys first deepwater exploration project abroad, according to Reuters. The move follows Turkey and Somalia inking an energy exploration deal in 2024, which fits with Turkeys energy supply diversification plans and its push to reduce its reliance on imports. Last month, Bayraktar told media that exploration work in Somalia will be carried out both offshore and onshore, following the conclusion of seismic studies, which began in October last year on behalf of state-owned Turkish Petroleum. The surveys covered three exploration zones, each spanning 5,000 sq km, equal to about 1,930 sq miles. We carried out seismic operations this year, and most likely 2026 will be a drilling year for us in Somalias offshore region, Bayraktar said at the time. The official admitted, however, that there were challenges in pursuing oil and gas exploration in Somalia. They dont even have a road to access the area. So, we need to build the relevant infrastructure. Security is another challenge, and we are working to address these issues, Bayraktar said in December. Two years ago, one energy analyst estimated that Turkey would need to spend some $500 million on oil and gas exploration in Somalia. The Horn of Africa country has potentially significant oil reserves, estimated at some 30 billion barrels or more, but decades of war and famine have prevented it from exploiting its mineral resources. Several supermajors used to have exploration deals with the Somali government prior to 1991, but following the collapse of said government and the ensuing political and humanitarian crisis, they withdrew from the country. Turkey has been a major investor in Somalia since $2011, making it a focal point of its African policy. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com By Goldwater Institute Press Release, No one should be barred from their profession simply for refusing to subsidize speech they disagree with. This month, after more than six years of litigation, the Goldwater Institute secured a victory for that key principle of economic liberty when the U.S. District Court in Oregon entered a final judgement in favor of two lawyers who argued that they shouldnt be forced to support speech by the state bar that they disapprove of. It began in 2017 when the Oregon State Bara glorified trade association Oregon-licensed lawyers are forced to joinpublished a lengthy statement in its flagship magazine associating then-President Donald Trump with violence and white nationalism. The bars statement bothered many lawyers in the state because their bar dues subsidized its publication and their compelled membership associated them with the message. Daniel Crowe and Lawrence Peterson, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonels and Oregon lawyers, objected. In 2018, Goldwater filed a lawsuit on their behalf and on behalf of Oregon Civil Liberties Attorneys, a group which included other like-minded Oregon lawyers. Crowe and Peterson argued that the bar violated their First Amendment rights because their mandatory bar dues and membership constituted compelled speech and compelled association, two things the government should not be able to force upon you absent a very good reason. The bar claimed that all its actions, including its Trump statement, were justified because they pertained to the bars role in regulating lawyers. The U.S. District Court initially dismissed the complaint, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision. During the discovery phase of the lawsuit, Goldwater attorneys reviewed more than 100,000 pages of records and obtained testimony from bar officials. They discovered that the bars anti-Trump statement was hardly unusualthe bar regularly published materials with an ideological slant, all under the guise of regulating lawyers. Moreover, the bar lobbied for and against bills before the Oregon legislature, with the subject matter of many of those bills having nothing to do with the bars regulatory role. That means that Oregon lawyers, even those that might be members of the legislature itselfperhaps even bill sponsorswere forced to subsidize lobbying efforts that might work contrary to their personal views. After the discovery phase, the U.S. District Court dismissed the case again. But Crowe and Peterson soldiered on and the case went to the Ninth Circuit for a second time. In 2024six years after the case was filedthe Ninth Circuit issued its opinion, holding that the bar violated Crowe and Petersons First Amendment rights when it published its anti-Trump statement. The case then went back to the U.S. District Court for further proceedings about the appropriate remedy. But disputes continued in the remedies phase. The bar wanted any final judgment to include provisions that would insulate it from similar, future challenges through a disclaimer requirement; a kind of get-out-of-jail-free card. Essentially, the bar contended that it would cure any future First Amendment issues by stating that its actions were not necessarily the views of all its members, or licensees. But Goldwater and its clients fought on, insisting that the bars activities must be directly related and tailored to its claimed need to regulate lawyersin their capacity as lawyersand the proposed disclaimer could not have cured the plaintiffs injury. At last, the bar relented. The victory not only vindicates Crowe and Petersons constitutional rights but sends a strong message to other states that require lawyers to join mandatory bar associations. Those associations should not, and cannot, act as trade associations that lobby and pontificate on fashionable issues unrelated to their strictly regulatory role. Mandatory bar associations should know that the Goldwater Institute stands ready to challenge them if they do, and is ready for the fight, however long it takes. Read more about the case here. " " Many countries have made huge strides in gender equality, but Norway outranks the other countries on this list with its strong legal protections and high political participation, as well as extremely low maternal mortality rates. Nowaczyk / Shutterstock When it comes to gender equality, peace, and safety, some nations go above and beyond. The best countries for women offer security, inclusion, and opportunities across societal levels. These rankings are shaped by data from sources like Georgetown's Women, Peace, and Security Index, which evaluates womens status using 13 key indicators, including the prevalence of violence against women, as well as womens access to education, employment, and financial services. 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: The EPFL logo printed in lignin-based thermal paper. Credit: 2025 EPFL/J. Luterbacher CC-BY-SA 4.0 Every day, millions of people use thermal paper without thinking about it. Receipts, shipping labels, tickets, and medical records all rely on heatsensitive coatings to make text appear. More specifically, heat triggers a reaction between a colorless dye and a "developer," producing dark text where the paper is warmed. Thermal paper is a small object with a large footprint. It is produced at scale, handled daily, and often recycled, which allows its chemicals to spread into water and soil. For decades, the most common developers have been bisphenol A (BPA) and, more recently, bisphenol S (BPS). Both can affect living organisms by disrupting hormone signaling, and both are detected in the environment and in people who handle receipts frequently. Finding safer alternatives to bisphenols is difficult because thermal paper must also be stable, printable, and cost-effective: in 2022, the global thermal paper market was valued at around $4 billion and is expected to grow to about $6 billion by 2030. Regulators and manufacturers have looked for replacements, but progress has been slow, since any less toxic alternative must also react at the right temperature, stay stable during storage, mix well with other coating ingredients, and avoid background discoloration. And many proposed biobased materials fail on one or more of these. Lignin-based thermal paper. Credit: 2025 EPFL/J. Luterbacher CC-BY-SA 4.0 A solution from wood Scientists in the groups of Jeremy Luterbacher and Harm-Anton Klok at EPFL have now shown that woodderived materials can meet these requirements. In a study published in Science Advances, the researchers report thermal paper coatings that use lignin, a major component of wood, together with a sensitizer derived from plant sugars. "We have developed thermal paper formulationswhich are commonly found in daily products like cash receipts, package labels, airline tickets, etc.made from plant-based molecules that have very low or no toxic signatures," says Luterbacher, who became known in 2014 after developing a method for cheaply extracting lignin from plants, while avoiding its destruction (published in Science). The new study builds on the lab's ongoing work with lignin. The researchers focused on it because it already contains chemical groups that can act as color developers. The EPFL logo printed in lignin-based thermal paper. Credit: 2025 EPFL/J. Luterbacher CC-BY-SA 4.0 But isolated lignin is usually dark and chemically messy, which makes it unsuitable for printing. To address this, the researchers used a controlled extraction method, called "sequential aldehydeassisted fractionation," to produce lightcolored lignin polymers with fewer of the dark, colorabsorbing groups that can interfere with printing. Their chemistry also allowed it to be well mixed in the thermal layera key prerequisite to proper reactivity. To make the lignin reactive at printing temperatures, the team added a "sensitizer," a compound that melts when heated and helps the dye and developer interact. Instead of using conventional petroleumbased sensitizers, they tested diformylxylose, a molecule made from xylan, a sugar found in plant cell walls. They then applied the resulting mixtures as thin coatings onto paper and tested them using controlled heating and commercial printers. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. A clear advantage in safety tests The ligninbased coatings produced clear printed images when heated, with color density values in the same range needed for commercial thermal paper. The coatings stayed stable when stored near a window for months, and printed logos remained readable after a year. While image contrast was still lower than that of fully optimized commercial paper, the performance matched that of BPAbased thermal papers. Safety tests also showed a clear advantage, as the lignin developers displayed estrogenlike activity that was over two to four orders of magnitude lower than BPA. The sugarbased sensitizer showed no estrogenic or toxicity profile under the tested conditions. The study shows that safer thermal paper formulations can be made directly from nonedible biomass using simple processing steps. While more work is needed to optimize print quality and scaleup, the results point toward receipts and labels that do their job without relying on problematic chemicals. Publication details Tom Nelis et al, Sustainable Thermal Paper Formulation Using Lignocellulosic Biomass Fractions, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adw9912 Journal information: Science Advances , Science 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: Laboratory technician and one of the authors in the contamination-controlled ancient DNA laboratory at the University of Tartu extracting tiny amounts of DNA from centuries-old skeletons. Credit: University of Tartu Institute of Genomics Ancient DNA Laboratory For the first time, scientists have reconstructed the ancient genomes of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV-6A/B) from archaeological human remains more than two millennia old. The study, led by the University of Vienna and University of Tartu (Estonia) and published in Science Advances, confirms that these viruses have been evolving with and within humans since at least the Iron Age. The findings trace the long history of HHV-6 integration into human chromosomes and suggest that HHV-6A lost this ability early on. HHV-6B infects about 90% of children by the age of two and is best known as the cause of roseola infantumor "sixth disease"the leading cause of febrile seizures in young children. Together with its close relative HHV-6A, it belongs to a group of widespread human herpesviruses that typically establish lifelong, latent infections after an initial mild illness in early childhood. What makes them exceptional is their ability to integrate into human chromosomesa feature that allows the virus to remain dormant and, in rare cases, to be inherited as part of the host's own genome. Such inherited viral copies occur in roughly 1% of people today. While earlier studies had hypothesized that these integrations were ancient, the new data from this study provide the first direct genomic proof. Recovering viral DNA from the distant past An international research team led by the University of Vienna and the University of Tartu (Estonia)in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and University College Londonscreened nearly 4,000 human skeletal samples from archaeological sites across Europe. Eleven ancient viral genomes were identified and reconstructedthe oldest from a young girl of Iron Age Italy (1100600 BCE). The remaining individuals covered a wide geographic and temporal range: both types of HHV were found in medieval England, Belgium and Estonia, while HHV-6B also appeared in samples from Italy and early historic Russia. Several of the English individuals carried inherited forms of HHV-6B, making them the earliest known carriers of chromosomally integrated human herpesviruses. The Belgian site of Sint-Truiden yielded the largest number of cases, with both viral species circulating within the same population. "While HHV-6 infects almost 90% of the human population at some point in their life, only around 1% carry the virus, which was inherited from your parents, in all cells of their body. These 1% of cases are what we are most likely to identify using ancient DNA, making the search for viral sequences quite difficult," said the lead researcher of the study, Meriam Guellil, University of Vienna, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology. "Based on our data, the viruses' evolution can now be traced over more than 2,500 years across Europe, using genomes from the 8th-6th century BCE until today." Ancient integrations, lasting consequences The recovered genomes allowed the researchers to determine where in the chromosomes the viruses had integrated. Comparisons with modern data revealed that some integrations happened a very long time ago and passed down through generations for millennia. One of the two viral species (HHV-6A) appears to have lost its ability to integrate into human DNA over timeevidence that these viruses have evolved differently while coexisting with their human hosts. "Carrying a copy of HHV6B in your genome has been linked to anginaheart disease," says Charlotte Houldcroft (Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge). "We know that these inherited forms of HHV6A and B are more common in the UK today compared to the rest of Europe, and this is the first evidence of ancient carriers from Britain." A new chapter in virushost evolution The discovery of these ancient HHV-6 genomes provides the first time-stamped evidence for the long-term co-evolution of this virus with humans at the genomic level. It also shows how ancient DNA can reveal the long-term evolution of infectious diseasesfrom short-lived childhood infections to viral sequences that became part of the human genome. Discovered only in the 1980s, HHV-6A and HHV-6B can now be traced back to the Iron Age, offering direct genomic evidence for an ancient, shared history between viruses and humans. "Modern genetic data suggested that HHV-6 may have been evolving with humans since our migration out of Africa," says Guellil. "These ancient genomes now provide the first concrete proof of their presence in the deep human past." Publication details Meriam Guellil et al., Tracing 2500 Years of Human Betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B Diversity Through Ancient DNA, Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adx5460. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx5460 Journal information: Science Advances 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: Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS captured by the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini North on Maunakea in Hawaii. Credit : International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/B. Bolin When 3I/ATLAS swept past the sun in late October 2025, it became only the third confirmed visitor from interstellar space ever detected. Unlike the mysterious 'Oumuamua, which revealed almost nothing about itself during its brief flyby in 2017, or even 2I/Borisov which appeared in 2019, this latest interstellar traveler arrived with perfect timing for detailed study. Among those watching was an unlikely observer. The Solar and Heliosphere Observatory, or SOHO, has spent nearly 30 years staring at the sun from its orbital position 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. But SOHO carries a camera called SWAN that wasn't designed to look at the sun at all. Instead, it watches for a specific wavelength of ultraviolet light emitted by hydrogen atoms, creating an all sky map of hydrogen scattered throughout the solar system. How SWAN detected comet activity Nine days after 3I/ATLAS reached perihelion, its closest approach to the sun on 30 October, SWAN began detecting a distinctive hydrogen glow surrounding the comet. This wasn't just any hydrogen. When sunlight strikes water molecules streaming from a comet's nucleus, it breaks them apart, releasing hydrogen atoms that then glow in ultraviolet light. By measuring this glow, astronomers can work backward to calculate how much water the comet is producing. An artist's impression of the SOHO spacecraft. Credit : NASA/ESA/Alex Lutkus Published on the arXiv preprint server, the measurements revealed something remarkable. On 6 November, when the comet had traveled out to 1.4 astronomical units from the sun, it was spewing water at a rate of 3.17 10 molecules per second. That's 317 followed by 27 zeros. To put it another way, imagine filling an Olympic swimming pool every few seconds, and you're getting close to the scale of water production from this relatively small icy nucleus. What makes these observations particularly valuable is their timing. Most studies of 3I/ATLAS happened before perihelion, when the comet was approaching the sun and beginning to heat up. The SWAN observations captured what happened afterward, as the comet moved away and its activity began declining. Over the following weeks, water production dropped steadily, falling to between 10 and 20 trillion molecules per second by early December, about 40 days after perihelion. What the findings reveal about 3I/ATLAS This decrease follows a pattern that astronomers recognize from solar system comets. As a comet moves farther from the sun, the reduced heating means less ice sublimates from the nucleus, and activity winds down. The fact that 3I/ATLAS behaves this way suggests that despite traveling through interstellar space for potentially millions of years, it hasn't fundamentally changed from the icy bodies that formed in our own solar system's distant past. The technique used to measure this water production has proven itself remarkably reliable. First developed over two decades ago and refined through observations of more than 90 different comet apparitions, the method combines SWAN's hydrogen measurements with daily readings of solar ultraviolet output and corrections for the sun's rotation. Each piece of the calculation matters, because the fluorescence rate depends on how much ultraviolet light the sun is emitting at any given moment. For 3I/ATLAS, these measurements serve a purpose beyond simple curiosity about a single comet. This object formed in a planetary system around another star, possibly billions of years ago. By studying its composition and behavior, it's possible to learn about the conditions in that distant stellar neighborhood, compare them to our own solar system's formation, and better understand the diversity of planetary systems throughout the galaxy. The comet's substantial water production also raises intriguing questions about its nucleus size and surface activity. Based on Hubble Space Telescope observations, the nucleus diameter is somewhere between 440 meters and 5.6 kilometers. If water is sublimating directly from the surface, a significant fraction of that surface would need to be active, possibly around 20%, which is much higher than the typical 3 to 5% seen in most solar system comets. 3I/ATLAS now leaves our solar system behind, traveling for millennia before approaching another star, but thanks to SWAN and the other instruments that studied it, we've captured a detailed snapshot of this messenger from the depths of space during its brief visit to our own neighborhood. Publication details M. R. Combi et al, Water Production of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS from SOHO/SWAN Observations after Perihelion, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2512.22354 Journal information: arXiv Key concepts CometsInterstellar objects This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain By any measure, 2025 was not a good year for world peace. Worse, it was just the latest of a decade-long decline of peace and upsurge of war. As author of a book on world peace and how we can achieve it (that's literally the title), here's my assessment. Grim numbers Peace is on the decline around the world by many measures. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data index, a UN-funded independent monitor, reports global conflict has doubled in the past five years. The International Institute for Security Studies reports a 23% increase in armed conflict in 2025 alone. Approximately 240,000 people were killed by violent conflict in 2025, it reports. And the Institute for Economics and Peace's Global Peace Index reported that peacefulness around the world has deteriorated for the sixth consecutive year. Some of the symptoms of that decline, it reports, include: flatlining global trade the loss of 42% of government revenue in the developing world to debt interest repayments (the largest global creditor is now China) reductions in the amount spent on peacebuilding a 42% decline in the number of troops committed to peacekeeping, and a dramatic increase in the internationalization of armed conflict. War happens when we have rising conflict and declining commitment to the things that produce peace. Three things are driving those trends: the relative decline of liberal democracy and rise of authoritarian powers profound shocks such as the global financial crisis and COVID problems generated by economic growth based on globalization, especially rising inequality and social fragmentation. Nationalist populism in the West and elsewhere is a product of these three transformations, which have unsettled comfortable post-Cold War assumptions about the progress of democracy, wealth, and peace. We do actually know what drives war and peace Some may argue that over the long term, the incidence of war and peace ebbs and flows naturally, driven by structural forces that defy human intervention. But this ignores the immense strides in our understanding of the factors associated with both war and peacefulness. The forces driving war and peace are not as mysterious as they once were. For example, it is well established that democracy, gender equality, and fair trade are associated with greater peacefulness. So, it's perhaps no coincidence that as war increases, each of these social goods are either in decline or are severely challenged. It is also well established that peacekeeping reduces civilian victimization, conflict-related sexual violence, and the likelihood of conflict reignition. Although individual wars have their own specific causes, war and peace, in general, are shaped by a limited set of factors. Over the past two decades, researchers have done an excellent job identifying what those factors are. We know war is not randomly unpredictable or inexplicable. This means war is not beyond human control. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. War is a choice The idea that humans are naturally warlike is as facile as the claim that we are naturally peaceful. Anthropologists and biologists have demonstrated we are both. War is a social practice and like any social practice, is caused by human decisions. Humans have agency and choice. Certainly, social structures, political ideas and economic pressures influence choices, but they do not determine them. This is not to say that "war is over, if we want it." War occurs because people have serious disagreements about important questions and valuesthings they cherish so much they would rather fight than compromise. But peoples, governments and international organizations can create conditions that make war less likely, and the instruments for preventing, limiting, and resolving war more capable. What is to be done? International systems are forged by their members. In the modern international system, that means states. States are primarily responsible for maintaining peace at homeand though some are obviously better than others, by and large, the state has done an excellent job of reducing violence in everyday life. The building blocks for peace, therefore, lie in the state, especially those that: are accountable (democratic) respect human rights have capable institutions provide dignified living and opportunities for all foster more gender-equal societies. But this is not something that can be changed quickly or easily, and is a political struggle that each society has to undertake on its own terms. So, it's wise to focus on rebuilding those international tools we know can make a difference. Three urgent priorities for the year ahead First, we must reaffirm international support for the basic principles of the United Nations Charter, including the principle of non-aggression. In practical terms, this means standing resolutely against aggression and furnishing those who defend themselves against itnotably Ukrainewith every possible support. Second, we must revive support for UN and regional peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts and capabilities. Peacekeeping works; more peacekeeping works better. This is especially true when the priority is protection of civilians, women, peace and security. Third, addressing the gravest crisis of our time: Gaza. To give peace a chance, that means deploying the International Stabilization Force (the UN-mandated multinational peacekeeping force outlined in the Gaza peace plan). It must be given every authority and capability necessary to protect civilians, protect Israel from Hamas, and facilitate the extension of legitimate government under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority as a pathway towards Palestinian statehood. World peace is possible because peace and war are human institutions, not forces of nature. Even the most deeply ingrained institutions can be reformed. The abolition of slavery was considered impossible until it was achieved. Yet to say world peace is possible is not to say that it is likely, much less that it is inevitable. But it is something worth studying and striving for. After all, peace is built in the striving. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Bicornucythere bisanensis s.l. (A) and Pistocythereis bradyformis (BI). Credit: NIGPAS A research team led by Associate Professor Wang Yaqiong from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), in collaboration with colleagues from multiple domestic and international institutions, has for the first time documented two marine ostracod fossil speciesBicornucythere bisanensis s.l. and Pistocythereis bradyformisin Pleistocene lacustrine deposits of the Qaidam Basin. The findings were recently published in the journal Palaeoentomology. Long-distance dispersal (LDD) is defined as the process by which organisms or their dispersal units spread, within a specific time frame, to regions that are difficult or impossible to reach through their normal dispersal capabilities. Previous studies on intercontinental, intra-oceanic, and interoceanic LDD of marine ostracods have generally ruled out migratory birds as a potential dispersal vector. These fossil specimens were previously misidentified as Cytherissa qaidamensis, a non-marine ostracod species. Both fossil and extant records confirm that B. bisanensis s.l. and P. bradyformis are predominantly restricted to coastal areas of the western Pacific, including China, South Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East, spanning a latitudinal range of approximately 2043 N. The discovery of these marine ostracods in Pleistocene terrestrial deposits of the Qaidam Basinfar from any modern coastlinestrongly suggests that the species underwent long-distance dispersal via migratory waterfowl during the Pleistocene epoch. This journey would have covered more than 2,000 kilometers and traversed extensive continental interiors. Long-distance dispersal of marine ostracods via water birds from the coastal areas of the West Pacific Ocean to the Qaidam palaeo-lake. Credit: NIGPAS The finding not only provides new fossil evidence supporting the potential role of migratory birds in marine ostracod LDD but also implies that the East Asian Flyway or East AsiaAustralasia Flywayone of the world's three major modern migratory bird flywayswas already established by the Pleistocene. Additionally, the ancient Qaidam Lake may have served as a key stopover site within this migratory network. More information Ya-Qiong Wang et al, Marine ostracods found in lacustrine deposits of the Qaidam Basin suggest long-distance dispersal during the Pleistocene, Palaeoentomology (2025). DOI: 10.11646/palaeoentomology.8.6.2 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An exciton forms when an electron pairs up with a holea mobile particle-like void in a material where an electron is missing from an atom. When paired up as an exciton, a hole and electron normally travel around together as an exclusive couple, but a new experiment probes what happens when conditions in a material break up the pair. In the image, a hole (grey sphere) resides in the bottom layer of a stacked material and is paired to an electron in the top layer (cyan sphere). None of the electrons present in the top layer (black spheres) are willing to share a spot in the material with each other or the electron in the exciton. Credit: Mahmoud Jalali Mehrabad/JQI Quantum particles have a social life, of a sort. They interact and form relationships with each other, and one of the most important features of a quantum particle is whether it is an introverta fermionor an extroverta boson. Extroverted bosons are happy to crowd into a shared quantum state, producing dramatic phenomena like superconductivity and superfluidity. In contrast, introverted fermions will not share their quantum state under any conditionenabling all the structures of solid matter to form. But the social lives of quantum particles go beyond whether they are fermions or bosons. Particles interact in complex ways to produce everything we know, and interactions between quantum particles are key to understanding why materials have their particular properties. For instance, electrons are sometimes tightly locked into a relationship with a specific atom in a material, making it an insulator. Other times, electrons are independent and roam freelythe hallmark of a conductor. In special cases, electrons even pair up with each other into faithful couples, called Cooper pairs, that make superconductivity possible. These sorts of quantum relationships are the sources of material properties and the foundations of technologies from the simplest electrical wiring to cutting-edge lasers and solar panels. Unexpected results in particle interactions JQI Fellow Mohammad Hafezi and his colleagues set out to investigate how adjusting the ratio of fermionic particles to bosonic particles in a material can change the interactions in it. They expected fermions to avoid each other as well as the bosonic counterparts chosen for the experiment, so they predicted that large crowds of fermions would get in the way and prevent bosons from moving far. The experiment revealed the exact opposite: When the researchers attempted to freeze the bosons in place with a barricade of fermions, the bosons instead started traveling quickly. "We thought the experiment was done wrong," says Daniel Suarez-Forero, a former JQI postdoctoral researcher who is now an assistant professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. "That was the first reaction." But they went on to thoroughly check their results and eventually came up with an explanation. The researchers shared their experiments and conclusions in an article published on Jan. 1, 2026 in the journal Science. They had stumbled onto a way to host a quantum party where the particles throw their social norms out the window, producing a dramaticand potentially usefulchange in behavior. How electrons and holes interact The group's experiment explored the interactions electrons have with each other and with couples formed from an electron and a hole. Holes aren't quite real particles like electrons. Instead, they are quasiparticlesthey behave like particles but only exist as a disturbance of the surrounding medium. A hole is the result of a material missing an electron from one of its atoms, leaving an uncompensated positive charge. The hole can move around and carry energy like a particle within the material, but it can never leave the host material. And if an electron ever falls into a hole, the hole disappears. Sometimes, electrons and holes form an atom-like arrangement (with the hole playing the role of a proton). When this happens, the hole and electron move together and behave like a single quantum object that researchers call an exciton. It normally takes energy to break up the particles in an exciton, so as an exciton moves the hole and electron pretty much always stick together. This fact led physicists to label the exciton relationship as "monogamous." The composite excitons are bosons, while individual electrons are fermions. Together, the two provided a suitable cast for the group's experiments on fermion and boson interactions. "At least this was what we thought," said Tsung-Sheng Huang, a former JQI graduate student of the group who is now a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Spain. "Any external fermion should not see the constituents of the exciton separately; but in reality, the story is a little bit different." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Designing the experiment and controlling particles To get the particles they needed and a suitable way to control them, the researchers created a material with the qualities they needed for their experiment by carefully aligning a layer of one thin material on another thin material with just the right alignment. The material's properties allowed them to easily create excitons that live for a relatively long time, while its structure kept things orderly by providing a neat grid of spots where an exciton or an unpartnered electron need to reside. Because of the structure, the electrons and excitons don't see the material as a standing-room-only concert venue but, instead, as a restaurant set up for Valentine's Dayall the floor space is crammed with small, intimate tables. In the material, every exciton and lone electron needs to be sat at a table, and the introverted solo electrons won't shareeither with each other or with an exciton. However, excitons generally aren't content to stay in their original seats. They tend to move around. But instead of brazenly walking across the room, an exciton surreptitiously hops from one adjacent empty table to the nextsometimes resulting in an inefficient detour around a cluster of occupied tables. During an experiment, the researchers can host trillions of particles in the material's seating plan, and they can control the number of excitons and electrons that are free to move through the room. To add or remove electrons, the researchers apply different electrical voltages, which can force electrons into or out of the material. To add excitons, they summon them from the existing material. The researchers can shine a specific color of laser on the material, and its atoms will absorb the light. The energy from the laser knocks electrons loose from the atoms and creates excitons. The top half of the image shows the layered structure of a material that can host free-moving electrons (the black spheres) and excitons made of a hole (white sphere) partnered with a particular electron (cyan sphere). The bottom of the image shows the quantum landscape created by the material for the electrons and excitons. It contains many distinct locations where the electrons and excitons want to reside. The exciton can move to nearby empty spots but not one already occupied by an electron. Credit: Mahmoud Jalali Mehrabad/JQI Tracking excitons and analyzing movement The researchers were able to track where the excitons they created end up; they just watched for the signs of their eventual destruction. When an exciton's electron and hole eventually combine, the extra energy it carried must go somewhere, and it is commonly emitted as light. The researchers collected this light and used it as a marker of the final positions of the excitons. This let them determine how much each cluster of excitons diffused through the material even though they don't watch their individual journeys. "We can basically do any ratio," Suarez-Forero says. "We can populate the system with only bosons, only fermions, or any ratio. And the diffusivity, the way in which the bosons move, changes a lot depending on the number of particles of each species." In the experiment, the researchers systematically adjusted the electron density and deduced what they could from the resulting changes in the diffusion of the bosons. They used the movement of the excitons as an indication of their interactions with the electrons and each other, turning each group of excitons into an experimental sensor. When there were very few electrons, the researchers expected electrons to essentially never come across each other and thus to not have much influence on each other or the excitons. In contrast, abundant electrons are expected to avoid each other and to get in the way of the excitons. Things started out as expected with the excitons traveling shorter and shorter distances as the electron population was dialed up. The excitons increasingly had to find a winding path around electrons instead of taking a mostly straight path. Eventually, the experiment reached the point where almost every table was occupied by an electron. The researchers expected this to essentially halt exciton diffusion, but instead, they observed a sudden jump in the mobility of the excitons. Despite the fact that the excitons should have had their paths blocked, the distance they moved dramatically increased. "No one wanted to believe it," says Pranshoo Upadhyay, a JQI graduate student and the lead author of the paper. "It's like, can you repeat it? And for about a month, we performed measurements on different locations of the sample with different excitation powers and replicated it in several other samples." They even tried the experiment in a different lab when Suarez-Forero concluded his postdoctoral work at JQI and spent some time as a research scientist at the University of Geneva. "We repeated the experiment in a different sample, in a different setup, and even in a different continent, and the result was exactly the same," Suarez-Forero says. They also had to check that they weren't misinterpreting the results. They were only seeing the exciton diffusion, not actually watching the interactions. They were relying on mathematical theories to explain the results, and they needed to make sure a mistake wasn't hiding in their math. Solving the mystery and future implications The team formed a strong theoretical and experimental collaboration to figure out what was going on. "We spent months going back and forth with theorists, trying out different models, but none of them captured all our experimental observations," Upadhyay says. "Eventually, we realized that the excitons sit differently than the free electrons and holes in our system. That was the turning pointwhen we began thinking of the exciton beyond monogamy." The team concluded that the very crowded conditions were making the excitons give up on monogamy, so the researchers described the phenomenon as "non-monogamous hole diffusion." Essentially, the surprising result occurred when the experimenters flooded the materialthe metaphorical restaurantwith a bunch of electrons, each claiming a table to itself. The researchers determined that when the population of available electrons got sufficiently lopsided, the holes in each exciton saw all the other electrons as identical to the one they were already with; the normal rule of exciton monogamy broke down. The rapid diffusion was caused by holes suddenly ditching their long-term electron partners. Instead of each working its way from table to table with the same electron, the holes were doing a speed dating round with electron after electronallowing each exciton to make a beeline to its destination. Without the normal winding path around all the single electrons, each exciton traveled much farther before giving off its signature flash of destruction. All the researchers needed to do to trigger this lopsided dating pool and rapid travel was adjust the voltage. Controlling voltages is no problem for existing devices, so the technique has broad potential to be conveniently integrated into future experiments and technologies that exploit excitons, like certain solar panel designs. The researchers are already using this insight into how excitons and electrons can interact to interpret other experiments. They are also working to apply their new understanding of these materials to achieve greater control of the quantum interactions that they can induce in experiments. "Gaining control over the mobility of particles in materials is fundamental for future technologies," Suarez-Forero says. "Understanding this dramatic increase in the exciton mobility offers an opportunity for developing novel electronic and optical devices with enhanced capabilities." Publication details Pranshoo Upadhyay et al, Giant enhancement of exciton diffusion near an electronic Mott insulator, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.ads5266. On arXiv: DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2409.18357 Journal information: arXiv , Science 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: The Asian noodlefish is another type of fish that manages to live without red blood cells. Credit: Xuhongyi Zhen Antarctic icefish are famous for living without red blood cells, but they are not alone. A species of needle-shaped, warm-water fish called the Asian noodlefish also lacks hemoglobin and red blood cells. Like icefish, its veins are filled with translucent white blood, said H. William Detrich, professor emeritus of marine and environmental sciences, who collaborated with Chinese scientists on a paper about the strange aquatic creatures published in Current Biology. "I thought the story was solved when we did our work on Antarctic icefishes," Detrich said. "But then the noodlefishes came along and surprised me. It turns out there may be more species than we think that don't rely on red blood cells to transport oxygen." Detrich's lab at Northeastern University looked closely at the genomic structure of Antarctic icefish and discovered they had lost their ability to produce red blood cells due to the deletion of hemoglobin genes over millions of years. How icefish survive without red blood The thinking is that icefish were able to survive and thrive without red blood cells carrying oxygen from gills to their tissues because the chilly seawater around Antarctica is rich in dissolved oxygen, Detrich said. "That means that the Antarctic icefishes are able to rely on oxygen that's physically dissolved in their blood fluid," he said. However, that genetic explanation doesn't work for white-blooded Asian noodlefish, which swim in much warmer waters, from the coasts and river systems of China, Korea, Japan and eastern Russia, south to Vietnam. "They live in a very different environment," Detrich said. "They don't have the advantage of a cold and oxygen-rich environment like the Southern Ocean." The Chinese scientists who studied Detrich's work reached out to him, he said. "They wanted to know what was going on." Genetic mysteries of the noodlefish Collaborator Jinxian Liu from the Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center in Qingdao, China, said that after reading Detrich's works, he wondered "whether our Asian noodlefishes share a similar evolutionary pathway." In particular, the scientists wanted to know what was happening with the hemoglobin genes as well as the gene for myoglobin, which is the protein that makes red meat red and binds oxygen in the cells of the meat. "As part of this collaborative effort, we demonstrated that Asian noodlefishall 12 specieshave lost the myoglobin gene as a single event that occurred in their most recent common ancestor," Detrich said. In addition, they found various mutations to their hemoglobin genes that rendered them nonfunctional, he said. "But unlike the icefishes, they hadn't completely deleted the hemoglobin genes," Detrich said. "Rather, they had smaller mutations that prevented the genes from expressing a functional hemoglobin protein." Credit: Current Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.05.050 Life span and evolutionary clues The short life span of the Asian noodlefish holds clues about how it evolved to live without red blood cells, Detrich said. Unlike Antarctic icefish, which live six to seven years or more, Asian noodlefish measure their life spans in a year. Although noodlefish adults can reproduce at the end of their short lives, they retain numerous juvenile or neotenic features. "In a number of other fish species, juveniles don't need to make red blood cells because they are small and slender and can absorb oxygen through their scaleless skins," Detrich said. But while most of these species have longer lives and will go on to make red blood cells as adults, Asian noodlefish don't need to because they remain, in essence, juveniles. Implications for biodiversity and evolution "The work is important because it shows that historical contingency also plays an important role in the evolution of biodiversity," Liu said. Comparing the evolution of myoglobin and hemoglobin expression in Asian noodlefish and Antarctic icefish, Detrich said, "It's a different set of environmental circumstances and a different set of molecular outcomes. He said he was pleased that he and his colleagues in China had their research published in the July issue of Current Biology, which featured the Asian noodlefish on its cover. "There's more than one way for fish to lose the production of myoglobin, hemoglobin and red blood cellsthat's what we discovered in this paper," Detrich said. Publication details Yu-Long Li et al, Independent evolutionary deterioration of the oxygen-transport system in Asian noodlefishes and Antarctic icefishes, Current Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.05.050 Journal information: Current Biology Key concepts fishichthyology This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu. Extorting Riviera Maya businesses: Police capture pair from Sinaloa Cartel during bust on Tulum highway Tulum, Q.R. Two women connected to the Sinaloa Cartels Dona Leti faction, were arrested in Tulum. Both men are accused of extorting Riviera Maya businesses. They were picked up on drug-related offences over the holidays and remain in police custody. Authorities say Celia N and Zitlaly Ariana N were arrested for drug-related offenses and are believed to be connected to the Sinaloa Cartels Dona Leti faction, which extorts businesses in the Riviera Maya, the SSC (Secretary of Citizen Security) reported. Both women were arrested by members of the Centurion Group, in coordination with the Mexican Navy and the Mexican Army after they were observed near the trunk of a white vehicle exchanging small plastic bags containing a green, leafy substance resembling marijuana, the Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC) added. The incident occurred on the federal highway at kilometer 307 in the municipality of Tulum. Upon noticing police, the women ran toward the vehicle, however, police blocked their path and prevented an escape. During a preventive search, the arresting officer said they seized over 100 bags of narcotics including marijuana and crystal methamphetamine. Two cell phones and their white Quintana Roo-plated Volkswagen Jetta was seized. Riviera Maya News serving headline news for Tulum since 2014 Your online newspaper The Chinese Communist Partys persecution of Christians has not abated. In fact, the measures taken to repress religious exprssion are getting more desperate as more and more Chinese seek meaning and hope in something greater than the Party. The grander a dictators ambitions, the more likely he is to see religion as a threat. So it is with Xi Jinping, who has ruled the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) with increasing ruthlessness since November 2012, when he became general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. He continues to escalate his governments war against those who believe that he and the CCP are accountable to a higher power. In this way he is PRC founder Mao Zedongs true successor, as argued by Chinese historian Jung Chang. Of late, Xis enforcers have been targeting Zion church, a large, unregistered house congregation. As reported by The Washington Post: Since October, Chinese authorities have moved aggressively to dismantle Zion and a network of related churches across the country. In a coordinated sweep, police detained Ezra Jin, Zions 56-year-old founding pastor, and nearly 30 other church leaders and members in eight cities including Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Chengdu. At least 18 people have been charged on suspicion of illegal use of information networks, fraud and other crimes. Their only crime was to put God before the Chinese state. The attack on Zion is the latest step in a systematic campaign to turn religion into yet another state appendage. Since taking office, Xi has intensified his efforts to ensure the CCPs control over the Chinese people and his control over the CCP. Beijing has increasingly circumscribed personal liberties that, though always limited and contingent, were nevertheless once real and meaningful. As reported by Freedom House, the Communist Party maintains tight control over all aspects of life and governance, including the state bureaucracy, the media, online speech, religious practice, universities, businesses, and civil society. CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping has consolidated personal power to a degree not seen in China for decades. Following a multiyear crackdown on political dissent, independent nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and human rights defenders, Chinas civil society has been largely decimated. Before Xi gained control, the Maoist eras vicious religious persecution seemed well in the past. Most abuse was at the provincial level and varied widely around the country. Many religious believers were left alone as long as they avoided politics. A dozen years ago I even spied a traditional Christian fish symbol on a car in Beijing traffic. That is no longer conceivable, unless the driver desires a prison term. As per the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: Religious freedom conditions in China remained among the worst in the world. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping continued to lead efforts to update and enforce Chinas sinicization of religion policy, which requires the complete loyalty and subordination of recognized religious groups to the CCP, its political ideology, and its policy agenda. The most detailed assessment of the dismal status of religious liberty in the PRC comes from the China Aid Association. Although the CAAs latest report is from 2024, the situation has only deteriorated since then. The regimes intent is clear: Wang Huning, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, attended the Spring Festival symposium for heads of national religious groups. In his speech, he emphasized the need to conscientiously study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinpings remarks on religious work, uniting and rallying religious figures and the religious public around the Party and government; to adhere to the direction of Sinicization of religion, adhere to the core values of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and enhance the five identities (of the motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Chinese Communist Party, and socialism with Chinese characteristics) among religious figures and the religious public; to insist on being politically reliable, having religious attainments, being a person of integrity and cultivate patriotic religious leaders. Premier Li Qiang opined that religion should be actively guided to adapt to socialist society. Politburo member Shi Taifeng explained that to promote the Sinicization of religions is to go ever deeper to open up new horizons for the Partys religious control in the new era. Repression continues to escalate as another year dawns. As reported the Post: Human rights groups, experts on Chinas religious policy and members of Zion have said that the crackdown represents a significant escalation of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings campaign to force Christian churches to accept direct control from the atheist Communist Party or disband. Beijing evidently has grown desperate. Despite more than 70 years of communist rule, the Chinese people continue to resist the dictates streaming from Beijing. China Aids Bob Fu told the Post that this is the first time there has been a nationwide hunt targeting an urban house church in many years. Although Zion has received the most attention, it is not alone. According to The Christian Post: More than 1,000 police, SWAT and paramilitary units carried out a crackdown on Christian churches across at least 12 congregations for days in Yayang Town, Zhejiang province, detaining hundreds, according to a watchdog report. Residents say that officers from several districts in Zhejiang, including Hangzhou and Pingyang, were deployed to Yayang Town, with the first wave of detentions taking place before dawn. Even this is merely the tip of a very large iceberg. China Aid details the expansive campaign, including forced demolition of churches and other meeting places, forced banning and closing of churches, the imprisonment, arrest and sentencing of church leaders and members on unwarranted or fabricated charges, [and] prolonged detention, multiple disruption of gatherings, continued persecution of released church leaders, administrative penalties, detention, fines, abuse of detained church leaders, restrictions on the involvement of the Church in external relations, and harassment of church meetings. The victims are many. Those ensnared in the Zion operation included people who had been Christians since childhood, and others who had joined the church recently. They ranged in age from their 30s to their 50s, and included lawyers, physicists and music students. China Aid publishes a separate report on examples of persecution. For instance, Elder Zhang Chunlei of the Renai Church in Guiyang was arrested in 2021. Only in 2024 was he tried for fraud and inciting subversion of state power, and sentenced to five and a half years in prison. Also in 2021, Rev. Kan Xiaoyong was arrested, along with several co-workers, and charged with using superstition to undermine the implementation of the law, cult crimes and illegal business operations, and other crimes. He was convicted in early 2024 and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Chang Hao, a pastor in rural Zhenxiong County, Yunnan Province, was arrested in 2023 and charged with picking quarrels and provoking trouble. He was accused of repeatedly publishing and forwarding false information and inappropriate remarks on the Internet, causing serious disruptions to public order and a negative social impact. He was convicted the following year and sentenced to 13 months in prison. Independent preacher Chen Wensheng in Hengyang City was arrested, tried, and convicted in 2024. His crime was street evangelism, more technically illegal organization and financing of illegal gatherings. His sentence was 19 months in prison. And on it goes. The CCP is determined to prevent Chinese people from sharing their faith. From Xi Jinping on down, regime officials recognize that many people find the Gospel message more attractive and persuasive than tedious excerpts from Xi Jinping Thought and propaganda about the Communist Partys supposedly beneficent and prescient rule. Mao Zedong was unable to eradicate religious faith in the PRC. Xi Jinping will be no more successful. Popular dissatisfaction with their party-state vision is already widespread. Xi and the CCP offer only an ersatz antidote for lifes many challenges, encouraging disillusioned youth to let it rot and lie flat and their disaffected elders and well-offneighbors to emigrate. And Christianity continues to endure after decades of persecution. Despite Xis worst efforts, as the Chinese people desperately look beyond politics for answers, they are more likely to turn to the Bible than The Communist Manifesto. On January 1, 2026, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to new President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin on his assuming presidency of the Swiss Confederation. Xi Jinping recalled that during his state visit to Switzerland in 2017, the two countries announced the launch of a joint study on upgrading the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and that under President Guy Parmelin's efforts, negotiations on the FTA upgrade have made positive progress. At present, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, and joint efforts by the two countries to support free trade are a vivid reflection of the high-level development of China-Switzerland relations, injecting more certainty and stability into global development and prosperity. The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership and also the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, presenting broad opportunities for innovative cooperation between the two countries. Xi Jinping said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Switzerland relations, and stands ready to work with President Guy Parmelin to continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation and elevate China-Switzerland relations to new heights for the greater benefit of the two peoples. Im not ending up like this, I say aloud. Not really speaking to my mother, though my mother is the only other person in the room. We are crowded together in the bathroom of her bedroom suite, tending to her personal care. Personal care is a euphemism: The challenge is to write as frankly as possible about aging while also protecting my mothers privacy, which she would want if she still knew what privacy was. One solution might be to not write about my mother at all, but to wait a few years until I am myself experiencing the indignities of aging and write about those. But that assumes Ill still possess the ability to write. Im not ending up like this, I say. Not to my mother but to God or the universe or maybe just to myself. Youre not ending up like this? my mother asks. Shes like this now, repeating the last thing you say. Good morning. Good morning. Time to get up. Time to get up? I respond by slipping into simple, declarative sentences, as with a child. Lets put on your sweater. Lets put on my sweater? Eat your toast and take your pills. Eat my toast and take my pills? The repetition seems half processing, half placation, an eagerness to please the parental figure bossing her around. This endless echo makes up most of my mothers conversation these days, along with the phrase I dont know. A woman who, in another life, was never at a loss for words. Nope. Not getting this old. A harsh thing to say to an 88-year-old woman. But in 10 minutes she wont remember, I tell myself. Youre not getting this old? Nope. Then she surprises me. A light bulb sputtering to life. Youre not the one in charge. I laugh, apologize. OK, Mom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as I help her to the door I wonder: Who else but me should be in charge of deciding when the life I have led has been enough? When people learn that both my mother and my father are still alive, they tell me how lucky I am. As I write these words I have just turned 61, my mother is 88, and my father 91. This is unusual. By my age most Americans have lost at least one of their parents, while nearly half have lost both. The picture is even starker for Black people. By age 34 nearly a quarter have experienced the death of a parent, compared to about 15 percent of white people and 17 percent of Hispanic adults. Add to this the fact that Black women tend to have children earlier than white women, meaning that Black people lose their parents earlier in life even though their parents are, on average, younger than those of their white peers. Advertisement Youre the only Black person our age I know whose parents are still alive, says a friend. Your family belongs in the Smithsonian. When people tell me how lucky I am to still have both my parents, they mean that I am lucky to have enjoyed so many years of love, wisdom and parental support, of beach house rentals and Christmas-card holidays and grandparently help. Theres no use saying this idyllic vision is not true for everyone; people will still insist. And certainly, having ones parents live well into ones own golden years gives more time for understanding and reconciliation. If that is going to come. Advertisement My sister is our mothers primary caregiver; when people say how lucky she is to still have our mother with her, she does not smile. The people who have been through it never say that, she says. I tell her about a man I met in South Carolina, who, hearing me read from an essay about my mothers increasing dementia, rose and spoke at length about caring for his mother until her death. He never regretted a moment; it was a privilege and a blessing and a joy. And you wouldnt believe how funny those older ladies in the nursing home could be. My sister scoffs. Visiting your mother in a home is not caretaking. He has no idea. Advertisement Advertisement No one who has not done full-time caregiving of an aging relative has any idea, not even if, like me, they try to help when they can. Every few months I fly across the country to offer my sister a week or two of respite, at the end of which I am exhausted, not from the physical labor but from the mind-crushing tedium. And the sadness. And the isolation. And the feeling of being trapped. What are we doing now? Just sitting here. Im going to start dinner soon. What are we doing now? Watching TV. You remember The Jeffersons? Ready to go? Where are we going? I dont know. Advertisement Advertisement Im not sure what it is Im supposed to feel, seeing my mother like this. A better person, a better daughter, would feel only sadness, a minor grief before the major grief to come. My mother was the first person in her family to go to college, on her own steam and her own initiative. Marriage and motherhood derailed that ambition before she could graduate, while divorce and impoverishment heaped stones upon the wreck. But she made sure there were books in the house and our homework was done and our aspirations were toward higher education as the ticket up and out. My mother was a woman whose sharp wit and sharper tongue could be wielded either on your behalf or against your tender person, but there was no denying the weapon was formidable. To see such a woman reduced to dependency is heartbreaking. But what I feel is not just sadness. What I feel is something else. Advertisement Who are you? Your daughter Kim. You have four daughters. Four daughters? How did I get so many? You just kept trying until you got the boy you and Dad wanted. To this my mother shrugs. Advertisement About my motherabout this womanI have written both too little and too much, as writers will. Certainly she thought it was too much. One of the last conversations I had with her before the dementia took overor perhaps when the dementia was first setting ininvolved her screaming in fury that she hated me, that I better stop writing about her or else. She doesnt mean it, my sister said. But I was pretty certain she did. In fairness, I couldnt blame her. It doesnt matter how carefully one does it, or how ruthlessly one also turns the unblinking eye upon oneself, or that the writers experiences are the only real material the writer has. Writing about people in your life is a kind of betrayal. Advertisement Advertisement I was only surprised that my mother had actually read my work. Shed never mentioned it. Now my mother reads the print on my T-shirt: Castle Hill? She will do this over and over. My sister wears her shirts turned inside out to shut it down. My sister, the better daughter, says that although this caretaking of my mother is hard for her, in some ways our mother is living her best life. I do not say how much I hate this phrase. Shes not suffering, my sister says. True enough. In many ways, my mothers life has never been this pleasant. No worrying about money, no worrying about protecting her children from the dangers of a racist society. All her needs are attended to, most desires (You want ice cream? Yes!) immediately met. My sisters house is spacious and beautiful, far grander than any house my mother owned. More poignantly, dementia has freed my mother of a lifetimes accumulated emotional wounds and grievances. The abandonment, the betrayal, the abuse, all largely forgotten, the pain finally softened, the memories finally dimmed. Advertisement Advertisement But gone too are agency and purpose and what seems to be any kind of interiority, though we cant know this for sure. Gone is dignity, not in the sense of useless pride but in the sense of critical self-respect. Left behind is placidity atop a teeming helplessness. Advertisement Advertisement Is my mother living her best life? Only she could say. But I can tell you, it sure as hell would not be mine. I am reading, while my mother naps, about assisted death. Assisted death, or, more precisely, medical aid in dying (MAID) should not be confused with mercy killing or euthanasia or even suicide, says the organization Death With Dignity. Using the incorrect terms misleads and frightens the general public, stiffening resistance against MAID laws. Oregon was the first state in the U.S. to allow assisted dying in 1997. Nine other states have since followed suit, including Vermont and Maine but not the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts, which I call home. But Maine is only an hour away. Advertisement Around the world some 300 million people have legal access to assisted dying. In the United States, only those with a terminal illness can access MAID, but in other countries, people who are experiencing unbearable suffering can potentially receive aid in ending their lives. Which, of course, begs the question. Who gets to decide whats unbearable? I want to go home, says my mother, not for the first time. We assume my mother is ready to die. Then again, maybe not. Home could mean Memphis, Tennessee, the city where she spent her formative years and to which she returned when her marriage came apart, the city where she raised the five of us. It could mean her grandfathers farm in Mississippi, the setting of her early childhood, the place she was happiest. Or maybe it just means the house before the house in which she currently lives with my sister, the house where her bedroom window looked out over a golden California hill on which sheep grazed to keep the grass down. Wanting to go home could mean any of those things or others, but given my mothers age and her cottony dementia, we assume that by home, my mother means heaven. We assume my mother is ready to die. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then again, maybe not. To be sure, my sister takes her for a cross-country visit back to Memphis, a grueling journey for both parties. Its a heroic effort, one Im not sure I would undertake, but they get to Memphis and visit relatives and see the old homes and visit graves. When I ask my sister if our mother knew she was in Memphis, she says no. I want to go home, my mother says. Every month is different, every day is the same. Wake her gently in the morning, bending over to help her sit up in bed. Wonder about the mountain of blankets under which she sleeps, how she can keep from suffocating. Respond gently when she asks who you are. Change her clothes, wash her face, tend to her personal care needs. Direct her down the hallway to the amazing one-person elevator my sister has installed because there is no way my mother could manage the stairs. Advertisement Go inside. Go inside? Sit down. Sit down? Push the down button. Which one is the down button? That one. Breakfast with the television droning in the background. With luck a few minutes of I Love Lucy or Sanford and Son will hold her attention. Without luck its a minute-to-minute challenge to keep her occupied. We try to watch television. We try to do a simple puzzle. We pile into the car and drive aimlessly around, killing minutes or hours, killing whats left of my mothers time. I think of driving my children when they were babies, lulling them to sleep. Advertisement Advertisement Most days my mother seems disinterested in any kind of meaningful engagement with the world, wanting only to return to bed. But some days she rallies briefly: part of a conversation, the length of a favorite song. One day while Im cooking and keeping watch, I see her discover, on the table before her, a dollar bill. She examines it intently for a good two or three minutes. Then folds it and tucks it in her bra. Advertisement Advertisement Some days are worse than others. Rising takes effort; she stumbles while walking; complains of pain and pain and mysterious pain. One day my sister calls, convinced the end is coming and I buy a plane ticket. The next day she calls again: a miraculous recovery. Situation status quo. At least for now. Its like trying to read tea leaves. At the bottom of a barrel. On a boat on the ocean in the middle of a storm. Is there anything actively killing your mother? asks a friend when I ask what her mothers death was like, how it progressed. But her mother had cancer, advanced, and once death began it was undeniable, she says. For a few months I was going every other week or so and then it was clear the end was coming and I just went and stayed. Advertisement My mother survived advanced-stage cancer and takes a handful of medications every day to combat a host of other medical conditions, but there is nothing actively killing her. She might live another year or live another 10. I visit as often as possible to help with her care but also because I would like to be present when she dies, as much to support my sister as anything. But its hard because who knows? Advertisement I cant tell you, says the palliative care nurse. Meaning she doesnt know and that she wouldnt tell us even if she did. I can make a referral to hospice and you can talk to the hospice nurse. My sister is reluctant to talk to the hospice nurse. I think of the time, years before, when I volunteered in a hospice program. The woman to whom I was assigned, Mrs. D, lived in a perfectly fine, perfectly depressing nursing home, through whose beige-colored, wheelchair-lined halls I walked twice a week. Mrs. D was almost always in bed when I arrived, napping lightly or listlessly watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians (enough to depress anyone). It took some time for her to warm up to me, but eventually she confessed that she was tired of living. She gestured towards the ceiling: Whats the matter? Out of room? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were there others in that perfectly fine, perfectly devastating nursing home who still embraced life? Who rose stiffly from their beds every morning and greeted the day with a smile? Almost certainly. Some people want to hang on to life until the last possible moment, hang out in Gods waiting room until the last light goes off. Do not go gently into that good night, et cetera. Good for them. But some people are like Mrs. D, ready to call it a day rather than sit in her bed and stare at Kim Kardashian. But they arent the ones in charge. We decide to wait to talk to the hospice nurse. Back in Boston, I have volunteered for a longitudinal research study focused on dementia. When the project manager asks why I am interested in taking part in the study I tell him about my mother. I say I also know that Black people tend to be underrepresented in many research studies, given that so many Black people have a reasonable historical suspicion of medical research (see: the Tuskegee Experiment). Advertisement I give blood samples, have a physical exam, undergo an MRI of my brain. People warn me about the noise and discomfort of the MRI, but lying in the machine listening to yacht rock is comfortable. I fall asleep to the sounds of Christopher Cross. Advertisement The cognitive tests are far more taxing. For more than an hour I sit across from the young research assistant and try to memorize images and stories, name as many words which begin with L as I can in a minute, draw figures and race to connect numbers and letters through a maze. Its oddly stressful work: After all, your future is on the line. When I first volunteered I asked my husband if he wanted to join. No, he said, quickly. He didnt want to know what lay ahead. But I do. Advertisement Most people would rather schedule a root canal than think about aging, decline, death. When I raise the topic with friends, they either deflect or laugh or tell me Im not old enough to think about it (wrong). But a few have considered the inevitable, usually those who have watched someone endure Alzheimers or dementia. Of those people, many mention Switzerland, which has allowed assisted dying since 1942. As in, I hope I dont have to go all the way to Switzerland! What are we doing now? This is not to suggest my mother would ever have made such a choice had one been available while she was still mentally competent. Far from it. My mother is a Christian, a believer in God and Jesus and salvation and heaven and hell. We never discussed it, and such discussion is no longer possible, but Im pretty sure she considered any form of taking ones own life to be a sin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It turns out, though, that nowhere in the Bible is suicide explicitly prohibited, nor even directly categorized as a sin. The omission cannot be blamed on a lack of opportunity; the Bible is full of men who kill themselves, mostly out of pride or honoror in the case of one named Ahithophel, a fit of pique after his advice was rejected. My favorite story is that of Abimelech, a king of Shechem who rampages around the countryside, slaughtering people left and right, including 70 of his own brothers. Eventually he reaches the city of Thebez where the people fight back, and a certain woman (unnamed) tosses a millstone that crushes his skull. Mortally wounded and mortified, he asks his armor-bearer to finish the job, lest they say of me, a woman killed him. The armor-bearer runs him through with his sword. Whether or not this strictly qualifies as a suicide, I leave to you. Advertisement Advertisement Not even on her darkest days would my mother ever have taken her own life. But when she woke up from the surgery for her cancer and discovered the surgeons had left her with a staggering rearrangement of her body with which she would have to live and grapple the rest of her days she said, in despair, You should have let me die. It is a bright and sunny January day and I am visiting my mother and sister in California. My husband has declined to travel with me, preferring to remain at home in Boston, doing whatever he does most days since his retirement. Later, when the marriage fractures, he will say, of the times he accompanied me to my sisters house to care for my mother, You think I wanted to go to California and sit around for a week? You think that was fun for me? For now he responds amiably to my texts checking in. He never reaches out to check on me. Advertisement My sister has flown to Hawaii to visit our niece and to have a break from the burden of caretaking. For the first day or so my mother is much the same as the last time I visited: docile, distant, diffused. But on the third day she wakes up as chatty as a toddler. As I help her rise from bed she points to the ceiling and asks, Who are those four up there? I dont know who shes seeing in the atmosphere, and I say as much. She smiles and shrugs; it doesnt matter. By the time we get her washed and tended and down to breakfast she is going full steam. Advertisement Advertisement Ever been out in public and you dont know how you got there and what you were doing there? And youre just confused? That happened to me this morning. Advertisement I put her breakfast on the table, intrigued by what is happening. It did? Im sorry. Advertisement I need to be careful. Might get lost and never find my way home. She laughs. That would be bad for me, good for everyone else. From there she slides into a long conversation about all the places she has been. I sit at the table listening until it occurs to me to open up my laptop and start taking dictation. The writer is always gathering the scene. Ive been to nice places and places that werent so nice. Weve had a good life. Ive been a few places. Most of the time the places I went had something to do with the military. We live and learn. Wherever I am I make myself at home. She picks up a small leather bracelet on the table. For five solid minutes she fixates on it, putting it on and taking it off again. Then she looks up at me. Ive taken care of children most of my adult life. Thats how I got to go to so many places. They wanted someone to help them with children. They thought I was a pretty good child care provider. Advertisement Advertisement This is true: My mother was always good at taking care of children. After babysitting her way through two years of college, then raising the five of us singlehandedly after the divorce, she moved to California and began a career running a care home for mentally disabled children. Some of these young people came and went in a few months, but many stayed with her for years. You were definitely good at caring for children, I say. You kept everyone safe and clean and housed and fed. She smiles at this but shes not interested in my memories, only her own. Matter of fact, Id like to go back to my younger years. Not too young: 10 to 30. I wish you could have been with me. I had so many good times. I wish you had been with me. You would remember but I cant remember right now. Advertisement Advertisement She pauses, thinking. Who was that who struck Pearl Harbor? I was over there. Japan, I say, and it is true that my sister took her to visit Hawaii a few years before, when she was still herself mentally, though her physical health made the trip difficult. They toured Pearl Harbor, saw the memorials and the ships. It made an impression. Advertisement Advertisement I remember spaces, she says. Then, I had a good life. I didnt have a bad life. I didnt have a silver spoon, but I had a good life. To hear my mother say I love you when she doesnt know who I am is almost more than I can stand. I type these words carefully, tears stinging the back of my eyes; I want to be able to report them to my siblings. Rarely have I heard my mother speak about her life in the positive. As far as I know her best years were the childhood ones spent on her grandfathers farm, before her mother sent for her to come help out with her new half-siblings. Maybe a few blissful years when she was the first in her family to attend college, a few years of poodle skirts and cat-eye glasses and living the life of the mind. Then one summer she went north to work for a white family and met my father. The happy years ended there. Advertisement Now she says, All of my brothers, they had a good life, but they didnt appreciate what they had. My mother loved her brothers. Every one of them is dead; several died on the street. Its really nice while youre doing it, but its hard work. You got to be a believer that you can make it happen. I dont know what she means by itlife, perhapsbut I do not want to interrupt to ask her. Advertisement Lord knows Ive been to a lot of places. You think youre going to be somewhere and settle down and then something will come up and you have to fly away again. You have to be in constant watch: where youre going, what youre doing, who you know. If I ever get back to some of the places Ive been Ill let you know. OK, I say, typing fast. She looks at the television. I have it tuned to an oldies channel, hoping the shows will jog her memory. The jazzy, downbeat theme song of Perry Mason rings out. Raymond Burr, in black and white, glances up from the defense table. Advertisement Advertisement Thats how my life is, my mother says. Its good until its bad. She turns back to me. If you look at it from the right the right kind of mind its all good. Were all blessed. Were blessed to be here, because God doesnt have to have us here. Hes got more things to do. Ive had a good life. Im just about ready to go in now. Ill be happy to go. Too much work here. Too much to do. She smiles. Im kidding. Advertisement Advertisement Youre funny, I say. When her chattiness winds down I go upstairs and gather some photos for her to look at. For the first time this week she correctly names two of her brothers and one of her sisters, before turning her attention to the tinted photo of a smiling woman, her gaze off in the distance as if awaiting a bright future to come. Is that Aunt Annie? she asks. Advertisement I hold the photo closer so she can better see. Thats you. She seems skeptical. Thats not Aunt Annie? Nope. Thats you. Im good-looking! she says with a laugh. Might make a fortune some day. This is (I think) the last time I will see my mother this vibrant and self-reflective. When I visit again in the summer of 2024 she will have sunk once more into passive obedience. When I return late the following winter, both my marriage and the nation will be unraveling. Although the results of my tests from the dementia study come back indicating my cognitive abilities are normal for my age, I will also feel as if I am on the verge of unraveling. Whats wrong, whats wrong? Nothing. Im OK. Eat your breakfast. Why are you crying? My husband is being mean to me. Why? I dont know why. It doesnt make any sense. Well, (my mother lowers her voice) fuck him. Later she asks again. Why are you crying? My husband is being mean to me. Lets kill him. This makes me laugh, harder and longer than I have been able to do in months. My mother just looks at me. Later she says, I like you. Thanks. I like you, too. I love you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which is a thing, bless her, my mother was mostly unable to say when we were children. The weight of all she had to bear kept those words locked inside. Which now I understand. Now I know she loved us in the ways open to her. Now I know her love meant the roof over our heads and the food in our stomachs and the clothes on our backs. Now I know that her love kept her from abandoning us as our father had. As her mother abandoned her. Now I know. But I didnt know then. To hear my mother say I love you when she doesnt know who I am is almost more than I can stand. Some days I think that in a humane society, every person would be given a cyanide pill upon turning 65, for use whenever they and they alone decide its time to exit life. No one would be pressured or even encouraged to use it; those who objected or feared having such an object around could immediately bury their portion in the backyard, or flush it down the toilet or toss into the ocean. Only those who wanted to stash their pills away for future use would do so. This is my modest proposal. I admit it is a selfish one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps, for safety, the pill would come encased in some biometric covering which would only dissolve in your own, individual digestive tract. Anyone else swallowing the pill would find it passing intact through their system, as harmless as a cherry stone. Or we could take a page from the spy movies of the Cold War era and implant a capsule beneath a false molar, to be smashed and ground when the appropriate time arrived. Something. Listen: We have dancing robots and driverless cars and watches which track every gurgle of your gut. We can figure something out. Advertisement A friend is appalled by my thought experiment. What, she demands, would prevent someone who is simply having a bad day from impulsively using the pill? Its a reasonable question, though not, apparently, reasonable enough to bar a person as young as 18 (in some states) from purchasing a weapon capable of achieving the same aims, only violently. My modest proposal would restrict the pills to persons 65 years of age and above. A time of life when impulsivity has diminished for most of us. Advertisement If others insist that 65 is too young, Im willing to push the distribution age to 70. But no further than that. For people with late-onset Alzheimers, symptoms usually begin appearing in the mid-60s. Across the many varieties of dementia, 65 is the average age of onset. Theres an obvious risk to delaying too long. Reality is a hard master, my mother says. I look up from the laptop where I have been answering emails and putting together a syllabus and doomscrolling. My mother sits across the table from me. The television blares. What did you say? Did I hear her right? Was she repeating something from the television, or telling me something I needed to hear? What are we doing now? my mother asks. Reality is a hard master, I say back to her. My mother nods. Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) has approved the 2026 Budget. The budget reflects a disciplined approach in response to current economic conditions while maintaining strong support for the provinces racing and breeding industries. We remain committed to stewarding Albertas horse racing industry responsibly and sustainably, said Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer of HRA. Despite a challenging economic landscape, HRAs program funding remains strong, with 93 per cent of all revenue directed to horse people and racetrack operators and 7 per cent allocated to administrative costs. Our priority continues to be ensuring that as much funding as possible flows directly to the industry. HRA Board Chair Diana McQueen emphasized the Boards prudent decision-making. The Board of Directors undertook a careful review of the economic realities impacting our industry," she said. "The adjustments within the 2026 budget reflect those conditions while safeguarding the long-term health of racing in Alberta. The Board is confident that this budget represents a responsible balance between stability today and growth opportunities in the future. Purse Funding Allocation For 2026, HRA has approved total purse allocations of $16 million, supporting racing opportunities across Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and Quarter Horse breeds. While this is a small decrease from 2025, Alberta continues to offer one of the strongest purse structures in Canada outside Ontario, maintaining solid opportunities for owners and trainers in all sectors. Breed Improvement Program (BIP) Funding Allocation The Breed Improvement Program (BIP) will be $5.05 million in 2026, continuing HRAs longstanding commitment to strengthening Albertas racing population and supporting key organizations including the CTHS Alberta Division, HBPA of Alberta, Alberta Community Racing Association, Alberta Standardbred Horse Association, and Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association. Metrics have shown that investment in this program increases Alberta's racing population by fostering stronger breeding operations and elevating the overall quality of the racing stock. Incentive Programs - Racehorse Procurement Incentive Program (RPIP) Funding and Racehorse Shipping Incentive Program (RSIP) Funding Developed in 2022, the Racehorse Procurement Incentive Program (RPIP) was designed to facilitate an increase in field sizes and the overall horse population in Alberta. The Racehorse Shipping Incentive Program (RSIP) supports ship-in costs associated with moving horses around the province to facilitate the availability of horses at each racetrack. The HRA Board voted to support the continuation of these programs in 2026, with a reduction in the housing subsidy for both HBPA Alberta and ASHA, but allocating a budget of $600,000 to further strengthen the provinces racehorse population. All programs and funding allocations have been approved by the HRA Board of Directors. (Horse Racing Alberta) Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek has ushered in 2026 with a new technical paper, co-authored by founder Liang Wenfeng, that proposes a rethink of the fundamental architecture used to train foundational AI models. The method - dubbed Manifold-Constrained Hyper-Connections (mHC) - forms part of the Hangzhou firm's push to make its models more cost-effective as it strives to keep pace with better-funded US rivals with deeper access to computing power. It also reflected the increasingly open, collaborative culture among Chinese AI companies, which have published a growing share of their research in public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. For industry watchers, DeepSeek's papers often provide an important early signal of the engineering choices that will shape the start-up's next major model release. In the paper, released on Thursday, a team of 19 DeepSeek researchers said they tested mHC on models with 3 billion, 9 billion and 27 billion parameters, and found it scaled without adding significant computational burden. "Empirical results confirm that mHC effectively ... [enables] stable large-scale training with superior scalability compared with conventional HC (hyper-connections)," wrote the researchers, led by Zhenda Xie, Yixuan Wei and Huanqi Cao. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liang was listed as the final author. The team added that "crucially, through efficient infrastructure-level optimisations," mHC delivers these gains with "negligible computational overhead". The publication also offered fresh evidence that Liang, who has kept a low profile despite DeepSeek's increasing fame, remains closely involved in core research at one of China's most closely watched AI companies. Hyper-connections were first proposed by ByteDance researchers in September 2024 as a tweak to ResNet (residual networks) - a dominant deep learning architecture introduced in 2015 by Microsoft Research Asia scientists including legendary Chinese computer scientist He Kaiming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ResNet enables the training of very deep neural networks by stabilising the training so that key information, or residual, is retained as the number of layers increases. The paper was uploaded to the open-access repository arXiv by DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng himself, who has also posted DeepSeek's more prominent technical papers in recent years. Photo: Shutterstock alt=The paper was uploaded to the open-access repository arXiv by DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng himself, who has also posted DeepSeek's more prominent technical papers in recent years. Photo: Shutterstock> It has become integral to major large language models such as OpenAI's GPT as well as Google DeepMind's Nobel-winning AlphaFold system. However, ResNet has notable limitations, including difficulty ensuring that the learning signal that flows through the neural network remains strong without "collapsing" into a one-size-fits-all state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the DeepSeek researchers, ByteDance's HC solution successfully addressed these issues by expanding the residual stream and enhancing the complexity of the neural network, "without altering the computational overhead of individual units." DeepSeek argued, however, that the earlier approach did not fully account for rising memory costs, leaving its "practical scalability" constrained for large-model training. Instead, they proposed an additional tweak that "constrains" the HC network with a specific manifold to ensure compute and cost efficiency. "mHC will help address current limitations and potentially illuminate new pathways for the evolution of next-generation foundational architectures," the researchers wrote. Advertisement Advertisement The paper was uploaded to the open-access repository arXiv by DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng himself, who has also posted DeepSeek's more prominent technical papers in recent years, including work linked to its R1 and V3 models. Other less important papers have typically been uploaded by other researchers. Florian Brand, a PhD student at Germany's Trier University and an expert on China's AI ecosystem, said DeepSeek's papers often acted as an early signal of the technical direction behind its next generation of models. Industry expectations are running high that DeepSeek could release its next major model in the run-up to the Spring Festival holiday in mid-February. Advertisement Advertisement Previously, the company released its groundbreaking R1 model on the eve of last year's national holiday, fuelling speculation it could repeat that playbook this year. 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 2026 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2026. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Samsungs The Frame may not be one of the best TVs on the market in terms of raw picture quality, but it remains one of the most desirable options for those who value aesthetics. While a handful of rivals have tried their hand at art-inspired TVs over the years, Samsung has long dominated this niche with little serious competition. However, that lead may finally be under threat. LG now appears ready to challenge Samsung with a new canvas-style TV that will be showcased at the upcoming CES 2026 trade show in Las Vegas. Designed to blend seamlessly into living spaces as an art piece rather than a traditional TV, LGs upcoming Gallery TV offers a similar aesthetic and feature set to Samsungs offering. The LG Gallery TV will be available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, with a 4K Mini LED display powered by LGs Alpha 7 AI processor. It will sport magnetic customizable bezels and a flush mount, along with art-centric features to help set it apart from standard TVs. Advertisement Advertisement LG says it worked closely with museum curators to develop the Gallery TV, and it will feature a Gallery Mode that will automatically adjust brightness and color based on ambient lighting to more accurately depict artwork. In addition, the TV will include features to reduce glare and reflections. The LG Gallery TV will also come with LGs Gallery+ subscription service, which gives buyers access to a library of over 4,500 artworks that can be displayed on the TV. Additionally, users will be able to create custom images using generative AI or cast personal photos from their library. LG isnt new to gallery-style TVs This isnt LGs first rodeo when it comes to canvas-style TVs. The company first showcased the LG GX Gallery OLED TV at CES 2020, and has since released a few other models featuring an ultra-slim design and a flush mount. However, the new Gallery TV is the first from the company to offer art-focused features that put it squarely in competition with Samsungs long-running The Frame lineup. LG has yet to share pricing and availability information. More details are expected at CES early next year, and the companys pricing strategy could ultimately determine how well the Gallery TV stacks up against the competition. The post LGs new Gallery TV could finally give you a worthy alternative to Samsungs The Frame appeared first on Digital Trends. HCMC allows Masterise to study metro line No.3 project By Hai Yen Fri, January 2, 2026 | 12:03 pm GMT+7 Ho Chi Minh City authorities have approved a proposal by Vietnamese property developer Masterise Group to conduct a feasibility study for the citys Metro Line No.3 using the companys own funds, according to an official document. The municipal government stressed that the approval is limited to research and proposal preparation and does not constitute the appointment of Masterise as project developer, nor does it imply approval of investment or project implementation under existing regulations. If Masterises proposal is not approved by competent authorities, or if the company fails to complete the study within the assigned timeframe, it will bear all related costs, the document said. Upon completion, all research outputs must be handed over to the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board for state management and use in accordance with regulations. Metro Line No.1, aka Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien rail, in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency. Earlier, Masterise proposed preparing an investment dossier for Metro Line No.3, aka the An Ha-Hiep Binh Phuoc depot line, under a public-private partnership (PPP) model and a build-transfer (BT) contract. Under the citys approved master plan, Metro Line No.3 will span 45.8 km, running through several major transport corridors across the city. Beyond Metro Line No.3, Masterise has also proposed studying investment opportunities in other large infrastructure projects, including the Can Gio Bridge, Phu My 2 Bridge, and an expressway linking the Ho Tram tourism complex with the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport. HCMC plans to develop a network of 27 metro lines with a combined length of about 1,012 km under its long-term transport master plan, as it accelerates metro construction through 2030. The city attempts to roll out more than 10 metro lines in parallel over the remainder of the decade. While several projects are slated for public investment, a growing number have attracted private-sector interest, with some already entering early implementation stages. Last December, VinSpeed, a rail firm founded by Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong, broke ground on the Ben Thanh-Can Gio metro line. Sovico Group, controlled by Vietjet Air chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, has proposed studying Metro Line No. 4, linking Dong Thanh with the Hiep Phuoc urban area. Bcons Group has expressed interest in continuing research on Metro Line No. 2, which would connect HCMC with Thu Dau Mot in neighboring Binh Duong province, while Chinas Pacific Construction Group has also expressed its interest in the same project. Separately, conglomerate Thaco is studying an investment plan for an urban rail link from Ben Thanh to Thu Thiem and onward to Long Thanh International Airport. The proposal would combine the planned Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway with a section of metro line No. 2 between Ben Thanh and Thu Thiem. Minister of Fisheries Conroy Huggins (right) in conversation with Lowmans Bay fishers, during one of his in-person engagements with fishers across mainland St. Vincent, since taking office. Minister of Fisheries, Marine and Land Conservation and Climate Resilience, Conroy Huggins, on Monday provided an update on work underway within his Ministry, 20 days after he and the new Cabinet were sworn in following the New Democratic Partys decisive victory in the November 27, 2025 General Election. The party secured 14 of the 15 constituencies. Speaking on the Ministrys early progress, Minister Huggins said significant groundwork has already been completed. He noted that he has held several meetings with senior Ministry officials, who have been providing briefings on ongoing programmes while working to align priorities with the governments broader development agenda, particularly the expansion of the Blue Economy. Over the past three weeks, the Minister and his team have also visited all fisheries centres across mainland St. Vincent, engaging directly with fishers and assessing conditions on the ground. Huggins said these consultations have helped shape ambitious plans for the fisheries sector, with "great things in store for 2026 and beyond. The outgoing ULP government had earmarked the Chateaubelair Fisheries Centre for major rehabilitation funded by the World Bank, this after a period if neglect and more recently damage from the volcanic eruption (2021) and hurricane Beryl (2024). Plans involved retrofitting the facility with modern features like cold storage, fuel docks, and better infrastructure to improve safety and productivity for local fishermen, with construction expected to begin soon and finish by late 2026. The NDP has promised to advance this undertaking and more as the governments on increasing the fisheries sectors contribution to national GDP, as part of a wider effort to modernise the industry and improve livelihoods for fishers. Highlighting the countrys geographic reality, Minister Huggins pointed out that St. Vincent and the Grenadines ocean space far exceeds its land mass, underscoring the need to better capitalise on marine resources. He described the Blue Economy as a critical growth area, encompassing fisheries, marine conservation, climate resilience, and the sustainable use of ocean resources. Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday met with H.E. Fiona Fan, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on Friday, December 12. Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday, during a recent radio interview on Boom 106.9 FM, confirmed that his New Democratic Party government has not altered the diplomatic relations this country currently enjoys with its international partners, including the Republic of China Taiwan. The reference to Taiwan puts to rest, whether temporarily or otherwise, the notion that the New Democratic Party, if it assumed the reins of government, would have severed relations with Taiwan in favour of fostering relations with the Peoples Republic of China. The Prime Ministers confirmation of maintaining ties with Taiwan also allayed fears among Vincentian students studying in Taiwan on scholarships. The Prime Minister reassured that their education and status will not be impacted. Friday stated that students have no reason for concern, noting that the countrys foreign policy positions remain unchanged. "I gave the assurance to those students that their position would not be affected. Our diplomatic relations with Taiwan remain, as do our relations with all countries with which we have diplomatic ties. We have not changed our position with respect to any country, the Prime Minister said. He emphasized that all diplomatic ties remain intact and that existing agreements continue to be honored. Taiwan has been a longstanding development partner of St. Vincent and the Grenadines since the two countries established diplomatic ties on August 15, 1981. Since then, Taiwan has been a primary benefactor in several national projects through loan and cooperation agreements across multiple sectors in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Dr. Friday also noted that he has been engaging with ambassadors and diplomatic representatives as part of the normal transition process. While time constraints have delayed some in-person meetings, discussions have taken place by phone, with additional meetings scheduled for January. "Our diplomatic relations remain as they were, he reiterated and assured new administration will manage the countrys foreign policy and international relations to the benefit of the development of the country and all its citizens. A sailor who used his naval expertise to help his native Caribbean island when hit by one of the most powerful storms of recent years has been made a MBE for his selfless efforts. Ashta Ash McMillan was on leave visiting family and friends in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in July 2024 when Hurricane Beryl swept through the region. Classed as a Category 5 storm with winds reaching 165mph, Beryl left eight people dead and caused an estimated 170m damage across the small island chain home to 100,000 souls. Thousands of people were displaced and needed evacuation, while on some islands which bore the brunt of Beryls wrath, nine in ten homes were destroyed. Ash, a logistician with 20 years experience in the Royal Navy under his belt, immediately drew upon that all Royal Navy personnel go through regular disaster relief training, which has frequently been put into practice particularly in the Caribbean. In Ashs case, thanks to his personal energy, commitment, leadership and determination, he helped to coordinate the relief effort by a significant number of organisations, from the islands government to international agencies. Inspiring others In the words of his citation to be named a Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (thankfully shortened to MBE), "his swift actions saved lives, providing comfort and aid to devastated communities. His bravery and courage in the face of particular adversity, reflects the highest standards that underpin the Royal Navys core values. For the 44-year-old, who recently earned his commission as a sub lieutenant and is completing his training as a logistics officer at the Defence School of Logistics and Administration at Worthy Down, near Winchester, he hopes his MBE can inspire others, demonstrating that whatever your background and start in life, it should never limit what you can achieve. "Receiving this award was an unexpected and deeply humbling honour, he said. "In the Royal Navy were trained to step forward in times of need without looking for recognition, and supporting my fellow Vincentians in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl was simply the right thing to do. "Being able to help my country at such a critical moment, and to raise awareness of what people were facing back home, meant a great deal to me. Through 22 years of service Originally from Mesopotamia on the island of St Vincent, Ash initially worked in a call centre before deciding he wanted a more challenging and varied career and joined the Royal Navy as a stores accountant (logistician) back in 2003. In the 22 years of service, he has deployed with former aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, frigate Iron Duke, and destroyer HMS Dauntless. He took part in the 2006 evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon, has completed multiple Mediterranean patrols and one of the South Atlantic and helped prepare UK flagship HMS Prince of Wales for her sea trials. Hes served at every major naval base supporting both surface ships and submarines, and spent a lot of time with the Royal Navys longstanding mission in the Middle East, Operation Kipion, from ensuring HMS Lancaster was ready for patrols to planning the decommissioning of minehunters operating in the Gulf, efforts for which he was commended. PROUD MOM: Malabar resident Adana Ward holds her baby boy Ethan yesterday at the Sangre Grande Hospital Campus. Ethan, who was delivered at 1.11 a.m. by licensed midwife Vonnetta Gooding, was the first baby to be born for 2026 in the Eastern Regional Health Authority. If I asked you (the reader): do you think most people can be trusted? Would you answer yes o A private conglomerate is seeking to invest in the expansion of Con Dao Airport - a move that could significantly boost local tourism and economic development, according to a senior official at a recent dialogue with tourism enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City. Small aircraft remain the primary mode of air transport to Con Dao Island. Photo by Hoang Ha Speaking at the event on December 30, Bui Hoa An, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, said that under Vietnams aviation master plan, Con Dao Airport currently operates at level 3C, serving only small aircraft such as the ATR-72. Annual capacity is capped at around 400,000 passengers. By 2030, however, the airport is slated for an upgrade to level 4E, allowing it to receive larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320, A350, or Boeing 787. This would increase capacity to a minimum of 3 million passengers annually, more than seven times the current level. However, An emphasized that the master planning phase is still underway, and that concrete decisions on investors or construction timelines cannot proceed until this phase is complete. Once the master plan is finalized, the city will consider investor selection, organize bidding, and move on to subsequent steps, An said. There is no confirmed timeline for airport expansion in 2026. Speaking with VietNamNet on the sidelines of the event, An revealed that Sun Group is currently the only private entity expressing interest in the project. The company submitted a proposal to develop the airports master plan in October 2025. However, the planning document has yet to be completed. Only once planning is finalized will the city evaluate investors, conduct bidding, and move into implementation. Sustainable tourism in focus Pham Huy Binh, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said the local government strongly supports the airport expansion. He stressed that once upgraded, Con Dao will be positioned as a sustainable destination, targeting high-spending, environmentally conscious travelers. According to Binh, whether a public or private investor leads the project, each approach brings unique advantages and will ultimately contribute to public value. Once decisions are made by higher-level authorities, the Department of Tourism will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to assess the projects effectiveness. Two gateways to the island Currently, travelers can reach Con Dao via air or sea. While there are large passenger ships with over 1,000 seats operating from downtown Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao, waterway travel depends heavily on weather conditions. In certain seasons, this mode can be unreliable, according to the Department of Construction. The proposed airport upgrade is seen as a strategic step to improve accessibility, ensure stable year-round arrivals, and accommodate the islands growing popularity as an eco-conscious tourism destination. Tran Chung Streamlining teacher hiring: The director of the Department of Education and Training (DOET) in provinces will be responsible for recruiting personnel for public educational institutions within each province and for deciding transfers, secondments, appointments, or changes in job positions in cases under their authority or involving two or more communes. The resolution on mechanisms and policies to create momentum for education and training development was passed by the National Assembly on December 10 and will take effect on January 1, 2026. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) said the Government had incorporated feedback and revised the draft toward improving mechanisms for recruitment, utilization, and management of human resources, while clearly decentralizing authority. Under the new regulations, the director of the DOET is responsible for recruiting and receiving personnel for public educational institutions in each province. The chair of commune-level Peoples Committees has the authority to transfer, reassign, second, appoint, dismiss, and change job positions for personnel working at public educational institutions under the communes management. Previously, some opinions suggested assigning teacher recruitment to schools themselves, as they best understand their own needs and bear primary responsibility for education quality and student outcomes. The belief was that transfers, placements, reassignments, secondments, appointments, or job position changes when necessary should be handled by DOET or by communes and wards. MOET believes that when commune-level civil servants in charge of education are insufficient in number and many lack experience in state management of education, assigning DOET to lead recruitment, reception, transfers, secondments, and reassignments of teachers and staff at educational institutions across the province is appropriate to the DOETs current conditions and capacity. According to the MOET, assigning DOET as the lead agency will help reduce intermediary parties, standardize recruitment quality, save costs, and increase opportunities for applicants. It will also help address teacher and staff surpluses and shortages and ensure balanced staffing structures by education level and learning subject. The principal of a secondary school in Hanoi told VietNamNet that the new decision would make recruitment more closely aligned with reality. Deeper participation in the hiring process would help schools find candidates with strong expertise, suitable teaching styles, and compatibility with current reform requirements. Increasing the proactiveness and accountability of the recruiting authority, namely the DOET, will streamline and add flexibility to the process, reducing overlap among agencies which was seen in the past, the principal said. DOET, as a specialized agency, can design recruitment criteria with specific characteristics. For example, recruiting teachers with experience teaching ethnic minority students, integrated subjects, or specialized and bilingual schools, he said. The resolution also adds autonomy mechanisms for vocational education and higher education institutions in determining job positions, recruiting, and signing contracts with experts and scientists (PhD holders) who are foreigners or overseas Vietnamese. These institutions are also allowed to certify labor permit exemptions for up to three years for invited experts engaged in teaching and research. Regarding remuneration, the resolution stipulates the implementation of occupational preferential allowances on a roadmap, with a minimum of 70 percent for teachers and at least 30 percent for staff. Teachers working in especially disadvantaged areas, ethnic minority regions, border areas, and islands are entitled to a 100 percent allowance. The resolution also allows vocational education and higher education institutions to autonomously decide on additional income for employees from lawful non-budget revenue sources that the units are permitted to retain. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, former teacher at Vo Thi Sau Primary School (Cua Ong Ward, Quang Ninh Province), said that to recruit quality teachers who meet actual needs and quotas, DOET should be responsible for organizing the examinations, as this aligns better with professional expertise. Local authorities, specifically wards and communes, should only monitor the number of teachers needed and report this for appropriate allocation. According to Nguyet, the current situation where teachers are public employees managed by the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) in localities also presents certain inadequacies. For instance, while the reduction of public employees and streamlining of the apparatus are underway, teacher shortage in localities has not improved, making it a difficult problem to solve. "If the civil service recruitment regulations fall under the DOHA, the education sector will always face a staff shortage. The teaching workforce is not only in urban areas but also in difficult and remote educational institutions, places where few people want to work. Therefore, having the DOET manage recruitment, allocation, and deployment will be better," Nguyet said. Le Huyen In a draft Decree detailing tax declaration, calculation, deduction, payment, and use of e-invoices for business households and individual businesses (collectively referred to as business households), the Ministry of Finance proposes that business households with annual revenue of VND1 billion or more use e-invoices with tax authority codes or e-invoices initiated from cash registers with data connection to tax authorities as prescribed in the governments Decree 70/2025. According to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), setting the threshold aims to enhance transparency and combat tax fraud. However, the VND1 billion revenue threshold appears inappropriate. This threshold does not align with revenue thresholds currently used in tax calculation methods, which are VND3 billion and VND50 billion. This is a relatively low revenue level, only VND500 million higher than the tax-exempt threshold, while the financial capacity and management capability of many household businesses at this level remain limited, VCCI noted. A rapid survey conducted by VCCI in June 2025 found that household businesses with revenue above VND1 billion still face many difficulties in implementing e-invoices connected to the tax authority. Specifically, 32 percent in rural areas and 23 percent in urban areas lack investment capital, while 77 percent in rural areas and 67 percent in urban areas lack technological knowledge and skills. VCCI acknowledged that e-invoices authenticated by the tax authority is necessary, but the system must be designed to avoid placing additional pressure on small-scale household businesses. VCCI proposed raising the annual revenue threshold for applying e-invoices to above VND3 billion, corresponding to the threshold for starting to apply the profit-based tax calculation method. For business households with revenue below this threshold, tax authorities can strengthen supervision through data collected from many sources instead of requiring simultaneous application. Nguyen Ngoc Tu, a lecturer at Hanoi University of Business and Technology, said the application of e-invoices to household businesses has already been stipulated in Government Decree 70/2025, and the current draft mainly reiterates this provision to ensure consistency. Tu believes that the regulation that the annual revenue threshold of VND1 billion proposed by the Ministry of Finance is reasonable. It is actually not large, especially when placed in correlation with the current tax management scale. He said that out of a total of about 5.2 million business households nationwide, only more than 37,000 households have revenue over VND1 billion per year, accounting for less than 1 percent. Meanwhile, the overall policy is to proceed with applying invoices to all enterprises to serve the goal of digital economic development and enhance publicity and transparency. According to Nguyen Ngoc Tu, if the revenue threshold is raised to VND3 billion before mandatory e-invoice application, it might seem reasonable in terms of scale, but in reality, it will lead to the consequence that almost the entire individual business sector will not use invoices or documents. This could cause the non-invoice economy and informal economy to swell, negatively affecting other economic sectors. He argued that, in the short term, at a minimum, household businesses with annual revenue of VND1 billion or more should be required to apply e-invoices, while gradually expanding application to household businesses with revenue below VND1 billion. Nguyen Ngoc Tinh, vice chairman of the HCMC Association of Tax Consultants and Agents, said that under the second draft, there is only one method for calculating value-added tax, namely the direct method based on revenue. Under this method, sales invoices must be used. According to the Value-Added Tax Law, household businesses are not subject to using value-added tax invoices. If household businesses with revenue of VND1 billion or more are required to use e-invoices, while those with revenue above VND500 million and below VND1 billion are not required to use e-invoices, how can value-added tax obligations be determined? Tinh asked. He noted that the 2024 Value-Added Tax Law defines revenue for value-added tax calculation as the total amount from the sale of goods and services recorded on sales invoices, including surcharges and additional fees that the business entity is entitled to receive. As for household businesses with revenue below VND500 million, which fall under the non-taxable category, the draft stipulates that once revenue reaches VND500 million, tax declaration must be made no later than the 30th day of the first month of the following quarter. So what documentation is used as the basis to determine revenue for this group? Tinh said. Nguyen Le On December 30, 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committees Inspection Commission held its annual conference to review disciplinary and oversight work in 2025 and outline priorities for 2026. The event shed light on critical post-merger challenges, a rising emphasis on data-driven governance, and a call for political accountability in Vietnams largest city. 2025: The year of restructuring and no-excuses discipline Delegates attend the inspection and supervision conference in HCMC. Photo: SGGP The commissions report emphasized that, in addition to its routine responsibilities, 2025 was a year of intense focus on implementing Central Party directives to merge the Party committees of Ho Chi Minh City, Ba RiaVung Tau, and Binh Duong provinces. The consolidation of 801 staff positions across local-level inspection units and 16 positions at the city-level commission ensured uninterrupted operations after the Party Congress at all levels. Throughout the year, local and citywide Party Standing Committees conducted inspections of 809 Party organizations and over 3,500 Party members, alongside thematic supervision of 672 Party bodies and more than 3,000 individuals. Disciplinary data revealed zero tolerance in enforcement: Party committees disciplined 26 Party organizations and 257 members The inspection system disciplined 7 Party organizations and 21 members 21 Party members were suspended from Party activities In one notable effort, the commission reviewed the assets of 83 senior-level officials and audited over 1,000 Party organizations, uncovering and correcting numerous shortcomings before they escalated into serious violations. Data-powered inspection: A shift in governance thinking Deputy Head of Central Inspection Commission Nguyen Hong Linh speaks at the conference. Photo: SGGP A highlight of 2025 was the transition toward data-based supervision and inspection. In line with Resolution 57 of the Politburo, the HCMC Inspection Commission has started digitizing documents and building an integrated information system - reducing subjective judgment and enhancing accuracy. However, some challenges remain: Several inspection teams lagged behind schedule Local-level oversight lacked proactive and effective follow-through Asset and income monitoring was hindered post-merger, due to two-tier governance complexity Grassroots inspectors in communes and wards remain inexperienced and unsure in executing duties Over 100 sensitive, unresolved cases demand urgent closure Speaking at the event, Nguyen Hong Linh, Deputy Head of the Central Party Inspection Commission, underlined the urgent need to close unfinished cases following previous audits and inspections. Based on the merger of three major localities, HCMC is now subject to 18 official conclusions from the Central Commission, involving more than 300 issues. While over 200 have been resolved, 101 highly complex issues remain, posing a significant political challenge. HCMC Party Committee Deputy Secretary Le Quoc Phong delivers remarks. Photo: SGGP These are sensitive and difficult cases. Resolving them will not be easy, Mr. Linh stressed, urging the HCMC Party Standing Committee to take decisive and focused action. He called on Department 7 (a branch of the Central Commission) to monitor progress monthly, with a goal to fully resolve all outstanding issues in 2026. Moreover, Mr. Linh proposed a fundamental shift in methodology: Thematic supervision must be prioritized over reactive inspections. Early detection and correction of small errors can prevent major violations. HCMC leadership urged to break old patterns in a new term Le Quoc Phong, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, affirmed that 2026 marks a politically pivotal year, both for the city and the nation, as it kicks off a new term. In this new context, he said, Party oversight in HCMC must evolve - shedding outdated mindsets and embracing a more proactive, preventive approach. To achieve real breakthroughs, we must move from reactive inspections to continuous and thematic supervision, he declared, noting this as a core strategy to protect capable officials and avoid unnecessary personnel losses. Mr. Phong also emphasized that a top priority for the citys leadership in the new term is to resolve lingering issues from the 2025 merger process. With a vast workload ahead, he concluded that human capacity - the people behind the system - is the true engine of transformation. Quoc Ngoc FPT President Truong Gia Binh (standing) FPT President Truong Gia Binh has noted that the Politburos Resolution No57 has created strong consensus within the technology business community, opening up strategic space for enterprises to engage more deeply in the development of science, technology and innovation. On December 25, the Central Steering Committee for the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation held a conference to review results in 2025 and outline key directions and tasks for 2026. By the end of 2025, the online and end-to-end online public services provided at the central level had reached 53.3 percent and 31.36 percent, respectively, while the figures were 93.9 percent and 45 percent, respectively, at the local level. The proportion of citizens and businesses using online public services has increased sharply, helping save an estimated VND4.1 trillion. The National Public Service Portal was upgraded into a digital one-stop shop beginning on July 1, 2025, supporting the operation of the two-tier local government model. Digital transformation of the political system has been accelerated, with many processes digitized and platforms for administration, document management and paperless meetings operating effectively. National digital infrastructure continued to develop, with internet speed ranking among the worlds Top 20, and 5G coverage reaching nearly 59 percent of the population, The National Data Center No1 was also established. At the same time, science, technology and innovation have taken shape in a systematic manner, following the right direction and aligning with global development trends. The Prime Minister issued a list of 11 groups of strategic technologies and 35 strategic technology products. Vietnam continues to hold the 44th position out of 139 countries regarding the Global Innovation Index; the startup and innovation ecosystem maintains its development momentum and strengthens international connectivity. At this event, Truong Gia Binh, President of FPT, affirmed that Resolution No57 has created a consensus among the Vietnamese technology business community, while opening up strategic space for businesses to participate more deeply in the national cause of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Core technology: national strategic capability According to Binh, amid complex global fluctuations, technology plays an increasingly pivotal role, not only for economic development but also directly linked to sovereignty, security, and national self-reliance. In the spirit of Resolution No57-NQ/TW, FPT has made a strategic decision: shifting the focus from pure growth to long-term investment in core technologies, considering this the foundation for the sustainable development of enterprises and a practical contribution to the country. Currently, FPT has about 85,000 employees and engineers operating in more than 30 countries. The corporation focuses on investing in strategic technology fields such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technology, data, and digital infrastructure, step by step mastering high value-added technologies. Binh said at the conference that FPT is transforming FPT University from a practical university model to a research and development university, promoting training associated with scientific research, where students learn alongside AI lecturers. FPT University students are involved in technological research from their first year. Currently, the students publish about 270 scientific articles in prestigious international journals a year. On December 3, FPT established the Quantum AI & Cyber Security Research Institute (QACI) and committed to investing $100 million with the goal of producing 100 PhDs by 2035; developing and fostering 2,000 technology experts; and publishing 500 articles, patents, and intellectual property items. FPT with Au Lac AI Alliance has developed a Vietnamese large language model. FPT has its own ChatGPT with a scale of 70 billion parameters, trained on 112 billion tokens, currently having about 5 million regular users. In the semiconductor field, "Make in Vietnam" chips designed and tested by FPT have been exported to Japan and South Korea. Four proposals Binh suggested four proposals: first, accelerate the development of technology platforms for digital government, positioning AI as a foundational technology. Second, form a national cybersecurity defense alliance, connecting Make in Vietnam security products. Third, call for state support for a publicprivate co-creation model, pilot mechanisms and breakthrough investment in emerging technology fields. Finally, regarding railway infrastructure, Binh stressed that absorbing and mastering technologies for operation, control and system protection is vital. FPT has experience in mastering technology and operating large-scale systems, and wants to participate more deeply with ministries, agencies and localities in developing railway infrastructure, contributing to the countrys long-term development. Du Lam Over the past four years, Mr. Phong S. (born 1968, Hai Phong City) has grown familiar with deeply personal work: emptying bedpans, changing diapers, bathing and cleaning patients. Hes also learned the rhythm of fast meals and restless sleep, constantly putting aside his own needs to care for the sick. At nearly 60, this is more than a job to him - its a mission. Mr. S. shares his story after 4 years working in secret. He came into caregiving by chance. Previously, he and his wife ran a business selling electrical and lighting equipment. But both of his aging parents fell seriously ill - his father with diabetes, his mother with heart disease - and were frequently in and out of the hospital. For over 20 years, Mr. S. personally cared for them, both at home and in the hospital. He even studied acupressure and massage therapy to ease their pain during their final years. Through that experience, he developed a deep empathy for suffering - and a quiet passion for patient care. Compared to the stress of running a business, he found peace and purpose in tending to others. When I was caring for my parents at the hospital, people would praise me, he recalled. Someone even joked: Youre so attentive and skilled, maybe you should become a caregiver when you're free. I never thought I really would. It started with one phone call during the pandemic In 2021, during the COVID-19 outbreak, he received an unexpected call from a woman in Hanoi - someone from his hometown. Her elderly father, who had heart disease and diabetes, was also infected with COVID-19 and urgently needed hospital care. Mr. S. didnt hesitate. He simply told his wife: I need to go to Hanoi for something, and left. When he arrived at the hospital, the woman was in tears. Her father was in critical care. His wife had passed away, and both daughters were busy and overwhelmed. I told them, Dont worry. Ill take care of everything, Mr. S. said. That patient was the first of many - and marked the beginning of a journey hes followed ever since. A heartfelt thank-you letter from a patients family. Vice Chairwoman of the NA's Committee for People's Aspirations and Supervision The NA Standing Committee on December 24 met to give opinions on the National Assemblys report on citizen petitions in October and November. Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Committee for People's Aspirations and Supervision Le Thi Nga said voters and the public expressed concern over severe rains and flooding that caused significant losses of lives and property. Voters noted that business activities, the buying and selling of goods, and the provision of services via social networks and e-commerce platforms have been growing rapidly, contributing to the promotion of e-commerce, digital transformation, and modern consumption. However, state management in this field still has shortcomings, especially in tax administration, product origin, pricing, and product quality. Many serious violations are detected only after a long period, causing budget revenue losses and harm to consumers. In addition, people are worried about online fraude and scams. The process of renewing and issuing driving licenses remains slow, causing difficulties for the public. The trading, transport, and use of drugs continue to occur, especially among young people. Regarding the receipt and handling of voters petitions, Le Thi Nga said the Committee for Citizen Aspirations and Supervision compiled 757 petitions and transferred them to competent authorities for resolution in accordance with the law. To date, the standing body of the committee has received responses and resolution results for 304 petitions, with a resolution and response rate of 40.2 percent. She said the number of citizen complaints, denunciations, petitions, and reflections has increased compared to September. In general, citizens coming to submit complaints have complied with legal regulations. According to reports from localities, during the reporting period there were five complaint cases with signs of complexity related to security and public order that require competent authorities to review and resolve thoroughly. These cases were related to land issues, especially compensation, support, and resettlement when the State recovers land; environmental issues; and the construction and housing sector. The Committee proposed that the Government direct ministries and sectors to strengthen management, inspection, and supervision of business activities in cyberspace, and continue to improve tax management mechanisms for organizations and individuals engaged in online business. The Government also needs to pay attention to removing obstacles in the issuance and renewal of driving licenses, and to adopt measures to prevent criminals from using high technology to commit fraud and appropriate citizens assets. Ministries and sectors need to strictly control product origin, prices, and quality to protect consumers rights. Concerns in major cities Speaking afterward, Vice Chair of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh said that currently in major cities, especially Hanoi, people are concerned primarily about three issues. First is prolonged environmental pollution, which experts say causes many illnesses. He reiterated a statement by Party General Secretary To Lam: If pollution is not addressed, no matter how many hospitals are built, it will not be enough. He said that resolving environmental pollution cannot be done in a day or two, and that recently Hanoi has taken very positive steps and made strong efforts. People hope this situation will be resolved soon, Dinh said. Second is traffic congestion. Dinh said that after Hanoi appointed a new Party Secretary, this issue was directed decisively. State discipline and order must be ensured strictly, but attention should also be paid to livelihoods and resettlement for people in areas subject to clearance. Third is flooding, not only in major cities but also in mountainous areas. The Vice Chair of the National Assembly said a comprehensive assessment of the causes is needed. In the past, rainfall was not as heavy, and areas did not flood as they do now. Therefore, we need to examine whether there are other causes, especially those related to hydropower and irrigation, Dinh added. Meanwhile, Chair of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Nguyen Thanh Hai raised issues related to peoples daily lives. These include rising living costs and food prices, especially vegetables, which has put great pressure on people, particularly workers and retirees. This is an issue I have experienced in practice. For example, vegetable prices have doubled, Hai said. Tran Thuong The year 2025 saw a disturbing rise in school violence across Vietnam, with multiple serious cases resulting in grave injuries - and, in some instances, death. Whats most concerning is the growing belief among students that using violence is a "normal way" to resolve conflicts. 9th grader stabs classmate during off-campus altercation in Gia Lai In early December, two 9th-grade students from Nguyen Van Cu Secondary School in Gia Lai arranged to meet at a snack shop near their school to "settle a long-standing conflict." A heated argument escalated into a fight, during which one student pulled out a knife and stabbed the other in the chest, seriously injuring him. The victim was rushed to Hospital 331 with an open wound to the left chest wall near the seventh and eighth ribs. Student dies after classroom assault in Thanh Hoa At Thanh Hoa College of Agriculture, a 10th-grade student was attacked by a group of classmates who stormed into the classroom and beat him. The student was unconscious and suffered a brain hemorrhage by the time teachers got him to the medical room and then to the hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he died after several days in critical condition. 8th grader attacked, pushed into lake in Lao Cai An 8th-grade male student, after assaulting the victim, pushed them into a lake and walked away. Image captured from video footage. In a highly disturbing incident in Yen Bai Ward, Lao Cai Province, an 8th-grade student from Quang Trung Secondary School was assaulted with a weapon and shoved into a lake. The attack stemmed from previous teasing and verbal insults about the victims parents. On the afternoon of November 5, after further provocation, the assailant returned to school carrying a knife in his backpack. After school, they met at the lake where the attacker stabbed the victim multiple times in the back and shoulders, then pushed him into the water before walking away. Fortunately, a passerby rescued the victim and brought him to the hospital in time to save his life. Fatal stabbing after PE class dispute in Thanh Hoa In mid-October, a 12th-grade student at Dang Thai Mai High School died after a fight with an 11th grader. The altercation began with a spontaneous disagreement during a physical education class. Later, the 12th grader confronted the younger student, hitting him with fists, feet, and a helmet. The 11th grader retaliated by stabbing the other student in the neck with a concealed knife, killing him. 9th grader injures classmate with metal baton in An Giang Also in October, a 9th grader from Binh Thanh Dong Secondary School in An Giang Province used a collapsible baton to strike an 8th-grade classmate in the head and face, causing serious injuries. They had agreed to fight in an empty lot, joined by several other students. During the fistfight, a friend of the 9th grader suddenly intervened, hitting the victim repeatedly with the baton. The injured student was taken to a local clinic and later to a hospital for treatment. 8th-grade girl beaten in school bathroom in HCMC A female student was assaulted by a group of classmates in the school restroom. Image captured from video footage. A clip went viral showing a group of students dragging an 8th-grade girl from An Dien Secondary School in Ho Chi Minh City into a bathroom and assaulting her. In the video, the victim is punched, kicked, pulled by the hair, and dragged across the floor while wearing a school uniform and red scarf. Several other students stood by, watching and cheering. A teacher eventually intervened and dispersed the crowd. The girl was later diagnosed with multiple injuries, including three fractured ribs, and showed signs of trauma. 8th-grade boy suffers broken ribs after group attack in Bac Kan Police work with school representatives and involved students in Bac Kan. Director Nguyen Quang Dung A recruitment post that stirs the waters Recently, director Nguyen Quang Dung has posted a notice on his personal social media page seeking professional assistants. The post quickly became a focal point of online controversy. He stated that he is currently developing several major projects and needs support for specialized tasks. However, the most contentious point is that the position is part-time and completely unpaid. The promised benefits include gaining experience and the opportunity to work on large-scale projects while networking with top market creators, producers, and investors. Two sharply opposing viewpoints Supporters of Nguyen Quang Dungs view argued that this is a valuable learning opportunity. Supermodel Ha Anh said that learning directly from an experienced professional is extremely valuable and not something money can always buy. She emphasized that this is a voluntary, mutually agreed arrangement between two individuals, with no coercion involved. Ha Anh criticized those who went to the directors personal page to insult him or quote the Labor Code to prove their knowledge, calling such behavior toxic. Writer Lucas Luan Nguyen shared details of a conversation he had with Nguyen Quang Dung three weeks earlier. He revealed that the job is not full time but mainly involves research and debriefing when projects arise, while also allowing participation in idea development meetings and meetings with major industry partners. Lucas Luan Nguyen said Nguyen Quang Dung is very concerned about candidates interests, repeatedly expressing worry that they might be disadvantaged. He even messaged one potential candidate to prioritize taking a paid job instead. Lucas quoted him as saying: I want a two-way relationship: you help me, you also get to attend that project meeting, and I will teach you and give you opportunities. Actor Quang Son commented that those who truly want to pursue the profession understand that what the director is doing is teaching and mentoring, offering real-world exposure. He argued that paying tuition would be more appropriate than expecting a salary, as no teacher pays students for assisting and learning the craft. In contrast, critics argued that the move shows disregard for the value of labor. Reader Thuong Hoai said that advertising for an assistant means seeking a collaborator, not a trainee. An educated public figure who undervalues the effort and talent of collaborators should reflect on themselves, Thuong Hoai wrote. Another user, Binh Thanh, bluntly stated that only directors of international stature could attract unpaid assistants, while in the current climate, recruiting an unpaid assistant is inappropriate. What does Dung say? On the evening of December 27, Nguyen Quang Dung raised his voice and thanked those who understood him and colleagues who wrote explanatory posts on his behalf, adding that it is normal for some people not to understand. He shared his perspective: In life, many things that are meaningful and useful to one person may be meaningless or unreasonable to another. That is life. Everyone has their own viewpoint and chooses what they want. He also spoke about his career journey, noting that for his first feature film, he only received a screenwriters salary and did not take a directors fee. Notably, when working as an assistant director on an international co-production, he received only $500 for the entire three to four months of filming, then continued post-production work from Vietnam to Thailand and Singapore over two years without additional income. He said he accepted the job because it allowed him to travel across Vietnam and learn about making war films, even postponing his own directing project to work as an assistant director first. However, these explanations have not fully eased the divided opinions among the public. Nguyen Quang Dung is a famous movie director in Vietnam, especially for his Dat Rung Phuong Nam (Song of the South). Tinh Le Tu Du Hospital, in collaboration with Childrens Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, has successfully performed Vietnams first Ministry of Health-approved fetal cardiac intervention on a fetus diagnosed with severe pulmonary valve stenosis. Mother and fetus in stable condition after surgery. Photo: Phuoc Sang On December 31, Tu Du Hospital announced that a team of more than 25 specialists had completed the groundbreaking fetal balloon valvuloplasty in just over 30 minutes - marking the first officially licensed case of its kind in the country. The patient, N.T.T.T, a 26-year-old woman from Ho Chi Minh City, was in her second pregnancy. Early prenatal screenings, including first-trimester ultrasounds and NIPT tests, showed no abnormalities. However, between weeks 22 and 24, a detailed fetal echocardiogram revealed that the fetus had severe pulmonary valve stenosis accompanied by tricuspid regurgitation. She was immediately referred for multidisciplinary consultations at Tu Du Hospital and Childrens Hospital 1. Amniocentesis results showed a normal chromosome profile, a key factor supporting the decision to proceed with fetal intervention. Surgical team performing the fetal heart procedure. Photo: Supplied by Hospital By week 29, the condition worsened, with signs of progressive right ventricular hypoplasia. Without timely intervention, the fetus was at high risk of developing single ventricle physiology after birth - a severe form of congenital heart disease with poor long-term outcomes. On December 29, a joint hospital board convened and confirmed a diagnosis of severe pulmonary valve stenosis progressing to valve atresia. The team unanimously decided on an emergency in utero balloon valvuloplasty via transabdominal access. The procedure was carried out on the morning of December 30. Despite the fetus presenting in a head-down, left-facing position with anterior placenta - which increased the complexity - surgeons overcame several technical challenges. In particular, the fetuss arm was positioned across its chest, obscuring access to the heart. The team skillfully performed fetal repositioning maneuvers to safely reach the targeted site. The team successfully inserted a needle through the mothers abdomen, uterus, fetuss chest wall, and into the right ventricle, using a balloon to dilate the pulmonary valve. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai, Director of Tu Du Hospital. Photo: Phuoc Sang Amazingly, the procedure succeeded on the first attempt, minimizing time and risk to both mother and fetus. According to doctors, the intervention aimed to improve blood flow through the pulmonary valve, allowing the right ventricle to develop more fully during the remainder of gestation. This increases the chances of preserving a biventricular (or 1.5-ventricle) circulation after birth, avoiding the need for complex and prolonged single-ventricle surgical pathways. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai, Director of Tu Du Hospital, confirmed that this was the 12th fetal heart intervention performed by the hospital - but the first one conducted under formal Ministry of Health approval. Previously, the hospital had conducted several successful cases, but the technique was still awaiting official recognition. Now, the Ministry of Health has officially added fetal cardiac interventions to its list of approved medical procedures, authorizing both Tu Du Hospital and Childrens Hospital 1 to perform them. "With official approval, the cost of the procedure has been standardized to match the affordability of Vietnamese families, Dr. Hai said. Its more expensive than adult cardiac procedures but still covered by national health insurance to ensure accessibility for all. After the procedure, the patient will be closely monitored until delivery. Depending on the evolving condition of the fetus and mother, doctors will recommend the most suitable care and delivery method. Experts stress that the first trimester is the golden window for detecting fetal anomalies, especially cardiac conditions. Pregnant women are strongly advised to attend regular prenatal checkups and undergo specialized fetal echocardiograms when indicated. Phuoc Sang Vietnam's agriculture is pivoting to green and low-emission production. Photo by Hoang Giam The surge came even as the global economy faced continued geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, retaliatory tariffs from the United States, and unpredictable supply chain disruptions. Logistics costs soared, input prices fluctuated, and market confidence waned, especially as the pace of international economic growth slowed. Domestically, the countrys political apparatus underwent significant restructuring to improve efficiency, while the agricultural sector was battered by climate change, extreme weather, and successive storms and floods from the third quarter onward - creating widespread damage to rural communities and production systems. In the face of these adversities, agriculture held strong as a pillar of economic stability, safeguarding millions of livelihoods across Vietnam. Forestry, coffee and seafood lead the way According to the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, forestry exports reached between $18.318.5 billion, up 6.6% from 2024. The trade surplus hit an all-time high of $14.87 billion. Vietnam maintained its position as the worlds fifth-largest exporter of timber and ranked second in high-value wood furniture exports, trailing only China. Coffee exports also shattered records, raking in $8.68 billion - a staggering 54.4% increase from the previous year. Nguyen Nam Hai, President of the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association, noted that 2025s success was not merely due to high prices. Its the result of years spent upgrading our quality standards. As Vietnamese coffee improved, it became the preferred choice for more and more global markets, he said. The sector is gradually shifting from raw exports to deeply processed coffee, reflecting the industrys pivot to value-added production. Seafood production and exports continued their robust recovery post-Covid-19, generating nearly $11.3 billion, up 12.5% year-on-year - the highest figure in the sectors history since Vietnam entered the global seafood trade. Durian rules the fruit export throne Fruit and vegetable exports reached approximately $8.6 billion, a 20% increase over 2024. Of this, durian alone accounted for $4 billion, becoming Vietnams most valuable fruit export and dominating the produce category. Cashew and pepper exports also hit new highs, reaching $5 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively. These achievements reflect both the resilience and adaptability of Vietnamese agro-exports amid ongoing global volatility. Businesses leveraged post-pandemic opportunities not just to recover, but also to expand market share, accelerating the nations export momentum. Processing, preservation, and sustainability take center stage The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported a positive transformation in agricultural practices, with greater focus on processing by-products, improving storage capabilities, and investing in deep-processing systems. Vietnam now has nearly 8,000 industrial-scale processing facilities linked to exports and about 22,000 smaller agricultural processing units. The total annual processing capacity is estimated at 120130 million tons of raw material. The share of high-value, processed products has climbed from 20% in 2020 to over 30% by 2025. To sustain growth amid rising global standards and fierce competition, the Ministry outlined key strategic pillars for 2026. These include institutional reform, upgrading technical standards, aligning with international food safety and traceability requirements, and boosting inspection and monitoring systems to ensure quality from the source. Production is also being restructured toward green, circular economies and value chain models. Efforts are underway to expand certified raw material regions and implement flagship programs like the one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice, sustainable aquaculture, and certified forestry. These initiatives aim to improve product quality, environmental compliance, and supply chain transparency. Expanding markets and digital transformation In addition to consolidating traditional export markets, the Ministry is proactively exploring new potential markets, leveraging free trade agreements to remove technical barriers, and handling trade defense issues to safeguard Vietnamese producers. The sector is also investing in digital transformation, modern logistics, and post-harvest technology. Scientific and technological innovations are being deployed across the entire value chain to reduce production costs and enhance export value. Ha Giang According to the National Tourism Administration, Vietnam received approximately 21.5 million international visitors in 2025, alongside 135.5 million domestic travelers. Total tourism revenue exceeded 1 quadrillion VND (approx. $41 billion). Destinations centered on heritage, culture, nature, and sustainable tourism gained strong momentum - helping Vietnam define a unique competitive edge on the global travel map. Across the country, multiple provinces and cities shattered previous tourism records. Ho Chi Minh City: Still leading the way The 50th reunification anniversary celebration drew millions of visitors to HCMC. At a year-end conference held by the HCMC Department of Tourism, the city reported robust growth in 2025, affirming its role as Vietnams tourism capital. The city welcomed an estimated 8.5 million international visitors, up over 39% from 2024, and more than 45 million domestic travelers, up 18.4%. Total tourism revenue reached 260 trillion VND (approx. $10.7 billion). During a 15-day series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of national reunification, 2.7 million visitors flocked to the city. Historical tours - such as the Saigon Commandos and Hidden Bunkers, 50-Year Reunification Train, and trips to Cu Chi Tunnels and Can Gios mangrove forests - were fully booked. Cultural-historical, river, nightlife, medical, and MICE tourism continued to expand, boosting visitor spending and length of stay. Large-scale events like the International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC), the HCMC Tourism Festival, Waterway Festival, and Ao Dai Festival reinforced the citys image as a dynamic and culturally rich destination. Hanoi: Global recognition, impressive growth The capital city recorded 33.7 million visitors, up nearly 21% from 2024, including 7.8 million international arrivals. Tourism revenue reached 134.5 trillion VND (approx. $5.5 billion), up 21.5%. Hanoi received numerous accolades from prestigious global tourism organizations. These international honors boosted its media presence and earned it spots on must-visit lists published by Conde Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and others. An Giang: The biggest surprise of the year In early December, Phu Quoc (An Giang) was once again named Worlds Leading Nature Island Destination at the 2025 World Travel Awards. Photo: Hoang Ha Perhaps the most astonishing development came from An Giang Province, located in the Mekong Delta. In 2025, An Giang welcomed over 24 million visitors, up 27% year-on-year. International arrivals soared by more than 90%, reaching 1.9 million. Tourism revenue reached 68 trillion VND (approx. $2.8 billion) - a 92% increase from 2024 - surpassing the likes of Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, and Quang Ninh, all of which were in last years top 5. Other top-performing destinations in 2025 Quang Ninh: 21 million visitors (4.5 million international), revenue over 57 trillion VND Lam Dong: 20.7 million visitors (1.28 million international), revenue approx. 56.8 trillion VND Ninh Binh: 19.4 million visitors (2.2 million international), revenue nearly 21.3 trillion VND, up 37% Da Nang: 17.3 million visitors (7.6 million international), revenue 60 trillion VND - surpassing pre-COVID highs Khanh Hoa: 16.4 million visitors (5.5 million international), revenue 66.7 trillion VND, up 16.8% Thanh Hoa: 16.2 million visitors, revenue 45.6 trillion VND Gia Lai: 12.4 million visitors, revenue 29 trillion VND Nghe An: 9.9 million visitors, revenue 30 trillion VND Quang Tri: 9.6 million visitors, revenue 11 trillion VND, up nearly 32% Ambitious goals for 2026 HCMC and Hanoi continue to set the bar for 2026. HCMC aims to receive 61 million visitors, including 11 million international arrivals, and generate 330 trillion VND (approx. $13.6 billion) in revenue. Hanoi targets 35.8 million visitors, including 8.6 million international arrivals, with projected revenue of over 160 trillion VND (approx. $6.6 billion). Meanwhile, Gia Lai Province will host the 2026 National Tourism Year with the theme Cultural convergence, green resonance. The province hopes to welcome 15 million visitors and generate 40 trillion VND (approx. $1.65 billion). Linh Trang Zalo AI Summit is an annual AI forum After eight years of organization, the Zalo AI Summit AI forum continues to attract great interest from the technology community in Vietnam, with the direct participation of more than 400 AI engineers and AI enthusiasts, along with tens of thousands of people following the event through livestream channels. Opening the event, Nguyen Minh Tu, Chief Technology Officer of Zalo, spoke about the development of AI around the world. The important question is not how many billions of parameters the model runs on, but what problems the model solves and how effective it is. At Zalo, we develop core features that directly serve users. One of the core features is Dictation, converting voice to text. This is a much faster and more convenient method. The number of monthly Zalo users using the Dictation feature has reached 7.5 million. Another widely used feature is Translation. In addition, Zalo also promotes AI in operations, for example, building chatbots for customer care, Tu said. The opening presentation was presented by Associate Prof Dr Quan Thanh Tho from HCMC University of Technology, offering an accessible look at the concept of AI agent and multi-agent AI, along with typical examples that have proven effective in Vietnam. The session presented by Dr Tran Minh Quan from Nvidia provided a clear perspective on Physical AI and the role of this technology in the next wave of technology digitalization. According to Quan, Physical AI can be understood as an AI layer capable of listening, understanding commands, and creating output that directly affects the physical world through robots, machinery, and automated systems. This is a step forward to help AI move beyond the digital environment, participating directly in the physical world and actual operation processes. Dr Chau Thanh Duc and Dr Nguyen Truong Son gave a presentation on the process of AI-fication in Vietnam with stories from Zalo. In 2019, Zalo AI developed AI to detect sensitive images, and then developed FaceID and eKYC systems in 2022. In the following years, new AI products and features were born such as AI Dictation (converting voice into messages), AI Avatar, KiLM (Large Language Model), VMLU (a set of criteria for evaluating the Vietnamese language capacity of LLMs), Kiki Info and Digital Citizen Assistant. New products and features are widely applied in life, affirming Zalo's AI-fication efforts and bringing AI to all people. The presentation with the theme Chips - the hidden undercurrent beneath the AI tsunami by Dr Pham Hy Hieu from OpenAI brought another perspective of AI through the lens of chip technology, showing that parallel to the development of AI models is the evolution of chip lines. According to Hieu, AI not only will grow strong thanks to data and smart algorithms but to increasingly powerful hardware platforms, playing a silent but decisive role behind the scenes. Honoring young Vietnamese AI talents Taking place from October 27, 2025, the Zalo AI Challenge 2025 competition attracted 1,060 teams, competing with two topics: "AeroEyes - Finding and Rescuing with AI-Powered Drones", building algorithms to control drones to perform search and rescue missions, and "RoadBuddy - Understanding the Road through Dashcam AI", building a driving assistant capable of understanding video content from dashcams to quickly answer questions related to traffic signs, signals, and driving instructions. At the Zalo AI Summit 2025 event, five winning teams in two groups received special prizes from the program. With the theme AI as an efficient partner, Zalo AI Challenge 2025 had a total prize value of up to $12,000. The competition was accompanied by Realtime Robotics company, media partners ZNews and Zalo Video, and sponsor LEADTEK Vietnam, along with a team of prestigious advisors who are experts in the field of AI. Practical activities and presentations at the Zalo AI Summit 2025 event contributed to proving that Vietnam has entered the era of AI-fication, so that AI becomes a sustainable growth driver for the country. Thai Khang New forum aims to boost digital connectivity in North Wales A new forum aimed at strengthening mobile networks and addressing digital connectivity challenges across North Wales has held its first meeting. The North Wales Regional Telecoms Forum met for the first time in December, bringing together local authorities, government, industry leaders, emergency services, telecoms and transport operators, and Eryri National Park. The group aims to help shape the future of mobile and broadband infrastructure across the region. The Forums objectives include removing barriers to investment, streamlining planning processes and simplifying engagement with industry, with the aim of maximising the impact of public and private sector funding and making North Wales more attractive for digital investment. The first session was chaired by Alwen Williams, Chief Executive of Ambition North Wales. She outlined how the organisation, acting as the regions Corporate Joint Committee, will support the Forum and promote engagement with the mobile industry. Members were also briefed on the 25-year North Wales Strategic Development Plan, which is intended to support national planning policy and local development plans, and highlight opportunities for industry involvement in major developments across the region. Alwen Williams said: Improving digital connectivity is critical to the future prosperity of North Wales. This Forum is an opportunity for public and private partners to work together, remove barriers, and accelerate investment in the infrastructure our communities and businesses need to thrive and stay in touch. The Forum forms part of the wider North Wales Growth Deal Digital Connectivity Programme, which focuses on delivering affordable, high-quality digital access. It will work alongside other Growth Deal projects, including Connected Key Sites, which address mobile coverage and low power wide area networks in areas of strategic economic importance. Niall Waller, Service Manager for Enterprise and Regeneration at Flintshire County Council and Senior Responsible Owner for the Ambition North Wales 4G+ project, said collaboration had already delivered results in Flintshire. He said: Our collaboration with Ambition North Wales and industry partners has already delivered tangible results, including private investment through the deployment of small cells in Flintshire. I found the first Telecoms Forum an exciting meeting and an opportunity to build on this success, ensuring that these efforts benefit not only Flintshire but the wider North Wales region improving connectivity, supporting economic growth, and creating new opportunities for businesses and communities. The Forum is expected to meet quarterly, with the aim of accelerating 4G and 5G rollout and improving mobile coverage across North Wales. Public and private sector organisations will be invited to contribute to a coordinated programme of work focused on strengthening digital infrastructure and supporting long-term economic growth. North Wales Police issue warning on gift card scams North Wales Police are warning residents to stay vigilant against scammers using gift card fraud. According to the forces Cyber Crime team, almost 5 million was lost to gift card scams across the UK last Christmas alone Fraudsters often ask victims to buy gift cards as a way of paying fines, bills or even to claim fake prizes. In some cases, scammers contact people pretending to be friends or relatives asking them to buy cards on their behalf. Police say such messages are often the result of hacked social media or email accounts, meaning the money ultimately goes to cybercriminals. A spokesperson for North Wales Police Cyber Crime team said: If someone asks you to buy gift cards to send on to them or to pay for something, it is quite likely that you are the target of a scam. Watch out for unsolicited callers claiming that you need to purchase gift cards in order to pay a fine or bill or to claim a prize, for example. Also be very cautious if friends or family contact you to ask you to purchase gift cards on their behalf its likely that their online account has been hacked and youll be sending the gift cards to a cybercriminal or online scammer. Please take the time to make sure that your friends and family are all aware that this type of gift card fraud is a favourite with scammers and cybercriminals. Make sure that they know that someone asking for gift cards should always be treated with caution. Royal seal of approval for Wrexham-based bakery A Wrexham-based bakery has been given a formal royal seal of approval after its products went global and created 100 jobs. Lord Lieutenant Harry Fetherstonhaugh, the Kings representative in Clwyd, presented staff at Jones Village Bakery with the prestigious Kings Award for Enterprise during a visit to its headquarters. The local firm has seen worldwide demand for its products in recent years and now exports to 14 countries. The Lord Lieutenant was given a tour of the firms state-of-the-art flagship bakery on Wrexham Industrial Estate before presenting the Kings Award to CEO Simon Thorpe and Commercial Controller Glen Marriott, who has led the exports expansion drive. What the fantastic ingredient everyone here possesses as part of the team and as part of the Village Bakery family is their utter commitment to its success, said the Lord Lieutenant. At the end of the day it is all about the product, and the products here are top of the range, and they are of incredibly high quality and the dedication of everyone here is high quality. Its another North Wales success story and that is absolutely great. Reading the Royal Warrant on behalf of the King at the presentation, the Lord Lieutenant said the award recognised the firms outstanding achievement demonstrated in the application of international trade. Glen Marriott said the presentation of the royal award was the product of years of hard work. He said: This is the culmination of a three-year plan that we have had. We were exporting into France in 2022 and then we had a delegation from the Department for Business and Trade come here in early 2023. That was a lightbulb moment because these people came here from around the globe and said we want that. And that was the catalyst for starting. The great thing is we have not actively hunted out customers, they have come to us. They have sought out Village Bakery because of the products we make, how well we deliver products, the technical standards we have here and the UK retailers we deal with. We do owe the Department for Business and Trade both in the UK and globally, along with the Welsh Government, a great debt of thanks for all the support they have given us over the last three years. Without the help of the Department for Business and Trade guys here and in-market we wouldnt have been able to get into some of the markets we are in. The support the Welsh Government has given us from a trade mission perspective, just getting our name out there, really does help. The award is a brilliant way to end the last three years, and now its onto the next chapter. CEO Simon Thorpe said a huge part of the firms export success was down to New Zealander Glen. He said: A huge amount of our work is down to Glen, about him building those relationships, managing those relationships. The supply chain element to this is clearly something of a challenge and its very complex, and its about having that agility to find those solutions. Robin Jones, former MD at Village Bakery, attended the presentation of the Kings Award. He added: It was lovely to see the Lord Lieutenant here and to celebrate the award. As part of the Jones family Im really honoured the company have won this award. They have worked incredibly hard for it. The award is testament to the hard work of all of the Village people. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time set aside each year to raise awareness about a crime that reaches into communities across the country, including here at home. The observance has been recognized every year since 2010, when a presidential proclamation dedicated the month to educating the public on how to identify and help prevent human trafficking. The U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, continues to raise awareness domestically and abroad through U.S. embassies and consulates, while encouraging people to learn the signs and share that knowledge in their daily lives. The month traces its roots to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which established the United States commitment to combat human trafficking both nationally and internationally. In 2010, President Obama formally declared January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a practice that has continued under every president since. Those annual proclamations have highlighted key moments, including stronger protections against trafficking in federal contracts in 2012, the first convening of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking in 2016, and the launch of the Program to End Modern Slavery in 2017. Human trafficking includes forced labor and sex trafficking and affects adults and children worldwide. An estimated 27.6 million people are subjected to trafficking globally, including in the United States. According to the State Department, traffickers often exploit instability caused by disasters, conflict, or public health crises, adapting their tactics during times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, many countries now follow a framework focused on preventing trafficking, protecting victims, and prosecuting traffickers. There are 178 parties to the United Nations protocol designed to address trafficking, with most countries assessed in the State Departments 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report meeting international standards. Here locally, law enforcement has also used January to highlight ongoing efforts. In a social media post, the Reno Police Department noted that detectives with its regional Human Exploitation and Trafficking team work around the clock to investigate trafficking cases, address attempts to solicit sex from children and adults, and connect victims with resources. The Reno Police Department encouraged people who may be at risk, or who know someone who is, to contact its HEAT detectives by email. The U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, also points people to several educational resources during January, including information on understanding human trafficking, ways individuals can help prevent it, an overview of the federal governments response, and national hotlines for reporting concerns. The department also publishes an annual report through the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking that outlines trends, challenges, and policy efforts. Federal officials emphasize that each January proclamation ends with a call to action, reminding people that awareness and education remain critical tools in preventing human trafficking, especially in states like Nevada, where major roadways and an interstate run through communities. (The Reno Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff's Office and The U.S. Department of State's Office contributed to this story.) Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, comments: Its time to break out the champagne as UK stock markets have delivered a New Years treat. The FTSE 100 hit the 10,000 jackpot level immediately after rounding off a tremendous year for UK shares. This is a historic moment and already makes 2026 one of the most significant years for the blue-chip index since its launch in 1984. Breaking through the 10,000 level is the best New Years present Chancellor Rachel Reeves could want. She has been banging the drum about the merits of investing over parking cash in the bank, and the FTSE 100s achievements just go to show whats possible when buying UK shares. It also proves to cynics that the UK market is not stuck in the mud, and that the US stock market is not the only place to make money. Why has the FTSE 100 done well over the past year? The FTSE 100 beat the flagship US index, the S&P 500, in 2025 thanks to its diverse range of industries offering a tonic to investors who started to get the jitters about tech stocks. Investors have faced considerable uncertainty, and many have looked away from the US for opportunities. Theyve focused on cheaper areas of the market, of which the UK is one. Weve seen increased interest from foreign investors looking to diversify their holdings and the FTSE 100 has also shone during the more tumultuous periods thanks to its plethora of defensive-style companies. When everything looks gloomy or chaotic, such as in the depths of the Liberation Day fallout, investors often seek solace in companies whose goods and services should be in demand no matter whats happening in the world. For example, we all need to pay insurance or water bills, or those in the habit are still likely to buy cigarettes or vapes, and the FTSE 100 has plenty of companies playing on these themes on offer. Other tailwinds for the FTSE 100 over the past year include the sharp rise in the price of gold and silver which has benefited the likes of Fresnillo and Endeavour Mining. A push for more governments to spend on defence has also improved the earnings prospects for contractors such as Babcock, with defence another sector well-represented on the UK stock market. Lots of people have criticised the UK for being an old economy market, full of boring companies in the banking and natural resources sector. Yes, it lacks the excitement of go-go-growth stocks omnipresent in the US, but boring can also be beautiful when it comes to investing. The UK is a rich hunting ground for dividends, and it is also full of companies that have slow but steady growth and which are underappreciated engines for wealth creation. How long did it take to hit previous 1,000 increments? Its only been 171 days since the FTSE 100 hit 9,000, so exceeding 10,000 at the start of 2026 makes it a record-breaking leap. Previously, the fastest jump in blocks of 1,000 happened when the FTSE 100 went from 5,000 to 6,000, which took 229 days in the late 90s. When discussing the nature of the fledgling United States in 1787, Elizabeth Willing Powel, an influential socialite in Philadelphia, asked Benjamin Franklin [w]ell, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy? Franklin famously responded that the United States is a republic, if you can keep it. Advertisement At the dawn of 2026, a similar question lingers amid controversy over the nations religious status following recent remarks by President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. More specifically, it thus seems fair to ask, without putting too much emphasis on Christmas, whether the United States is a Christian nation. We can respond enthusiastically yes, if we can keep it. At the same time, I must hasten to add that the recognition and acceptance of the United States as a Christian nation, a notion with which most American Christians agree, does not mean other faiths are, or should be, excluded because all religions are welcome in our democratic republic. Rather, my position is that an acknowledgement that even in the increasingly religiously pluralistic United States, a nation founded at least in part on an imperfect notion of freedom of religion typically reserved for members of the dominant Christian traditions in the American colonies, religious freedom remains a fundamental right, a first among equals. Advertisement Vice-President J.D. Vance made the first of the two statements that generated controversy about religion on December 20, 2025, in a speech at Turning Points USAs AmFest in Phoenix, Arizona. Vance declared we have been, and by the grace of God, we always will be, a Christian nation, adding fuel to the controversy over the status of Christianity in the United States. A week later, reacting to President Trumps religious Christmas greetings, on December 27 the woke editors of the Washington Post published a column, Trump aides official religious messages for Christmas draw objections. The Post decried Trumps words as a departure from recent government practices such as under the faux Roman Catholic Joseph Biden who openly violated many key the teachings of his professed Church, especially on matters involving sexuality, and nominal Christian Barack Obama, who had an ornament of Mao Zedong, hardly a supporter of Christian or any other religious values or freedom, disgracefully displayed on White House Christmas tree in 2009. Advertisement The Post preferred the secular, non-Christian messages of the previous administrations which typically focused on seasonal joy, peace, or Santa Claus imagery. The Posts editors apparently refuse to celebrate December 25, the day on which Christians, representing 62% of the American population, according to a 2025 Pew Research Center report, celebrate Christmas Day, a federal holiday, honoring the birth of Jesus Christ. Responding to the Posts baseless criticisms, President Trump retorted that [t]he First Lady and I send our warmest wishes to all Americans as we share in the joy of Christmas Day and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Along with President Trumps commemorating Christmas, officials at the Department of Homeland Security posted salutations on X proclaiming Christ is Born! and We are blessed to share a nation and a Savior, along with religious images such as a manger scene and crosses on its website. Advertisement Not surprisingly, the prejudice of woke anti-Christian media outlets exemplified by the Post and/or the unfounded fears of others on the Left warning that the attitude and actions of the Trump administration will lead to an unclearly defined Christian nationalism, to the exclusion of other faiths aside, nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, this manufactured controversy is about how critics at the Post and elsewhere ignore religious freedom and Christianitys contributions to American life. The Trump administration's respectful, positive attitude toward Christianity calls to mind philosopher George Santayanas prescient observation that those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it. In other words, because the American Founders were at least partially motivated by the need to escape the tyranny of state-imposed religion, most notably in England, in pursuit of religious freedom, they adopted the First Amendment, according to which Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Advertisement Among the many times the Supreme Court recognized the importance of religion is 1952s Zorach v. Clauson. Justices William O. Douglas opinion upheld the practice of New York City officials who allowed public school students to leave class early to attend sessions provided by educators from the faiths of their parents to receive religious instruction. The Court reasoned that [w]e are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being. Critics who oppose mentions of religion in American public, especially Christianity, rely on the repudiated so-called wall of separation between Church and State. Often credited to Thomas Jeffersons 1803 Letter to the Danburry Baptist Convention, this metaphor was actually created in 1644 by Roger Williams, a Puritan pastor in Massachusetts. The Supreme Court first used this metaphor in 1878s Reynolds v. United States in upholding a federal statute banning polygamy in the then Utah Territory, explaining that while people are free to practice their faiths, those beliefs must comply with American law. Advertisement The Supreme Court did not use the wall metaphor again until 1947 when Justice Hugo Black, a former member of the Ku Klux Klan, introduced it in Everson v. Board of Education as a Trojan Horse of sorts in allowing New Jersey to provide publicly funded transportation for students in faith-based, largely Roman Catholic schools. However, the wall morphed into a Trojan House because the Court used it for decades to deny most aid to religious schools, often displaying anti-Catholic animus. In 2016 the Supreme Court repudiated the walls anti-religious discrimination, granting equal treatment to faith-based institutions and individuals. At the heart of its judgment, writing for the Supreme Court in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, Chief Justice Roberts emphasized that the exclusion of Trinity Lutheran Church from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution all the same, and cannot stand. Consequently, the Court, and the Trump administration independently acknowledged the important role religion plays in American life and history. Moving forward, hopefully people of good will accept that neither the Constitution nor the Supreme Court forbid Christianity from playing, and continuing to have, an important place in American life as long as all religions are treated fairly and equally. To this end, in 1968s Epperson v. Arkansas, invalidating a law from Arkansas mandating the teaching of the Genesis account of creation in all of the states public educational institutions, Justice Abe Fortas, author of the majority opinion, noted that [t]he First Amendment mandates governmental neutrality between religion and religion, and between religion and nonreligion. In light of Fortas comment, the objections of the Washington Post notwithstanding, it is hard to see how Trumps wishing Christmas cheer or Vances remark could be viewed as violating the First Amendments protection of religious freedom. Rather, Trumps warm words merely displayed courtesy and good cheer of the Christmas season to others, qualities sorely lacking in our public discourse, while Vances reflected lived reality in the United States. Charles J. Russo, M.Div., J.D., Ed.D., is the Joseph Panzer Chair in Education in the School of Education and Health Sciences and Research Professor of Law in the School of Law at the University of Dayton, Ohio Image: AT via Magic Studio Advertisement Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) did not leave Washington as a martyr to principle. She left as a case study in how rank opportunism masquerades as populism, and how loudly proclaimed integrity can coexist with some of the most cynical behavior the D.C. swamp has on offer. Advertisement Greene entered Congress in January 2021, branding herself as a sworn enemy of the political class, promising to drain the swamp and to stand shoulder to shoulder with working Americans. Five years later, she timed her exit to meet the minimum service threshold for securing a taxpayer-funded congressional pension. Advertisement That benefit was locked in by dating her resignation to Jan. 5, 2026, three days after completing exactly five years in office. Under federal retirement rules, that service guarantees her a deferred annuity beginning at age 62, estimated at roughly $8,700 annually. It was a beneficial exit, not a sacrificial one. Advertisement The timing mattered because Greenes public rationale did not align with her personal incentives. She announced her resignation in November 2025. This followed a public rupture with President Donald Trump, the same man whose leadership she once championed for the Republican Party. That break was framed as moral awakening, but the surrounding context tells an undeniably transactional story. Almost immediately after distancing herself from Trump, Greene became a welcome presence across legacy media platforms. These same outlets spent years portraying her, the president, and the GOP as threats against American democracy. Advertisement In late December, the New York Times Magazine published a lengthy profile presenting Greene as reflective, mature, and newly disillusioned with Washington, based on two extended interviews conducted that month. The article emphasized her claimed growth and framed her split from Trump as principled rather than strategic. That narrative was echoed elsewhere. Advertisement During November, CNN provided high profile interviews in which Greene criticized Trump as out of touch on affordability. She pledged to abandon what she called toxic rhetoric. CBSs 60 Minutes soon followed, with her first major post-resignation interview, offering her a national platform that portrayed her as vulnerable and defiant rather than opportunistic. The Washington Post amplified Greenes warnings of fractures within the GOP. Her critiques were treated as insightful commentary rather than personal grievance. Before she resigned, ABCs The View, notoriously venomous toward conservatives, offered her a warm reception, praising her demeanor and applauding her criticisms of Republican leadership. This sudden embrace did not happen in a vacuum. It transpired after Greenes rapid financial ascent during her time in office, a transformation that starkly contradicts her populist branding. When Greene entered Congress in 2021, her estimated net worth stood at approximately $700,000. By April 2025, disclosures showed her net worth had ballooned to roughly $22 million. Those gains were not passive. Greenes investment activity included repeated, well-timed stock purchases in major corporations such as Apple, Amazon, NVIDIA, Visa, Walmart, and Palantir, many of which surged shortly after her trades. Her portfolio posted returns of approximately 18.6 percent by 2023, outperforming many of her congressional peers and exceeding typical market benchmarks. She also purchased Palantir shares days before the company secured a federal contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite sitting on the Homeland Security Committee, which oversees ICE. Greene has stated that she does not personally manage her investments, attributing decisions to a financial advisor. Yet the consistency and timing of her trades, often aligned with policy developments, tariff pauses, and government contracts, raise questions that her populist rhetoric never addressed. Her political evolution followed a similar pattern. After years of unwavering loyalty, Greenes public break with Trump intensified following several disputes with him. These were transparently designed to amplify Republican internal divisions for a hostile, left-leaning legacy media apparatus and its blue audience. Trump responded by disavowing her, calling her wacky and accusing her of turning against the GOP. Within weeks, Greene announced her resignation and recast herself as a lonely truth teller standing up to swamp creature interests. As one might expect, Greenes rift with Trump and Republicans goes far beyond issue-based conflicts. Dubious stock market profits cannot explain it, either. Her animus apparently stems from a cascade of unmet personal ambitions that exposed her underlying, boundless opportunism. They seemingly transformed her from a staunch MAGA loyalist into a vocal critic when she failed to secure coveted benefits from the new administration. Entering Trumps second term with high expectations, Greene aggressively campaigned for the Secretary of Homeland Security position, viewing it as a natural fit for her anti-illegal immigration stance. She was passed over before Inauguration Day, in favor of Kristi Noem, which was interpreted as a personal betrayal. Undeterred, Greene pivoted to eyeing a U.S. Senate run in Georgia against incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff, seeking Trumps endorsement during March. She purportedly sought to advance the MAGA agenda, only to face negative responses from the White House, which deemed her chances slim based on internal polls. This resentment boiled over into policy flips: by June, Greene attacked Trumps strike on Iran as a violation of anti-intervention principles. In July, she criticized his executive order on AI data centers as elitist favoritism. She hailed Venezuela's dictator, Nicolas Maduro, as a social conservative and praised her friendship with his ally, Code Pink. She also smeared Israels Gaza operations as genocide, which drew AIPAC condemnation. It was a stark departure from her prior pro-Israel advocacy. By September, Greene held a press conference pushing for Jeffrey Epstein file releases, positioning herself as a purist outsider while straining ties with Trump. These shifts, coupled with her August venting to The Guardian and October MSNBC appearance echoing Democrat points, highlighted her strategic rebellion to carve out an independent identity after her ambitions were thwarted. On Oct. 1, Greene blamed House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune for the government shutdown. One day later, she urged Trump to prioritize domestic affordability over foreign policy. By Nov. 3, she joined Democrats in a discharge petition to force a vote on the Epstein files, demanding continuous White House meetings on policy. Tensions exploded on Nov. 11 when Greene declared that she served her district, not Trump, prompting him to withdraw his endorsement on Nov. 14. Trump intensified his repudiation the next day, calling her a disgrace and traitorous RINO who had forsaken the GOP by turning left. Greene responded by accusing him of lying about her and claimed safety threats from his statements, framing her stance as advocacy for Epstein victims. This fallout was driven by Greenes resentment over denied influence and was exacerbated by her net worth surging into the eight figures through unsettling stock trades. It solidified her as a destabilizing force motivated by self-promotion rather than principled populism. The GOP was fortified by purging her influence. Greene is what false flag populism looks like. It borrows the language of the working and middle classes while operating comfortably within elite systems. It rails against corruption while profiting from proximity to power. It waves the banner of integrity while treating public office as a stepping stone rather than a responsibility. Marjorie Taylor Greenes departure is no loss for populist Republicans. Its a clarification. Her career illustrates exactly what voters claim to despise about Washington: a swamp in which performance replaces principle and self-enrichment wears the mask of rebellion. Good riddance to Greenes version of public service and her repulsive presence in Congress. Dr. Joseph Ford Cotto is the creator, host, and producer of News Sight, delivering sharp insights on the key events that shape our lives. He publishes Dr. Cotto's Digest, sharing how business and the economy really impact us all. During the 2024 presidential race, he developed the Five-Point Forecast, which accurately predicted Donald Trumps national victory and correctly called every swing state. Cotto holds a doctorate in business administration and is a Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt. Image: Caricature by DonkeyHotey, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed During college one of my professors in Political Philosophy said that the only real revolutions in modern Western civilization were the French and the Russian. He was right, but I didnt quite get it at the time. I do now. Advertisement While the American revolution was ostensibly a revolution, in reality it was more of a divorce where the kids kept the same parents, they just lived with their Mom. Their Dad was still their Dad, but they didnt have much to do with him. In contrast, the French and Russian revolutions were basically the children taking their parents out back and shooting them. The American revolution was a revolution, but it wasnt revolutionary. But what was revolutionary was the United States Constitution. Advertisement For the first time in history, a government was formed by a written constitution that described rights that were inherent from God (as articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the constitution of most of the original 13 states) upon which the government could not impede. Whats more, the entire thing was created for the specific purpose of limiting the power of government. This was made clear by the Bill of Rights, whichbeginning with Massachusettsbecame the quid pro quo for getting the Constitution ratified. And in case anyone missed the point, the last of the ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights states The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. That was every bit as revolutionary as the French sending King Louis XVI to the guillotine or the Bolsheviks shooting Tsar Nicholas II and his entire family in a basement. But whats more, unlike those other two revolutions, the American Constitution didnt result in rivers of blood and a collapse of society. On the contrary, it set the American experiment on its slow but methodical march to revolutionize the world and unleash the potential of man. Advertisement The American experiment worked for almost 200 years. Of course it didnt work perfectly for everyone all the time, nor for some people any of the time, but for the overwhelming majority of people who have lived in the United States over the course of its existence, life has been better here than almost any other place on Earth. But that experiment is in the process of collapsing. Why? Simple. Because the nation that was birthed with a constitution specifically geared toward limiting government power has metastasized into a nation where the government controls virtually everything. Advertisement Today its almost impossible for a person to get out of bed and go through a normal day without violating one or more laws. Just the federal government alone, which was the government the Constitution sought to control the most, has so many laws that it itself cant tell you how many there are. Justice Gorsuch estimates as many as 300,000. To his credit, President Trump sees the problem. But that is just one part of the problem. Another, even more dire, is playing itself out on our X accounts and on TV right in front of us except obviously, on the MSM. Im of course talking about the criminal enterprise that is known as what seems like the entire Somali population in America. It appears that Somalians in America have stolen almost as much money from American taxpayers as the entire GDP of Somalia itself. Advertisement This of course comes mere months after we saw DOGE discover the USAID / NGO grift machine documenting tens of billions of taxpayer dollars going to fund countless leftist programs. Not surprisingly, both involve Democrats but thats an issue for another day. As enraging as all of this is, these treacheries are just a drop in the bucket of where America has gone off her Constitutional rails. One need to look no farther than the federal budget to understand it. Today, 70% of federal spending goes to things that did not exist when the Constitution was written. Advertisement And were not talking about air traffic control towers or NASA. No, these are programs where the government basically takes taxpayers money and gives it to someone else. And what would those things be? Social Security, Health, Medicare, Education & Income security. (While SS is not redistribution, it is money the government demands and then controls the distribution of.) Thats fully 70% of federal funding, clocking in at a cool $4.4 trillion. A century before, domestic spending at that time usually on roads and farm subsidies made up less than 13% of the federal budget. Another way of looking at this is that in 1821, federal spending made up 2.5% of Americas total GDP while today its in excess of 23%. The fraud in Minnesota and via USAID are merely the most blatant examples of a system that has gone rogue. Half of American households pay essentially no income taxes while 100 million Americans receive some sort of government assistance. And the icing on the cake is that were not even spending our own money, were borrowing to do so, and today the national debt stands at 100% of GDP and unfunded mandates at twice that. Between the stultifying regulations, the income redistribution and the rampant, government sanctioned fraud dressed up like social programs, Americans have betrayed their birthright. America became the most powerful and consequential nation in human history specifically because of her explicitly limited government. For a period of almost 200 years she stood as a beacon of freedom and hope and opportunity. To the outside world that illusion of greatness may remain, but the reality is, much like the French Ancien regime before the revolution, there is a cancer at its core. And that cancer is government. Not government per se, but rather an out-of-control government that regulates too much, spends too much, and controls too much. Our government has become a leviathan in every manner possible and its tentacles and largesse have undercut the foundation upon which the nation was founded. With the Democrat partys Stalinist leanings and Stasi-like practices getting too difficult for free men to tolerate, the election of Donald Trump was a requisite for averting a real revolution. But its not sufficient. The America that changed the world for the better, that unleashed a level of human achievement unlike any other cannot survive as a borg, which is exactly what it has become. If Donald Trump and the mostly useless GOP Congress really want to actually make America great again, starting in 2026 they will turn their metaphorical guns and scalpels on the government itself and begin to bring back the primary idea that made America great in the first place: Limited government. Without that, everything else is little more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, and the outcome will be the same. Vince on X at @ImperfectUSA Image generated by ChatGPT. Fractures within the conservative movement were on full display at Turning Point USAs 2025 AmericaFest. Tucker Carlson, the focus of much of the controversy, was among the speakers. He endeavored to explain and defend his views without mentioning his critics by name. He also never mentioned the other name on everyones mind: Israel. Advertisement But the issue wasnt going away. In his speech, Tucker presented himself as a simple man adhering to a few simple principles: People shouldnt kill other people. Hating others for their birth heritage is wrong. Policymakers should only enact polices that benefit their constituents. Advertisement And so on. But by oversimplifying complex issues, Tucker took several wrong turns, resulting in indefensible conclusions. Advertisement He began with a precept that most decent people would agree with: We dont consider people in terms of the groups to which they belong. We consider them as individuals -- the way that God created them. Therefore, Antisemitism is not just naughty; its immoral. And it is precisely as immoral as hating any other group. This statement deliberately obscures the unique nature of antisemitism. Only one group in history has been universally vilified, slandered, persecuted, hounded from country after country, and targeted for extermination -- the Jews. In this case, a difference in degree really does reflect a difference in kind. Decency would demand that this distinction be acknowledged. Advertisement Instead, Tucker bizarrely compared antisemitism to the so-called war on white men that we see in some parts of society. As if being denied a promotion or admission to a university were the same as being lynched, machine-gunned, or hacked to death. In case anyone missed his point, Tucker then zeroed in on the unspoken issue: God is not on any countrys side... he declared. This was, of course, a direct rebuke to the so-called Christian Zionists who base their support of Israel on their reading of Scripture as well as moral and practical reasons. Advertisement On this issue, Tucker might have benefitted from a few passages in that Bible he reads every morning: For you [Israel] are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession (Dt. 7:6 NIV). Advertisement He [God] has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation (Psalms 147:19-20). For he who touches you [Israel] touches the apple of his [Gods] eye (Zech. 2:8). Some strains of Christian theology nullify these statements by applying them to the church. According to this supersessionist view, Israels divine mission ended with the appearance of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. All the promises of Scripture are now fulfilled in Christ; thus, the modern state of Israel has no special significance. Tucker, despite his claims not to venture into theology, seems to embrace this position, wittingly or not. (The Episcopal Church to which he belongs has officially rejected it.) To the consternation of the supersessionists, the Jews have retained their distinct identity since the time of Christ, enduring through 2,000 years of exile and persecution. And in just the last eighty years, the nation of Israel has re-emerged, thriving against overwhelming odds; Israels hostile neighbors outnumber it by twenty to one but have consistently failed in their efforts to destroy the worlds only Jewish state. A sincere Christian who reads the Scriptures, as Tucker does, ought to be able to discern the hand of God in such events. Tucker moved on to address the war in Gaza. He mistakenly asserted that the Bible forbids killing. Actually, theres a lot of killing in the Bible; what it does forbid is murder -- the deliberate killing of an innocent person. Tucker, apparently moved by media portrayals of dead civilians in Gaza, declared, Killing people who committed no crime is immoral; it will always be immoral. And people who do it will be punished for it, and nations that endorse it will be punished for it. Thats a fact! This was aimed at American policymakers who continue to support Israel even through the ongoing Gaza war. Its clear that Tucker hates killing and believes passionately in divine justice. Yet he made no reference, oblique or otherwise, to the October 7 Hamas attack that prompted Israels response -- and killed more than 1,200 innocent Israelis. Since war is a constant feature of human experience, thoughtful Christians since the time of Augustine have striven to articulate when it can be justified and how it should be conducted. Self-defense is universally recognized as a justifiable rationale for war. But it should be the last resort. For twenty years, Israel has tolerated relentless attacks from a neighbor committed to its destruction. Only after the unprovoked attacks of October 7 did Israel launch a campaign to destroy its mortal enemy, Hamas. Without addressing specific actions taken by Israel in the conflict, it would be hard to find a clearer basis for a just war. Yet, Tucker Carlson has joined the mounting chorus of voices accusing Israel of war crimes and genocide. With his millions of followers, he will continue to have an outsized influence on conservative-minded voters -- especially younger ones who lack the emotional connection to Israel that motivated their forbears. That is an ominous prospect for the Republican party, the United States, and the world. Bill Ireland is a writer in Southern California billireland.com Image: AT via Magic Studio For Iran's ruling mullahs, it's not a happy new year. Advertisement The news keeps getting worse and worse for them. Street protests across the country calling for their demise are going into their fifth day now, and in Tehran, 10 universities full of students have joined the street bazaar protests, which show no signs of letting up. The kids are chasing the mullahs through the streets, robes flying. The mullahs are reportedly taking off their robes now to not draw attention to themselves and putting street clothes on. Advertisement BREAKING: Reports that mullahs are taking off their robes and turbans, changing into civilian clothes and fleeing major cities. Cowards. pic.twitter.com/pcsx05Ivdy (@NiohBerg) January 1, 2026 The Iranian goons of its Revolutionary Guard are reportedly defecting. There's an unconfirmed report that the big mullah, Ali Khameini, has fled the country. Arab mercenaries have been called in and told to shoot protestors. Legendary footage from Iran today: Islamic regime terrorists are running for their lives with Iranian patriots chasing after them. Watch how weak and cowardly these basijis become when they're not fighting defenceless teenage girls. pic.twitter.com/37WIMTDQfQ (@NiohBerg) January 1, 2026 BREAKING: IRGC Forces Flee Iranian Cities - Khamenei Leaves Tehran WATCH: https://t.co/gpPpAnzmNr pic.twitter.com/sgSyR4iAjI Tousi TV (@TousiTVOfficial) January 1, 2026 BREAKING: Islamic Republic forces are retreating, as more Iranians flood the streets of Iran. pic.twitter.com/onZVnSNEbj Advertisement January 1, 2026 This comes against a backdrop of currency devaluation, which ignited the protests, and a general popular loathing for the regime. MAP OF THE FALL: Protests are accelerating! Tehran Hamadan Qeshm Karaj Malard Abbasabad Shiraz Kermanshah Kerman Isfahan Ahvaz Yazd Vanak Mashhad Arak Kuhdasht Zahedan Urmia Yasuj Rasht Khorramabad#IRANRevolution pic.twitter.com/iSJ8LGmOUp daniel hanuka (@LionsOfZion_ORG) December 31, 2025 Other factors that haven't been brought up much are that Iran is out of water, U.S. sanctions are starting to bite, and President Trump has threatened to blow the hell out of them if they dare restart their nuclear program, while Israel is reportedly not waiting around. Advertisement But this must be what scares them the most: . . . . . pic.twitter.com/W3ZIALfP7I Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 1, 2026 Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi: My fellow countrymen, greetings to you and your honor and courage. The Islamic Republic tried to confine you to your homes by closing public places and universities. But you bravely stood in the streets. I am proud of each and every one pic.twitter.com/vkcrt5ZmCO Open Source Intel (@Osint613) January 1, 2026 BREAKING: Iran's exiled Shah and National Leader, Reza Shah Pahlavi II, urges the world: "The tide of history is turning. I invite you not only to witness the birth of a new Iran, but to stand by our side as we achieve it and to work with us to build a legacy of lasting peace" https://t.co/aKlpFcUj7Y pic.twitter.com/3Ck2e7r1oe Advertisement January 1, 2026 The video below is not recent; it depicts the Shah's son being cheered at Oxford University in the U.K., but Iranians are passing it around as if it were taken yesterday: BREAKING IRAN: In Kuhdasht, Lorestan province Iranian protesters are toppling and burning down statues and monuments of the Islamist regime, as the nationwide anti-regime, pro-Shah, pro-@PahlaviReza uprising continues to gain momentum, following Reza Shah Pahlavi II's message pic.twitter.com/RpU6W0a5G9 Shayan X (@ShayanX0) January 1, 2026 It's an interesting video because it echoes in an inverse way, the kind of cheering that the Ayatollah Khomeini got, first in Paris, and then in Tehran upon his triumphant entry into the country in 1979. That Iranians are passing it around now seems to be a clever move to mimic those moments and send a message to the ruling mullahs that time is up, and it's time to go. It would be interesting if the shah-designate, the son of the late Shah Reza Pahlavi, who was deposed in 1979, does make a similar move for the optical effect, demoralizing the mullahs. Advertisement There is little doubt the Iranians want the shah again -- historically, they have had good luck with kings and now they seem to have a credible alternative to the mullahs waiting in the wings. All of Marvdasht is in the street: "This is the final battle, Pahlavi is returning" pic.twitter.com/oBlwMng3WQ (@NiohBerg) January 1, 2026 You don't understand. Chanting "Long live the Shah" on Iranian streets never happened for decades. People were scared. Now they're not. The name "Pahlavi" is on everyone's tongue all across the country. It's beautiful to witness. pic.twitter.com/3CQ3nXScyN (@NiohBerg) December 29, 2025 BREAKING IRAN: Just moments ago, people took to the streets in Mashhad, the second most decisive city in Iranian politics, after Tehran, chanting: Iranians, rise up and shout loud, chant your Shahs name! in support of Irans exiled Shah, Reza Shah Pahlavi II [@PahlaviReza] pic.twitter.com/0qAftlg9qS Shayan X (@ShayanX0) January 1, 2026 Here is why This is the voice of the Iranian people, rising from deep within their homeland. If your vision for the world includes peace and prosperity, then hear the chorus of voices echoing across Irancalling for the return of King Reza Pahlavi to restore dignity, freedom, pic.twitter.com/nii6DkYcm8 Fereshteh Gilaki (@fereshtehgilaki) December 31, 2025 Unfortunately, you are misrepresenting the demand of the Iranian poeple. As an Iranian, along with my entire family and everyone I personally know, we want nothing except the restoration of the Pahlavi hereditary monarchy, exactly as it existed in 1979. The slogan pic.twitter.com/E98aQfeKVp Yaar - (@YaarGhadimi) January 1, 2026 Like Pinochet, he was better than he was painted. A fairly recent book by scholar Andrew Cooper looked closely at the late shah's record and found it to be nothing like what he was painted by his enemies. Yes, there were some examples of human rights abuses. But it was not huge. And both Pinochet and the shah did much to modernize their countries, way more than they were given credit for. The shah, for one, was very knowledgeable about his people:s In his final interview in 1980, the Shah is asked: In 50 years, how will future Iranians judge you? Shah: If they read history they will see, what it was before my father, what it was when I took over, and what it was when I left. Free Iran. pic.twitter.com/2ge7HFn6JK The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) December 31, 2025 Monarchy is our heritage. We want a kingdom with Pahlavi. pic.twitter.com/g5EV9o7Xpr Zarathustrian (@JustinHaubrich) December 31, 2025 This is the worst news of all for the mullahs, who have only corruption, poverty, ruin, and the opposite of glory that Iran's classy people long to see in their country, given their storied heritage as the mighty Persians. The uprising is continuing and the betting markets now say that the odds of the mullah regime collapsing are soaring. A disastrous mullah era may be coming to a close, even though there have been so many false alarms. Odds are good, though, that the conditions are there for it to happen soon. Image: Screen shot from X video. Once again, Israel is being attacked at the United Nations. Western states and the African Union have called into question Israels recognition of the right of self-determination and independence of Somaliland, a former British colony and a pivotal nation on the Horn of Africa. Although the international community often champions self-determination as a universal right, this has been selectively denied to Somaliland, despite meeting obvious criteria for statehood. Advertisement The operative questions: 1. What criteria are required for recognition? Advertisement 2. Does the entity known as Palestine meet those criteria? 3. Why has Palestine been recognized by over 150 countries when the necessary criteria of unified governance are absent? Advertisement Specifically, there is one entity (Hamas) governing Gaza and another in the West Bank ruling from Ramallah. Additional criteria include agreed upon boundaries and effective sovereign authority over territory. Palestinian institutions are split up, and the territorys leadership are not in control over the spaces they claim. Conversely, Somaliland has been effectively managing its affairs since 1991. Somaliland has full control of its territory and has a functioning government, elections, basic services, the ability to maintain international relations, and a law enforcement apparatus. Israel has not created a new reality; it has simply recognized an existing one. Historically, various colonial powers meddled in Somaliland. In 1870, Egypt established authority there. Britain, having occupied the former Egyptian Somaliland in 1884, established a protectorate there in 1887. Mussolinis Italy occupied British Somaliland in the early part of WWII, between August 1940 and March 1941. Britain reoccupied the territory, and on June 26, 1960, the British Somaliland protectorate obtained independence as the State of Somaliland. British Somaliland was briefly independent but then became an autonomous region within Somalia. In 1969, there was a coup, and Siad Barre rose to power in Somalia. An authoritarian, he engaged in a war with Ethiopia and, in 1988, bombed the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa. As such, Somaliland was part of Somalia only from 1960 to 1991. It declared its independence once again in 1991. In May 2001, Somalilands constitution was overwhelmingly (97%) approved in a referendum. Advertisement The Presidential and Political Parties Elections held in Somaliland on November 13, 2024 marked a significant democratic milestone. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro (WADDANI) was elected president, reflecting a shift in political leadership. Additionally, WADDANI, KULMIYE, and KAAH were officially recognized as national political parties, reinforcing Somaliland's competitive multi-party democracy. Clearly, the international community has been prejudiced against Somaliland while pandering to the Palestinians, whose contributions to humanity have been jihad, suicide bombings, plane hijackings, and terror. At the U.N., it is the numbers that count. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has 57 states and is the largest bloc in the General Assembly of the U.N. Palestine is a member of the OIC, whereas Somaliland is not. The large Muslim population within the European Union (E.U.) is another prejudicial factor. The Brussels-based E.U. panders to the Palestinians out of fear of terror, concerned that the Muslim population will foment instability among its nation-states. Fear of Muslim reaction is intimidating and drives their bias against Israel as well as against Somaliland. Advertisement Although the U.N. hypocritically moralizes and criticizes Israel for violating the territorial integrity of Somalia by recognizing Somaliland, Somalia has in fact not assumed sovereignty over Somaliland in over thirty years. Moreover, the chaotic state of Somalia has no diplomatic relations with Israel and has consistently voted against Israel in international forums. Israel, therefore, is not losing a friendly state, but gaining a potential new member of the Abraham Accords. Ironically, it is the terror-sponsoring Muslim Brotherhoodaffiliated states like Qatar and Turkey that have condemned Israels recognition and number themselves among those moralizing states that demand that Israel play by the rules. And they are joined by the E.U., which hypocritically encourages recognition of Palestine because of fear. Hence, the issue is not fairness or justice, but pure diplomatic hypocrisy. Advertisement The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss and potentially condemn Israel's recognition of Somaliland. It has been noted that the U.N. has not held similar emergency sessions for other global conflicts or issues pertaining to self-determination. The difference is that this involves Israel. The cowards of the E.U. stand in sharp contrast with Israel, which is taking a fair and moral stand on Somaliland, albeit an unpopular one at the moment. Naturally, there is strategic self-interest involved as well. Ships going to the port of Eilat, along the Red Sea, have been targeted by the Houthis. It has been costly for Western nations and for Israel, both of whom have been victims of the Houthis shutting off international trade in the narrow area between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Somaliland is situated between the Sea and the Gulf. In coordination with the Somaliland authorities, this recognition affords both Israel and the U.S. more direct access to this vital sea lane and may provide Israel with the opportunity to deter the Houthis from closer range. The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords, is Israels central partner in supporting Somaliland. The UAE has invested in the control of key assets such as ports, islands, and trade routes. The UAE is also supporting the Southern Transitional Council (STC), established in 2017, to represent the aspirations of the people of South Yemen for self-determination, and stability. Both Israel and the UAE are in conflict with the Houthis in Yemen. The hypocrisy of the U.N. and the E.U. has manifested itself with their support of non-democratic, terror sponsoring entities such as Palestine and Somalia, while opposing more peaceful entities such as Somaliland. Image via Pexels. After the Oct. 7th massacre, Israel realized that it had made a mistake. It had allowed the twin evils of Hamas and Hezbollah to grow too strong. It had ignored what was brewing below the surface. It had stuck with defensive measures and avoided starting a larger conflict in the region. Advertisement After the massacre on Oct. 7th, 2023, it accepted that the larger conflict was inevitable, a war not only with Irans proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, but one with the Iranian regime itself. Everything we have seen since Oct 7th flows from that change in the Israeli attitude. The destruction of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria in quick succession and the elimination of Irans nuclear and ballistic missile program demonstrated an assertive, emboldened Israel in action. It also showed a frightened, impotent clerical elite in Iran. One that is now succumbing to the fate of being overthrown by its own people. The Iranian people are tired of being viewed as a pariah in the international community. They are tired of the regimes senseless military adventurism and hatred directed at Israel. Most of all, they are tired of being repressed and murdered on the orders of the men in robes. With dramatic finality, ruling mullahs are being swept aside in a peoples revolution. Let us pray that it will succeed, and that the nation of Iran will return to the world stage as a respected member. Make Iran Great Again. Advertisement Related Post: Trump warns Iran: U.S. locked and loaded if regime kills protesters Advertisement Image: Sodacan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered. The original was an absolute classic. The premise is that a business tycoon is struggling for control of the footwear company, at which he is a founder and board member. Left with no resort, he plans a leveraged buyout of the company with his life savings. It is at this point that the tycoon learns that his son has been abducted and a demand of 30 million as ransom is made. In time, it is learned that the chauffeur's son was actually kidnapped, but the ransom demand remains the very same. It is up to the tycoon to decide his next course of action. In the remake, the tycoon is replaced by a music mogul, played by Denzel Washington, who is struggling to maintain control of his record label. The abduction takes place, and the kidnapper abducts the son of Washington's chauffeur and man Friday instead of his son. In the movie, both teens are black, and so is the kidnapper. It always baffles me why filmmakers opt to remake near-perfect films. The standards set by the original are almost impossible to surpass. Quite often, an original classic is so beloved by a section of the audience that, irrespective of the merit of the remake, it will be panned. The 2025 remake of the Kurosawa classic was an unmitigated failure that never even threatens to be interesting, despite Denzel Washington attempting to pour life into the proceedings. However, a remake could have been effective if it were through a satirical lens, which was probably the only way it would have been a reimagining of the classic. So here's my idea for a remake. If there are any producers out there, you know where to reach out to me. In this satire, the kidnapper happens to be white, the police thwart his plan, and the chauffeur's son returns safely home. Instead of focusing on the crime, the mainstream media brands the kidnapper a racist because he confused one black man with another. The media interviews the kidnapper's former accomplices, who swear he never made a mistake before, i.e., he always picked up the correct individual, but they were all white. To defend himself from accusations, the kidnapper claims that he once picked up a Chinese youth correctly from a house of Chinese nationals. An accomplice attests to this claim while the other dismisses the kidnapping of a Chinese youth as apocryphal. Some media pundits claim that his mere mention of the Chinese nationals proves that the kidnapper is a racist. The race angle is amplified on social media by paid bots. BLM demands the death penalty, and celebrities begin donating to BLM. Candace Owen 'discovers' a photo of the kidnapper at a Bar Mitzvah ceremony and wearing a yarmulka, she says the source is trusted, but since various intelligence agencies are out to get her, she has to conceal the identity of her source. Owen claims the kidnapper had visited Tel Aviv during his youth and produces another photo as proof. When people notice that the photos look fake, she dismisses them as agents of Mossad. She urges viewers to stay tuned to her YouTube channel for shocking revelations. The media claims the kidnapper is a Trump supporter and releases a hazy photo of him wearing a red MAGA cap. The kidnapper says he is a devout liberal and is offended at being a Trump supporter more than he is by his record as a criminal. He says the red cap actually had Hillary 2024 , on it; the kidnapper's mother reveals this cap to the media. The kidnapper claims he runs a social media account, where he has been vicious to Trump; liberals dispute that it was the kidnapper who actually runs the anti-Trump account. The kidnapper claims to have voted for Hillary Clinton, and he supported Hilary even during the 2003 primary. The liberals and feminists in the media and beyond are momentarily silenced. But Joy Reid points out that his vote for Hillary in the 2003 primary meant that he opposed Obama, and it is ironclad proof that he is a racist. The rest of the media sheep follow, and the kidnapper is now a confirmed racist. The kidnapper declares that he is transitioning and has always felt he was trapped in the wrong body, which causes the liberals to pause their outrage. In time, the media find a black criminal who claims that the kidnapper once refused to work with him on a heist job, and it is proof of the kidnapper's racism. The kidnapper insists that the black criminal was known for his incompetence. Joy Reid jumps in again and says that this is proof that the kidnapper cannot see competence in a black person, and hence is undoubtedly a racist. The kidnapper claims Reid is transphobic; the kidnapper's lawyer claims that calling a black person incompetent at crime is actually an anti-racist position. Vivek Ramaswamy takes to X to claim that immigrants, who are taught from childhood to be meticulous in whatever they do, would never make such a rookie mistake such as confusing their target. Vivek is trolled and asked to go back to where he came from. Ramaswamy claims he is campaigning in Cincinnati, Ohio, the place of his birth and where he came from. The kidnapper declares he no longer plans to transition but merely identifies as non-binary and attacks the Trump administration for stopping the funding of transition surgeries for jail inmates. His attack on the Trump administration earns him some fans and some silence from the media. The kidnapper then hires a female black lawyer in addition to his existing lawyer; this, too, buys him silence from the media. During the court hearings, there are interruptions and yells of 'racist scum' and 'black lives matter.' Left with no option, the kidnapper claims that it wasn't him but rather his accomplice who was responsible for picking up the target. The kidnapper claims the driver of their getaway vehicle hadn't turned up, and hence, he was in the car. He says he cannot reveal the identity of the accomplice. The trial continues. Next, the accomplice surrenders to the authorities and confirms the claim that it was he who confused the black teens. The accomplice provides his testimony via Zoom and from an undisclosed location to protect his identity. His face is purposefully obscured by a ski mask to obscure his face and his voice is altered. The trial continues. Days later, when the kidnapper is being escorted out of court, an unidentified individual steps forth from the crowd and shoots him dead, and the assassin shouts 'Black Lives Matter,' and soon the crowd joins in, and the chants grow louder and louder. The kidnapper's accomplice, who has just testified, removes his ski mask and is revealed to be black. Upon learning that the kidnapper was shot dead, he realizes that his sacrifice was futile, and he regrets surrendering to the authorities. The United States stands locked and loaded to defend Iranian citizens who are peacefully protesting the countrys Islamic government against violent or deadly retaliation, President Donald Trump said in a 2 a.m. Truth Social post. Advertisement Advertisement Protesters have flooded the streets across Iran in response to economic concerns. Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani responded on X, claiming that Israel and the United States were spurring the protests. He did not cite evidence to back up the claim. With the statements by Israeli officials and @realDonaldTrump, what has been going on behind the scenes is now clear. We distinguish between the stance of the protesting shopkeepers and the actions of disruptive actors, and Trump should know that U.S. interference in this pic.twitter.com/uu9R20KFFv Advertisement January 2, 2026 He also offered a threat of his own: The people of the U.S. should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers. The commander-in-chiefs strong support of the Iranian people brought praise from multiple quarters: Advertisement In classic Donald Trump fashion, the American president may have changed the world through social mediaThe regimes advantage over the protesters has always been its control of organized violence. But if Trumps statement is taken seriously, the regimes biggest piece may have just been taken off the board. Israeli commentator Amit Segal wrote on X. Amit Segal wrote on X. He has correctly understood that his dreams of Middle East peace can never be realized while the IRGC remains in place, seeding chaos. He is encouraging the protesters by promising to have their backs, and terrorizing regime members by promising them death from the sky if they dont melt away. This is, as they say, Yuge, wrote author Saul Sadka. Although I am an anti neocon, anti regime change guy Ill say this: Its good to root for the protesters in Iran because theyre in the right and its even good for President Trump to threaten the Mullahs so they think twice about crushing the people, added Northeastern University professor Max Abrahms . The Trump Administration is ready to bring Freedom and Democracy to Iran, said journalist Glenn Greenwald. Trumps warning is rooted in a history of direct confrontation with Tehran. During his first term, he withdrew the United States from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal and imposed sweeping sanctions under a maximum pressure campaign aimed at weakening the regime economically and politically. That stance hardened in January 2020, when Trump authorized a U.S. drone strike that killed Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, making clear that attacks on U.S. interests or regional destabilization would trigger retaliation. Advertisement After Irans nuclear breakout time later declined, the United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025, setting off further escalation, including retaliatory strikes against American bases. Throughout his presidency, Trump has repeatedly warned Iran that continued aggression, whether against Americans, U.S. allies or its own citizens, would be countered with hard conseqences. Advertisement Read Bill Ponton's thoughts on the Iran protests: Make Iran Great Again: With dramatic finality, ruling mullahs are being swept aside in a peoples revolution. A 15-year-old boy has been charged after an Uber driver was found dead on New Years Day in what Georgia police are calling a senseless murder. Christian Simmons was charged as an adult in the murder of Cesar Tejada, a 58-year-old husband and father of two. He was just out trying to make extra money for his family, Lawrenceville Police Captain Dena Pauly said in a news conference. Its a senseless act, and not the way any family would want to start a new year. Tejada, a Grayson resident, picked up Simmons in Lilburn at around 4:13 a.m. ET on Thursday, police said. After dropping him off in Lawrence, Simmons moved from the back seat of the car to the front drivers side door, shot Tejada and left him in the road, according to authorities. Pauly said it doesnt appear that there was any sort of argument between the two before the shooting, adding that it appears to be just a carjacking. Christian Simmons, 15, has been charged after an Uber driver, 58-year-old Cesar Tejada, was found dead on New Years Day in what Georgia police are calling a senseless murder (Getty/iStock) One Lawrenceville resident was disturbed by the crime scene, telling Atlanta News First, I was shivering. It was terrifying seeing a lifeless body, Hieu Le said. At around 5:20 a.m., police were called to the area and found Tejada, who was pronounced dead. Investigators used surveillance cameras in the area to identify a Black SUV as a vehicle of interest, which turned out to be Tejadas car, Pauly said. Authorities discovered Tejadas car in the same area where he had picked up Simmons. Police identified Simmons as a possible suspect and waited outside his home in Lilburn. When Simmons left his house, the cops arrested him. Pauly told reporters, We do not have any other motive other than Mr. Simmons wanted the vehicle. Uber shared its condolences with Tejadas family during this incredibly difficult time (AFP/Getty) When asked if Simmons had been in trouble with the law before, Pauly said, Multiple jurisdictions have had encounters with Mr. Simmons. Authorities did not disclose how Simmons got access to a weapon. Pauly shared her condolences with Tejadas family and said the shooting was quite a surprise to us, citing the citys low crime rate. Uber said in a statement shared by Atlanta News First, Were saddened by this devastating loss, and our condolences go out to the drivers family during this incredibly difficult time. The rideshare company said it has banned Simmons account. It was not immediately clear whether Simmons has an attorney. As winter rolls on, without the excitement of Christmas to sustain us, getting to spring can feel a lifetime away. In short, theres no better time to plan a 2026 getaway. But where? With budgets increasingly stretched thin, finding a place that balances relaxation with affordability is proving an increasingly hard challenge. In fact, a recent survey found that whilst 64% of Brits are planning to head abroad in 2026, only 38% have actually booked their flights, citing destination indecision and concerns over cost as a massive biggest booking barrier. Just as well Skyscanner has us sorted, then. The flight aggregator has crunched some numbers and found that, while 62 per cent of Brits think their return flights are going to cost more than 150 this year, there are some destinations that dont break the bank and there are ten which offer average return flight prices of less than 136. Its also just launched a cheap destination planner to help people discover those places for themselves. The planner collates the cheapest places to travel for every month, including the average flight price and cheapest day to travel: Tirana in February costs only 73 for a return, while the Dolomites in May is only 103. Not bad. The last bit of good news? According to Skyscanners research, the cheapest day to travel is actually a Friday. One more reason to book those flights! The top 10 cheapest destinations to book for 2026 Lyon, France This foodie hotspot has traditional restaurants, gorgeous markets and fine dining, as well as ancient Roman ruins, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Viex Lyon. Even better, the average return flight price starts from 105. Not bad. Milan, Italy Milan (Photo by Ouael Ben Salah on Unsplash) The Italian city known for its fashion, art, and design. Its also the perfect starting point to explore the Italian Alps and visit the gem that is the Dolomites. Return flights average out at 111. Madrid, Spain The capital of Spain is bursting with old winding streets, three of the worlds most prestigious arts museums and little corner restaurants selling paella and tapas. Return flights average out at 114. Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen topped the list alongside Prague, when people were asked which European cities they most wanted to visit in 2026 (PA Archive) People think Denmark is expensive, but getting to its capital has never been cheaper: head over for 117 to enjoy its cool Scandi design, architecture and bikeable canals. Prague, Czechia Pragues fairytale streets and elaborate bridges pair nicely with its affordable beers, sweet restaurants and beautiful historic architecture. Even better, flights average out at 122. Berlin, Germany Bradenburg Gate in Berlin (Pexels) This city still bears the scars of its turbulent history, but today is a thriving place with a buzzing techno scene, vibrant modern art and iconic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate. Flights cost around 128 on average. Bucharest, Romania The elegant streets of Bucharest have given it the nickname of Little Paris, but theres lots else to enjoy here too. Stretch out in the citys parks, taste its delicious street food and venture out to the iconic district of Transylvania, all for 128. Agadir, Morocco The warm, relaxed vibe of beachside Agadir make it an excellent winter getaway. Surf in the morning, explore the souks in the afternoon and venture out to swim in the natural pools of Paradise Valley. With flights at around 130, you cant complain. Venice, Italy St Marks Basilica in Venice (Pexels) The city that needs no introduction. Despite being a hotspot for tourists, Venice is surprisingly affordable to get to, with flights from 134. Explore their canals, bridges and winding streets, catch a vaporetto to the island of Murano and sip a glass of red wine at St Marks Square. Troms, Norway Flights to the city of the midnight sun average out at 136, and its worth it: head out on an arctic fishing trip, feed the reindeer or enjoy Norways stunning scenery, and Northern Lights, in frosty peace. Police have found the body of a four-year-old Alabama boy who went missing with his dog on New Years Eve. Johnathan Everett Boley, who went by the nickname John John, was last seen Wednesday around 11:30 a.m. in Jasper, Alabama, a small town about 40 miles northwest of Birmingham, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. His body was found Friday afternoon about two miles from his home, following a two-day search, Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith said at a press conference. Johnathans dog, a black Labrador retriever named Buck, was found alive near his body. The community is devastated by this news, Smith said. Its with great sadness that Im here to announce that we have located Johnathan, and Johnathan is deceased, Smith said. Johnathan was an adventurous boy, and he loved the outdoors, he later added. Smith provided few other details and declined to take questions. Johnathan Everett Boley, 4, disappeared with his dog on New Years Eve (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency) The Walker County Sheriffs Office first received a call about the childs disappearance around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Smith said at a Thursday press conference. Investigators were told Johnathan was playing outside with his six-year-old brother and his dog before he vanished, Smith told WBRC 6 News Thursday. The brother told his father Johnathan and the dog had gone past the fence line, Smith added. When police arrived at the scene, they searched the home to make sure the missing boy wasnt hiding, then deployed drones to continue the search by air, Smith told reporters Thursday. Police used helicopters, thermal detection and K-9 units to search for the child. Investigators found evidence of explosive devices on the property during the search, and at least eight other potential explosive devices across the street, Smith said at the time. Investigators then determined the eight devices were not explosives, Smith said later Thursday. The house was also cleared, he said. The FBI has been processing the house, trying to get the explosive devices contained and out of the residence, Smith said. Smith said Thursday that Johnathans father was charged, but it had nothing to do with the connection of the missing child, its something totally separate. Smith did not identify the father or the specific charges at the Thursday press conference. WVTM 13 reports the father, Jameson Kyle Boley, was charged with two counts of chemical endangerment of a child and one count of unlawful manufacture of a destructive device or bacteriological weapon. Neighbors told investigators they have been hearing explosions for weeks, according to Smith. They didn't really know where it was coming from. The morning before the report came in, one of the neighbors reported that they heard an explosion about 4 a.m. that morning. They just didn't know where they came from. Can't say that that's in any kind of connection to the missing child, Smith said Thursday. The boys parents are separated, and his mother moved to Florida about a year ago, Smith told reporters. His father had five days of custody a year, he noted. The family, including the dad, has helped, trying to do everything they can to help provide information, Smith said Friday. The Independent has contacted the Walker County Sheriffs Office for more information. People look at the waves from the beach by the Palace Pier in Brighton. The pier, which opened in 1899, was acquired by BPG for 18m in 2016. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images) Brightons historic Palace Pier has been put up for sale after a decline in tourist numbers, a drop in profits and increase in costs in recent years. The leisure group that owns the 126-year-old structure, which has appeared in famous films including Brighton Rock and Quadrophenia, said it hoped to find a new owner by the summer. This is more than just the sale of an asset, said Anne Ackord, the chief executive of Brighton Pier Group (BPG). It is an opportunity to become part of the next chapter in a remarkable story and shape the future of this national treasure. The Grade II-listed pier, which opened in 1899 after three years of construction, was acquired by BPG for 18m in 2016. BPG, which also owns a number of bars and mini-golf sites, is chaired by Luke Johnson, the former boss of Patisserie Valerie and Pizza Express and the ex-chair of Channel 4, who owns more than a quarter of the shares. The company, which delisted from Londons junior Aim stock market last year, has appointed the real estate agent Knight Frank to handle the sale. We expect interest from buyers both within the UK and internationally, Ackord said. The pier attracts more than 4 million visitors a year but BPGs accounts show that it has been struggling with visitor numbers, revenues and profits over the past few years. Ackord said that last year the group had faced very difficult trading and that costs had risen by about 50% in recent years. The pier reported a 4% like-for-like fall in sales in 2024, with the group blaming a second consecutive year of poor summer weather, as profits fell from 1.7m to 300,000 year on year. An admission fee of 1 for non-residents was introduced in 2024, which was doubled to 2 in March, which the group said had partly offset the decline in visitor numbers. Ackord said the pier remained a profitable, stand-alone business with significant potential to build on its already strong popularity. No guide price has been disclosed for the pier but company accounts for 2024 provide a net book value of 13.7m for the pier, landing stage and deck, down from 17.3m the previous year. In November, BPG said it was considering selling the 540-metre (1,772ft) pier. The company said at the time it was actively exploring opportunities for the potential sale of some or all of the remaining assets of the group in the face of an extremely challenging trading environment. It blamed continued cost of living pressures that had resulted in cash-strapped consumers cutting back on spending. The proposed sale of the pier forms part of our strategy to divest our leisure assets and return capital to shareholders, Ackord said. BPG has also previously said it is actively marketing Lightwater Valley, its theme park in North Yorkshire, for 3m. A majority of British Jews do not believe they have a long-term future in the UK - Isabel Infantes/Reuters For British Jews, the events of 2025 were not unforeseen. For years, we had been waiting. Waiting in our schools and synagogues that resemble fortresses, requiring security guards and Jewish volunteers in stab-proof vests. Waiting while police cars became a permanent fixture outside. Waiting not because we are paranoid but because history has taught us what happens when hatred is tolerated, rationalised or ignored Jews are systematically othered, pushed to the margins of society, and treated as fair game. Long before Oct 7, and even more so since, British Jews understood that what happened in Manchester last year was not a question of if, but when. Throughout 2025, anti-Semitism in Britain revealed itself not as a fringe phenomenon but as a pervasive and escalating reality. Even after the ceasefire, however fragile, in Israel and Gaza, the conflict continued to be weaponised here: a justification under which anti-Semitism is laundered, excused and expressed openly. Just last week, two men were found guilty of plotting an Islamic State-inspired mass shooting terror attack targeting Jews in Greater Manchester, having scoped out Jewish schools and synagogues as their targets. Earlier last year, a small-boat migrant who had entered the UK illegally was jailed after allegedly being linked to Hamas and reportedly called for the death of Jews in social media posts. These are not abstract threats. They are planned acts of violence reminders that failures in security, vetting and political resolve have real-world consequences for Jewish safety. That sense of inevitability has been compounded by the widening gap between rhetoric and reality. After Manchester, the Prime Minister promised to do whatever it takes to crack down on anti-Semitism and protect the Jewish community. Yet within hours of the attack, streets and train stations across the UK were once again filled with protesters chanting globalise the intifada the very ideology that had just manifested itself into lethal violence on British soil. To many Jews, Sir Keir Starmers words now ring hollow. And just weeks before the Manchester terror attack, the Government made a decision that many British Jews had pleaded with it not to. Despite clear warnings that it would send the wrong message, Starmer recognised a Palestinian state with no conditions placed on Hamas. No demand for the release of hostages. No requirement to renounce terrorism. No insistence on dismantling a genocidal terror organisation. It felt like a signal that violence would once again be rewarded with political concessions, and that Jewish fears would be managed, rather than heeded. Only a few weeks ago, on my way to work, I passed anti-Semitic graffiti sprayed in my local area. Later that same day, I arrived in Westminster to see a woman dressed as an Auschwitz victim outside Parliament, campaigning for the hunger strikers jailed for terrorism linked to Palestine Action. As the great-grandson of a Holocaust survivor, I found it profoundly distressing. The casual appropriation of Jewish trauma to glorify or excuse extremism speaks volumes about how desensitised our society has become to anti-Semitism. By the end of last year, polling has now confirmed what many Jews had been quietly saying for some time: a majority of British Jews do not believe they have a long-term future in the UK. That finding should have stopped the country in its tracks. Instead, it passed with a few headlines and then silence. This is the most damning indictment of 2025. Not simply that anti-Semitism surged, but that it was normalised. Each incident treated as discrete. Each failure explained away. Responsibility endlessly deferred. Anti-Semitism is cumulative. It builds through language, through tolerance of intimidation, through the erosion of moral clarity. By the time violence erupts, as in Manchester, the groundwork has already been laid. British Jews are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for what every minority should expect: safety, equal protection under the law, and the confidence that when hatred emerges, it will be confronted, not excused, contextualised or ignored. The snapshot of anti-Semitism in Britain in 2025 raises an unavoidable question for the country as a whole: is this really what we want Britain to look like? A society where it feels as though we are one missed plot, one failed intervention, one undercover sting away from an atrocity far worse than those we have already seen in places like Bondi? It also raises a far more personal question for Britains Jews, one that no one should ever have to ask about their home: is it safe for me, as a 22-year-old Jew, to build my life and raise my family here? As Britain moves into 2026, that question is no longer theoretical. Either anti-Semitism is confronted, seriously, or Jews will stop asking whether they have a future here, and start preparing for the possibility that they do not. British voters want to be part of the European Union more than their French and Italian counterparts, a new poll reveals. The YouGov survey, carried out in six European countries, shows 50 per cent of voters in the UK would vote to be an EU member if there was a referendum now, compared to 45 per cent and 46 per cent in France and Italy. The numbers were higher in Germany (62 per cent) Denmark (75 per cent) and Spain (66 per cent). It also found that in Britain, just 31 per cent of people said they would vote to be outside the EU far fewer than the 52 per cent who backed Brexit nearly a decade ago. In France, that figure was 30 per cent, Italy 28 per cent, Germany 20 per cent, Denmark 14 per cent and Spain 13 per cent. The findings will put pressure on Keir Starmer days after No 10 said he would stick to his EU red lines, despite an interview in which Wes Streeting appeared to back a customs union with the bloc. In what was seen as a direct challenge to Sir Keir, his health secretary said a deeper trading relationship with Europe would boost UK economic growth. The poll shows more voters in Britain want to be part of the EU than in France or Italy (REUTERS) The Labour leader has pledged a reset of UK-EU relations but has rejected calls to rejoin the group or become part of its single market or customs union. Despite Sir Keirs stance, Labour ministers have begun to talk up the economic costs of Brexit more. The poll also found that Sir Keir was one of the most unpopular leaders across the six countries (PA) (PA Wire) Last month, it was reported that Baroness Shafik, Sir Keirs chief economic adviser, privately recommended rejoining the customs union in the run-up to Novembers Budget, arguing it would cut costs for businesses and increase exports. The deputy prime minister, David Lammy, also suggested that rejoining the union could increase economic growth, although he stressed it was not government policy. It comes after an analysis seen by The Independent revealed that Brexit is costing the UK up to 90bn a year in lost tax revenues. Lib Dem Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton said: "The British people are tired of the economic self-harm imposed by the Conservatives broken Brexit deal. The government must stop burying their heads in the sand and listen to the clear majority of voters who are crying out for closer relations with our neighbours. Dr Mike Galsworthy, chair of the pro-EU campaign group European Movement UK, said the new figures showed that the majority of the UK public now knows that Brexit has damaged the UK, and continues to make almost every one of us poorer, and that rebuilding the relationship that we smashed up with the EU doesnt mean a Brexit betrayal it just means closer trading and better business, to immediately kick-start our struggling economy, and bring all of us some much-needed financial relief. He added: The question is, how many times will polling show our politicians that the public is sick of this failed Brexit experiment, and take real steps to grow our economy, rather than tinkering with trade deals that are the equivalent of losing 50 whilst finding 50p? The tide has turned, and our politicians need to catch up with public opinion. The poll also found that Sir Keir was one of the most unpopular leaders across the six countries, beaten only by the French president Emmanuel Macron. Just 17 per cent of Britons had a favourable opinion of their leader. In France, that figure was 16 per cent, compared to 25 per cent for Friedrich Merz in Germany, 35 per cent for Giorgia Meloni in Italy, 30 per cent for Pedro Sanchez in Spain and 34 per cent for Mette Frederiksen in Denmark. The Cabinet Office has been approached for comment. Thousands of passengers hoping to fly between the UK and Amsterdam have had their flights cancelled or delayed by several hours because of snow and strong winds at Schiphol airport. The airport authorities are telling passengers: Due to todays winter weather on 2 January, flights to and from Schiphol may experience delays or cancellations. British Airways, easyJet and KLM have cancelled many of their flights to the Dutch hub on Friday. The Independent calculates that more than 60 flights have been grounded between the UK and Amsterdam, affecting around 7,000 passengers. Problems began early on Friday morning with two inbound flights diverted to Brussels: KLM from Seoul and Tui from Cape Verde. Circle game: Flight plan of KLM flight KL856 from Seoul on 2 January, which diverted from Amsterdam to Brussels (Flightradar24) KLM, whose main hub is at Amsterdam, has cancelled 32 UK flights so far, including multiple links with Birmingham, London City, Heathrow and Manchester. In addition, inbound flights to Amsterdam from Bristol, Humberside, Leeds Bradford and Teesside are operating three hours late or more jeopardising connections for travellers from these locations to destinations worldwide. KLM is telling passengers to check your flight updates. Under air passengers rights rules, travellers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible on any airline, and to be provided with meals and hotels until they get there. Lost connections: Amsterdams Schiphol airport is a key transfer hub (Getty Images / iStockPhoto) EasyJet has grounded at least 20 flights between the UK and Amsterdam on Friday, including links from Belfast International, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Luton. Three of the days six round-trips between Manchester and Amsterdam have been axed. A spokesperson for easyJet says: Due to adverse weather conditions in Amsterdam resulting in air-traffic control restrictions, all airlines are being asked to reduce their flying programme to and from Amsterdam today. As a result some easyJet flights have been delayed or unable to operate today. Whilst this is outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused. We are doing all possible to support customers, offering a refund or free flight transfer, securing hotel accommodation where possible and advising those making their own arrangements for alternative travel and hotel accommodation on how they can be reimbursed. British Airways has so far cancelled a return flight from each of Heathrow and London City to Amsterdam. Many other European airlines have cancelled flights from their main hubs to Amsterdam, including Air France, Austrian Airlines, Finnair, Lufthansa, SAS and Swiss. Read more: What rights do you have to compensation for cancelled or delayed flights? China removed a three-decade-old tax exemption on Jan 1, adding a 13 per cent duty on contraceptives - VCG/2020 VCG China has taxed condoms and contraceptive drugs in an effort to boost the countrys plummeting birth rate. Beijing removed a three-decade-old tax exemption on Jan 1, adding a 13 per cent duty on contraceptives as it grapples with its declining and ageing population and a sluggish economy. The country has suffered a falling birth rate for decades as a result of the one-child policy implemented from 1980 to 2015 and rapid urbanisation. In 2023, it suffered the largest population decline since 1961 when the Great Famine of the Mao Zedong era claimed millions of lives reaching lows of 6.39 births per 1,000 people. Last year it fared a little better, with a slight increase of 6.77 births per 1,000 people and the number of deaths outpacing births. The new measure was buried in a VAT law passed in 2024 in an effort to update Chinas tax regime. VAT makes up nearly 40 per cent of the countrys total tax revenue. The high cost of childcare and education as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy have also discouraged many young Chinese people from getting married and starting a family. China is one of the worlds most expensive countries to raise a child, with the average cost from birth to 17 at around 59,000, rising to 74,500 to support a child through university. Beijing rolled out a series of fertility-friendly measures in 2024, such as urging colleges and universities to provide love education to portray marriage, love, fertility and family in a positive light. Last year, it exempted childcare subsidies from personal income tax and announced it would pay parents 3,600 yuan (367) a year per child until they turned three years old. Senior Chinese officials again pledged last month at the annual Central Economic Work Conference to promote positive marriage and childbearing attitudes to stabilise birth rates. The VAT law also includes tax breaks for childcare and marriage introduction services. However, the ongoing demographic decline has led to concerns that the country will not be able to care for its ageing population without a baby boom to create a new generation of future tax payers. The number of people aged 65 or above now makes up more than 14 per cent of the Chinese population. Without a change in trends, the number of over-60s in the country is forecast to reach 500m by 2050, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. At that point, pensioners would account for nearly 35 per cent of the population, which experts say could slow down what is currently the worlds second-largest economy. Older peoples participation at work is declining. Theres no emigration, productivity is at a standstill, George Magnus, an independent economist and author of the book Red Flags: Why Xis China is in Jeopardy, previously told The Telegraph. Experts have warned of the adverse effects of limiting contraceptive access, including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The brunt of the negative effects will be borne by women, particularly by disadvantaged women, Yun Zhou, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Michigan, told The Guardian. A claims management company is being investigated by the UKs finance watchdog over concerns about its sales practices in relation to the car finance saga. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has opened an enforcement investigation into Manchester-based The Claims Protection Agency (TCPA), which is behind the brand My Claim Group. The regulator said it was investigating what customers were told about the amount of compensation they might get, whether they were told they could make a claim for free and if they were pressurised to sign up. Concerns centre around TCPAs sales and advertising tactics to appeal to people who believe they might be entitled to compensation for being mis-sold a car loan. The saga escalated during 2025 when the FCA announced plans to launch an industry-wide compensation scheme for an estimated 14 million car finance agreements it thinks were mis-sold. The FCA has repeatedly said consumers do not need to use a claims management company (CMC) or a law firm to access its scheme, and warned that people risk losing more than 30% of their compensation as a result of unnecessary fees. The FCA is currently consulting on an industry-wide motor finance compensation scheme (Ben Birchall/PA) (Ben Birchall) But a report backed by MPs and peers in November found that potential victims could get more redress by going through the UK courts than under the FCAs scheme. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on fair banking said it thinks the redress scheme could short-change millions of customers. TCPA, which the regulator said has also gone by trading names such as Martins Tips and Karens Claims, advertises for motor finance claims and refers its customers to solicitors to handle the case. A message on the homepage of the My Claim Group website says it has temporarily paused new customer sign-ups while it makes improvements to its advertising and sign-up processes. It also refers to the FCAs estimates that, under its scheme, consumers can typically expect to receive an average payout of 700 per car finance agreement. This is lower than earlier industry estimates. Any older figures you may have seen including estimates around 4,000 are no longer accurate following the FCAs updated position, a website post in December reads. A report in The Times earlier in 2025 uncovered a promotional video by boxer Tyson Fury for My Claim Group, in which he says he is fighting for the people to claim money back, adding: If you bought a vehicle on finance after 2007, you could be owed up to 4,000 in compensation. The post on Instagram has since been taken down, but the Facebook post remains available. TCPA is required to stop onboarding new customers, stop publicising new financial promotions and withdraw all existing ones after making an application to the FCA in August. The FCA said that publicising the fact it is investigating the company means its customers can consider their options. It has not yet reached any conclusions on whether TCPA breached any regulatory requirements. A spokesman for TCPA said it had fully co-operated with the FCA in relation to its investigation, which we believe will exonerate our position. Consumers have always been made aware that they do not need to use a claims management company in order to seek redress, the spokesman said. However, many people choose to do so for a variety of reasons, including peace of mind and access to professional expertise. Estimates for compensation levels in our historic advertising prior to test cases in the Supreme Court were based upon reasonable assumptions at the time of publication, and we look forward to further co-operating with the FCA in relation to this matter. The company added: In the meantime, we wish to reassure consumers that we are fully able to continue to manage their compensation claims for car finance mis-selling. Broadcaster Clare Balding has paid tribute to her father Ian, the renowned racehorse trainer, as one of a kind following his death aged 87. Trainer of the Derby winner Mill Reef, Ian retired in 2002, handing over the licence to his son Andrew, and author and TV star Clare was also a leading amateur rider before she embarked on a broadcasting career. In a post on Instagram, alongside pictures, Clare wrote: My Dad was one of a kind. Fearless, funny and charming he was an all round sportsman, a great trainer and a beautiful horseman. He loved his dogs, his horses and his family probably in that order. He shared with me his passion for sport and taught me to be brave enough to chase a dream, even if it seemed impossible. Well miss him so much. Ian was also a Cheltenham Festival-winning rider in his amateur days, and had sent out many top-class performers from his Kingsclere yard including Glint Of Gold, Selkirk and Lochsong, but 1971 Derby hero Mill Reef remains a standout name in his career. A post on Instagram from the yard read: We are deeply sorry to share the sad news that Ian Balding has passed away. A wonderful family man, a hugely successful racehorse trainer and a brilliant sportsman. He will be greatly missed by all at Park House. Clare Balding arriving for a performance of the pantomime Sleeping Beauty, at the London Palladium (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (Jordan Pettitt) Celebrities including Claudia Winkleman posted messages of support on Clares Instagram post, with The Traitors host writing: Sending you all my love, while former Made in Chelsea star and Im A Celebrity winner Georgia Toffolo said: Sending you so much love Clare, so very sorry. Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, who appeared on Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2023, said on X: I woke up this morning to the sad news of the passing of Ian Balding, a man who was a tremendous supporter of mine in my early days. We shared some wonderful moments together, notably with Lochsong and Lochangel, and it was through Ian that I was first given the opportunity to ride for Her Majesty The Queen, something I will always be deeply grateful for. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Balding family and to everyone associated with Park House at this very difficult time. Balding was born on November 7, 1938, into a notable horse racing family. He was the son of Gerald Balding, a famous polo player and racehorse trainer, while his brother Toby, who died in 2014, is on the elite list of handlers who have sent out winners of the Grand National, Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle. Balding was born on November 7, 1938, into a notable horse racing family (Rebecca Naden/PA Wire) (Rebecca Naden) As a talented amateur rider in his youth, Balding rode the winner of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Time in 1963. His big break came when he was appointed assistant to Peter Hastings-Bass at the famous Park House Stables at Kingsclere, where he would spend the rest of his career. When Hastings-Bass died at the age of 43 in June 1964, Balding inherited a number of influential owners, including Queen Elizabeth II. Later, he won the Imperial Cup at Sandown in 1986 with the Queen Mothers racehorse Insular, and trained a Cheltenham Festival winner, Crystal Spirit, in the Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle in 1991. As a trainer, he helped many aspiring riders in their careers, including Epsom Derby winner Martin Dwyer, who has paid tribute to him as a great man who was loved and respected by many. Medical staff work next to Swiss air ambulance planes at Sion airport. Photograph: Lisa Leutner/Reuters (Photograph: Lisa Leutner/Reuters) Survivors of the catastrophic bar fire in the upmarket Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana are being cared for in special burns units across Europe, while investigators say many of the dead were so badly burned that it could take days or weeks to identify them. About 40 people were killed and 119 injured when the blaze ripped through a New Years Eve celebration in the packed Le Constellation bar and basement nightclub. Investigators believe sparkling candles or sparklers that were put on bottles of champagne and moved too close to the ceiling started the fire. Crans-Montanas mayor, Nicolas Feraud, said: The first objective is to assign names to all the bodies. The Swiss president, Guy Parmelin, called the fire a calamity of unprecedented, terrifying proportions as he described the devastating toll. Behind these figures are faces, names, families, lives brutally cut short, completely interrupted or for ever changed, Parmelin said at a news conference. So severe were the victims burns that Swiss officials said identification work was particularly gruelling. Parents of missing youths issued pleas for news of their loved ones and foreign embassies scrambled to work out if their nationals were among those caught up in one of the worst tragedies to strike modern Switzerland. Mathias Reynard, the head of government of the canton of Valais, said experts were using dental records and DNA samples for the task. All this work needs to be done because the information is so terrible and sensitive that nothing can be told to the families unless we are 100% sure, he said. Despite having one of the worlds most advanced medical systems, Switzerlands regional clinics quickly reached capacity in the hours after the blaze. More than 30 people were taken to hospitals with specialised burns units in Zurich and Lausanne and six were taken to Geneva, according to a Swiss news agency. Many more of the injured were transported to other countries including Belgium, France, Poland and Germany, while the EU said it had been in contact with Swiss authorities about providing medical assistance. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said on X he had offered his countrys help as clinics in Paris and Lyon took in patients, while Sweden and North Macedonia also said they had hospital beds available. The Valais police chief, Frederic Gisler, said that of the 119 injured people, 113 had been formally identified while six others were as yet unknown. Among the injured are 71 Swiss, 14 French citizens, 11 Italians, four Serbs, as well as one person each from Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal. The nationalities of 14 of the injured have not yet been confirmed. Italy and France are among the countries that have said some of their nationals are missing. Australia has said one of its nationals was injured. An Instagram account provided a central resource for families and friends to seek information about the whereabouts of those not heard from since Thursday. By Friday afternoon more than 40 pictures had been posted. Paulo Martins, a French citizen who has lived in the area around Crans-Montana for 24 years, said his son and his girlfriend narrowly missed being in the bar at the time of the fire. When he came home he was really in shock, Martins told Agence France-Presse. A friend of his 17-year-old son had been transferred for treatment in Germany with his body 30% covered in burns, Martins said. Eleonore, 17, started the year with a frantic search for friends who have been missing since the fire. Standing outside the bar, now shielded by white tarpaulins and a wall of temporary barriers, she said she had not had contact with them since New Years Eve. We took loads of photos [and] we put them on Instagram, Facebook, every social network possible to try to find them, she told AFP. But theres nothing. No response. We called the parents. Nothing. Even the parents dont know. She and a friend managed to get news that one friend was in a coma in a hospital in Lausanne. The head of the citys university hospital, Claire Charmet, said it was treating 22 badly burned patients, most ranging in age from 16 to 26. Patients are being stabilised and transferred to the operating theatre or to specialised beds, she told the local newspaper 24 heures on Thursday. We need to be aware that the treatment will be long and intense, lasting several weeks or even months. Eric Bonvin, the general director of the regional hospital in Sion, said it took in several dozen injured people whose average age was about 20. He recounted how staff were aided by colleagues who had not been scheduled to work but rushed in to lend a hand. He expressed hope that the survivors youth would speed their recovery: They are young and that means they still have a lot of vitality, he told the Associated Press. Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Criminal group used a motorhome to steal from tourists in Spain A group of roaming burglars used a motorhome to travel around Spain, targeting popular tourist hotspots and causing up to 174,000 in economic damage, police say. Spains national police revealed on Tuesday 30 December that it has solved 25 property crimes committed in areas such as Valencia, Andalusia, the Balearic Islands and Madrid. Four members of a travelling criminal group have been arrested, all of whom had multiple false identities and documents. One reportedly used up to 24 different identities. Electronic devices, cash and jewellery were all seized from the motorhome (X/Policia) The individuals resided in Nice, but travelled by motorhome across Spain, allegedly to commit robberies and thefts in affluent areas and tourist hotspots. Police say they detected the groups journey from France to the Costa del Sol in a motorhome, where they arrested four members and seized 24,000 (20,000) in cash, as well as electronic devices and jewellery, all stashed inside various compartments of the vehicle. The police posted a video online of the motorhome raid, where officers can be seen pulling out items including foreign currency, a gold Franc coin, jewellery hidden in socks, AirPods and laptops wrapped in tinfoil and camera equipment. The investigation began in September following the theft of a safe from a shopping centre in Elche, Alicante, where around 8,800 (7,670) in cash was stolen. Jewellery was found wrapped up in socks (X/Policia) Officers then identified the suspects as a criminal group which largely commits property crimes while travelling from place to place. Police were able to link them to other alleged crimes, such as the theft of 60,000 (52,000) in cash from an armoured van in Ibiza. Always targeting high-income and tourist areas, police said the group conducted surveillance and tracking before they went ahead with a burglary or theft. The groups objective was to steal money, jewellery and electronic devices to sell on the black market, police said. Officers unwrap foil from laptops (X/Policia) The detainees, all of whom have been remanded in custody, are implicated in up to 25 property crimes that caused financial losses of nearly 200,000 (174,000). While police say this group focused on burglary and safe theft, pickpocketing is also a common method of theft in popular tourist areas. Ex-detective Rebecca Mason told BBC Morning Live that you are most likely to be pickpocketed next to large attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Read more: British tourist in Mallorca robbed of 35k Rolex watch Frankie Dettori reflected on the wonderful moments he shared with Ian Balding following the death of the Derby-winning trainer at the age of 87. The Italian formed a fine association with the Balding-trained Lochsong, who was the pre-eminent sprinter of her time. They teamed up to win at the highest level for the first time in the Nunthorpe in 1993 before adding back-to-back Prix de lAbbaye wins in 1993 and 1994. She also won twice at Glorious Goodwood when ridden by Dettori and took the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1994. In a statement on X, Dettori said: I woke up this morning to the sad news of the passing of Ian Balding, a man who was a tremendous supporter of mine in my early days. Frankie Dettori had his first rides for the late Queen Elizabeth II through Ian Balding (Rebecca Naden/PA) (Rebecca Naden) We shared some wonderful moments together, notably with Lochsong and (her half-sister) Lochangel, and it was through Ian that I was first given the opportunity to ride for Her Majesty The Queen (Queen Elizabeth II), something I will always be deeply grateful for. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Balding family and to everyone associated with Park House at this very difficult time. Fellow leading jockey Kieren Fallon also enjoyed a fine association with a trainer he described as an absolute gentleman, landing prestigious handicaps like the Cesarewitch and Ayr Gold Cup with Top Cees and Grangeville respectively as well as Group-race victories home and abroad with Trans Island. Fallon said: He was such a great trainer and an absolute gentleman to ride for. Kieren Fallon rode Grangeville (noseband) in the Ayr Gold Cup for Ian Balding (David Cheskin/PA) (David Cheskin) It was a joy and I loved every minute riding for him. I would love going down and riding work and he has such a lovely family. You look at Andrew (Balding, son), who was a young assistant at the time I would be there, but then look at where he has got to today. Ian enjoyed a great career and was a true gentleman. The Baldings are such a great family and he will be sadly missed. As well as Baldings accomplishments on the Flat, he also enjoyed victory at the Cheltenham Festival and having won the 1963 National Hunt Chase as an amateur jockey, returned to Prestbury Park in 1991 to successfully saddle Crystal Spirit in the Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle. Jimmy Frost was the man in the plate that day and remembers fondly his time at the Kingsclere operation, riding their band of jumpers. Frost said: All my thoughts are with the family and what a great day Crystal Spirit was. I think it was Ians principal from his school that had backed him and Ian was so chuffed that he had won a bet. It was an amazing place to ride and I was very privileged to be a part of the jumping team there for a while, he gave me some great horses to ride. There were some great days with some great people and Spinning was a brilliant horse to ride, he broke the record at Haydock and Aintree. It was a privilege to ride a horse like him and Crystal Spirit and some of the others like Song Of Sixpence who come to mind now. Toby and Ian, what an amazing pair of brothers, and what the Balding family did for me made my life. British Horseracing Authority chief executive Brant Dunshea acknowledged the enormous contribution Balding made to the sport. He said: Ian Balding leaves a towering legacy for our sport. Such is his significance that no telling of the history of racing would be complete without recognition of the enormous contribution he made. From his legendary Kingsclere base, he nurtured generations of equine and human talent, enjoying tremendous success along the way with unforgettable stars like Mill Reef. He is a man who will be remembered with tremendous affection and respect across our industry, and one whose impact will continue to be felt for many years to come. On this sad day, all of us at the BHA extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ian Balding. An Emirates A380, taken in Zurich (Getty Images) Passengers on a New Years Eve flight to Dubai had their plans disrupted after their plane was forced return to Heathrow. Emirates flight EK002 took off from London Heathrow Airport just after 2.30pm for a six-and-a-half-hour flight to Dubai, due to land in the city at 12.40am GMT (4.40am GST in Dubai). However, passengers instead found themselves back in London after a technical fault was reported on the plane, according to aviation website Simple Flying. The Airbus A380, which was already 50 minutes behind schedule, only travelled as far as Kent before making a U-turn back towards Heathrow. Before reaching the airport, the plane circled south-east London at an altitude of 10,000 feet for approximately 90 minutes before returning to the runway. Circling in the sky, or being held in a holding pattern, is standard procedure when long-haul flights have to make an unexpected landing. The practice burns off fuel, reducing the planes weight and thus making it safer to land. An Emirates spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Mail: Emirates flight EK002 departed London Heathrow (LHR) for Dubai on 31 December 2025 after 1:40pm GMT as scheduled, but returned to London Heathrow shortly after take-off due to a technical fault. The flight landed back at Heathrow and passengers and crew were safely disembarked. All passengers will be rebooked to depart on future Emirates flights from London Heathrow. Emirates apologises for any inconvenience caused, but the safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance and will not be compromised. Crew reported an issue with the landing gear system, according to various outlets, which caused the plane to return. Flights will often return to their starting point or make a diversion to another airport as part of safety protocols. This incident comes days after a Ryanair flight to Tenerife was forced to return to Birmingham airport after severe turbulence caused multiple passengers to be injured. After making as far as France, the pilots decided to turn back to Birmingham, landing normally at Birmingham 90 minutes after it had taken off. Ryanair said a small number of passengers were provided with medical assistance upon landing. The Independent has contacted Emirates for comment. Read more: Ryanair passengers injured after severe turbulence hits Tenerife flight A former detention officer at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Louisiana has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a Nicaraguan woman over several months while she was imprisoned. Federal prosecutors called it a romantic relationship. David Courvelle, 56, entered a guilty plea in federal court Monday. He was charged with a single count of sexual abuse of a ward or individual in federal custody, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. According to court documents, Courvelle worked as a contract detention officer at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center between January 1 and July 30. The facility is operated by private prison contractor Geo Group Inc., ICEs largest contractor. In May, Courvelle and the victim participated in sexual contact on multiple occasions, and Courvelle smuggled gifts such as food, jewelry, letters and pictures of the womans daughter, according to prosecutors. Courvelle arranged for lookouts to avoid detection, according to prosecutors. Staff at the facility spotted the pair coming out of a janitorial closet in July, and officials immediately transferred Courvelle to a different unit. He resigned from his position later that month. Reports of abuse and neglect inside ICE facilities have surged across the country in recent months as the Trump administration expands a mass deportation campaign (Reuters) He initially denied his relationship during a September interview with investigators from the ICE Office of the Inspector General but confessed about half an hour into the interview, prosecutors wrote. Courvelle was released on a $10,000 bond and a sentencing date is scheduled for April 10. Fourteen of the 20 largest ICE detention centers in the United States are in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, a network that immigrant advocates have labelled deportation alley. The jails most of which are operated by private prison companies hold thousands of people each year. For-profit contractors operate roughly 90 percent of all ICE detention centers. All but one of Louisianas nine facilities are run by private prison firms, including Geo Group, which reported third-quarter revenue in 2025 of $682.3 million, roughly $80 million more than it netted at the same point one year earlier. More than 65,000 people are currently detained inside ICE facilities across the country, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. The Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana, is among several facilities operated by private prison firm Geo Group, ICEs largest contract (AFP/Getty) The case against Courvelle arrived weeks after a coalition of civil rights groups filed federal complaints against the facility on behalf of one woman and three transgender detainees who alleged rampant sexual abuse, harassment, forced labor, retaliation and denial of medical care between 2023 and 2025. The complaint alleged that a former assistant warden, prison officers and ICE employees engaged in abuse, including instances of sexual assault, forcible touching, groping, denial of seizure medication, and retaliatory solitary confinement. Reports of abuse and neglect inside ICE facilities across the country have exploded in the months after Donald Trump launched his nationwide mass deportation campaign. A series of sworn testimonials from detainees at the largest ICE facility in the country allege deteriorating conditions and routine beatings at the military complex in Texas that have left several people hospitalized, including detainees whose testicles were firmly crushed by guards. Federal judges have intervened to force ICE to improve conditions inside makeshift detention centers in New York and Chicago, where detainees were allegedly forced into cramped cells near open toilets without adequate food, water, clean clothing or a place to bathe or brush their teeth The Independent has requested comment from ICE. FBI claims lone wolf teen inspired by ISIS was planning knives and hammers attack at grocery store on New Years Eve The FBI thwarted an ISIS-inspired New Years Eve attack inside a grocery store in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the suspect revealed his alleged plans to undercover officers, prosecutors said. Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, prosecutors said Friday, and had been on the FBIs radar since 2022 when he was a juvenile. The suspect, who worked at Burger King, intended to carry out a lone wolf style attack and planned to attack shoppers with knives and hammers, prosecutors said. Agents surveilled Sturdivant around the clock during the holidays. Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, alleged that Sturdivant began by going on ISIS websites and eventually reached out to what he thought was a member of ISIS. In reality, [it] was an undercover agent with NYPD in New York, Ferguson said at a press conference. He pledged his allegiance to ISIS with that undercover agent, and he disclosed his plans to quote do jihad soon. Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, prosecutors said Friday, and had been on the FBIs radar since 2022 (Gaston County Jail) He then met a second undercover with the FBI, who he also thought was an ISIS participant, Ferguson continued. And he started to be very specific with his plans. Sturdivant allegedly revealed his plans to carry out the attack at a grocery store in Mint Hill. He talked about what means he would use to kill innocent people, Ferguson said. It was a very well-planned attack that he had planned, and that was fortunately foiled. Items agents seized from Christian Sturdivants bedroom included hammers, according to prosecutors (Department of Justice) During a search of the suspects home on December 29, law enforcement found handwritten documents, including one titled New Years Attack 2026. I can tell you from his notes he was targeting Jews, Christians and LGBTQ individuals, Ferguson added. We allege Sturdivant was willing to sacrifice himself by committing a terrorist attack using knives and a hammer to support the murder, torture and extreme violence that ISIS represents, said James Barnacle, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in charge of the investigation. During a search of the suspects home on Dec. 29, law enforcement found handwritten documents, including one titled New Years Attack 2026 (Department of Justice) We didn't just learn about him a few weeks ago. Sturdivant first came to the FBI radar in January of 2022 when he was still a juvenile, he added, when he was in contact with an unidentified member of ISIS. Sturdivant received direction from this unidentified ISIS member to dress in all black, knock on people's doors, and attack them with a hammer. In fact, Sturdivant did dress in all black. He left this house with a hammer, and fortunately, his family stepped in, Barnacle said of the 2022 incident. No charges were filed at the time and Sturdivant was referred to psychological care, according to Barnacle. The suspect, who worked at Burger King, intended to carry out a lone wolf style attack and planned to attack shoppers with knives and hammers, prosecutors said (Gaston County Jail) This investigation highlights the very real threat posed by people who self-radicalize online and are inspired by jihadist ideologies espoused by foreign terrorist organizations, Barnacle added. When asked why he wasnt charged at the time by a reporter, Ferguson cited Sturdivants age. Ill note that he was a juvenile at that time. He was 14, and I do think we're very fortunate he was 18 now, because it makes it a whole lot easier to bring charges, he said. Attorney General Pam Bondi said law enforcement officials saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Years Eve in a social media post. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law, she said. It comes a year on from the deadly New Orleans attack on revellers ringing in the new year on Bourbon Street on January 1, 2025. Footage shows panic as fire breaks out at Swiss ski resort bar Bystander footage captured the moment members of the public fled as fire broke out at a bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana. Police have confirmed several dozen are presumed dead after the blaze tore through the popular tourist bar Le Constellation during New Years Eve celebrations. Video posted to social media shows the panic as people fled the scene of the fire, which began at around 1.30am on Thursday. Authorities say around 100 have been left injured, some seriously, with foreign tourists among the dead. The French government has defended its decision to grant citizenship to Hollywood actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. Officials said that the couple were naturalised because they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to Frances international influence and cultural outreach. The naturalisations, which also include their twins Ella and Alexander, were announced last weekend in the Journal Officiel, the official gazette for French decrees. However, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, expressed misgivings on Wednesday. She suggested that some French compatriots might believe the star couple received special treatment, given the actors own admission that his French is horrible, horrible. Speaking to France Info, she said: The message being sent is not good. She added: There is an issue of fairness that, in my eyes, is absolutely essential. George and Amal Clooney have been granted French citizenship (Invision/AP) The couple purchased an estate in France in 2021 and Clooney has said that it is their primary residence. It wasnt clear whether the 64-year-old actor retained his American citizenship. His 47-year-old wife was born in Lebanon, raised in the UK, and naturalised by France under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin. The 8-year-old twins were born in London. The Foreign Ministry said the Clooneys were eligible for citizenship under a French law that allows for the naturalisation of foreign nationals who contribute to France's international influence and economic well-being. It argued that France's cinema industry will benefit from the actor's clout as a global movie star and said that as a lawyer, Amal Clooney regularly works with academic institutions and international organisations in France. George and Amal Clooney have strong ties to France, the countrys government says (Invision/AP) They maintain strong personal, professional and family ties with our country," the ministry said. Like many French citizens, we are delighted to welcome Georges and Amal Clooney into the national community," it concluded, giving the actor's first name a French twist by adding the s at the end. The decision was also defended by Vedrenne's superior at the Interior Ministry, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who said he signed the naturalisation decree. It's a big chance for our country, he said. In recent media interviews when he was promoting Jay Kelly, Clooney said that he is trying to teach himself French using a language-learning app. He said that his wife and children speak the language perfectly. They speak French in front of me so that they can say terrible things about me to my face and I dont know, he joked, speaking to French broadcaster Canal+. French media have reported that the Clooneys live part-time in their luxury 18th-century villa outside the town of Brignoles in southern France, where they can keep a lower profile and their children are protected from unauthorised photographs by French privacy laws. In an interview with Esquire in October, Clooney said: I was worried about raising our kids in LA, in the culture of Hollywood. I dont want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I dont want them being compared to somebody elses famous kids," he said. Growing up away from the spotlight in France, they have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life. 2025 proved to be a rollercoaster year for the FTSE 100 (^FTSE), with Londons blue-chip index posting early losses before climbing past the 9,000 point mark and reaching 10,000 on the first trading day of 2026. Over the year, the FTSE 100 gained 22%, outperforming the FTSE 250, which rose 9.0%, and the AIM All-Share index, up 6.4%. The index also outpaced the US blue-chip S&P 500, as some US investors grew cautious over the outlook for technology stocks. Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said: "Investors have faced considerable uncertainty, and many have looked away from the US for opportunities. Theyve focused on cheaper areas of the market, of which the UK is one. "Weve seen increased interest from foreign investors looking to diversify their holdings and the FTSE 100 has also shone during the more tumultuous periods thanks to its plethora of defensive-style companies. "Lots of people have criticised the UK for being an old economy market, full of boring companies in the banking and natural resources sector. Yes, it lacks the excitement of go-go-growth stocks omnipresent in the US, but boring can also be beautiful when it comes to investing. "The UK is a rich hunting ground for dividends, and it is also full of companies that have slow but steady growth and which are under appreciated engines for wealth creation. Read more: Stocks to watch in 2026 Around 75% of FTSE 100 earnings come from overseas, making the index more a gauge of global economic prospects than investor confidence in the UK economy. The indexs composition, however, changed during the year through quarterly FTSE Russell reviews. Advertising group WPP (WPP.L) would have been the worst performer in the FTSE 100, falling around 59%, if not for its removal from the index in December. British Land (BLND.L) returned to the FTSE 100 after renewed investor confidence in prime commercial property, with shares rising 17%, valuing the company at more than 4bn. WPPs demotion marked the end of an era for a company in the FTSE 100 since 1998. Once valued at roughly 24bn in 2017, the group is now worth 3.1bn after a prolonged decline in trading. Its share price fell by two-thirds in 2025, affected by client losses, stronger AI-enabled competitors and a slowdown in global marketing spending. Cindy Rose, who became CEO in June, launched a strategic review and said the company had not gone far enough or fast enough in adapting to the evolving needs of our clients. WPP issued two profit warnings during the year, while Frances Publicis Groupe overtook it as the worlds largest advertising company by revenue. Analysts view WPP as a potential takeover target unless the new management can stabilise the business. Read more: FTSE 100 LIVE: London markets hit 10,000 points for first time as 2026 trading kicks off Other index changes included British luxury fashion house Burberry (BRBY.L), which returned to the FTSE 100 following a period of recovery in the luxury sector. Lale Akoner, global market analyst at eToro, said at the time: Rejoining the FTSE 100 signals Burberrys turnaround is gaining traction. The company has regained momentum at a time when much of the luxury sector is struggling, showing a turnaround story idiosyncratic to the group. In our view, the upgrade validates CEO Schulmans strategy: the refocus on brand strength and core outerwear segment is paying off, and investors are rewarding it. Greek industrial and energy firm Metlen (MTLN.L) listed in London in August, switching from Athens, and joined the FTSE 100 alongside Burberry in September. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP.L) also joined the blue-chip index in March. CEO Damian Gammell described the inclusion as a significant milestone, reflecting the companys strong performance and long-term commitment to the UK market. Read more: Will bitcoin price sink to $50k or soar to $125k in 2026? Games Workshop (GAW.L) entered the FTSE 100 in the final days of 2024 after a strong year for its Warhammer 40,000 franchise, aided by video game licensing and expansion into new media. St Jamess Place (STJ.L) and investment trust Alliance Witan (ALW.L) were also added following corporate mergers and growth. Meanwhile, Mike Ashleys Frasers Group (FRAS.L) and bargain retailer B&M European Value Retail (BME.L) were removed. Homebuilders Taylor Wimpey (TW.L) and Vistry (VTY.L), alongside and student accommodation business Unite Group (UTG.L), were also relegated to the FTSE 250 (^FTMC). Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Credit: Scopal via Reuters Iranian security forces opened fire on protesters on Friday night despite Donald Trumps threat to intervene in the rapidly spreading unrest. Demonstrators came under fire in Tehran, while there were claims at least one person had been killed in the city of Qom. The US president had warned Iran earlier in the day that Washington was locked and loaded and would rescue demonstrators if Tehran killed any more anti-regime protesters. The demonstrations, which began on Sunday amongst shopkeepers angry at a failing currency and rising prices, have evolved into broader anti-regime rallies across more than 20 cities. Protesters could be heard chanting this year is a year of blood, Seyyed Ali will be overthrown, death to the dictator and death to the oppressor, all referring to Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader. Demonstrators face off against security forces in Mashhad Protesters have attacked government offices, set police vehicles on fire, and pulled the countrys flag off government buildings. Seven people have been confirmed dead so far. Protests and clashes between demonstrators and security forces intensified in several cities and heavy gunfire could be heard on Friday night. It was not clear whether security forces were firing live rounds. Iranian security forces involved in the clashes have long used pellet guns and other crowd-control weapons, blinding hundreds of people during protests in 2022. The unrest marks the most significant challenge to Irans government since 2022, when demonstrations followed Mahsa Aminis death in custody. She had been accused of wearing a hijab improperly. In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote: The White House did not confirm whether Mr Trump was preparing more military action, covert action through proxies, or looking at further sanctions. In response, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament, warned that all US military personnel and bases in the region would be considered legitimate targets if Mr Trump made good on his claims. Mr Ghalibaf said: The dishonourable president of America should know that, with this official confession, all American centres and forces throughout the region will be our legitimate targets in response to any possible adventurism. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the ayatollah, also warned that any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut. The people of Iran properly know the experience of being rescued by Americans from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza, he added. The escalation comes just seven months after US bombers struck Irans nuclear facilities. On Monday, Mr Trump issued another threat, saying he was prepared to attack the Islamic republic again if it rebuilt its missile programme. I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, were going to have to knock them down, he said, following a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel. Well knock them down. Well knock the hell out of them. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: We are concerned by the reports of violence against protesters in Iran exercising their legitimate right to peaceful protest. We continue to monitor developments closely. Credit: @FSeifikaran/ X The demonstrations began when shopkeepers in Tehrans Grand Bazaar staged a strike after the Iranian rial hit a record low against the US dollar. Annual inflation hit 42.2 per cent in December, with food prices jumping 72 per cent. At first, the regime tried to quell the anger by acknowledging the challenging conditions in the country. Mohammad Reza Farzin, the central bank governor, was forced to resign. Fatemeh Mohajerani, a government spokesman, said it recognises peaceful assembly rights enshrined in the constitution and that officials were listening to citizens economic concerns. But that was not enough, and the protest movement spread. Now the regime is struggling to maintain control. Funerals for those killed have become new flashpoints, with large crowds gathering at burial sites despite a heavy security presence. Funeralgoers throw rocks at a riot squad in Kuhdasht In the southern city of Marvdasht, demonstrators could be heard chanting I will kill whoever killed my brother and death to Khamenei. In central Fouladshahr, protesters attending the funeral of one of those killed threw stones at security forces. Residents in the city of Zahedan, which saw some of the longest-running protests in 2022, also joined the demonstrations on Friday. Irans state media reported three people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters in the city of Lordegan and three in Azna, in the western province of Lorestan. Credit: Telegram/VahidOnline Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran, has said there is little he can do as Irans rial has rapidly depreciated, with one dollar now costing 1.34m rials. Western sanctions have been blamed. On Friday night, Mr Pezeshkian said that he would personally engage with the protesters. If necessary, I will talk with the guilds myself, he said. If they are right somewhere and we have been at fault, we will try to correct ourselves. Siamak, a boutique owner in Nahavand city, described the clashes between riot squads and protesters in his hometown, which left multiple people injured. He told The Telegraph: They were shooting pellets without any regard for whether they would kill or blind people. I saw two people soaked in blood. Instead of hospitals, people had to take them to nearby houses, because police are everywhere. The 32-year-old, who also participated in the 2022 demonstrations, said he had noticed a difference in how quickly crowds were forming. I attended the Mahsa protests too, but this year is very different, he added. Gatherings form extremely quickly you see 10 people chanting, and a few minutes later, there are hundreds. A burning regime statue in Kudasht Meanwhile, the BBC has become embroiled in a row with the Israeli embassy after the broadcaster was accused of obsessing over Gaza while largely ignoring the ongoing protests in Iran. Alex Gandler, the embassys official spokesman, said on X that there had been near-total silence on BBC news bulletins about the demonstrations against Tehrans Islamic theocratic leaders. At the same time, he claimed, the BBC continued to devote huge resources to its coverage of events in Gaza, as he questioned its impartiality. The BBC dismissed Mr Gandlers claims as factually incorrect but the spat is the latest evidence of a worsening relationship between the Israeli government and Britains national broadcaster over its coverage of the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attacks in October 2023. The North Korean ruler, Kim Jong-un, his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and their daughter Kim Ju-ae visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to mark the new year. Photograph: KCNA/Reuters (Photograph: KCNA/Reuters) The daughter of the North Korean ruler, Kim Jong-un, who is likely being prepared as his successor has accompanied her parents on her first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum to pay respects to former leaders, ahead of an event that could see her succession formalised. Photos from state news agency KCNA showed Kim Jong-un accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and senior officials on the visit on 1 January, with Ju-ae between her parents in the main hall of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. The North Korean leader visits Kumsusan to honour his grandfather, state founder Kim Il-sung, and his father, Kim Jong-il, on key dates and anniversaries. Related: Kim Ju-ae likely heir to North Koreas Kim Jong-un, says Souths spy agency Kim Ju-ae has been making increasingly prominent appearances in state media over the past three years, fuelling speculation by analysts and South Koreas intelligence agency that she is in line to be the countrys fourth-generation dictator. Cheong Seong-chang, vice-president at the Sejong Institute thinktank, viewed Ju-aes first public visit to the Kumsusan palace as a calculated move from her father, ahead of the upcoming ruling party congress at which her succession might be formalised. Hong Min, an expert on North Korea at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said North Korea had been portraying an image of Kims stable family by showing his wife and daughter with him at major events. However, the potential roles of Kims other children have left room for caution in drawing conclusions about Ju-aes succession, Hong said. Its practically impossible to publicly designate Kim Ju-ae, who is believed to have just turned 13, as the successor when shes not even old enough to join the [Workers] party, Hong said. Kim Ju-ae, who is believed to have been born in the early 2010s, attended this years New Year celebrations, according to state media. In September, she travelled to Beijing with her father on her first public overseas outing. North Korea has never confirmed her age. With Reuters Sarah Sackman, the justice minister, is married to Dan Squires KC, who represented double killer Fuad Awale - Stefan Rousseau/PA A Labour justice minister has been challenged over a potential conflict of interest after her husband represented a murderer who won a human rights battle against her department. Sarah Sackman, the courts minister and former solicitor general, is married to Dan Squires KC, who represented double killer Fuad Awale. The Conservatives have raised concerns over the case, in which Awale was transferred to a special separation unit for the countrys most dangerous prisoners after he and another inmate ambushed a prison officer and threatened to kill him unless Britain released the radical cleric Abu Qatada. Awale, an Islamic extremist, claimed his segregation designed to prevent him harming officers and radicalising other inmates breached his right to a private life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He claimed that he had suffered severe depression as a result of being denied contact with other inmates. David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, has agreed to pay 7,500 in compensation and foot a 234,000 legal bill for Awale after a judge ruled that his treatment in jail breached his human rights. Dan Squires KC represented Fuad Awale and Denny De Silva in human rights cases - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph Mr Squires, a barrister at Matrix chambers, also represented Denny De Silva, 32 alleged to be an extremist enforcer who won a similar legal challenge after arguing that separating him from other prisoners breached his human rights and contributed to worsening his anxiety and depression. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, urged Mr Lammy to appeal against the decisions and make it clear that there was no conflict of interest between Mr Squires and Ms Sackman. Mr Jenrick said: He needs to make clear that there is no conflict of interest within his department, between his courts minister and her husband bringing the cases of these extremists against the Government. Fuad Awale and Denny de Silva are two of the most despicable extremists currently held in our prisons. It would be outrageous if they were paid compensation because they disliked being prevented from radicalising other inmates or attacking officers. It is inexplicable why the Justice Secretary isnt appealing the decisions or bringing forward emergency legislation to prevent this. Hes putting his obsessive adherence to the ECHR above the safety of prison officers, the interests of taxpayers and basic decency. Fuad Awale claimed his segregation breached his right to a private life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights Mr Jenrick has urged Mr Lammy to introduce an emergency bill to exclude segregated extremists from the remit of the ECHR. Labour, however, dismissed the claims. A Government spokesman said: This claim is entirely baseless. Minister Sackman has had no involvement in the Governments decisions relating to Mr Awale or in any other case brought by a prisoner. In Mr Awales case, the court hearing happened before minister Sackman was an MP. This Government will not be cowed by legal threats from prisoners. The safety of the public and our hard-working prison staff is our main priority, and when dangerous prisoners pose a risk, they will be placed in our specialist high security units. The Ministry of Justice said Ms Sackman became courts minister after the judgment was handed down, and she had no involvement in the case, the decision not to appeal against it or in any other cases brought by prisoners. It said that she had complied with the ministerial code, including declaring her husbands role as a barrister in the list of ministerial interests. David Lammy has been urged to introduce an emergency bill to exclude segregated extremists from the remit of the ECHR - Lucy North/PA Mr Lammy, who revealed the payout to Awale in a letter to Mr Jenrick, indicated that ministers were reviewing whether changes were needed in the law to prevent violent criminals using the ECHR as a barrier to us protecting national security. The right to a private life under Article 8 of the ECHR has been interpreted as including the right to friendships and association with others to whom people are close. However, the Government is already seeking to restrict its use by migrants fighting deportation so that only immediate family will count in order to prevent dubious connections. Mr Lammy is considering a review by the terror watchdog Jonathan Hall, of how security could be improved after an alleged knife attack on three prison officers by Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomb plotter, in a separation centre at HMP Frankland, County Durham. The review is believed to have recommended that the Government should appeal the Awale ruling and consider rewriting legislation to prevent the ECHR being exploited by prisoners to avoid tough security measures. Mr Lammy said: I can assure you that significant policy and operational changes are under active consideration to ensure that the legal framework regarding the placement in separation remains robust, relevant and trusted. The UKs FTSE 100 has risen above 10,000 points for the first time, reaching a major milestone following a rally at the turn of the new year. It means the blue-chip index has hit a new all-time intraday trading high, after rising as much as more than 1% to 10,046.3, 114.9 points higher, within the first hour, as traders returned from the new year holiday. The FTSE 100 has teetered close to the milestone mark in recent months after a knockout year that has seen it rise by 21.5% the most since 2009. However, it failed to hold onto the gains after the early-morning rally and settled about 50 points below the 10,000 mark. The index closed the day 0.2% higher at 9,951.14. Londons top tier was strengthened last year by the soaring share prices of some of its constituents, including precious metal miners, defence and financial services firms. Investors have been attracted to the relative resilience of the stocks amid turbulence in the wider financial markets, global political uncertainty, and a lacklustre performance for the UK economy. Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said: This is a historic moment and already makes 2026 one of the most significant years for the blue-chip index since its launch in 1984. Breaking through the 10,000 level is the best new years present Chancellor Rachel Reeves could want. She has been banging the drum about the merits of investing over parking cash in the bank, and the FTSE 100s achievements just go to show whats possible when buying UK shares. It also proves to cynics that the UK market is not stuck in the mud, and that the US stock market is not the only place to make money. Defence firms were among stocks leading the new year charge in thin trading volumes, with engine-maker Rolls-Royce the top blue chip riser with a 3% gain, followed not far behind by sector peers Babcock International and BAE Systems, both just under 3% higher. It continues a strong run for the defence sector, which enjoyed stellar gains in 2025 as geopolitical tensions continued to rise, with Rolls and Babcock seeing their share prices roughly doubling. Mining giants were also among those seeing the biggest share increases, with silver specialist Fresnillo 3% ahead, while Glencore and Antofagasta likewise enjoyed new year boosts, up 2% each. The market rise was said to be the best new years present Chancellor Rachel Reeves could want (PA) (Lucy North) Oil firm BP lifted 2% as it continued to stride higher after revealing Meg ONeill will become its new chief executive in April, replacing Murray Auchincloss, who stepped down last month after less than two years in the role. The FTSE 100 closed 2025 at 9,931.38, shooting past record high levels on multiple occasions through the year and outperforming many European and US peers, including Frances Cac 40 and New Yorks S&P 500. Investors were drawn to the steady gains of FTSE-listed firms, which came in spite of weakness in the wider UK economy and political uncertainty prompting significant volatility in the global stock markets. It was a particularly strong year for precious metal producer Fresnillo, whose share price soared by about five-fold over 2025, while gold miner Endeavor Minings shares jumped by nearly three-fold. Rondon Ridge in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Photograph: Rondon Ridge (Photograph: Rondon Ridge) In the lush hills of Papua New Guineas highlands, Ambua Lodge sits in picturesque but troubled surrounds. From this region one of the countrys poorest and most dangerous the hotel is attempting to carve another path for Hela province, which has long been beset by tribal fighting. Despite a history of conflict in the area, the hotel has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world, and the countrys leaders want to attract even more tourists to this hard-to-access location. In December, Papua New Guineas prime minister, James Marape, visited Ambua Lodge to highlight its four decades of safe and successful investment in the area. I encourage other Papua New Guineans and potential investors, both local and international, not to be discouraged by negativity, Marape said. Jayesh Naduvil from Trans Niugini Tours, which runs Ambua Lodge, says tensions and conflict in the region have not presented problems for visitors, many of whom come for the Huli Wigmen, birdwatching and nature trails. The lodge is made up of thatched-roof rooms overlooking lush valleys. None of our clients ever had any law and order issues, as all our drivers, guides are from the community and are usually aware if there are any issues and avoid the areas, Naduvil says. Tribal fighting is not unusual in parts of PNG, but in recent years conflict in the highlands region including in Enga and Hela provinces has become more deadly as more sophisticated weapons have become available. Trans Niugini also operates Rondon Ridge in the Western province of the highlands, a luxury hotel with connections to the local Melpa tribe. The tribe remains deeply connected to the land and cultures practised for thousands of years, but in more recent years have also embraced business. Naduvil says the Melpa tribe had seen the benefits of tourism in other places and wanted us to build a tourist lodge in the area. The industry is growing. Figures from the Pacific Tourism Organisation show a 9.3% increase in international visitors to PNG in the first half of 2025. Most people come from Australia, at 39%, followed by Asia, at 35%. Tourism minister Belden Namah told parliament in December the industry is a sleeping giant with deep potential. Namah says more funding is needed to grow the sector, and has described tourism as a pot of gold that remains unexplored. Authentic culture and adventure About 250km east of Hela province is another of PNGs attractions the countrys highest peak, Mount Wilhelm. This part of PNGs highlands region is closer to the coast, and while tribal fighting is not as significant, it grapples with violence and crime. Here lies a hotel in picturesque surroundings, known as Bettys Place. The hotel is a resting spot for people seeking to take on Mt Wilhelm, and the hotel is one of several tourist operations that offer adventure and authentic cultural experiences, boosting the local economy. In the late 1980s, Betty and her Australian husband, Kenneth Higgins, bought land to settle and grow vegetables. For years they lived on the property with daughter Ruth, and in the mid-1990s a group of mountain climbers stopped by looking for a place to stay. Betty took them in and over time the place evolved into a hotel. Turning it into tourist accommodation had plenty of challenges there was no water supply, no electricity and no roads. But two decades later it is a hub for people who visit to climb Mt Wilhelm. We run generators and have wifi through a [satellite]. We do have solar, but it only powers LED lights we cannot get the technology to sustain our operations in solar alone, says Ruth, who now runs the hotel. Here, visitors experience Melanesian culture deeply rooted in the people and spirits of the land. We promote authentic culture the culture we still practice today. We have high altitude orchids, bird species endemic to our area, Ruth says. Tourists have visited from all over the world. Among them is Robert Mads Anderson, who visited from the US in July, and described the lodge as a magical place in the midst of a whole lot of wilderness. Exceptionally warm and welcoming atmosphere, fresh food and local trout in a phenomenal setting, Anderson said. Higgins says law and order in the small village where Bettys Place is located is not an issue, and in addition local residents can earn good money working as tourist guides. Still, she calls on PNG authorities to provide more support for the industry to deal with its challenges such as simply keeping the lights on and the water flowing for visitors. Ruth says she is pushing for people to see the benefits of tourism and the importance of keeping what we have as pristine as possible. We are so passionate about it. Mamdani appointee edited out of New York magazine cover after antisemitic comments sparked resignation An appointee tapped to join New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdanis administration was edited out of a magazine cover featuring his inner circle after antisemitic comments resurfaced, forcing her to resign. Catherine Almonte Da Costa was selected to lead Mamdani's office of appointments, handling talent recruitment strategy, until social media posts she wrote as a teenager in 2011 and 2012 were publicized. Da Costa offered Mamdani her resignation on December 18, but had already taken part in a photoshoot for New York magazine the day before, which featured the then-Mayor-elect and his closest aides. She was removed from the front cover by the magazines editors, who decided it would have been inappropriate to publish a photograph that included Da Costa, The New York Times reported. The magazines editors decided to remove her from the image, since it was meant to represent the mayor-elects inner circle for the new administration, Lauren Starke, a spokeswoman for the magazine, told the Times. Catherine Almonte Da Costa had been tapped to join New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdanis administration but was edited out of a magazine cover after antisemitic comments resurfaced, forcing her to resign (AFP via Getty Images) There is an open white space where Da Costa originally featured on the cover, according to the outlet. Starke said the magazine did not consult with Mamdanis team about removing Da Costa from the photograph. The Independent has contacted New York for further comment. Da Costas disparaging social media posts were first reported by the Judge Street Journal newsletter and were amplified by the Anti-Defamation League. Money hungry Jews smh, she wrote in one post from 2011. Far Rockaway train is the Jew train, she said in another post in 2012. Mamdani, who was sworn in on January 1, 2026, said he accepted Da Costas resignation following the uproar (AP) In a statement, Da Costa said she expressed deep regret for the posts. These statements are not indicative of who I am. As the mother of Jewish children, I feel a profound sense of sadness and remorse at the harm these words have caused, Da Costa said. Catherine expressed her deep remorse over her past statements and tendered her resignation, and I accepted, Mamdani said in a statement at the time. In the wake of Mamdanis decisive victory in the New York City mayoral race, the ADL announced it was launching a Mamdani Monitor to track the mayor-elects policies and personnel appointments. Besides researching the Mamdani administration, the initiative will also include a tip line to report antisemitism related to City Hall. Mamdani, who became the first-ever Muslim mayor of New York City, has been outspoken on his views about Israels war in Gaza and his fight for Palestinian rights. At the same time, he has pushed back against criticism that his stance towards Israel is antisemitic, and his campaign gained the support of young and progressive Jewish voters. Officers were called to a disturbance on Tarn Drive in Bury just before midnight (Getty Images) A man has been charged with murder after a suspected stabbing on New Year's Eve. Officers were called to a disturbance on Tarn Drive, Bury just before midnight on Wednesday where a 24-year-old man died after he was found with injuries "consistent with a stabbing", according to Greater Manchester Police. Anthony Junior Murray, 25, has been charged with murder and possession of a bladed article, a police spokesman said. Murray, of Tarn Drive, was due to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Friday. Police said a woman in her 20s who was also arrested has been bailed pending further inquiries and the investigation is ongoing. In a separate incident in London, a murder investigation is underway after a 23-year-old man was fatally stabbed on New Years Eve in London. Officers were called to Grove Street in Lewisham, in south-east London at around 12.35pm. A man suffered a stab wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said. No arrests have been made and a crime scene remains in place. The London Air Ambulance and London Ambulance Service also responded. A 6.5-magnitude earthquake shook southern Mexico on Friday, not far from the popular tourist destination of Acapulco, during a press conference being held by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The seismic event occurred at 7:58 a.m. local time at a shallow depth of 6.21 miles, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences, which can increase the potential for noticeable surface shaking. The president was holding her first 2026 tourism press conference at the National Palace when the earthquake struck, and sirens were audible over the live broadcast. A livestream of her remarks captured the rumblings as Sheinbaum calmly motioned for everyone in the room to evacuate. The press conference resumed minutes later. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum calmly motioned for press conference attendees to evacuate the room as an earthquake struck Friday morning (YouTube/@ClaudiaSheinbaumP) Tourists shown outside of their hotel in Mexico City after the earthquake struck in the early hours (AFP/Getty) Sheinbaum said she spoke with Guerreros governor and confirmed that no serious damage occurred there or in Mexico City. Residents of Guerrero and surrounding areas reported feeling the tremor, as seen in videos shared on X. Ceiling panels fell from Parking Lot A at Hospital la Raza in Mexico City, according to a local news outlet. Mexico City resident Karen Gomez told AFP that the early-morning quake awakened her. I woke up in terror. My cellphone alert said it was a powerful earthquake. Another woman, 57-year-old Norma Ortega, who lives on the 10th floor of an apartment block said: I got a terrible fright. A tourist speaks on their phone after being evacuated from a hotel during a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico on January 2, 2026. A 6.5-magnitude earthquake shook Mexico City (AFP/Getty) Sheinbaum's press conference resumed minutes after she and reporters evacuated due to the earthquake (YouTube/@ClaudiaSheinbaumP) The earthquakes epicenter was 9 miles from San Marcos, in southern Guerrero, about 143 miles from Mexico City, prompting the hospital and residents to evacuate. Mexico City, built on soft lakebed soil, is especially vulnerable to earthquakes from Guerrero, including the 8.1-magnitude quake on September 19, 1985, that killed over 10,000, injured 30,000, and left up to 250,000 homeless, according to History.com. Ohio police search for murder suspect after dentist and wife found shot dead at their home Ohio police are searching for a suspect in the suspected murders of a dentist and his wife who were found shot dead in their home. Officers performed a welfare check at the home of Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, in the Weinland Park area of Columbus Tuesday morning following calls from several concerned friends and coworkers. There were no obvious signs of forced entry, and no firearm was found at the scene, according to police, though authorities do not believe it was a murder-suicide. Records seen by WSYX indicate that Spencer Tepe appeared to have been shot multiple times, while Monique Tepe suffered at least one gunshot wound to the chest. A welfare check was requested by Dr Mark Velrose, the owner of Athens Dental Depot, where Spencer Tepe worked, after he failed to show up Tuesday morning. "He would contact us if there was any issues," Valrose told dispatchers, according to WSYX. "I don't know how else to say this, but we are very, very concerned... This is very out of character for him. We can't get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing." Ohio police are searching for a suspect in the suspected murders of a dentist and his wife who were found shot dead in their home (Getty/iStock) The couple married in 2021 and were one month away from celebrating their five year anniversary, according to the outlet. After receiving no responses from the couple several of Tepes coworkers drove to the home. The initial call to police was made at around 9 a.m., but a friend called again at 9:57 a.m. after hearing children crying inside the house but receiving no answer at the door. The caller then reported seeing Spencer's body inside the home near a bed. "There is a body inside," the caller said, per WSYX. "Our friend wasn't answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here, and he appears dead." Police confirmed that two young children were found inside the home unharmed. The investigation is still active, and anyone with information about the incident has been asked to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit or the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. Irish actor Paul Mescal has said he will start rationing his workload to avoid resenting his career. The 29-year-old, who shot to fame during the pandemic for his role as love interest Connell Waldron in BBC miniseries Normal People, based on the novel of the same name by Irish author Sally Rooney, has since starred in blockbusters such as Sir Ridley Scotts Gladiator II and booked the role of Sir Paul McCartney in the upcoming biopics by filmmaker Sir Sam Mendes. Mescal, who also stars in two upcoming dramas, Hamnet and The History Of Sound, revealed that the growing film credits comes with a cost and that he may need to be more selective with his workload. Paul Mescal has a busy slate, including the upcoming The History of Sound (Jeff Moore/PA) (Jeff Moore) Speaking to The Guardian, Mescal said: Im five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky. But Im also learning that I dont think I can go on doing it as much. When asked if he is rationing himself, he said: I think so. Im gonna have to start doing that. For sure. Rationing doesnt necessarily mean less. It means learning that films like The History Of Sound take more out of the well. You cant keep going back and expect to consistently deliver something youre proud of. Mescal plays Lionel in the film which follows his characters relationship with David (played by Josh OConnor) after the pair meet in 1917 at the New England Conservatory, and following the First World War, before travelling together to record folk songs in rural Maine in winter 1920. Paul Mescal and Josh OConnor star in A History Of Sound (Jeff Moore/PA) (Jeff Moore) He added: What that (career) rationing looks like, I dont know. I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when Im only doing theatre for a couple of years. I also have different priorities in my personal life that I want to attend to. I dont want to resent the thing I love. This sounds bold, but Id rather not be on the train if that is the choice. Mescal, who is promoting Chloe Zhaos Hamnet, about William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, played by Irish actress Jessie Buckley, as they manage the grief of losing their son, added: Once Ive finished promoting that, I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when Im doing the Beatles. People will get a break from me and Ill get a break from them. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal star in Hamnet (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) Mescal will also make his National Theatre debut in 2027, staring in productions of A Whistle In The Dark and Death Of A Salesman. It comes after he won an Olivier Award in 2023 for a stage adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, before starring in Gladiator II as an arena fighter who tries to bring down two maniacal emperors. He added: I loved the process of making that film but The History of Sound felt like home to me. Its where Im most comfortable. I want to make more films like that versus ones on the scale of Gladiator II. Directed by Oliver Hermanus, The History Of Sound will be released in UK cinemas on January 23. Poorest have got poorer under Labour while the richest are better off, stark new figures show The poorest households in Britain have become poorer while the rich have seen their disposable income rise under Labour, new figures show. The amount the poorest households have left over after bills and essential spending has fallen by 2.1 per cent since Labour came to power in July 2024, data from Retail Economics shows. But the most affluent households have seen their discretionary incomes rise by 10.3 per cent. The figures come as a blow to Sir Keir Starmer as he prepares to put tackling the cost of living at the centre of his new year message to voters and his own MPs. Sir Keir says positive change will be felt in the new year (PA Wire) The findings come as Sir Keir has pledged to wage all-out war on the soaring cost of living. With Labour still trailing Nigel Farages Reform UK in the polls and set to suffer heavy losses in Mays local elections, the PM is expected to highlight measures such as recent cuts to energy costs, due to take effect in April, and the abolition of the controversial two-child benefit cap at an event on Monday as ways the party is helping voters. In a new year message in the Daily Mirror, he wrote: Late last year I was handed a note by a Scottish girl, aged just nine years old. She had written to me to explain all the ways that poverty can impact children. The hunger from missing breakfast. The cold of unheated rooms. The embarrassment of a worn-through school uniform. The tiredness and exhaustion that comes with all of it. To be honest, it was moving to see such perception from a child. And shocking to think that the vast majority of children growing up in poverty in Britain today come from working families. He added: Thats why this year we will lift over half a million children out of poverty. By scrapping the two-child limit on child benefit. Expanding free school meals to half a million hungry children. And by waging an all-out war on the cost of living. Less well-off households have seen the amount of money they have left over after bills and essential spending drop (Getty/iStock) In a new year video, he also predicted that the UK would turn a corner in 2026 and that people would begin to feel a sense of hope in the coming months despite a slew of negative economic headlines in recent months. On the latest figures, Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform, told the Telegraph Labour had lost control over the cost of living. Graham Stringer, the Labour MP for Blackley and Middleton South, said: Its disappointing, but its not surprising given that our energy policy subsidises the affluent middle class via subsidies to expensive cars, to heat pumps, to other things, and increases the size of the bills for poorer people. The new figures from Retail Economics, an independent economic consultancy, look at discretionary income, which is how much money families have left after spending on essentials. Nicholas Found, from the group, said: The reality is that lower-income families are still grappling with the legacy of surging prices, with finances playing catch-up as the cost of everyday products is significantly higher than it was four years ago. The figures include changes in tax and some bills which are not captured by official figures from the Office for National Statistics. Runaway wallaby returns to animal sanctuary after being found safe outside New Jersey Walmart A daring wallaby that escaped from a New Jersey animal sanctuary and went on the run has been returned home safely after being found outside a local Walmart. The audacious marsupial, named Rex, escaped from a barn at the Lots of Love Farm in Williamstown Monday night after a gate was left unlatched. Officers from the Monroe Township Police Department assisted in the search, with members of the public advised to be on the look out. A detailed description of Rex was provided to the officers, though poor weather conditions prevented the use of a drone to boost efforts to find him. A wallaby that escaped from a New Jersey animal sanctuary and went on the run has been returned home after being found outside a local Walmart (Lots of Love Farm) A sighting of Rex was reported at around 9:05 p.m. Tuesday when he narrowly avoided being hit by a vehicle. He was later spotted one mile from the sanctuary in the parking lot of a Walmart by a mother and daughter, who called the sanctuary, and he was successfully recaptured. Well, if this didnt become the best night ever! Lots of Love Farm wrote, in a post celebrating Rexs safe return Tuesday night. With the help of some really cool kids and a really cool dad we caught Rex at the Walmart! He is home safe and sound! Thank you everyone, youre all amazing. He must really like Walmart. In a separate post the MTPD acknowledged that their efforts had been bested by citizen sleuths. The audacious marsupial, named Rex, escaped from a barn at the Lots of Love Farm in Williamstown Monday night after a gate was left unlatched (Lots of Love Farm) Native to Australia, wallabies are a mid-size member of the kangaroo family. Thanks to our local media, our officers are nationally recognized horse wranglers but unfortunately, we havent quite earned the title of Wallaby Whisperers, the police department wrote. We tried to assist last evening but were of little help... Rex is quick! In a New Years Eve post, Lots of Love Farm said that it had decided to give Rex a rest for a couple of days, but said he would be returning to public view from Friday. A welcome home part for Rex is also scheduled for this coming weekend. A major search operation is under way due to a number of people in difficulty in the sea at Withernsea, HM Coastguard has said. Photograph: Darrin Stevens (Photograph: Darrin Stevens) A second body has been recovered from the sea off the coast of Withernsea, East Yorkshire, as the search resumes for a third missing person. Humberside police said the body of a second person was retrieved on Friday evening. Earlier, a 67-year-old man had been pulled unconscious from the water, but he died later. Emergency services were called to the area just after 3pm. The search was stopped at 12.30am on Saturday but HM Coastguard, Yorkshire ambulance service and Humberside fire and rescue remained in the area as the search recommenced at dawn. Efforts will resume at first light, when coastguard rescue teams along with partner agencies will be sent to conduct additional searches of the area, HM Coastguard said in a statement. Police said circumstances surrounding both deaths were not believed to be suspicious. We continue to ask that people avoid the area to allow emergency services to work efficiently and safely, the force added. Emergency services were called to reports of people in difficulty in the water and ambulances, helicopters and aircraft were among the services deployed to brave horrendous conditions, with waves reportedly reaching almost 3 metres (10ft) during the day. Darrin Stevens, a photographer who lives 250 metres from the coast, described the weather as bitter and freezing. He said: I came back into my office and I could see [emergency services] 30ft away from the sea. You could see the helicopter so close to the house it was incredible. The sea could have been very dangerous, the water is very bitter and if they are in that water they do not have long. It is a dangerous place to be. It was freezing, and when the sea is as harsh as it is, every care needs to be taken, you need to be at your wisest, he said. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has issued advice, warning that the effects of cold water shock, combined with weather conditions, pose a risk to anyone entering water that is 15C or below, particularly at a time of year when the average sea temperature around the UK and Ireland is 6C to 10C. Gareth Morrison, the head of water safety for the RNLI, said: We know this time of year many people take part in festive and new year dips, or continue to take part in regular winter swims. We are urging anyone entering the water to be aware of the dangers, check sea conditions carefully and to understand their own limitations. With the sea temperatures still dropping and reaching their coldest around March, the effects of cold water, combined with weather conditions and any personal health issues, should be taken seriously before venturing in. A 51-year-old man died in the sea at Brighton on New Years Day. Sussex police were alerted at 10.35am on Thursday after the swimmer, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was recovered from the water to the west of Brighton Palace Pier. Jessica Moretti and her husband, who survived the fire, took over Le Constellation in 2015 The co-owners of the Swiss bar engulfed in a New Years Eve inferno have been interviewed by police after at least 40 people died on their property. Investigators are said to be focusing on foam cladding on the ceiling of the basement, which is suspected to have been the main accelerant for the fire in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana. The French co-owners of Le Constellation, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, also face questions about the venues fire escapes. Images of the moment when the fire started in the basement of Le Constellation show revellers waving sparkler-topped champagne bottles as the ceiling catches alight. Credit: via X The sparklers were allowed despite a general ban on fireworks imposed earlier in the week by the municipality of Crans-Montana because of safety concerns. Town authorities had warned on Tuesday of an extremely high fire risk because of a lack of rainfall for more than a month, creating unusually dry conditions. On Friday, Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, criticised the use of sparklers as he laid flowers at the scene for Italian victims. The use of fireworks in the venue, however small, does not seem to me to be a responsible choice, he said. A photo appears to show the moment champagne sparklers set fire to material on the ceiling of the bar The bars co-owners, who took over Le Constellation in 2015, survived the fire. Ms Moretti, 40, was inside when the blaze broke out and suffered burns to her arm. Jean-Thomas Filippini, a friend of the couple, confirmed that they were alive and said he had spoken to them. I tried to reach my friends all night. Around 5am, the woman finally got in touch and told me that they were alive and that it was a catastrophe, he said. Another source told the Swiss tabloid Blick: Both of them are in complete shock. Neither of them has yet publicly spoken about the fire, which started in the basement at around 1.30am on New Years Day while at least 100 people were inside. Credit: X / @Nola_Susan Beatrice Pilloud, the Swiss prosecutor, has said the investigation into the blaze will explore whether the bar had followed safety protocols. Swiss authorities said on Friday afternoon that they had already been interviewed. Investigators are said to be focusing on an insulation-like foam material on the basements ceiling, which is seen catching alight in images released of the bar on the night of the blaze. According to some media reports, the material is likely to be acoustic polyurethane, a cheap but highly flammable form of sound insulation. Stato Quotidiano, an Italian news outlet, noted that strict rules in Switzerland forbade the use of any flammable materials in underground public spaces. A picture reportedly of a witness holding sparklers and sitting on the shoulders of a colleague on the night of the blaze The bar is also facing accusations of letting in underage children, including some as young as 13, according to French media. Le Constellation has not responded to the allegations. Most of the discos only accept adults, and Le Constellation was the only place where you could go at 16, although in reality there were also younger kids who said they dont check [for ID] anyway, a 13-year-old customer of the bar told French news outlet BFMTV. They added that, as a result, they feared that a large number of the dead could be children younger than 16. Another witness, Samuel Rapp, 21, told Blick: Normally, very young people between the ages of 16 and 18 are out and about there. Romain Kallergis, whose 15-year-old sister Alice is missing after the fire, claimed alcohol was being served to children at the venue. I want you to know that most of the people I saw there that night were children, and were talking about ages 13 and 15. The entrance was open to everyone. This is illegal. They were serving alcohol to minors and there was no security at this particular club, he told Proto Thema, a Greek news outlet. Low safety rating Online reviews for Le Constellation show that it received a safety rating of only 6.5 on the travel website Wheree.com, and had faced complaints about unprofessional staff. Despite its visually stunning setup, Le Constellation faces challenges in customer service that have been highlighted in numerous reviews. Patrons have expressed disappointment regarding interactions with staff, noting a lack of professionalism and attentiveness, according to the Wheree.com entry. Customer service has been repeatedly criticised for being unprofessional and confrontational, detracting from the overall experience. Mr and Mrs Moretti are well-known figures in the Swiss hospitality industry, having moved to Crans-Montana from the Mediterranean island of Corsica. In addition to owning Le Constellation, they are the proprietors of the restaurants Le Vieux Chalet, in the village of Lens, and Le Senso, in Crans-Montana. According to Mrs Morettis page on LinkedIn, she was educated in Britain at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, where she received a bachelors degree. Jessica Moretti and her husband took over Le Constellation in 2015 The co-owner of the Swiss bar engulfed in a New Years Eve inferno has insisted that he and his wife did not break any safety rules. Everything was done according to the rules, Jacques Moretti, 49, who owns Le Constellation, in Crans-Montana, with his wife Jessica, told 24 Heures. He added that the bar in the ski resort town had been inspected three times in 10 years before ending the call with a reporter from the Swiss-French media outlet, saying he did not feel well. On Friday, the Morettis were interviewed by Swiss authorities over the fire, which killed at least 40 people, many of them feared to be children. More than 100 are still missing. Images of the moment when the fire started in the basement of Le Constellation show revellers waving sparkler-topped champagne bottles as the ceiling catches alight. The French co-owners also face questions about the venues fire escapes. A photo appears to show the moment champagne sparklers set fire to material on the ceiling of the bar The sparklers were lit despite a general ban on fireworks imposed earlier in the week by the municipality of Crans-Montana because of safety concerns. On Friday, Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, criticised their use as he laid flowers at the scene for Italian victims, saying: The use of fireworks in the venue, however small, does not seem to me to be a responsible choice. The bars co-owners took over Le Constellation in 2015. Mrs Moretti, 40, was inside when the blaze broke out and suffered burns to her arm. Jean-Thomas Filippini, a friend of the couple, confirmed that they were alive and said he had spoken to them. I tried to reach my friends all night. Around 5am, the woman finally got in touch and told me that they were alive and that it was a catastrophe, he said. Another source told the Swiss tabloid Blick: Both of them are in complete shock. Neither of them has yet publicly spoken about the fire, which started in the basement at around 1.30am on New Years Day while at least 100 people were inside. Credit: X / @Nola_Susan Beatrice Pilloud, the Swiss prosecutor, has said the investigation into the blaze will explore whether the bar had followed safety protocols. Investigators are said to be focusing on an insulation-like foam material on the basements ceiling, which is seen catching alight in images released of the bar on the night of the blaze. According to media reports, the material is likely to be acoustic polyurethane, a cheap but highly flammable form of sound insulation. Stato Quotidiano, an Italian news outlet, noted that strict rules in Switzerland forbade the use of any flammable materials in underground public spaces. A picture reportedly of a waitress holding sparklers and sitting on the shoulders of a colleague on the night of the blaze The bar is also facing accusations of letting in underage children, including some as young as 13, according to French media. Le Constellation has not responded to the allegations. Most of the discos only accept adults, and Le Constellation was the only place where you could go at 16, although in reality there were also younger kids who said they dont check [for ID] anyway, a 13-year-old customer of the bar told the French news outlet BFMTV. They added that, as a result, they feared that a large number of the dead could be children younger than 16. Another witness, Samuel Rapp, 21, told Blick: Normally, very young people between the ages of 16 and 18 are out and about there. Romain Kallergis, whose 15-year-old sister Alice is missing after the fire, claimed alcohol was being served to children at the venue. I want you to know that most of the people I saw there that night were children, and were talking about ages 13 and 15. The entrance was open to everyone. This is illegal. They were serving alcohol to minors and there was no security at this particular club, he told Proto Thema, a Greek news outlet. Online reviews for Le Constellation show that it received a safety rating of only 6.5 on the travel website Wheree.com, and had faced complaints about unprofessional staff. Despite its visually stunning setup, Le Constellation faces challenges in customer service that have been highlighted in numerous reviews. Patrons have expressed disappointment regarding interactions with staff, noting a lack of professionalism and attentiveness, according to the Wheree.com entry. Customer service has been repeatedly criticised for being unprofessional and confrontational, detracting from the overall experience. Mr and Mrs Moretti are well-known figures in the Swiss hospitality industry, having moved to Crans-Montana from the Mediterranean island of Corsica. In addition to owning Le Constellation, they are the proprietors of the restaurants Le Vieux Chalet, in the village of Lens, and Le Senso, in Crans-Montana. According to Mrs Morettis page on LinkedIn, she was educated in Britain at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, where she received a bachelors degree. Lindsay Foreman and her husband, Craig, were arrested in January 2025 - PA On January 3 last year, my mother, Lindsay Foreman, and her husband, Craig, were arrested in Iran while travelling briefly through the country as part of a round-the-world motorbike tour. They had taken what they believed were the necessary precautions: visas, guides and adherence to the rules laid down by the authorities. What they had not understood was that innocence would offer no protection once they became useful to the Iranian state. They are now held in Evin Prison, charged with espionage. Our family denies these charges entirely, just as the families of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori did when their loved ones were taken to the same prison under similarly implausible accusations. Innocent people, repurposed as political leverage. A year on, the most troubling aspect of this ordeal is not Irans behaviour, grimly familiar though it is, but the sense that the Government has failed to learn from the past. Slow responses, poor communication and an instinct to caution families into silence are the mistakes that defined earlier cases, any yet they appear to be repeating themselves. There is a familiar refrain whenever such cases are discussed: They should not have been there in the first place, Iran is dangerous, travel advice exists, responsibility lies with the individual. It is a tempting argument, because it absolves the rest of us of responsibility. It is also deeply flawed. Lindsay and Craig were not acting recklessly. They entered Iran legally, with permission and guidance, as many British citizens do each year for work, family, research or travel. More importantly, even if one accepts the premise of poor judgment, it does not follow that the states obligations cease. British citizenship is not conditional on perfect risk assessment. We do not deny support to journalists detained abroad, workers kidnapped in conflict zones or sailors rescued after ignoring weather warnings. A serious country does not decide, after the fact, which citizens are worthy of protection. Nor does this argument withstand scrutiny in the Foreman case. My mother and Craig are not being detained because of where they travelled, but because they are useful to a regime that treats foreign nationals as bargaining chips. The charge of espionage is not a legal process; it is a political instrument. In previous cases, families were urged to lay low and allow quiet diplomacy to work. Public campaigning, they were told, might endanger detainees. History suggests otherwise. Britain only meaningfully negotiated Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffes release after years of inertia and after public pressure made inaction untenable. Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, resorted to hunger strikes outside the Foreign Office not out of choice, but necessity. The same pattern now confronts our family. We are advised against speaking out, yet see little evidence of decisive action behind the scenes. Silence might be bearable if it delivered results; it is intolerable when it merely masks drift. Ministerial energy appears better spent managing publicity than securing their release. There is also the persistent refusal to acknowledge reality. Despite overwhelming evidence that British nationals were being held to exert pressure over longstanding disputes, the government long insisted on respecting Irans judicial process. Even at the point of release, official language emphasised Iranian goodwill rather than Iranian power. This reluctance to name arbitrary detention for what it is delayed action and weakened political resolve. A cross-party parliamentary committee addressed this directly in 2023, recommending dedicated leadership within the Foreign Office and earlier engagement with families. Those recommendations were not implemented. From our perspective, that failure is no longer theoretical. It has consequences measured in days, months and now a year of imprisonment. This now requires intervention at the highest level. The Prime Minister cannot allow innocent British citizens to languish in a foreign jail while the machinery of government proceeds cautiously, awaiting the outcome of another sham trial. When politicians act decisively, lives can be restored. When they do not, families are left to campaign alone. One year in Evin Prison is one year too long. Britain must do better not quietly, not eventually, but now. Tesco and Sainsburys will reveal whether it was a merry Christmas across their supermarket operations in festive trading updates next week, while Next and Marks & Spencer also report back from the high street. The UKs two biggest grocery chains have been battling it out to win over shoppers with their Christmas advertising campaigns and beat off ever-increasing competition from discounters Aldi and Lidl. Figures from Tesco on Thursday will show how it fared in the so-called golden quarter, having hiked its earnings guidance in October to between 2.9 billion and 3.1 billion. Tesco reports its trading update on Thursday (Jonathan Brady/PA) (Jonathan Brady) Christmas trading will be crucial to Tesco meeting guidance, and chief executive Ken Murphy has warned the industry remains incredibly competitive amid a price war in the sector. AJ Bell experts said: As is the case with many retailers, Tescos shares have lost a little momentum since November, and the run-up to the Budget from Chancellor Rachel Reeves. However, they are still up by a fifth in the past year and stand very close to levels last seen in 2010. The chain has increased its share of the market to 28.3% in recent weeks, according to Worldpanel, and is looking to beat sales growth of 3.7% seen in the previous six-week Christmas period. Sainsburys figures on Friday also come after it recently increased its earnings outlook, saying it is now set for retail earnings of more than 1 billion after a better-than-expected half-year performance. The group, which also owns the Argos chain, last year saw grocery sales rise 4.1% in the quarter to January, but more disappointing trading in Argos held overall growth back, with sales across the business up 2.7%. Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: The ongoing cost-cutting programme is helping to offset higher employment costs, and savings are also being reinvested in keeping food prices down. That should have helped lure in more customers in the run-up to Christmas, a period where shopping trollies get piled higher than usual. Outside of the supermarket sector, retail titans Next and M&S will give their verdict on Christmas trading on Tuesday and Thursday respectively. Next is expected to cap another solid year of trading, having recently upped its guidance once again, saying it expects sales over the festive quarter to be significantly higher than previously predicted. The fashion and homewares chain said at the end of October it expects full price sales to grow by around 7% in the quarter to January, increasing its guidance from 4.5%. However, it has repeatedly cautioned over the consumer backdrop and will be watched closely for further comments on how consumer spending is holding up. Fellow retail bellwether M&S will be hoping for a solid festive performance to help draw a line under what has been a tough 2025, according to Mr Chiekrie. A cyber attack in April hit online sales hard after M&S was forced to suspend all website sales for six weeks, leading to a plunge in first half profits. With a lingering but smaller impact of the hack in the second half, it will be looking for this to be offset by strong demand for its festive food and fashion ranges. The worst looks to be behind M&S now, but the group has some work to do to rebuild investors confidence, said Mr Chiekrie. Sales figures from Greggs, also on Thursday, will be examined for signs of better trading after slowing sales growth in recent months and a profit warning in July. The group was impacted by warmer weather in the summer, but has also flagged tough market conditions and weak consumer confidence. This image, which has been circulating online, appears to show the point the ceiling caught fire inside Le Constellation nightclub. The image may have been subjected to some digital enhancement and subsequently the Guardian has blurred some identifying personal details. Photograph: unknown (Photograph: unknown) Investigators believe fountain sparklers mounted on champagne bottles and held too close to the ceiling sparked the deadly fire that tore through a crowded bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, killing about 40 people and injuring more than 100. Everything suggests the fire started from the burning candles or Bengal lights that had been attached to champagne bottles, the prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said on Friday. These went too close to the ceiling. Pilloud told a press conference in the town of Sion, about 16 miles (25km) from the mountain resort, that mobile phone footage and witness statements showed that a rapid, very rapid and widespread conflagration ensued. The fire broke out at about 1.30am on Thursday and engulfed Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, which was packed with mostly young people celebrating the new year. Pilloud said the investigation would examine the bars compliance with safety regulations. As efforts to identify the victims continued, Pilloud said investigators would focus on the materials used in the renovation of the bar and its basement, its operating licence, the availability of fire extinguishers and emergency exits, as well as the number of people in the venue when the fire began. One image circulating online on Friday appeared to show the ceiling of the basement where the new years party was being held, apparently clad with foam soundproofing panels, catching fire as the sparklers were held aloft. Mathias Reynard, the president of the Valais regional government, said authorities were working as fast as possible to identify the victims, many of whom had been severely burned, a process that officials said earlier could take several days. Reynard said experts were using dental records, DNA samples and clothing descriptions in the terrible and sensitive task of identifying the badly burned bodies. Nothing can be told to the families unless we are 100% sure, he said. Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old international golfer from Italy who lived in Dubai, was named on Friday as the first of several possible Italian victims of the disaster to be identified. Pope Leo expressed his compassion and solicitude and said he was praying that the Lord will welcome the deceased into His abode of peace and light, and sustain the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies. The Valais police chief, Frederic Gisler, said 119 people had been injured, 113 of whom had been identified. Among the injured are 71 Swiss, 14 French, 11 Italians, four Serbs, and one person each from Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal. Eric Bonvin, the director of the regional hospital in Sion, told the press conference that the type of injuries received by most of the wounded will need to be treated for a very long time. The EU said it had contacted Swiss authorities about providing medical assistance. Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, said some of the injured were being cared for in French hospitals. Others were being treated in Germany and Poland. Gisler said the death toll still stood at 40, with formal identification continuing. A ceremony will be held on 9 January in Crans-Montana to give the shellshocked, close-knit community in the mountain resort a chance to remember the victims. Stephane Ganzer, a regional health and safety official, told RTL radio earlier on Friday that a large number of the injured were in a critical condition. When 15% or more of an adults body has third-degree burns, there is a risk of death, he said. Ganzer told the press conference the families of the victims would receive psychological support from the police, describing the tragedy as unprecedented in the history of our canton. About 40 police officers were still on the scene, he said. Pilloud said no criminal liability had yet been established, adding that it was essential that we do not make any assumptions. It was not clear when the last fire checks at the bar were carried out, but no irregularities were reported. The prosecutor said the owners of the bar had been questioned, but not under caution. If there were grounds to suspect their liability, an investigation will be opened for negligent arson, negligent homicide, and negligent bodily injury. French media, citing property records, have said the bar is owned by two French nationals, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who bought it in 2015 and also owned two other establishments in the area including a hamburger restaurant in the town. A friend of the couple, who are originally from Corsica and arrived in the area in the early 2000s, said Jessica Moretti, who was in the bar when the fire broke out, had been burned on the arm. Both have since been unreachable. Several witness accounts reported by the Swiss, French and Italian media said restaurant staff had held sparklers mounted on champagne bottles high as part of a regular show for patrons, who made special orders to their tables. There were waitresses with champagne bottles and little sparklers, one witness, Axel, told the Italian media outlet Local Team. They got too close to the ceiling, and suddenly it all caught fire. A Swiss fire expert, Markus Knorr, told the Swiss outlet 20 Minutes that the type of soundproofing panels apparently used burn fast and burst into flames unless fireproofed, and fire could spread extremely fast since they are mounted horizontally. Concerns have also been raised about the number of exits from the bars basement, which was used for special events and reportedly accessible from the ground floor only by a single staircase that several survivors described as narrow. According to its website, Le Constellation can host up to 300 people. Residents of Crans-Montana, many of whom knew victims, have been stunned by the disaster. Hundreds of people stood in silence near the scene as they came to pay their respects to the dead and injured on Thursday night. Related: What happened in the Crans-Montana bar fire in Switzerland visual guide The mound of floral tributes outside Le Constellation continued to grow on Friday. Rest in peace among the stars, one of the messages read. Francois, who did not want to give his surname, said: I woke up to a loud bang at about 1.30am but then it went silent. I fell back to sleep and then saw the news in the morning. It seems that so many young people have lost their lives. Weve never experienced anything like this. Arlino Marchese and his friend Sacha Dimic, from the nearby town of Sierre, were in Crans-Montana to ski on Friday. We used to go to Le Constellation a lot when we were younger, said Dimic. It was a good bar, with a good atmosphere and really popular. All those lives gone, its terrible. Piermarco Pani, an 18-year-old who, like many others in the town, knew the bar well, said: They were people like us. Dozens of people left flowers or lit candles on a makeshift altar at the top of the road leading to the bar, which police had cordoned off. Elisa Sousa, 17, told Reuters she was meant to have been at Le Constellation on Thursday night but had spent the evening at a family gathering instead. Ill need to thank my mother a hundred times for not letting me go, she said at the vigil. The Swiss president, Guy Parmelin, who visited the mountain resort on Thursday, said the country would hold five days of mourning to mark what he described as one of the most traumatic events in its history. The UK foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, said on X: Our thoughts are with all the victims and their families. The FCDO stand ready to support any British nationals affected. Victoria Jones, the daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, has died - Axelle/Bauer-Griffin The daughter of Hollywood actor Tommy Lee Jones has died, aged 34. Victoria Jones, also an actor, was found dead in a corridor of San Franciscos Fairmont Hotel in the early hours of New Years Day. Joness cause of death is not known. A guest alerted staff after finding her unresponsive in the corridor of the 14th floor, according to the Daily Mail. Emergency workers requested a code three, colour change as per a dispatch recording obtained by the paper. There was no drug paraphernalia found at the scene, however. A code three is an emergency requiring immediate action, the Daily Mail reports. Paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive Jones, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of Victoria Joness death is not known - Anadolu Police said there were no signs of foul play or that she had taken her own life, according to The Daily Beast. A white female around her mid-30s was found unresponsive and the hotel staff was alerted, a source told the Daily Mail. CPR was done, but she was pronounced deceased by the emergency/ambulance crew that responded to the scene. Jones is the second child of the No Country for Old Men star and his wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. Her brother, Austin, is 43. The Jones family has not yet released a statement. Jones was arrested in June last year following an incident of domestic violence at a resort in Napa. She pleaded not guilty to all charges and was due to reappear in court later this month. The mugshot of Victoria Jones after she was arrested in Napa, California, in June 2025 Jones starred alongside her father in Men in Black II and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. She also appeared in the television series One Tree Hill. The pair also frequently walked the red carpet together. Shes a good actress, has her SAG [Screen Actors Guild] card, speaks impeccable Spanish, Jones said of his daughter in 2005. Victoria Jones and her father at the premiere of The Missing in 2003 - Lawrence Lucier/2003 Getty Images In a 2006 interview, he joked that he fired his daughter from Three Burials, the highly acclaimed contemporary Western that was Joness directorial debut, when she refused to get out of bed for an early casting call. One morning, she wouldnt get out of bed. I said, Honey, this is work. But she wouldnt budge. So I fired her, he said. Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time. A spokesman for the San Francisco fire department confirmed that paramedics had found a person dead at the Fairmont Hotel at 2.53am on New Years Day. Our units responded to the scene, performed an assessment and declared one person deceased, the spokesman said. Police and the medical examiners office are currently involved, they added. Jones senior, an Oscar and Golden Globe winner, has also appeared in The Fugitive, JFK, Lincoln and In the Valley of Elah. A top political fact-checking has dubbed 2025 the Year of the Lies, due to the sheer volume of mistruths and false information that has been spread by politicians. Since 2009, PolitiFact has published its annual Lie of the Year, taken from its own analysis as well as submissions from the general public. We've been doing this for a long time, and the volume and severity of the inaccurate claims was just overwhelming, and we felt that it was insufficient to name just one our lie of the year, said Katie Sanders, editor-in-chief of PolitiFact. We wanted to catch people's attention and take stock of the times we're in, and so we thought renaming it and giving it a different purpose might do that. A top political fact-checking has dubbed 2025 the Year of the Lies, due to the sheer volume of mistruths and false information that has been spread by politicians (AP) PolitiFacts Lie of the Year, has previously been published to highlight a statement or collection of statements that is worthy of note for a consequential undermining of reality. This year, singling out one specific statement has not been possible, Sanders said. Though Sanders highlighted several statements from the Trump administration, including his claims about the dangers of pregnant women taking Tylenol and the crackdown on violent criminals, as being worthy of note, she added that PolitiFact examines alleged lies from both sides of the political aisle. In 2025, options for the top lie include Trumps baseless justifications for deadly boat strikes off Venezuelas coast, but also Democratic Governor JB Pritzkers assessment of food stamp "SNAP machines. One top contender for Lie of the Year was Democratic Governor JB Pritzkers assessment of food stamp SNAP machines (Getty Images) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus claim of "no starvation" in Gaza was also considered to be one of the years biggest and most blatant lies. Yes, we're spotlighting several statements from the Trump administration, but the lows of the year for political rhetoric and influential speech are not the White House's alone, Sanders told PBS. We're contending with a really fraught online information environment where AI slop is abundant, misleading out of context, narratives abound, and you just can't believe what you see, and we worry that people are too numb to the drumbeat of misinformation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus claim of no starvation in Gaza was also considered to be one of the years biggest and most blatant lies, according to PolitiFact (Getty) That is very dangerous, frankly, for us to be in and so I hope that our Year of the Lies catches people's attention and reminds them why it's important to improve media literacy and pause before taking everything at face value. PolitiFact highlighted three examples of instances where lies have had serious implications for real people, including a soybean farmer affected by tariff uncertainty, a pediatrician who was forced to quit her job, and two Salvadorian brothers seeking asylum who were branded the worst of the worst and deported. In 2024, Trump and his running mate JD Vances claim that Haitian migrants were eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio, took the title of Lie of the Year, though the president now has four such titles as well as three supporting roles. Lucas Bergvall missed Tottenhams draw against Brentford with a groin injury (Getty Images) Thomas Frank has delivered an update on Lucas Bergvall ahead of Tottenhams Premier League match against Sunderland. Bergvall missed Spurs goalless draw with Brentford on New Years Day after sustaining a groin injury in the win over Crystal Palace last weekend. Frank said the midfielder would be assessed on Monday ahead of Tottenhams trip to the Gtech Community Stadium, but ultimately opted against risking the Sweden international in the London derby. Bergvall remains a doubt for Sundays game at home to Sunderland, though the Spurs boss is hopeful the 19-year-old will be available for selection. Speaking on Friday, Frank said: "Lucas Bergvall is a doubt. We hope he'll be ready. Frank also refused to put a timeline regarding a return to action for Dominic Solanke. Solanke has been out since August with a recurring ankle injury, but was pictured in training this week and Frank admitted there was a possibility the striker could be available for selection in January. Dominic Solanke is on the comeback trail (Getty Images) However, the Spurs boss has issued a new update on Solanke, stating he cannot reveal an exact date for when the forward will be available for selection. "The thing I need to know about, of course, is when he's out there on the pitch, Frank added. Then that's positive, of course. But to say mid-Jan or end of Jan or 25th of Jan, I will not do that. I will very much look forward to naming the dates when he's involved in the squad. Iran warns Trump not to cross red line after US president says military locked and loaded to help protesters Iran threatened American interests across the Middle East on Friday after Donald Trump warned that the US army is locked and loaded if Tehran kills protesters. As the country is rocked by the most significant demonstrations since 2022, Trump said the US military would come to the rescue of Iranian protesters if they are violently killed. At least seven people have been killed so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, sparked in part by the collapse of Iran's currency. Protestors have been heard calling for the overthrow of supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue, Trump warned. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP he added. It was not clear from his comments what assistance the US would offer the protesters. Donald Trump has threatened Iran with war over fresh protests in the Middle Eastern country (AP) Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the Ayatollah, said Irans national security was a red line, not material for adventurist tweets. Any intervening hand nearing Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response, he said in a post on X. Shortly after, Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker who serves as the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, claimed without evidence that Israel and the US were stoking the demonstrations. Trump should know that intervention by the US in the domestic problem corresponds (to) chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the US interests," he wrote on X, which the Iranian government blocks. The people of the US should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers. Protestors have blocked the roads in Irans major cities as tensions continue to build (Fars News Agency) The protests in Iran have primarily centred on the countrys economic hardships, many of which have persisted since the U.S. first imposed tariffs on the countrys government in 2018. The last widespread protests in Iran took place in 2022 following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman accused by morality police of not wearing her veil properly. Her death triggered protests that spread across the country and rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Irans four-decade-old Islamic theocracy. Social media video obtained by the BBC showed cars being set ablaze and roads blocked in the capital Tehran, as well as Azna and Kouhdasht. However, one of Trumps former loyalists has slammed the president for wanting to get involved in unrest overseas. An overturned car and multiple fires burn as protesters chant outside a police station (Social media) Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ended 2025 with a furious post on X, in which she claimed that Americans were planning a tax revolt over Trumps involvement in foreign wars. Trump spent the weekend with Zelensky and Netanyahu, Pentagon fails audit again, meanwhile Americans are planning a tax revolt because they dont know what else to do to get their elected officials to stop their money from being given to thieves, foreigners, and foreign wars, she wrote. Greene previously criticized Trump for authorizing a strike on three nuclear facilities in Iran in June 2025. Nicknamed Operation Midnight Hammer, the strike saw fourteen bunker buster bombs being unloaded on the facilities in a bid to prevent Iran from allegedly developing a nuclear weapon. The bombing was the only direct US involvement in Israels war with Iran, which also ended in June. Some of the protestors have been heard calling for the overthrowing of Ayatollah Khamenei (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader) As tensions soar with Iran just days into 2026, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer warned that the US needs to exercise extreme caution if further strikes go ahead. Well, it depends on what the target is, he told The Chris Salcedo Show on Thursday. There are a number of things that are going on right now that we could be helpful with. One of those things, obviously, is the unrest in the street, he added. We want to make it very clear, were against the mullahs and theocracy, not the people of Iran. Nicolas Maduro rejected Donald Trumps claim that he heads a narco-terrorist organisation flooding the US with drugs. Photograph: Reuters (Photograph: Reuters) The Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, has urged Donald Trump to abandon his illegal warmongering and begin serious talks with his administration as mystery continued to surround a purported pre-Christmas CIA airstrike on the South American country. Speaking during an hour-long TV interview, Maduro declined to confirm reports of the apparent US attack, which would be the first on Venezuelan soil since Trump began his five-month campaign of military pressure in August. This could be something we talk about in a few days, Maduro told the Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet as the Venezuelan leader drove through the streets of Caracas in an apparent attempt to project serenity in the face of US pressure. At one point during what Maduro called the pod car broadcast, he drove the silver SUV past his childhood home and the church where his baptism and first communion were held. Caracas looks so beautiful, Maduro declared, urging US voters to reflect on whether they wanted Trump to lead them into a South American version of the Iraq war. Maduro rejected US claims justifying Trumps campaign that he was the head of a narco-terrorist crime organisation flooding the US with drugs. He said he believed Washingtons true objective was to seize control of Venezuelan resources including oil, gold and rare-earth metals. Since they cant accuse me or accuse Venezuela of having weapons of mass destruction since they cant accuse us of having nuclear missiles or chemical weapons they have invented a claim that the US knows is as false as the claim about weapons of mass destruction that led them into a forever war, Maduro said. I believe that we need to set all this aside and start serious talks. The US government knows that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, were ready. If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for US investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it. The New York Times reported last month that Maduro had responded to Trumps pressure campaign by regularly sleeping in different locations and switching mobile phones so as to avoid being captured by US special forces or killed in an aerial attack. Asked what impact Trumps pressure campaign was having on his physical and emotional state, however, Maduro struck a nonchalant tone. I have a foolproof bunker: almighty God, he replied. I have entrusted Venezuela to our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. Related: US struck big facility in Venezuela, Trump claimed without offering details Maduros pre-recorded interview came after Trump said on Monday that the US had hit a docking facility that served Venezuelan drug trafficking boats last month. US media reports have claimed the CIA was behind the drone strike. If confirmed, the first strike on land would mark a new phase in a campaign that has involved the deployment of a huge US naval fleet, airstrikes on alleged drug traffickers and a total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers, the seizure of two vessels and the pursuit of a third. Maduro said he had not spoken to Trump since a 10-minute conversation on 21 November, which he called cordial and respectful. That conversation was enjoyable even, but since then the evolution has not been enjoyable, he said, calling for dialogue and diplomacy between Washington and Caracas. The interview was recorded on New Years Eve, the same day the US military announced strikes against five alleged drug-smuggling boats. The latest attacks bring the total number of known boat strikes to 35 and the number of people killed to at least 115, according to Trump administration figures. Venezuelans are among the victims. Trump has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the US and asserted that Washington is engaged in an armed conflict with drug cartels. The strikes began off Venezuelas Caribbean coast and later expanded to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Tommy Lee Joness daughter Victoria was found dead at a luxury San Francisco hotel aged 34, with newly emerged details adding further uncertainty around the circumstances of her death. A guest on the 14th floor alerted staff in the early hours of New Years Day after seeing her on the ground and believing she might be drunk, according to the Daily Mail. Hotel staff quickly realised she was unresponsive, began CPR and called emergency services. Heres what we know thus far: Emergency response and investigation status The San Francisco Fire Department said it received a call for medical assistance at 2.52am on January 1 at the Fairmont San Francisco. Despite efforts by first responders, Victoria was pronounced dead at the scene. Police and the Medical Examiner also attended. Her cause of death has not yet been determined. Jones pictured with his daughter Victoria in 2017 (Getty Images) Yet, sources say there were no signs of foul play, no drug paraphernalia found and no indication that she took her own life. The San Francisco Police Department is asking anyone with information about her tragic death to get in contact. The scene was also attended by the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Medical Examiner. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department said, On 1/1/26 at approximately 3:14 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to a hotel located on the 900 block of Mason Street regarding a report of a deceased person. At the scene, officers met with medics, who declared the adult female deceased. The Medical Examiner arrived on scene and conducted an investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. Recent run-in with the law It remains unclear whether Victoria was staying at the hotel or how she came to be on the 14th floor. However, court records obtained by the New York Post show that she had been arrested several times over the past year. In April, she was detained in Napa County on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a narcotic controlled substance. A month later the outlet reports, she was arrested in Santa Cruz County, before being taken into custody again in Napa County in June on allegations of domestic battery and domestic violence or elder abuse, after which she was released on bail. Records show that Jones pleaded not guilty in both Napa County cases. Jones pictured with Victoria as well as Dawn Laurel-Jones and Hilary Swank at 2014s Cannes Film Festival (Getty Images) Family background and career Victoria was the daughter of Tommy Lee Jones and his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. The former couple were married from 1981 to 1996 and share two children, including son Austin. As a child, Victoria appeared in a handful of acting roles, including the Western The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, directed by her father. She also appeared in an episode of One Tree Hill in 2005. Victoria did not continue acting as an adult but was occasionally seen on red carpets with her father, including the 2017 premiere of Just Getting Started and at the Tokyo International Film Festival, where Jones served as jury president. The investigation into her death is ongoing. At least seven people have been killed during clashes between protesters and security forces that have spread across Iran The BBC is embroiled in a row with the Israeli embassy after the broadcaster was accused of obsessing over Gaza while largely ignoring the ongoing protests in Iran. Alex Gandler, the embassys official spokesman, said on X that there had been near-total silence on BBC news bulletins about the demonstrations against Tehrans Islamic theocratic leaders. He questioned the BBCs impartiality, claiming it continued to devote huge resources to its coverage of events in Gaza. The corporation criticised Mr Gandlers claims as factually incorrect, but the spat amounts to the latest evidence of a worsening relationship between the Israeli government and Britains national broadcaster over its coverage of the Middle East since the Oct 7 attacks. At least seven people have been killed during clashes between protesters and security forces that have spread across Iran since they first started in the capital on Dec 28. Credit: X / @mamlekate @daneshjo_pishro Mr Gandler took to X to respond to John Simpson, the BBCs veteran foreign correspondent, who had said it was difficult to get reporters into Iran. The embassy spokesman said: This is not a good take. The scale of BBC coverage devoted to Gaza, including over the past few days, vastly exceeds that given to wars and humanitarian crises elsewhere in the world. At the same time, the near-total silence on Iran is striking. A broadcaster that claims global impartiality cannot obsess over one theatre of conflict while largely ignoring the regime that destabilises the entire region. Claims were factually incorrect The BBC hit back, saying his criticisms were factually incorrect because the corporation had given daily coverage to events in Iran across its TV channels and website. The BBC News press team used its X account to post links to TV news bulletins and online articles about the civil unrest in Iran, as well as screenshots of journalists reporting on the story on television. Critics of the BBC in Iran have taken to referring to it as Ayatollah BBC because they claim the broadcaster is too ready to parrot the party line put out by the office of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader. The BBC has pointed out in the past that its correspondents and their families have been persecuted by the regime for daring to report the truth. A BBC spokesman said: These criticisms are factually incorrect. We have been covering the protests in Iran daily across all of our platforms, including our main news bulletins, in English and via BBC News Persian. The spokesman said that on Friday alone the story had been covered on Radio 4s Today programme, the BBC News channel, on TV and radio bulletins throughout the day and on the home page of the BBC website. Ever since the Oct 7 attacks and the start of the subsequent conflict in Gaza, Israel has questioned the BBCs impartiality in its reporting of events, and in November, The Telegraph revealed that an internal memo had warned of anti-Israel bias. The memo, written by Michael Prescott, an independent editorial adviser, told BBC bosses that there was a desire always to believe the worst about Israel within the corporation. Paul Mescal played Lucius in 2024 blockbuster Gladiator II - Aidan Monaghan/ Paramount Pictures Paul Mescal has said he will start rationing his workload to avoid resenting his acting career. The 29-year-old Irishman, who shot to fame during Covid in the BBC miniseries Normal People, has since starred in blockbusters such as Gladiator II and is playing Sir Paul McCartney in upcoming Beatles biopics. Mescal, who also stars in the upcoming dramas Hamnet and The History of Sound, revealed that his growing list of film credits came with a cost and that he may need to be more selective with his workload. In an interview with The Guardian, Mescal said: Im five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky. But Im also learning that I dont think I can go on doing it as much. When asked if he was rationing himself, he said: I think so. Im gonna have to start doing that. For sure. Rationing doesnt necessarily mean less. It means learning that films like The History of Sound take more out of the well. You cant keep going back and expect to consistently deliver something youre proud of. Different priorities Mescal plays Lionel in the film, which follows his characters relationship with David (played by Josh OConnor) after the pair meet in 1917 at the New England Conservatory, and following the First World War, before travelling together to record folk songs in rural Maine in winter 1920. He added: What that (career) rationing looks like, I dont know. I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when Im only doing theatre for a couple of years. I also have different priorities in my personal life that I want to attend to. I dont want to resent the thing I love. This sounds bold, but Id rather not be on the train if that is the choice. Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare in Hamnet - Landmark Media/Alamy Mescal, who is promoting Chloe Zhaos Hamnet, about William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, played by Irish actress Jessie Buckley, as they manage the grief of losing their son, added: Once Ive finished promoting that, I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when Im doing the Beatles. People will get a break from me and Ill get a break from them. Mescal will also make his National Theatre debut in 2027, starring in productions of A Whistle in the Dark and Death of a Salesman. It comes after he won an Olivier Award in 2023 for a stage adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, before starring in Gladiator II as an arena fighter who tries to bring down two maniacal emperors. He added: I loved the process of making that film but The History of Sound felt like home to me. Its where Im most comfortable. I want to make more films like that versus ones on the scale of Gladiator II. Directed by Oliver Hermanus, The History of Sound will be released in UK cinemas on Jan 23. Dick Humphreys: helped steer the division between Tate Britain and Tate Modern Richard Humphreys, who has died aged 72, spent almost his entire professional career at the Tate, where he rose to be an outstanding Head of Education. His talks, devoid of any hint of self-promotion or self-importance, and delivered with a sparkling sometimes subversive wit as well as a profound knowledge of the history of art, were greatly appreciated by the public. Humphreys also made contact with university departments throughout the country, and was not deterred by more conservative forces in the Tate from inviting speakers who were embracing the disciplines of critical theory, social history and post-modernism. As a close friend recalled, Dick made Tate the place to go for anyone interested in hearing new ideas and engaging with every kind of artist, ranging from the older generation to young turks like Damien Hirst. His speakers included film-makers, psycho-geographers, literary historians, sociologists, psychoanalysts anyone who could make discussions about art richer and more interesting. The breadth of Humphreyss interests was unusual. Although his first love was British painting, he was equally at home in the more disconcerting art movements of continental Europe, such as Dada and Surrealism, as he was in 18th-century British portraiture, Constables landscapes or Bloomsbury. He curated an exhibition on Ezra Pound and the visual arts, and contributed to an exhibition of the work of the Dada artist Kurt Schwitters (both in 1985). An unusual breadth of interests He was also significant in the process of conceiving Tate Modern and Tate Britain and how the two museums might sit side by side. Nicholas Serota, the director, asked him to arrange a series of round-table discussions bringing together senior Tate curators with curators from other museums, as well as academics, to discuss what a future Tate might look like. When Tate Britain launched, Humphreys was the author of its accompanying The Tate Companion to British Art: The Handbook (2001). Richard Stephen Humphreys was born on September 2 1953 in Cambridge, where his father worked for the electronics company Pye. Both his parents, John and Mary, came from near Danbury in North Essex, a part of the country to which Dick remained very attached. He had an older sister, Sue. In the 1960s, the family moved to leafy Radlett in Hertfordshire, a respectable small commuter town 20 minutes north of St Pancras on the line from Bedford, which makes me what has become known as Bedpan Man, Humphreys later wrote. He was educated at Haberdashers Askes in Elstree, where his enduring interests in modern art and Chelsea FC were already evident. (He later invited the Chelsea team to visit the Tates collection.) Tate Companion In 1975 he graduated in English from Sidney Sussex, Cambridge; he would later publish a history of the college, who elected him a Fellow. After an MA in art history at the Courtauld, he embarked on a PhD on his hero Wyndham Lewis. In 1981 Alan Bowness, the Tates new director, appointed Humphreys as junior assistant and lecturer in the gallerys education department under the legendary, black-clad Simon Wilson. As a teenage member of the public, Dick had been inspired to study history of art at A-level after one of Wilsons wonderfully urbane and mind-expanding lectures in a seductively semi-dark room at the Tate. In 1991 Humphreys eventually succeeded Wilson as Head of Education. Among his innovations was a new system for working with schools, training teachers so that they could bring their own groups and act as guides themselves. He trained teachers so that they could bring their own groups and act as guides themselves at the Tate In 1993 he was instrumental in founding the London Consortium, a partnership between the Tate, British Film Institute, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Architectural Association and Birkbeck College, and later became its deputy chairman. He retired from the Tate in 2010, aged 57, to devote his time to writing publishing in 2018, for example, a book on Constables The Leaping Horse and independent curating. In 1977 he married Catharine (Cat) Waley, daughter of the medieval historian Daniel Waley and great-niece of the Chinese scholar Arthur Waley. She died of cancer in 2001, leaving Dick in sole charge of their teenage daughter Olivia. In 2011 he married Joanna (Jo) Banham, a former colleague at Tate Britain who went on to occupy senior educational positions at the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A. They lived in a charming late-medieval house in the village of Lavenham, where they were generous hosts. In 2020 they also bought a flat in Venice. Humphreyss final project was researching British artists, writers and travellers in Venice from the 15th century to the present. Apart from his cats, Humphreyss other passion was music. He was chair of the trustees of the early music group Alamire. Dick Humphreys is survived by his wife Jo and his daughter Olivia. Richard Humphreys, born September 2 1953, died 26 October 2025 Credit - Tetra ImagesGetty Images After a resounding 2024 election win, 2025 was marked by President Donald Trumps political turbulence. Justified by a purported mandate to address Americas cost of living crisis, the commander-in-chief decimated swaths of federal workers, sent the national guard to U.S. cities, and abandoned Americas global leadership role regarding humanitarian issues. This turbulence leaves many questions remaining for the year ahead. Will Democrats embrace Democratic Socialism as embodied by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani? Will Republicans distance themselves from Trump as the costs he promised to lower rise? And how will populist tides turn in the year ahead? Politics is nothing if not unpredictable, but the 2026 midterms are already in motion, with political ad spending expected to set a new record and pollsters predicting a blue wave. President Trumps economic approval rating dropping to a recent low of 31% certainly doesnt help matters for Republicans. Polling data points in one direction: Anti-establishment pragmatism is wildly popular. According to the latest research from Outward Intelligence, Americans are hungry for candidates who reject the status quo while maintaining practical, results-oriented positions on core issues. This increasingly popular worldview isnt about ideology as much as it is about efficacy. Voters want to know there are adults in the rooms where policy happens. Bipartisan frustration Americans are desperate for a functional system. If perception is reality, our system could not be more broken. Only 32% of Americans believe Americas best days are ahead. Even worse, just 17% of U.S. adults think that Congress represents their interests. Meanwhile, six in 10 Americans have no confidence that the U.S. system solves problems. In a hyper-polarized world, frustration has actually become bipartisan. This explains why about 10% of Mamdani voters were Trump voters in the past, transcending ideological divides to send the same message about the status quo. According to polling, most conservatives say that Congress doesnt represent them, while most liberals agree that the system fails to follow through on the legislative proposals they seek. When left- and right-wingers agree that the United States is unrepresentative, that represents a mandate for disruptionfrom Trump in 2024 to Mamdani in 2025. Political pragmatism But disruption needs direction. Though Americans may be sick and tired of the status quo, voters dont want chaos, or a haphazard, inconsistent approach. They want actual good governance and clear accountability. Community by community, our polling shows that people still want certainty and control. Take immigration, one of the most contentious issues of our time. Moderates and conservatives are roughly aligned on border enforcement, with nearly 80% of conservatives supporting the deportation of criminals and almost 50% of moderates strongly supporting the same policy. Even one-third of liberals support deporting criminals. Most AmericansDemocrat and Republicancrave a common-sense approach. When asked about deporting people with no criminal record and whose only offense is having come to the United States illegallyas has been the case with most arrests made by ICE this yearsupport for deportation craters across the board. Even among conservatives, only 38% of voters strongly support more sweeping border enforcement policies. Voters want borders secured and laws enforced. But Americans do not demand mass deportations of working families. In other words? Pragmatism over partisanship. An exhausted America is saying, Just fix it. The pragmatic playbook The playbook for successful candidates is to oppose the deeply unpopular establishment, but not at the expense of practically pursuing solutions to our problems. The middlestill the most dominant force in American politicsisnt looking for the purity that the fringes demand on TikTok. The winning formula isnt left or right. Smart campaigns will realize that the struggle is outside versus inside, combined with positions that sound tough but feel reasonable. Now more than ever, amid economic uncertainty and fleeting affordability, working Americans and other voters want to support those who can pursue reform outside of the failed framework of establishment politics. Communist revolution isnt top of mind in blue or red statesand neither is a wave of voters eager for fascism. The anti-establishment pragmatist calls out both parties for failure and takes difficult positions on visible issues like border security, while showing flexibility on implementation. This candidate promises results over ideological talking points, and they will win elections. It may be more boring than chaos or revolution, but popularity still counts for more in electoral politics. One year into his second term, President Trumps approval has fallen because of his failed promises to lower costs. In the year ahead, Mamdani will be judged by his ability to keep his own ambitious promises. In 2025, the American people showed they prioritize results over politics. The question remains whether the politicians will listen in the year ahead. Contact us at letters@time.com. Voters are seen at a polling location on Election Day, November 5, 2024, in Beltsville, Maryland. - Graeme Sloan for The Washington Post/Getty Images Americans feel more politically connected by generation than they do by race or gender, CNN polling data finds. Nearly 6 in 10 say they share a lot of common interests and concerns with other people of their generation, according to a late-summer CNN survey. By contrast, fewer than half of Americans, 43%, say they feel politically connected to others of their gender, and 39% to others of the same race. My generation is one of the first ones looking at an economy that will be worse for us than for our parents, said Gabriel, a 21-year-old college senior from California who participated in the survey and said he felt a strong political connection to others his age. Affordability and home ownership and growing up during the pandemic and all those issues make whats important to my generation probably very different than older ones. Its not just young Americans who feel that way: most in every age group think they have a lot in common with their generation. In fact, those 65 and older are actually 10 points likelier than adults younger than 35 to say that their generation is politically relevant to them. Americans attachment to their respective generations, however, doesnt exist in a vacuum. About 1 in 5 Americans said they felt politically connected across all three sets of demographics tested in the survey generation, gender and race with nearly half (46%) saying they felt politically connected to others across more than one demographic. Everyone identifies with a ton of different social groups at different times throughout the day, even, said Samara Klar, a political scientist at the University of Arizona who studies political identity. Peoples connection to some facet of their political identity is often strongest when that aspect is under threat, research has found. But sharing a generation doesnt mean agreeing politically or even agreeing on whether those generational ties are important. Partisanship also plays a major role: In CNNs poll, that sense of connectedness is weaker among Americans whose partisan views diverge from the positions most common in their group. Adults younger than 35 who feel a strong sense of generational connection, for instance, are mostly Democrats or Democratic-leaning, and more than half said they were angry about President Donald Trumps policies and frustrated by politics more broadly. By contrast, those older than 65 who felt a generational connection were far more Republican than those who didnt. Women are only a few points likelier than men to call gender politically important, 46% to 40%. But women who feel a sense of gender solidarity are far more Democratic-leaning than those who dont; while the pattern is reversed among men. A 64% majority of Black Americans and 55% of Latino Americans say they share political concerns with others of the same race, falling to 28% among White adults. Those White Americans who do say they share political connections with others of their race are largely GOP-aligned 63% belong to or lean toward the GOP while most Black and Latino Americans who feel a sense of racial connection are aligned with the Democratic Party. A few other differences by political connection emerge in the survey. Younger people who are more connected to their generation are more engaged in politics than those who are not, but there isnt a similar divide for older adults. Both younger and older Americans who felt connected to their generations, though, were more likely than those who didnt to say that they could think of a political figure who spoke for people like them. White Americans who feel a political connection by race are more likely than those who dont, 42% to 24%, to say that growing diversity is threatening to US culture. For people of color, that pattern is reversed. While far fewer people of color see diversity as threatening, its a view more commonly held by those who dont feel a connection by race (28%) than it is by those who do (13%). Some Americans, meanwhile, may not feel that any aspect of their own background matters much politically at all: About one-quarter said they didnt feel politically connected to others along any of the three factors we asked about in the poll. That sense of disconnect was particularly prevalent among those who are also disconnected from politics in other ways: true political independents who dont lean toward either party, and people who said they didnt pay attention to politics at all. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A wind tower spins over a hay field on the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Lowville, New York. Your electricity bill reveals a stark political divide: Red-state residents pay less, while blue states gouge their citizens and businesses with exorbitant electric rates. But even worse are the bald-faced lies of blue-state politicians who defend the gouging. Instead of admitting that expensive electricity is a choice theyre deliberately making your budget be damned they constantly claim wind and solar power are affordable and reliable. The shameless gaslighting was on full display last week, after President Donald Trumps Interior Department paused offshore wind farm construction along the East Coast near Virginia, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The administration claims the huge installations obscure radar detection of potential foreign incursions, threatening east coast population centers. Within minutes, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont accused Trump of making things up. Gov. Kathy Hochul called the pause B.S. Maybe. The announcement was short on evidence backing up the administrations security pretext. But the possible deception on Trumps part is mild compared to the lies spewed by Democrats in response. Hochul declared wind power will keep energy costs down and strengthen reliability. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong insisted wind power will save ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Lamont claimed a diverse energy supply that includes wind will lower utility costs for families. Nonsense. In fact, worse than nonsense. Deliberate lying. Each state has the authority to decide the mix of energy sources that go into its electric grid. Blue states have mandated ever-increasing reliance on wind, as well as solar, instead of fossil fuels, per the Institute for Energy Research. New Yorkers pay 58% more for their electricity than the national average, because of green mandates imposed by state politicians and the power sources they exclude, like natural-gas fracking. Connecticut ratepayers are fleeced even more, paying nearly double the national average rate for electricity. Climate-driven pols, almost all of them Democrats, should at least admit theyre making decisions based on ideology as well as pressure from the renewable-energy lobby. Instead, they parrot falsehoods about affordability and reliability. In truth, offshore wind power is at least twice as expensive per kilowatt as natural-gas-generated electricity, for example. Bjorn Lomborg of the Copenhagen Consensus, citing data from 70 countries, concludes the evidence is clear: Adding more solar and wind to the energy supply pushes up the price of electricity. How about reliability, the other word blue state pols repeat ad nauseam to defend their green obsession? Germany learned how unreliable renewables are when it installed massive solar and wind generators meant to meet 70% of its grids needs. But on cloudy or windless days, these renewables deliver a mere 4% of the nations power demands. Hardly reliable. Germany has had to maintain two generating systems, at massive cost so Germans pay 43 cents per kilowatt-hour, more than twice what Canadians, who still rely largely on fossil fuels, pay. In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has flip-flopped over whether he will meet or miss his own plans to remove almost all fossil fuels from the UKs electricity supply by 2030, because the cost is just too high. He and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are jostling over whether adding more renewables in the mix will push energy bills to unaffordable levels. Renewables are budget busters, burdening consumers and slowing economic growth, and theyre learning that the hard way. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed an increasing reliance on renewables now up to 39% of its grids mix which is why its residents and businesses pay the second-highest rates in the nation, behind Hawaii. Those crippling costs are hobbling growth and causing energy poverty, with low-income residents unable to pay their electric bills. Electricity costs were a hot-button issue in New Jerseys gubernatorial election last year, where bills had skyrocketed because outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy retired fossil-fuel sources just as statewide power demand was soaring. Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill promised that investing in offshore wind would lower energy costs for families, a blatant falsehood but her fib won out. As Sherrill takes office this month, New Jersey voters should remember her promise and watch their power bills. Blue-state Americans struggling to pay for electricity need political leaders who will make affordability a priority. But to do that, voters need to hear the truth. So far, theyre getting a pack of lies from windbag politicians like Sherrill, Hochul and Lamont. And no one is discussing wind farms visual blight, as their towering hardware mars our magnificent oceanscapes, and their harms to whales and other animals. If Republicans were demanding lines of similarly towering oil rigs across Long Island Sound or Nantucket Bay, the left would be screaming bloody murder. Trumps pause must force an honest discussion of wind powers costs and consequences. On the facts, instead of the lies, its a loser. Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York. Matt Kohlmann, Cleveland Clinic Drew and Dylan with their son, Sixx. NEED TO KNOW A Kentucky couple walked into their baby shower with a huge surprise for their 60 guests After a seven-hour drive from Kentucky to Ohio, where they planned to celebrate their baby on the way, Dylan Carter and Drew Kline unexpectedly welcomed their first baby together The little one, named Sixx Carter Kline, entered the world weighing just 3 lbs., 2.6 oz. One couple walked into their baby shower with a huge surprise for their 60 guests. After a seven-hour drive from Kentucky to Ohio, Dylan Carter and Drew Kline planned to celebrate their baby on the way during a Sunday afternoon in October, surrounded by friends and family. However, what was originally scheduled to be a quick weekend trip turned into a two-month stay as the pair unexpectedly welcomed their first baby, son Sixx Carter Kline, nearly 11 weeks before his due date. "When we walked in, and I didnt look very pregnant anymore, we said, Surprise. Hes already here! Carter, 33, told the Cleveland Clinic as she reflected on the moment. Matt Kohlmann, Cleveland Clinic Sixx Carter Kline Leading up to the trip, Carter assumed that the pain she was experiencing for weeks was simply Braxton Hicks contractions. With a high tolerance for pain and reassurance from her obstetrician in Kentucky, Carter pushed forward and decided to still go on the trip, but the long car ride was challenging for her. Upon arriving at Kline's mother's house, she noticed the pain persisted. But, it wasn't until she joined the family at a local restaurant for a trivia night that she realized her contractions were becoming stronger, faster and regular. I looked at Drews mom and said, Something is wrong. We need to go somewhere, she explained. I didnt realize I had been in active labor all day. Three hours after arriving at Cleveland Clinic Akron General in Akron, Ohio, Carter gave birth to son Sixx, named after Motley Crue's bassist, Nikki Sixx. The little one entered the world weighing just 3 lbs., 2.6 oz. While Sixx's early birth was a shock, the pair always knew there was a possibility that he would be born earlier than anticipated. The newly minted boy mom was born with two uteruses, a rare congenital condition called uterus didelphys known to cause preterm births. I knew he might come early, but not two months early, the doting mom told the Cleveland Clinic. I was scared because I was afraid his body wasnt ready yet. Echoing his girlfriend's sentiments, Kline recalled the moments before his son's arrival, sharing he was "praying that everything would be okay." When we first got to the hospital, they were going to try and slow down the contractions. But then, after Dylans placenta separated from the baby, they said the baby had to come quickly," he said. "I was just praying that everything would be okay with Dylan and Sixx. Matt Kohlmann, Cleveland Clinic Sixx Carter Kline According to Dr. Jalal Abu-Shaweesh, a neonatologist who cared for Sixx, one of the biggest challenges with premature babies is their lungs being undeveloped. It tends to lead to breathing difficulties, which is exactly what happened with Sixx. After his birth, the preemie baby was immediately taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where a dedicated team of nurses, specialists and neonatologists provided care for him. During the 63 days the newborn was in the NICU, he was placed on a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help push air into his lungs. He was even temporarily placed on a ventilator to make breathing easier, according to the Clinic. Baby Sixx also had a rare heart arrhythmia known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which caused his heart rate to spike to more than 200 beats per minute at times. Doctors were able to stabilize that with a medication treatment. Matt Kohlmann, Cleveland Clinic Sixx Carter Kline 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. By the time baby Sixx was well enough to travel home, he had nearly doubled his weight, reaching 7 lbs., 1.8 oz. Throughout his extended stay in the hospital, Carter shared she was "so sad" to see her baby boy struggling, but extremely happy with the care he received. "I was so sad he was struggling, she continued in her conversation with the Cleveland Clinic. But Im incredibly grateful he received all the care he needed. We had so much love and support from all the nurses. They were so amazing and loved Sixx so much, she added, referring to the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic Akron General who even surprised the family with baby essentials and handmade blankets. They felt like family to us. Read the original article on People ALBANY Insurgent Democratic candidate for state comptroller Raj Goyle wants to fully divest $338 million in foreign assets including Israel bonds from New Yorks retirement fund, he told a gathering of Working Families Party supporters recently. Goyle, a tech executive and lawyer, is staking out the anti-Israel position in his long-shot bid to unseat longtime Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who has stood by the states Israel bond holdings. Im here to tell you that when I am comptroller, we will not renew the foreign bond portfolio of the state comptrollers office and that includes Israel bonds, Goyle said during an event kicking off the partys lefty Working Families Party Guarantee agenda. Raj Goyle accused state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli of sending a blank check for Benjamin Netanyahus war crimes in Gaza by investing the state pension fund in Israel bonds. Raj Goyle Campaign We will not send a blank check for Benjamin Netanyahus war crimes in Gaza, the ex-Kansas state legislator said. The Common Retirement Fund, one of the largest and most robust pension funds in the country, is run by the state comptrollers office and manages pensions for state and municipal workers. The CRF currently holds about $337.5 million in Israel bonds, as part of a massive $291 billion investment portfolio. Theyre stable, theyre guaranteed, theyve never had a problem and its a good investment, Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Queens), former chair of the New York City Council Finance Committee, told The Post. Weprin, who is supportive of DiNapolis handling of the Israel bonds, said theyre a good way to back a US ally with deep ties to New York. At the same time youre making a good investment, youre sending a message to the pro-Israel community, Weprin said. Goyles campaign argues that credit rating agency Moodys downgrading of Israels credit rating following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas is enough reason to consider it a risky investment, and that the state should not be leveraging its pension fund to support Israel. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli Office of the New York State Comptroller Raj Goyle has a laser focus on investing in and protecting New York. Instead of playing politics and chasing mediocre returns with risky foreign bonds like Tom DiNapoli, Raj will put more money in the pockets of New Yorkers and use the office to fight the affordability crisis plaguing the state, Goyles campaign manager, Jyot Singh, told The Post in a statement. At a bare minimum, public pension dollars should not be funding human rights violations abroad, Singh added. DiNapolis campaign declined to comment. New Yorks massive $291 billion pension fund invests in foreign bond offerings, including a relatively large holding of Israel bonds. REUTERS The incumbent comptroller invested an additional $20 million in Israel bonds in the aftermath of Hamas Oct. 7 massacre. In addition to providing a steady return for our pension funds members, Israel bonds help support one of our nations strongest allies, DiNapoli said in a statement at the time. I am heartened that so many other public funds have stepped forward to purchase bonds and support Israel, the only democratic government in the region, during these tragic and challenging days. DiNapoli has run on the Working Families Partys ballot line in all of his re-election campaigns since 2014. Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander notably refused to renew some Israel bonds in the citys pension fund, a separate entity, in 2025. DiNapoli currently faces a primary challenge from Goyle along with former housing nonprofit CEO Drew Warshaw and ex-Brooklyn congressional candidate Adem Bunkeddeko. Joseph Hernandez has declared a bid to challenge DiNapoli on the GOP line. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks at the Governors Wreath-Laying Ceremony in the Statehouse atrium in Columbus, Ohio, May 27, 2022. Photo: Spc. Jessica Maynard / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs via DVIDS / Public Domain (The Center Square) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is defending the states child care spending, saying longtime safeguards are in place that help prevent widespread fraud uncovered in Minnesota. DeWines defense came after fellow Republican Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Township, spearheaded a letter from lawmakers calling for an investigation into the states child care facilities he says are suspected of fraud. Allegations of fraud in Minnesota surfaced in November, when reports stated that millions of taxpayer dollars had been stolen from the state's welfare system and sent to a Somali-based terror group. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday announced it would freeze $185 million provided to Minnesota day care centers annually. Ohio received more than $800 million in federal taxpayer funds for child care services in fiscal year 2024, and the state set aside a total of $1.1 billion on child care. Jodi Norton Trimble, chief communications officer for the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, responded to TCS with a comment from DeWine. Since its inception, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) has worked toward stronger accountability, smarter oversight, and responsible stewardship of public funds, while preserving access for eligible families and compliant child care providers, DeWine said in the statement. This work began long before recent headlines through thorough data review, unannounced visits, ongoing monitoring, along with making necessary changes to policy and practice to ensure the integrity of our program. But with any system, fraud has the potential to exist. It's important to note that when fraud is reported, or suspected, DCY investigates with a strong sense of urgency, sending representatives to centers to collect attendance and employment documentation, initiate investigations, complete safety reviews, and when necessary, act immediately on our findings. In a news release, DeWine outlined a series of safeguards that have been in place for years to combat potential fraud at the nearly 5,200 child care facilities in the state that receive taxpayer funds. He noted that Ohio pays facilities based on attendance, not enrollment, unlike some states. The Biden administration required all states to pay by enrollment by August 2026, but Ohio has not made the switch. DeWine said the Trump administration is currently reviewing the requirement. Ohio verifies attendance by requiring a personal identification number with photo confirmation or a location-specific QR code. The state uses cross-department data studies to find fraud, waste and potential misuse of taxpayer funds. Those reviews are done monthly or on a case-by-case basis. "People are rightfully concerned about what is happening with state-funded childcare facilities in Minnesota. These are the essential facts about what we do in Ohio, DeWine said. "There are almost 5,200 state-funded childcare facilities in Ohio. With that number of facilities, there is certainly the potential for fraud. A potential New Year's Eve terror attack inspired by ISIS was thwarted in North Carolina, authorities announced Friday. A suspect is in custody, accused of planning to attack a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in the town of Mint Hill, which is located near Charlotte. The 18-year-old suspect, identified as Christian Sturdivant, had been planning the attack for about a year, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said at a news conference. He allegedly planned to use knives and hammers in the attack. When the FBI executed a search warrant at the suspect's home, investigators found those weapons hidden under his bed and notes detailing his alleged plans for the attack, Ferguson said. The notes indicated that the suspect wanted to target "Jews, Christians and LGBTQ individuals," Ferguson said. According to an affidavit from an FBI agent filed in court, the suspect's grandfather, who is his legal guardian, is a Christian minister in Charlotte and works at a grocery store. FBI Special Agent James Barnacle Jr., head of the bureau's field office in North Carolina, said the suspect, who is a U.S. citizen, was monitoring multiple grocery stores in Mint Hill to try to determine which one would be the most crowded on New Year's Eve. "He knew there would be a lot of people there grocery shopping," Barnacle said. He also said the suspect "was looking for a high-profile place." The field office said the suspect was "directly inspired" by ISIS. Investigators believe he was working alone, Ferguson said. According to investigators, the suspect spoke about his plans for the attack with an undercover FBI agent who he thought was involved with ISIS. "He was preparing for jihad, and innocent people were going to die," Ferguson said. The suspect had allegedly reached out earlier to someone he thought was a member of ISIS but was actually an undercover agent with the New York Police Department. The suspect allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and told the undercover agent he planned to "do jihad soon," Ferguson said. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announces the arrest of an 18-year-old suspected of plotting an ISIS-inspired attack in North Carolina, Jan. 2, 2026. / Credit: CBS News (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) The suspect worked at a Burger King, but the U.S. attorney didn't say whether that restaurant was a target of the alleged plot. Barnacle said Sturdivant first came on the FBI's radar in January 2022 when he was allegedly in contact over social media with an unidentified ISIS member who told him to dress in black, knock on people's doors and attack them with a hammer, Barnacle said. Following that alleged conversation, the suspect left his home dressed in black apparently intending to kill one of his neighbors with a hammer and knife, according to the FBI agent's affidavit. The suspect's grandfather was able to restrain his grandson and bring him back into the home, according to the affidavit. No charges were filed in that incident, and the suspect underwent psychological care, Barnacle said. The FBI closed its investigation into the teen when he started receiving treatment. Asked why the suspect wasn't charged in the earlier incident, Ferguson stressed that he was a 14-year-old juvenile at the time. "I do think we're very fortunate he was 18 now because it makes it a whole lot easier to bring charges," he said. The FBI was told he no longer had access to social media, but the Charlotte field office learned last month he was back on social media, Barnacle said. The suspect was identified as the alleged holder of a TikTok account with multiple posts in support of ISIS. The suspect's grandparents didn't appear to know about the social media posts, Ferguson said. However, the suspect's grandfather attempted to secure the knives and hammers in the home so the suspect couldn't access them. The FBI attempted to have the suspect involuntarily committed for medical attention Monday night, but a state magistrate denied the request, Ferguson said. Barnacle said the FBI arrested him on New Year's Eve as he was being released from a local medical facility. Sturdivant made his initial appearance in federal court Friday morning, Ferguson said. He has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Additional charges could be filed as the investigation unfolds, Ferguson said. Friday's announcement comes less than three weeks after officials in Southern California charged four members of a far-left anti-government group for allegedly planning a series of bomb attacks on New Year's Eve. ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina was prevented, officials say High school softball coach recruited ex-player in murder plot, prosecutors say Mamdani signs executive orders undoing some of Eric Adams' orders Florida State University law professor Dan Markel's last day alive began like many others. He dropped off his two young sons at preschool and went to the gym, authorities said. But things took a dark turn. After pulling into his driveway on the morning of July 18, 2014, Markel was shot in the head multiple times and rushed to a hospital where he died the next day, authorities said. Markel had been having custody issues with his ex-wife Wendi Adelson. Over the next 11 years, two members of Adelson's family, including most recently her mother Donna Adelson, would be revealed as the center of a stunning murder-for-hire plot against him that would span several criminal trials. A new "20/20" episode, "Meddler or Murderer?," airing Friday, Jan. 2, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu, examines the case. You can also get more behind-the-scenes of each week's episode by listening to "20/20: The After Show" weekly series right on your 20/20 podcast feed on Mondays, hosted by "20/20" co-anchor Deborah Roberts. Wendi Adelson came from a prominent dentistry family in South Florida. Wendi's father, Harvey Adelson, and brother Charlie Adelson, were lead dentists at the practice, called the Adelson Institute, according to authorities. Wendi married Markel in 2006 after previously connecting on a Jewish dating service. However, a controlling figure emerged in their relationship -- her mother, Donna. Ruth and Phil Markel - PHOTO: Florida State University law professor Dan Markel was murdered in Tallahassee in the summer of 2014. Sarah Katherine Dugan, who prosecuted Donna Adelson, said in court that the family matriarch was very involved in all aspects of Wendi's life and relationship with Markel. "She was extremely controlling. She had very strong opinions about all the decisions in Wendi Adelson's life, whether it be about her career, her relationships, or even purchasing a home," she said. Wendi Adelson and Dan Markel eventually moved to Tallahassee, where they both got jobs at Florida State University's law school. However, their marriage deteriorated. "Our marriage dissolved after the children arrived, as the loneliness of being married to someone that didnt view me as an equal crept in," Wendi Adelson said in a 2015 podcast. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat, Pool - PHOTO: Wendi Adelson testifies during Charlie Adelsons trial. The couple went through a bitter divorce, and at the center of both of their lives post-separation was the issue of where their two children would live. Donna Adelson began a fierce campaign against Markel to relocate the children and Wendi down to South Florida with her, but Markel remained insistent on keeping the kids in Tallahassee, 500 miles away, according to authorities. Markel became increasingly distrustful of Donna Adelson due to her desire to move the children away from him, even filing a motion to prevent her from having unsupervised visits with the children in 2014. However, it would be the last motion he would ever file before he was shot to death. READ MORE: 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' director James Cameron talks about Pandora's origins Some two years after the killing, investigators arrested two individuals named Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera in 2016, charging them with first-degree murder. The duo was alleged to be hired hitmen who were paid to take out Markel, per prosecutors. In exchange for a lesser sentence of second-degree murder and 19 years in prison, Rivera gave investigators the name of the woman he claimed hired them to carry out the hit on Markel -- Katie Magbanua, the mother of Garcia's child and the ex-girlfriend of Adelson's brother, Charlie. Police then arrested Magbanua in 2016 and later Charlie Adelson in 2022, charging them with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit murder for Markel's death. Prosecutors alleged that Donna and Charlie orchestrated the hit on Dan Markel due to his custody issues with Wendi, and they used Magbanua, Garcia and Rivera to execute their plot. Magbanua and Charlie Adelson both pleaded not guilty but were ultimately convicted of all charges in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and sentenced to life in prison with an additional 60 years for their conspiracy and solicitation convictions. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat, Pool - PHOTO: Charlie Adelson was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit murder. Garcia was also convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2019. He had pleaded not guilty. After Charlie's conviction, investigators learned that Donna Adelson was planning to leave the country with a one-way ticket to Vietnam -- a country that has no extradition agreement with the U.S. Police arrested her at the Miami International Airport in 2023, also charging her with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit murder in Dan Markel's killing. READ MORE: How a Florida mom's disappearance led to arrest of woman with 18 aliases Donna Adelson pleaded not guilty, with her defense claiming that she was not involved in the murder plot. Adelson, 75, was convicted of all counts against her in 2025 and sentenced to life in prison with an extra 30 years for the solicitation and conspiracy charges to be served consecutively. "Never in a million years would I have wanted Danny to be harmed or killed, nor could I ever do something that would leave these two small boys to grow up without him," she said at her sentencing. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat, Pool - PHOTO: Donna Adelson is sentenced to life in prison. In an exclusive new interview with "20/20," Evan Higginbotham, a juror at Donna Adelson's trial, spoke out. ABC News - PHOTO: Juror #6 in Donna Adelsons trail, Evan Higginbotham, sits down with ABC News for an interview. "The prosecution had a long list of evidence," he said. "I think it was how they presented that evidence in the trial that laid out everything to finally land me a guilty verdict at the end of it." Dan Markel's mother, Ruth Markel, told "20/20" that she was most proud of her son for being a good dad. ABC News - PHOTO: Ruth and Phil Markel, Dans parents, sit down with ABC News for an interview. "Danny was a great father," she said. "With all his accomplishments, to me I'm the proudest of him as a father." Donna and Charlie Adelson have filed appeals for their convictions. Magbanua and Garcia's appeals were both denied in 2025. Protesters marching in downtown Tehran due to poor economic conditions in Iran on Dec. 29, 2025. With the people of Iran once again rising in protest against their oppressors, Americas leaders should leave no doubt that they side with the forces of freedom and warn the gang that rules the country that Uncle Sam is watching. Death to Khamenei the crowds are now shouting; Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis response began to turn deadly Thursday, with security goons firing on a crowd in the southwestern city of Lordegan, killing at least two. Words of support from Washington are vital now to encourage the protests and make Tehran think twice about a harsher crackdown. UN Ambassador Mike Waltz spoke out Monday; Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump should join him now. Dont be like President Barack Obama, who time and again flinched from publicly siding with Iranian protests, hesitating even to denounce Tehrans bloody suppression of them. Obama was busy trying to appease the regime into cooperating with his demented nuclear deal; Team Trumps approach has already proved far more to the point: bombing Irans nuke program into smithereens. Irans people have risen up repeatedly these last 15 years against the misrule of the so-called Islamic Republic, with their cries shifting from calls for reform to demands to end the oppression installed by the 1979 revolution. These latest protests entered a fifth day Thursday, still growing all across the nation; the voices crying out for justice now need to hear that Trump is on their side. And their rulers need to know America wont turn an Obamaesque blind eye if they try another ruthless crackdown, or Thursdays killings will surely be just a taste of the bloodbath to come. IranWire Irans leadership lashed out Friday after US President Donald Trump threatened intervention amid deadly protests, with Iranian officials warning that American troops in the region could be targeted if Washington interferes. If Iran shots (sic) and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP, he wrote on Truth Social on Friday. In an apparent response, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,said on Saturday that Iran wont give in to its enemies. We wont give in to them. With reliance on God & confidence in the peoples support, well bring the enemy to its knees, he said on X. Dozens of protesters took to the streets across several of Irans provinces this week, with some demonstrations turning deadly Wednesday after clashes with police. Iranian officials issued stern warnings against US intervention in the countrys internal affairs. Ali Larijani, Irans national security chief, said on X that American interference would trigger disruption across the entire region and the destruction of American interests. Ali Shamkhani, a close adviser to Khamenei, declared Irans national security a red line. Every hand of intervention that approaches Iranian securitywill be cut off with a regrettable response, he said on X. The most direct threat came from Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Irans parliament, who warned that Iran would target US forces in the Middle East should Washington intervene. The disrespectful President of America should also know that with this official statement, all American centers and forces across the entire region will be legitimate targets for us in response to any potential actions, Ghalibaf said. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the countrys armed forces are on standby and know exactly where to aim if the countrys sovereignty is put at risk. In a separate statement, the foreign ministry called Washingtons threat a violation of international law and said any aggression against Iran would be met with a decisive and comprehensive response. No action has been taken US officials told CNN that Trump was seeking to send a strong warning to Iran when he suggested that the US would intervene. But as of now, there have been no major changes to troop levels in the region and no direct action has been taken, officials told CNN. At this point it was a strong warning, no action has been taken that Im aware of, a White House official said. US Central Command declined to comment. CNN has reached out to the White House for comment. Trumps threats against Iran create a stark strategic dilemma for Washington, Ali Vaez, the director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, said. If the US fails to follow through, it risks emboldening the regime and discouraging future dissent, yet meaningful intervention could escalate into a broader conflict with unpredictable consequences for both the United States and the Iranian people. Protests continued on Friday. In Tehran, dozens of people chanted slogans against the regime, video from IranWire showed. Freedom, freedom, freedom, one group yelled as they marched through the streets of the capital. Others chanted, Down with dictator, as they gathered at a square in the Narmak neighborhood. Security forces responded with force in some instances. In Narmak, a woman was dragged from the middle of the street by a person in uniform. In cities like Yasuj, loud bangs echoed through the streets as authorities tried to disperse the crowd. Protesters storm police station At least three people were killed and 17 others injured on Thursday evening when protesters stormed a police station in the city of Azna in Irans western Lorestan province, the state-affiliated Fars News Agency said. The protesters clashed with police, threw stones at law enforcement personnel and set cars on fire, Fars claimed. The news agency said some armed rioters took advantage of a protest in the city. Without providing evidence, Fars said police later confiscated firearms from some individuals. On Thursday morning, at least two people were killed when dozens of protesters clashed with the police in Lordegan county of the southwest Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Fars said. It remains unclear if the casualties were among law enforcement authorities or protesters. Unverified videos circulating on social media showed protesters throwing stones at police in the province. Fars reported that protesters threw stones at the governors office, banks, and other governmental buildings. The first known death linked to the protests occurred on Wednesday night, when one member of Irans Basij paramilitary force was killed, and 13 others injured in the city of Kuhdasht in Lorestan province, per state-affiliated media. Fars News Agency showed a video of a member of the police force receiving treatment after allegedly being set on fire by protesters. The Basij is often deployed by the regime to suppress protests. Twenty people were arrested in the protests, the prosecutor of Kuhdasht said Thursday, according to state-affiliated news agency Tasnim. In Tehran provinces Malard county, authorities arrested 30 people for disrupting public disorder, according to Fars. The agency cited a county official Mansour Saleki, who said those arrested were abusing the legal right of citizens to protest Shopkeepers, bazaar merchants, and students took to the streets in several Iranian cities this week, chanting anti-regime slogans over economic conditions after the currency hit record lows. The protests were the largest since a 2022 nationwide uprising sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody after she was arrested for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly. The US State Department said in a post on X Wednesday that it was concerned about reports that protesters were facing intimidation, violence, and arrests and called on the authorities to end the crackdown. First the bazaars. Then the students. Now the whole country. Iranians are united. Different lives, one demand: respect our voices and our rights, the State Department said in a post on its Farsi account on X. Despite being so far limited, the protests mark the latest chapter in the growing discontent in Iran, as a population quietly reclaims public spaces and personal freedoms through uncoordinated acts of defiance. CNNs Hira Humayun, Alayna Treene, Kevin Liptak and Shirin Faqiri contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The recent fire at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, which tragically left dozens presumed dead and around 100 injured on New Year's Day, casts a stark light on the devastating potential of such incidents. This latest tragedy adds to a grim history of nightclub, bar, and music venue fires that have claimed numerous lives across the globe. Among the most significant such disasters are: March 2025: A fire and subsequent stampede at the crowded Pulse club in Kocani, North Macedonia, resulted in 63 fatalities, predominantly young revellers, and over 200 injuries. The inferno was sparked by a pyrotechnic flame that rapidly engulfed the club's roof. April 2024: In Istanbul, Turkey, a blaze at the Masquerade nightclub claimed the lives of 29 individuals, trapping workers and employees during renovations. The venue was situated on the ground and basement floors of a 16-storey residential building. October 2023: A fire originating in a nightclub in Murcia, southeastern Spain, and spreading to two adjacent clubs, led to the deaths of 13 people. January 2022: In Sorong, Indonesias West Papua province, 19 people died when a nightclub burned down following an altercation between two groups inside the premises. January 2022: Explosions triggered by a blaze at Livs Nightclub Yaouba in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital, killed 17 people. Authorities suggested fireworks ignited the roof, with the fire then spreading to areas storing cooking gas. These catastrophic events underscore the persistent dangers associated with crowded venues (Reuters) December 2016: Thirty-six individuals perished in a fire at a warehouse in Oakland, California, known as the "Ghost Ship." This space, illegally converted into a residence and event venue for artists, caught fire during an electronic music and dance party. The blaze spread so rapidly that victims on the unlawfully constructed second floor became trapped. October 2015: A fire ignited by a rock bands pyrotechnics display at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, Romania, killed 64 people and injured approximately 190. January 2013: More than 200 people died in a fire at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, southern Brazil. Investigators determined that soundproofing foam on the ceiling caught fire, releasing toxic gases that quickly overwhelmed attendees at a university party. December 2009: Some 152 people lost their lives when a blaze erupted at the Lame Horse nightclub in Perm, Russia. The fire began when an indoor fireworks display ignited a plastic ceiling adorned with branches. January 2009: An indoor fireworks display following a New Years countdown sparked a fire at the Santika club in Bangkok, Thailand, killing 67 and injuring many more. Victims succumbed to burns, smoke inhalation, and crush injuries. September 2008: Forty-four people died at the overcrowded King of Dancers nightclub in Shenzhen, China, after a fireworks show ignited the ceiling, causing a stampede. December 2004: In Buenos Aires, Argentina, 194 people were killed at the packed Cromagnon Republic club when a flare ignited ceiling foam. Club owner Omar Chaban received a 20-year prison sentence for causing the deadly fire and for bribery, while others received lighter penalties. February 2003: A fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, in the United States, claimed 100 lives and injured over 200. Fireworks used by the band set fire to flammable foam inside the club. January 2001: A fire at a cafe in the Dutch town of Volendam, where New Year celebrations were underway, killed 14 people and injured more than 200. December 2000: A welding accident was blamed for a fire that killed 309 people at a disco in the central Chinese city of Luoyang. October 1998: An arson attack on an overcrowded youth disco in Goteborg, Sweden, resulted in 63 deaths and around 200 injuries. Four individuals were later convicted for starting the fire. March 1996: A fire at the Ozone Disco Pub in Quezon City, Philippines, killed 162 people, many of whom were students celebrating the end of the academic year. March 1990: An arson attack at the Happy Land nightclub in the Bronx, New York City, killed 87 people. The fire began when a man, angered by his girlfriend, poured gasoline on the clubs sole exit and set it alight, then jammed the metal front gate, trapping people inside. December 1983: A fire at the Alcala dance hall in Madrid, Spain, left 78 people dead and over 20 injured. May 1977: A fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky, killed 165 people and injured more than 200. November 1942: The deadliest nightclub fire in US history claimed 492 lives at Bostons Cocoanut Grove club. This tragedy at what was once a prominent Boston nightspot led to new regulations for sprinkler systems and accessible exits. April 1940: A fire ignited the decorative Spanish moss adorning the ceiling of the Rhythm Night Club in Natchez, Mississippi, killing 209 people. The clubs windows had been boarded up, preventing escape. These catastrophic events underscore the persistent dangers associated with crowded venues, often exacerbated by pyrotechnics, flammable materials, inadequate exits, or deliberate acts. Each incident serves as a grim reminder of the critical need for stringent safety regulations and their rigorous enforcement to prevent future tragedies. Newly sworn in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Muslim faith was front and center during his Jan. 1 inauguration, as he swore his oath of office on a pair of Qurans Islams holiest book before an imam led the crowd in prayer. The Qurans chosen by Mamdani belonged respectively to his grandfather and Arturo Schomburg, the Black writer and historian, according to The New York Times. Mamdani, 34, is the city's first Muslim mayor, and and his election sparked concern among many conservatives, especially supporters of Israel who were disturbed by his strong advocacy for Palestinian rights and his opposition to Israel's existence as a Jewish state. Some social media memes have sought to link Mamdani to the 9/11 attackers through their shared faith. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican from upstate New York, has repeatedly and inaccurately called Mamdani a "jihadist." Trump ally Laura Loomer, a self-described "proud Islamophobe" with a wide following, has said New York would soon have sharia law. Zohran Mamdani sworn in as mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor by New York Attorney General Letitia James, left, alongside his wife Rama Duwaji, right, in the former City Hall subway station on Jan. 1, 2026 in New York City. Mamdani's term as mayor begins immediately in the new year, and a public inauguration will also take place in the afternoon at City Hall. Mamdani has previously said he had been told to downplay his faith when seeking elected office, but rejected that advice. While many American politicians take the oath of office on a Christian Bible, there's typically no requirement for a religious component to the oath. More: Amid attacks on his faith, Zohran Mamdani excites Muslim, South Asian voters In leading the crowd in prayer, Imam Khalid Latif offered an invocation focused on how Mamdani's coalition speaks for ordinary New Yorkers, not only the wealthy or powerful. Latif is the executive director and co-founder of the Islamic Center of New York City, and was appointed a New York City Police Department chaplain in 2007. "Never let him forget that this office exists to serve the people, not to rise above them," Latif said in his prayer. "We lift up all those who came together to make what many said could never happen, happen." Zohran Mamdani shares a moment with his wife Rama Duwaji as he is sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor in the former City Hall subway station on Jan. 1, 2026 in New York City. He continued: "Let no one have to choose between rent and dignity, between medicine and meals, between staying and surviving," Latif said. "Let policy be shaped by compassion and budgets reflective of our values." Mamdani's faith did bring out Islamophobic attacks, however. "The enemy is inside the gates," Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville from Alabama posted on social media upon learning that Zohran Mamdani became the first mayor of New York City to be sworn in using a Quran. Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zohran Mamdani uses Qurans during oath for NYC mayoral office Franklin County Sheriff's Office NEED TO KNOW Cassidy Sakoulos, 3, died on New Year's Eve in Ohio after officers with the Columbus Division of Police rushed to her home following a report that she was not breathing Neighbors alleged in interviews with local outlets that the girl's mother Sharon appeared "calm," "stoic" and "reactionless" as she smoked a cigarette outside while her daughter fought for her life Sharon allegedly "told police it was her intention to kill her daughter and did so by placing a plastic bag over the childs head" the prosecuting attorney said in court Jan. 2, per reports Residents in one Ohio neighborhood closed out the year on a somber note after a young girl died on New Year's Eve. Officers with the Columbus Division of Police arrived to a home in the state's capital shortly after 5:30 p.m. that evening after a report came in stating that a child was not breathing, WBNS, WSYX and WCMH reported. Neighbors told WSYX that they watched as officers rushed toward the house and "pretty much kicked the door in" to try and save the victim, who was identified as 3-year-old Cassidy Sakoulos. During interviews with the outlet, some described Cassidy as a "happy-go-lucky" child and "Scooby Doo fan" who dressed up as a "unicorn princess" for Halloween. Police at one point came out and told the bystanders to say a prayer for the girl as they prepared to rush her to a local hospital in an ambulance, the outlet reported. Thirty minutes after officers first responded to the scene, Cassidy was pronounced dead at Nationwide Children's Hospital, according to WBNS. Neighbor Tristan Price told WBNS that during those 30 minutes, Cassidy's mother, Sharon Sakoulos, appeared to be "standing kind of stoic and calm, smoking a cigarette." Price added: "Like way too calm." Another neighbor told WSYX that the mother appeared "reactionless" while her daughter was fighting for her life inside the home. Police said after an initial investigation and autopsy that Cassidy's death was a "homicide motivated by domestic violence," WCMH reported. Sharon allegedly confessed to the crime and was booked into Franklin County Jail on suspicion of murder. The 41-year-old made her first court appearance on Friday, Jan. 2, and the outlet reported that the prosecuting attorney said that Sharon "told police it was her intention to kill her daughter and did so by placing a plastic bag over the childs head." The judge set Sharon's bail at $2 million and ordered that she have no contact with any minor children should she be able to post the funds needed for pretrial release. That order also extends to her 13-year-old daughter, said the judge, per the outlet. Sharon does not have custody of that child, who lives with her father. That man is not Cassidy's father, the outlet reported. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In court on Friday, Sharon was assigned a public defender who did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Court records obtained by PEOPLE show that her next appearance is set for Jan. 9, and that she has yet to enter a plea. Read the original article on People NYC first murder 2026 A hardworking livery cab driver and married father of four was gunned down in cold blood during a Bronx road rage clash early Thursday marking the citys first homicide of 2026 and one of four shootings reported just hours into the new year, officials said. Issa Mbolo-Isac, 55, was found with a mortal gunshot wound to the head when cops responded to the intersection of Morris Avenue and the Cross Bronx Expressway in Mount Hope just before 7 a.m., police said. Responding EMS workers pronounced him dead at the scene, authorities said. Issa Mbolo-Isac, 55, was identified as the victim. NYSFTD NYPD officers are on the scene of a homicide in the Bronx. Kyle Mazza/UNF NEWS/Shutterstock Mbolo-Isac, an emigree from Burkina Faso, had worked as a rideshare driver for 10 years the most recent five with Uber, according to Fernando Mateo, the spokesman for the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. Two men in another vehicle started arguing with Mbolo-Isaac after a fender bender and chased him down [and] tried to physically take him out of the car, Mateo told reporters. When he refused to get out of the car, he accelerated the vehicle, Mateo said. These two individuals turned around and shot through the window, shooting him twice, impacting him twice in the head. The NYPD wasnt immediately able to confirm Mateos description of the slaying. He described the victim as a nice person who was never in trouble and has been exemplary in the line of work that he does. This is very hurtful to us as an industry, to wake up New Years Day and know that one of your drivers was murdered, was shot twice in the head, he said. It was no easy news to swallow. Mbolo-Isac once owned a medallion, but sold it to buy a house back in Burkina Faso, according to Mateo. He was a very good, hard-working man, said the slain drivers brother, Mounir Zoron, 35. He worked very hard every day to support his family. He had no issue with anybody. He was trying to run away from these aholes. He was trying to run away from them and they shot him. Theyre criminals. Theyre animals. He did absolutely nothing to deserve this. Members of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit and NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner work the scene. Kyle Mazza/UNF NEWS/Shutterstock Mbolo-Isac was discovered in his car with a gunshot wound to his head. Kyle Mazza/UNF NEWS/Shutterstock The federation is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone who can provide information on who killed Issa in cold blood, Mateo said. We know that we have the best detectives in the world So we believe that in the next few days, we will have someone in custody, he said, but in the meantime, we are all heartbroken. The New Years Day violence began just five minutes after the iconic Times Square ball drop with a 61-year-old man blasted in the left leg on Crescent Street near Pitkin Avenue in East New York, police said. He was taken to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition, cops said. Then around 2:40 a.m., a 26-year-old woman was shot in the torso inside the Hotel Sunborn on New Jersey Avenue near Fulton Street in Cypress Hills, authorities said. She went to the same hospital, where she was listed in stable condition, and a person of interest was taken into custody with charges pending, police said. Two more people were wounded one critically by a lone shooter who opened fire near Yankee Stadium around 8 a.m., police said. The elusive suspect opened fire at three men who were walking along the Grand Concourse near East 161st Street, police said. A 31-year-old man was shot in the groin, ankle and leg, and an unidentified man also took a bullet to the groin, authorities said. Both men were taken to Lincoln Medical Center, where the 31-year-old was listed in stable condition and the other victim considered critical, police said. The third man fled the scene before police arrived, and it was unclear if he was hurt, cops said. The assailant fled the scene in a black SUV, authorities said. The motives for the early-morning string of shootings remain under investigation. The redistricting fight sparked by Texass efforts to redraw its congressional map earlier this year spread like wildfire across the country by the end of 2025. A steady stream of states has redrawn their lines since Texas approved its new maps, including California and Missouri. More will likely follow next year. With the midterms quickly approaching, red and blue states alike are weighing whether to move forward with redistricting. Here are five states to watch in 2026 as the redistricting fight continues: Florida Florida Republicans have expressed support for creating a new GOP-favored House map, which could net the party several seats. A Florida House redistricting panel met twice earlier this month to start the process of considering redistricting, though Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and state Senate Republican leadership have signaled they want to wait until the spring to address the issue during a special session. But state House Republicans have expressed concern that working on a new map by next spring would be too late. April 20 is the deadline for federal candidates to qualify and file paperwork. Complicating the redistricting process for Republicans were several constitutional amendments voters passed in 2010 that added more restrictive anti-gerrymandering language for redrawing maps. Still, Florida seems like one of the most likely GOP-led states to move forward with the process next year. Virginia Democrats currently see Virginia as their best bet for netting a few additional seats before the midterms. The party has already started the process, which will roll over into this year. Last fall, Democrats passed a constitutional amendment allowing lawmakers to temporarily redistrict mid-decade by 2030. Lawmakers need to pass the same constitutional amendment again before it can be teed up before the voters, likely in the spring or summer. Once voters weigh in on the referendum, lawmakers would be able to pass a new House map ahead of the midterms; Democrats have teased the potential for a Democratic favored 10-1 House map. The Virginia congressional delegation has a 6-5 Democratic edge right now. Republicans are almost certain to challenge a new map in court. Illinois Illinois is another possibility for Democrats to pick up additional seats this year, though its unclear whether the party has the appetite. Gov. JB Pritzker (D) had said Illinois may be forced to respond if neighboring Indiana went forward with rewriting its maps. But Hoosier State Republicans ultimately bucked President Trump and rejected a new map, drawing praise from Democrats. And some Illinois Democrats are opposed to redrawing their states lines. The party already has a heavy Democratic advantage, with 14 seats to Republicans three. Illinois state Sen. Willie Preston (D), who serves as the Senate chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and is running for Congress next year, urged Pritzker to drop the idea of redistricting after Indiana Republicans rejected their map. But others have suggested the option is still being considered. After the Supreme Court ruled that Texas could use its new map ahead of this years midterms, Jon Maxson, a spokesperson for Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch (D), told The Hill in an email that all options remain on the table in Illinois. Maryland Another state where Democrats are at odds over redistricting is Maryland. Gov. Wes Moore (D) has signaled he wants to move forward with redrawing his states lines, and he created a redistricting advisory commission that voted in secret to move forward with the process in December. But Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) has emerged as a vocal opponent to redistricting, slamming the commission before the meeting. The overwhelming majority do not want a new congressional map. They want their government focused on fostering growth, affordability, and real protections against this lawless federal Administration, Ferguson said in a statement. The Senate of Maryland remains focused on this important agenda as we continue to try to tackle a $1.4 billion budget shortfall in Marylands state budget. Democrats hold a 7-1 advantage with Marylands congressional map. The state has a Feb. 24 candidate filing deadline, and the commission is now asking the public about congressional map proposals. Democrats, however, will need to tread carefully as they look to beat Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.). The party tried to create an aggressive 8-0 map after the 2020 U.S. Census, but a judge later rejected it in 2022, calling it a partisan gerrymander. Kansas For Republicans, Kansas will be another redistricting wild card next year. The states GOP hit an impasse over the issue last year, as the party needed two-thirds of its members in each chamber to sign onto a petition for a special session to address it. State House members didnt have enough support, though Republicans did shore up enough signatures in the state Senate. But some Republicans have vowed to take up the fight again this year as the party looks to redraw Rep. Sharice Davidss (D-Kansas) seat in the states 3rd Congressional District. California Democrats are working overtime to silence Republicans and steal the House majority, Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson (R), whos running for Kansas governor, said in a statement in early November. Even Governor Laura Kelly admitted that theres a bigger risk in doing nothing. On that, we agree, he continued. States across America are standing up, and Kansas will be part of that fight. 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 The Hill. FILE PHOTO: Demonstrators hold signs advocating for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 8, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo By Ted Hesson WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from ending deportation protections for thousands of migrants from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua after opponents argued the terminations were motivated by racial hostility. The administration's decisions to end Temporary Protected Status for some 89,000 migrants failed to adequately consider conditions in the three countries that would prevent them from returning, San Francisco-based District Judge Trina Thompson wrote. Thompson cited statements by Republican President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem portraying immigrants as criminals and a drain on U.S. society. "These statements reflect a stereotyping of the immigrants protected under the TPS program as criminal invaders and perpetuate the discriminatory belief that certain immigrant populations will replace the white population," wrote Thompson, an appointee of Trump's Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. TPS provides deportation relief and work permits to people already in the U.S. if their home countries experience a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event. Under the program, Noem has the authority to grant, extend or terminate TPS designations for specific countries. Trump has sought to end most TPS enrollment as part of a broader effort to restrict both legal and illegal immigration. In TPS termination notices, the administration has said that allowing the migrants to remain in the U.S. is contrary to the country's interests. The Supreme Court in October allowed the Trump administration to proceed with ending TPS for some 300,000 Venezuelans, but lower courts have continued to rule against other terminations. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Boston blocked a move to end protections for hundreds of migrants from South Sudan. In her ruling, Thompson found that the National TPS Alliance, a group representing the TPS enrollees, had plausibly alleged the terminations were motivated by racial animus. The program covers some 72,000 Hondurans, 13,000 Nepalese and 4,000 Nicaraguans, according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates. (Reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Lisa Shumaker) CARACAS, VENEZUELA - NOVEMBER 21: President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro speaks during a march as part of the "Venezuelan Student Day" at Miraflores on November 21, 2025 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images) - Jesus Vargas/Getty Images Venezuelan security forces have detained at least five Americans in recent months as the US has built a pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a US official familiar with the matter told CNN. The circumstances of the individual cases vary, and some could have been involved in drug smuggling, the official said. US officials are still collecting information about what the Americans were doing in Venezuela and at the time of their detention, the official added. Trump administration officials believe that the Maduro regime is detaining the Americans to build leverage against the US, the official said, as the pressure campaign against the Venezuelan leader including the US strikes on drug boats, a CIA strike on Venezuelan port facility and recent oil blockade has intensified in recent months. The tactic mirrors that of Russia, Venezuelas longtime ally, which has detained numerous Americans on Russian soil in recent years to use as leverage in Moscows tense relations with the US. The New York Times was first to report on the recently detained Americans. The State Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The New York Times reported, citing a US official, that one of the recently detained Americans is James Luckey-Lange, 28, from Staten Island, New York. Luckey-Langes aunt, Abbie Luckey, told CNN she last heard from him on December 8, when he called her from inside Venezuela. The family hasnt been able to reach him since. I feel helpless because I cant get anyone to even acknowledge to the family that their family member has been detained, Abbie Luckey said, adding that she has been unable to reach anyone at the State Department to discuss her nephews situation. Luckey-Lange is the son of the late Diane Luckey, a singer known as Q Lazzarus whose single was featured in the film The Silence of the Lambs. After her death in 2022, Luckey-Lange has traveled throughout Latin America, inspired by his mothers previous travel to the region, according to family and friends. Luckey-Lange planned to fly from Venezuela to the US on December 12 to join a family cruise to the Bahamas, according to Abbie Luckey. He is a free spirit who likes travel and martial arts, said Eva Aridjis Fuentes, who made a documentary about Diane Luckey. The family hopes the State Department will declare Luckey-Lange unlawfully detained to add urgency to his case, Aridjis Fuentes said. Abbie Luckey, who lives in New Jersey, said she was willing to travel to Washington, DC, if she is still unable to reach anyone from the State Department by phone. I think its unfair that hes being held as a token for whatever our government is doing with the ships and the building that was just blown up, she added. Last month the CIA conducted a drone strike on a port facility on Venezuelas coast, CNN has reported. Trump administration officials have resisted saying that they are actively seeking regime change in Venezuela but have accused Maduro of being illegitimate and a narco-trafficker. The administration has been increasing pressure on Maduro, including the blockade of sanctioned oil vessels and other financial tactics. In December the State Department announced two sets of sanctions against Maduros family members, targeting three of Maduros nephews, his sister-in-law and other relatives. It is clear that the current status quo with the current Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a December press conference when asked about comments from the White House chief of staff that Trump wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle. Asked Thursday about the attack on the Venezuelan port facility, Maduro said it could be a topic we might discuss in a few days and broadly sought to assure that Venezuela is safe. What I can tell you is that the national defense system, which combines the popular military and police forces, has guaranteed and continues to guarantee the territorial integrity, the peace of the country, and the use and enjoyment of all our territories, Maduro said during an interview with Ignacio Ramonet, recorded on Wednesday and broadcast Thursday by the state-run channel VTV. Our people are safe and at peace. Venezuela holds hundreds of people as political prisoners, according to human rights activists, some of whom were detained in the aftermath of a 2024 election in which Maduro claimed victory but that independent observers said was undemocratic. Dozens of people were released from a Venezuelan prison on Thursday, Venezuelan rights groups said. None of them are American, according to Alfredo Romero, the head of rights group Foro Penal. This story has been updated with additional details. CNNs Jennifer Hansler and Michael Rios contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Bostons first baby of 2026 has arrived! Benjamin Benji Robert Kelland was born just after midnight at Mass General. Mass General Bostons first baby of 2026 was born just minutes into the New Year at Massachusetts General Hospital, officials announced. Baby Benjamin Benji Robert Kelland arrived at 12:19 a.m. on New Years Day at Mass General, according to the hospital. Benji weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 20 inches long at birth. He was welcomed by his parents, Robert and Chloe Kelland of Waltham. Massachusetts General Hospital shared the announcement as families across the region marked the start of the New Year with new additions. Mountain lion attacks on humans in Colorado are rare, officials said. (DEA/C.DANI/ I.JESKE / De Agostini via Getty Images) (DEA/C.DANI/ I.JESKE) A woman has died in a rare suspected mountain lion attack in Colorado on Thursday, officials said. Hikers told authorities they saw a mountain lion near a person who was lying on the ground 100 yards away around 12:15 p.m., on the Crosier Mountain trail in unincorporated Larimer County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a news release. The hikers scared the lion away by throwing rocks and then attended to the adult woman, the release said. One of the witnesses was a physician and "did not find a pulse," said Kara Van Hoose, spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The victims identity and cause of death will be released by the Larimer County Coroner. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating the death as a suspected mountain lion attack. There were signs that this was consistent with a mountain lion attack but we cant say for sure, Van Hoose told reporters Thursday. She said it's believed the woman was hiking alone. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with Larimer County Sheriff deputies, Estes Park police and Glen Haven Area Volunteer firefighters responded and launched an extensive search for mountain lions. They were aided by a Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist who was conducting aerial deer surveys in the county and houndsmen with dogs to track the scent of mountain lions. One mountain lion was located at the scene but it ran away when officers shot it. It was tracked by the officers and euthanized, the release said. A second mountain lion was found nearby shortly after and also euthanized, the release said. Colorado Parks and Wildlife policy mandates that wildlife involved in attacks on humans must be euthanized for public safety. It is unknown if one or multiple animals were involved in the suspected attack, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife release said. Pathologists will perform a necropsy on the mountain lions to check for abnormalities and neurological diseases like rabies and avian influenza. They will also be tested for human DNA, Van Hoose said. If the lions don't prove to have evidence of human DNA, a search will continue. Van Hoose said Friday that a search was underway for a third mountain lion that was seen near the area of the incident. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said mountain lion attacks on humans in Colorado are considered rare, with 28 previous attacks reported to the agency since 1990. The last fatal attack was 27 years ago, in 1999. Van Hoose described the area as remote and heavily wooded, with some secluded trails. This is an area where mountain lions are really common, along with a lot of other wildlife like bears and moose, she said. Because mountain lion are really common in this area, we do expect to have conflicts with regular things like sightings or encounters with dogs. The agency noted that hikers should expect to encounter wildlife along the Front Range and Larimer County, and mountain lions are more visible in the winter as they follow deer and elk to lower elevations. Colorado Parks and Wildlife advised anyone who may encounter a mountain lion to make noise and scare them, hold objects overhead to appear bigger and back away from the animal. A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while she was hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado on Thursday, in what would be the first fatal attack by one of the predators in the state in more than 25 years, authorities said. Wildlife officers later in the day located two mountain lions in the area and fatally shot the animals, said Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife The attack occurred in the mountains south of the small community of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park and considered the gateway to the eastern entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. Shortly before noon, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the woman's body along a remote section of the Crosier Mountain trail, which is on a national forest. The hikers threw rocks at the animal to scare it from the immediate area so they could try to help the woman, Van Hoose said. One of the hikers was a physician who attended to the victim and did not find a pulse, she said. RELATED STORY | Triathlete killed in Northern California shark attack while wearing shark-deterrent device Details on the woman's injuries and cause of death were not immediately released. Van Hoose said the search for other mountain lions in the area was ongoing. She said circumstances would dictate whether any additional lions that are found are killed. Sightings of mountain lions are common in the forested area where the suspected attack occurred, but there have not been any recent documented attacks on humans, Van Hoose said. "This is a very common time of year to take mountain lion sightings and reports and especially in Larimer County, where this is very good mountain lion habitat," she said. "Trails in this area are in pretty remote land, so it's wooded, it's rocky, there's elevation gains and dips." Mountain lion attacks are rare and Colorado's last suspected fatal attack was in 1999, when a 3-year-old was killed. Two years before that, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion and dragged away while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park. Last year in Northern California two brothers were stalked and then attacked by a lion that they tried to fight off. One of the brothers was killed. The animals, also known as cougars, catamounts and other names, can weigh 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and grow to more than six feet long. They eat primarily deer. Colorado has an estimated 3,800-4,400 of the animals, which are classified as a big game species in the state and can be hunted. Today's news: Trump postpones tariff increase on furniture until 2027; Contaminated water in India leaves nine people dead and hundreds hospitalised; In Malaysia, strict measures against littering on New Year's Eve; Israel confirms ban on 37 NGOs from Gaza for violating security standards. CHINA From 1 January, China has applied a 13% tax on sales of contraceptives, while childcare services are exempt, as part of efforts to increase the birth rate. The tax reform eliminates many exemptions that have been in place since 1994, when China still applied the one-child policy. Faced with an ageing population and a slowing economy, Beijing is trying to encourage young Chinese to marry and couples to have children. UNITED STATES - ASIA Trump has postponed the increase in tariffs on furniture items for one year, ordering the postponement shortly before they were due to come into effect on 1 January. Postponed until 1 January 2027: 30% on certain upholstered furniture and 50% on kitchen and bathroom furniture. In October, a 10% tariff on timber and a 25% tariff on certain furniture came into effect. The higher rates would impact imports from countries such as Vietnam and China, the main suppliers of imported furniture to the United States. INDIA At least nine people have died and more than 200 have been hospitalised in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, after an outbreak of diarrhoea believed to be linked to contaminated drinking water. Drinking water in the Bhagirathpur area had been contaminated due to a spill, and tests confirmed the presence of bacteria in the pipes. Indore has been named India's cleanest city and has topped the national cleanliness rankings for the past eight years. MALAYSIA Malaysia welcomed 2026 with stricter measures against littering. New Year's celebrations saw a reduction in litter thanks to greater efforts to keep the country clean, including tougher measures against minor littering offences. According to waste disposal company Alam Flora, approximately 3.2 tonnes of litter were collected from the three main hotspots in Kuala Lumpur, an 11% decrease from last year. ISRAEL - GAZA Israel has confirmed that 37 humanitarian agencies (including Caritas Jerusalem and Caritas Internationalis) providing aid to Gaza have failed to meet the deadline for complying with security and transparency standards and will be banned. The NGOs, which had been ordered to disclose detailed information about their Palestinian staff, will now have to cease operations by 1 March. The UN warns that this will exacerbate the crisis; several NGOs claim that the requirements violate international humanitarian law and their independence. RUSSIA Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on urgent military mobilisation, no longer twice a year, but throughout the year from 1 January to 31 December, affecting 261,000 people aged between 18 and 30, with training in barracks and deployment to the front in the two previous periods, from 1 April to 15 July and from 1 October to 31 December. Last year, the autumn call-up affected 135,000 people. ARMENIA The Armenian representative of the Gallup International Association, Aram Navasardyan, reported that according to the latest telephone surveys conducted between 24 and 27 December, the level of public confidence in the Armenian Apostolic Church is twice that of the government, with which it is in open conflict. 55.8% have full confidence, 15.6% trust it enough, while 17.8% believe in the government completely and 20.8% only partially. The comedy Ruyn kim (meaning What family are you from?) sought to poke fun at the prejudices that remain widespread in Kazakh society. But even the last-minute removal of explicit references to the Zalairy (Tokaev's ethnic group) or the Sapiyrasty (that of former president Nazarbaev) was not enough to avoid the wrath of some politicians who claim that it undermines national unity from within. In the end, the production company itself suspended screenings. Astana (AsiaNews) - A major controversy has developed in Kazakhstan following the release of the comedy film entitled Ruyn kim?, What family [ethnic group] are you from?. The film was shown in cinemas for only a few days before being suspended following criticism from MP Erlan Sairov of the Amanat party, who accused it of propagating tribalism and threatening to disintegrate the Kazakh people. The screenwriter sees this as an act of censorship, which even before the film's release had forced the removal of references to ethnicity from the dialogue, as this is the ethnicity of the current president, Kasym-Zomart Tokaev. Sairov also insists that the content of the film, which links young people to the psychology of their ethnic origin, expresses a dangerous trend that could destroy our national unity from within. In reality, the question what family are you from? is quite common among Kazakhs when meeting someone for the first time, and in social communications in various contexts, and the answer indicates the ethnicity of the interlocutor. The MP, however, considers it a threat and is calling for the formation of a permanent commission at the Ministry of Culture and Information to verify the ideology proposed by upcoming films. The film's producers, Tiger Films, initially thought of using the criticism as a publicity vehicle, but then decided not to escalate the tension and withdrew the comedy from cinemas. The company's director, Akbota Kajsenova, assured that the film's authors had the best of intentions and sought to show, through humour and satire, how ethnic divisions and attempts to elevate one ethnicity above all others are nothing more than widespread prejudice. The production did not break any laws, and the voluntary suspension of screenings was decided to avoid ambiguous interpretations and unnecessary discussions. The author of the screenplay for Ruyn kim?, Nurzan Erkinuly, noted that colleagues and viewers who attended the first screenings of the film did not detect any destructive elements or any intention to divide Kazakh society. He also added that we are not so stupid as to spend a lot of money to produce something that would upset everyone over tribal issues; on the contrary, the aim was to promote the perception of true popular unity. The impression is that there is indeed an increasingly marked censorship in Kazakhstan, which prevents people from expressing themselves freely on sensitive issues that previously did not cause any particular scandal. In this way, people's free creativity is oppressed, and viewers are deprived of their freedom of choice, says Erkinuly, dictating to the public which films they can and cannot see. Sairov replied that we are not talking about censorship, but that in the current conditions of geopolitical turmoil, it does not seem appropriate to divide Kazakhs according to their origin, because this would give external forces the opportunity to divide the country. The MP does not specify what interference he is referring to, although the most obvious remains that of the Russians, and to some extent also the Chinese. The politician's concern is shared by many, who observe the trend of tribalism in many situations in various regions where people exalt their own Batyry, the Avi of different ethnic groups, and remember the founders of various villages and towns descended from ancient nomadic tribes. Tokaev himself has denounced this trend on several occasions, especially in meetings with the Akimy, governors and mayors, during his visits to different parts of the country, where he has recommended avoiding the proliferation of monuments to figures known only within the region, and even toponymic commissions should avoid naming streets and squares after local ancestors. In the film trailer, one of the protagonists states that it is necessary to make friends among the strongest ethnic groups, such as the Zalairy, Tokaev's ethnic group, or the Sapiyrasty, that of former President Nazarbayev, which still has many figures in positions of power. These references were then deleted in the film's screening, with cuts and dubbing, but they are still evident from the context of the various scenes, in which the Kazakhs recognise their geographical nature deriving from many past stories, ancient and modern, of an immense country with many scattered peoples and much suffering. Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. 2 January 2026 16:25 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. A flagship initiative in this regard is the Caspian Green Energy Corridor, for which ADB is providing $1.2 million in technical assistance. In April this year, ADB, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the ministries of energy of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding to support the projects feasibility study. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 2 January 2026 20:12 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more A deadly confrontation unfolded in Turkiyes Yalova province during a pre-planned security operation against the ISIS terrorist organization, resulting in the tragic deaths of three police officers and injuries to eight others, including one security guard. The incident occurred in the village of Elmalk, approximately nine kilometers from Yalovas city center, when armed suspects opened fire on law enforcement personnel. Authorities quickly mobilized Special Operations units from nearby Bursa, imposed strict security measures, and temporarily suspended civilian access, electricity, and gas in the area to contain the threat. The operation highlights the ongoing challenges Turkiye faces from ISIS networks, which continue to pose risks not only domestically but also in the broader regional context. The incident coincided with a nationwide crackdown, during which 357 ISIS suspects were detained across 21 provinces, including Istanbul and Ankara, reflecting Ankaras intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist cells and prevent further attacks. Speaking exclusively to Azernews, military expert Abdullah Aghar offered a comprehensive and stark assessment, framing the recent developments not merely as counterterrorism challenges but as part of a wider geopolitical and strategic design. The statement If the YPG/PKK weakens, ISIS will strengthen is not moral; it is strategic blackmail. I dont know if you are aware, but lately, there has been a frantic ISIS threat agenda. Operations, raids, detentions, and arrests are taking place. MIT and internal security units are working intensely. Clearly, there is unease. On one hand, countries like Germany are issuing warnings for Turkiye. On the other hand, whispering channels capable of increasing anxiety are operating. Information that should not be circulating publicly is being spread through WhatsApp groups. So what is happening? Are security units only trying to prevent possible ISIS attacks, or is this part of a much bigger game? First, we must look at the regional geopolitical tension from the Syrian perspective, because the crux of the matter lies there. In fact, the issue should be framed like this: Turkiye is being targeted through ISIS because of the impact this will have on the future of Syria. And this targeting is not limited to the potentially violent actions of ISIS alone. The main objective is to suppress, hinder, break resistance, change perspectives, and force Turkiye to accept defeat and surrender through this terrorist organization and its activities. Why? Because Turkiye: Is the only actor that can undermine the legitimacy claims of the YPG/PYD. Is the only state that rejects the false duality between ISIS and YPG/PYD/PKK. Is the only power offering a unitary interpretation of Syria. The extended processes of the March 10 agreement between the YPG/PKK/SDG and Damascus have also expired. Something will happen. At best, the YPG/PYD/SDG will be forced to sit at the table with Damascus. Even this contradicts their so-called autonomous-democratic narrative. If they do not sit at the table, tension on the ground will deepen. Divisions along Arab tribal lines in Deir ez-Zor may increase, and the vulnerabilities created by forced conscription, illegal taxation, seizure of oil resources, and oppression of civilians will become even more visible. To prevent a possible operation, diplomatic and intelligence pressure must be exerted on Turkiye. And here is the core point: the YPG/PKK/PYD, which is experiencing a legitimacy crisis, needs ISIS again. In other words, the real dirty actor needs to be washed and polished with ISIS shampoo once more. That is why ISIS is seen as being free against Turkiye, but controlled against the YPG/PYD/PKK. Lets recall the 20142019 model. ISIS was elevated as the absolute evil in global public opinion. Chaos deepened. At the same time, a mythological narrative was created around the YPG/PKK, particularly through Mount Sinjar. Stories were marketed about PKK militants saving Yazidis, while extortion, exploitation, ethnic cleansing, child soldier recruitment, and violence against civilians were ignored. This is how the YPG/PYD/SDG rose to power through ISIS. What does ISIS provide today? The moment ISIS appears, immunity for the YPG/PKK/SDG automatically emerges. The phrase Now is not the time, ISIS is here circulates both diplomatically and on the ground. It becomes justification for continued US presence: We cannot withdraw. Pressure on Turkiye resurfaces: If YPG weakens, ISIS strengthens. Damascus is told: YPG/PKK/SDG is indispensable. All of this is a strategic operation carried out without firing a single shot. So why ISIS again, and why in a limited form? Because the goal now is not to seize territory or declare a so-called caliphate. The aim is to create perception, establish balance, provide immunity to central actorsprimarily the YPG/PKKand prepare the ground for future interventions. ISIS today is not the central node of power projection; it is a temporary shadow node used to obscure the real centers of influence. Lets be clear: The YPG/PKK/SDG is the local node being made permanent. ISIS is the temporary node used as an insurance policy. The US is the meta-node defining the existence and boundaries of both. Why must Turkiye break this complex early? Because if these nodes become permanent, the YPG/PKK becomes untouchable, the US presence becomes irreversible, Turkiye retreats inward, and strategic erosion begins. ISIS must be strangled before it solidifies: In prisons like Al-Hol and Al-Roj, In Sunni regions of Iraq, Within compromised security structures, And most importantly, in all layers where it has polluted Islam and its values. If ISIS creates prolonged chaos inside Turkiye, new permanent nodes will emerge. Perceptions will harden, interventions will follow, and the cost will grow. That is why timing is critical. ISIS today is a high-voltage, temporary knot used to generate legitimacy for others. Combating it requires not only armed force but a cybernetic, strategic approach that dismantles the entire node architecture behind terrorism." 2 January 2026 07:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more In recent times, the Gaza issue has been turned into a tool of profit for certain opportunistic groups operating behind a facade of religious virtue in different parts of the world. Actions taken under the pretext of condemning states, boycotting companies, or even provoking diplomatic tensions are often carried out with calculated intent, yet regrettably escape wider public scrutiny. Audiences that focus narrowly on unfolding events can easily become captive to artificial and hypocritical narratives constructed behind the scenes, drawing distorted conclusions from complex realities. In such an environment, emotional mobilisation replaces critical judgement, and manufactured outrage begins to masquerade as moral clarity. Disinformation, together with coordinated propaganda and agitation campaigns, is now operating with remarkable freedom. In a very real sense, it has taken centre stage, shaping perceptions and steering public sentiment while truth struggles to compete in the noise. The recent protest actions in Turkiye targeting Azerbaijans state energy company SOCAR, alongside Egypt, under the banner of alleged support for Israel, represent not an act of principled solidarity but a deeply misguided and politically corrosive performance. Framed as moral outrage over Gaza, these protests in reality expose a troubling combination of selective activism, ideological manipulation, and deliberate provocation aimed at straining brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, as well as misguiding the masses into a state of disillusionment. At the heart of these protests lies a fundamental distortion. Azerbaijan is being accused of political alignment with Israel in the context of the Gaza tragedy simply because the energy that originates in Azerbaijan eventually reaches Israeli markets. This argument collapses under even basic scrutiny. Azerbaijan is an independent state, not an ideological proxy. It produces energy and sells it on international markets. Once oil and gas enter global trade flows, they are commodities, not political statements. Energy sold to Europe can be resold to any destination, just as European energy exports reach markets across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. To single out Azerbaijan for this reality is either intellectually dishonest or intentionally malicious. More importantly, Azerbaijans foreign policy is grounded in regional cooperation and strategic balance. It maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, just as it does with Turkiye, Arab states, the European Union and Central Asia. This is not duplicity. It is sovereignty. Azerbaijans diplomacy reflects its national interests and its geopolitical environment, not the ideological expectations of protest groups seeking moral absolutism without responsibility. The attempt to frame Azerbaijan as standing against Palestine is particularly cynical. In the diplomatic sphere, Azerbaijan has consistently voiced support for Palestine and its recognition in the international system. Baku has backed relevant resolutions, supported humanitarian principles and avoided inflammatory rhetoric. Maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel does not negate this position. In fact, many Muslim-majority countries that openly support Palestinian statehood also maintain relations with Israel. Selective outrage aimed only at Azerbaijan reveals that the protests are not about Gaza alone. The most disturbing aspect of these actions is their potential to poison Azerbaijan-Turkiye relations. SOCAR is not merely a commercial entity. It is a pillar of the strategic partnership between the two states. It represents shared investments, shared infrastructure and shared economic futures. Targeting SOCAR is not an act against Israel. It is an act against the Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood. Whether intentional or not, the protests serve as a catalyst for mistrust and resentment between societies whose relationship has been built on solidarity, sacrifice and mutual respect. This raises a critical question. Who benefits from such actions? Certainly not Palestine. Certainly not Turkiye. Certainly not Azerbaijan. The only beneficiaries are those who seek to fracture regional cooperation, undermine Turkic unity and inject ideological extremism into pragmatic state relations. History offers no shortage of examples where external and internal actors exploit religious sentiment to destabilise alliances. These protests fit uncomfortably well within that pattern. There is also a profound hypocrisy that cannot be ignored. Roughly thirty years ago, when Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories, expelled hundreds of thousands of Muslims and committed documented atrocities, these same radical groups operating under the guise of Islamic solidarity were nowhere to be seen. There were no mass protests. No boycott campaigns. No loud denunciations of Armenian revanchism. No outrage over mosques being desecrated or Muslim communities being ethnically cleansed. Silence prevailed. That silence was not accidental. It revealed that their activism has never been about Muslim suffering as such. It has been about selective mobilisation driven by ideology, convenience and political agendas. When Azerbaijani civilians were massacred, when cities like Khojaly were wiped out, when Muslim heritage sites were destroyed, the world heard nothing from these self-appointed guardians of Islamic conscience. Today, however, they find the energy to accuse Azerbaijan of crimes it has not committed and positions it has not taken. This inconsistency strips their protests of moral credibility. It exposes them as performative rather than principled. What we are witnessing is not solidarity but spectacle. A group of political drama queens exploiting tragedy to gain attention while disregarding truth, context and long-term consequences. Turkiye and Azerbaijan share a relationship that goes beyond diplomacy. It is rooted in shared history, shared culture and shared strategic vision. Attempts to weaponise the Gaza tragedy to drive a wedge between them should be recognised for what they are. They undermine not only bilateral trust but also the broader framework of regional cooperation that both states have worked to build. Azerbaijans role in global energy markets is another inconvenient truth ignored by protesters. Baku has emerged as a reliable energy supplier to Europe at a time of unprecedented volatility. Its gas exports contribute to European energy security and economic stability. The same infrastructure that allows Azerbaijani gas to reach Europe is part of a wider global system. Energy flows do not operate on ideological purity tests. They operate on contracts, markets and logistics. To demand that Azerbaijan selectively restrict energy flows based on political narratives would be to demand economic self-sabotage. Moreover, Azerbaijans energy diplomacy has strengthened Turkiyes role as a transit hub and regional energy power. The Southern Gas Corridor is a shared achievement. Protests against SOCAR, therefore, indirectly target Turkiyes own strategic interests. This contradiction further highlights the shallow thinking behind these actions. None of this diminishes the tragedy unfolding in Gaza. Civilian suffering is real and demands humanitarian attention. But moral concern loses legitimacy when it is weaponised selectively and directed irresponsibly. Protests that distort facts, misrepresent state policies and target allies do not advance justice. They deepen divisions and empower those who thrive on chaos. Azerbaijan has demonstrated that it can maintain balanced relations without surrendering its principles. It has shown that supporting Palestinian rights does not require cutting ties with Israel or abandoning energy cooperation. This is not moral weakness. It is diplomatic maturity. The danger lies in allowing emotionally charged but politically reckless activism to dictate foreign policy narratives. Azerbaijan will not and should not allow its sovereignty to be questioned by groups that neither understand nor respect the responsibilities of statehood. Nor should Turkiye allow provocations against its closest ally to masquerade as moral virtue. In an era of global instability, brotherly relations are assets, not liabilities. Those who seek to inflame rather than understand are not defenders of justice. They are instigators of division. Recognising this distinction is essential, not only for Azerbaijan and Turkiye, but for the integrity of regional cooperation as a whole. 2 January 2026 10:31 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The U.S.Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) will host a U.S.Azerbaijan trade and business conference to mark the Chambers 30th anniversary, Azernews reports, citing USACC. Scheduled to take place on March 10, the conference will bring together senior officials from government institutions of both the United States and Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of the business community, investors and the financial sector. The event will focus on discussions aimed at expanding economic cooperation between the two countries. USACC views the conference as an opportunity to review achievements to date, analyze current trends, and shape a forward-looking agenda focused on strengthening bilateral trade, investment and innovative cooperation between the United States and Azerbaijan. Since its establishment in 1995, USACC has served as a leading platform for the development of trade, economic and cultural ties between the two countries. Over the past three decades, the Chamber has played a significant role in fostering publicprivate dialogue, promoting trade, supporting business diversification, and expanding economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States. 2 January 2026 12:40 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. The figure represents a 5.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 2 January 2026 10:28 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolence to Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, Azernews reports. "Dear Mr. President, We were deeply saddened by the news of the fire in Crans-Montana that claimed numerous lives. In connection with this tragedy, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my profound condolences to Your Excellency, to the families and loved ones of the victims, and to the entire people of Switzerland. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured," the letter reads. 2 January 2026 11:36 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The Trump administration demonstrated a clear commitment to Azerbaijans peace agenda, according to Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Azernews reports. Speaking to The Washington Times, Hajiyev said the prompt response of the U.S. President to Azerbaijans peace initiatives should be positively assessed. The remarks were made in an article focusing on peace-building efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, steps toward lifting the Section 907 amendment in the U.S. Congress, Azerbaijans relations with Russia, and AzerbaijanIsrael ties. Hajiyev stressed that the continued existence of Section 907 works against peace, noting that both Baku and Yerevan are actively striving to strengthen stability in the region. Both governments, Azerbaijan and Armenia, are working intensively to consolidate peace. However, some members of Congress introduce legislative acts that are completely unnecessary and contain seeds of discrimination, he said. He also stated that the BidenBlinken administration damaged AzerbaijanU.S. relations, contrasting its approach with the warmer ties seen during Donald Trumps presidency. Unfortunately, there were many misunderstandings with the Biden and Blinken administration, and they caused significant harm to relations, Hajiyev noted. He recalled that the Biden administration reinstated the Section 907 restrictions immediately after the conclusion of the Afghanistan mission. As an example of positive cooperation with the Trump administration, Hajiyev highlighted its decisive role in advancing the Southern Gas Corridor, which enabled Caspian gas to reach European markets during Trumps first term. Touching upon Azerbaijans efforts to build economic relations with Armenia, Hajiyev pointed to exports of oil products and the facilitation of grain transit to Armenian markets. This may seem symbolic, but beyond symbolism there are truly important geopolitical nuances. We are building peace not only with the Armenian government, but also with the Armenian people, he said. Emphasizing Azerbaijans longstanding tradition of religious tolerance, Hajiyev described the country as a natural partner for the West in an unstable region. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities have lived side by side here for centuries. This is our tradition and our identity. We have an even stronger determination for our peace agenda, and we have the full support of the Trump administration, he concluded. 2 January 2026 15:41 (UTC+04:00) President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva have sent a letter of condolence to Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Former President of the Republic of Latvia, Co-Chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. According to Azernews, the letter reads: Your Excellency, We were deeply saddened to receive the news of the passing of your husband and lifelong companion, Imants Freibergs. Having walked the great path of life side-by-side with you, Imants Freibergs was a devoted partner who always stood faithfully by your side. We share in your grief over this profound loss and extend our deepest condolences and wish patience to you and all members of your family. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Mehriban Aliyeva First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 2 January 2026. 2 January 2026 16:59 (UTC+04:00) Today marks the birthday of National Hero of Azerbaijan Natiq Gasimov. Azernews reports that although Natiq Gasimov went missing during the First Garabagh War, he refused to lower the Azerbaijani flag even after enduring five days without food or water. Born in 1971 in the village of Kichik Garamurad in Azerbaijans Gadabay district, Gasimov volunteered in 1991 to defend the country following attacks by Armenian armed formations on Azerbaijans sovereign territories. He joined the Garadagh Falcons battalion formed in the Aghdam district and took part in combat operations. On March 12, 1992, during fighting in the direction of the village of Pirlar (Khramort) in the Khojaly district, Gasimov was captured by Armenian forces. During the battle for an Albanian church located on elevated ground near Pirlar village, six of his fellow fighters were killed. Gasimov continued to fight alone, holding his position for five days without food or water. After running out of ammunition, he was captured on the sixth day, March 12, 1992, in the presence of Russian and Italian journalists Konstantin Smirnov and Enrico Sarzini. His capture was later documented in the Russian magazine Ogonyok in its 1992 issues No. 14 and 15, in an article titled Fear. It should be noted that on June 25, 2024, by decree of President of Azerbaijan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, Natiq Gasimov was posthumously awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan. 2 January 2026 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) will take place in Antalya, Turkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, according to an announcement by Turkiyes Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. As reported by Azernews, Australia has transferred the hosting rights to Turkiye and withdrawn from the co-chair role, paving the way for Antalya to host the global climate summit in 2026. In a statement, the Ministry said: COP31 will be held in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026. Turkiye will become a hub of climate diplomacy. The conference is expected to bring together world leaders, policymakers, climate experts, and civil society representatives to advance global action on climate change and sustainability. 2 January 2026 11:05 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Switzerland has declared a period of national mourning following a devastating fire at the Crans-Montana resort that claimed the lives of 40 people. As reported by Azernews, citing Reuters, Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced that state flags in the capital, Bern, will be flown at half-mast throughout the mourning period as a mark of respect for the victims. Latest reports indicate that 115 people were injured, with varying degrees of severity, as a result of the incident. Authorities are continuing investigations into the cause of the fire while emergency services remain on high alert. 2 January 2026 21:20 (UTC+04:00) The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Friday that Russia launched 116 airstrikes overnight using drones of different types from the directions of the Millerovo, Kursk, Shatalovo, Orel, Bryansk, and the Primorsko-Akhtarsk regions, as well as from the Gvardiyske and Chauda regions in the occupied Crimea, Azernews reports. According to the military's report, the Ukrainian air defense forces shot down or suppressed 86 drones in the north, south, and east of Ukraine, using anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems units, as well as mobile fire groups. Meanwhile, 27 drones managed to hit their targets at 23 locations. As discoveries of taxpayer frauds by Somalis around the country keep being uncovered, Democrat officials are rushing to try to protect the Somali fraudsters. In Washington state, the "woke" Democrat state Attorney General Nick Brown got involved by issuing a statement threatening or prosecute independent journalists investigating fake Somali daycares there for "hate crimes" if they attempted any investigations. That got immediate pushback from the United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, who reminded Brown that his action to intimidate journalists could be prosecuted as a felony under federal law for Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law. She advised Brown that her office would protect the First Amendment rights of the independent journalists. "The USDOJ takes potential violations of 18 USC 242 seriously," she told Brown. That statute could see Brown indicted federally for a felony if he persists in obstructing the independent journalists. It was independent journalists that have broken the stories on daycare fraud by Somalis in Minnesota and Ohio. https://amgreatness.com/2025/12/31/washington-state-ag-warns-citizen-journalists-to-stop-investigating-somali-daycares-or-face-potential-hate-crime-charges/ Like most European countries, local and state elections in Germany are staggered, with elections in five German states coming at various times this year, two in eastern Germany, two in western Germany, and the national capital of Berlin, which is a state as well as a city. Polls in all five show the populist nationalist anti-immigration Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) surging and poised to make major gains. It is within range of winning control of both of the eastern states. This comes as national polls continue to show the AfD as the most popular party nationally, and AfD leader Alice Weidel as the most popular party leader. They also show growing disenchantment with the "grand coalition" natioinal government combining the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and its more conservative Bavarian sister party, the CSU, with the center-left Social Democrats. The AfD takes a very hard line on illegal immigration, calling for mass deportation. It also rejects the EU climate policy, with the party calling for removal of all wind turbines in the country. CDU Chancellor Merz promised a harder line on immigration in the last national election campaign but has failed to deliver it. largely because of being hamstrung by his chosen coalition partner. In the eastern German states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the AfD is running at 38-40%, which in the multi-party system could possibly give them governing majorities depending on which smaller parties do not pass the threshold to win seats. It would certainly make them the largest parties in the state legislative bodies. In the two western states, polls show the AfD making major gains. In Baden-Wurttemberg, polls show AfD more than doubling its vote from the last election to 21%, while in Rheinland-Pfalz, it would almost triple its vote to 23%. Even in the ultra-liberal capital of Berlin, polls show the AfD winning 16%, up from 9% in the last election. The elections begin with Baden-Wurttemberg on March 8. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/german-elections-2026-coalition-faces-tough-test-amid-afd-surge/ Meanwhile in Bavaria, which does not vote this year and is governed by the CDU's more conservative partner party, the CSU, a party that only operates in Bavaria where the CDU does not run candidates, that party is signalling a harder line on illegal immigration. Its delegation in the national parliament has put forward for adoption by the party of a declaration calling for mass deportation of Syrians and Afghans this year. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news-corner/germanys-csu-calls-for-mass-deportations-of-syrians-in-2026/ The Enniskillen bomb blast in Co Fermanagh in 1987 claimed the lives of 11 people (PA) Police identified a female IRA commander as a key member of the unit responsible for the Enniskillen Remembrance Day bombing, it has emerged. Investigators believed the woman led an IRA unit at the time of the November 1987 attack in Co Fermanagh one of the most notorious atrocities of the Troubles. She later moved to the United States. No one has ever been convicted in connection with the bombing, which killed 11 people and injured 63 others when a device exploded beside the towns cenotaph during a Remembrance Sunday ceremony. A twelfth victim, Ronnie Hill, died in 2000 after spending 13 years in a coma. The alleged role of the female commander has come to light alongside the release of The Poppy Day Bomb, a podcast series by The Times and The Sunday Times examining the attack and the decades-long search for accountability from family members, victims and survivors of the bomb. Police in the Republic of Ireland concluded that the woman was believed to be the head of the IRAs south Fermanagh brigade at the time of the bombing and was close to senior IRA figures in Co Monaghan the border county from which one of the units believed to have been involved was operating. The Times has established that the woman has since returned from the United States and is now living in Northern Ireland. She has reportedly been seen in Enniskillen in recent months. It is not known whether she has ever been questioned by police in either jurisdiction. An off-duty RUC officer previously claimed to have seen a suspected female IRA member outside the community centre where the bomb was planted, describing a woman wearing a green dress and carrying a brown bag on the night before the attack. A statement detailing the sighting was later submitted but not followed up, according to a 2015 application for a new inquest by victims families. Relatives of those killed have spent almost four decades seeking justice, and 13 people have been arrested over the years but no charges have been brought. The podcast investigation traced several former IRA members believed by police to have been involved, some still living near Enniskillen. Crowds flee the scene after the IRA bomb went off in 1987 The RUC and its successor, the PSNI, have carried out multiple reviews, but victims have questioned their efficacy. While the government has rejected calls for a public inquiry, the controversial Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) soon to be renamed the Legacy Commission is consulting families before deciding whether to open a full investigation. Some critics say it shuts down inquests and civil actions, limits victims rights, and lacks independence because it was created by the British government, a party to the conflict. Victims groups, political parties and international human rights bodies argue it prioritises closure over justice and risks protecting perpetrators rather than uncovering the full truth. The IRA admitted responsibility the day after the Enniskillen bombing, expressing regret while falsely claiming the device was detonated during an Army sweep. Gerry Adams, then leader of Sinn Fein, later said he was deeply sorry, but the IRA has never fully explained its actions. The original version of this story stated that the ICRIR allowed suspects in Troubles-era killings to gain immunity from prosecution in exchange for accounts that are not tested in court. However, as a result of a High Court ruling in early 2024, conditional immunity was disapplied, and the Government dropped its appeal against this in July 2024. The Commission therefore does not consider requests for conditional immunity. The scene on University Street Photo: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph The scene on University Street Photo: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph Emergency services have attended an overnight collision in south Belfast. Firefighters and police responded to reports of a two car crash on University Street shortly after 2am. Firefighters secured the driver of one vehicle and provided initial first aid before the patient was left in the care of the PSNI. The scene on University Street Photo: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph The driver of the other vehicle was out at the roadside on the arrival of emergency services. Due to the expected wait time for an ambulance, police transported one man to hospital. The scene on University Street Photo: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph News Catch Up - Thursday 1 January The Belfast Telegraph understands the man has sustained minor injuries. The road re-opened a short time later. Politicians urged to challenge status quo as NI Pride group bans Executive parties for second year A letter has been sent to all NI Executive parties explaining the move Causeway Pride has said a ban on Executive parties from its events will remain in place for 2026 Liam Tunney Fri 2 Jan 2026 at 07:24 A Northern Ireland Pride organisation has urged individual politicians to break rank to show support for LGBTQIA+ communities as it announced Executive parties would be banned from its events for a second consecutive year. One call about a possible UFO was believed to have been made in Cyprus Park in east Belfast (David Young/PA) Three orange lights in a perfect triangle in the sky were reported to police in Northern Ireland in 2025, it can be revealed. Police also received a call on their non-emergency 101 number reporting a UFO above the airport/docks, and an emergency call to 999 from Coleraine during which UFO was heard before it cleared. In response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they received three reports categorised as concerning UFOs, and none concerning aliens. These included a call from Abbey Park in Armagh to 101 during which three orange lights in the sky in a perfect triangle which moved then dispersed were reported. A man scours the night sky with binoculars and camera equipment from the Rock of Dunamase in Co Laois (Niall Carson/PA) The 101 call reporting a UFO above the airport/docks came from an address recorded as Cypress Park, believed to refer to Cyprus Park in east Belfast, while the call from Coleraine came from Norwood Court, according to the FOI response. Police said all three reports were solely noted for information, adding: There was nothing ongoing and no lines of inquiry were identified at the time of the call. Asked whether the PSNI worked with any other organisations concerning UFO reports, the FOI response added: PSNI works in partnership with others as and when circumstances require. The number of UFO sightings has varied over the last five years, going from four in 2019 to six in 2020, eight in 2021, one in 2022, and no reported UFO sightings from January 1 to November 1 2023. However in 2023, there were two reported sightings of aliens and one reported sighting of strange lights. There were three reports concerning UFOs in 2024, which included a caller in Belfast telling the PSNI they had noted a flying object rising into the sky from the direction behind their house. They described: It has a vapour trail but made no sound at all. It had green and red flashing lights, and said it went over their house and out towards the dock area. According to the FOI response, the PSNI did not receive any reports around widely discussed lights in the sky across Ireland in October, which was later put down to debris for a rocket launched in Florida. The Ministry of Defence previously recorded UFO sightings, but closed its UFO desk in 2009 after concluding that in more than 50 years, no received report had ever disclosed any evidence of a potential threat. Nick Pope used to investigate reports of UFO sightings for the Ministry of Defence (Chris Loomis/PA) Nick Pope, who previously investigated UFO reports for the MoD, sounded caution over the numbers. He told the Press Association he believes numbers are low because people fear they will not be taken seriously. While these figures are very low, it doesnt mean people in Northern Ireland arent seeing strange things in the skies, he said. The wave of sightings reported across Ireland in October proves they are even if debris from a US rocket launch was the likely culprit on that occasion. I suspect the low numbers reflect the fact that a lot of people who see UFOs dont report them, perhaps because they dont think theyd be taken seriously. Furthermore, those people who do make a report may be more likely to contact the military, the media, or a civilian UFO research group, as opposed to calling the police. Until and unless an official focal point to report UFO sightings is set up, well only ever get to hear about a tiny fraction of the strange phenomena undoubtedly being seen in Irish skies. The Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt is to stand down as leader of his party, it has been confirmed. In a statement this afternoon, Mr Nesbitt said he retook the leadership back in 2024 to do a short-term job of getting the party match fit for the forthcoming election campaign and said that task had now been completed. Tony Blair ordered senior ministers to visit NI after horrific discovery none had been there in 20 years Labour PM said he believed treating Northern Ireland as a place apart had contributed to its feeling of isolation from Britain Gordon Brown, John Prescott and Tony Blair. Photo: John Stillwell/PA Sam McBride Fri 2 Jan 2026 at 07:48 Tony Blair was horrified to discover in 1998 that almost no senior British Cabinet minister had gone to Northern Ireland for two decades. Gillian Doherty, senior archivist at the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, travelled to the US (Liam McBurney/PA) Plans are progressing to bring historical treasures across the Atlantic for an exhibition in Northern Ireland marking the regions unique contribution to the founding of the US. Gillian Doherty, a senior archivist at the Public Record Office (PRONI) in Belfast, recently travelled to Washington and Philadelphia to unearth some of the historical links with the ancient province of Ulster. This year will see celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Semiquincentennial Commission which gives Northern Ireland special status in recognition of its contribution to the foundation of the US. Ms Doherty said: There were so many people here from the old province of Ulster, who migrated there in the 17th and 18th and 19th centuries. We traditionally look at that Irish migration of being from the mid-1800s onwards and a lot of people here, we dont realise how influential the migrants from Ulster, those early settlers, were, particularly to the Declaration of Independence. During her trips to Washington, Ms Doherty researched the career of Charles Thomson, who left Maghera in Co Londonderry as a child in 1739 and became one of the key figures in the story of American independence. She said: He left here when he was only 10 years old with his family. His mother had passed away, his father passed away on the way over across the Atlantic. So, he arrived an orphan. He didnt want to be an apprentice blacksmith and ran away. Years later, he becomes secretary to that first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Hes synonymous with the drawing of the Great Seal of the United States. That first Congress, where all of those representatives come together from 13 colonies, which leads to the Declaration of Independence being signed, he was there every step of the way and he remains secretary for the whole 15 years of the Continental Congress. I spent a lot of time in the Library of Congress. They have a lot of Charles Thomsons personal papers there. The archivist also researched the life of John Dunlap, who emigrated from Co Tyrone and became a printer. He printed the first copy of the US Declaration of Independence and is one of only three names to appear on it. She also studied the life of Hercules Mulligan, who left Coleraine and worked as a tailor and spy during the American Revolutionary War. Ms Doherty said: He also was able to hear information, because he was supplying the British armies with uniforms, and that information he was able to feed back to George Washington and saved his life on two occasions, saved him from being captured. Gillian Doherty researched the lives of several figures from Ulster who emigrated to the US (Liam McBurney/PA) She added: It was interesting to see that the people who emigrated had the same struggles. Not everyone went over and became prosperous, not everyone lived the American dream. Ms Dohertys research will culminate in an exhibition in the atrium at PRONI which will run from June until November. She said: The purpose of going over was to source some of those documents and stories that could form part of that exhibition, to really reflect those important links and look at the real key people who played a role in that. So, what wed really like to do with the exhibition is to highlight that connection that people arent really aware of here. I mean, who really knows about Charles Thomson? We hold loads of documents here in PRONI which we would like to showcase and were really hoping to bring over some documents on international loan from some of those institutions that I visited. We havent done that before, so this will be a new venture for us, to have transatlantic documents. The archivist said it is hoped to bring to Belfast the original address from Mr Thomson telling George Washington in 1789 that he has been elected president. She said: I think it shows how important Charles Thomson was. The Library of Congress have the written address that he travels to Mount Vernon with and he reads out to George Washington to tell him hes been elected as president of the first president of the United States. So, watch this space. The drama-splattered wedding of Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay provided plenty of tabloid fodder for that aimless, footling period between Christmas and New Year, when youre too full of food to do much, but it isnt yet time to go back to work. The threats facing all of us have changed, the British ambassador to Ireland has said, as she declared London is very happy to partner on security issues in the Irish Sea and beyond. Kara Owen became the UK Ambassador to Ireland in September, months after Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a programme of co-operation as part of a desire to reset relations. She said she was really pleased to be taking on the job in the context of improved relations between the UK and Ireland following a turbulent post-Brexit period. Ms Owen said there was no doubt her predecessor Paul Johnston had a set of really tricky issues to navigate. In an interview with the Press Association, she said: But it was really great to see him be there for the summit in Liverpool in March last year, and that was the moment when, I think An Taoiseach and our Prime Minister really set their vision towards 2030. So coming in with such strong political shaping and priorities that have been given from the top level of our Government thats a really great way to start as ambassador. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin have set out their vision, Ms Owen said (Phil Noble/PA) Asked about her priorities for the role, Ms Owen said: What Im seeing is universities, cultural organisations, businesses that are really interested in collaborating with the UK. Many Irish businesses are interested in making their first internationalisation happen in the UK and whats brilliant is, you dont have to explain the whole of my country here. People are very well aware of what the strengths are of various regions within the UK, and theyre very well informed about where they might want to land so definitely, growth is a priority. Ms Owen said collaboration on infrastructure, energy and security issues were also key priorities. I think weve had a real reminder through Ukraine that the energy transition and the blessings that we have got across these islands, particularly with wind, offshore wind and onshore wind, put us in a position to be able to harness that for the security and the prosperity of our country. She said the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach had launched intensive work around infrastructure delivery. And something that came through really clearly as well, is around how we manage the seas that we both sit in, and that includes both how we use it for energy, but also maintenance of the environment, us understanding whats on the seabed, and also security issues. Asked if there was a perception that Ireland needed to be doing more on the security of the sea, Ms Owen said: The threats that we are seeing to all of us, have changed and so all countries are looking again to check that theyve got their security and defence in the right shape. And Ive thats been something Ive been really struck by since arriving, what the Irish-Irish debate around security and defence is, and how clear the Taoiseach has been and the Government has been about how they want to enhance defence spending and I think were very happy to be a partner. She added: Its not just about defence. Its actually about security of critical national infrastructure, its about cybersecurity, its about what we do in the maritime domain. Ms Owen also emphasised the links between the nations creative sectors which she said are worth huge amounts to our economy, but also make life richer. Ms Owen spoke to President Catherine Connolly (Brian Lawless/PA) The ambassador is also learning Irish. She said: Its hard to describe how enriching that has been. As somebody thats been connected to Ireland for 20 years, the depth of understanding that Ive got through being able to tackle Gaeilge, Im just loving it. She added: When I started thinking about if I was going to pitch for this job, you know, what do I need to be thinking about? And so even sort of two years ago, I was starting to look at what the scene was in Ireland, what was new and fresh, and just the sort of explosion of the joy in the Irish language and how its popping up everywhere. And this vibe that you dont have to be perfect, but just use Gaeilge wherever you can mix it in with Bearla (English) if thats all you can do but just do it. Ms Owen said that when she met President Catherine Connolly, they spoke exclusively in Irish. She was incredibly kind and patient with me. At one moment I kind of lost a word, and she just waited until I found it again. And so I found that super encouraging. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Berkshire Countys unemployment rate climbed to 4 percent in September, the highest level the region has seen in four years. But even as unemployment rises, the labor market remains tight. Local employers are grappling with skill shortages, AI-driven hiring changes and evolving worker expectations trends reflected across the U.S. as job growth slows and companies become more cautious. We have had some layoffs in the area, but we are not seeing a big uptick in candidates coming in the door looking for work, so thats kind of interesting, said Guin Griswold, director of employment services at Molari Employment and Healthcare Services in Pittsfield. National job growth has also slowed in recent months. Federal data showed job losses in October followed by modest gains in November, pushing the national unemployment rate to 4.6 percent its highest level since 2021. Tariffs, increases in wages and the impact of AI have stalled hiring momentum as companies like Amazon, Verizon, UPS and General Motors have announced job cuts. After 5 percent growth from 2019 to 2024, job growth slowed in 2025, said Heather Boulger, executive director of the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board, a local organization that helps people find jobs. BY THE NUMBERS In September, 63,812 people were in the Berkshire County labor force, with 61,260 employed and 2,552 collecting unemployment insurance, according to data provided by Boulger. The total number of Americans filing for jobless benefits for the week ending Dec. 13 rose to 1.92 million, according to ABC News. The 4 percent unemployment rate in the Berkshires was close to the Massachusetts rate of 4.7 percent, and in September 2024, the county's unemployment rate was 3.4 percent. The last time Berkshire County's unemployment rate was over 4 percent was in 2021 (4.9 percent), and the highest this decade was 9.4 percent in 2020. Its pretty comparable, and anything under 5 percent unemployment is considered full employment, which means that there are job opportunities for people who are looking, and its still keeping the economy going, Boulger said. Some level of unemployment is natural, Boulger said, adding that a small amount of unemployment allows companies to hire and prevents labor shortages. Boulger, who has been working in the field for almost 35 years, said that the workforce goes through ebbs and flows. She added that Massachusetts has stable labor participation and fairly strong economic conditions, but did cite recent job losses in retail, manufacturing and food service sectors. Griswold said that she has seen a slowdown in the job market and that some people are passively looking for work meaning they are currently employed and not necessarily applying for jobs, but are keeping an eye out for a better fit or their next opportunity. She added that toward the end of the year, a lot of people get hired for companies they were temping at, as companies want to meet certain numbers by the end of the year. HIRING PRESSURES Boulger said the pandemic reset the economy at all levels, impacting every industry and changing workforce dynamics. In the past five years, the Berkshires have lost about 2,000 people in the labor force, she said, adding that many job seekers want more virtual or remote opportunities. I think job seekers have a different expectation than they did five years ago, Boulger said. Boulger said that challenges facing the workforce include job growth, AI integration, skill gaps, worker well-being and workplace culture. A population decrease has also impacted the workforce as 22- to 45-year-olds are migrating out of the region. There are more than 3,000 jobs currently open in the area, Boulger said, adding that businesses are struggling to find skilled workers. The MassHire Career Center and Workforce Board are working to develop training programs and career pathways to get people the skills they need to fill those gaps. Artificial intelligence has also changed the hiring process in the region. Boulger said that most candidates are adapting to get noticed in the initial job screening process, and MassHire is helping people prepare their resumes. It seems like a very impersonal process, she said. A lot of our employers are still using AI to help prescreen candidates." LOOKING AHEAD In the Berkshires, the largest and fastest-growing employer is health care and social assistance, Boulger said. She also highlighted educational services, retail trade, accommodations, manufacturing and the food service industry. Griswold said that direct care workers are always in demand, something she deals with firsthand with Molaris home care agency and its clients. We could bring [10 direct care workers] in tomorrow, and wed have them all placed by next week, she said of the agency that has been in business since 1983 staffing and recruiting home health care providers. Helping younger workers find jobs is also a priority, as unemployment in that age group has risen. In November, the national unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds climbed to 10.6 percent, the highest since 2021, according to CNN. Boulger said that MassHire has internship programs at the high school and college level, along with programs for young adults that connect them to career pathways in health care, manufacturing, clean energy and education. Even with unemployment ticking up, workforce leaders say the regions challenge is less about job availability than ensuring workers have the skills and expectations to meet a changing economy. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter WINDSOR A 73-year-old Shelburne Falls man died Dec. 26, two days after a head-on crash on Route 9 in Windsor that left him in critical condition. Henry Whiteside was pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, according to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. The crash occurred at about 9 a.m. Dec. 24 in the area of 1404 Berkshire Trail. Whiteside was driving a 2012 Honda Fit westbound when he veered into the opposite lane, colliding head-on with a 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Derek Costa, 44, of West Springfield, who was traveling eastbound. Medical staff believed Whiteside suffered a "cardiac event" prior to the crash, according to the DA's office. Costa suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention at the scene. Whiteside received CPR at the crash site before Dalton emergency services transported him to Berkshire Medical Center. He was then airlifted to Baystate Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition until his death. He died surrounded by his three children, according to his obituary. Snow was falling at the time of the crash. Route 9 was closed for several hours while Massachusetts State Police investigated. Whiteside was born in Burgaw, N.C., and attended Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va., and General Theological Seminary in New York City before being ordained an Episcopal priest in 1983. He served at the Church of the Good Shepherd, and his work there included helping to provide emergency shelter, meals and permanent housing for about 150 people annually. Whiteside moved to Massachusetts in 2001, where he began an acupuncture practice and was a minister at Plainfield Congregational Church, according to his obituary. "His friends and family will keenly miss his penetrating mind and caring heart, which were always straining toward justice, truth and the mercy at the heart of his faith," the obituary said. A funeral service will be held Jan. 3 in Burgaw, N.C., with a memorial service planned for Western Massachusetts in the coming weeks. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter ADAMS The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum is searching for a new executive director following the departure of James Capuzzi, who concluded his tenure on Wednesday after nearly two years. Capuzzi, who became executive director in September 2023, will be relocating to Louisiana to work for Catholic Charities as a donor engagement manager. He chose to leave the position to move closer to family with his wife and children, though he said his time leading the museum had been incredibly fulfilling. I really wish I could stay, he said. The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, founded in 2010, is located at the Adams homestead on East Road where the famous suffragette was born in 1820. While the museums primary focus is Anthonys personal history and legacy, it also takes a broader look at the fight for womens right to vote in the United States and aims to contextualize it for a modern audience. During his time leading the museum, Capuzzi said his proudest achievement was expanding the museums connections with the local community and making its historic value more well-known. Thats been kind of personally rewarding to see, he said. That community shift from Oh, thats a house I've driven by to Oh, youre part of the community fabric. Our outreach has been greatly improved, especially our outreach to schools, he said, describing the museums visits to local schools to educate students on both Anthonys legacy and civic involvement in general. Its a legacy that will outlast him; the museum has five school visits already booked for 2026, he said. Capuzzis favorite exhibit at the museum under his tenure happened to spotlight not Anthony but another suffragette named Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, whose tea parties in the early 20th century became salons for women to discuss and advocate for suffrage. Titled Votes for Women: How Tea Sparked a Suffrage Revolution, the exhibit ran from June to October 2025 and incorporated a replica tea set that belonged to Belmont as well as a recreation of her tea house. It was an ambitious exhibit for our small space, but it was fun and exciting to pull off, Capuzzi said. Looking forward, Capuzzi identified the museums limited real estate as the biggest challenge facing his successor. The museum is contained within a single homestead, and its accessibility is hampered by limited parking spaces and a far distance from public transportation. That was the primary motivator for the museum to start coming directly to schools in recent years. On the upside, theres a lot to look forward to when it comes to the museums finances, he said. The funding landscape is a lot more stable and growing, he said. Hes especially excited about the fact that charitable contributions have made it possible to fund the museums paid internship program indefinitely, allowing undergraduate and graduate students to receive compensation for their work at the museum. Its a much sunnier outlook on the museums financial situation compared to the one in 2018, when a previous executive directors embezzlement put the nonprofits tax-exempt status in jeopardy. The museum received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service in June 2023 confirming that its tax-exempt status had been reaffirmed, shortly before Capuzzi started in the role. The job opening for the position has been posted on the museums website. The museum is seeking a candidate with a strong understanding of its relevant history, as well as experience in marketing and public relations. A salary range is not listed. Capuzzi made approximately $72,000 annually in the role, according to publicly available tax filings. The executive director role is the only full-time paid position at the museum, which is supported by a board of directors and a seasonal internship program. Capuzzi said that the search for his successor would be regionally focused, with the goal of having a new director by Memorial Day, when the museum typically launches new exhibits. In the meantime, operational responsibilities will be split among the museums board of directors. Berkshire County is a really collaborative environment, which was very inspiring to work in, he said, adding that it was more exciting than people would think because of the really robust arts and culture scene." Im very grateful for the museum for taking a chance and taking me in, he said. Like most folks, we entered January looking forward to what the new year has to offer and which parts of our shared future we will resolve to build. Ironically, though, one of the first stories to catch our eye in 2026 was one from the past though as anyone who read it knows, it's about our present as well. Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Donald Morrison is an Eagle columnist and co-chairman of the advisory board. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Paul Mescal has said he will start rationing his workload to avoid resenting his career. The 29-year-old, who shot to fame during the pandemic for his role as love interest Connell Waldron in BBC miniseries Normal People, based on the novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, has since starred in blockbusters such as Ridley Scotts Gladiator II and booked the role of Paul McCartney in the upcoming biopics by filmmaker Sam Mendes. Mescal, who also stars in two upcoming dramas, Hamnet and The History Of Sound, revealed that the growing film credits comes with a cost and that he may need to be more selective with his workload. Paul Mescal has a busy slate, including the upcoming The History of Sound (Jeff Moore/PA) Speaking to The Guardian, Mescal said: Im five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky. But Im also learning that I dont think I can go on doing it as much. When asked if he is rationing himself, he said: I think so. Im gonna have to start doing that. For sure. Advertisement Rationing doesnt necessarily mean less. It means learning that films like The History Of Sound take more out of the well. You cant keep going back and expect to consistently deliver something youre proud of. Mescal plays Lionel in the film which follows his characters relationship with David (played by Josh OConnor) after the pair meet in 1917 at the New England Conservatory, and following the First World War, before travelling together to record folk songs in rural Maine in winter 1920. Paul Mescal and Josh OConnor star in A History Of Sound (Jeff Moore/PA) He added: What that (career) rationing looks like, I dont know. I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when Im only doing theatre for a couple of years. I also have different priorities in my personal life that I want to attend to. I dont want to resent the thing I love. This sounds bold, but Id rather not be on the train if that is the choice. Mescal, who is promoting Chloe Zhaos Hamnet, about William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, played by Irish actress Jessie Buckley, as they manage the grief of losing their son, added: Once Ive finished promoting that, I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when Im doing the Beatles. People will get a break from me and Ill get a break from them. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal star in Hamnet (Ian West/PA) Mescal will also make his National Theatre debut in 2027, staring in productions of A Whistle In The Dark and Death Of A Salesman. It comes after he won an Olivier Award in 2023 for a stage adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, before starring in Gladiator II as an arena fighter who tries to bring down two maniacal emperors. Advertisement He added: I loved the process of making that film but The History of Sound felt like home to me. Its where Im most comfortable. I want to make more films like that versus ones on the scale of Gladiator II. Directed by Oliver Hermanus, The History Of Sound will be released in cinemas on January 23rd. Victoria Jones, daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, has been found dead in San Francisco. Ms Jones was 34-years-old, and was found dead in the Fairmont hotel in San Francisco in the early hours of New Year's Day, according to American outlet TMZ, which cited law enforcement sources. TMZ reported that a spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department told the outlet that officers responded to a report of a deceased person at around 3:14am. Paramedics declared the adult female to have died. The cause of death is not yet known. Ms Jones is the second child of Tommy Lee Jones and his first wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. Her brother, Austin, is 43. According to the Irish Times, Ms Jones acted alongside her father when she was a child, in films such as Men in Black II and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and in the TV series One Tree Hill. Pathologists based in University Hospital Waterford (UHW) are no longer available to carry out coroner-requested post-mortems for the entire southeast. Consultant pathologists at the hospital stopped conducting such post-mortems on New Years Day. The cases dealt with involve deaths which are classed as suspicious by gardai, accidental, or unexpected, and maternal deaths. Up to 700 coroner-directed post-mortem examinations are carried out annually at the hospital and counties affected by the service ending include Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, which have a combined population of almost 460,000. It is now feared that results from such post-mortems will be delayed even further and perhaps even outsourced to other hospitals. Several other hospitals in Cork, Dublin and Limerick also no longer provide the service due to a shortage of pathologists and the demands of daily diagnostic services. Advertisement Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan is conscious that the situation in UHW has reached a critical juncture, and an urgent solution is required. The provision of post-mortem examination services to support the work of the Coroner Service is supported by several government departments and agencies. The Department of Justice is responsible for the legislation concerning the work of coroners, while the provision of the post-mortem examination service is largely provided through the health service and its personnel. A Department of Justice spokesman said that following a recent meeting in UHW attended by representatives of these parties, pathologists employed there have indicated that they are not available to carry out post-mortems. He added: On foot of this, the Department is engaging with a number of firms who are proposing to supply locums to provide the post-mortem service in UHW. The spokesman explained that this approach is an unfortunate necessity to minimise any impact on bereaved family members who are engaging with the Coroner Service. However, a long-term sustainable solution is nevertheless required, whereby locum pathologists are not relied upon to provide the post-mortem service, and instead this service to the community is provided from within the pathology profession in Ireland generally, he outlined. Ireland Two men arrested as gardai seize drugs and cash worth 813,000 Read more The Minister said he is aware that securing the provision of the post-mortem service is challenging and he has been engaging with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, to address the reasons behind these challenges, the Department of Justice noted. There are issues around the pathology profession generally, relating to training and recruitment, as well as competing demands on pathologists in areas of diagnostic and research work. Advertisement The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in April 2022 established a Standing Committee on the Provision of Coroner Directed post-mortem examination services. Membership consists of representatives from the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, the Office of the State Pathologist, An Garda Siochana, the Coroners Society of Ireland, the Department of Housing, Local Authorities and Heritage and the Faculty of Pathology, Royal College of Physicians Ireland as well as the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. The petrol bombing of a family home in north Dublin on New Year's Eve is linked to a previous incident at the same location, when a car was deliberately rammed into a house, investigating gardai believe. They are also reviewing other violent incidents, including house windows being broken, an assault, and a car ramming in Finglas, on suspicion that they are all part of the same campaign of violence over the past year, The Irish Times reported on Friday. Arsonists attacked the wrong house for the second time when they threw a petrol bomb into the property in Finglas at around 12.45am on Wednesday. Flames engulfed the three-storey property on Creston Avenue, Meakstown, Finglas, quickly, trapping two women in their 40s and 20s, and three children, a boy and two girls, inside. Advertisement The youngest child was able to escape and raise the alarm, and the other family members were rescued by neighbours and firefighters. The eldest woman and the boy were left in serious condition in hospital, however. Garda sources told The Irish Times that the victims were lucky to be alive after quick-thinking neighbours saw the flames and began a rescue effort. According to The Irish Times, the person believed to be the arsonists' intended target lives in the Creston area and is linked to gangland criminals in Co Louth. He has been targeted by a Dublin crime gang in recent months as part of a feud. Attackers broke windows in Creston in one of the incidents last year, but, in the first case of mistaken identity, they wrongly targeted the family home that has now been gutted by fire. The Finglas petrol bombing comes just weeks after a firebombing linked to rival drugs gangs claimed the life of Tadgh Farrell (4) and his grand-aunt Mary Holt (60). Their home in Edenderry, Co Offaly, was targeted on December 6th in an apparent attempt to intimidate a man previously linked to the property. A woman was set on fire at her home in Clondalkin, Dublin, two weeks earlier, after she was sprayed with accelerant in another drug-related intimidation act. Though there were no fatal gangland shootings in 2025, for the first time in decades, gardai are becoming increasingly concerned about drug-related intimidation, The Irish Times report said. Metal girders warped and deformed in a fire that reached temperatures of 1000 degrees Celsius and destroyed a light rail bridge. An inspection of the Georges Dock Bridge, which carries Luas trams in Dublin, showed visible buckling of steel while concrete lost most of its structural strength. A report said bearings were exposed to direct fire as components melted and concrete bearing plinths were cracked and damaged in the August blaze. The rails that carried trams also buckled from the extraordinary heat while handrails were badly heat-distorted. The scale of the damage was so severe that it could end up being cheaper to rebuild the bridge entirely rather than trying to repair it. A report by engineering firm Arup said fixing it up would be highly complex and lengthy. It said the entire concrete deck would have to be removed and recast while steel girders would need to be heat-straightened or cut out and replaced. Advertisement More severe distortion of the metal would need bolting or welding, and all of it would need extensive stress testing. The report said: Arup estimated that the cost of repair could approach (or even exceed) the cost of a new bridge. It said repair, while technically feasible, would be slow, expensive and leave Luas with an old structure with patchwork fixes. A scoping document from the National Transport Authority said it might also be possible to temporarily strengthen the bridge with a view to a full renovation later. This would involve propping up the bridge from beneath and could have been used to get Luas services back in operation more quickly. However, designing and installing the props would itself take time reducing the advantage of quickly reopening. The document said: [It also] required the installation of props in the old Georges Dock (a water basin) which would be technically challenging and potentially require cofferdams or barges. It introduced its own safety and logistical risks. In the end, the National Transport Authority opted to build an entirely new bridge, ensuring full structural safety and a lifespan of over 100 years. It was back open in late November, just over three months after the blaze, and in time for the busy Christmas season. The report said: Although building a new bridge sounds time-consuming, Arup argued it could be done relatively fast by using accelerated bridge construction methods (fabricating the new span off-site while preparations are made on-site). Arup pointed out that repair work might drag on longer than a replacement, whereas a replacement could be done in a matter of months if prioritised. Advertisement It said costs were likely to be similar to repair while giving peace of mind, a longer lifespan, and easier maintenance. The engineers said the replacement would be a more effective use of taxpayer funds than an uncertain refurbishment. No definitive cause for the fire was provided in the documents. However, a letter from Transport Infrastructure Ireland said a gas pipeline had ruptured during the blaze and was apparently the source of the flames. Asked about the documents and the project, an NTA spokesman said while the final cost of the project was not known, it was estimated to be in the region of 7 million. He said: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has undertaken the demolition and replacement of the bridge structure with its contractors, and this work was funded by [us]. Transdev, as the Luas [operator], replaced and reinstated the rail systems and funded this work themselves. The bridge was insured and Transdev and TII are in the process of submitting claims against the insurance policy for recovery of certain costs. A father of two who appeared in court in Cork on Friday, charged in connection with an 800,000 drugs and cash seizure, allegedly told gardai that he had made around three drug runs from Dublin to Cork since last October, transporting around 1 million of drugs per trip. Christopher McCudden of Robin Hill, Sandyford Road, Dublin 14, appeared before Cork District Court, where he was charged with eight offences. He faces three charges of possession of drugs for sale or supply, three charges involving simple possession of drugs, and two charges of money laundering. Mr McCudden (38) and Michael Pineda (35) of Douglas in Cork were arrested on December 30th, 2025, at Maryborough Ridge in Cork city. They were taken to garda stations for questioning after gardai allegedly observed a drugs transaction between the pair. Gardai seized 700,000 of cocaine, 60,000 of cannabis and 40,000 in cash. Follow up searches in Dublin led to the seizure of an additional 10,000 of cannabis and 4,000 in cash. Advertisement Det Garda Eoghan OMahony said that Mr McCudden was caught red handed with the drugs in a van by gardai. Five kilos of cocaine were found in his Ford Transit van and an additional three kilos of cannabis were located in a tyre alignment machine in the vehicle. 40,000 in cash was also in the van. He stated Mr McCudden was dressed in high vis clothes and driving a work van with a logo for a company which does not exist. Gardai also maintain that the van was modified to allow for the concealment of drugs. Det Garda OMahony told Judge Catherine Ryan that Mr McCudden made certain admissions during his garda interviews. He said that the accused claimed that he had brought 10-15 kilos of cocaine in a van to Cork every month since October 2025. Each van contained one million euro in drugs. Det Garda OMahony said gardai believed it was a sophisticated operation and that Mr McCudden was a trusted member of an organised crime group. An objection to bail was made in the case of Mr McCudden arising out of the nature and seriousness of the charges and the possibility of further charges. Det Garda OMahony said that Mr McCudden represented a flight risk. He cited the ties of the accused to Northern Ireland. He also said that Mr McCudden had booked a holiday to Spain. He was set to fly to Alicante next week. However, Defence solicitor Donal Daly said that his client had booked a five day break to Alicante to stay with a friend who now lives there. Advertisement He further stated that his client was a big man who made no effort to flee when arrested by gardai. He added that Mr McCudden was prepared to abide by all of the bail conditions set down by the court. Mr McCudden refuted suggestions by gardai that he would leave the jurisdiction if he was granted bail. He insisted that he wanted to be there for his family in order to make things right. He denied that the van had been modified. He said that he made the drugs run from Dublin to Cork three or four times. Mr McCudden accepted that he was up to no good when he was arrested by gardai. He claimed that he only got involved in the drugs runs because of debts. Free legal aid was assigned because Mr McCudden is a recipient of social welfare. Judge Ryan granted bail in the case with an independent surety of 10,000 and a cash lodgement of 5,000. Mr McCudden also has to surrender his passport, sign on daily at Dundrum Garda Station and reside at the address of his mother in Sandyford Road. He also has to obey a curfew and provide a mobile phone number to gardai on which he can be contacted 24/7. Mr McCudden was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear before Cork District Court again on January 8th next. Meanwhile, Det Garda Robert Kennedy gave evidence in relation to Michael Pineda of Castletreasure Grove, Douglas in Cork. He said that Mr Pineda made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution at the Togher Garda station in Cork city. Advertisement There was no objection to bail in the case once Mr Pineda abides bail conditions set down by the court. This includes that he sign on at his local garda station, provide a mobile number to gardai on which can be contacted on 24/7, and resides at his home address. Mr Pineda of Castletreasure Grove, Douglas, Cork is charged with six offences. He is charged with two counts of sale and supply of drugs, two counts of possession of drugs and two counts of money laundering. It was claimed that Mr Pineda had fled the scene at Maryborough Ridge in Cork by foot on December 30th. However, he was apprehended by gardai. The court heard that gardai had observed Mr McCudden hand over a Supervalu plastic bag containing five kilos of cocaine to Mr Pineda. Mr Pineda was remanded on bail to appear before Cork District Court on April 2nd for DPP directions. More than one-in-five of all new consular cases in 2025 related to the death of an Irish citizen overseas. Last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs assisted nearly 2,000 citizens - which is the fourth year in a row that consular cases have increased. In total, there were 1,981 cases dealt with by the department, which saw them help with overseas deaths, missing person cases, arrests and mental health incidents. There were also over 59,000 documents issued for Irish people overseas, with more than 2,400 civil letters of freedom granted, allowing Irish citizens to marry abroad. Last year also saw a significant increase in prisoner cases, which were up by 48 per cent, and an increase of 13 per cent in the numbers of citizens presenting with issues relating to mental health and wellbeing. The figure does not include the ongoing response to assist Irish citizens caught up in the crises in the Middle East, but Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said that work is also continuing to help Irish citizens in conflict zones. Advertisement Ms McEntee said: My Department continues to provide assistance to Irish citizens and dependents caught in crises overseas. I know that a small number of Irish citizens and dependents remain in Gaza and my Department, through our missions in the region, continues to advocate on behalf of those that have not yet been able to leave. My Department has continued to strengthen our preparedness for such emergencies and has deepened our cooperation with international partners in order to ensure cohesive and comprehensive crisis response." Russian authorities said that the death toll from a Ukrainian drone strike they claim struck a cafe in a Russian-occupied village in Ukraines Kherson region has risen to 27. Kyiv has denied attacking civilian targets. Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswoman for Russias main criminal investigation agency the Investigative Committee, said that a Ukrainian drone strike on a cafe and hotel in the village of Khorly, where at least 100 civilians were celebrating New Years Eve overnight into Thursday, killed 27 people, including two children. A total of 31 people, including five children, were taken to hospital with injuries, officials said. A man in camouflage stands by a downed drone (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP) A criminal probe on the charges of carrying out an act of terrorism has been opened, Ms Petrenko said. A spokesman for Ukraines General Staff, Dmytro Lykhovii, told Ukraines public broadcaster Suspilne on Thursday that Ukrainian forces adhere to the norms of international humanitarian law and carry out strikes exclusively against Russian military targets, facilities of the Russian fuel and energy sector, and other lawful targets. Advertisement Mr Lykhovii said that the General Staff has published an explicit list of targets that the Ukrainian army struck on the night of New Years Eve. The list did not include strikes on occupied parts of the Kherson region. Mr Lykhovii noted that Russia has repeatedly used disinformation and false statements to disrupt the ongoing peace negotiations. The Associated Press could not independently verify claims made about the attack. In Kyiv, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff on Friday, following the resignation of Andrii Yermak after a corruption scandal over a month ago. In a post on Telegram, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine now needs to focus on security issues, the development of its defence and security forces, and the diplomatic track of negotiations areas that will fall under the remit of the Office of the President headed by Mr Budanov. Mr Zelensky dismissed Mr Yermak, the previous head of the Office of the President, on November 28 after anti-corruption officials conducted searches at his residence as part of an investigation into the energy sector. Kyrylo Budanov has been promoted (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Mr Budanov 39, is one of the countrys most recognisable and popular wartime figures and has led Ukraines military intelligence agency, known as the GUR, since 2020. A career military intelligence officer, he rose through the ranks of Ukraines defence establishment after Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea, taking part in special operations and intelligence missions linked to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. He was reportedly wounded during one such operation. Advertisement Since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, Mr Budanov has become a prominent public face of Ukraines intelligence effort, regularly appearing in interviews and briefings that mix strategic signalling with psychological pressure on Moscow. He has frequently warned of Russias long-term intentions toward Ukraine and the region, while portraying the war as an existential struggle for Ukrainian statehood. Earlier this week, Moscow alleged that Kyiv launched a long-range drone attack against a residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in north-western Russia overnight from Sunday to Monday. Kyiv has called the allegations of an attack on Mr Putins residence a ruse to derail ongoing peace negotiations, which have ramped up in recent weeks on both sides of the Atlantic. In his new year address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a peace deal was 90% ready but warned that the remaining 10%, believed to include key sticking points such as territory, would determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live. Mr Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Wednesday that he, US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Mr Trumps son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner had a productive call with the national security advisers of Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine to discuss advancing the next steps in the European peace process. Ukrainian troops are facing wintry conditions (Andriy Andriyenko/Ukraines 65th Mechanized Brigade via AP) Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia struck a residential area of Kharkiv with two missiles on Friday, Mr Zelensky wrote on his Telegram page, adding that Moscows forces continue the killings, despite all the efforts of the world, and above all the United States, in the diplomatic process. At least 19 people in the eastern city were injured, including a six-month-old, said regional administration head Oleh Syniehubov. Advertisement Russia also conducted what local authorities called one of the most massive drone attacks at Zaporizhzhia overnight. At least nine Russian drones struck the city, damaging dozens of residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure, head of the regional administration, Ivan Fedorov, wrote on Telegram on Friday. There were no casualties, the official said. Overall, Russia fired 116 long-range drones at Ukraine last night, according to Ukraines Air Force, which said that 86 drones were intercepted, while 27 more have reached their targets. The Russian Defence Ministry reported on Friday that its air defences intercepted 64 Ukrainian drones overnight over multiple Russian regions. Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russias Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine, also accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out a missile strike on the city of Belgorod. Two women were taken to hospital with injuries, Mr Gladkov said. The strike shattered windows in multiple residential buildings and damaged an unspecified commercial facility and a number of cars, according to the official. US President Donald Trump on Friday said that if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, the United States of America will come to their rescue. "We are locked and loaded and ready to go," he said in a Truth Social post. This follows the deaths of several people as Iran's biggest protests in three years over economic hardship turned violent across multiple provinces. The clashes between protesters and security forces mark a significant escalation in the unrest that has spread across the country since shopkeepers began protesting on Sunday over the government's handling of a sharp currency slide and rapidly rising prices. Iran's economy has struggled for years since the US reimposed sanctions in 2018, after Trump withdrew from an international nuclear agreement during his first term. The US Justice Department said on Friday it thwarted an alleged plan by a North Carolina man to carry out an Isis-inspired attack using knives and hammers on New Years Eve. Christan Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill, North Carolina, was charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation, according to a Justice Department statement. Sturdivant has not yet entered a plea on the charges. FBI agents searching Sturdivants home found a handwritten document titled New Years Attack 2026, which allegedly discussed plans to stab up to 20 victims and attack responding police officers, according to the statement. A grandmother and her five-year-old grandson burned to death in Gaza when their tent caught fire, as thousands of Palestinians battle harrowing winter conditions in flimsy makeshift housing and the humanitarian crisis deepens. The nylon tent in Yarmouk caught fire on Thursday night from cooking activity, a neighbour said. As 2026 begins, the shaky 12-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely ended large-scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza. But Palestinians are still being killed almost daily by Israeli fire, and the humanitarian crisis shows no signs of abating. Over past weeks, cold winter rains have repeatedly lashed the sprawling tent cities, causing flooding, turning Gazas dirt roads into mud and causing buildings damaged in Israeli bombardment to collapse. The bodies of Amal Abu Al-Khair and her grandson, Saud, are transferred to hospital (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Unicef says at least six children have now died of weather-related causes, including a four-year-old who died in a building collapse. At least three children have died from hypothermia, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Aid groups say not enough shelter materials are getting into Gaza during the truce. Figures recently released by Israels military suggest it has not met the ceasefire stipulation of allowing 600 trucks of aid into Gaza a day, though Israel disputes that finding. Advertisement There is also concern that Israels recent suspension of more than three dozen international aid groups from operating in Gaza will make it even harder to get supplies such as tents in. Palestinians have long called for mobile homes and caravans to be allowed in to protect them against living in impractical and worn-out tents. In Yarmouk people live in nylon tents near a rubbish dump. Magdi Abu Al-Khair with the body of his mother, Amal Abu Al-Khair, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Ashraf al-Suwair said he woke up to the sound of screaming. He said the nylon is like fuel, easy to ignite. We need a good place that suits the people and the children of Gaza, instead of burning to death, he said. On Friday the foreign ministers of Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, expressed concern about Gazas deteriorating humanitarian situation. The situation has been compounded by the continued lack of sufficient humanitarian access, acute shortages of essential life-saving supplies, and the slow pace of the entry of essential materials, said the joint statement. Advertisement Also on Friday, American actor and film producer Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The only crossing between the territory and a country other than Israel, it remains closed despite Palestinian requests to reopen it to people and aid. Angelina Jolie greets Red Crescent workers during her visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza (Mohamed Arafat/AP) Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began, 414 people have been killed and 1,142 wounded in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry. The overall Palestinian death toll from the war is at least 71,266. The ministry, which does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its count, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community. The Israel-Hamas war began with the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on October 7 2023 that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, Meanwhile, Israel continues operating in the occupied West Bank. On Friday, the Palestinian Prisoners media office said Israel carried out wide-scale raids across the territory including Ramallah and Hebron. Nearly 50 people were detained. Israels military said there were arrests made of people involved in terrorist activity. This follows the arrest of at least 50 other Palestinians on Thursday. Most of those occurred in the Ramallah area. The Palestinian Prisoners Society says that Israel has arrested 7,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem this year, and 21,000 since the war began. The number arrested from Gaza is not made public by Israel. Advertisement Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Chariot MOU eyes 200ktpa Nigeria lithium offtake to China Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Doug Bright January 2, 2026 1:20pm 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 Chariot Resources Limited has executed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shanghai GreatPower Nickel & Cobalt Materials Co. Ltd., a prominent China-based battery materials producer, to explore collaboration across its prospective Nigerian lithium portfolio. The MOU outlines potential offtake for up to 200,000 tonnes per annum of spodumene concentrate the principal ore of lithium - from one of Chariots four Nigerian projects and included options for development financing, credit lines, and offtake prepayments to accelerate exploration and production. Earth moving equipment being used for artisanal mining activities at the Fonlo project in Nigeria. The parties will also evaluate the possibility of building a lithium processing facility in Nigeria to upgrade run-of-mine ore into concentrate onsite, potentially incorporating sustainable practices such as electric mining equipment and solar-plus-storage microgrids for site power. Shanghai GreatPower operates multiple facilities in China producing battery-grade materials including lithium carbonate, bringing significant technical and supply chain expertise to the partnership. The companys major customers include LG Energy Solution, a battery company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea which holds a 4.02 per cent stake in GreatPower. Advertisement The involvement of Shanghai GreatPower provides a strong endorsement of our strategy. Chariot Resources executive chairman and managing director Shanthar Pathmanathan Other Shanghai GreatPower customers include Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL), the worlds leading Chinese manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS), alongside BMW and Samsung. Key offtake terms contained in the MOU contemplate initial direct shipping ore (DSO) deliveries to a collection point at Sagamu, Nigeria, transitioning to long-term priority supply of spodumene concentrate, priced against international benchmarks for 5.56.0 per cent lithium oxide. Chariot Resources executive chairman and managing director Shanthar Pathmanathan said: Chariot, alongside our Nigerian partner, Continental Lithium Limited, is pleased to be in discussions with Shanghai GreatPower, a world-class battery materials company. As the first publicly listed lithium company operating in Nigeria, Chariot holds a significant early-mover advantage in this emerging region. Any subsequent binding agreements remain subject to further negotiation, due diligence and critically completion of Chariots acquisition of the Nigerian assets. Advertisement As updated in Chariots 3 December 2025 ASX announcement, the company has executed a variation to its share sale agreement with Continental Lithium Limited, strengthening exclusivity protections, refining conditions precedent - including full license transfers to the duos joint venture entity C&C Minerals - and extending the end date to 5 May 2026. Chariot has advanced US$379,195 (A$566,584) as a convertible loan to facilitate license transfers and closing costs, backed by Continentals guarantee. Completion is targeted for Q1 2026. The MOU is non-exclusive initially but provides for a 90-day exclusivity period upon GreatPower selecting a priority project. It can be terminated on 30 days notice or upon signing definitive agreements. This strategic tie-up underscores Nigerias emerging role in the global lithium supply chain, linking Chariots high-grade, near-surface pegmatite projects at the Fonlo, Iganna, Saki, and Gbugbu prospects with downstream Chinese EV battery demand. While non-binding and contingent on finalising the property acquisitions, the partnership could provide vital funding and offtake security to fast-track development. Advertisement Chariot continues to advance its dual-track strategy in Nigeria which revolves around pursuing early small-scale mining revenues while progressively ramping-up towards larger-scale production, complemented by its core lithium assets in the US. With the acquisition progressing and the new MOU adding momentum, 2026 is already shaping up as a pivotal year for Chariots African lithium ambitions. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Bulls N' Bears Sharemarket Shares Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Save this video for later Add videos to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it People killed in Swiss Alps bar fire on New Year's Eve Police say many people have been killed in a blaze at a bar in the Alpine ski resort municipality of Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Advertisement NationalVictoriaCrime A strangled man and failed pregnancy plot: The tragic tale of the last woman hanged in Australia Marta Pascual Juanola January 2, 2026 2:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Warning: This story contains graphic details. In the still air of a Melbourne courtroom, Jean Lee collapsed into the arms of the man who had betrayed her her lover, her Bobby, and now, her accomplice a hothead petty criminal called Robert Clayton. It was March 1950, and Lee, Clayton and his army buddy, Norman Andrews, were on trial over the murder of William Pop Kent, an elderly bookie the group had met briefly during a drinking bender four months earlier. Jean Lee became the last woman in Australia to be sent to the gallows. Marija Ercegovac Kent had been found dead inside his room, so badly battered his nose was completely flattened and two of his teeth had come loose. His thumbs had been tied with a piece of boot lace, and a sheet tied around his neck. He had been strangled with such force his Adams apple had been crushed on both sides. Advertisement The 73-year-old, who had a habit of flaunting wads of cash at the pub, had last been seen drinking with Lee, Clayton and Andrews at the University Hotel in Carlton, and later sipping wine and smoking cigarettes with the trio at his Dorrit Street home in the evening of November 7, 1949. A jury panel of 12 men took less than three hours to reach a verdict. Lee, Clayton and Andrews, who were short on cash after blowing their money partying and at the horse races, were found guilty of murdering Kent during what police claimed was a botched robbery. They would be sentenced to death. Struggling to stand, an inconsolable Lee issued one final plea for mercy from the dock: I didnt do it, I didnt do it. The courtroom then erupted into shambolic scenes. May your next feed choke you, you swine, Clayton yelled before spitting at the jurors and being removed. Advertisement On February 19, 1951, Lee, a young mother from Dubbo, became the first woman in 56 years to be hanged in Victoria, and the last in Australias history. Records about her case and execution at Pentridge Prison were made public by the Public Record Office of Victoria for the first time this week, after remaining sealed for 75 years. The documents, which span more than 500 pages and have been examined by this masthead, include photographs, letters, newspaper clippings, wills, and court records relating to the case. They expose instances where the evidence was potentially compromised and legal discussions behind closed doors about whether a police statement should have been admitted. Advertisement The records also highlight lingering doubts about Lees role in the murder, and controversial interrogation techniques by detectives at the time, who questioned the trio without giving them a caution and shared Claytons statement with Lee and Andrews to elicit a confession. And they call women the weaker sex Inside an interrogation room at the old police headquarters on Russell Street on November 8, 1949, Lee remained staunch she would not answer questions. Police had been trying to get a confession for hours after arresting the trio as they were returning to their hotel on Spencer Street that morning. Lee and Clayton, who had extensive criminal records spanning more than 32 offences between them, had come to Melbourne from Sydney a few weeks earlier. They met Andrews, Claytons buddy, at the Werribee races and became inseparable. Advertisement Hanging her head, Jean Lee is led into the Melbourne Court. Fairfax Media I am not saying anything, Lee told detectives over and over again. Then, a break came in the interview room next door. Are you fair dinkum when you say that the chap is dead? Clayton asked detectives. If what you say is right, I will tell you all I know. I am not going to take the rap for what others do. Clayton said the group had headed to Carlton so that a cash-strapped Andrews could pawn his suit, and ended up drinking at the University Hotel in the afternoon. Advertisement There, Lee struck up a conversation with Kent. After the pub closed, the bookmaker invited them to his place. Later that evening, Lee told Clayton that Kent had money stashed in his fob pocket, but that his belly was too tight. If she could not get it the sweet way, they would do him over. Clayton told police: When I left the room, Norman and Jean were still with Pop. I am completely innocent of any attack made on this old man. The officers marched into Lees interrogation room and showed her Claytons statement. Lee, who had been adamant her lover would not talk, asked the detectives to bring him over. So you made a four-page statement did you? she asked Clayton. Advertisement Clayton replied he had, and broke down in tears. And they call women the weaker sex, Lee snapped. After Clayton was removed, Lee turned to the detectives and confessed. I love Bobby and I still love him, but if he wants it that way he can have it, she said. Lee said she had lost her temper and hit Kent in the head with a bottle and a piece of wood before tying his arms with a piece of sheet. I knew he was dead when we left him. Advertisement Asked by police what she meant by we, she hesitated. There was only me, she said. Her confession would be a miscalculation. When Lee was found guilty, no woman had been hanged in Victoria for more than half a century. Lees case file shows an anti-capital punishment movement was brewing. Advocates wrote to authorities asking for the trio to be spared the death penalty, which one described as murder by rope. One man even expressed plans to raise donations to fund the trios appeal. Advertisement After the execution, people wrote to newspapers condemning the decision, and called for capital punishment to be abolished. This latest execution was a very sordid thing for a civilised country belonging to the dark ages, one letter read. Reporting by The Argus newspaper at the time suggests the decision by the state cabinet to stand by the execution had sensational political implications, with Labor and some Liberals opposed to Lees hanging. By taking the blame for Kents murder, Lee perhaps erroneously assumed that she would be spared the death penalty and save Clayton and Andrews in the process. Forensic evidence presented during the trial showed Kents killer would have needed to use considerable force to strangle him, which police admitted that Lee with her little hands was unlikely to have. The judge even told the jury that Lees confession was obviously concocted and that nobody in his senses would believe that. Lee tried to walk back on her confession, telling the jury that she was hysterical after reading Claytons statement and admitted to the killing to get some peace and quiet. Clayton also told the court his statement was concocted, and he did not think it would throw Lee and Andrews under the bus because they were all innocent. Advertisement In the witness box, Lee, Clayton and Andrews claimed Kent had been in good health when they left his home at 7pm. Blood stains on their clothes and wounds to their hands had alternative explanations, they claimed. Attempts by the defence to get the statement and Lees confessions thrown out on the basis they had been improperly obtained failed, despite the trial judge conceding evidence had been obtained in an undesirable way. The trial was also marred by other issues that would be unacceptable in todays justice system, including the fact that the evidence of two key witnesses in the case a man and a woman living with Kent at the time of the murder that placed the trio in the home was potentially contaminated by allowing them to talk to one another and change their version of events. Lee, Clayton and Andrews appealed against their conviction and were granted a retrial. After the win, Lee and Clayton hugged and kissed in the dock. However, the Crown later appealed against the ruling and got the death penalty reinstated. Subsequent attempts by the trio to appeal against the High Court decision in the Privy Council in England failed. Advertisement The final Hail Mary One minute after 8am on a drizzly February morning in 1951, Lee was hanged from the first floor of a corridor at Pentridge prison. An ingenious scheme by Clayton to bribe prison guards to allow him to spend half an hour with his lover so they could claim Lee was pregnant and save her from the gallows failed. Police cordoned off the roads leading to the side entrance to the prison, while about 30 officers remained stationed inside its walls, ready to jump at any sign of a disturbance. A handful of people gathered outside. Seven journalists were invited to witness the executions by Victorian authorities who believed the publicity would deter potential murderers. A criminal will respect the rope where he yawns at a gaol term, the since-defunct newspaper Truth wrote at the time of the execution. Advertisement A seemingly unconscious Lee, who had been given a sedative the night before to help her sleep, had to be carried from her cell to the gallows by the executioner and his assistant, who had their faces obscured by large steel-rimmed goggles and felt hats. Lees limp body was sat on a chair placed atop the trapdoor. Her head and shoulders were covered by a white hood. Her hands and ankles were bound. Editor's pick Trade unions Fake names and a $2m transfer: How the CFMEUs forerunner did business in the 1980s Then, the door opened and Lee plunged to her death behind a brown curtain. Bells tolled to mark the execution, but the sound was drowned out by the roar of planes passing overhead. Advertisement Clayton and Andrews were hanged together two hours later. They exchanged one final farewell above the trap door. Goodbye Charlie, Clayton said. Goodbye Robert, Andrews replied. That afternoon, they were buried in sodden graves that had been dug by fellow prisoners. As a 1950 assessment of the trio put it: It is doubtful they would cold-bloodedly plan a murder and go through to it, but in this case, they saw a heaven-sent opportunity to replenish their empty pockets by robbing a sucker. Fascinating answers to perplexing questions delivered to your inbox every week. Sign up to get our new Explainer newsletter here. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley refers to the USSR In a slip of the tongue, the opposition leader said Ukraine was illegally occupied by the USSR, which was formally dissolved over 34 years ago. Advertisement InspirationWestern Australia My dolphin swim overseas was horrible. I tried it again in Australia Craig Platt January 3, 2026 4:00am 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 It was 2016, and I was staying at a luxury hotel in Mauritius when one of the local experiences caught my eye swimming with wild dolphins. It sounded great, so I signed up and, early the next morning, a small boat took my partner and me on the short journey to the local bay where the animals resided. But upon arrival, I was dismayed to see the bay crowded with dozens of other boats, all packed with tourists aiming to do the same thing we were. What followed was a disturbing experience where the boats would locate the pod, rush to get ahead of it and the tourists would jump in the water, en masse, and attempt to get close. Then they would all climb back into the boats, overtake the dolphins again and the same thing was repeated. It wasnt pleasant for me or, as far as I could tell, for the dolphins. Boarding the boat in Rockingham, near Perth. Tourism Australia Back in Australia, Ive decided to give dolphin swimming another shot. This time its going to be different. Im in Perth and heading to Shoalwater Bay at Rockingham, about 45 minutes south of the city. Here just one operator, Perth Wildlife Encounters, is licensed to run dolphin swims. Its a bright, sunny morning as I join a group of other visitors heading down the nearby jetty, where our transport awaits for our 8am departure. Advertisement Perth Wildlife Encounters story begins in 1989, when founder Terry Howson, at just 23, became interested in Rockinghams local pod, swimming with them off his familys small boat. Over time, the dolphins grew more interested in Howson, and eventually he began sharing his experience with others. Since then, the business has won numerous tourism awards and grown to include other wildlife experiences in the area. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Ready to enter the water. Tourism Australia We float in two groups, towed by guides using aqua scooters. But the main attraction remains the dolphins. Soon were on board, fitted with wetsuits and receiving a briefing. Though theres no guarantee well find the dolphins, our guide, Jackson, is confident theyre here, somewhere. They live in a fission-fusion society, were told, meaning pod structures are not permanent groups separate, merge, and then separate again regularly. It doesnt take long before a small pod is spotted. But after closely observing them through binoculars, Jackson determines theyre feeding and doesnt want to disturb them. Already the contrast with my previous swim experience is apparent. Advertisement The key, were told, is not to chase them, but for the dolphins to come to us. The animals make the choice. Sure enough, a few minutes later, another pod is spotted and some break away, heading towards our boat. Were split into four groups, colour-coded by the straps on our wetsuits. Within each group, were given a number that determines the order well get in the water. To keep the situation controlled, were instructed to hold on to the strap of the person in front and simply float. The leader of our group, one of the crew, will use an aqua scooter to tow us along in a chain. The dolphins are curious and playful. After the swim, the dolphins ride the wake of the boat. Tourism Australia My turn arrives. Snorkel and flippers on, I gently jump into the water, following the person in front. As it happens, we dont really need the flippers or the scooters tow. We arent chasing anyone. The dolphins swim around and under us, interacting with another crew member who dives deeper under the water using another scooter. The animals look like theyre having as much fun as we are, clicking, blowing bubbles and twisting under the water. Advertisement Our group gets in and out several times, with our leader changing the order so everyone gets a turn near the front. After our fill of swimming, we fill up on lunch with sandwiches, fruit, salad and antipasto served on board. Related Article Adventure holidays The top 10 destinations for adventurous travellers in 2026 We may be done with the dolphins, but they arent done with us. The captain revs the engine to speed up and a dozen or so chase after us, riding our wake. We watch with delight as they surf the waves behind us, leaping into the air and occasionally flipping onto their sides to create a large splash. Its a lesson that engaging in animal tourism responsibly is possible, provided the animals are respected. They can even enjoy it. The details Advertisement The dolphin swim operates daily, weather and minimum bookings permitting. It costs $299 per person if you meet the boat in Rockingham at 8am. Transfers from Perth can be arranged at extra cost. The dolphin swim is closed over winter, but wildlife cruises still operate. See dolphins.com.au The writer travelled as a guest of Tourism WA. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Western Australia Animals Tourism Wildlife Perth Adventure holidays Craig Platt is the digital editor of Traveller and has had responsibility for the travel content on the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and WAtoday digital products since 2007. He has worked in journalism for more than 25 years. Craig has a strong interest in aviation and airlines, as well as wildlife tourism and (increasingly) family travel. He has visited every continent, including once visiting six of the seven in a single year (he missed Africa). Traveller Guides Advertisement Travel newsTraveller letters We found an airline that has solved the carry-on bag space battle Each week Traveller publishes a selection of rants, raves and travel tips from our readers. See below on how you can contribute. January 3, 2026 4:00am 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 Loading zone On a recent seven-week trip to Europe and the Balkans, we flew twice with Croatia Airlines and were amazed by their simple solution to an issue that is becoming increasingly frustrating for travellers. Croatia Airlines has found a solution to fight for overhead bin space for carry-on luggage. iStock Before mounting the stairs to the plane, passengers with small carry-on cases were directed to place them on a trolley. This was then loaded into the bottom of the plane for the journey. Once we reached our destination, the trolley was unloaded and positioned at the bottom of the stairs, allowing passengers to quickly retrieve their case and walk through arrivals without the need to wait for checked-in luggage. The result a much faster boarding process, overhead bins that had plenty of space for smaller bags, and coats that werent crushed by small suitcases. Mary Alexander, Camperdown, Vic Letter of the week: Idyll time Advertisement Leonard Cohen, the Canadian singer and poet, lived on Hydra, one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, in the 1960s. Getty Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. My heart skipped a beat as I read Lee Tullochs piece about the Greek island of Hydra (Traveller, December 6). We, too, fell in love with this Bohemian paradise, retracing former resident Leonard Cohens footsteps by seeking out restaurants, bars and beaches where he once searched for inspiration and love. One day, as we rested in the shade of a tiny church, the caretaker unlocked the wooden doors and gestured for us to explore inside. When leaving, he picked a bunch of rosemary for me. Get lost as you walk Hydra and youll feel its magic. Roxanne Le Blanc, Croydon, Vic Poorly handled During a recent two-week overseas trip flying with Singapore Airlines my bag did not arrive at my final destination. I received no proactive contact from their customer service staff or the baggage office handling the case for a full week, and then more silence until after I returned home. Despite repeated promises of daily updates, I was left in the dark and spent hours on hold, sending emails, and chasing answers. I was ultimately forced to contact third-party ground handlers in Singapore and Brisbane myself to even learn where my bag was last scanned and whether a search was ongoing. Instead of meaningful communication or evidence of an active search, I was repeatedly pushed to submit a compensation claim, so the case could be closed. As of the time of writing, the bag has still not been found, five weeks later. For a brand that positions itself as a premium airline, this experience felt anything but. Hannah Crosby, Herston, Qld Doona donts Advertisement Regarding your annual underrated and overrated travel list (Traveller, December 13), whoever is responsible for starting the trend of doona-only bedding needs to spend eternity in the fires of hell because thats where I often thought I was on a recent trip to Europe. It was like revisiting the days before I was given HRT, as I threw the doona off, then pulled it up again as I got too cold, then threw it off. After a number of sleepless nights I simply pulled the offending quilt out of its cover and turned it into an often uncomfortable top sheet. Next time I travel Im taking mine with me. Debra Miniutti, Ashbury, NSW Eyres and graces An aerial view of the vast expanse of Kati ThandaLake Eyre in South Australias far north. Getty My suggestion for an underrated travel experience is to take a tour to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, South Australia, and ensure it includes two things. Firstly, a flight over the lake to fully appreciate its magnificence and vastness. Secondly, ensure the tour stops at Nilpena Ediacara National Park in the Flinders Ranges. Its where Ediacaran fossils have been found which date back around 550 million years. It is truly awe-inspiring, having travelled there in October this year with Lake Eyre Tours. Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay, NSW Missing in inaction Advertisement Japans iconic Mount Fuji provides a spectacular backdrop to Terminal 3 at Tokyos popular Haneda Airport (also known as Tokyo International Airport). Getty Thank you, David Rymer, for your remarks about Virgin Australias reluctance to credit points from partner airlines (Traveller Letters, December 20). We had a similar experience after flying business class with Virgin partner airline ANA to Tokyo return in June this year. While my points were finally credited after months of delay, Virgin refuses to accept that my husband also flew with me on those flights. Thats despite the production of airline itineraries, e-ticket numbers and boarding passes as well an excuse that his name was incorrect, which is not true. ANA insists it is a matter for Virgin Australia. When frequent flyer members choose to fly a particular airline because of its partner benefits, surely it is false advertising if those partner benefits are not forthcoming. After six months we are still waiting for Velocity to credit the missing points. Lindy Ross, Pialligo ACT Pour service I recently flew Qantas economy return from Sydney to Bangalore. The flight and service were fine, but the food was disappointing: stodgy, sloppy, bland and, a five out of 10, if that. On the return flight I ordered wine and was given a mini bottle with a paper cup. Seriously, a paper cup? Ive flown JAL many times recently and their economy food is vastly better, and at least wine is served in a proper (even if plastic) glass. Ive heard similar feedback from others regarding Qantas economy food. Qantas really needs to do better for its economy passengers. Simone Kaiser, Mona Vale. NSW Waste of time Advertisement As if massive fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions werent enough, we are now reminded by Amy Hiller (Traveller Letters, December 6) that another unwanted by-product of our lust for travel is cabin waste and leftover food. While the suggestion of redistribution of leftover airline meals is laudable, even if the logistics could be overcome, I have a feeling that individual countries quarantine laws relating to importation of fresh food and fruit for example, would probably make any such plan unworkable. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW Tall tale Matt Peacocks suggestion that plane seats be designated reclining or non-reclining (Traveller Letters, December 13) sounds like a dangerous invitation for airlines to charge, yet again, extra for something that was once a basic and universal human right. I would like the preferred seat to actually be one that reclines, or a seat behind one that doesnt recline. As a tall person, my concern is often not so much being able to lean back, but ensuring that my precious patellas, already pressed up against the seat in front, arent completely crushed as the passenger in that seat decides its time for a snooze. Ross Duncan, Potts Point, NSW Push for trolleys Why cant our international airports provide free small trolleys for the use of passengers in the departure areas, as many overseas airports do? Its often a long walk to a departure gate, and, besides, carrying an already heavy backpack or bag, especially for elderly travellers or those with children, is a severe disincentive for browsing the multiple shops that the airport owners would clearly like us to visit. Catherine Rossiter, Fadden, ACT Advertisement The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three Lonely Planet travel books. See shop.lonelyplanet.com Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Traveller letters For subscribers SARAH Doyle of Colaiste Lorcain, Castledermot, was presented with the prestigious Papal Cross Award during a ceremony in the Church of the Assumption recently. The Papal Cross is the highest accolade within the Pope John Paul II Award programme, which encourages young people to engage actively in their parish and community. Sarahs commitment to her parish began in fifth class in primary school when she was an altar server and assisted with church dutiesa tradition she continues to uphold alongside her grandparents, who serve as sacristans. Guided by teacher Marie Murphy, Sarah progressed through the John Paul II Award levels, earning a gold medal in transition year before achieving the Papal Cross for her continued service. Now in leaving cert year, Sarah is from Coolane, Castledermot and is the daughter of Clare and Robert Doyle. Sarah with her grandmother, Phyllis Doyle Sarah receiving her award from Fr Tom Kennedy Several fifth year students also received gold, silver and bronze John Paul II Awards on the day. Sarah expressed gratitude to Ms Murphy and Fr Tom Kennedy for their support. Although she has now stepped back from altar serving to focus on her leaving certificate exams, Sarah will remain involved in parish life as a reader and eucharistic minister. Sarah also contributed to the schools carol service by reading in the event. Deputy Principal Aodhagan OSuilleabhain said: Congratulations to Sarah on her outstanding achievement and to our wonderful fifth year students who received their awards. Thanks to Ms Murphy for the guidance she provided to the students throughout the process. A MAN serving time in prison did not get sentence extended despite being found guilty of possession with intent to supply cocaine, after discussing the merits of an Irish breakfast with the judge. Thomas Kavanagh (43), with an address at Ann Street, Prosperous was appearing in Naas District Court by videolink from prison where he is serving a two and a half years for an unrelated conviction. Sergeant Dave Hanrahan told the court how Kavanagh had been found at an address in Prosperous on 5 December, 2021 with 840 worth of cocaine and a further 955 in cash, which has already been forfeited to the State. He was also summoned for a hit and run in November 2021, at a time when he was disqualified from driving. Sgt Hanrahan told the court that Kavanagh had 64 previous convictions, 26 of them for road traffic offences, four for having no insurance, and three driving bans. What was his longest [ban]? asked Judge Desmond Zaidan. In 2011 he was disqualified for seven years, and in 2020 he was banned for six years, said the sergeant. Essentially, Mr Kavanagh is looking down the barrel of a two and a half year sentence, began his solicitor Tim Kennelly. But he is looking good and seems to have put on weight, he added. What are they feeding you? asked the judge. Oh, the best food! said Kavanagh. Do you get an Irish breakfast? asked Judge Zaidan. Weetabix is an Irish breakfast, declared Kavanagh. Changing the subject, Mr Kennelly reverted to his mitigation. My client has decided he has had enough of in and out of prison, he said. Im confident he will continue his clean living and contribute to society. Id plead with you judge, not to make this [sentence] consecutive, he asked. You told me you got two and a half years in the Circuit Court recently, said the judge Two and a half years is severe enough, so Ill sentence him to 20 months from today, he ruled. The judge has done you a great favour, giving you a year and 10 months [sic; its really a year and eight months] which will not add anything to your sentence, said Mr Kennelly. By Jonathan McCambridge, Press Association Plans are progressing to bring historical treasures across the Atlantic for an exhibition in Northern Ireland marking the regions unique contribution to the founding of the US. Gillian Doherty, a senior archivist at the Public Record Office (PRONI) in Belfast, recently travelled to Washington and Philadelphia to unearth some of the historical links with the ancient province of Ulster. This year will see celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Semiquincentennial Commission which gives Northern Ireland special status in recognition of its contribution to the foundation of the US. Ms Doherty said: There were so many people here from the old province of Ulster, who migrated there in the 17th and 18th and 19th centuries. We traditionally look at that Irish migration of being from the mid-1800s onwards and a lot of people here, we dont realise how influential the migrants from Ulster, those early settlers, were, particularly to the Declaration of Independence. During her trips to Washington, Ms Doherty researched the career of Charles Thomson, who left Maghera in Co Londonderry as a child in 1739 and became one of the key figures in the story of American independence. She said: He left here when he was only 10 years old with his family. His mother had passed away, his father passed away on the way over across the Atlantic. So, he arrived an orphan. He didnt want to be an apprentice blacksmith and ran away. Years later, he becomes secretary to that first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Hes synonymous with the drawing of the Great Seal of the United States. That first Congress, where all of those representatives come together from 13 colonies, which leads to the Declaration of Independence being signed, he was there every step of the way and he remains secretary for the whole 15 years of the Continental Congress. I spent a lot of time in the Library of Congress. They have a lot of Charles Thomsons personal papers there. The archivist also researched the life of John Dunlap, who emigrated from Co Tyrone and became a printer. He printed the first copy of the US Declaration of Independence and is one of only three names to appear on it. She also studied the life of Hercules Mulligan, who left Coleraine and worked as a tailor and spy during the American Revolutionary War. Ms Doherty said: He also was able to hear information, because he was supplying the British armies with uniforms, and that information he was able to feed back to George Washington and saved his life on two occasions, saved him from being captured. Gillian Doherty researched the lives of several figures from Ulster who emigrated to the US (Liam McBurney/PA) She added: It was interesting to see that the people who emigrated had the same struggles. Not everyone went over and became prosperous, not everyone lived the American dream. Ms Dohertys research will culminate in an exhibition in the atrium at PRONI which will run from June until November. She said: The purpose of going over was to source some of those documents and stories that could form part of that exhibition, to really reflect those important links and look at the real key people who played a role in that. So, what wed really like to do with the exhibition is to highlight that connection that people arent really aware of here. I mean, who really knows about Charles Thomson? We hold loads of documents here in PRONI which we would like to showcase and were really hoping to bring over some documents on international loan from some of those institutions that I visited. We havent done that before, so this will be a new venture for us, to have transatlantic documents. The archivist said it is hoped to bring to Belfast the original address from Mr Thomson telling George Washington in 1789 that he has been elected president. She said: I think it shows how important Charles Thomson was. The Library of Congress have the written address that he travels to Mount Vernon with and he reads out to George Washington to tell him hes been elected as president of the first president of the United States. So, watch this space. Ellen O'Donoghue The petrol bombing of a family home in north Dublin on New Year's Eve is linked to a previous incident at the same location, when a car was deliberately rammed into a house, investigating gardai believe. They are also reviewing other violent incidents, including house windows being broken, an assault, and a car ramming in Finglas, on suspicion that they are all part of the same campaign of violence over the past year, The Irish Times reported on Friday. Arsonists attacked the wrong house for the second time when they threw a petrol bomb into the property in Finglas at around 12.45am on Wednesday. Flames engulfed the three-storey property on Creston Avenue, Meakstown, Finglas, quickly, trapping two women in their 40s and 20s, and three children, a boy and two girls, inside. The youngest child was able to escape and raise the alarm, and the other family members were rescued by neighbours and firefighters. The eldest woman and the boy were left in serious condition in hospital, however. Garda sources told The Irish Times that the victims were lucky to be alive after quick-thinking neighbours saw the flames and began a rescue effort. According to The Irish Times, the person believed to be the arsonists' intended target lives in the Creston area and is linked to gangland criminals in Co Louth. He has been targeted by a Dublin crime gang in recent months as part of a feud. Attackers broke windows in Creston in one of the incidents last year, but, in the first case of mistaken identity, they wrongly targeted the family home that has now been gutted by fire. The Finglas petrol bombing comes just weeks after a firebombing linked to rival drugs gangs claimed the life of Tadgh Farrell (4) and his grand-aunt Mary Holt (60). Their home in Edenderry, Co Offaly, was targeted on December 6th in an apparent attempt to intimidate a man previously linked to the property. A woman was set on fire at her home in Clondalkin, Dublin, two weeks earlier, after she was sprayed with accelerant in another drug-related intimidation act. Though there were no fatal gangland shootings in 2025, for the first time in decades, gardai are becoming increasingly concerned about drug-related intimidation, The Irish Times report said. By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association The threats facing all of us have changed, the British ambassador to Ireland has said, as she declared London is very happy to partner on security issues in the Irish Sea and beyond. Kara Owen became the UK Ambassador to Ireland in September, months after Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a programme of co-operation as part of a desire to reset relations. She said she was really pleased to be taking on the job in the context of improved relations between the UK and Ireland following a turbulent post-Brexit period. Ms Owen said there was no doubt her predecessor Paul Johnston had a set of really tricky issues to navigate. In an interview with the Press Association, she said: But it was really great to see him be there for the summit in Liverpool in March last year, and that was the moment when, I think An Taoiseach and our Prime Minister really set their vision towards 2030. So coming in with such strong political shaping and priorities that have been given from the top level of our Government thats a really great way to start as ambassador. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin have set out their vision, Ms Owen said (Phil Noble/PA) Asked about her priorities for the role, Ms Owen said: What Im seeing is universities, cultural organisations, businesses that are really interested in collaborating with the UK. Many Irish businesses are interested in making their first internationalisation happen in the UK and whats brilliant is, you dont have to explain the whole of my country here. People are very well aware of what the strengths are of various regions within the UK, and theyre very well informed about where they might want to land so definitely, growth is a priority. Ms Owen said collaboration on infrastructure, energy and security issues were also key priorities. I think weve had a real reminder through Ukraine that the energy transition and the blessings that we have got across these islands, particularly with wind, offshore wind and onshore wind, put us in a position to be able to harness that for the security and the prosperity of our country. She said the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach had launched intensive work around infrastructure delivery. The threats that we are seeing to all of us have changed Kara Owen And something that came through really clearly as well, is around how we manage the seas that we both sit in, and that includes both how we use it for energy, but also maintenance of the environment, us understanding whats on the seabed, and also security issues. Asked if there was a perception that Ireland needed to be doing more on the security of the sea, Ms Owen said: The threats that we are seeing to all of us, have changed and so all countries are looking again to check that theyve got their security and defence in the right shape. And Ive thats been something Ive been really struck by since arriving, what the Irish-Irish debate around security and defence is, and how clear the Taoiseach has been and the Government has been about how they want to enhance defence spending and I think were very happy to be a partner. She added: Its not just about defence. Its actually about security of critical national infrastructure, its about cybersecurity, its about what we do in the maritime domain. Ms Owen also emphasised the links between the nations creative sectors which she said are worth huge amounts to our economy, but also make life richer. The ambassador is also learning Irish. She said: Its hard to describe how enriching that has been. As somebody thats been connected to Ireland for 20 years, the depth of understanding that Ive got through being able to tackle Gaeilge, Im just loving it. She added: When I started thinking about if I was going to pitch for this job, you know, what do I need to be thinking about? And so even sort of two years ago, I was starting to look at what the scene was in Ireland, what was new and fresh, and just the sort of explosion of the joy in the Irish language and how its popping up everywhere. And this vibe that you dont have to be perfect, but just use Gaeilge wherever you can mix it in with Bearla (English) if thats all you can do but just do it. Ms Owen said that when she met President Catherine Connolly, they spoke exclusively in Irish. She was incredibly kind and patient with me. At one moment I kind of lost a word, and she just waited until I found it again. And so I found that super encouraging. Middle Valley Church of God, located at 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson, announces that Pastor Mitch McClure will be preaching on Sunday, January 4, in the 10:30 a.m. service.His topic will be 'Assurance In Changing Times: Times, They Are A Changing!' The purpose of the sermon is to lead all Believers to know that God is interested in them and their life, paying attention to them. The changing times in our communities often create confusion in the life of Believers. God does not want His followers to be confused, but to be assured. . His purpose is to get us to the Father and redemption. All are welcome to participate. Each Sunday at 5:30 p.m. , the church conducts a Prayer Meeting. The Prayer Meeting is open to all who wish to participate and is designed to encourage prayer. Information on various methods of prayer will be shared with participants. The goal of this prayer meeting is to encourage Believers to seek God through prayer. All are welcome to participate. Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., an Interactive, Interesting, and Informative Bible Study will be held in the church auditorium. Alex Baker is currently leading this Bible study on the Book of Acts. All are welcome to participate. The goal of this Bible study is to encourage Believers to study the Bible and discuss with others, making the Scripture their guide. Middle Valley Church of God is a community focused church with various ministries in the Middle Valley area and in Cusuna, Honduras. The community is welcome to join in times of worship and community service. MVCOG has been ministering in the Middle Valley Community since 1946 from the same location. If you have questions, please contact the church office at 423.843.1539. All are welcome. Please note that MVCOG will make public announcements about dangerous road conditions and cancellations. Postings about cancellations will be made on the church Facebook page. Please look there for information. Could an electric vehicle travel from Seoul to Busan and back on a single charge? Could drivers stop worrying about battery performance even in winter? A Korean research team has taken a major step toward answering these questions by developing an anode-free lithium metal battery that can deliver nearly double driving range using the same battery volume. A joint research team led by Professor Soojin Park and Dr. Dong-Yeob Han of the Department of Chemistry at POSTECH, together with Professor Nam-Soon Choi and Dr. Saehun Kim of KAIST, and Professor Tae Kyung Lee and researcher Junsu Son of Gyeongsang National University, has successfully achieved a volumetric energy density of 1,270 Wh/L in an anode-free lithium metal battery. This value is nearly twice that of current lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, which typically deliver around 650 Wh/L. The achievement was published as a Front Cover article in Advanced Materials. An anode-free lithium metal battery eliminates the conventional anode altogether. Instead, lithium ions stored in the cathode move during charging and deposit directly onto a copper current collector. By removing unnecessary components, more internal space can be devoted to energy storage, much like fitting more fuel into the same-sized tank. However, this design comes with serious challenges. If lithium deposits unevenly, sharp needle-like structures known as dendrites can form, increasing the risk of short circuits and potential safety hazards. Repeated charging and discharging can also damage the lithium surface, rapidly shortening battery life. To address these issues, the research team adopted a dual strategy combining a Reversible Host (RH) and a Designed Electrolyte (DEL). The reversible host consists of a polymer framework embedded with uniformly distributed silver (Ag) nanoparticles, guiding lithium to deposit in designated locations rather than randomly. In simple terms, it acts like a dedicated parking lot for lithium, ensuring ordered and uniform deposition. The designed electrolyte further enhances stability by forming a thin but robust protective layer composed of LiO and LiN on the lithium surface. This layer functions like a bandage on skin, preventing harmful dendrite growth while maintaining open pathways for lithium ions transport. When combined, the RHDEL system delivered outstanding performance. Under high areal capacity (4.6 mAh cm) and current density (2.3 mA cm), the battery retained 81.9% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles and achieved an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.6%. These results enabled the team to reach the record-breaking 1,270 Wh/L volumetric energy density in anode-free lithium metal batteries. Importantly, this performance was validated not only in small laboratory cells but also in pouch-type batteries, which are closer to real-world electric vehicle applications. Even with a minimal amount of electrolyte (E/C = 2.5 g Ah) and under low stack pressure (20 kPa), the batteries operated stably. This demonstrates strong potential for reducing battery weight and volume while lowering manufacturing burdens, significantly improving commercial viability. Home News Beloved 44-year-old pastor dies on New Year's Day after at-home accident A beloved West Virginia pastor died on New Years Day while working on his pickup truck at home in Putnam County. West Virginia South District Church of the Nazarene has announced the death of Pastor Sam Pierson of South Charleston Grace Church, who Mayor Scott Edwards says was trapped when his pickup truck fell on him Thursday evening. Pastor Sam faithfully served as the Lead Pastor of South Charleston Grace Church, and his sudden passing has deeply shaken all who knew and loved him, West Virginia South District Superintendent Rev. Bret Layton noted in a Facebook post Thursday night. Pierson, 44, is survived by his wife, Erin, and their two teenage daughters, Layla and Alex. Police officers, the fire department and EMS were dispatched to Piersons home in the town of Hurricane around 5 p.m., where the pastors life could not be saved, Edwards told WCHS. Layton has urged prayers for Gods peace, comfort, and sustaining presence for the Pierson family and others who were close to the pastor. As more information becomes available regarding arrangements and ways we can support the family and the church, we will share those details, he wrote. Thank you for standing together as a district family and lifting this dear family before the Lord. With deep sorrow and hope in Christ. Several churchgoers expressed sadness over Piersons unexpected death, offering remembrances of the pastor on social media. One person recalled that Pierson often smiled and was friendly with everyone, while others noted how close their families were to Pierson and his family. Abraham Williams, pastor of Fishcreek Nazarene Church in Stow, Ohio, described Pierson as an "incredible husband, father, pastor, and friend." "Years ago, I was deeply blessed to serve alongside him as he was my associate before he became the lead pastor at Grace Church of the Nazarene," Williams wrote on Facebook. "His faith, character, and heart for people left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him, including me." Pierson earned his degree from Nazarene Bible College in Colorado. He began working at South Charleston Grace Church in 2018. In addition to his pastoral work, Pierson ran the contracting company ProFix LLC, which provides commercial and residential property solutions, according to his Facebook page. His last social media post came on Dec. 23, stating how excited he was for the Christmas Eve services the next night with "Jesus at the center and families gathered together." "Christmas Eve is one of my favorite moments of the year. Its quiet, meaningful, and deeply personal," he wrote. "A time to slow down, worship together, share communion, sing carols, and remember the incredible gift of Christ who has done so much for us, is still at work in us, and promises to walk with us as we place our hope and faith in Him." Home News ISIS New Year's Eve attacks on churches, social gatherings foiled in Syria Syrias Interior Ministry says it thwarted a terror plot by the Islamic State to attack civilian gatherings and churches on New Years Eve and bolstered protections for houses of worship. The ministry said in a statement on Thursday that it had information that Islamic State jihadis were planning suicide operations and attacks targeting New Years celebrations in a number of governorates, particularly the city of Aleppo, by targeting churches and civilian gathering spots, reports AFP. A security officer was killed and two others were wounded by a suspected Islamic State terrorist in Aleppos Bab al-Faraj neighborhood after an officer became suspicious of the man, who then opened fire and blew himself up during an attempted arrest, the ministry stated. We took heightened security measures as part of a preemptive response, including strengthening protection around churches, deploying fixed and mobile patrols, and setting up checkpoints across the city, the ministry said, according to the Turkish state-run news outlet Anadolu Agency. The new Syrian government claims the actions of its agents played a large part in preventing a major terror attack on civilians. The government rose to power under the leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa following the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The foiled plot comes just months after Syria's Christian community suffered its deadliest attack since the 1860 Damascus Massacre, when over two dozen people were killed by a bombing at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus. Advocates say the June attack serves as a reminder of "Christianity's increasingly perilous existence in its ancient homeland." Sharaas administration has faced questions from rights advocates about how it will protect Christians and religious minorities, given the presidents previous leadership in al-Qaedas Syrian branch, Al-Nusra Front. Sharaa has since distanced himself from the group and has taken steps to align Syria with U.S. regional objectives. Syria joined the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State in November. The Islamic State is a radical Islamic jihadi organization that conquered large chunks of territory across Syria and Iraq in the mid-2010s before being militarily defeated by the U.S.-led coalition. Other chapters of the Islamic State have formed across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In areas under Islamic State control, thousands of religious minorities have been killed or forced into sexual slavery. Concerns emerged last year that Islamic State fighters were regrouping in Syria and Iraq by exploiting security gaps to launch attacks. Military sources sounded the alarm that the Islamic State was activating sleeper cells and bolstering recruiting amid reduced U.S. military presence in the region. In November, before Sharaas historic meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, Syrian security forces launched 61 raids nationwide in which 71 suspected Islamic State operatives were detained. Authorities in Germany say they also foiled a terror plot targeting civilians this holiday season, announcing the arrest of three Moroccans, an Egyptian and a Syrian with Islamist motives who wanted to attack a Christmas market in the Bavarian state, BBC reports. Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told the German newspaper Bild the "excellent cooperation between our security services" prevented "a potentially Islamist-motivated attack. In Turkey, authorities claim to have arrested 357 suspects tied to an operation against the Islamic State. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on a Turkish social media platform that raids were carried out in 21 provinces, according to Anadolu. Home News Mom takes case against school that secretly socially transitioned her daughter to Supreme Court A mother in Maine whose parental rights were usurped by school officials who gave her gender-confused daughter a chest binder and referred to her by using a male name and pronouns without her consent is taking her case to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a statement on Dec. 22, the Goldwater Institute announced that it was taking parent Amber Lavignes case against the Great Salt Bay Community School in Maine over its efforts to socially transition her teenage daughter behind her back to the U.S. Supreme Court. The development comes five months after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit rejected Lavignes petition. Lavignes legal battles against the Great Salt Bay Community School date back to December 2022, when the concerned parent found a chest binder in her then-13-year-old daughters bedroom. A chest binder is used to smash and flatten the breasts of trans-identified girls to make them appear as if they have a flat chest, like a boy. When she confronted her daughter about the binder, she learned that the school's social worker had provided it. Upon further investigation, Lavigne discovered that school officials had also secretly begun referring to her daughter by using male pronouns and a male name without her consent. The school district defended its actions and rebuffed allegations of wrongdoing, insisting in a December 2022 statement that it acted in accordance with requirements to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive educational environment for all students and staff by following specific policies and procedures under state law that seek to ensure equal access to students education and privacy rights. Lavigne filed a lawsuit against the school district in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine in April 2023. When the district court ruled against her, she appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Now that the appellate court rejected her case, the matter is going before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Goldwater Institutes petition for a writ of certiorari asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case argues that the school district violated Lavignes rights under the U.S. Constitution to direct the education and upbringing of her children. Not only does it not make sense, by keeping this information from Amber, the Great Salt Bay Community School violated the U.S. Constitution," Goldwater Institute attorney Adam Shelton said. We are asking the Supreme Court to step in and make it clear that parents like Amber have a right to know when public school officials make important decisions affecting the mental health and physical well-being of their children. In a video published at the time of her initial lawsuit in the district court, Lavigne elaborated on the concerns at the center of her complaint. This situation really is about my parental rights being violated, about a social worker who had never even had a conversation with me encouraging my child to keep secrets from me, to tell her ... Look, Im not going to tell your mom and you dont have to either, she asserted. I have three kids who need an education, and I would love to be able to send them to a public school, and in the current environment, Im not comfortable with that, Lavigne added. Our goal as parents is to ... raise amazing human beings who contribute to society, who care about other human beings. To be left out of such a life-altering decision ... it just doesnt even make sense, she lamented. As the Goldwater Institute noted in its statement announcing Lavignes petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, another petition from similarly situated parents is currently before the highest court in the land. Specifically, parents in Massachusetts are seeking relief at the U.S. Supreme Court after school district officials in Ludlow, Massachusetts, encouraged their middle school-aged daughter to identify as nonbinary and use male pronouns in addition to permitting her to use the boys bathroom at school without informing them. The lawsuit against the Great Salt Bay Community School comes as the U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into the Maine Department of Education last year over concerns about teachers and school counselors in Maine reportedly encouraging and helping students to undergo so-called gender transitions while keeping parents in the dark. Pending the outcome of the investigation, Maine could end up losing federal funding. Home News Anguished moms detail how gender ideology in schools threatens parents' rights, led to suicide WASHINGTON Mothers fighting back against gender ideology indoctrination in the public school system detailed the devastating harms it has had on their children and families. During a panel discussion at the Heritage Foundation Monday, scholar Jay Richards hosted three mothers who have been at the forefront of resisting this ideological push in the education system. Though their experiences were different, the mothers January Littlejohn of Florida, Abigail Martinez of California, and Nicole Solas from Rhode Island spoke of how school officials undermined their ability to parent and concealed from them what their children were being taught in the classroom. Solas, a mother of two who's also a senior fellow with Independent Womens Forum, said the teachers union in her state sued her because she had filed public records requests seeking information about the teaching of gender theory and critical race theory in schools. When Solas asked questions about how these theories were being taught, she was told that undefined common practices were being used. One such common practice was that educators were told not to refer to students as boys and girls or other gendered terms, and the values of gender identity were taught in the curriculum at an age-appropriate level. Unconvinced in light of the nebulous responses she received, Solas probed deeper and found that the school had, in 2017, a transgender and gender-expansive nondiscrimination policy. Under the banner of nondiscrimination, they are assisting students to transition genders and they do it without parental consent. And in the policy, they are very clear that parents are not included in this. This exclusion of parents is because parents are supposedly not safe with their children on this issue. But what safe means was also left undefined, she said. After realizing how much the school could do behind her back, Solas ultimately decided to remove her 5-year-old daughter from the school. She was particularly concerned about the indoctrination of students starting at a young age. The school had point teams in which a team of school officials would create a customized gender plan for students in each grade. Believing this to be illegal, Solas emailed the schools lawyers and cited Pierce v. Society Sisters, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling about legal parental consent. But then, of course, we got stonewalled, she said, adding that the teachers union is suing her. Solas subsequently filed an information request inquiring how many students were being secretly transitioned while at school without the knowledge or consent of their parents. The school replied that it could not provide that information because it was private. I just want the number. Is it 10? Is it 100? What is it? Solas recalled asking school administrators before they denied her request, citing student privacy and confidentiality. Solas said administrators also told her the information was "not in the publics interest. In her remarks, Littlejohn, a mother of three and a mental health counselor by training, noted that COVID-19 shutdowns exacerbated the already struggling mental health of many youths, and her daughter was no exception. Her daughter became confused about her sex soon after several girls in her friend group all suddenly started identifying as transgender. Littlejohn disclosed to the school that her daughter had been struggling and they had sought counseling for her. She mentioned that while they were not affirming the trans identity at home, they felt like they could not stop her from using a nickname while at school. What she didn't know at the time was that the teacher to whom she had disclosed this personal information was also an LGBT advocate. Behind her back, Littlejohn said the school initiated a meeting with her daughter to discuss which restroom she would prefer to use. School officials summarily told her that her daughter was protected under their nondiscrimination policy, and thus, they would not disclose to her parents what was discussed at that meeting. To say I was shocked was an understatement, the Florida mother said. After much back-and-forth communication, the Littlejohns learned that the school had socially transitioned their daughter. They had completed a six-page plan behind closed doors, with three school officials that included the vice principal, the guidance counselor, and a social worker I had never met, she said. In those six pages were questions about which restroom her daughter preferred to use, which sex she preferred to room with on overnight trips, and even asked which name the school should use when they spoke to her parents. Littlejohn ultimately discovered that teachers were referring to her daughter by a different name, while at the same time deceiving her and her husband by continuing to use their daughter's birth name in their communications with the school. They took away my ability to protect my daughter when they did this, she asserted. When parents are excluded from decisions about their child's health and well-being at school, it sends the message to their children that their parents input or authority is no longer needed. Littlejohn emphasized that similar policies and practices have been implemented in school districts nationwide. The Littlejohns have since filed a federal lawsuit against the school district, the superintendent and the assistant superintendent. These types of parental [rights] violations must stop," she declared. "We have to hold schools accountable when they break the law. The third mother to share her story did so publicly for the first time. Her harrowing account led many in the audience to burst out in tears. Martinez, who has lived in California since she was 18, when her family left El Salvador for opportunities in the U.S., recounted how LGBT activists at her daughters school, the medical establishment, and social services undermined her at every turn. All of these systems, she said, worked against her as she tried to help her daughter overcome her mental distress. Choking back tears, Martinez described how her daughter, Yaeli, started struggling with depression in the seventh and eighth grades. Schoolmates had been bullying her and telling her that she was ugly. When her daughter told her that she felt like she was a boy, the school counselor was involved, DCFS was involved, LGBT was in there, too, trying to help [with] the transition of my daughter. Martinez said she was accused of not opening her eyes and not knowing that her daughter had always been male. But she knew that wasnt true because her daughter had always been a girly-girl, was very artistic, and would like to dress up as a princess. The school principal made things worse, she said. School officials told social services that her daughter would be better off out of the house. Yaeli was removed from her mother's custody when she was 16, and was summarily placed in the state foster care system. Her daughter then started going by the name Andrew. I tried my best to get her back, going to court every single month. I never missed a court date because I wanted my daughter back, she said. When I went to court, I asked the judge to please let my daughter have a psych evaluation, she continued. But since her daughter's social worker said she needed to be affirmed as transgender, the judge denied Martinezs request. What hurt me the most was that I was told not to talk about God, she said. Talking about God, a social worker warned her, was going to make him feel uncomfortable, she said, as the social worker referred to her daughter as male. Because hes in danger of committing suicide. Martinez's voice faltered as she recalled how heartbreak she felt hearing her daughters voice changing due to the effects of testosterone. In September 2019, her daughter took her own life by standing on railroad tracks where an oncoming train struck her and killed her. Martinez learned that her daughter's body had been severed due to the impact, leaving police to recover parts of her daughters shattered body from the train tracks. Losing a child is so painful it hurts to breathe, she said in agony. I dont want this to happen to any other family, she said, wiping tears from her eyes. Following the panel, Richards added that Martinezs daughter, Yaeli, had been told that if parental custody was removed, the state would then pay for experimental transgender medical services, such as cross-sex hormones, which she later obtained at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, the location for one of the largest pediatric gender clinics in the country. Home News Parents sue Florida school district over colluding with daughter to change her gender identity Parents in Leon County, Florida, are suing the school district for holding a meeting with their teenage daughter about her chosen gender identity without their knowledge or consent. The parents have warned that the districts LGBT policies create a wedge between students and their parents. January and Jeffrey Littlejohn filed a lawsuit against the school board, Superintendent of Schools Rocky Hanna and Assistant Superintendent, Equity Officer and Title IX Compliance Coordinator Kathleen Rodgers in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on Oct. 18. In the lawsuit, the Littlejohns accuse the defendants of violating their substantive due process right to direct the education and upbringing of their children under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and other rights guaranteed to them by state and federal law by excluding them from a meeting with school officials discussing their 13-year-old daughters gender identity. Vernadette Broyles of the Child and Parental Rights Campaign, a legal organization created two-and-a-half years ago specifically to stand with and help parents who are in some way or the other seeking to protect the well-being of their child from gender identity ideology, is one of the attorneys representing the Littlejohns in the litigation. In an interview with The Christian Post, January Littlejohn and Broyles elaborated on the lawsuit and the events that led up to it. Littlejohn explained that her daughter, who is now a high school student, began undergoing treatment for gender confusion in the summer before the start of the 2020-21 school year. She attributed her daughters gender confusion to peer pressure from her friend group because three other children in that same friend group had come out as nonbinary or transgender within the previous six months. While Littlejohn told one of her daughters teachers at Deer Lake Middle School that she was seeking mental health counseling and she was experiencing distress that we werent affirming her at home because we didnt feel like it was in her best interest, she did not expect the school to begin referring to her daughter using they/them pronouns and give her the option to sleep in the same quarters as her male classmates on an overnight school field trip. Littlejohn only found out that the school had taken such action because her daughter revealed to her that shed had a meeting about her nickname, with the concerned parent telling CP that thats kind of what we refer to it as. She said her daughter then asked, isnt it funny that they asked me what restroom I wanted to use? My daughter has ADHD ... and so to her, this seemed like the silliest thing in the world that they asked her which restroom she preferred to use. That was my first indication that the school had met with her without notifying my husband or myself, she said. I immediately called her guidance counselor. The guidance counselor said she needed to call me back. She called me back with the assistant principal on the line. So right then and there, I knew something felt different about the situation because I had spoken to the guidance counselor multiple times in the past because of my daughters 504 plan for her ADHD. Littlejohn accused the school of colluding with my daughter to deceive us so that we would never have known she was going by an alternate name. The concerned mother also insisted that she absolutely should have been at that meeting and expressed disbelief that the school that she volunteered at did not partner with them. I was volunteer of the year at that school. It wasnt like I was an unknown parent. Littlejohn recalled the detrimental impact of the schools decision to hold meetings with her daughter about her gender identity confusion without her knowledge or consent, saying: It created a huge wedge between our daughter and us, as her parents. We have worked very hard over the past year-and-a-half to stabilize the situation through counseling, and I do feel like shes on a better path at this time. Broyles told CP that the purpose of the lawsuit was to get the school district to rescind the guidance that was in place that basically instructed school officials not to inform parents when a child begins to indicate a transgender or LGBTQ+ identity. The attorney expressed particular concern that the guidance implied that outing a student to their parents could be dangerous to a students well-being. Every time I think about this lawsuit, it really hits me: The district guidance had the message to parents that you dont have the best interests of your child in mind. It sends the message that children need to be protected from parents rather than by parents, and that is an earth-shattering message that cannot stand, Broyles asserted. Specifically, the guidance, part of the LCS Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Nonconforming and Questioning Support Guide, warned that Outing a student, especially to parents, can be very dangerous to the [students] health and well-being because some students are not able to be out at home because their parents are unaccepting of LGBTQ+ people out. The guidance maintains that as many as 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ+, many of whom have been rejected by their families for being LGBTQ+, suggesting that outing students to their parents can literally make them homeless. We are seeking that guidance to be permanently removed and replaced with new guidance that complies with the Parents Bill of Rights there in Florida as well as the Florida and United States Constitution that honors the parents right to make decisions for their children, Broyles added. Its really important to recognize that affirming a childs discordant gender identity involves a significant mental health decision that affects the well-being of children and with potentially lifelong consequences. The lawsuit, as summarized by Broyles, is asking the school district to implement new guidance requiring school officials to notify parents whenever their child expresses gender discordance, gender confusion, a different identity other than their physical, biological sex and new policies that provide public notice and a public hearing regarding the new guidance through the school board. Additionally, the Littlejohns are seeking some sort of monetary damages for the pain and suffering and the impacts this has had on their family. Broyles stressed that the situation facing the Littlejohns is not unique: This violation of parental rights is driving a wedge between parents and their children by school officials. It affects parents all throughout the political spectrum on both political parties or independents, whether its Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists, agnostics. Weve spoken to almost virtually every stripe of parent. The attorney maintained that the Child and Parental Rights Campaign is working on several similar cases: We hear almost weekly from parents who have something similar happening to them and their children. This same guidance I described to you is present on the websites of at least 11 other school districts throughout Florida, Broyles said. She further noted that the Transgender/Gender Nonconforming Student Support Plan included in the LCS Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Nonconforming and Questioning Support Guide is also on the ACLUs website. A lot of these documents are already out there and school boards, based on what Ive been told, simply adopt those and put their name on them, Broyles added. Thats why there seems to be the exact same guidance in multiple counties in the state of Florida and all over the country in all 50 states. Littlejohn told CP that shes aware of other parents in Leon County that have found themselves in the same situation as herself. A lot of the parents are really scared to speak out or they dont feel like they can speak out because it would jeopardize the very fragile relationship they have with their child whos experiencing distress related to their gender. She added that she speaks to other families almost weekly to try to help them understand the situation at hand and help them get resources. She also pushed back on the claim that the school was conducting a benign intervention: Its the first step toward medical transitioning, which is why it is so imperative that parents be included [in] any discussion with their child that could impact the short-term and long-term mental and physical well-being of their child, whether its this issue or any issue. So fundamentally, this is about parental rights and what the schools can and cannot do without their permission. Littlejohn emphasized that despite the harm this experience has caused to her and her family, its made our faith grow as Christians. She seconded Broyles assertion that this issue affects all kinds of families and people of all faiths including atheists. In the time since officials at Deer Lake Middle School first met with Littlejohns daughter to discuss her gender identity, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed the Parents Bill of Rights into law. The measure mandates that important information relating to a child should not be withheld, either inadvertently or purposely, from his or her parent, including information relating to the minor childs health, well-being, and education, while the minor child is in the custody of the school district. Additionally, the law directs school districts to work with parents, teachers and administrators to develop and adopt a policy to promote parental involvement in the public school system. Superintendent Hanna reacted to the Littlejohns lawsuit in a statement to news outlet WCTV: We certainly want to include parents, and with the Parental Bill of Rights, I understand and respect that, but we also have to respect the rights of the individuals, safety of the children we care for each and every day because while the children are under our care we act in loco parentis, on behalf of a parent while theyre under our care. The lawsuit follows a year of unsuccessful efforts to convince the school district to change its policy. Littlejohn insisted that We tried to do this without filing a lawsuit, which was never our intention. While the complaint mentions that the district removed the guide from the publicly accessible portion of its website, it alleges that the district did not comply with the Littlejohns request to publish on the Website a written statement that parents would be notified when their child/children express a discordant gender identity and included in meetings or discussions with their child/children regarding their gender identity. The complaint contends that there is no indication on the website or otherwise that the Guide has been rescinded, only a notation that it is being revised. Additionally, it states that no revised guidance regarding parental notification has been published or provided to Plaintiffs. The website of the Leon County Schools Equity and Diversity Department has a section devoted to the LCS LGBTQ+ Support Guide, which informs visitors that [the] Guide is currently being reviewed and is under revision. The lawsuit against Leon County Schools comes at a time when parents have expressed an increasing amount of unease with some of the material their children are exposed to in school. In recent weeks, outraged parents and community members in several states have descended on school board meetings to condemn the inclusion of sexually explicit material in books available to students in school libraries and writing prompts in a textbook used in a college-level English class. Home News Earl McClellan kicks off Passion 2026 warning against conference highs, points students to Christ alone Pastor Earl McClellan opened the first night of Passion Conference 2026, urging young Christians to place their expectations not in a conference or an emotional moment but in the transforming power of Jesus alone. Preaching from Luke 3 before tens of thousands of college-aged attendees gathered on New Year's Day at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, McClellan framed his sermon around the theme Fresh Fire. Spiritual endurance and repentance, he declared, are evidence of true and lasting faith rather than short-lived religious enthusiasm. We're glad that you came with expectation, but please do not put that expectation on us, McClellan, the founder and lead pastor of Shoreline City Church, said. We are not the ones that will be able to save. We are not the ones that will be able to fix. We are not the Messiahs in anybody's life." The three-day conference, running Thursday to Saturday, has drawn young adults ages 18 to 25 from across the world. Founded in 1995 by Louie and Shelley Giglio, the Passion movement was created to call students to live for what organizers describe as the name and renown of Jesus. Opening night began with worship led by Kristian Stanfill, followed by a prayer from Matt Chandler, who asked God to guide the gathering and work in the hearts of attendees over the coming days. McClellans sermon centered on Luke 3:1518, a passage describing people who were waiting expectantly and wondering whether John the Baptist might be the Messiah. While affirming their anticipation, McClellan said the crowd in the passage had misdirected their hope. They are coming with anticipation in their hearts, he said. They're coming with a yearning and a desire in their hearts. They are wondering, is this the Messiah? Is this the one that's going to get Rome off of our backs? Is this the one that takes away the shame and the problems and the difficulties that we've been navigating? Is this the one that's going to make everything right? Is this the one that is going to fix all the brokenness in the world? Is this the one that we've been waiting for? They thought that ... John would be the one to fix all the problems, that John would be the Messiah, that John would be the Savior. Good expectations, he added. Just wrong placement of those expectations." He applied the same warning to modern Christian gatherings, emphasizing that conferences, worship leaders and sermons can never replace faith in Christ himself. If the songs are just right, if the message is just right, we might think thats the thing that saves us, he said. But we are not the saviors. Were here to lift up one name and one name alone, and He is the only one that can save. His name is Jesus. Throughout the message, McClellan stressed Jesus' authority and power. He rejected portrayals of Christ as distant, weak or overwhelmed by human struggles, pointing to Colossians 1 and Revelation 22 to describe Him as creator, sustainer and redeemer. This is not a limping Jesus, he said. The Jesus we are talking about is not someone who is weak or anemic. The Jesus we are talking about is the Son of the living God. The Jesus that we are talking about is all-powerful. And you think He can get you out of the thing you're in. I promise you He can, because He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the son of the Almighty God. The pastor pointed to John the Baptists declaration that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire, contending that the image is often misunderstood or feared. In Scripture, he said, fire is consistently tied to purification, renewal and the good news of the Gospel. Using the example of threshing grain, McClellan described a process in which both useful and useless elements are gathered together before being separated. He likened that process to spiritual growth, saying God often uses discipline and hardship to refine believers. When were brought in, we have good stuff and bad stuff, he said. And Jesus brings all of it in. McClellan said many people assume God is absent during seasons of difficulty, but those moments are often central to spiritual formation. Do not quit when you feel like youre being stepped on, he said. Do not quit when you feel like youre being tossed in the air. Do not quit when you feel like you're going through the fire, because it's Jesus who was involved in that whole process to help you become the man or the woman that He called and destined for you to be. It's the process of sanctification. You being made holy, conformed to the image of Christ. Im thankful for the fire, he said. Im thankful God didnt leave me where I was. McClellan also addressed what he called cultural misunderstandings of Gods love, emphasizing that love does not mean endorsement of every behavior or choice. 'God loves you' does not mean remain how you are, he said, adding that grace invites transformation rather than complacency. God is bigger than every bit of darkness and sin and every weight that is on your shoulders, and the grace of Jesus is involved in the process to help you become the man or woman you've been called to be. Don't run from that, lean into it, saying, Jesus, baptize me in fire. Later in the sermon, McClellan connected the theme of fire to Old Testament passages like the burning bush in Exodus and Elijahs confrontation with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings. In those accounts, he said, fire symbolized Gods presence and power, drawing peoples hearts back to Him. In Exodus, he noted, the bush burned from within but was not consumed, an image he said points to faith that endures rather than burns out. This isnt a weekend high, McClellan said. This is a fire that burns from within, and it doesnt burn out. Quoting Hebrews 12 near the close of his message, McClellan reminded attendees that they are part of an unshakable kingdom, even when personal circumstances feel unstable. You and I are being invited into a story that's a whole lot bigger than us, he said. And you're not called to turn away in fear, but you are called to step fully into it. According to organizers, Passion 2026 was created to encourage long-term spiritual formation in young adults. Since its founding three decades ago, the Passion movement has expanded into a global network of events, worship music and campus outreach efforts aimed at young adults. Other speakers at Passion 2026 include Sadie Robertson Huff, Jonathan Pokluda, Craig Groeschel and others. Home News Bi-vocational pastor, real estate agent reinstated after $5K fine for 'hateful' comments on LGBT-themed coloring book Attorneys argued disciplinary action unlawful, linked to 'anti-Christian bias' After more than three years of legal disputes, a Montana real estate association has reinstated a bi-vocational pastor after disciplining him over comments he made about an LGBT-themed coloring book for children. The Missoula Organization of Realtors (MOR) agreed to rescind disciplinary actions against Pastor Brandon Huber after fining him $5,000 and limiting his access to critical real estate resources in 2022, attorneys with Christian legal organization Liberty Counsel announced Dec. 18. Huber, who worked as a realtor to support his ministry, announced in June 2020 on social media that his church at the time, Clinton Community Bible Church (CCBC) in Clinton, Montana, would no longer partner with a local food bank after it began distributing children's lunches that included LGBT pride materials, such as a coloring book page featuring LGBT-themed content. Huber explained that the materials promoted homosexuality in a way that contradicted the churchs religious beliefs and teachings about morality and sexuality. This past week we found printed material in the lunches that we were handing out, that went against our biblical doctrine, Hubert wrote in a July 2021 post. "After conversations with the food bank, we have found that our beliefs and that of the Missoula Food Bank do not align. Due to this, [the church] has decided to end our partnership with the Missoula Food Bank ..." According to court documents, Hubert clarified that the church staff love and support each and every one of you, no matter your background or where you are in life. As a church we strive to show the love of Jesus in all we do throughout this community, while standing up for biblical principles, biblical truths, and our beliefs. He also pointed to Scripture to defend the churchs decision to remove the coloring book materials, adding that they were promoting a lifestyle that is considered a sin in the Bible [and] goes against Gods word. He emphasized, however, that the church did not discriminate against people and will never treat them any different because of their choices in life. Following ethics complaints alleging hate speech and concerns that Huber's religious views might lead to bias against the LGBT community in real estate transactions, the MOR deemed Huber's religious speech hateful and harassing, and found it to be in violation of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Code of Ethics. As a result, the organization imposed a $5,000 fine, revoked his access to an essential multiple listing service (preventing him from effectively practicing as a realtor), and, in some accounts, required mandatory diversity training, which Huber declined. In July 2025, Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to the MOR and NAR alleging anti-Christian bias and stating that it is unlawful under the Fair Housing Act and Due Process Clause to discriminate against Hubers religious beliefs. As such, the discipline had no merit over religious speech made outside the scope of the real estate profession, attorneys said. Now, MOR has canceled the $5,000 fine assessed against Huber, waived his membership dues in both the MOR and NAR through 2027, and has reinstated his good standing. He is now back working in real estate. Huber, who now leads Freedom Bible Church in the Missoula Valley following a sabbatical in 2023, described the outcome as a victory for religious freedom. "This has been a long road," Huber said in a statement shared by his attorneys. "But I never gave up. This experience strengthened my resolve and reaffirmed the importance of standing firm in faith even under pressure. Im excited to begin the next chapter and help families buy and sell their homes. My perseverance through adversity is a powerful reminder that obedience to God often requires endurance, but it also produces fruit, he added. Home News Trump auctions off Jesus painting for $2.75M during NYE gala at Mar-a-Lago President Donald Trump auctioned off a painting of Jesus Christ for $2.75 million to benefit charity during a New Year's Eve bash at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. The proceeds from the painting which was painted live in 10 minutes by "Christian worship painter" Vanessa Horabuena will go to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and the local sheriff's office, Trump told attendees at the glitzy gala, where tickets to attend ran for $1,450, according to The Independent. "There's a young lady named Vanessa who's one of the greatest artists anywhere in the world," Trump said. "To me, she's one of the greatest. She's a speed painter, and she's a great painter, but I think she's one of the great living artists." Just a typical Wednesday night at Mar-a-Lago: prophetic painting, exalting Jesus, and holding a mini revival pic.twitter.com/WNYSL7yd0n Michael Wilkerson (@MW_Stormwall) January 1, 2026 Horabuena has visited the White House to showcase her art, which includes portraits of Trump, according to her blog. Last May, she personally delivered her painting "Prayers for our President" to the White House, which depicts Trump in prayer as he faces a cross atop a mountain. "This piece was created to reflect back to him the place he can always turn when he needs a word from God, a touch from Heaven, or wisdom from our Awesome Creator," she wrote. After Horabuena speedily painted the portrait of Jesus amid dramatic worshipful flourishes against the backdrop of praise music at Mar-a-Lago, Trump started the bidding at $100,000. The price quickly rose to $1 million thanks to an unidentified attendee whom Trump joked is "the biggest guy on Wall Street," for whom such a price is "peanuts." Other bids brought the price to $2.5 million, and then ultimately to $2.75 million, which prompted Trump to joke that the winner whom CNN identified as "a woman in a top hat" will have to file for bankruptcy. ???? JUST IN: AUCTIONEER President Trump at Mar-a-Lago for the painting of Jesus Christ, for charity and the sheriff " million, whoa! million. I'll sign it, if you'll give MORE!" ???? "Any other bids? .5 million! Going once? .75 million!" ".75M. Do I hear a M?" "Yes? pic.twitter.com/uCMYKjV5fi Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 1, 2026 Speed painting is an artistic technique in which the artist has a limited time to finish the work. The technique has grown in popularity in recent years, largely due to the rise of digital tools and online platforms. Despite a flurry of Truth Social posts earlier in the day attacking his political opponents, including Democratic Colorado Gov. Tim Polis and actor George Clooney, Trump was subdued when he arrived at the New Year's party, telling reporters that his resolution for the new year is "peace on Earth." During a speech at the event, Trump also pledged "to get to the bottom" of alleged widespread fraud at taxpayer-funded Somali daycares in Minnesota. "It was a giant scam," he said. "Other than that, we're going to have a great new year." Other attendees at the party included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani; Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem; House Republican Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.; Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani; and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. Home News Why do we make New Years resolutions? Here's how it started Instead of asking, 'What do I want to achieve this year?' Christians could instead ask, 'Who is God calling me to become this year?' The beginning of January is when many people traditionally resolve to start a new, though sometimes challenging, habit and embark on a transformational change in their lives. This is the story of that tradition The year A literal day is the time it takes for the planet to make a full rotation on its axis as it is in orbit around the sun. A literal year is the time it takes for the Earth to make a full rotation around the Sun. According to the Bible, the literal day and the literal year were created on the fourth day of creation, when God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years (Genesis 1:1419). Different planets have different days and different years. The planet Venus, which is closer to the sun, spins on its axis very slowly but spins around the sun quite quickly, so that its day is longer than its year. Different New Years You can start the year at any time. We speak of the academic year when schools and universities restart each September. We speak of the British financial year, which starts on April 6, or Old Lady Day, and the legal new year, which starts on Oct. 1. Different cultures and religions start the year at different times. Jewish New Year Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah, which means head of the year. It starts in early autumn on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, which usually falls in September. This does not seem to be the original new year, since Tishri is counted as the seventh month. One tradition is that it is the anniversary of the day when God created Adam and Eve. Rosh Hashanah starts with the blowing of the shofar, which is a rams horn used as a trumpet (Leviticus 23:24). Jewish families gather for meals with traditions like apples dipped in honey, symbolising the wish for a sweet year, and pomegranates, representing the hope for a year filled with charitable deeds. Rosh Hashanah then starts 10 days of repentance. Ancient beginnings An article in National Geographic on Dec. 27, 2024, explored the history of New Years resolutions. Long before the birth of Christ, ancient peoples used the turning of the year for promises and pledges. Babylonian records from around 4,000 years ago describe a New Year festival in which people pledged loyalty to their king and promised to repay debts and return borrowed items. In other words, a new year was already seen as a time to put things right and begin again. Roman New Year The tradition of starting the calendar on Jan. 1 is Roman. The Romans fixed the start of the year with a month dedicated to Janus, who was a god with two faces. One looked backwards and one looked forwards. The month dedicated to Janus gave us the name of the first month as January. Romans would make vows of good conduct and offer sacrifices, a kind of moral and spiritual fresh start at the threshold of a new year. The Romans called the first day of each month the Calends or Kalends, which is the origin of our word calendar. Ecclesiastical New Year Christians mark different ecclesiastical new years. The Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar starts on Sept. 1, and the Ethiopian New Year, called Enkutatash, starts on Sept. 11 or Sept. 12, if it is a leap year. For Catholics and Protestants, the liturgical new year starts on Advent Sunday, which is the end of November or the start of December. In Eastern Orthodox communities in parts of Eastern Europe that observe Christmas according to the Julian calendar, the Old New Year is marked on Jan. 14 in the Gregorian calendar, which is the equivalent of Jan. 1 on the Julian calendar. Lady Day as New Years Day In mediaeval Europe, dominated by the Catholic Church, the Feast of the Annunciation, or Lady Day on March 25, was widely adopted as New Years Day. After the Norman Conquest, this was introduced to England. When the calendar was reformed to bring it into line with the astronomical calendar, the new year was returned to Jan. 1. This happened in 1582 in western Europe, in 1600 in Scotland, and not until 1752 in England. The island of Foula in Scotland still marks the new year according to the Julian calendar, which makes it Jan. 13. Resolutions As the Gospel spread through the Roman world, Christians inherited this instinct to pause and take stock. Early Christian preaching and catechesis emphasized repentance, examination of life, and obedience to Christ. The turning of the calendar year naturally became a moment for such reflection. By the 17th century, some Christians were explicitly using the language of resolutions for serious spiritual commitments. This was popularised by the New England American theologian Jonathan Edwards (17031758), who wrote a series of Resolutions. His resolutions were personal promises such as seeking Gods glory and tackling sin, which were intended to shape his life before God. His resolutions included the desire to live earnestly and soberly, not to waste time, and to maintain temperance in drinking and eating. New Years resolutions The actual phrase New Years resolution seems to have become common by the early 19th century. By the later 19th century and into the 20th century, newspapers and magazines often published lists of suggested resolutions that were often only semi-serious. These days, New Years resolutions are largely individual. People make resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, go to the gym, spend less, travel more, learn a language, or develop a new hobby. Often, resolutions are abandoned within weeks monthly gym memberships are cancelled, new bikes are left in the shed, and Duolingo streaks fall away. Yet secular resolutions echo older spiritual themes. The desire for a fresh start, for forgiveness of the past and hope for the future, is quite Christian. For Christians, new beginnings are found in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christian resolutions Starting the new year on Jan. 1 may be from a calendar rooted in Roman paganism, but the principle of new beginnings, repenting of bad habits, and starting afresh is quite Christian. Many Christians use the turn of the calendar year to renew commitments to prayer, reading the Bible, hospitality and service. Resolutions should be concrete enough to practice, yet humble enough to acknowledge dependence on the Holy Spirit. Instead of merely asking, What do I want to achieve this year? Christians could instead ask, Who is God calling me to become this year? This article was originally published at Christian Today Home Opinion The RussoUkrainian war continues: How to end it justly I wrote a column, A peace plan for Ukraine a roadmap to genuine peace in the region, last May, detailing a proposal for a plan to end the Russo-Ukrainian war. Unfortunately, this bloody war continues with tragically high casualties on both sides. Russia, a nation of 146 million people, invaded Ukraine, a nation of 38 million citizens. Having begun seeking to occupy various parts of Ukraine (Crimea and the eastern provinces) in 2014, they launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The Ukrainians, though badly outnumbered and with what appeared to be a seriously outgunned armed forces, stunted the Russian invasion and have fought heroically and bravely. To date, the Russo-Ukrainian war has already become the bloodiest war on the European continent since the end of World War II. Reliable figures are difficult to obtain. But independent students of the war estimate that Russia has lost at least 350,000 dead and a million wounded. Russias population is approximately the same as the U.S. population during WWII, and we lost 407,316 dead and 671,278 wounded in that war, and many of us have parents and grandparents who remember the impact those casualties had on our population. Ukraine, with a much smaller population, fighting mainly a defensive war, has at least 57,000 killed and 250,000 wounded military casualties, and tens of thousands of civilians as well. Approximately half the pre-war population of Russian-occupied territory has fled and become refugees (3 to 3.5 million Ukrainians). In addition, the U.N. Human Rights Office has reported that the Russians are committing severe human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, enforced Russification, indoctrination and kidnapping of children, and suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture. If there is any semblance of a just ending of this war, there will be extensive prosecution of Russians for war crimes against the Ukrainian civilian and military population. In May, it was fairly easy to predict that the Russo-Ukrainian war would continue as a bloody stalemate for the foreseeable future. That is why I suggested a roadmap to peace that included an internationally monitored and enforced ceasefire that would be followed by internationally monitored elections in the disputed territories. One of the most sacrosanct ideals of the late-20th and early 21st centuries is the idea of a peoples self-determination the belief that people in a particular region have the right to determine for themselves by majority vote how they will be governed and by whom. A close corollary to the belief in self-determination is the international principle that a regions sovereignty cannot be changed by military conquest (i.e., Crimea's annexation by Russia after being taken by military force is not to be recognized internationally). Consequently, I suggested last May that an internationally enforced and monitored ceasefire be put in place and then the international community (either the U.N. or the European Community or some combination thereof) should monitor a free and fair election in each of these regions and let the population decide for themselves by secret ballot whether they will be governed by Ukraine, Russia or become independent. This type of peace plan is doable if the Europeans and the U.S. have the backbone to tell the Russians to accept this plan, or they will continue to assist Ukraine and make a physical conquest by Russia impossible. My guess is that, given the choice, most Ukrainians and ethnic Russians living in these contested areas will choose democracy over Russian oppression, and democracy will be the winner. Let us pray that the leaders of the Western nations will not abandon Ukraine but will stand up for freedom and democratic government. The Russian Bear will not stop on its own. He must be confronted and stopped for the good of mankind. A number of people across the charity sector have been recognised for their achievements and service in the New Year Honours List 2026 . Sarah Anderson, founder and trustee of mental health charity Listening Place, was awarded a damehood for services to mental health and to suicide prevention before her death from cancer on 7 December. Carol Homden, chief executive of Coram childrens charity, was awarded a damehood for services to children and families. Other charity leaders, trustees and founders were recognised among the list of 1,157 recipients. Meanwhile, disability charity CEO Tressa Burke turned down an honour. CBE National Trust director-general, Hilary McGrady, has been awarded a CBE for services to heritage. McGrady said: Leading the National Trust is a privilege. This organisation has been woven into the fabric of our nations for well over a century, and to play a part in its rich history is very special. I've no doubt that the trust has endured for so long because heritage, culture and nature are intrinsically important in people's lives - they always have been, and they always will be. I'm so grateful to the thousands of staff, volunteers and supporters who make the National Trust what it is. Im proud to be part of this organisation and this sector and Im delighted to receive this award. Judith Gould, consultant clinical psychologist at the National Autistic Society, has been awarded a CBE for services to people with autism. Caroline Stevens, chief executive of the National Autistic Society, said: It is thanks to Dr Goulds pioneering work that we are able to recognise the unique traits of autistic people and offer tailored support based on their needs. She has devoted her life to autism research in women, championing the fact that autistic women and girls are often misdiagnosed and transforming the lives of millions as a result. Angela Salt, former chief executive of Girlguiding, was also awarded a CBE. Writing on social media , Salt said: Im humbled and honoured to receive recognition in the New Years Honours. I would like to pay tribute to the tens of thousands of volunteers across the UK who make guiding happen. Id also like to thank the staff and board of trustees who, working with volunteers, help all girls know they can do anything. OBE Trussell co-chief executive Emma Revie has been awarded an OBE for services to the eradication of poverty. Revie has served in her role at Trussell since 2018. Revie said: This incredible honour belongs to every food bank, volunteer, decision maker and supporter who has stood with us in our mission to end hunger and hardship. Together we have shown that change is possible and I know that if we keep working side by side, we can build a UK where everyone can afford the essentials and no one needs to use a food bank to get by. Alex Rhys, chief executive of the Infection Prevention Society and founder of It Gets Better UK, was awarded an OBE for his services to healthcare and to the LGBTQ+ community. Rhys said: I am extremely grateful for this recognition. Both of the organisations I lead exist to support people at vulnerable moments, whether that is healthcare professionals working to reduce harm or LGBTQ+ young people seeking hope and connection. Any impact I have made has been possible because of the extraordinary volunteers, members and colleagues who give so much of themselves in service to others. This honour belongs to all of them. Robert Nolan, chair of Deafblind UK, was awarded an OBE for services to people living with deafblindness. Nolan, who is deafblind himself and has Type 2 Usher Syndrome, has volunteered with Deafblind UK for more than 26 years and has served as chair of the charitys board since 2018. I have always believed that deafblind people should be visible, heard and represented, including in leadership roles, he said. Whether through my career or volunteering I have tried to challenge assumptions and highlight what people living with deafblindness can do, rather than what they may not be able to. With that in mind I see this honour as a celebration not only of my contribution but of the talent and resilience that is found in the deafblind community as a whole. Helen Undy, chief executive of Money and Mental Health, has been awarded an OBE for her contribution to voluntary services, which includes her leadership of Money and Mental Health. Undy was a member of the charitys founding team and became chief executive in 2018. Writing on social media , Undy said: Im delighted, and honestly a little bit embarrassed, to find out I've been awarded an OBE what a huge honour. Life has dealt me a lucky hand which enables me to do this work and lead an incredible charity. So I have accepted this recognition on behalf of the many thousands of people living with money and mental health problems who have not always been so fortunate, and who are at the heart of our work. Giles Shilson, who chaired the City Bridge Foundation from 2021 to 2024, has been awarded an OBE for services to outreach and inclusion and to charity. Shilson said: I am delighted to receive this honour, and grateful to have had the opportunity to carry out public service in the City of London over the past two decades. This award reflects the tremendous impact of the City Bridge Foundations work, both as trusted owner of the citys five bridges and as Londons largest independent funder. Craig Bennett, chief executive of the Wildlife Trusts, has been awarded an OBE for services to the environment. Bennett said: Im very grateful for this honour and would like to send sincere thanks to those who nominated me. My career has focused on trying to join the dots between the nature and climate crises and the need for social justice and system change, and how they are all inextricably linked. MBE Live Music Now chief executive Janet Fischer has been awarded an MBE for services to music and charity. Vernon Ellis, chair of Live Music Now, said: This honour recognises Janets dynamic leadership and the impact its having on thousands of lives across the UK. Everyone at Live Music Now congratulates her and looks forward to continuing to build on her many achievements in the years ahead. Emma Rule, founder of Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH), was awarded an MBE for charitable services to homeless people and to aspiring musicians. Writing on social media , Rule said: MAH was launched almost 10 years ago following a life-changing experience when I made a promise to a suicidal homeless man whilst volunteering at Crisis at Christmas. Since then, MAH has hosted thousands of gigs, events, and festival stages featuring talented up-and-coming artists and many key industry music figures. Im so grateful to the many kind and talented people that have been involved with and worked on this not-for-profit venture. Jon Yates, executive director of the Youth Endowment Fund, received an MBE for services to young people. Writing on social media, Yates said he was delighted that this award is in service to young people. All of our young people deserve to live lives free from violence. They deserve this much more - of course - than I deserve this lovely award, he said. Philip Gerrard, CEO of Deaf Action, was awarded an MBE for services to the deaf community, cultural inclusion and disability rights. Gerrard, who has led the organisation since 2017, said: I am deeply grateful to the person who took the time and care to nominate me. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of many people working to advance deaf equality, cultural inclusion and disability rights, and I am proud to have played a small part alongside them. Chair of the Royal Free Charity, Judy Dewinter, has been awarded an MBE for services to the NHS after being diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer aged 33 and becoming a patient advocate. Dewinter said: Im honoured and humbled to receive this award. Being a patient has shaped everything I do. Its heartening to be recognised for the impact Ive had on the NHS. I couldnt have done it without the fantastic teams I work with at the Royal Free Charity and Myeloma UK. Deepa Korea, director of the RCN Foundation since 2016, has been awarded an MBE in recognition of her contribution to nursing and midwifery. Korea said: I am grateful and humbled to receive this recognition. I would like to thank all those who were involved in my nomination. The award is a reflection of the achievements and contributions of the people, communities and organisations that I have had the privilege of working with throughout my career. Charity CEO turns down honour Meanwhile, Tressa Burke, chief executive at Glasgow Disability Alliance, rejected an MBE, saying online that she cannot accept a personal honour when disabled people are being so dishonoured. There are so many reasons why I had to decline an MBE at this time the main one is that I cannot accept a personal honour when disabled people are being so dishonoured, she said. Political choices made by the UK government to cut disabled peoples benefits and the services which are vital to support us programmes like Access to Work on the one hand are unforgivable betrayals of disabled citizens but on the other hand make no economic sense. These measures will not get people into work but will make people more unwell and create further inequalities and demands on services. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, In a Christmas court filing, Howden US filed its response to a request by rival Brown & Brown for a temporary restraining order, saying the recent exodus of Brown & Brown employees to Howden US was caused entirely by Browns mistreatment of people. Last week Brown & Brown filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in Massachusetts against Howden US and dozens of individuals over allegations of trade-secret theft, contract breaches, and unfair competition. The Florida-based broker asked for an injunction. Related: Brown & Brown Files Suit Over Alleged Howden Poaching of 200+ Employees On December 26, Howden US, on behalf of itself and 28 individual defendants, shot back in a filing and told the judge that the story is not about a shocking pirate raid but it is a tale of employees who were so unhappy with Browns terrible management and poor, under-market compensation that, having been pushed to the brink, they were prepared to leave Brown without having secured subsequent employment. The filing said Howden gave them that employment, and told them not to take any confidential information. As far as clients, they were always going to follow the nature of the industry is that clients follow their brokers, said the opposition to the TRO, adding, There was no grand plot to steal from Brown, whos energy would be better directed at correcting its governance shortcomings and problematic corporate culture, Howden said. The injunction sought by Brown & Brown would harm the defendants ability to work, and the brokers filing doesnt include substantive allegations against a majority of individuals listed as defendants, Howden said. Brown & Brown has failed to show a TRO is warranted, Howden said. The 72-page filing, seen here, includes claims of a deteriorating Brown & Brown corporate culture, paltry compensation, manipulative financial reporting, and employee discrimination. Brown & Brown did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Howden US, the new U.S. retail broking business of Howden launched in August with Mike Parrish as CEO, is also being sued by brokers, Aon, Marsh, and WTW. Related: Aon Adds to List of Brokers Suing Howden US for Alleged Poaching, Theft Howden in August also named Jim Hays as vice chairman of Howden Group Holdings. Hays was previously CEO of Hays Company, an insurance broker he founded in 1994 and sold to Brown & Brown in 2018. He then served as vice chair and was a member of the board at Brown & Brown. Interestingly, Hays Company is a listed plaintiff in the case against Howden US but Jim Hays is not listed a defendant. He did, however, file a declaration in response to allegations Brown & Brown made against him. Brown & Brown in its complaint alleged Hays fully participated in the planning and effectuation of the so-called raid of employees, and is now illegally trying to steal the business back. Hays said he holds a significant amount of Brown & Brown shares and has continued to buy more. The idea in which I would intentionally harm a company in which I am heavily invested makes no sense and is contrary to my own financial interests, Hays said, adding that he resigned from Brown & Brown in March 2024 after his employment with the broker was terminated in January of that year following a meeting with CEO Powell Brown during which Brown told Hays he did not want Hays involved in the business any longer. The Trump administration has transformed the Environmental Protection Agency in its first year, cutting federal limits on air and water pollution and promoting fossil fuels, a metamorphosis that clashes with the agencys historic mission to protect human health and the environment. The administration says its actions will unleash the American economy, but environmentalists say the agencys abrupt change in focus threatens to unravel years of progress on climate-friendly initiatives that could be hard or impossible to reverse. It just constantly wants to pat the fossil fuel business on the back and turn back the clock to a pre-Richard Nixon era when the agency didnt exist, said historian Douglas Brinkley. A lot has happened this year at Trumps EPA, as Zeldin frequently calls the agency. Zeldin proposed overturning the landmark finding that climate change is a threat to human health. He pledged to roll back dozens of environmental regulations in the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen. He froze billions of dollars for clean energy and upended agency research. Zeldin has argued the EPA can protect the environment and grow the economy at the same time. He announced five pillars to guide EPAs work; four were economic goals, including energy dominance Trumps shorthand for more fossil fuels and boosting the auto industry. Zeldin, a former New York congressman who had a record as a moderate Republican on some environmental issues, said his views on climate change have evolved. Many federal and state climate goals are unattainable in the near future and come at huge cost, he said. We should not be causing extreme economic pain for an individual or a family because of policies aimed at saving the planet, he told reporters at EPA headquarters in early December. But scientists and experts say the EPAs new direction comes at a cost to public health, and would lead to far more pollutants in the environment, including mercury, lead and especially tiny airborne particles that can lodge in lungs. They also note higher emissions of greenhouse gases will worsen atmospheric warming that is driving more frequent, costly and deadly extreme weather. Christine Todd Whitman, a longtime Republican who led the EPA under President George W. Bush, said watching Zeldin attack laws protecting air and water has been just depressing. Its tragic for our country. I worry about my grandchildren, of which I have seven. I worry about what their future is going to be if they dont have clean air, if they dont have clean water to drink, said Whitman, who joined a centrist third party in recent years. The History Behind EPA The EPA was launched under Nixon in 1970 with pollution disrupting American life, some cities suffocating in smog and some rivers turned into wastelands by industrial chemicals. Congress passed laws then that remain foundational for protecting water, air and endangered species. The agencys aggressiveness has always seesawed depending on who occupies the White House. Former President Joe Bidens administration boosted renewable energy and electric vehicles, tightened motor-vehicle emissions and proposed greenhouse gas limits on coal-fired power plants and oil and gas wells. Industry groups called rules overly burdensome and said the power plant rule would force many aging plants to shut down. In response, many businesses shifted resources to meet the more stringent rules that are now being undone. While the Biden EPA repeatedly attempted to usurp the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law to impose its Green New Scam, the Trump EPA is laser-focused on achieving results for the American people while operating within the limits of the laws passed by Congress, EPA spokeswoman Brigit Hirsch said. Zeldins List of Targets Is Long Zeldin has announced plans to abandon soot pollution rules, loosen rules around harmful refrigerants, limit wetlands protections and weaken gas mileage rules. Meanwhile, he would exempt polluting industries and plants from federal emissions-reductions requirements. Much of EPAs new direction aligns with Project 2025, the conservative Heritage Foundation road map that argued the agency should gut staffing, cut regulations and end what it called a war on coal on other fossil fuels. A lot of the regulations that were put on during the Biden administration were more harmful and restrictive than in any other period. So thats why deregulating them looks like EPA is making major changes, said Diana Furchtgott-Roth, director of Heritages Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment. But Chris Frey, an EPA official under Biden, said the regulations Zeldin has targeted offered benefits of avoided premature deaths, of avoided chronic illness bad things that would not happen because of these rules. Matthew Tejada, a former EPA official under both Trump and Biden who now works at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said of the revamped EPA: I think it would be hard for them to make it any clearer to polluters in this country that they can go on about their business and not worry about EPA getting in their way. Zeldin also has shrunk EPA staffing by about 20% to levels last seen in the mid-1980s. Justin Chen, president of the EPAs largest union, called staff cuts devastating. He cited the dismantling of research and development offices at labs across the country and the firing of employees who signed a letter of dissent opposing EPA cuts. Relaxed Enforcement And Cutting Staff Many of Zeldins changes arent in effect yet. It takes time to propose new rules, get public input and finalize rollbacks. Its much faster to cut grants and ease up on enforcement, and Trumps EPA is doing both. The number of new civil environmental actions is roughly one-fifth what it was in the first eight months of the Biden administration, according to the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project. You can effectively do a lot of deregulation if you just dont do enforcement, said Leif Fredrickson, visiting assistant professor of history at the University of Montana. Hirsch said the number of legal filings isnt the best way to judge enforcement because they require work outside of the EPA and can bog staff down with burdensome legal agreements. She said the EPA is focused on efficiently resolving violations and achieving compliance as quickly as possible and not making demands beyond what the law requires. EPAs cuts have been especially hard on climate change programs and environmental justice, the effort to address chronic pollution that typically is worse in minority and poor communities. Both were Biden priorities. Zeldin dismissed staff and canceled billions in grants for projects that fell under the diversity, equity and inclusion umbrella, a Trump administration target. He also spiked a $20 billion green bank set up under Bidens landmark climate law to fund qualifying clean energy projects. Zeldin argued the fund was a scheme to funnel money to Democrat-aligned organizations with little oversight allegations a federal judge rejected. Pat Parenteau, an environmental law expert and former director of the Environmental Law School at Vermont Law & Graduate School, said the EPAs shift under Trump left him with little optimism for what he called the two most awful crises in the 21st century biodiversity loss and climate disruption. I dont see any hope for either one, he said. I really dont. And Ill be long gone, but I think the world is in just for absolute catastrophe. The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The world is now moving into the latter half of a critical decade to fight climate change. Scientists have warned that nations need to cut carbon emissions nearly 50% by 2030 to stave off 1.5C temperature rise. The world is woefully off track to meet those targets and risks further backsliding, even as there are some surprising sources of progress. In the U.S., those tensions are on full display. The future of the energy transition is being shaped by President Donald Trumps climate policy rollbacks that favor fossil fuels but also the life support for renewables and batteries paradoxically coming from data center power demand. Chinas role as the worlds biggest emitter and hub for green tech are also affecting efforts to curb carbon pollution. This year, the country will set a new plan laying out how climate fits with its economic ambitions, while its booming clean tech sector is expected to help more developing countries adopt renewable energy and electric vehicles. Here are 14 themes Bloomberg News writers are keeping tabs on in 2026. Climate Clues in Chinas New Economic Blueprint When Chinese officials gather in March for annual legislative meetings, they will approve the countrys next five-year plan. Climate watchers will be looking to see if the plan does anything to speed up the pace of decarbonization after Beijing set whats widely seen as a conservative 2035 climate target last year. The key stat to watch for is Chinas target for carbon intensity that is, a measure of how much it emits per unit of GDP. Its currently off track of its last five-year plan created in 2020. How much policymakers push to close the gap will be a critical litmus test for Chinas climate leadership amid global backpedaling. Lili Pike Can Diplomats Make Headway At COP31? International negotiators will spend much of this year trying to create a bare-bones road map to phase out fossil fuels and another to eliminate deforestation. The two issues were left unresolved at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil last year. But with the nation in control of the COP presidency this year, it has a chance to make progress. The first key milestone will be a conference in Colombia in April focused on phasing out fossil fuels. Negotiators will continue to hash out their differences at the Bonn Climate Change Conference in June, as well as at London and New Yorks climate weeks held in June and September, respectively. The worlds efforts will culminate at COP31, which will take place in Antalya, Turkey, in November. Laura Millan Look To Developing Countries For Climate Progress In recent years, there have been breakout climate success stories in developing countries, largely enabled by cheap Chinese clean tech exports. Bangladesh off-grid home solar installations set a record globally, enabling rapid rural electrification. Pakistans huge purchase of solar panels and batteries have led the country to abandon natural gas as a strategic fuel. And Ethiopias de facto ban on fossil-fuel car imports has led to a surge in electric vehicle sales. These transitions were largely driven by access to Chinese technology. With the countrys green exports increasing, expect more such stories to emerge in 2026. Akshat Rathi The Clean Tech Revival Continues Global climate tech investment made a comeback in 2025, largely driven by growing data center energy demand. The surge is likely to continue this year, with both nascent nuclear technologies and proven renewable solutions set to draw investor interest. Upgrading the power grid is likely to see continued investments as well, giving a boost to everything from battery energy storage to power management software. But questions remain about whether the artificial intelligence boom can continue to sustain the climate tech sector, and how to bring growth to companies beyond the energy ecosystem. Coco Liu Nuclear Energys Boom Is Just Over The Horizon Data centers are sucking up electricity as fast as new power plants can get built, and Big Tech is willing to throw big money at nuclear. Dozens of companies are working on the next generation of small reactors, and the Trump administration is pushing to streamline the regulatory process and lining up billions in financing for big ones. More than 60 reactors were under construction worldwide at the end of 2025, though the worlds nuclear capacity contracted a bit. Yet even friendly regulations and fat checks can only do so much to accelerate the notoriously slow-moving industry. That means that while the nuclear sector will start to see momentum in 2026, its still a few years away from bringing a wave of new plants online. Will Wade Will The AI Bubble Burst? Last year began with a crash in AI-related stocks after news of Chinese company DeepSeeks more efficient models threw a wrench in power demand growth projections. Will there be another DeepSeek moment in 2026? Thats a question thats on investors minds, even as money keeps pouring into AI and the energy sector. Even if models dont become more efficient, the bubble could burst in other ways. Already, clean energy and real estate developers are sounding the alarm that electric grids, permitting and regulations arent keeping up with the pace of interconnection. Some regions are seeing years-long queues to hook up power projects to the grid, and there are backlogs for the crucial electric infrastructure. If the friction continues, AI investors could find their ambitions thwarted or that theyll have to rely more on developing power onsite and behind the meter. Michelle Ma Everyone Wants A Piece of The Arctic What happens in the Arctic doesnt stay in the Arctic is a truism thats become irrefutable. This past year was the hottest in 125 years of records at the top of the planet, and the spill-over effect of that is beginning to be felt everywhere else, from rising seas to an uptick in atmospheric carbon. Rising temperatures also have the world increasingly looking at how to exploit the region. In 2026, expect previously local or regional Arctic issues from ports to critical mineral development to become international priorities. They include how Chinas push to transport cargo through the Northern Sea Route will impact fragile ecosystems, and whether Trumps push for the US to take over Greenland becomes more aggressive. Danielle Bochove The EV Market Splits The global transition to electric vehicles will fracture in 2026, as EV sales slow in the U.S. and scoot ahead in the rest of the world. BloombergNEF expects drivers to snap up 16.9 million EVs globally through September. That would be an increase of 16% over the year-earlier period. The tide of affordable and well-reviewed Chinese machines from companies like BYD and SAIC Motor will help drive the uptick in sales, building on 2025s rise in exports. The EV outlook is far cloudier in the US, which still largely bars Chinese cars and trucks. The sunset of federal subsidies on EV purchases in September slammed the brakes on electric car adoption in the US. BNEF expects US sales to essentially stay level in the first half of the year and dip in the third quarter, in comparison to the markets record run in August, September and October of this year. Kyle Stock What Will New York City Do About Blackrock? Three of the citys five pension funds are weighing whether to drop BlackRocks $42 billion mandate because of the asset managers climate policies. Former Comptroller Brad Lander made a recommendation late last year after a formal review of all the fund managers overseeing the citys retirement money, citing BlackRocks failure to tackle global warming. Lander tried to pass the resolution to cut out the money manager in December, but he was unable to convince pension board of trustee members to hold a vote before the end of the year. Now, it will be up to new comptroller Mark Levine to hold a vote this year. Mayor Zohran Mamdani will also have a significant amount of influence over the outcome of the vote. It will come as BlackRock faces other headwinds: Late last year, the firm lost a mandate with a Dutch pension fund due in part to climate-related concerns. Olivia Raimonde Climate Risk Modeling Gains Steam Demand is high and growing for accurate, usable climate information, particularly information that can help assess risk. Thats driving researchers to probe every level of risk and solution, from neighborhoods exposed to more frequent flooding, to whether proposed atmospheric cooling approaches can work safely, if at all. The clamor for actionable information comes as the Trump administration tries to dismantle much of the infrastructure in the US that underpins world-leading science. That includes hiding reports and data; cutting staff and funding; and putting out analyses that cherry-pick data downplaying climate change. The next 12 months are shaping up as a fight for more accurate climate information and an increasingly challenging environment to find it. Eric Roston U.S. Renewables Face A Bumpy Road The boom days for clean energy in the US are over for now. Trumps efforts to halt the buildout of solar and wind have resulted in policy and financial headwinds that will continue to be a big challenge for the industry. Large-scale solar installations, while still expected to make up the bulk of all new power plant additions, are forecast to decline as lucrative federal tax incentives start to fade away by mid-year and tariffs raise costs, according to BloombergNEF. Rooftop solar tax credits for homeowners also got wiped out, though leasing panels will still qualify. Wind developers may be even harder off. Subsidies have disappeared, and the Trump administration has thrown up additional permitting hurdles. The one bright spot? Batteries, which can still qualify for tax breaks if they satisfy new rules restricting the amount of materials that can come from China. Data centers are likely to be a strong source of power demand, which could help the industry. And clean energy developers are hopeful that artificial intelligences power needs will convince Trump to ease his assault on the industry. Mark Chediak The EPAs Biggest Climate Attack Is Coming A process initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency last summer to unravel the federal governments authority to regulate greenhouse gases is set to conclude this year. The EPA is expected to finalize the controversial rulemaking that would rollback the so-called endangerment finding and immediately remove greenhouse gas regulations for passenger cars and trucks. While the administration has rolled back a number of climate rules, this would be the most consequential yet. Any decision to rescind the endangerment finding will undoubtedly be swiftly challenged in the courts, kicking off an epic legal battle that could determine how much the federal government can do to respond to global warming. Zahra Hirji FEMAs Fate Will Be Decided The Trump administration spent 2025 weighing whether or not to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with the president establishing a review council co-chaired by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The group was tasked with providing recommendations on what to do with the agency, which its expected to finalize early this year. Disaster researchers, state and local emergency managers, and FEMA staff are all waiting to see how dramatic the proposed reforms will be. Although the president doesnt hold the exclusive power to dissolve the agency in its entirety that power rests in the hands of Congress theres a lot Trump can change, or at least try to. Zahra Hirji Can California Meet Its Climate Goals? This new year marks the 20th anniversary of Californias landmark climate law that has transformed the Golden State into a green powerhouse. But itll spend 2026 fending off the Trump administrations campaign to dismantle its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The Trump tax bills elimination of federal renewable energy and electric vehicle incentives is already slowing Californias progress toward reaching net-zero emissions by 2045. With the administration trying to scuttle the states cap-and-trade market, expect California to continue to spend more time fighting back in the courts and developing workarounds. Beyond Trumps reach, local and regional California agencies continue to eliminate fossil fuels. A Bay Area ban on the sale of gas water heaters and furnaces, for instance, begins to take effect in 2027 and will apply to a fifth of the states population. Todd Woody Top photo: Floating solar panels manufactured by Hanwha Solutions Corp. on the Hapcheon Dam in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do province, South Korea, on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. More than 92,000 solar panels floating on the surface of a reservoir are able to generate 41 megawatts, enough to power 20,000 homes. Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. WASHINGTON - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan released a transcript and video of former Special Counsel Jack Smiths closed-door testimony before his committee just before 2 p.m. on New Years Eve, a timing critics claim was meant to bury what Smith had to say about his investigations of President Donald Trump. The 255-page transcript describes why Smith sought phone records of Republican Congress members including Jordan, who worked with Trump to overturn results of the 2020 presidential election. Jordan joined a Stop the Steal protest in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, two days after the 2020 election while the state was still tallying ballots. He repeatedly made election fraud allegations in Pennsylvania and other states Trump targeted, despite authorities finding no evidence of widespread voter fraud that could change the outcome. The Champaign County Republican also spoke with Trump multiple times on Jan. 6, 2021, including a 10-minute call that morning while Trump was still at the White House residence, according to White House call records. Smith told the committee that Trumps chief of staff at the time of the riot, Mark Meadows, told his investigators that Jordan contacted the White House on Jan. 6 while frightened by the violence unfolding at the Capitol. What I recall was Meadows stating that Ive never seen Jim Jordan scared of anything, and the fact that we were in this different situation now where people were scared made it really clear that what was going on at the Capitol could not be mistaken for anything other than what it was," Smith told the committee. Lawmakers phone records Smith says the phone records from members of Congress that his office obtained did not reveal the contents of any phone calls, just the numbers that were called and the times when the calls occurred. He said a Justice Department request for Jordans phone records back to January 2020 was made before he took the special counsel job. I dont have any reason to believe that that subpoena was secured for any improper purpose or that it was secured in contravention of department regulations or the law, said Smith. He said the Congress members phone records could have been used in a trial to create a summary chart to show the series of contacts. The contacts with Congress members could have been used to prove that the White House was given notice that violence was happening at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and congressmen, both Republican and Democrat, and the Vice President were in danger, Smith told the committee. Smith explained that his office consulted with the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section before seeking the records, following what he described as department practice and tradition that has since become a formal requirement. When Jordan questioned whether the subpoenas violated the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution, Smith denied it: My office and I personally take the protections of the Speech or Debate Clause seriously. I think theyre part of our Constitution. Theyre an important part of separation of powers. The records were obtained with nondisclosure orders approved by federal magistrate judges, a standard practice Smith said was necessary because of a grave risk of obstruction of justice, given the obstructive conduct of President Trump. Smith, 57, brought nearly three decades of prosecutorial experience to the special counsel role. He detailed a career that included five years as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, nine years as a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, nearly two years coordinating investigations at the International Criminal Court, and more than four years as chief of the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section. The deposition, conducted December 17, shows Smith vigorously defending his investigation into Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Smith repeatedly stated he believed the evidence was strong enough to have secured convictions at trial had the cases not been dismissed after Trumps 2024 election victory. Defending probe Smith firmly rejected repeated Republican suggestions that his investigation was politically motivated or designed to interfere with the 2024 presidential election. All of that is false, he testified when asked if his office was focused on prosecuting Trump to keep him off the campaign trail. The evidence here made clear that President Trump was by a large measure the most culpable and most responsible person in this conspiracy. These crimes were committed for his benefit, Smith testified. He said that if the Jan. 6 case had gone to trial, the most powerful evidence against Trump would have come from GOP Trump backers who supported him but explained to Trump that the election results were legitimate, and repeatedly debunked his false fraud claims to his face. During his testimony, Smith said he couldnt discuss much about his investigation into whether Trump mishandled classified documents he kept in a bathroom at his Florida Mar-a-Lago estate because Judge Aileen Cannon issued an injunction sealing that volume of his final report. The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine, but the basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions, as alleged in the indictments returned by grand juries in two different districts, Smith told the committee. Smith also decried the current Trump administration for purging career Justice Department employees who worked on his probes of Trump. These dedicated public servants are the best of us, and they have been wrongly vilified and improperly dismissed from their jobs, said Smith. I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trumps political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 presidential election, Smith told the committee. We took our actions based on the facts and the law, the very lessons I learned early in my career as a prosecutor. We followed Justice Department policies and observed legal requirements. The timing and speed of our work reflects the strength of the evidence and our confidence that we would have secured convictions at trial, Smith said. If asked whether to prosecute a former president based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of whether that president was a Republican or a Democrat. Jordan released the materials at 2 p.m. on December 31, a time when most Americans were preparing for New Years celebrations rather than following political news. Democrats on the committee, such as Pennsylvanias Mary Gay Scanlon, described it as so damning to Trump and his allies that they tried to bury it by releasing it on New Years Eve. During the deposition, Democrats repeatedly asked Smith why they thought Jordan didnt want to question Smith in public, as Smith requested. Although Smith declined to speculate, Colorado Democrat Joe Neguse said: I think Americans who review this transcript after its concluded will understand why. A shopper looks at chairs for sale at an At Home store in Queens, New York City, U.S., July 15, 2025. President Donald Trump signed a New Year's Eve proclamation delaying increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year, citing ongoing trade talks. Trump's order, signed Wednesday, keeps in place a 25% tariff he imposed in September on those goods, but delays for another year a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture and 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and vanities. The increases, which were set to take effect Jan. 1, come as the Republican president instituted a broad swath of taxes on imported goods to address trade imbalances and other issues. The president has said the tariffs on furniture are needed to "bolster American industry and protect national security." The delay is the latest in the roller coaster of Trump's tariff wars since he returned to office last year, with the president announcing levies at times without warning and then delaying or pulling back from them just as abruptly. The Trump administration on Wednesday also signaled it may back away from a steep tariff proposed on Italian pasta that would have put the rate at 107%. The U.S. had threatened to add a heavy tariff on Italian pasta makers after the U.S. Commerce Department launched what it said was a routine antidumping review based on allegations that the pasta makers sold product into the US at below-market prices and undercut local competitors. A final decision on the sanctions was scheduled for Jan. 2, with the option of extending it. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that based on a new review, the rates would be lowered to between 2.26% and 13.89% for the pasta makers because they had addressed many of the department's concerns. A final decision is now set for March 12. Italian farm lobby Coldiretti and another food industry association, Filiera Italia, welcomed the development. The two lobby groups had strongly objected to the original tariffs and urged the Italian government to intervene. The two associations said the original proposed tariffs would have doubled the cost of a plate of pasta for American families, "opening the door to Italian-sounding products and penalizing the authentic quality of Made in Italy." They reported that in 2024, Italian pasta exports to the U.S. amounted to 671 million ($787 million). "Coldiretti and Filiera Italia will continue to defend our premium pasta exported to the U.S. market, which we have also supported with a strong campaign in the international media," the associations said in a statement. This is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox. Happy Friday and happy 2026! I began my year at the movie theater watching an Amanda Seyfried-led movie-musical ("The Testament of Ann Lee," not "Mamma Mia!"). Stock futures are up this morning. The market is on a four-day losing streak. Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day: 1. Boom or bust? Traders wear "2026" glasses as they work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the opening bell in New York on December 31, 2025. Timothy A. Clary | Afp | Getty Images 2. Berkshire, sans Buffett Warren Buffett and Greg Abel walkthrough the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3, 2025. David A. Grogen | CNBC Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has officially left his position as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway . In his six decades building a flailing textile mill into a $1 trillion behemoth, Buffett's Berkshire has delivered a whopping cumulative return of more than 5.5 million percent to shareholders. In an interview with CNBC's Becky Quick, parts of which aired this morning, Buffett said Berkshire "has a better chance I think of being here 100 years from now than any company I can think of." Buffett, who is being succeeded by Greg Abel, will stay on as chair of the conglomerate. But his departure as CEO leaves the question of who will run Berkshire's $300 billion equity portfolio. As CNBC's Yun Li notes, some investors aren't sold on Abel making investing decisions given his lack of a public track record as a stock picker. 3. In power Homes near a data center in Ashburn, Virginia, US, on Friday, July 25, 2025. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images In 2025, the artificial intelligence industry began remaking the American landscape figuratively and literally. Meta , OpenAI and Microsoft are among the tech companies planning hyperscale campuses around the country, turning farmland into compute factories that use massive amounts of electricity. As CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos reports, these ventures are largely being funded by borrowing agreements, leading to concerns of an AI bubble. The industry is also facing heat from politicians on both sides of the aisle, from Sen. Bernie Sanders to Florida Gov. Ron Desantis. As CNBC's Spencer Kimball explains, bipartisan concern about the data center boom could slow development especially as politicians gear up for the 2026 midterm elections. Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning. Subscribe here to get access today. 4. Back from the dead 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX Stellantis Stellantis is bringing back the TRX, its gas-powered Ram pickup truck equipped with a V-8 engine. The truck will be available later this year for roughly $100,000, Stellantis said yesterday. As CNBC's Michael Wayland notes, Stellantis' announcement comes amid its turnaround plan and as the automaker faces looser federal emissions regulations. While its high price tag has put a lid on sales in the past, the TRX is seen as a "halo" for Ram: a high-end vehicle that drives brand attention, which can in turn boost purchases of other Ram models. 5. Planes of existence A seating area in JetBlue's new airport lounge Courtesy: JetBlue Airways A class divide story has been playing out among U.S. airlines. As CNBC's Leslie Josephs reports, it's set to only intensify in 2026. The biggest airlines have rushed to build out premium offerings for flyers willing to spend more. JetBlue is focusing on its more profitable routes and planning a domestic business class that's slated to launch in the middle of this year. Southwest started charging for checked bags for the first time in 2024. American is expanding its lounge system. But on the other end of the spectrum, Spirit is battling to stay alive amid its second bankruptcy in less than a year. After a court blocked its acquisition of JetBlue, analysts now expect Spirit to attempt to merge with fellow budget air carrier Frontier Airlines . The Daily Dividend A general view of the Baidu logo is seen at the Shanghai New Expo Center during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2025 in Shanghai, China, on July 28, 2025. Chinese tech giant Baidu plans to spin off its artificial intelligence chip subsidiary, Kunlunxin, and list it in Hong Kong, as more domestic chipmakers seek funds amid Beijing's push for semiconductor self-sufficiency. The company said in an announcement Friday that it had confidentially filed a listing application on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, though details of the offering, including size and structure, remain undecided. The move would still require regulatory approvals, including from China's securities watchdog. Baidu emphasized there is no guarantee the spin-off will proceed. The company reportedly owns about 59% of Kunlunxin. Baidu, a major player in China's growing AI space, is both a buyer of specialized AI chips for data centers and cloud computing, as well as a designer of them through Kunlunxin. The firm said that the spin-off would align with its strategy to highlight Kunlunxin's standalone potential, attract sector-specific investors, and expand financing options. Kunlunxin would remain a Baidu subsidiary, it added. The move comes against a backdrop of intensifying U.S.-China tech tensions. Both Washington and Beijing have imposed various restrictions on Chinese AI companies' access to leading-edge AI chips from California-based Nvidia . Meanwhile, Beijing has increasingly encouraged domestic chip purchases and mobilized billions in public funds towards development. In recent months, several Chinese chipmakers have announced plans to list, including Moore Threads and Biren Technology. watch now The Russian-U.S. national who hacked crypto exchange Bitfinex and stole nearly 120,000 bitcoin said he has been freed from prison early thanks to the bipartisan prison-reform law signed by President Donald Trump. Ilya Lichtenstein, 38, had been sentenced in November 2024 to five years in prison after pleading guilty to a money laundering conspiracy charge and admitting to the hack of crypto assets now valued in the billions of dollars. But late Thursday night, a post on Lichtenstein's official X account declared, "Thanks to President Trump's First Step Act, I have been released from prison early." Courtroom sketch of Ilya "Dutch" Lichtenstein while pleading guilty to laundering the stolen bitcoin in federal court in Washington. Artist: William Hennessey "I remain committed to making a positive impact in cybersecurity as soon as I can," Lichtenstein's post said. "To the supporters, thank you for everything. To the haters, I look forward to proving you wrong." A Trump administration official told CNBC on Friday morning that Lichtenstein "has served significant time on his sentence and is currently on home confinement consistent with statute and Bureau of Prisons policies." Attorneys for Lichtenstein did not immediately respond to requests for comment on his release. Lichtenstein's wife, Heather Morgan who also pleaded guilty to helping launder the stolen funds shared Lichtenstein's message on her own X account, saying, "The best New Years present I could get was finally having my husband home after 4 years of being apart." Morgan's tweet, posted two minutes after Lichtenstein's, included a photo of the couple smiling for a selfie. Lichtenstein's sentence included credit for time he already served in custody following his arrest in 2022, more than five years after Bitfinex was hacked. As of Friday morning, a search for Lichtenstein's name using the federal government's inmate locator website returned one result showing Lichtenstein is scheduled to be released on Feb. 9. The Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Booking photos for Heather Morgan and Ilya Lichtenstein. Courtesy: Alexandria Adult Detention Center. Morgan, 35, a rapper who releases music under the name "Razzlekhan" and also went by "The Crocodile of Wall Street," was sentenced to 18 months' incarceration shortly after Lichtenstein received his prison sentence. She entered prison in February. But on Oct. 26, Morgan posted a video of herself saying she had been released early. She also thanked Trump. "Why hello Razzlers, I have missed you," Morgan said in the clip, in which she appears in a bathtub wearing only a hair towel. "It is very good to be back, and I want to give a shout out to Papa Trump for making my 18-month sentence shorter," she said. An email to Morgan's manager was not immediately returned. HANGZHOU, China In what is sometimes dubbed China's Silicon Valley, tech giants and startups in Hangzhou are racing to build cutting-edge chips, robotics and brain-computer interfaces. Across town, aspiring founders are creating AI pets and fortune-telling apps. The city on China's southeastern coast is reinventing itself as an artificial intelligence hub. A year after the rise of DeepSeek drew global attention, Hangzhou's fast-moving AI scene reflects both global ambitions and intensifying competition at home. The sprint toward physical AI China and the U.S. are moving in lockstep to develop what many see as AI's next frontier: physical applications. From Meta to Tencent , companies are racing to build "world models" that use AI to help robots move, steer driverless cars, or even simulate real-world events such as climate change. Beijing identified "embodied intelligence" as one of China's future priorities in its upcoming Five-Year Plan. In November, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which provides recommendations to Congress, urged Washington to step up investment and regulatory approvals for autonomous systems and robotics , warning that China is making rapid advances in physical AI. In Hangzhou, spatial intelligence firm Manycore, as well as robot makers Unitree and Deep Robotics among the city's tech startups known as the "six little dragons" are preparing to go public in Hong Kong or mainland China, joining a flurry of AI-related listings. While large language models are trained mainly on internet data to generate text and images, training AI for the physical world requires additional inputs such as weight, texture, structure, temperature, and how objects interact, including the grip or force needed to handle them. Instead of manually collecting all data points, using AI methods to calculate them will make the process much easier and faster, Manycore cofounder Victor Huang told CNBC. Huang, a former Nvidia software engineer, says his company uses the California-based company's chips, saying they deliver superior computing power per watt performing best for the energy they consume. But he believes China's cheaper energy provides an edge , potentially offsetting the use of less advanced, more power-hungry chips. For instance, a three-nanometer chip can reduce power use by about 30% compared with five- or seven-nanometer chips, but companies can stay competitive if their electricity costs are 40%-50% lower, he said. Computing power, he added, cannot be viewed in isolation. It depends on data quality, energy supply and operating conditions. Locating data centers in colder regions can save energy, while cleaner data reduces the computing power needed for training. Manycore also open-sourced its spatial AI model an approach China has embraced over many of the pay-to-use models common in the U.S., such as those offered by OpenAI and Anthropic. This approach allows the company to gather feedback, Huang said, but limits direct revenue because users are not required to pay for access. "So you'll get pressure from investors," he said. An indie AI scene takes shape Compared with Silicon Valley's fascination with artificial general intelligence or superintelligence, China's AI push has focused heavily on practical applications, from Baidu Map's personalized recommendations to ByteDance's chatbot and assistant Doubao. In December, Doubao was China's top AI app with 155 million weekly active users, nearly double that of its closest competitor, DeepSeek's chatbot, according to business intelligence service provider QuestMobile. Doubao's popularity suggests that user experience and utility may trump technical sophistication. A looser, experimental culture is emerging alongside these efforts. While Hangzhou heavyweights like Alibaba and DeepSeek are hard at work on cutting-edge AI, a leafy, hipster-meets-hacker suburb called Liangzhu has become ground zero for AI's quirkier side. Residents of Liangzhu call themselves "villagers," building everything from gamified fitness trackers to ADHD-friendly calendar tools. Alex Wei, an entrepreneur who moved to Liangzhu in 2025, is developing an AI app based on traditional Chinese divination tools. He's interested in how AI can meet people's emotional needs. Liangzhu's low commercial pressure is part of its appeal. "You can come to Liangzhu with 1,000 renminbi ($143) and leave with your product demo," Wei said. "It's a very inclusive place. You don't have to have a unicorn product -- you'll find support even for a small app serving a thousand people," he added. The groundswell of innovation in Liangzhu has caught the attention of investors. A monthly "Demo Day" that started in a living room now draws founders and backers from across the region and beyond. That exposure is shaping how startups think about scale. Many are eyeing overseas users, with some founders hoping to tap into China's hardware supply chains to offer competitive prices worldwide. Intense domestic competition and consumers' reluctance to pay for apps have also pushed startups to look abroad, observers say. Afra Wang, who writes the Concurrent newsletter on China and Silicon Valley, said some developers are using AI to escape traditional career paths in changing job markets, working instead to become "superindividuals" who build profitable businesses independently or with tiny teams. But Wang warned that some businesses are simply patching AI features for marketing appeal, from air conditioners to mirrors that check sunscreen application. She calls some of these "physical AI slop" playing on the term for low-quality content cranked out by generative AI. For now, Hangzhou's entrepreneurs are testing nearly every idea, from efficiency to comfort, serious to the frivolous, in a rapidly evolving market. Jefferies sees further upside ahead for Baidu from a planned spinoff of its AI chip subsidiary. The bank maintained its buy rating on the Chinese internet search provider. Analyst Thomas Chong raised his price target to $181 from $159, signaling 39% upside from Wednesday's close. The analyst pointed to Baidu's proposed spinoff of Kunlunxin , its artificial intelligence chip subsidiary, as a tailwind for the company. Baidu plans to list it on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He said this proposed spinoff could unlock Kunlunxin's full valuation. BIDU 1Y mountain BIDU 1Y chart "It aims to showcase KLX value, enhance market profile, broaden financing channels and management accountability with performance. In addition, it unlocks Baidu's value in AI powered business," he wrote. "Upon completion, KLX will remain as subsidiary to Baidu." Benefits include increasing Kunlunxin's operational and financial transparency and appealing to an investor base specialized in AI computing chips. Chong added that Kunlunxin's listing status could enhance its profile and provide it independent access of both equity and debt capital markets. Chong also noted that Baidu recently unveiled two new Kunlun chips and super node solutions. Shares of Baidu have surged 58% over the last 12 months. Analysts generally like the Chinese tech giant. Of the 33 who cover the stock, 25 rate it a buy or strong buy, according to LSEG. Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel, speaks to the Economic Club of New York at The Plaza Hotel in New York, Nov. 21, 2024. Billionaire investor Ken Griffin's flagship hedge fund at Citadel climbed double digits in 2025, navigating a volatile year marked by sharp market swings, trade tensions and a late-year rebound in risk assets. Citadel's flagship multistrategy Wellington fund, its largest, gained 10.2% in 2025, according to a person familiar with the firm's returns who asked to remain anonymous as the information is private. The firm's tactical trading fund, which blends equities with quantitative strategies, rose 18.6% in 2025, the person said. Citadel's fundamental equity strategy returned 14.5%, while its global fixed income fund advanced 9.4%. Citadel declined to comment. The S&P 500 locked in a 16.4% gain for the year, its third straight double-digit annual advance. That marks an impressive recovery from the rout seen in early April following President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs announcement. At one point, the S&P 500 was even on the cusp of closing in bear market territory. The hedge fund plans to return about $5 billion of profits earned this year to clients in an effort to limit capital growth, CNBC's Leslie Picker previously reported. The move is expected to reduce assets under management to about $67 billion from roughly $72 billion. Wellington's long-term track record remains strong as the fund has generated an annualized return of 19% since its inception in 1990, the person said. A turbine blade is lifted onto a rack near tower sections at the Revolution Wind project assembly site at State Pier in New London, Connecticut, US, on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Danish renewables giant Orsted, the world's largest developer of offshore wind farms, said on Friday that it had launched legal action against the Trump administration over the suspension of its $5 billion Revolution Wind project. Shares of the Copenhagen-listed company rose more than 4% on the news, putting the stock among the top performers of the pan-European Stoxx 600 index. Orsted said in a statement that it would seek a court injunction against the U.S. government's decision to halt its Revolution Wind project, located about 15 miles south of the Rhode Island coast. "As was the case with the August 2025 stop-work order, the Revolution Wind Project faces substantial harm from a continuation of the lease suspension order. As a result, litigation is a necessary step to protect the rights of the Project," Orsted said. "Revolution Wind has spent and committed billions of dollars in reliance upon, and has met the requests of, a thorough review process," the company added. The pro-fossil fuel Trump administration suspended leases on Dec. 22 for five large offshore wind projects, including Revolution Wind, citing national security concerns identified by the Pentagon. The move marked the latest in a string of blows against offshore wind developers, with U.S. President Donald Trump having previously described wind turbines as "ugly" and an economic and environmental "disaster." Revolution Wind is a 50/50 joint venture between Orsted and Global Infrastructure Partners' Skyborn Renewables. In a filing last year, Orsted and Skyborn Renewables said they had already spent approximately $5 billion on the project. Here are Friday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Raymond James reinstates Apple as market perform The firm resumed coverage of the stock and downgraded it from its prior outperform rating. "Despite strong fundamentals and improving product cycles, we believe Apple's current valuation appropriately reflects these strengths, limiting near-term upside." Read more. Barclays upgrades Vertiv Holdings to overweight from equal weight Barclays said it sees a compelling entry point for the data center infrastructure company. "We upgrade our rating on VRT to OW from EW. We raise our EPS estimates, and our Price Target moves to $200 from $181. While we have not been among the Datacenter capex theme's biggest cheerleaders (they are legion), we think the recent volatility in the stock has created an attractive entry point" TD Cowen reiterates Nvidia as buy TD Cowen said it likes Nvidia's deal with Groq. "Last week NVIDIA announced a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Groq, an AI inferencing chip company founded by former Google TPU engineers. With the deal, NVIDIA is embracing a fundamentally different processing architecture that we believe will eventually be integrated into its roadmap." Goldman Sachs reinstates Cenovus Energy as buy Goldman reinstated coverage of the energy stock and said Cenovus has robust free-cash flow growth. "Our positive view is underpinned by our expectation for strong free cash flow growth over the long-term." Loop reiterates Ollie's and Warby Parker as buy Loop said both retail stocks are best positioned in 2026. "OIlie's stock underperformed in 2025 despite strong financial results, primarily driven by concerns about the company's F2026 prospects. ... . Warby Parker was one of the most volatile stocks in our coverage universe last year." Compass Point reiterates CoreWeave as buy The firm added the stock to its New Money top ideas list in 2026. "CoreWeave pairs multi-year, contract-backed demand with a quantifiable capacity ramp and rapid growth in financials. Shares have been volatile as the market debates capital intensity and timing, but we see that debate as the opportunity, making CRWV our Top Pick into 2026." BTIG reiterates Nike as buy BTIG added the stock to its top ideas list for the first half of 2026 and said it's making a recovery. "Our Large-Cap Top Pick for 2026 remains Nike. While there is clearly still much work ahead for Nike, Inc., we believe 2026 will show solid progress on its recovery." UBS reiterates Under Armour as buy UBS said Under Armour has "turnaround potential." "We believe improving sales growth will cause the stock's valuation to increase." Mizuho reiterates Wayfair as buy Mizuho said the company is a beneficiary of a tariff delay. "Earlier this week, the Trump administration moved to delay increasing certain tariff rates by one full year to January 1, 2027. ... We view this update as giving some breathing room for the sector and for Wayfair (W). The company's marketplace model has absorbed pricing well to date, flexing product sourcing where appropriate and avoiding direct margin pressure." Jefferies reiterates Baidu as buy Jefferies raised its price target on the China internet stock to $181 per share from $159. "We expect Baidu's marketing revenue to be a secular growth story, riding on its high ROI to advertisers with paid searches; it is a proven business model." Read more. Warren Buffett said Berkshire Hathaway is better positioned than any company to endure over the long term as he handed over the CEO reins to his successor Greg Abel, whom he strongly endorsed. "It has a better chance I think of being here 100 years from now than any company I can think of," Buffett told Becky Quick in a special interview, parts of which aired on CNBC Friday. The full interview with Buffett will air on CNBC Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. ET. Buffett officially relinquished the CEO role to Abel Thursday, ending a six-decade legendary run at the helm that turned a struggling textile mill into a trillion-dollar conglomerate with varied businesses from insurance companies to railroads with over $300 billion in cash on the balance sheet. "Greg will be the decider," Buffett said. I "can't imagine how much more he can get accomplished in a week than I can in a month....I'd rather have Greg handling my money than any of the top investment advisors or any of the top CEOs in the United States." Berkshire shares trailed the market after Buffett announced in May he was retiring as some investors questioned whether Abel could manage the sprawling collection of businesses, along with an equity portfolio, in a similar fashion as Buffett, while commanding a premium valuation from the market. A 21-year-old final-year computer science engineering student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IITH), has achieved a remarkable and historic feat. Edward Nathan Varghese secured a 2.5 crore per annum job offer from Optiver, a global trading firm headquartered in the Netherlands.This landmark placement offer represents the highest package ever recorded in the institute's history since its founding in 2008. Varghese, who interned at Optiver last summer, is set to join their Netherlands office as a software engineer in July 2026. The summer internship at Optiver consisted of two weeks of training followed by a six-week project.Born and raised in Hyderabad, Edward Nathan Varghese completed his schooling in Bengaluru (Classes 712). He grew up in a family with an engineering background. A top-performer from the start, he scored an All India Rank (AIR) of 1100 in JEE Main and an AIR 558 in JEE Advanced (2022). He also achieved a 99.96 percentile in CAT 2025 and ranked 120.He served as the Overall Head of the Office of Career Services at IITH, managing a team of eight student managers and 250 coordinators for placements and internships. Before this, he worked as an Internship Cell Coordinator for about eleven months, as per his LinkedIn profile.Speaking to The Times of India, he said, This was the first and only company I interviewed for. I was ecstatic when my mentor indicated that the firm would be extending me an offer. So were my parents.He added that he was always sure of landing a handsome payout, despite the slowdown in the job market."I knew that the IIT tag would draw companies to our campus and that the effect of the present job market would be minimal. Also, since first year of engineering, I was into competitive programming and among the top 100 in the country. That too helped me crack the interview, along with the curriculum that gave us the option to do a wide range of courses. I was lucky to get a PPO, he added. Two cybersecurity professionals charged with running a ransomware operation have pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct, delay, or affect commerce through extortion. They will be sentenced on March 12, 2026, the US Department of Justice announced this week. Ryan Goldberg and Kevin Martin were charged with using the BlackCat ransomware against multiple victims in the US between April 2023 and December 2023. An unnamed co-conspirator was also listed in the court filings. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more It's that time of year again. Resolution-setting is hardly a new idea, but actually sticking with them and seeing them through is another story. If you're genuinely committed to losing weight, The Collagen Co Glow Shakes can help you reach your goal in an easy, effective, and delicious way. The beloved Australian brand is finally available in America - and wellness enthusiasts are thrilled. The Collagen Co Glow Shake Shed pounds without depriving yourself of delicious flavor! Glow Shakes contain a stunning 29 grams of protein, of which 17.5 grams consist of hydrolyzed collagen peptides. 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Join the thousands of loyal users of The Collagen Co Glow Shakes and discover just how easy it can be to lose weight without sacrificing delicious flavor. The other day, I was weaving the tireless old banger round the roundabout near Didcot and saw a lovely parade of flags English flags, Union flags all over the lamp-posts. I gave an appreciative toot, because I have nothing against these impromptu displays of national feeling. In these dark days of early 2026, they help to give a festive, almost jubilee mood. As I put my thumbs up to the flag-raisers, someone from the back seat asked the key question. I think it was the five-year-old. Daddy, he said, why are those people putting up our flags? What is it for? Well, I said, wondering how far back I needed to go, Its just their way of saying, you know, Hooray for England! Hooray for Britain! That kind of thing. I think you will agree that was a pretty judicious answer, but evasive. It was accurate, but it was not exactly the whole truth. There has to be a better reason why so many people these days are prepared to defy the council break the law and shimmy up wobbly pieces of public infrastructure, to assert their love of their own country. The reason is that they now feel deeply after 18 months of this abominable Labour government that they cant rely on the people in power to share that sentiment: simple and uncomplicated patriotism. Ever since Keir Starmer and his party came to power, the evidence has been piling up that they have a different interpretation of what it means to be pro-British, let alone pro-English. There are indeed things about this country that make them proud, in the upper reaches of the Labour Government. But all too often they are the things that defy the common sense of the British people, and that go directly against the national interest. Take the case of this Islamist killer, who has been handed 7,500 compensation by the taxpayer, as well as 240,000 of legal costs. This is Fuad Awale and he is by any standards a thoroughly dangerous and unpleasant man. For Labour, there is something quintessentially British about undermining the British interest, writes Boris Johnson Fuad Awale has been handed 7,500 by the taxpayer, as well as 240,000 of legal costs In 2011, he murdered two teenagers, travelling to ambush them in an alley and then shooting them in the head. When in prison, he captured a prison officer and threatened to kill him unless the UK authorities released a notorious Islamist terrorist called Abu Qatada. It was clear from this incident that Awale had been radicalised in jail. He had become a danger to other inmates, a vector of the Islamist virus. So, of course, the authorities were right to put him under very close supervision, and to minimise his contact with others. In trying to seclude Awale, the prison was perfectly justified within the law. It seems, however, that they made some errors of process. Under the terms of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights enshrined in UK law they somehow failed to respect his right to a private and family life, and his right to correspondence. There was some failure of consultation of the prisoner. Or at least that is what the courts have just found. Now that judgment is in a way irrelevant. What matters is your attitude to that judgment, how it strikes you. The key point is that to the north London Labour lawyers who now run our country, it will be a matter of positive pride that Awale has won his case. To their way of thinking, the outcome will perfectly demonstrate the very best of Britain. They believe the judgment shows that this is a country where the law is supreme, and where human rights are embedded in that law. To them, the case shows that however low you have stooped you are entitled to exactly the same legal protection as anyone else. It is precisely that emotion (which is really a form of priggish Lefty conceit) that is the problem for Starmer and his government. Because that is not how most people see the Awale case. We see a rank absurdity. Most ordinary people simply cant understand how it can be right for the taxpayer to be handing a large sum to Awale and his lawyers, in the name of human rights. What about the human rights of the kids he shot? What about the risk he poses to other prisoners? To many people, this will be yet another nail in the coffin of UK membership of the European Convention on Human Rights, another reason to get out forthwith. Will Starmer do any such thing? Will he have the guts to take on his backbenches? Dont hold your breath. Starmer cant solve the problem, because he is the problem. Remember the lip-smacking relish with which he announced, as soon as he came to power, that he was cancelling the Rwanda scheme to defeat the cross-channel people traffickers. What has been the result? Another 41,472 people came across illegally last year near-record numbers. We continue to pay billions to put them up in hotels, and almost every week there seems to be another crime committed by an illegal immigrant. This is doing huge damage to the social fabric of our country. But to understand why Starmer is allowing this slow-motion catastrophe, you have to understand the lefty lawyer mindset. To Starmer, Lammy, Thornberry the lot of them it is a point of positive national pride that our legal system has, so far, prevented us from sending these illegals back. They think it is a good thing that the courts made it so difficult during my time in government to get the Rwanda project going. They think it shows we are a cut above other countries better, more humane. That is not how most people see things. They think Labour is just pathetic. Rather than standing up for Britain, they see a government that is absolutely determined to put the British interest last. They are right. In Labours warped world-view, there is something quintessentially British about undermining the British interest. There is no other explanation for handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, for instance, let alone paying the Mauritians so much. I was discussing the matter the other day with a Mauritian politician, and she was shaking with laughter. With the dawn of 2026, it is now almost ten years since that historic Brexit vote. After five years of parliamentary battles, and two further elections, the people of this country finally took back full legal and constitutional control. And what is Labour doing with those powers? How are they exploiting this opportunity? They are doing nothing except drift abjectly back into the orbit of Brussels. The public are not fools. They can see straight through Starmer and Co. It is obvious that the ruling Labour elite thinks sticking up for British values means surrendering to the EU, surrendering to the lawyers, and sticking up for the rights of people like Awale, who entirely reject the values of this society. Thats why the flags are still going up; not so much out of pride, but out of despair at not being heard. I am not as convinced as some great Daily Mail writers that this year will see the end of Starmer. But one way or another, a terrible reckoning is coming. Ever since I was 12 years old, my intuition has been exceptionally strong. It's an inherited gift I'm Brazilian, but my ancestry is Romany. There have always been seers in my family, people whose perceptions are sensitive to future events. Most humans are born with this ability to some degree, but what matters is how you develop it. I've spent my life learning to appreciate its power, accepting it as my primary guide, and as a consequence it has evolved over time. Most of my perceptions come as snap ideas and spontaneous mental images that materialize in my mind. It can be like reading an invisible text message or watching a brief film clip in my head. But I've learnt to supplement this power with readings of ancient religious texts, and by analyzing the patterns of everyday life and the fleeting details revealed in human behavior. Other people's energy is one of my most crucial inspirations. My spiritual vision is not something that comes out of the sky it's a blend of my heritage, my instincts, the disciplines I apply to my own life, and the spiritual help that comes from a force surrounding all of us. Taken together, these elements allow me to predict things with a high degree of accuracy. Here are my thoughts on Meghan and Harry for 2026. Athos Salome predicts that 2026 will see a greater degree of professional separation between Meghan and Harry as their working lives diverge, though this does not necessarily mean divorce In recent years I have paid particular attention to the British Royal Family, and a major event is going to have a seismic impact on the Windsors during the first half of the year. This could be linked to the health of one of the senior royals. More happily, as Prince Harry makes a return visit to the UK, I expect to see a tentative truce between him and his father, possibly brokered in part by Princess Eugenie. This will not extend to Harry's older brother, William, and the sibling relationship will remain as badly fractured as ever. Athos Salome predicts that a major event will have a 'seismic impact' on the Royal Family this year Mr Salome says his intuition has been exceptionally strong since he was 12 years old I do foresee an eventual thaw, brought about by the next generation Archie and Lilibet, Harry's children, will form bonds with their cousins George, Charlotte and Louis. But that is still years away. I cannot foresee a role for Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, in the Royal Family ever again. In fact, 2026 will see a greater degree of professional separation between Meghan and Harry as their working lives diverge, though this does not necessarily mean divorce. Explosive revelations from former staff will damage Meghan's public standing, and she will withdraw from the spotlight for a short time before returning with a new strategy and a renewed focus on social causes especially girls' education and mental health. From his first breath, Kai has been battling a barrage of life-threatening health problems that he and his parents will contend with for the rest of his life. Kais parents, Tawny and Dustin Reyna, told the Daily Mail it wasn't long after he was born that he was whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Born premature and weighing just slightly over two pounds, Kai needed consistent monitoring in an incubator. Tawny said: I think it was four to seven hours after birth when we were allowed to go up there and see him because they had to get him stabilized and everything. Tawny and her husband knew Kai's unexpected arrival at 25 weeks and six days meant high survival odds, 70 to 90 percent, but it also meant a high risk of severe, lifelong complications. To this day she doesn't understand what caused his premature birth. In his first few weeks of life, Kai, now four years old, endured multiple emergencies, including severe brain hemorrhages within three days of birth. In the first days for a micro-preemie, the skin and vessels are so fragile 'that even touch can send blood to the brain,' Tawny explained. Doctors told Tawny and Dustin that Kai's brain bleeds and the resulting damage were the direct cause of his spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, diagnosed toward the end of his more than 100 days in the NICU. This means the neural pathways controlling Kais motor function were damaged, resulting in chronic muscle tightness and involuntary primitive reflexes that fight his voluntary movements. Kais mother calls his daily two-hour standing board a 'torture device.' Strapped in with a harness, belt and foot anchors, it forces his body into alignment for meals and activities Your browser does not support iframes. Kai also had a serious lung hemorrhage in his first week of life. Then, about a month into his hospital stay, Tawny claims the staff made an error by switching Kai's fortified breast milk to standard formula, which caused a life-threatening bowel disease. This slowed his growth, required antibiotics and risked sepsis. During a procedure to insert a drain for his hydrocephalus, the fluid buildup in his brain, Kai experienced his third and final major brain hemorrhage. That third brain bleed dramatically worsened the fluid buildup and pressure, causing further damage. To drain it, doctors planned a shunt, but Kai first needed to grow big enough for the permanent implant. At about four months old, doctors implanted a permanent shunt to drain excess fluid from his brain to his abdomen. All this time, Kai was on a ventilator, getting mechanical assistance to breathe through a tube snaked down his throat. The formal diagnosis of his severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, the most involved form of CP, came after the shunt was implanted, just before he was finally discharged from the hospital in May 2022. Soon after birth, Kai [pictured with his father Dustin] suffered two major brain bleeds, causing his cerebral palsy, a lung hemorrhage, and a life-threatening bowel disease from a feeding error Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy is a condition caused by brain damage that results in increased muscle tone, referred to as spasticity. This spasticity causes stiff, tight muscles and impairs movement in all four limbs, as well as the torso and face. It often involves significant challenges with mobility, speech and daily activities, and typically requires the use of assistive equipment and intensive, lifelong therapy. Kai undergoes intensive Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) therapy to build new brain pathways and address his motor delays and reflex issues. DMI is exceedingly expensive, with one three-week intensive course in North Carolina costing $20,000, but its the most effective form a therapy for Kai so far. His father Dustin said Kai has had the 'biggest progress we had ever seen. Kai also receives IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback, which uses low-current stimulation to balance his nervous system, calming his overactive fight-or-flight response, very common in children with cerebral palsy, and promoting rest. The therapy harnesses neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to rewire itself, which is especially potent in young children. This creates a critical window to build foundational motor pathways. The cost of Kai's therapies is around $100,000 annually, almost entirely without help from insurance Research suggests IASIS MCN helps shift dysfunctional brainwave patterns, potentially improving muscle control, focus, and coordination by supporting the nervous system's ability to reorganize. Tawny said: Now he talks full sentences because of it. 'So when doctors see his imaging, they think, nonverbal kid, can't communicate. And then they see Kai, and then they're like, Wait, how did you do that? And I'm like, Neurofeedback therapy. Kai's cerebral palsy has also caused severe hip dysplasia, pulling his thigh bones 60 percent out of their sockets, a painful condition that risks permanent deformity. To treat the dysplasia, Kai is strapped into a standing device for two hours a day, something Tawny likens to a torture device. The process of getting him into his realignment equipment is exhaustive: he is secured with a chest piece, a strap around his rib cage, another across his lap and his feet are anchored to a board at the bottom to enforce proper alignment. A tray attaches for eating or play. He also wears ankle-foot orthotics all day to maintain this posture, countering his bodys tendency to extend into patterns that hinder his development. The cost of his therapies is astronomical, though, with an annual cost of around $100,000, almost entirely without help from insurance. Because of this, Kai's family has set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds and alleviate some of the financial strain. Kai undergoes IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback Therapy, which uses gentle electrical pulses to balance his nervous system Along with the physical and financial stain, the emotional burden is immense. His parents are Kais constant advocates in an unsupportive healthcare system, all while trying to preserve their own health, marriage, and their daughter's well-being. Yet, they persist in pursuing cutting-edge treatments that leverage neuroplasticity, traveling nationwide for intensive therapies. Tawny said: He has to work hard every single day. He doesn't get a break. Obviously, he doesn't know any better, but, someday, he's going to have to choose to start lifting weights and stuff, if he can, to help build that strength up and keep his momentum going. Dustin added: We're going to try anything and everything, because we just want him to have the most successful life, be as less in pain as possible, and be able to be independent as much as he wants and can be. We set the standard now, though.' For millions, a persistent ache in the knee is the first sign that something deeper is wrong a slow loss of movement that can make walking, climbing stairs or even standing painful. In most cases, the underlying cause is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition that blights the lives of nearly 10 million Britons, with estimates suggesting it could affect a billion people globally by 2050. Yet despite its scale and growing impact, treatment options remain limited and there is still not a single drug approved that can prevent a patient's condition from advancing. Research suggests that as many as 40 per cent of patients with the most severe form of the disease fail to get adequate pain relief from commonly prescribed medications. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people a year end up on NHS waiting lists for knee or hip replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis develops when the protective cartilage at the ends of bones gradually breaks down over time, leading to pain, swelling and increasing difficulty moving the joint as bone begins to rub against bone. And, in the absence of effective drug treatments, many people turn to lifestyle changes such as exercise and weight loss to manage their symptoms. But evidence suggests these approaches often fall short. A 2020 study published in Arthritis Care and Research found that as many as 60 per cent of people with knee osteoarthritis experienced little relief from nonpharmaceutical interventions. Osteoarthritis affects nearly 10 million Britons. The condition causes the protective cartilage on the end of bones to break down over time, leading to pain, swelling and problems moving the joint as bone rubs against bone What is clear, experts say, is the need for new treatment options. In the past year, a number of promising developments have emerged, and specialists are quietly confident that 2026 could mark a turning point in arthritis care. 'There has been a lot of hope in early-stage trials over the past decade, but arthritis studies have struggled to deliver positive results in phase three trials that are needed before treatments can be widely used,' said Professor Philip Conaghan, a specialist in arthritis and director of the Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Leeds. 'However, there are now a couple of developments that genuinely look like they could become new treatment options in the not-too-distant future.' So what are the new treatments on the horizon? Read on to find out... Pain relief... without the side effects? For many people living with chronic knee pain, treatment often begins and ends with painkillers. While anti-inflammatory drugs can help ease symptoms in the short term, they do nothing to halt disease progression and stronger options can carry a risk of side effects and dependency when used long-term. Over half of cases are in the knees and over 100,000 people a year end up on the NHS waiting list for joint replacement surgery Now, experts believe a new class of drugs known as neurotrophin inhibitors could offer a different approach by targeting the biological drivers of knee pain itself. Last year, a trial of an experimental drug called LEVI04 in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis saw participants report a 50 per cent reduction in pain, alongside improvements in stiffness and physical function. The study focused specifically on people with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, the most common form of the disease and the leading cause of knee joint failure. Researchers behind the trial say results from the phase three study the final stage before a treatment can be submitted for regulatory approval are expected this year. Unlike standard painkillers, LEVI04 is designed to switch off pain closer to its source. The drug targets neurotrophin3 (NT3), a nerve-growth protein that becomes overactive in damaged knee joints. In osteoarthritis, rising NT3 levels encourage pain-sensing nerves to grow and become hypersensitive, meaning everyday movements such as walking, climbing stairs or standing up can trigger severe pain. LEVI04 works by blocking NT3, effectively turning down pain signals coming directly from the knee joint. Rather than masking pain in the brain, it aims to prevent nerves within the joint from amplifying pain in the first place. The drug is injected directly into the affected knee, allowing it to work locally while avoiding whole-body side effects such as nausea or addiction. Researchers say that, in addition to reducing pain, LEVI04 may also help protect the structure of the joint itself and slow further cartilage deterioration though this remains under investigation. Previous drugs targeting neurotrophins were shelved because of safety concerns, but early evidence suggests LEVI04 does not share the same side-effect profile. Professor Philip Conaghan, lead investigator on the LEVI04 study, described the results as 'truly exceptional' and said the drug could 'offer a vital new treatment option to millions of patients in huge need'. He added: 'If phase three trials replicate these results, LEVI04 would represent a major breakthrough for osteoarthritis treatment, with substantial potential in other pain conditions.' A 2025 Taiwanese study of nearly 1,000 patients with osteoarthritis in knees found weightloss injections reduced the risk of needing joint replacement surgery Could new slimming jabs help? Weight-loss injections do not just help people shed pounds. They have already been hailed for their potential to tackle liver disease, cut the risk of heart attack and slow the progression of chronic kidney disease. Now, researchers believe they could also play a role in treating osteoarthritis - particularly in the knee. Experts say GLP-1 injections offer 'real hope' as a potential new approach. A 2025 Taiwanese study involving nearly 1,000 patients with knee osteoarthritis found that those receiving weight-loss injections were significantly less likely to go on to need joint replacement surgery. The findings build on long-standing evidence linking excess weight to the condition. Research has shown a strong association between body weight and osteoarthritis risk, with one study published in September finding that for every five-point increase in BMI, the likelihood of developing the disease rises by 35 per cent. Part of the explanation is mechanical. Carrying extra weight places added strain on weight-bearing joints such as the knees, accelerating cartilage wear and worsening pain. However, experts believe the benefits of GLP-1 drugs in osteoarthritis may extend beyond weight loss alone. That is why pharmaceutical companies such as 4Moving Biotech, a specialist osteoarthritis drug developer, are investigating whether the effects of these drugs could be enhanced if they are injected directly into the affected joint. 'We do not fully understand why yet, but there does appear to be added benefits beyond weight reduction,' said Professor Philip Conaghan. 'We believe there may also be an anti-inflammatory effect from GLP-1 drugs. 'There is real potential that these medicines could have a significant impact on osteoarthritis care, and that is now getting closer.' For now, however, arthritis is not included in prescribing guidelines for weight-loss injections. Will 'miracle' gel live up to the hype? Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Cambridge unveiled what was described as a 'revolutionary' form of artificial cartilage - a development that could one day change how arthritis is treated. The team has created a soft, gel-like material designed to sense subtle changes within the joint, such as those that occur during an arthritis flare-up, and release medication precisely when and where it is needed. The material can be loaded with anti-inflammatory drugs, which are released in response to small shifts in pH levels associated with inflammation. By mimicking the properties of natural cartilage while also acting as a targeted drug delivery system, researchers hope the gel could ease pain, reduce side effects and provide more continuous treatment for people with arthritis, including those with knee disease. However, experts stress that significant questions remain. 'As a delivery system, this is an interesting development,' said Professor Philip Conaghan. 'But a key question is what drugs we would ultimately put into it.' Relief from joint pain... from a cancer drug Earlier this month, French researchers reported promising early results from an immunotherapy drug - a treatment more commonly used in cancer care - in a small group of patients with knee osteoarthritis. The experimental vaccine targets interleukin-6, an inflammatory protein known to drive cartilage breakdown and joint inflammation in osteoarthritis. Levels of interleukin-6 rise during inflammatory flare-ups, which can last for weeks or months. By targeting and reducing excess levels of the protein, the treatment is designed to soothe symptoms and potentially limit further joint damage. To test the approach, researchers at the University of Paris Descartes enrolled 24 participants, all of whom had knee osteoarthritis. Eighteen received three doses of the vaccine over 16 weeks, while the remaining six were given placebo injections. After 42 weeks, patients who received the vaccine were found to have significantly lower levels of interleukin-6 than those in the placebo group. The researchers described the findings as 'an encouraging first step for further clinical development'. However, experts urge caution. 'We have seen phase II trials of similar drugs in the past and they have not delivered positive results,' said Professor Philip Conaghan. 'The problem with these types of treatments in arthritis care is that they are likely to be effective only in a subset of patients - if at all - and at present we have no reliable way of identifying who those patients would be.' Alternanthera littoralis more commonly known as Joseph's Coat often grows in the Brazil's coastal regions and has typically been used to help treat certain bacterial, fungal and even parasitic infections Truth about Brazilian herbal treatment Last year, a study suggested that an ancient Brazilian herb could one day help ease knee pain linked to osteoarthritis. The research, carried out in mice, found that the medicinal plant alternanthera littoralis - more commonly known as Joseph's Coat - reduced swelling and inflammation, as well as pain and stiffness in affected joints. The native Brazilian species, which grows in coastal regions of the country, has traditionally been used to treat a range of bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. Researchers reported that compounds found in the plant produced effects similar to those of some pain-relief drugs currently used to treat osteoarthritis. Writing in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, scientists at the Federal University of Grande Dourados said alternanthera littoralis demonstrated 'significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-arthritic effects'. They added that the findings 'reinforce the traditional use of alternanthera littoralis and underscore its potential as a therapeutic candidate for the management of inflammatory conditions'. However, the research remains at a very early stage. The findings are based solely on animal experiments, and researchers say further studies would be needed before any trials in people could begin. Professor Philip Conaghan said: 'It is simply too early to say whether this will prove effective in patients.' Britain's 'never complain, never explain' motto is stopping employees from speaking up about their mental health, increasing the risk of more serious health issues, experts have warned. Laying bare the scale of Britain's so-called 'sick note' culture last year, Wes Streeting instructed GPs to stop signing sick letters and instead refer patients to the gym or a job centre. But healthcare workers at St John's Ambulance say this pressure to keep going runs the risk of minimising the very real effects of burnout, which can easily snowball into more serious health issues such as anxiety or depression. Lisa Sharman, head of education and training at the ambulance service, said: 'When public language suggests people are exaggerating or being written off, it can make some individuals feel even less safe to speak up.' She added: 'Any kind of language around mental health that has negative connotations is pushing things back decades. 'Our trainers hear that stigma and fear are still huge barriers, and many people worry that theyre not going to be taken seriously, or that speaking up actually could affect their job if its not seen seriously, or even future prospects.' St John's Ambulance has trained more than 40,000 mental health first-aiders in the workplace in recent years, equipping them with the skills to offer early intervention and support to struggling colleagues. However, Ms Sharman is worried their efforts are being undermined by politicians accusing the nation of laziness. St John's Ambulance want to better equip their mental health first aiders to support their colleagues who may be experiencing burnout and get them the help they need Nearly 11million 'fit notes', which assess an individual's ability to work, were issued in England in the 12 months to June 2024, suggesting as many as 6.1million were handed out without seeing a GP or nurse in person In November 2025, the government-commissioned Keep Britain Working Review, warned that the UK is 'sliding into an avoidable crisis', with the number of 16 to 34-year-olds out of work for mental health reasons rising exponentially. Prior to this, Streeting ruled that mental health conditions are being 'overdiagnosed,' with too many people being 'written off.' Whilst he later redacted this statement, admitting that he had overlooked the severity of the issue, Nigel Farage maintained that the culture is 'creating a class of victims in Britain who will struggle to ever get out of it.' St John Ambulance latest research found that nearly a third of employees lied to their employer about being ill - when they needed to take time off for their mental health. Alan Milburn, the former health secretary, who is leading a separate review on youth unemployment, has previously suggested one of the 'uncomfortable truths' his report will confront is that work is actually good for people's mental health. 'Nearly 1 million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training and that number has been rising for four years. This is a national outrage its both a social injustice and an economic catastrophe,' he said. But, Ms Sharman said: 'I think there is a danger of things like burnout becoming buzzwords.' The aim is for when employees attend the ambulance service's courses, that rather than just prescribing a 'duvet day' for overworked employees, mental health workers try and get to the root cause of the problem. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'The sick society we inherited costs taxpayers eye-watering sums - we simply cannot afford to keep writing people off.' She said: 'Its not always burnout, per se, but its exhaustion, emotional overload, or feeling unable to cope. 'And those are really real experiences, theyre not just buzzwords, so we cant dismiss them as such. 'Burnout is often an early warning sign that something is wrong, but if its recognised and addressed early, people can and will recover sooner. She added: 'I think we're at a point where we are starting to talk more about mental health, so it would be awful now to put that back in the closet. 'It's out now, we need to make sure that we are addressing it in the right way.' In total, by July last year, the NHS has issued more than 11million 'fit notes' - which assess an individuals ability to work - with 93 per cent of these declaring patients 'not fit for work' without a plan to help them return to work of find a job in the future. There are now around 11million economically inactive working age adults in Britain, highlighting the scale of the nation's sick note culture. Of this figure, a record 2.8million have been declared unfit to work due to long-term illness, half of whom have mental health issues including anxiety or depression. Patients who queued for hours to get their dental care on the NHS were forced to pay for a hygienist appointment before being allowed to register, a BBC investigation has revealed. Prospective patients said they were handed an 'ultimatum' which saw hundreds pay 69 to sign up, despite guidelines which state a health care provider cannot refuse an NHS patients if they don't want to pay for a private service. On being made aware of the alleged agreement, chair of the British Dental Association, Eddie Crouch said: 'We know there are 14 million people, sadly, at the moment who want access to an NHS dentist, but those 14 million need to be supported by government, and not abused by any bad practice within our membership.' Lodge Causeway Dental Centre, in east Bristol, held an open day on 6 September which saw thousands of desperate people - including pregnant women and elderly patients who haven't been seen in years, queing to register with an NHS dentist. But when they reached the front of the queue they were told they had to pay a hefty fee for a hygienist appointment if they wanted one of the coveted places. Alice Worthington, from south Bristol, told the BBC that she 'didn't actually need a hygienist appointment at all', but because it's 'impossible to find an NHS dentist,' she paid the fee. The dental centre maintains that the appointments were simply 'offered' alongside a check-up and has apologised for any confusion. Since the open day, the practice has allegedly seen 2,591 NHS patients and only offered 108 hygienist appointments, with systems set up to automatically take payment in advance. A contract between the NHS and dentists stipulates that a health care provider cannot refuse an NHS patient if they do not want to pay for a private service The Lodge Causeway Dental Centre, in Fishponds, Bristol, revealed it had hired three more dentists to cope with the demand A spokesperson estimated the practice could take as many as 3,000 new patients Ms Worthington started queueing long before the practice opened its doors at 8am and was in the line for over three hours with no mention of having to pay. 'We got into reception and they told us that if we wanted to register as an NHS patient we would have to pay 70 for a hygienist appointment,' she said. 'I'd recently had one with the private practice that I was going to, but we were told that until we'd paid the 70 we were not going to be registered with the NHS.' Ms Worthington added that despite being able to afford this herself, others around her became very distressed when they found out about the fee. Sam Mellor, from Bedminster, similarly arrived early to guarantee himself a spot on the list. But he was given the same ultimatum, with the option to pay for the appointment at a later date. He later emailed the practice, after booking the appointment, to complain about the stipulation. In a response seen by the BBC, the practice claimed that the hygenist appoint was 'just an offer'. A woman is seen handing out sheets of paper to prospective NHS patients in Bristol The dentist previously opened up thousands of new appointments for NHS patients in July, but only for those experiencing pain or urgent dental problems But many insist this was not the case. Crouch added: 'If [prospective patients] are being told they have to have a private hygienist appointment before having some NHS dental treatment, then I don't think that's correct.' Lodegwat Causeway Dental Centre admitted that for the five per cent of patients who were not in need of urgent care, an 'offer; of a hygienist appointment was made alongside a routine check-up. It has since apologised 'unreservedly' for taking payments for such appointments in advance and has encouraged patients to contact them to discuss the matter. A spokesperson for the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board explained that whilst NHS dentists are allowed to offer hygienist appointment, patients 'should not be obliged to pay for an appointment at the time of registering.' Parents welcoming babies in 2026 can expect to be influenced by popstars like Lily Allen, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo - as well as country music-inspired monikers. According to new data from BabyCentre, the UK's leading pregnancy and parenting hub, pop culture will dominate this year's choices for those who are expecting, with social media trends that highlight the spiritual 'aura' of names also taking centre stage. And elsewhere, we'll be more likely to hear Alexanders, Nathaniels and Gabriels thrown around with 'heroic' boys' names taking over 'cheeky chappie' ones. 'Baby names are always a reflection of the cultural moment, and this year our data shows exactly what's capturing parents' imaginations,' said Faye Mingo, the group's Growth Officer, as it released its top 100 baby names of 2025. 'This year has been one of the most expressive naming years yet, with choices driven by identity, intention and personal values.' The predicted names set to soar in 2026 are also ruled by 'aura points', according to naming expert SJ Strum - a new social media trend. 'Modern parents want a name with meaning: a name that reflects personality, values, and positive energy. Inspired by the viral social media Aura Points trend,' she explained. 'This "rates" names on qualities like kindness, strength and joy, Aura Points names are rising fast. These characterful, meaning-rich names prove that what a name represents matters as much as how it sounds. Parents welcoming babies in 2026 can expect to be influenced by popstars like Lily Allen, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo- as well as country music-inspired monikers. Stock image used 'Aura Points isn't just a trend, it's a reflection of how parents are thinking about names today. 'Parents want names with personality and values built in. Aura Points names carry meaning, character and positivity, and that's exactly what modern families are drawn to.' There appears to be no exact science for how to calculate said points, but examples, for girls, include Maeve, Myla, Gianna and Esme. For boys, meanwhile, parents may go for Ahmad, Caleb, Asher, Jude and Ronnie. Elsewhere, names rich in symbolism about 'light' are also expected to be making waves. 'The Glow Up trend is transforming the name popularity lists and celebrates names that shine with meaning, beauty and brightness,' the centre said. 'These names are strong in symbolism and style and strike the balance between timeless charm and modern appeal.' Among examples are Ayla (meaning 'halo of light'), Clara ('bright'), Nora ('light'), Nur ('illumination') and Zahra ('shine'). Parents are also predicted to be looking to the pop charts for inspiration. TOP TRENDING NAMES OF 2025 TOP TRENDING GIRLS' NAMES Anaya Eliana Ayla Ruby Maeve Raya Lara Emma Chloe Clara TOP TRENDING BOYS' NAMES Caleb Austin Luke Jesse Ibrahim Omar Kai Asher Musa Ali Source: BabyCentre Advertisement 'Parents are picking names that celebrate strong, expressive female voices,' SJ said. 'These names feel bold, artistic and full of personality! Much like the women inspiring them.' When it comes to boys' names, parents appear to be taking inspiration from old Westerns and romantic tales alike. 'With country music topping the charts, Yellowstone dominating screens and Beyonce's Cowboy Carter bringing boots-and-hat energy back into fashion, cowboy culture has also lassoed baby naming trends,' experts said. 'From leather looks on runways, to Barbie embracing Western glam, parents are falling for names that feel outdoorsy, grounded and full of adventure.' Americana-inspired picks included Caleb, Austin, Luke, Jesse and Junior the latter of which is new to the centre's top 100 boy names list at 88. Romantic heroes could also guide parents in future monikers, with classic traditional examples like Alexander, Nathaniel, Adriel, Ibrahim and Gabriel. BabyCentre also revealed its top trending names for 2025 - the fastest climbers that experienced the biggest jump in popularity. For girls, this included: Anaya (which jumped from 86 of 100 in 2024 to 50 of 100 in 2025), Eliana (38 to 5), Ayla (45 to 18), Ruby (54 to 27), Maeve (52 to 26) and Raya (97 to 72). It followed by Lara, Emma, Chloe and Clara. TOP BABY NAMES OF 2025 TOP GIRLS' NAMES Amelia Olivia Lily Ivy Eliana Elsie Freya Poppy Ava Mia TOP BOYS' NAMES Muhammad Noah Leo Theo Luca Oliver Ethan Eli Arthur George Source: BabyCentre Advertisement However, with boys Caleb was the highest leaper (in at 50 of 100 in 2024, but 17 of 100 in 2025), followed by Austin (91 to 62), Luke (73 to 45) and Jesse (66 to 42). Ibrahim, Omar, Kai, Asher, Musa and Ali are also other examples that made the list. Meanwhile, in its list of top 100 names of 2025, for girls it was Amelia, Olivia, Lily, Ivy, Eliana, Elsie, Freya, Poppy, Ava and Mia that reigned. For boys, it was Muhammad, Noah, Leo, Theo, Luca, Oliver, Ethan, Eli, Arthur and George. An influencer has been accused of having 'no manners' after wearing a cap while dining at an upmarket restaurant in London. Eating With Tod, whose real name is Toby Inskip, has become Britain's biggest food influencer with more than 2.1 million followers across social media. But the 30-year-old has recently raised eyebrows after wearing what some deemed an inappropriate outfit to the restaurant of a Michelin starred chef. The vlogger was dining at Corenucopia, the latest restaurant venture of Clare Smyth, who created Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's lavish wedding breakfast. The eatery in the heart of Chelsea offers Wagyu beef, oysters and venison as well as multiple potato side dishes and a luxury take on the classic fish and chips. Inskip posted his review of the high-end establishment just a few weeks after it opened and revealed what the new menu was like. In the viral clip, the food-lover was seen tucking in to the lobster bisque which came with aged Cheddar toast and cost 18 and Clare's famous fried chicken and caviar, costing 9.50 each, which the influencer described as 'stupendous'. But many pointed out that Inskip was not dressed appropriately for the restaurant and hit out at his cap which had the slogan 'I don't work here' across the top, and 3/4 zip Carhartt jumper. Eating With Tod, whose real name is Toby Inskip, (pictured) has become Britain's biggest food influencer but was recently blasted for turning up to a high-end restaurant in a cap The vlogger was dining at Corenucopia, the latest restaurant venture of Clare Smyth, who created Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's lavish wedding breakfast to try their fish and chips After polishing off the starters, Inskip and his family moved on to trying London's most expensive fish and chips. The dish, made up of Dover sole with lobster mousse, mushy peas and triple-cooked chips, cost an eye-watering 52. The fish came with triple-cooked chips and a vinegar library brought out on a silver tray and boasting seven sour options including Champagne flavour. But that wasn't all, Inskip then tried the potato tasting menu comprising of ten potato options. Along with the classic triple-coked chips, the restaurant offered Anna potatoes with smoked creme fraiche and chives for 12 and Boulangere with Lyonnaise onions and thyme costing 8.50. Also available were steamed potatoes with soft herbs and butter for 7.70, Dauphinoise with garlic, cream and nutmeg (8.50), croquettes for 8, Hasselback potatoes cooked in beef fat and black pepper for 8.50 and Douphine, fondant and mashed potatoes (7.75) which could be served with gravy for an extra 2, caviar for an extra 20 or black truffle. He then tucked in to Corenucopia's toad in the hole, made with Cumberland sausage, black pudding, smoked bacon and a charcuterie sauce which cost 42. And while the viral food vlogger was nothing but complimentary about the restaurant, even going as far as to wonder not just when they'd get their first Michelin star but how many they would get, comments under the video were less than glowing. The influencer donned a cap and a 3/4 zip jumper to enjoy the slap up meal with his family (pictured with his father) Many pointed out that Toby was not dressed appropriately for the restaurant and hit out at his cap and 3/4 zip jumper One viewer wrote underneath the video: 'Take your cap off, they don't sell hotdogs here.' Another wrote: 'You're in a classy establishment. Take your hat off mate.' One fan sarcastically commented: 'Great to see you dressed for the occasion.' And others chimed in with similar criticisms and shared that they were shocked Toby hadn't put more effort into his outfit. Many Michelin star restaurants ask diners to dress in smart casual with a general rule of dressing to show respect for the experience. Men often wear collared shirts, dress trousers and blazers or jackets while women can wear dresses, skirts, or smart separates. A general rule is to avoid sportswear, shorts, or flip-flops. However, while Clare Smyth's latest venture has yet to be given a Michelin star, many in the comments didn't feel Toby was respecting the quality of the eatery. Eating With Tod has been approached for comment. And this isn't the first time the food influencer has fallen foul of his followers. Last month visitors to Eating With Tod's Christmas market criticised the event as 'terrible,' and 'lacking atmosphere' with one former restaurateur describing the dishes as 'the worst he's ever eaten'. The event promised to bring together some of the most highly anticipated food brands as traders to deliver Instagram-worthy dishes like cinnamon buns dripping in icing by Roll Boys, loaded festive hot dogs by Ruben's Rubens, and flame-toasted marshmallows on hot chocolate by Chin Chin. But visitors to the market have been left disappointed. Many have now flocked to social media to slam the market over its long queues, lack of Christmas music or any festive feeling, with one restaurateur blasting the meals as the 'worst food he's ever eaten'. Held outside of the Outernet live events space, Tod's Christmas market was expected to be one of the biggest festive attractions in the capital, especially given his vast fan base. Tod said he curated the market because he was 'sick and tired' of eating the same kind of food at Christmas markets across the country, and wanted to have 'proper food and proper chefs'. But those who attended slammed poor organisation, few seats and no shelter from rain. CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil released a mission statement for his new show that claims to emphasize 'the average American' over 'advocates' and 'elites'. Dokoupil was the first major hire made by former New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss in her attempt to rebrand the network as the editor-in-chief of CBS News. The ex-CBS morning show anchor said in his video statement Thursday that he hopes to make an impact in contrast to mainstream media that aren't serving the American public. Dokoupil said that 'all of a legacy media' needs a change as viewers 'do not trust us like they used to'. 'I get it, I get it because I've been hearing about it from just about everybody for more than 20 years as I've traveled America on this assignment or that,' he said. He cited everything from NAFTA to Hillary Clinton's email scandal to the Russia hoax to Donald Trump's 'fitness for office' as stories Americans cite having problems with. 'On too many stories, the press has missed the story. Because we've taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you,' Dokoupil said. He added that 'I have been you' and felt his own frustrations were not reflected in news coverage. New CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil (pictured) put out a mission statement for his show that puts 'the average American' over 'advocates' and 'elites' Dokoupil was the first major hire of former New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss (pictured) as the news division's editor-in-chief as the anti-woke Free Press founder tries to rebuild the network 'The most urgent questions simply weren't being asked,' Dokoupil claimed. He promised that 'you' come first, not advertisers or corporate interests or even the owners of CBS. 'I report for you, which means I tell you what I know when I know it and how I know it and when I get it wrong, I'll tell you that, too,' he said. He signed off by saying that one of the great ideas that should stay the same is 'telling the truth.' 'I'm Tony Dokoupil, CBS Evening News. Hold me to it.' Liberals and conservatives jumped on the two-minute clip and criticized Dokoupil's rhetoric, with the left jumping on the notion of ignoring 'average Americans' for so-called 'experts'. Former New York Times editor Lydia Polgren asked: 'Advocates for whom? Experts on what, and with what qualifications? Who counts as an average American? Good journalism is adding more sources, not subtracting them, and being transparent about why the audience should believe them.' Left-leaning pollster Larry Sabato joked about sidelining experts, joking that, 'You wouldn't want "academics and elites" who have actually studied a subject to outweigh the off-the-cuff opinions of village idiots.' Sabato continued: 'This is how we're seeing the resurgence of measles, and the widespread belief in almost non-existent vote fraud, among many other great leaps backward in the Trump era. Cronkite would be so very proud of you.' Viewers left, right and center slammed the video on social media as out of touch "On too many stories, the press has missed the story. Because we've taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you." That changes now. The new CBS Evening News pic.twitter.com/NKdvRJjYCS CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) January 1, 2026 AP writer Nick Riccardi added: 'The audience is the average American but the validator of accuracy is not the audience. The customer is not always right, especially in the news business.' Meanwhile, independent journalist Zaid Jilani mocked Dokoupil for suggesting he or his boss Weiss were anti-elite. 'Tony Dokoupil of Gulliver Preparatory School, Columbia University, and George Washington University, installed by Bari Weiss (Columbia University) and David Ellison (billionaire) will translate Average Americans to you.' Conservatives, on the other hand, felt like they'd heard this story before and weren't ready to believe it. 'Hahahaha... no. It's because you blatantly lie,' wrote one right-leaning social media user. Another added: 'This is hilarious. "I've cheated on you for decades. But trust me, I'm the one who feels pain. I'm here to tell you I'm a new man. Trust me."' The reaction didn't calm down the concerns across the spectrum about Weiss' choice to bring Dokoupil to the evening newscast, as The Daily Mail reported last month. Weiss, 41, anointed Dokoupil the next host of the flagship broadcast in December, following a far-and-wide search outside CBS. Dokoupil (pictured left) previously co-hosted CBS Mornings, routinely finishing last among the network morning newscasts Weiss was handpicked to lead CBS News by new Paramount boss David Ellison in October The effort, instead of yielding a big name like Bret Baier or Anderson Cooper, ended up showing Weiss's inexperience, one insider said. 'How much less visionary can you get: After Bari Weiss made a fool of herself chasing anchors locked up in iron-clad contracts, she's now resorted to tapping Tony Dokoupil once her best source at The Free Press - to anchor the Evening News, ensuring CBS remains firmly in last place. 'Big league ambitions, little league talent,' the source added. Weiss settling for Dokoupil was the result of an 'amateur hour display of chasing anchors locked up in iron-clad contracts,' the source said. 'Looks like she is now rummaging through the bargain bin of personalities in tapping Dokoupil as the new face of the Evening News.' Weiss was handpicked to lead CBS News by new Paramount boss David Ellison in October. A right-leaning former opinion journalist who left the New York Times in protest of its 'illiberal environment', she has never led a major news organization. An industry exec had a similar take on Dokoupil's promotion when contacted Wednesday, sarcastically framing it as, 'Another brilliant move from the laughingstock of the industry that is Bari Weiss.' Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson stepped in for Norah O'Donnell back in January. They are now both on their way out Weiss, 41, anointed Dokoupil the next host of the flagship broadcast in December, following a far-and-wide search outside CBS 'Lets see who loses their job first Dokoupil, who has a track record of driving ratings down or Weiss, who is clearly showing how out of her depth she is at running CBS News,' the executive said. Another industry insider added: 'No one believes Dokoupil is the person that can effectively right the sinking ship that is CBS News. 'He couldnt even leverage the star power of Gayle King to turnaround CBS Mornings, so theres zero chance as a solo anchor he will do anything to move the needle, much less move CBS News out of last place.' Ratings for his old broadcast have suffered since he started hosting in May of 2019, down roughly 31 percent overall and 56 percent within the coveted 25 to 54 demographic, according to Nielsen data. The drop amongst viewers aged 18 to 49 is even more pronounced at 60 percent. The decline is nearly the same when comparing CBS Mornings' current ratings against those received in 2020 - Dokoupil's first full year as host. Drops have been recorded in all three categories each year, like clockwork. The show remains in a firm last place out of the legacy networks, as is the case with CBS Evening News. Currents hosts Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson are set to leave at the month. Even cable shows like 'FOX & Friends' are now leading 'CBS Mornings' in several major markets. Dokoupil's CBS Evening News tenure launches on Monday night. A seismic shift in the electric vehicle market in 2025 has seen Chinese firm BYD outmuscle Tesla as the world's largest seller of EV vehicles. In the annual sales stakes, BYD said on Thursday that sales of its battery-powered vehicles jumped nearly 28 per cent to more than 2.5million. Tesla is due to post its 2025 annual sales figures later on Friday. Last week, analyst estimates claimed the US-based business is likely to have sold approximately 1.65million EV cars in 2025. Ferocious competition from Chinese rivals, a degree of unease among some of Tesla chief Elon Musk's politics and mixed reviews of new models piled pressure on the American giant last year. Chinese EV makers like BYD, Geely and MG are snapping at the heels of Western rivals and luring in customers with lower prices. Under pressure: The billionaire boss of Tesla, Elon Musk, is under pressure to deliver Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, told the Daily Mail: 'Tesla had the first mover advantage with electric vehicles, but its moment in the sun has long gone. 'Price is incredibly important to drivers and BYD has muscled its way to the top by undercutting its American rival.' He added: 'While Tesla might argue it has the edge on battery range and technology, many people are happy for a more standard offering as they embrace electric power. 'BYD is far from a no-frills offering though, as it competes well on features as well as price. 'Tesla is fighting back with more affordable vehicles, but the outspoken nature and political views of CEO Elon Musk means the brand is off limits to many drivers, no matter the price point.' In a bid to fend off Chinese rivals, Tesla launched lower-priced versions of its two best-selling models in October. Aside from Tesla, Musk's business interests also include social media platform X, rocket firm SpaceX and the Boring Company, which digs tunnels. This slew of commitments, along with running Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), led some investors to allege Musk was not paying Tesla enough attention. Later in 2025, Musk vowed to cut back his government work. In November, Tesla shareholders approved a 740billion potential pay package for Musk. Musk won shareholder approval for the largest pay package in history, as investors endorsed his vision of morphing the EV maker into an artificial intelligence and robotics juggernaut. At the top: Wang Chuanfu is the chairman and chief executive of BYD Words matter: In 2011, Musk naively laughed off the threat of BYD If Musk delivers on the ambitious milestones in the pay package laid out at the annual meeting, he could become the worlds first trillionaire. To secure the record-breaking payout, Musk has to significantly boost Tesla's sales and stock market value over the next decade and sell a million humanoid robots over the next ten years. BYD was once the butt of jokes...but not any more BYD was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu, a Chinese chemist and entrepreneur. It used to be just an electric battery manufacturer based in Shenzhen, making lithium-ion batteries for mobile phones. However, by 2003, BYD was in the position to sidestep into the automotive industry, acquiring a small car maker called Xi'an Qinchuan Automobile. It's first combustion car, the F3, arrived in 2005, before releasing the plug-in hybrid F3DM in 2008. In 2011, Musk naively laughed off the threat of BYD. During a Bloomberg interview, the Tesla boss scoffed: 'Have you seen their [unnamed] car? I don't think it's particularly attractive, the technology is not very strong. 'And BYD as a company has pretty severe problems in their home turf in China. I think their focus is, and rightly should be, on making sure they don't die in China.' However, a decade after Musk's comments, BYD began exporting outside China. By 2024, it reached an annual overseas sales figure of 417,204 units representing a 71.86 per cent increase on 2023. And by 2030, BYD aims to sell half its cars outside its native land. In April, the Chinese brand officially sold more pure electric cars in Europe than Tesla for the first time on record. BYD sales rose 169 per cent compared to April 2024, versus Tesla's dropping 49 per cent. In September 2025, Warren Buffett's investment firm fully exited its stake in BYD after backing the 'Tesla killer' for 17 years. Entering another New Year inevitably prompts reflection on the passage of time. Yet some people seem to move through the decades largely untouched, their abilities undimmed by the fugitive years. Warren Buffett, the worlds most famous investor, who just stepped down as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway a few days ago aged 95, is a case in point though even now he is staying on as chairman. In his own eyes, it may actually qualify as early retirement. Buffett has made his move almost a decade younger than one of the entrepreneurs he most admired: Rose Blumkin, the late founder of Nebraska Furniture Mart. Mrs B, as he called her, started a new business at 95 and did not retire until she was 104. Working past 100 is one way of dealing with the economic challenges of an ageing population. The Chinese approach Beijing has just introduced 13 per cent VAT on condoms as part of a package to encourage people to have more babies is another. Neither strike me as likely to work. New era: Warren Buffett has just stepped down as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway aged 95 The ageing population is not a theoretical problem; it is happening. One in five in the UK is over 65, and the over-85s are the fastest-growing age group. If we carry on as we are, demographic trends put the public finances on an unsustainable path. Debt, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility, could rise to more than 300 per cent of national income by 2070, driven by rising pension costs, demand for health and social care, and a shrinking working-age population. An ageing workforce may already be a brake on growth in key sectors of the economy. The Government has designated eight sectors, including defence, creative industries, life sciences and tech as drivers of growth. They employ 11million people, of whom 3.4million are over 50, and 450,000 are over 65, according to the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement. Almost four out of ten workers in the defence sector are over 50, an awkward reality at a time when the UK, faced with Kremlin aggression, needs to invest heavily. Even in digital and tech, often assumed to be a young persons game, 30 per cent are over 50. This has policy implications. Retaining older workers and helping them keep their skills current is as important as helping nearly 1million NEETs youngsters not in education, employment or training into work. Men are over-represented in all these sectors. The double standard where men are seen as gaining authority with age while women are perceived to lose relevance far earlier deserves challenge. Many older people would happily stay in work for longer if flexibility and fairness were the norm. That would strengthen their personal finances and ease pressure on the state. The so-called silver economy could become a powerful engine of growth, from healthcare to travel and housing. Artificial intelligence could help, reducing cognitive load by taking on time-consuming basic tasks and enabling people to concentrate on areas where they add more value. And as AI spreads, mature judgement should become more, not less, of an asset. Too often, ageing is presented as a social and economic burden to be managed. A better question is how can we be more Blumkin, living fully and productively for as long as possible. My holiday reading included Selina Hastingss biography of the novelist Sybille Bedford, who was still writing and falling in love in her eighties. I suspect Warren Buffett would approve. I'm in a busy Madrid metro station with 'Patrulla Madrid', a grassroots vigilante movement that has taken on the city's pickpocket epidemic. Suddenly, the group spots a young woman sliding her hand into an elderly commuter's handbag. 'Carterista!' ('Pickpocket!') they shout. Whistles shriek and phones fly up to record the scene. They recognise the woman immediately. Her name is Dona, and she is one of Madrid's most notorious pickpockets. Patrulla Madrid films and exposes pickpockets across the city's streets and stations, a strategy that has earned the group more than a million followers across their social media platforms. Its 18 volunteers come from every demographic, including immigrants, LGBT activists, retirees and people with completely opposing political beliefs, yet they all agree that Madrid has reached a breaking point. I spent time with them to understand how their operation works. The group was formed by Javier, a tour guide who had grown tired of watching tourists get mugged. Dona waiting at the train station after being caught by Patrulla Madrid A man slipping his hand into an unsuspecting victim's bag A prolific Bosnian pickpocket using a jacket to hide her hand as she attempts to rob a man Today, he is at the front of the action, leading the volunteers who surround Dona and escort her toward the train to make sure she leaves the city centre. As we walk, Antonio, a veteran member, explains their approach. The group confronts thieves by blowing whistles and shouting, drawing attention from the public. 'We want everyone to remember their faces. While we can't arrest them, we can make sure people know that these are the ones who steal from pregnant women and the elderly,' he says. How to avoid becoming a victim A large part of their work is reminding sightseers to protect themselves. 'You wouldn't believe how many people do not pay attention,' he says. 'We're constantly telling them to zip up their bags and watch their belongings.' He advises tourists take specific measures to keep their belongings safe, making sure to: Always carry bags and backpacks in front and make sure all zippers are closed Never put wallets or phones in a back pocket or an open jacket pocket Not lean bags against clothing racks in shops Never leave items in a dressing room when going to grab another size Be discreet when taking out or putting away a wallet Be careful when travelling with a suitcase and a bag, making sure both are being paid attention to Never leave backpacks on a bench when sitting down to rest Not leave items unattended at a table when picking up a restaurant order How to spot a thief Over time, the volunteers have quickly learned how to identify thieves through specific signs: They always wear trainers for a quick getaway Women often carry empty bags to store stolen items They typically operate in pairs They conceal their hand with a scarf or jacket when stealing They frequently use disguises such as big sunglasses, wigs or head coverings Some pose as shop attendants for easier access to areas like dressing rooms They always blend in with their surroundings (i.e. wearing luxury clothing in high end shops) They avoid eye contact On public transport, they move in and out of train cars in search of their next target Antonio goes on to explain their tactics, such as pushing against the victim in a crowded area while their accomplice slips a hand in their belongings. They may also pretend to help the victim with a suitcase, leading them to let their guard down and become an easier target. In other cases, one will distract an innocent passerby by posing as a charity fundraiser while the other steals from the victim. A pickpocket disguised in a head covering and large sunglasses A pickpocket disguised as a ZARA employee A man using a scarf to hide his hand as he robs a tourist Certain groups frequent specific metro lines and many belong to organised networks. They most often encounter thieves linked to Bulgarian, Bosnian and Romanian groups, although they also spot Chileans, Peruvians, Algerians and Moroccans. A significant part of Patrulla Madrid's work is also investigative. The volunteers have built their own database of pickpockets and receive messages daily from the public. 'People will write to us with tips like 'the woman in your video goes to my gym' or 'that man lives in my neighbourhood,' Antonio says. 'With information like that we can build a fuller picture.' Earlier this year, they identified more than 100 Bulgarian pickpockets who were operating in the city, leading to their names and faces appearing across the news in their home country. Although they have no authority to make arrests, they stay in touch with shopkeepers, security guards and the police through a Telegram channel used to track sightings of suspects. One of the security guards who now volunteers is Qadeer, a Pakistani immigrant working at a fast-food restaurant near the Atocha train station, one of the city's main hotspots. A Patrulla Madrid member invited him to join after realising he was already chasing thieves on his own for what he jokingly describes as 'fun'. 'I came here as an immigrant and made an honest living,' he tells me. 'Meanwhile these people arrive in Madrid and make thousands a week by stealing. It's unfair and I try to stop tourists from becoming victims.' Both he and Antonio say they face regular abuse from the thieves they follow. 'The pickpockets shout at me to go back to Morocco,' Qadeer laughs. 'I'm not even from Morocco.' Antonio, who is gay, says the thieves sometimes refer to the group as 'Patrulla Marica', which translates to 'F***** Patrol', a reference to the number of gay volunteers. The group is politically mixed as well. Antonio points to an elderly man on today's patrol who votes for Spain's far-right party VOX, while the group's only female volunteer, Johanna, votes for the far left. 'It's about mutual respect and a common goal,' Antonio tells me. 'We are proof that people with completely different views can work together for the good of our city.' They are careful with new recruits however, and screen out anyone who appears to enjoy confrontation too much or tries to use the group as justification for targeting immigrants or women. The group has helped police catch and prosecute pickpockets Patrulla Madrid identified more than 100 Bulgarian pickpockets who were operating in the city As Javier ushers Dona onto a train, he warns the passengers to guard their bags and phones. 'This woman is a pickpocket who regularly steals from the elderly. Remember her face,' he announces. Earlier, I had tried to speak to Dona. The volunteers tell me she is Bulgarian, in her early twenties, and has a young child at home. She refused to look at me or answer any questions. Standing with Johanna afterwards, I ask whether she ever feels the group pushes things too far. A group of mainly men chasing a woman with whistles can appear aggressive, and I wonder whether some of the thieves steal out of desperation. Johanna says: 'As women, we are automatically too empathetic. I used to say to myself 'maybe they have children to feed or are stuck in abusive situations.' But then you remember who they target. Dona steals from pregnant and elderly women. They are the real victims, not her.' Antonio adds that they have repeatedly offered help and information about resources to the female pickpockets they confront. Antonio attempting to speak to Dona as we wait for the train Antonio (left in green shirt) and Javier (right in blue and white shirt) enjoy a celebratory meal with two other members of Patrulla Madrid - Luis (in grey) and Angel (in a blue cap) 'They don't want help. They make far more money stealing than they would in any honest job,' he claims. He says members of the public sometimes assume they are harassing innocent people, but as soon as they understand what is happening they become grateful, adding: 'We receive messages every day thanking us.' The police appear to agree. As we return from the station two officers recognise Javier and stop to greet him. They speak to me on the condition of anonymity. One explains that legal constraints prevent them from removing known pickpockets from the metro or monitoring them as proactively as the volunteers can. They also lack the resources to follow up every theft. 'Patrulla Madrid has helped us identify suspects, faces, networks and nationalities,' the second officer says. 'We are unfortunately at a point where citizens must do what they can to protect themselves.' Thousands of women are being misled by a firm selling self-swab rape kits as a deterrent which could lead to attackers walking free, police have warned. A company falsely claiming to be funded by the police, government and universities has become a social media sensation after launching rape kits for 20, telling victims they can get justice by self-swabbing for the presence of their attackers DNA. More than 8,000 kits have been given to university students by the firm Enough, which claims they are an active deterrent to rapists. The firm, selling the kits on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, posed last month outside Downing Street announcing they had delivered 100 kits to the Government. Enough plans to sell the kits in pharmacies, schools, workplaces and on Amazon, falsely claiming that police are already using them as evidence in prosecutions. But police, prosecutors and MPs say victims are being sold a lie, warning the swabs offer no proof of rape, the chances of them being admissible in court are infinitesimally low and the firms dangerous misleading claims could lead to predators walking free. The warning comes after the first abuse case involving a self-swab kit was dropped by police, leaving a child victim traumatised. Now the National Police Chiefs Council, Crown Prosecution Service, MPs, forensic bodies and more than 30 rape and victims charities are warning that victims are being put at risk. Katie White, the Cofounder of Enough, which plans to sell the self-swab rape kits in pharmacies, schools, workplaces and on Amazon, falsely claiming that police are already using them as evidence in prosecutions A photograph of the contents of an Enough self-swab kit. Critics say a DNA swab done at home is no proof of rape or even sexual intercourse The Governments Independent Adviser on Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Violence, Professor Katrin Hohl has backed calls by rape charities and MPs for a ban on the sale of self-swab kits after similar versions were outlawed in several US states. Enough claim that its swab, which resembles a cotton wool bud, can be stored for 20 years giving women a sense of control and power as they have the option to go to police later with their attackers DNA. But critics say a DNA swab done at home is no proof of rape or even sexual intercourse. The kits are supplied without gloves and victims are instructed to send samples of semen or saliva in the post to Enough, risking contamination and damage in transit as it will not be frozen until arriving at a lab days later. The lab used to store the sample is accredited to store paternity tests, not criminal evidence. Enough claims leading KCs say the evidence is admissible in court, but it has refused to provide the names of those lawyers. Yesterday the national police lead on rape, Chief Constable Sarah Crew said the chance of the kit being admissible in a criminal prosecution was very, very infinitesimally low to no chance, adding that she was deeply worried about the potential harm to victims. I can see no evidence for these claims, I think they are misleading, she said. I worry about how the evidence is collected and contamination, I worry about how chain of custody (of the sample) works, I worry about loss of other corroborating evidence due to the time delay this causes. 'That can all result in arguments about admissibility and then victims lose the opportunity of securing justice and perpetrators get away with it. Avon and Somerset Police Chief Constable Sarah Crew said the chance of the kit being admissible in a criminal prosecution was very, very infinitesimally low to no chance, adding that she was deeply worried about the potential harm to victims She added: Potentially it's dangerous because I don't think it's of any help to that victim in terms of their coping and recovery, the psychological and physical impact of what they've just gone through, but also if they want to secure justice, this is not holding offenders to account. Its not deterring them in any way. What these self-swabbing kids don't do is they don't help us, even from an intelligence perspective, identify who dangerous perpetrators are in our communities might be. So, from my way of looking at things, it's the opposite of deterrence. It's actually giving perpetrators license to carry on. Ultimately you end up with victims who maybe be further traumatised, you end up with suspects who are not held to account and then communities are less safe. The Avon and Somerset Police chief is one of many critics including rape charities, the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, universities and campaigners to have received threatening letters from the firm after raising concerns. Enoughs co-founder, millionaire tech entrepreneur Tom Allchurch, was previously involved in a US self-swab firm called MeToo Kits, later rebranded as Leda Health, which was led by a woman who described sexual assault as a multi-billion-dollar industry. The start-up raised $9million in investment but was later banned in several US states Professor Hohl said she would support a similar ban in the UK: I would support a ban on the products being marketed or portrayed as ending rape in this world. I dont see how if this kit is in someones room, it would turn someone who is dangerous into someone who is not dangerous- the idea that this kit could change someones mind. I think it would be very unlikely that it would ever be admissible in court. Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England and Wales said: I am very worried about the damage these kits could do to a group of people that are already in a state of trauma. People are being given false hope and if they try to pursue a case in the future that evidence would not be viable Shadow Security and Safeguarding Minister Alicia Kearns (pictured) has called for the products to be banned There is no evidence of deterrence, it is a meaningless claim. She added: DNA is rarely the issue in rape cases, it is consent. These kits dont even tell you where this DNA is from. A defence lawyer could just say this person has been framed. It raises concerns about getting justice and catching serial perpetrators because if this DNA is not on a police database, it undermines the criminal justice system. Shadow Security and Safeguarding Minister Alicia Kearns MP said: It is both vile and disgraceful that this firm is profiting off rape victims by selling them a lie and a kit - that wont keep them safe let alone get them justice. Enough hide behind misleading claims and false messages of empowerment whilst they weaponise trial delays and seek to profit from womens fears and rape victims trauma. They claim to be a voice for victims whilst they viciously attack and smear campaigners that are actually fighting to make the world a safer place for women. Behaving like legal sharks, engaging in legal intimidation threatening charities providing vital support to victims of abuse and sexual assault and even female students trying to protect their peers. A self-swab rape kit is not a form of deterrence, protection or justice. Its exploitation of people at their most vulnerable. For the safety of victims, the sale of self-swab rape kits must be banned. Siobhan Blake, National Crown Prosecution Service Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, said: It is important to make clear that self-swabbing kits may have issues with admissibility, including questions about the integrity of any forensic materials collected using this method. Enough co-founders Katie White and Tom Allchurch cited the firm's poll of students in Bristol where 70 per cent said 'Enough prevented rape on campus'. They added: Enough is a registered CIC non-profit social movement to prevent rape, funded by individuals and organisations, including the national lottery. Enough is a revolutionary social movement, a strong public health campaign, creating social deterrence in the same way that our government did for smoking and drink driving. Enough is misunderstood when it is reduced to a DNA kit. Our approach fills two gaping holes in the system - an option for survivors who aren't currently reporting, and a threat for perpetrators who face no consequence today. It is disappointing that some in the sector are trying to block new ideas without understanding their impact. Sharon Osbourne breaks down in tears as she takes to the stage at the 2026 Grammys for Yungblud's win as he honours 'idol' Ozzy Osbourne - six months on from his tragic death A woman who reported her ex-partner to police for committing grievous bodily harm against her is having to wait nine years for a trial, with a key witness dying and investigating officers retiring before it reached court, the Daily Mail can reveal. Becky Sheeran, 37, from Nottingham, is among thousands experiencing 'unacceptable' delays in the court system, leaving her waiting almost a decade before facing her alleged attacker in court. Ms Sheeran first contacted police with allegations against her ex-partner in 2019. Following an investigation, restauranteur David Perkins, 46, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm against her at a five-star hotel in London. But far from provide a measure of relief for Ms Sheeran, she told the Daily Mail how delay after delay in the justice system has had a devastating impact on her and her family. She has faced such a long hold-up for justice that her mother, a crucial witness in the case, has died while awaiting the trial. Candidly speaking about how it has impacted her mental health, Ms Sheeran said she has considered 'giving up' on the case and fears the length of time crime victims currently face in limbo means they will no longer report crimes or may even take their own lives. The business owner had already faced a six-year wait for a court date when the trial was initially scheduled for September 2025. Becky Sheeran, 37, from Nottingham, first contacted police with allegations against her ex-partner in 2019 The businesswoman (right) has faced an 'unacceptable' delay of nine years for a court date, with her mother Gill (left), a key witness in the case, sadly dying before she could give evidence against her daughter's attacker She was then informed last year that the date had been pushed back by three months to December 2025. But when Ms Sheeran, her family and the police officer in charge of her case arrived in Birmingham last month, it failed to make it to a courtroom. The case has now been pushed back again by more than two years and is next due to go to court in 2028. The nine-year wait for a trial has meant that a key witness in the case, Ms Sheeran's mother Gill, has sadly passed away before her evidence could be used in a court of law. The initial delay from September 2025 saw Ms Sheeran's case was allocated as a 'float trial' in December, meaning it should have been heard as soon as a gap in a courtroom's schedule appeared, but had not been pre-allocated an allotted time and judge. Ms Sheeran said she was told it was 'guaranteed' that the case would be called. 'The CPS and the courts knew the trial had already been delayed,' she said. 'They'd promised us that we would be at trial, because it had already been so many years. 'And then we just didn't get allocated a courtroom. There were too many people. Too many cases. Restauranteur David Perkins, 46, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm against his ex at a five-star hotel in London Ms Sheeran considered pulling out of the court case when she was told the next available trial date wasn't until 2028 'It was chaos. I think there were six trials that day that were floated. Some of them were rape trials that had also been delayed, and this was the victim's second time of going through this. 'You're at the bottom of the pile. That's what the police said to me [at court]. They said we're at the bottom of the pile. It was horrendous.' Because there were too many cases on the day, Ms Sheeran was then given a new court date - in 2028. She says she was told there is currently no guarantee the trial will even happen as scheduled on March 27 of that year. And to make matters worse, the police officer in charge of her case is due to retire next October. Ms Sheeran described how the officer sat with her and said: 'This is the system, it's just broken.' She was left so upset by the delay that she told the Daily Mail she considered pulling out of the case altogether. 'I completely lost all my fight. I just lost it. And you feel so deflated.' The businesswoman said there was 'no support' for her after the court date. Ms Sheeran told the Daily Mail that by the time of the trial she will have lost vital support including her mother Gill, and the police officer who investigated the case, who is due to retire 'I didn't have any support in terms of witness care. No one there with me. There was no team afterwards to say, how do you feel? Are you okay? What does this mean? We can help. Nothing apart from the police officer.' Ms Sheeran said she may never have reported the incident to the police if she had known how long she would have to wait. 'I have to live with the stress and worry and anxiety, and you just, you know, you relive that,' she said. 'It's like it's happening all over again, that pain, because you're reliving it each year, each interview, each date that something comes up. 'You're just stuck in time, and you can't move past it. It's so hard that it will have been almost 10 years of my life. 'And if I'd known that, I don't know if I would have gone to the police. 'I don't know if I could have had the strength at the time, to know that I would have 10 years of my life going through this.' She continued: 'Everybody in the UK has a right to a fair trial within a reasonable time. Nine years is not a reasonable time. There's a lot of talk about getting rid of juries to try and speed things up, but whatever decision is made, things have to change. 'The mental health impact of this is so severe, and it's not talked about. You're going to have people committing suicide, you're going to have people not reporting crimes.' Ms Sheeran said it was only due to her supportive family members that she felt able to continue to wait for justice. 'I would be pulling out now if I didn't have that support, and the reality is, a lot of people don't. They don't have any family, or they don't have friends around them to help them. 'If I didn't have my family, I would be pulling out now, I'd give up.' In a bid to raise awareness of the severity of the backlog faced by victims of crime, Ms Sheeran has written to her MP and says she wants to see urgent action from government. 'If we don't speak up, particularly as women, we will never see change. And as uncomfortable as it is for me, I desperately want change for other people that are going to go through what I'm going through,' she said. There are currently just shy of 80,000 criminal cases awaiting trial, with this estimated to rise to 100,000 by 2028. Many victims whose cases result in a charge today will realistically not see trial until 2030. The government has pledged to take measures to tackle the issue, including its recently announced proposal to slash the number of jury trials by restricting these to the most serious crimes such as rape and murder. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'The Government inherited a justice system in crisis and the record court backlog means victims are waiting too long for justice. 'That is why we recently announced major reforms to modernise the criminal courts and cut delays. The changes will mean victims are put front and centre of the court system and will see their perpetrator in the docks sooner.' A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: 'We recognise the devastating impact of delays which is why we are working hard to deliver swifter justice and increase the support available to victims including employing dedicated Victim Liaison Officers in every part of the country.' The family of a teenage girl found dead in a field after disappearing from her Texas home on Christmas Eve have broken their silence - saying she is now 'with the Good Lord.' Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19, was last seen on a neighbor's surveillance camera leaving her San Antonio neighborhood just before 7am on December 24, prompting a week-long search as authorities feared she could be in 'imminent danger.' A lifeless body and a 9mm Luger pistol were found by authorities on Tuesday in a patch of tall grass at Burnin Bush, a landscaping business located just 100 yards behind the family home. The medical examiner determined the body was that of the college student and that she had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to a Bexar County Sheriff's Office statement. In a heartbreaking Facebook post on New Years Eve, Olmos aunt, Nancy Olmos, spoke on behalf of the grieving family following the tragic news. 'In the name of the Olmos family, we want to give a humble and heartfelt thank you to all the news reporters, police detectives, FBI, churches, friends, family and many other communities for your support and prayers,' the post read. 'Our beloved Camila Mendoza Olmos is now with the Good Lord,' it added. 'We kindly ask that you please respect our pain and, most importantly, keep my cousin Rosario - Camila's mom - and my nephew Carlos - Camila's brother - in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time.' The family of Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19, of Texas - who was found dead in a field on Tuesday after disappearing from her home on Christmas Eve - have broken their silence Olmos was last seen on a neighbor's surveillance camera leaving her San Antonio neighborhood just before 7am on December 24, prompting a week-long search as authorities feared she could be in 'imminent danger.' In a Facebook post on New Years Eve, Olmos aunt, Nancy Olmos (pictured), spoke on behalf of the grieving family and said that the teen was now 'with the Good Lord' Olmos' body was found by sheriff's deputies and FBI agents during a renewed search of the field, which they had decided to re-comb due to the dense brush. A firearm was also found nearby, with the teens brother, Carlos, reporting that the same type of weapon had gone missing from their home shortly after Olmos disappeared. A sheriffs source told the Daily Mail that the remains matched Olmos description, and the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office has since confirmed her identity and ruled the manner of death a suicide. Police believe Olmos had been dead for at least five to six days before she was discovered. The Bexar County sheriff previously stated that authorities were considering all possibilities - including suicide - and that she had been dealing with depression, 'undercurrents of suicidal ideation,' and self harm in the months prior. 'We developed some information that there may have been some suicidal ideations on Camila's part,' the sheriff said. 'Undiagnosed, as far as we can tell,' he added. 'It sounds like this was a young person going through a very tough time in her life, going through some emotional issues.' Olmos and her boyfriend, Nathan Gonzales, had also broken up in the fall when he moved out of town for college. Olmos' body was found by sheriff's deputies and FBI agents during a renewed search of a field, which they had decided to re-comb due to the dense brush The medical examiner determined the body was that of Olmos and concluded that she had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head A body and a 9mm Luger pistol were found by authorities in a patch of tall grass at Burnin Bush, a landscaping business located just 100 yards behind the Olmos family home Police believe Olmos had been dead for at least five to six days before she was discovered 'She had lost weight, her grades were down and she was feeling low from the break-up with the boyfriend,' her father, Alfonso Mendoza, a trucker who lives a block from his ex-wife, told the Daily Mail. Olmos's mother, Rosario, was devastated by the recent news, repeating the words, 'So close to home,' according to 69-year-old Frank Trevino, a retired insurance salesman who has helped lead the search efforts for the missing teenager. 'Her eyes were not there,' Trevino told the Daily Mail, describing how Rosario was left staring at the wall. The grim discovery came one week after Olmos vanished from her mother's driveway on Christmas Eve morning, where she had been living while attending Northwest Vista College with hopes of becoming an orthodontist. Her disappearance immediately prompted urgent pleas from her family, with authorities recognizing the area she vanished from as a human-trafficking corridor. That morning, KENS obtained surveillance footage showing Olmos rummaging inside her car wearing only a hoodie and pajama shorts before the video abruptly ended. Police believe she took only her car keys and possibly her driver's license when she left home. Authorities noted that her car was still parked at the residence, suggesting she left on foot. From that point, she was never seen again. Olmos's mother, Rosario (pictured), was devastated by the news, repeating the words, 'So close to home' The grim discovery came one week after Olmos vanished from her mother's driveway on Christmas Eve morning taking only her car keys and driver's license Olmos had been living at her mother's home while attending Northwest Vista College with hopes of becoming an orthodontist Olmos' family said she normally goes for morning walks but always took her phone, insisting it was out of character for her to leave without telling them where she was going. The teen's childhood friend Camila Estrella said their last conversation was a day before her disappearance, when they planned to go dress shopping for her boyfriend's family event. Estrella told the New York Post that Olmos' parting words were, 'Bye Cami, I love you.' On Sunday, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told ABC News that authorities were 'not ruling out that this case may take us outside the borders of the continental United States.' While withholding some specifics of the case, Salazar said the evidence collected so far suggested the teenage girl was in 'imminent danger.' He made it a personal mission to ensure she had not been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, noting it was a 'concern' that had crossed his mind, despite Olmos being a US citizen. Salazar then released new evidence on Monday: dashboard camera footage that, while blurry, appeared to show someone matching her description walking alone northbound on Wildhorse Parkway, just a few blocks from her home. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security immediately assisted with the desperate search, including monitoring border crossings and international travel. The Bexar County sheriff previously stated that authorities were considering all possibilities - including suicide - and that Olmos had been dealing with depression, 'undercurrents of suicidal ideation,' and self harm in the months prior The sheriff released dashboard camera footage that, while blurry, appeared to show someone matching Olmos' description walking alone northbound on Wildhorse Parkway, just a few blocks from her home Additional extended family members from California and Mexico also rushed to Rosario's side after learning of their loved ones disappearance Meanwhile, the sheriffs office deployed drone teams, search dogs and cadets to continue scouring the area around Olmoss suburb. On Tuesday morning, searchers continued scouring local fields and ditches for the teen while her family clung to hope, even while acknowledging that the chances of finding her alive was growing slimmer each day. 'I'm going to tell you something,' her mother, Rosario told the Daily Mail Monday morning. 'Giving up is not an option.' Additional extended family members from California and Mexico also rushed to Rosario's side after learning of their loved ones disappearance. If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org. A lawyer who mentored Sir Keir Starmer in the early days of his legal career has blasted the Prime Minister's plans to take a scythe to jury trials. Edward Fitzgerald KC said it was 'most unfortunate' that Labour was planning to get rid of juries for all but the most serious criminal offences in a bid to cut through the courts backlog. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy is pressing ahead with plans to reduce the need for juries despite widespread opposition from the legal profession, police and crime commissioners and civil liberties groups. If enacted, the plans will see the number of jury trials cut in half, with only crimes such as murder, robbery and rape tried by a jury. 'Swift courts' would be created within Crown courts, which hear other serious offences, without juries. Magistrates will also be handed the power to dispense prison sentences of up to 18 months, giving them the power to hear cases for offences where the sentencing guidelines go beyond the existing magistrate limit of one year. Automatic rights of appeal will also be stripped from defendants - requiring them to seek permission to appeal first - and complex financial and fraud cases will also be stripped of juries to stop jurors from giving up months of their lives. Ministers say the changes are necessary with the Crown Court backlog set to hit 100,000 cases by 2028 - but critics say they will overwhelm judges and deny defendants the right to be tried before a jury of their peers. Mr Fitzgerald has gone against his former mentee despite their personal friendship to speak out against the plans. Keir Starmer's mentor Edward Fitzgerald KC has hit out at Labour's plans to take a scythe to jury trials He called Sir Keir's government's plans 'most unfortunate', joining a growing chorus of opposition to the proposals He told The Telegraph today: 'It is most unfortunate the Government has taken this position. Juries should be kept.' A highly acclaimed silk who was made a CBE in 2008 for his work on human rights, Mr Fitzgerald was among a select few personal friends allowed to welcome Sir Keir into Downing Street in 2024. He has been widely described as a mentor for the future Prime Minister: Starmer was among the barristers who joined Doughty Street Chambers when it was founded in 1990. Mr Fitzgerald was one of its founding heads. The pair wrote a book together on how and when to apply the death penalty in countries where it still remains an option for judges in 2008. His remarks are a double-sting for the PM: Doughty Street Chambers has also publicly criticised the plans, calling them 'wrong in principle' and alleging that there is 'no evidence' they will clear the backlog. It previously said: 'Trial by jury is a deeply entrenched constitutional principle and anchors our liberal democracy. Jury trials enable people to participate and have a say in their criminal justice system.' The 'Four Bars' - the associations representing senior lawyers across England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland - slammed the plans earlier this week. A joint statement signed by all four heads of the groups read: 'There is no evidence that this fundamental change will bring down the existing Crown Court backlog. 'The curtailment of jury trials has predictable negative consequences, including undermining the public's trust and confidence in our criminal justice systems. 'Trial by a jury is long established and respected throughout the common law world for its veneration of democratic ideals, its age, gender and ethnic inclusiveness, and its respect for citizens' and judges' roles in the administration of justice. 'The Four Bars stand as one in opposition to this proposal. Legislation is still some time away - the government has time to listen to the views we express and to change course.' Mr Fitzgerald (circled) was among personal friends who was welcomed to Downing Street as Sir Keir became Prime Minister The changes are being pushed through by Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy (pictured in 2025 ahead of being sworn in as Lord Chancellor) Edward Fitzgerald mentored Keir Starmer for 18 years before he was named Director of Public Prosecutions in 2008 (pictured) Sir Keir is also facing the threat of a backbench rebellion from his own MPs, many of whom have publicly criticised the proposals. Thirty-nine Labour MPs signed an open letter last month indicating that they intended to vote down the proposals in the Commons despite the risk of losing the whip. There is some small relief for the Prime Minister, however. Mr Fitzgerald, who built a reputation for representing some of Britain's most notorious criminals such as Myra Hindley, Maxine Carr, taxi rapist John Worboys and Abu Hamza, says he still supports his friend in Government. He added: 'I am a great supporter of Mr Starmer.' The courts backlog had been falling prior to 2020, but the Covid pandemic saw the backlog rise as courts sought to conduct trials safely. The Ministry of Justice says its reforms will see the two per cent of prosecutions in England and Wales that go before a jury halved to just one per cent, freeing up resources to process lesser offences quickly. Yesterday, justice minister Jake Richards sought to defend the reforms as a 'modest change' that would see criminals brought to justice sooner, bringing relief to victims. He told Times Radio: 'I'll tell you what is the most dangerous part of undermining trust in our justice system. 'It's the fact that rape victims are having to wait five, six years for their day in court, which means too often those trials never happen. 'Justice is not done, and perpetrators of the most heinous crimes never face justice.' For nearly a year, Minnesota tax payers paid hundreds of dollars a day for Cain Pence's care. But according to the wheelchair-bound stroke survivor, that care was never given. Instead, the fifth-generation Minnesotan, who was left disabled after suffering a medical event five years ago, was abandoned inside his apartment while a health care agency billed Medicaid and Medicare daily in his name - in part of an alleged massive Somali-run fraud scheme that has milked the state's welfare system. Once active and independent, Pence, now 50, says he was threatened, ignored, and accused of racism when he demanded the help he was legally entitled to receive. 'I kind of hate the term 'vulnerable', but that's what I was and what I still am,' Pence told the Daily Mail from his apartment in downtown Minneapolis. 'I wouldn't wish what happened to me on anyone.' Unlike many people here victimized by the fallout from the theft of at least $9 billion from the state's social services who've stayed silent for fear of being labeled racist, Pence became an official whistleblower earlier this year when he testified in front of the Minnesota House Fraud and Oversight Committee. Pence believes his story reflects what has happened in Minnesota since Somalis fleeing their war-torn country arrived in the 1990s and began to take advantage of state's wildly generous social service system - while Democratic lawmakers turned a blind eye because the community represents a powerful voting bloc. Cain Pence, 50, says he's among the victims of the massive welfare fraud scheme allegedly run by members of Minnesota's Somali community that has exploited the state's social services system and abandoned those in need of care 'Why Minnesota? There's a unique reason why it was Minnesota,' Pence said. 'We have more social services. We have a very liberal political culture. We have a Scandinavian ethos of helping people, which is not a bad thing. 'And then we had very generous welfare systems, and then this group of people that exploited that. 'At the same time the whole George Floyd thing happened and then you literally couldn't say one word against a Somali. So it all worked together to create really a tsunami of fraud.' After stints in a nursing home and a group home, which he described as neglectful and chaotic, Pence was desperate to live on his own. 'There were a lot of problems in the group home,' he said. 'We weren't getting the food we needed. They weren't taking us out. I didn't want to go back to a nursing home.' In what seemed like a miraculous turn of events at the time, a social worker introduced him to Integrated Community Supports (ICS), a Minnesota program that allows disabled residents to live in private apartments while receiving daily assistance. 'He told me I could live on my own and get up to seven hours of service a day,' Pence said. 'Groceries. Walks. Appointments. Church. Whatever I needed.' The whistleblower was enrolled in the state's Integrated Community Supports program, which allows disabled residents to live in private apartments while receiving daily assistance Pence says he was promised up to seven hours a day of care through the ICS program but didn't receive any service at all Jama Mohamod oversaw American Home Health Care, the agency that was supposed to provide care and service to Pence. He repeatedly denied the allegations when confronted by a local news station in September When Pence saw the apartment, he thought he had finally caught a break. 'It was very beautiful,' he said. 'I remember thinking, this is too good to be true.' It was. According to Pence, Jama Mohamod, a Somali native who oversaw the health provider called American Home Health Care, billed the state $276 per day, every day, for his care. The money was routed through Hennepin County to Medicaid and Medicare - while delivering no services at all to Pence himself. 'I wasn't getting services seven hours a day,' he said. 'I wasn't getting seven hours a week. I was getting zero.' Pence says he saved the billing records. '$276 a day, seven days a week,' he said. 'And I got nothing. You do the math.' Pence has held on to the billing records and shared a receipt which showed the $276 charges that were being billed daily to the state for 'home care service' American Home Health Services' was listed as being headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota, where Mohamod also lives He was not alone. Pence says roughly 12 disabled residents lived in the building, all generating daily payments for American Home Health Care but never getting any help themselves. 'For me alone, they billed about $75,000 in ten months,' he said. 'Other people were billed $300 or $400 a day. They weren't getting service either.' When Pence demanded the care he was legally entitled to, he says the response was intimidation. 'He would threaten me,' Pence said of Mohammed. 'He'd say, 'If you don't like it, leave. I'll throw you out on the street'.' And, repeatedly, Pence claims, he was accused of racism. 'He'd call me a racist for asking for groceries,' Pence said. 'For asking for a walk.' Pence said the American Home Health Care operation was entirely Somali-run. The heightened scrutiny comes after federal prosecutors uncovered a $250 million fraud network that exploited the state's social services and exposed a 'large-scale money laundering' operation Pence became an official whistleblower in September when he testified in front of the Minnesota House Fraud and Oversight Committee At one point, Pence said he managed to go to the offices in person where he was insulted all over again by employees who seemed to just be sitting around talking on the phone. He said the staff routinely refused him even the most basic tasks. 'They wouldn't make the bed,' he said. 'They wouldn't clean. They wouldn't help me walk. They sat on their phones all day.' When Pence complained to the state, he says he was ignored. 'I called the Department of Human Services. I called the Attorney General's office. I called the ombudsman,' he said. 'Over and over.' Each time, he got the same response. 'They'd send a letter saying they looked into it and no action was needed,' Pence said. He said he asked a health reporter for the local paper, the Star-Tribune, to come hear his story and go through all his receipts. She came, he said, and listened to him sympathetically for three hours. But she never wrote a story. Pence eventually became a whistleblower, testifying before state lawmakers and fraud investigators. 'I pointed right at them and said, 'You didn't do a damn thing,' he said. What finally broke the case was proof that American Home Health Care billed the state for giving him service even when Pence was out of town. 'I had time-stamped photos of me at a Jesuit retreat,' he said. 'They billed the full amount.' The same happened when he visited friends in Iowa. 'They billed every single day,' he said. 'It wouldn't have mattered if I was alive or dead.' That last point became all too real when another ICS participant died alone while still being billed for care. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has come under intense criticism amid the mounting allegations of widespread fraud within the state 'He was getting 12 hours of service a day $400 a day and nobody even checked on him,' Pence said. 'His mother didn't know he had died for days.' Pence says the fraud continued because officials were terrified of being accused of racism. 'That's the shield,' he said. 'Call anyone who complains a racist and everything stops. Well, that's what needs to stop.' He added: 'They need to stop calling everyone racist if they question something or speak out.' He accused Minnesota's political leadership - specifically Governor Tim Walz, State Attorney General Keith Ellison and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar - of deliberately looking the other way. The governor has come under fire over the explosive allegations of widespread fraud within the state. Initial reports emerged last month of a massive Covid-era scheme involving the federally funded nonprofit group Feeding Our Future. At least 78 people, 72 of whom are Somali, have been charged in connection with the illicit plot so far. Pence has accused the governor as well as State Attorney General Keith Ellison and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar - of deliberately looking the other way Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who is Somali American, has rejected suggestions that the fraud case reflects broader wrongdoing within the Somali community 'They care more about votes than about disabled people,' Pence said. 'They don't want to touch anything involving Somalis. That's what really makes me mad. They don't care at all about the people like me.' Pence eventually managed to escape the ICS program when American Home Health Care was evicted from their premises. But thousands of other vulnerable Minnesotans were not as lucky. 'These programs are supposed to help the handicapped,' he said. 'Instead, they're being exploited.' Pence is out of a wheelchair and living in another apartment where he is receiving legitimate assistance. But he refuses to stay silent. 'I saved the records,' he said. 'I did the math. I told the truth.' Police still hunting for the group responsible for the attack Two men, 18 and 20, were seriously injured in the melee The terrifying moment two young men are ambushed by a group of hooded thugs armed with a giant machete has been captured in shocking new video. Emergency services were called to the Universal Restaurant on Carlton's famous Lygon Street, about 11.45pm on Wednesday after panicked New Year revellers reported a stabbing. A group of up to seven masked and hooded men was seen throwing punches at the two victims in CCTV footagea obtained by 7News. A shout of terror was heard before one of the young men was struck multiple times, with a woman running from the violence. One of the attackers, wearing a black hooded jumper, was then seen brandishing a large machete at a young man lying on the pavement. The two injured men managed to escape by stumbling into a nearby shop. A 20-year-old Heidelberg West man and an 18-year-old New South Wales man, sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospital. Ambulance Victoria said the two males had been stabbed in the chest and were transported in a critical condition to Royal Melbourne Hospital. It is understood a group of up to seven males, armed with knives and machetes, set upon the two men about 11.45pm on Wednesday Emergency services were called to the Universal Restaurant on Lygon Street, Carlton, about 11.45pm on Wednesday after reports of a stabbing from panicked revellers Last year, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured) introduced a state-wide ban on the weapons in September as the crime crisis involving knives escalated in Melbourne Witness Ali Kassem said his sister-in-law had taken control of the confronting scene and put pressure on one of the men's wounds before paramedics arrived. 'The boys that did the stabbing, they were out to get someone,' he told 7News. 'Shame. Shame on you, boys. That's disgusting. If you're man enough, talk it out.' The owner of Juiced Lygon said he had served one of the victims just minutes before he suddenly appeared in front of him, bleeding from an injury to his chest. 'I recognised him immediately. A few minutes before this happened, we served him and his friends juice. He wished my sister a happy new year when she handed him the tray' he told the Herald Sun. 'Not even five minutes later, he was bleeding out in front of me.' Another witness recalled begging paramedics to 'come quickly' as she tended to one of the victim's injuries. 'I kept saying to paramedics on the phone, what am I supposed to do? Help me, help me, please quickly, somebody get here quickly. He's going to die, he's just a young boy,' she told the publication. In Victoria, 18 people were arrested for various incidents including assaults, driving and property offences on New Year's Eve (pictured, officers conduct a search) Police are still hunting for the group responsible. Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives will investigate if the incident was a targeted attack. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan introduced a state-wide ban on the weapons in September following a string of machete and knife attacks. The law change makes it illegal to own, use, carry, transport or sell knives without an exemption or valid approval. Convictions could result in penalties of up to two years in jail or a fine of $47,000. A three-month amnesty for people to hand in machetes ran until November 30. Wednesday's incident was one of several across the state, keeping police busy on New Year's Eve. In Victoria, 18 people were arrested for various incidents including assaults, driving and property offences. Up to 313 fireworks-related offences were also reported, several of which resulted in serious injuries. NSW Police arrested 38 people in Greater Sydney, including more than nine in the CBD and foreshore areas for various offences including assaults, affray, assault police and offensive conduct. More than 2,500 officers were deployed across the Harbour City to ensure the community felt safe in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack. Crime-ridden Seattle marked the new year with a massive brawl as thick fog obscured the fireworks over the city's iconic Space Needle. Video shared online showed two men getting into a confrontation at the center of KOMO Plaza Wednesday night, when a man in a red shirt started hitting the other man. At that point, a third man could be seen coming into the frame from the right, and punches the man in red. Soon, four or five others became involved, all apparently trying to attack the man in the red shirt. But he fought back, pushing one man out of the way and punching the assailant who originally hit him, tackling him to the ground. Others could then be seen fighting amongst themselves, while a group of men try to gang up on the man in the red shirt. It is unclear how the brawl ended, but it reportedly involved more than 15 people, according to Seattle Submissions. The fight came as a thick, low hanging fog obscured views of a drone performance over the Space Needle. A massive brawl broke out amongst New Years Eve revelers in Seattle's KOMO Plaza Wednesday night The brawl reportedly involved more than 15 people The event featured an 18-minute long drone performance that illuminated the Seattle skyline, with multiple 10-minute pre-shows leading up to midnight. 'It's a pretty nice show, except that with this fog, we're not going to be able to see much,' one spectator told KOMO. Seattle police told the Daily Mail they were unaware of any police reports filed about the incident. But it came amid an uptick in serious crimes in the city. According to crime statistics tracker Neighborhood Scout, Seattle residents have a shocking one in 129 chance of being a victim of a violent crime. The robbery rate is over triple the national average at 2.22 cases for every 1,000 residents, and there are an average of 444 crimes per square mile in the city. The city has also become known as a homelessness hotspot across the nation, and its unhoused population has surged by a staggering 88 percent in the past 10 years. It has even seen a number of head-turning incidents over the past few months, with a robber biting off an 88-year-old woman's finger during an attack on the porch her Seattle home in November. The suspect, described as a man in his 30s, targeted the elderly woman as she cleaned household items on her back porch in the the Rainier Beach neighborhood on October 13, according to the Seattle Police Department. It came as a thick, low hanging fog obscured views of a drone performance over the city's iconic Space Needle Spectators said they would not be able to see much of the drone show due to the heavy fog The assailant approached the woman and demanded she turn over her belongings. When she refused, the suspect began assaulting her and dragged her into the garage to continue the attack, biting off her finger as he stole her jewelry, police said. When police arrived, the woman told officers that she feared for her life during the vicious assault. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center with 'serious' head injuries, while the suspect remained on the loose. Yet newly-elected mayor Katie Wilson has argued that the city needs more medical professionals and skilled social workers rather than cops. 'Right now, police response times are unacceptable, and I do think that in the short term, we need to hire more officers,' she told PubliCola in March. 'I also think we need to greatly expand our unarmed response systems.' An Ohio dentist and his wife were brutally shot dead in their $700,000 home, while their two young children were found unharmed as police hunt for the suspect. Monique Tepe, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37, were found violently slain inside their Weinland Park home Tuesday morning, with authorities saying the deaths do not appear to be the result of a murder-suicide, according to WSYX News. Police arriving at the scene discovered that Spencer had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while Monique had at least one to the chest. The couples two young children, thankfully unharmed, were found crying inside the home, according to new records obtained by the outlet on Wednesday. Paramedics declared both Monique and Spencer dead shortly after arriving, just one month before the pair would have celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. Officers with the Columbus Police Department found no obvious signs of forced entry or any firearm at the scene and are investigating the deaths as a double homicide. A manhunt is now underway as authorities search for the gunman, who remains at large. 'We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our colleague and friend, Dr. Spencer Tepe,' Dr. Mark Valrose, owner of Athens Dental Depot where Spencer worked as a dentist, said in a statement, according to the outlet. Ohio dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot dead in their $700,000 Weinland Park home Tuesday morning, while their two young children were found unharmed Columbus police discovered Spencer (pictured) with multiple gunshot wounds, while Monique had at least one to the chest. Authorities said the deaths do not appear to be the result of a murder-suicide Officers with the Columbus Police Department found no obvious signs of forced entry or any firearm at the scene and are investigating the deaths as a double homicide 'Our heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,' he added. 'We appreciate the community's thoughts and prayers.' The grim discovery came after Dr. Valrose called 911 for a welfare check at the Tepes' home on N. 4th Street just after 10am Tuesday, after Spencer failed to show up for his shift at the dental office, according to the incident report obtained by WSYX. In the frantic call, Valrose explained that worry grew because Spencer had not contacted anyone about his absence and was known for his punctuality. 'I'm on vacation, but this individual, Spencer, works with me, and he did not show up to work this morning. And we cannot get a hold of him or his family,' the doctor told dispatchers, as reported by the outlet. 'He's been reliable, and we cannot get in touch with him, his wife, his family, anybody that lives in that house,' he added. However, police records reviewed by WSYX show that authorities were first alerted to the home at 9:03am and responded by 9:22am. When they received no answer, the Columbus deputy left the scene. Several of Spencers coworkers then drove to the couples home and, just before 10am, called 911 after hearing children crying inside and getting no response at the door. Minutes later, a third 911 call came from the same person, who frantically reported seeing Spencers body inside the Tepes home and noted that he appeared to be dead next to a bed. The discovery came after Dr. Mark Valrose (pictured) called 911 for a welfare check at the Tepes' home on the 1400 block of N. 4th Street just after 10am Tuesday, after Spencer failed to show up for his shift at the dental office The couples two children, unharmed, were found crying inside the home. A manhunt is now underway as authorities search for the gunman, who remains at large 'There is a body inside,' Spencer's friend told dispatchers, according to the audio obtained by the outlet. 'Our friend wasn't answering his phone,' they added. 'We just did a wellness check. We just came here, and he appears dead.' It wasnt until Dr. Valrose called authorities shortly after 10am that police were dispatched again to the residence to conduct a welfare check on the Tepe family. 'He is always on time and he would contact us if there was any issues,' Valrose told 911 dispatchers, as reported by the outlet. 'I don't know how else to say this but we are very concerned. This is very out of character for him,' he added. 'We cant get in touch with his wife which is probably the more concerning thing.' Police then found the couple with apparent gunshot wounds, while their two young children were unharmed inside the home where the Tepes exchanged their vows in 2021, Rob Misleh, Spencers brother-in-law, told ABC 6 News. On Thursday, Dr. Valrose and the Dental Depot team announced on Facebook that the practice would remain closed for the rest of the week. 'Spencer will be deeply missed by our team and the many patients he cared for over the years,' the dental office wrote. In the frantic call, Valrose explained that worry grew because Spencer (pictured) had not contacted anyone about his absence and was known for his punctuality The investigation and search for the suspect is now being led by Detective Weiner, with assistance from Detective Miller 'We ask for your continued patience, support and privacy as our team mourns these terrible losses,' they added. The investigation and search for the suspect is now being led by Detective Weiner, with assistance from Detective Miller. Police are now urging anyone with information to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477). A desperate search for a young man who was swept out to sea during a New Year's Day swim at a popular Sydney beach has resumed. Emergency crews rushed to Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs about 6am on Thursday after reports the swimmer, believed to be in his 20s, was in trouble. TV cameras captured the moment NSW Police Constable Lucas Matthews charged into the surf in his full uniform, clutching a flotation device in a bid to assist two off-duty lifesavers who were also trying to reach him. Tragically, the swimmer disappeared just minutes after rescue efforts began. It has since been revealed the missing swimmer is a Nepalese national who has been living in Sydney for the last four years, news.com.au reports. He works as a glass collector at the Coogee Pavilion. The search at Coogee was temporarily suspended on Thursday due to bad weather, but resumed Friday despite hazardous conditions and a large swell. A 14-year-old boy also remains missing after a dinghy capsized in massive swell at Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches on New Year's Eve. Emergency crews rushed to Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs about 6am on Thursday after reports the swimmer, believed to be in his 20s, was in trouble in the water It was revealed on Friday that the man is a Nepalese national who has been living in Sydney for four years and works as a glass collector at the Coogee Pavilion Search efforts were called off on Thursday due to poor weather but resumed on Friday A man died while another was able to scramble to some nearby rocks. He was winched to safety by a rescue helicopter and lowered onto a clearing near the foreshore car park for emergency treatment. The drama unfolded just two hours after another fatal drowning at nearby Maroubra Beach, less than three kilometres away. A 25-year-old Chinese tourist was swept out to sea after a powerful wave knocked her from a tidal rock pool and dragged her into the ocean. Her body was recovered about an hour later during an extensive search by PolAir helicopters and Marine Area Command. On Thursday, a 45-year-old woman was pulled from the water off Dunbogan Beach on the NSW Mid North Coast but efforts to revive her were unsuccessful. Lifeguards rescued two children at Puckey's Beach in Wollongong on New Year's Eve. One required CPR before both were taken to hospital. A father and three children were rescued by surfers at Broulee on the NSW South Coast and a group of children were rescued by bystanders in Royal National Park. NSW Police Constable Lucas Matthews (pictured) charged into the surf in his full uniform in a bid to assist two off-duty lifesavers who were also trying to reach the man Since Christmas Day, NSW surf lifesavers have performed more than 85 rescues Surf Life Saving NSW has pleaded with people to be careful entering the water NSW surf lifesavers have performed more than 85 rescues since Christmas Day. 'This spate of rescues and drownings has just caught everyone off guard,' Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said on Thursday. 'Yet because of the conditions and the inclement weather, lifeguards and lifesavers - although we had everyone out in force - just did not expect this swathe of drownings and rescues,' Mr Pearce said. 'We are pleading for people - do not enter the water today, if that beach is closed.' Over the New Year period, the risk of drowning is three times greater than at any other time of the year. Multi-millionaire developers accused of illegally clearing native bushland on a $25million lot have been sued by the local council in the picturesque coastal town. Heidi Meyer and husband Kim Carroll now potentially face a $751,000 fine after allegedly clearing native trees and bushland to make way for a lavish seaside mega-mansion on Noosa Hill on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Noosa Shire Council launched legal action against the high-flying couple just two days before Christmas. The council has demanded they replace the allegedly illegally-cleared bushland and return the land to its previous condition in an application lodged in the Maroochydore Planning and Environment Court, the Courier Mail reports. Ms Meyer, a former travel writer and owner of a wellness retreats company, and her husband bought the 1,144sqm lot on Picture Point Crescent for $16.45million in October 2021. The couple secured council approval to subdivide before putting one of two 723sqm blocks on the market for $25million. The lot, marketed with a Chris Clout design concept, has been pitched as 'precious canvas reserved for a world-class residence'. '[The lot] uniquely affords a 12-metre height limit from which one can enjoy uninterrupted, breathtaking views of the ocean, river, and hinterland. Fall into the sky, dive into the ocean this unbelievable land offering has been aptly named Skyfall,' the sales listing reads. Developers Kim Carroll (left) and Heidi Meyer could now potentially face a fine of up to $751,000 after they allegedly cleared cleared trees and bushland A design render of the planned mega-mansion on Noosa Hill on the Sunshine Coast Pictured are aerial photos of the lot submitted by Noosa Shire Council In documents tendered to the court, the council also submitted 'any orders made by the court should be binding not just to Ms Meyer and Mr Carroll but to any future owners of the site'. 'We trust that in your dealings with prospective purchasers of [lot], are properly apprised of the issues that have arisen in respect of all of the matters in this letter,' the council's lawyers wrote to the couple on November 7. Ecologist Justin Watson, in an affidavit seen by the Daily Mail, stated that large canopy trees such as bloodwood, pine, corkwood, brushbox and quandong on the lot were essential habitat for threatened species such as koalas and glossy black-cockatoos. The council alleged the couple broke Queensland's planning laws by clearing vegetation on the lot between October 2024 and October 2025, according to court documents. In the documents seen by the Daily Mail, it's also alleged Ms Meyer and Mr Carroll cleared land without obtaining a council development permit between November 2021 and June 2022. The couple allegedly previously informed the council they cleared land to reduce bushfire risk and 'therefore did not require approval' - a claim the council disputes. 'Your clients' behaviour as owners of the land, with respect to the vegetation on the site is unacceptable,' lawyers for the council wrote. Aerial photos which allegedly depicted the cleared site last year were also obtained by the council and included as evidence in court documents. Pictured is a design render of the entrance of the planned mega-mansion Koalas which lived on the lot allegedly lost their habitat after the land was cleared The council also alleged Ms Meyers and Mr Carroll had agreed in October 2024 to re-vegetate the land but have 'failed to do so'. The council submitted this agreement was part of a court order resolving a 2023 appeal which gave the couple the right to subdivide the plot into two 723sqm lots. In January 2025, the council gave the couple the green light to demolish the existing 1978 built house and pool which sat on the original 1,144sqm lot. The three-bedroom property had been a luxury $6,000-a-week holiday home before it was knocked down, court documents state. According to the court documents, the council alleged the approval for demolition 'did not extend to permission to fell trees and remove other plants'. The couple also filed applications to build a home on each on each of the two adjacent lots they own on Picture Point Crescent. The council alleged these applications were not properly lodged. The case is due in court in Maroochydore on January 30. The glossy black-cockatoos which lived on the land are now looking for new trees to live in In January 2025, the council gave the green light to demolish the existing 1978-built house and pool which sat on the original 1144 sqm plot The sale listing describes the lot as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to purchase. 'Nestled into the north-facing ridge of Noosa Hill, the panoramic views from this iconic position remain unrivalled in Noosa, Australia, and possibly the world,' the listing states. 'Lot 50 Picture Point Crescent is without question the most extraordinary Noosa allotment ever to be offered to market. 'With direct access to Hastings Street and Noosa Main Beach, this address paves a pathway to a lifestyle most can only dream of. 'More than a simple land offering, Lot 50 Picture Point Crescent is the pinnacle of prestige, privacy, and possibility.' A Tinder predator who claimed he was dying from terminal cancer preyed on nearly 20 women by stealing their money and abusing them. Ryan McVeigh targeted his victims via dating apps and social media using a deluge of fake names. Many of the women he stole money from were already vulnerable including having escaped abusive relationships, lost their job or even trying to recover from similar scams. Two victims in particular suffered what prosecutors described as repeated 'sexual, financial and a emotional abuse' at the hands of McVeigh. The 31 year-old has been brought to justice after he pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to a total of 38 charges involving 17 different women in 2023 and 2024. He is behind bars and will be sentenced in the New Year. Prosecutor Michael Macintosh told the hearing: 'McVeigh's offending principally involves the sexual, financial and emotional abuse of two women. 'Each was induced into believing they had formed a relationship with someone over the internet. Many of the women he stole money from were already vulnerable including having escaped abusive relationships, lost their job or even trying to recover from similar scams 'The truth was they were communicating with McVeigh using a false identity. 'He induced them into allowing him to live in their homes under a further fake identity. 'By a combination of his online and in-person personas, he coerced each into providing him with money and engaging in sexual activity with him under these pretences.' The first main victim met McVeigh online in May 2023 via Tinder where he used the name Gary Stephenson. The woman divulged to McVeigh that she had money troubles. McVeigh - using the bogus name - offered to help and asked for her bank details to send cash. No funds were ever received - McVeigh instead used her account to gamble online. After confronting him, he assured her the cash would be repaid. The 31 year-old has been brought to justice after he pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to a total of 38 charges involving 17 different women in 2023 and 2024 Mr Macintosh said the woman had still not met him yet in person. Planned meetings were cancelled at last minute - including McVeigh claiming his sister had taken her own life. In August 2023, McVeigh asked her to take out a loan, but she refused. She told a friend who urged her to go to the police, but she did not do so at that time. The court heard McVeigh - still known as Stephenson - became more controlling and demanded to keep tabs on the woman. It was soon after he asked if a 'friend' called Paul Justin could stay with her. Mr Macintosh: 'He said she should do that for him if she really loved him. He told her he would give her money for shopping.' McVeigh arranged for the woman to pick up Paul Justin in Glasgow however this individual turned out to be McVeigh. McVeigh - posing as Gary Stephenson - later texted the woman to say any further contact should go through Paul Justin. Mr Macintosh: 'The woman recalls one occasion where she received a call from the number she knew as Gary Stephenson's, but the person who spoke to her was Paul Justin, who then made an excuse of using a work telephone.' The abuse turned more sinister when McVeigh - using the Stephenson identity - put pressure on her by text that he would be 'turned on' if she had sex with Paul Justin and filmed it. Mr Macintosh: 'She did not want to as she considered herself to be in a relationship with Gary Stephenson. 'He promised that if she did this for him, he would meet her in person. 'She told Gary Stephenson she was not comfortable with this, but she desperately wanted to meet him, so she did what she was asked to do.' The sex video was then sent to an email address she had been given and this was repeated over a number of months - he also hounded her for further intimate clips of herself. Mr Macintosh: 'He continued to promise to meet her, but these arrangements were always cancelled with a variety of reasons given.' She was further lied to that Gary Stephenson would again 'take care of her finances'. The advocate depute: 'As time went on, she grew increasingly panicked about her mounting debts.' She went on to discover letters chasing her for money that she was not aware of. The woman soon wanted Paul Justin out of her home. Mr Macintosh: 'McVeigh - as Stephenson - said Justin would be staying with her until he told her otherwise.' In November 2023, the woman began to fear she was the 'victim of a scam'. Days later, she told Paul Justin that she was going to go to the police, but soon after she got a string of messages from Gary Stephenson urging her not to. The woman bravely gave a statement and when officers later turned up at her home McVeigh was there. He stated he was Paul Justin who had been born in South Africa. The court heard the woman has been left badly affected and believes she lost between 10,000-18,000 at the hands of McVeigh. McVeigh first appeared in court in November 2023 in connection with offences against this victim. But, after being bailed, he was free to turn his attentions to his other main target. This woman struck up on contact with McVeigh on the Bumble dating app in January 2024. This time he was known as Reece Fletcher. He first got her to transfer 100 and then failed to show after arranging to meet to repay her. The woman later got a text from an unknown number that 'Reece' was in hospital following a car crash. Over the next few weeks, McVeigh - using this bogus ID - claimed he was still recuperating there from his injuries. This did not stop him pestering her for more cash. He later asked for the woman to collect him from the hospital in Edinburgh after he claimed he was fit to leave. However, McVeigh then messaged to say he had to go to his 'office' in the city's Leith as there were 'dodgy people' watching him. He insisted it was not 'safe' to go to his or the woman's home. This woman gave him a total of 20,000 during this time - she felt 'trapped' as he did not pay back a penny. Prosecutor Mr Macintosh: 'She had emptied her bank accounts, taken out credit cards and overdrafts and given him all she had.' McVeigh - still known as Reece - later said a wealthy cousin named Paul Justin 'would take care of the debts and pay off her mortgage'. The conman - now posing as Paul Justin - turned up the next day. He initially helped her buy groceries before eventually moving into her spare room. In mid-March 2024, like the earlier victim, events turned sinister when McVeigh - this time back using the Reece ID - said he had a 'fetish' that she record having sex with Paul Justin. The court heard the woman did not want to do it. But, she was told by McVeigh's Paul Justin that Reece would 'go mental' if she refused. She had also been promised that her 'financial situation' would again be sorted. The woman eventually had sex with McVeigh - believing he was Paul Justin. She hoped it would only happened the once - but it went on to take place once a week after Reece 'asked her to do the same thing again'. Mr Macintosh further explained: 'McVeigh - both as Fletcher and Justin - told an escalating series of lies, making extravagant claims about having large sums of money tied up abroad. 'As Justin, he took her to view houses and cars. He promised to buy houses for her parents and take her on expensive holidays.' But, the woman in the meantime had little cash and had to borrow from relatives or take out loans. McVeigh even claimed the woman's ex-husband and daughter may be stealing from her. The swindler - still known as Justin - made even worse sick lies by telling the woman he had terminal cancer. This led to her going to a hospital with him in the summer of 2024. Mr Macintosh: 'He discussed his purported diagnosis with a nurse working with the Macmillan Cancer charity. 'He then attended a hospice where he discussed with a staff member a large donation he was considering. 'He also took the woman to a funeral directors and to a cemetery all on the pretext that only had months to live. 'The woman said the claims about his health made it more difficult for her to challenge him on things which caused concern.' It was around this time the woman's family became increasingly worried about her. It was her ex-husband who was so troubled that led to police being called in. Officers turned up at her home in late July 2024 and McVeigh was there. He again claimed to be Paul Justin. The court was told this woman believes she was conned out of around 38,000 as well as loans she took from relatives. She remains worried that she may lose her home as a result. A large scale probe then uncovered 15 other women who had been preyed upon by McVeigh. They had all been subjected to his lies, threats and intimidation despite never meeting in person. He scammed thousands of pounds in total from these women. Among the many charges McVeigh pled guilty to were the rape of the two main victims and multiple frauds. Lady Drummond deferred sentencing for reports. She told him: 'The scale of your deception, coercion and abuse which you inflicted is staggering. 'I have received four impact statements and I may get more. 'Those who have written describe how devastating the impact of your behaviour has had placing them in constant fear and financial ruin.' An Australian is among dozens injured in a horror blaze that claimed the lives of at nearly 50 people at a luxury ski resort in Switzerland on New Year's Eve. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it is proving assistance to the family of the Australian, who is receiving medical care overseas. The federal government is in touch with Swiss authorities to determine whether any other Australians were involved. 'We stand ready to provide consular assistance,' the foreign affairs department spokesperson added. At least 115 people were injured when a massive blaze ripped through the Le Constellation bar in the resort in southwestern Switzerland about 1.30am. Investigators said the fire rapidly intensified into a flashover, with extreme heat igniting everything inside the enclosed space almost at once, giving shocked revellers little time to escape. Witnesses believe the blaze began after a waitress holding a sparkler during champagne service ignited material on the ceiling above the packed bar. Survivors have since described harrowing scenes inside the club as people were burned and overcome by smoke. Panicked partygoers can be seen rushing to escape the venue after material on the ceiling ignited just after 1.30am on New Year's Day Police officers and rescuers stand near the site where the blaze tore through, leaving 40 dead People have laid floral tributes to the victims outside the Le Constellation bar One witness, Gianni, told Swiss outlet 20 Minuten many suffered severe burns, with faces 'completely disfigured' and hair burned away. He said many were left blackened by the flames, with their clothes fused to their skin. Video footage verified by Reuters showed fire spreading from the building amid scenes of total panic and confusion as people rushed to get out. The head of the local canton's police, Frederic Gisler, said work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families. Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the disaster as 'one of the worst tragedies our country has ever known', noting most of the dead were young people. Some reports suggest patients as young as 15 are being treated for severe burns. Due to the significant number of casualties and capacity of local hospitals, some patients have also been transported to Milan, Germany and France for treatment. It comes as it was revealed the nightclub had previously received a safety rating of just 6.5 out of 10 on a public review platform, a detail now drawing attention as investigators examine how the fire spread so quickly. he listing on the review website, Wheree, did not specify any particular areas for concern in the club. Wheree aggregates ratings for venues on a range of issues, including safety, location and prices, from people who visit. Dramatic footage shows enormous flames rapidly spreading over the ceiling of the packed bar, as heavy music blares out of the speakers Police commander Frederic Gisler said the fire started in the basement of the bar and there was a crush as people desperately tried to get out via the single staircase The bar is owned by a French couple aged 49 and 40, who have lived in the valley for almost a decade, according to French broadcaster BFMTV. The female owner was inside the bar when the fire broke out and suffered burns to her arm, while her partner was at one of their other establishments at the time. Both were described as 'completely in shock'. The venue was hosting more than 100 people at the time and is licensed to hold up to 300, with a further 40 on its terrace. 16 Italians have been reported missing, while around a dozen more Italian nationals are being treated in hospital with serious burn injuries. The French foreign ministry said eight of its citizens remain missing. Australians concerned about family members who may have been caught up in the fire are advised to call DFAT's 24/7 consular emergency support line. Zohran Mamdani unleashed a series of executive orders on his first day in office after announcing that he planned to 'govern as a democratic socialist' at his inauguration. The new mayor headed straight for Brooklyn after his lavish 'block party' in Manhattan to issue several executive orders and announcing plans in support of tenants' rights following a campaign where he promised to freeze rents. He announced the creation of task forces to help protect tenants, as well as two that sought to make development projects easier in the city. Mamdani also issued executive orders relating to housing, reviving the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants and making Cea Weaver, a progressive 'housing justice' activist, as its leader. The mayor also announced city action in a bankruptcy case against landlord Pinnacle. In an immediate break with his predecessor, one of Mamdani's first moves was to issue a sweeping order canceling out most of the EOs former Mayor Eric Adams made following his September 2024 indictment. 'We speak about this day as a new era. And in order to fulfill that hope, we have to reckon with why so many New Yorkers have turned away from politics over the last few months, the last few years, the last few decades,' the 34-year-old said. 'That was a date that marked a moment when many New Yorkers decided politics held nothing for them.' Zohran Mamdani unleashed a series of executive orders on his first day in office after announcing that he planned to 'govern as a democratic socialist' at his inauguration The new mayor headed straight for Brooklyn after his lavish 'block party' in Manhattan to issue several executive orders and announcing plans in support of tenants' rights following a campaign where he promised to freeze rents The move revoked every order given by Adams after September 26, 2024, when the former Democrat was indicted by a federal grand jury following a wide-ranging corruption investigation that has seen several top officials resign. Mamdani said many of the revocations were symbolic and would be reissued, including one maintaining the city's Office to Combat Antisemitism. The city's first Muslim mayor, he has been seen with skepticism by some Jewish New Yorkers over his ardent support of the Palestinian cause. The Daily Mail has reached out to the mayor for comment. At his inauguration, Mamdani made it clear that he would not be moderating his left-wing views as he took office. 'I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist,' he said. 'The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations. Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously.' Socialist Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders - a Brooklyn native - was there to oversee the swearing in of Mamdani, while fellow lefty Queens politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was also in attendance. Join the debate Will Mamdani's bold socialist policies revive New York City or risk driving out its wealthy base? In an immediate break with his predecessor, one of Mamdani's first moves was to issue a sweeping order canceling out most of the EOs former Mayor Eric Adams (pictured center) made following his September 2024 indictment Socialist Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders - a Brooklyn native - was there to oversee the swearing in of Mamdani, while fellow lefty Queens politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was also in attendance 'This is a government of New York, by New York, and for New York,' Mamdani promised. Mamdani is New York City's first Muslim mayor and one of the youngest men ever to occupy the position. His wife, Rama Duwaji, 28, is the city's youngest ever first lady. Duwaji has kept a low profile during Mamdani's campaign but showed her support during his inauguration, walking side-by-side with her husband and tearing up while he spoke. Mamdani struck a more positive tone at his inauguration than in his fiery acceptance speech in November. The democratic socialist didn't mince words when beating his opponent, former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, telling his supporters on Election Night that it would be the last time he'd utter the man's name. Mamdani had concluded his speech with a direct message to President Donald Trump: 'I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.' The mayor opted for a softer tone in his inauguration remarks, referring to the president only once. He reached out to voters who backed Donald Trump in the presidential election and him in the mayoral election, saying he understood that the rocketing cost of living was their primary concern. Mamdani struck a more positive tone at his inauguration than in his fiery acceptance speech in November People attend the Inauguration for a New Era Block Party in New York City 'Many of these people have been betrayed by the established order. But in our administration, their needs will be met,' Mamdani said. 'Their hopes and dreams and interests will be reflected transparently in government. They will shape our future.' Mamdani met with Trump in the Oval Office in November 2025, with the Republican president full of praise for the new star of the Democrat party. Mamdani , who was born in Uganda, has promised to offer free daycare and free buses across the city. He also plans to enact a millionaire tax, with critics warning that his policies could drive out the super-rich, whose taxes fund public services in the Big Apple. Mamdani referred to the 'long-broken property tax system' in his speech, vowing to increase taxes on the ultra-wealthy. 'The cost of child care will no longer discourage young adults from starting a family, because we will deliver universal child care for the many by taxing the wealthiest few,' he declared. Mamdani seemed to take a page out of Sanders' book, echoing the veteran senator's longtime vows to tax the wealthy to provide social services for the middle class. The theme of embarking on a 'new era' was reiterated throughout Thursday's speeches. Mamdani's campaign sparked widespread conversation about the future of the Democratic Party and whether younger politicians would continue to embrace socialist policies. With her motto 'I am America's hope and the president's nightmare' framed on the wall of her office, firebrand Left-wing Congresswoman Ilhan Omar displays plenty of ambition, though perhaps not modesty. And with her stirring tale of fleeing war-torn Somalia to build a new life in the American Midwest, she and her supporters have prided themselves on her message of hope providing a compelling counterpoint to Trump. Omar has said she came to the US when she was 12, knowing only two English phrases: 'hello' and 'shut up'. Since then, she's found plenty more to say. Teeth-grindingly self-righteous and uber-woke, she is one of the four members of the so-called 'Squad' along with New Yorker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a cabal of racially diverse, ultra-Left-wing Democrat Congresswomen who inspire devotion from their Gen Z followers and irritation or plain contempt from just about everybody else. Including moderates in their party who believe that, with Trump having won a landslide in large part due to his rejection of Biden-era wokery, the Squad's endless sniping about America and obsession with 'progressive' policies is electoral suicide. Republicans seem to regard Omar in particular as the most toxic of the Squad and have pounced on any controversy including long-standing allegations that she married her brother so he could come to the US, an unsubstantiated claim she has rejected as 'absolutely false and ridiculous'. Critics also deride her as a shameless hypocrite, spouting Marxist politics while wearing expensive Jimmy Choo and Prada sunglasses. And who claims to be a devout Muslim but who according to his ex-wife conducted an affair with third husband Tim Mynett (her former campaign adviser) while he was still married. Now Trump has Omar, a 43-year-old mother of three, in his sights as never before amid an unfolding series of dizzying fraud scandals amounting to more than $1 billion in stolen state funds which have captivated America and which were largely perpetrated by Minnesota's Somali community, whom Omar represents and with whom she closely identifies. Ilhan Omar and her husband Tim Mynett attend 'Power to the Patients' performance in Washington DC on April 27, 2023 President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on December 29, 2025 On Wednesday, Trump exploded on social media: 'Much of the Minnesota Fraud, up to 90 per cent, is caused by people that came into our Country, illegally, from Somalia.' He went on: 'Congresswoman' Omar, an ungrateful loser who only complains and never contributes, is one of the many scammers.' Omar has publicly condemned the various frauds which include fake claims for feeding children during the pandemic, assisting schoolchildren to cope with autism and housing homeless people. And, although she did know some of those who've been prosecuted, there's no evidence she was directly involved in any of the schemes. Given this, Trump appears to be referring to a more recent controversy that, for Omar, is rather closer to home. The politician who has previously claimed that she barely has any money now appears to be wealthy, and possibly very wealthy indeed. She has been accused of failing to follow congressional procedures covering the disclosure of her assets and potentially wildly under-representing her husband's investments. Her most recent financial disclosure forms to the federal government suggest she and husband Tim Mynett are worth at least $6 million (4.5 million)and as much as $30 million (22 million). A mere two years ago, the couple said they had no more than $158,000 (117,000). Omar, who is paid a congressional salary of $174,000 (129,000), has accused the US media of misrepresenting her wealth. However, Washington insiders insist she's to blame for being intentionally opaque about her finances. Omar's most recent compulsory disclosure shows that Mynett has a stake in a venture capital firm valued at between $5 million and $25 million. Her 45-year-old husband, a political consultant-turned-venture capitalist, is also part-owner of a California winery worth up to $5 million. That does not necessarily mean the couple are worth $30 million, which she has flatly denied. Her office has stressed that the sums on the disclosure form reflect the full value of the businesses rather than her husband's personal stake. Congresswoman Omar speaks at a conference calling for an assault weapons ban in Minneapolis on August 28, 2025 Pictured: Nick Shirley outside the Quality Learing Centre in Minnesota She's angrily insisted that Mynett is one of 'several' partners in the two firms. However, according to California records, Mynett is just one of two partners in the winery though others could conceivably have joined since then. Critics say the Congresswoman while not accused of wrongdoing has ensured the waters remain muddied by failing to disclose simply and clearly her husband's stake. Meanwhile, Mynett's venture capital firm, Rose Lake Capital set up in 2022 with business partner Will Hailer has (if Omar's financial statements are correct) enjoyed similarly astronomical growth in the past two years. She said it was worth less than $1,000 in 2023. Now it's valued at between $5 million and $25 million. According to the New York Post, in recent months the firm 'quietly scrubbed' the names and biographies of nine of its executives and advisers including two Obama-era US ambassadors from its website. 'By not reporting the value of Mynett's stakes, Omar is effectively hiding the extent of her wealth from the public,' says the Washington Examiner newspaper. A conservative watchdog, the National Legal and Policy Center, said this week it is now scrutinising Omar's finances. Paul Kamenar, the organisation's lawyer, said: 'There's a lot of strange things going on. She was basically broke when she came into office and now she's worth perhaps up to $30 million she needs to come clean on these assets.' And Mynett's investments are causing headaches for him and his wife in other ways. The wine business, called eStCru and based in Santa Rosa, California, was accused in 2024 of defrauding investors, one of whom alleged Mynett and his partner had failed to honour a pledge to pay him hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Mynett has denied the allegations, calling it a contractual dispute.)That Mynett is investing in wine is also perhaps surprising given that, according to Omar's own spokesman, the couple married 'Islamically and legally' in 2020. Since strict Sunni Islam, to which the hijab-wearing Omar adheres, forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-believer, some suspect Mynett must have converted. And Muslims, of course, are strictly forbidden from producing, selling or drinking alcohol. Omar attends a state dinner in honour of Kenya's president William Rufo with her husband Tim Mynett on May 23, 2024 Congresswoman Ilhan Omar pictured as a young girl Omar insists she has no involvement in her husband's business affairs but, given she frequently cites her faith as a guiding star in her political career, some observers have called for her to break her public silence on his wine business. Interest in any potential financial irregularities in the Omar household has inevitably been sharpened by the epic level of fraud that has recently been exposed within Minnesota's sprawling Somali community estimated to number around 80,000 and concentrated in the city of Minneapolis which Omar represents. The latest scandal, focusing on empty children's day care centres handed millions of dollars in taxpayer funding, has helped Trump to push Somali fraudsters near the top of the US news agenda and has led to demands for the resignation of Minnesota governor Tim Walz, the hapless running mate of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Critics have blamed Minnesota's 'bleeding-heart bureaucracy' for which Omar is a front-rank cheerleader and a cynical policy of accusing anyone who questioned the endless, unchecked handouts of racism. This week, Minneapolis resident Cain Pence, a disabled whistleblower who helped expose a massive Somali-run fraud scheme in the city, told the Daily Mail: 'There's a unique reason why [fraud was so prevalent in] Minnesota. We have more social services. We have a liberal political culture and generous welfare systems... and then a group of people exploited that. At the same time the whole George Floyd thing happened [in 2020] and you literally couldn't say one word against a Somali. So it all worked together to create a tsunami of fraud.' Walz and other Democrat leaders of the Midwest state who pride themselves on the generosity of their benefits system have come in for intense criticism since journalist Nick Shirley released a YouTube video a few days ago that showed empty or abandoned day care facilities were still receiving enormous sums of public money. He filmed himself standing outside one of them, the 'Quality Learning Center' in Minneapolis, with a large sign showing its name spelled incorrectly as 'Learing'. Shirley pointed out that the premises were empty at midday on a weekday during the school year. He also filmed two other day care centres that had received millions of dollars despite being seemingly devoid of children (but not Somali 'staff', who sent him packing). In light of the video, which has garnered tens of millions of views and after which Shirley has received a number of death threats, the US Department of Health and Human Services paused $185 million in aid to Minnesota home of the world's largest Somali community outside Africa. Opponents have long accused Trump of racism over Somali immigrants, not least for his encouragement of supporters to chant, 'Send them back!' at rallies. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar during a news conference in Washington DC on January 22, 2025 Trump has now said he doesn't want any Somali migrants at all in the US, and agents of his Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department are reportedly planning an operation in Minneapolis targeting the community. But although some 40,000 Minnesota residents were born in Somalia, the majority of ethnic Somalis have US citizenship or permanent residency. (Omar became a US citizen when she was 17.) Even fellow conservatives have pointed out that the real issue isn't immigration but rampant government benefits fraud that is rife across the US (up by 242 per cent since 2020), and particularly in handout-happy Democrat states. Notwithstanding the fact that most Somali-Americans are law-abiding citizens, the sheer scale of the fraud in Minnesota and the inescapable truth that this community was deeply involved in it have made it hard for Democrats to dismiss the kerfuffle as politically expedient race-baiting. Federal charges have already been filed against 98 people in Minnesota, and at least 60 have been convicted. According to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, 85 of the defendants accused of embezzlement of public funds are 'of Somali descent', while Minnesota's Republican House Speaker, Lisa Demuth, claims what has so far emerged 'is probably the tip of the iceberg'. Last week, Assistant Attorney Joseph Thompson announced that more than $9 billion in federal funds allocated to childcare programmes in Minnesota may have been stolen. The cases stretch back to 2022 during the Biden administration when Minneapolis prosecutors charged 47 defendants with stealing at least $250 million from a child nutrition programme set up during Covid. Those charged claimed they had opened centres that were inundated with hungry children. Instead, they were submitting entirely false child rosters. A small halal grocery claimed to be feeding thousands of children every day. Its Somali-American owner was convicted of pocketing nearly $1 million which he spent on a honeymoon in the Maldives, a $64,000 pick-up truck and $30,000 in jewellery from Dubai. The cases expanded to include fraud in Minnesota's housing and autism-services programmes, again with the accused taking large sums of money for non-existent services. They splashed out on properties in Kenya and top-of-the-range Mercedes and BMWs. A lot of the money went into banks and companies in China, where investigators will find it almost impossible to identify the recipients. Most shocking of all, the Treasury Department is investigating a report by the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, which alleged that millions of dollars in stolen funds from Minnesota were sent to Somalia and ended up with Al-Shabaab, the Somali branch of Al-Qaeda. (Federal investigators told CBS News there's no evidence for this claim.) Opponents say Omar is partly to the blame for these benefits scandals as she introduced the 2020 MEALS Act which relaxed oversight of children's meal schemes during the pandemic. If the crisis ends up claiming the career of Minnesota's most famous Somali migrant, Republicans (and not a few Democrats) will not be too distraught. Additional reporting: Dana Kennedy in Minneapolis Eric Adams has suggested that Andy Cohen needs treatment for alcohol addiction after the Bravo star drunkenly blasted the ousted Big Apple mayor during CNN's New Year's Eve special. The former New York City mayor hit back at Cohen - who was co-hosting the event alongside Anderson Cooper - after he went on an anti-Adams tirade while downing drinks during the network's coverage. Within moments of the crystal-encrusted ball dropping in Times Square, Cohen - with a drink in his hand - started going off about Adams, whose term in office officially came to an end with the new year. When the New York Post then asked about the unhinged rant on Thursday, Adams chuckled. 'I have two letters for him: AA,' said Adams, referencing Alcoholics Anonymous. He later shared the same rebuttal on social media, calling Cohen's diatribe 'another sloppy drunken rant.' 'If anyone actually cares about him, they'll tell him to get help,' the now-former mayor wrote on X. 'New Yorkers aren't laughing with him,' he continued. 'They are concerned about him. Public intoxication is a disease. He should seek help.' Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams has issued a brutal response to Andy Cohen Within moments of the crystal-encrusted ball dropping in Times Square, Cohen - with a drink in his hand - started going off about Adams, whose term in office officially came to an end with the new year In a post on X Thursday, Adams wrote that Cohen needs to start attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings Adams then went on to argue that Cohen was only safe in Times Square due to the heightened police presence. 'Seek help,' Adams concluded. 'AAA: Andy's Alcohol Anonymous.' Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Cohen for comment. The Bravo star was seen holding a drink as he began his drunken rant overnight. 'Watching the final moments of Mayor Adams's chaotic...' Cohen began, before Cooper tried to stop him. 'I just want to say...' Cohen continued as Cooper interrupted him once again. 'Don't,' he said while attempting to walk out of frame. But the camera panned out to keep the co-host in frame. 'He got his pardons,' Cohen continued with a slight slur, before Cooper said 'I'm out' once again. 'I'm just saying, great, you got your pardons. Go off into the sunset,' Cohen said. 'We'll fiddle with what we have, with what you've left us with.' 'He can't help himself,' Cooper then said. Join the debate Should public figures be called out for drunken rants, or is this just part of their celebrity persona? Cohen has been co-hosting CNN's New Year's Eve special for the past nine years alongside Anderson Cooper That seemed to encourage Cohen, who then went after the outgoing mayor for getting his federal corruption case dismissed in April. 'Great, you got your pardons, now go off into the sunset,' Cohen said, slurring his words. 'Go dance away, we'll see you at the parties... all the clubs,' Cohen advised Adams, who was known for his clubbing. 'I just want to say goodbye Mayor Adams, you did it, didn't you?,' he continued. But Cohen did give the now-former mayor credit for reducing the rat population in New York City. 'I will say this - he maybe dented the rat population,' Cohen acknowledged. 'But isn't that a metaphor of sorts - I mean, let's call it as it is.' 'Well, guess what it's 2026 and there are less rats,' the Bravo host then concluded his unhinged remarks. On X, people thought the clip was hilarious. 'The years may change but Andy Cohen railing against the outgoing mayor of NYC stays the same,' wrote one user. 'Andy Cohen drunk af on CNN while Anderson Cooper tries to stay out of the frame is gold,' another user wrote. A third simply replied with dozens of crying laughing emojis. In his final act as New York City mayor, Eric Adams pushed the button to begin the ball drop countdown in Times Square Adams was standing nearby as Cohen spoke, marking the end of his mayoral term pushing the button to begin the ball drop countdown in Times Square. He then ended his term in office in the same place it began four years ago, when he was sworn in. 'This has been a remarkable four years,' Adams said, as Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the first Muslim mayor of America's largest city. He took the oath of office in a private ceremony at an historic decommissioned subway station in Manhattan, with a much larger ceremony Thursday afternoon. 'This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,' the Democratic Socialist said in a brief speech Wednesday night. Robert F Kennedy Jr has reportedly not been invited to the funeral of his cousin Tatiana Schlossberg Tatiana, who died at the age of 35 on Tuesday, had referred to Kennedy Jr, who is Donald Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services, as the family 'embarrassment' in a column just before her death. A source told Rob Shuter's Naughty But Nice that Schlossberg's funeral is being kept to immediate family and close friends - which will not include RFK Jr. 'RFK Jr will not be invited, and the family made that decision intentionally. They are trying to shield the kids and manage their grief without extra public scrutiny or controversy,' the source said. Schlossberg's parents - Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg - have reportedly been 'tight-lipped and deeply protective' over the funeral. Her brother, 32-year-old influencer and Congressional candidate Jack Schlossberg, was reportedly 'barely keeping it together' on a trip to his sister's Park Avenue apartment with her son. The source told Shuter that the loss and responsibility for taking care of the kids has taken a toll on Jack. In her New Yorker essay, Tatiana also slammed RFK Jr over his work as part of the Trump administration. Robert F Kennedy Jr will not be invited to the funeral of his cousin Tatiana Schlossberg (pictured) after she ripped him in a column written weeks before her death from blood cancer Schlossberg, who died at the age of 35 on Tuesday, had referred to Kennedy Jr (pictured), who is Donald Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services, as the family 'embarrassment' 'I watched from my hospital bed as Bobby, in the face of logic and common sense, was confirmed for the position, despite never having worked in medicine, public health, or the government,' she wrote. 'I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines, technology that could be used against certain cancers; slashed billions in funding from the National Institutes of Health, the world's largest sponsor of medical research; and threatened to oust the panel of medical experts charged with recommending preventive cancer screenings.' Her anger at RFK Jr is the latest example of the HHS secretary's estrangement from his famous family. In December, the Daily Mail revealed that the storied Camelot clan is 'disgusted, embarrassed, and pained' by the latest wave of revelations surrounding what one insider called Bobby Kennedy's 'online philandering and sick sexual masturbatory fantasies.' Those allegations are laid out in graphic detail by the 70-year-old's former online paramour, Olivia Nuzzi, 32, in her bizarre new tell-all - and amplified by Nuzzi's ex-fiance, Ryan Lizza, who has penned his own salacious account of the pair's tawdry digital entanglements. Some members of the Kennedy dynasty have not shied away from condemning their controversial relative. Caroline Kennedy, JFK's only daughter, has publicly labeled her first cousin Bobby, 'a predator.' Sources tell the Daily Mail that several family members 'feel strongly' that Bobby's third wife of more than a decade, actress Cheryl Hines, 60, should 'leave him forthwith,' or get him to seek professional help post-haste' for what they believe is 'a serious sexual addiction dating back years.' Her anger at RFK Jr is the latest example of the HHS secretary's estrangement from his famous family The only surviving child of JFK and Tatiana's mother, Caroline Kennedy, has openly labelled her cousin RFK Jr a 'predator' Those close to Cheryl, who say they feel genuine sympathy for her in the wake of what they claim is 'Bobby's abuse through his illicit affair,' are now quietly weighing a rare - and potentially explosive - intervention. A well-placed source told the Daily Mail that several family members are hoping to 'convince Cheryl that maybe it's time with all that's happened' to end her turbulent and painful marriage - or, at the very least, to 'get Bobby the drastic help he needs - professional help.' Kennedy's also seen his personal popularity flailing as he tries to implement his MAHA - Make America Healthy Again - agenda. When asked in early December who voters would kick out of the cabinet if forced to make a decision, 19 percent said the independent 2024 presidential candidate would top their list, according to a new poll from the Daily Mail/JL Partners. In a close second, with 15 percent, was Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Once a Trump campaign rival, RFK Jr. dropped out of the race and endorsed the president last summer. He was then tapped to lead an overhaul at HHS. The Kennedy black sheep went through a bruising confirmation process as Democrats pushed back on his anti-vaccine conspiracies and his plans to completely revamp the public health agenda is the US. But there was little they could do to stop Republicans from confirming him and Trump's other contentious cabinet picks. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is voters' preference for Donald Trump to fire from his cabinet if they had to choose someone Your browser does not support iframes. Now, it appears his unpopularity and rage from his family members will keep him from his cousin's funeral. Tatiana, the granddaughter of former President John F Kennedy, died from blood cancer just six weeks after she revealed her diagnosis. The Kennedy scion's death was announced on Tuesday via the social media accounts for the JFK Library Foundation on behalf of her heartbroken relatives. 'Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts,' the post reads, signed by 'George, Edwin and Josephine Moran, Ed, Caroline, Jack, Rose and Rory'. The New York-born environmental journalist revealed in November that doctors told her she had acute myeloid leukemia in May 2024. Writing in the New Yorker, Tatiana said she had no symptoms and was 'one of the healthiest people I knew' when the shock diagnosis came. Doctors only found the disease through routine blood tests after she gave birth to her second child. Jackie Kennedy, then 63, with Tatiana, then one, on a 1992 outing in Central Park Jackie, then 63, with Tatiana and her sister Rose in Central Park, New York, 1992 It is the latest tragedy to befall Caroline Kennedy, who lost her father to an assassin's bullet when she was five years old, her only sibling, JFK Jr, in a plane crash years later, and her mother to lymphoma in 1994, when the iconic former first lady was just 64. Tatiana is survived by her husband, physician George Moran, and their two children, Edwin, three, and Josephine, one. Writing in the New Yorker about her diagnosis, Tatiana said that she 'could not believe' the doctors were talking about her when they said she would need chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. 'I had swum a mile in the pool the day before, nine months pregnant. I wasn't sick. I didn't feel sick. I was actually one of the healthiest people I knew,' she wrote. Tatiana said her parents and her siblings, Rose and Jack, supported her through months of grueling medical treatments. '[My family has] held my hand unflinchingly while I have suffered, trying not to show their pain and sadness in order to protect me from it. This has been a great gift, even though I feel their pain every day,' she wrote. She also addressed the so-called 'Kennedy curse' in her essay, saying that she did not want to add 'a new tragedy' to her mother Caroline's life. Tatiana is survived by her husband, George Moran (pictured with her), and their two kids Your browser does not support iframes. 'For my whole life, I have tried to be good, to be a good student and a good sister and a good daughter, and to protect my mother and never make her upset or angry,' Schlossberg wrote. 'Now I have added a new tragedy to her life, to our family's life, and there's nothing I can do to stop it.' The Kennedy family has also endured assassinations, drug overdoses, tragic accidents and scandal. The US dynasty's most famous death was that of then-president JFK, who was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald on November 22, 1963. JFK was in Texas with Jackie, and then-vice president Lyndon B Johnson, preparing to deliver a speech on the strength of the US, but he never reached the podium. The president was shot three times as he rode in an open-top limousine, waving to crowds in Dallas. Seated to his left was the first lady, his wife of ten years, who cradled him and screamed out for help following the shocking assassination, which was captured by TV crews and reporters in real time. Three shots were fired in total. The first bullet missed, while the second struck JFK near the base of the back of his neck and exited out of the front of his neck. The third bullet entered the back of his head on the right and exited out the same side, causing the massive wound that ultimately killed him. In her New Yorker essay, Tatiana also slammed RFK Jr over his work in the Trump administration Tatiana was the daughter of Caroline Kennedy - whose parents were John F Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy - and designer Edwin Schlossberg JFK's younger brother, Robert, was also brutally gunned down, by a man named Sirhan Sirhan, who shot two or three rounds at him just five years after JFK was killed. Tragedy struck the Kennedy family once more a generation later when the late president's beloved son, JFK Jr, crashed his small Piper Saratoga plane into the ocean around seven miles from Martha's Vineyard in 1999. The journalist and publisher, 38, was on his way to his cousin's wedding with his wife, fashion publicist Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette. His plan on the day of the flight on July 16 was to fly with his wife, 33, and sister-in-law, 34, to Martha's Vineyard to drop Lauren off, before continuing with Carolyn to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. But the trio died around seven miles from Martha's Vineyard after it is thought he lost his bearings over the Atlantic Ocean due to poor visibility and a lack of training. While she criticized RFK Jr, She dedicated much of her essay to thanking other family members for supporting her through the most difficult months of her treatment. '[George] would go home to put our kids to bed and come back to bring me dinner. I know that not everyone can be married to a doctor, but, if you can, it's a very good idea,' she wrote. 'He is perfect, and I feel so cheated and so sad that I don't get to keep living the wonderful life I had with this kind, funny, handsome genius I managed to find.' The Daily Mail has contacted Robert F Kennedy Jr for comment. A Sydney mother-of-two is being remembered as a 'beautiful person' and a loving mother' to her two little boys after she tragically drowned on New Year's Day. Melissa Austin, 45, was pulled from the water at Dunbogan Beach on the NSW Mid North Coast just before 3pm on Thursday. She was treated by paramedics and police at the scene but couldn't be revived. Her mother-in-law, Jo-Anne Bovis, said Ms Austin had only arrived on the Mid North Coast that day for a week-long holiday, the Daily Telegraph reports. It's unclear whether she was with her husband Joel and their two boys at the time. Ms Austin, who owned Mel's Hair and Beauty in Berowra Heights in Sydney's north, is being remembered by her colleagues and clients as 'talented', 'kind' and 'full of life'. In dozens of tributes shared online, Ms Austin was described as an integral part of the Berowra community. 'Such a beautiful individual and such a big part of the fabric that is the Berowra community, just tragic,' one local said, while another wrote: 'Mel was such a beautiful person and the salon is an important contributor to the Berowra community'. Melissa Austin, 45, was described as a 'loving mother' to her two little boys, pictured here with husband Joel Another added: 'Berowra will never be the same'. Her friend of 20 years, Carolyn Douglas, also shared a heartbreaking tribute. 'She is such a beautiful person and the Berowra community will not be the same without her. I cannot stop thinking about her and her beautiful family,' she wrote. Sandra Hindman, who said she had known Ms Austin for decades, also commented. 'I have known this lady since birth and friends with her parents for 55 years,' she said. 'It is such devastating news and she will be sorely missed by the community.' Mark Melo, from Shelly Beach in Sydney's Northern Beaches, said Ms Austin was a 'great wife' to his best friend Joel. 'The husband is my best mate, I've known them both for years,' he wrote. Melissa's (centre) colleagues at Mel's Hair and Beauty said they were 'broken' by her passing 'She was the nicest person, so lovely, a great wife and mother to her two boys. I'm devastated for their family.' Ms Austin's death is one of a series of tragic New Year's drownings. Three people have doed and two remain missing, including a 14-year-old boy. NSW surf lifesavers have performed more than 85 rescues since Christmas Day. 'This spate of rescues and drownings has just caught everyone off guard,' Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said on Thursday. 'Yet because of the conditions and the inclement weather, lifeguards and lifesavers - although we had everyone out in force - just did not expect this swathe of drownings and rescues.' Over the New Year period, the risk of drowning is three times greater than at any other time of the year. A Wisconsin woman died after she was brutally assaulted while leading a horseback-riding tour on an idyllic beach in Antigua and Barbuda. Karen Johannsen was on horseback at Runaway Beach in Dickenson Bay when she was struck in the back of the head with a blunt object around 11am on December 19, according to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda. Emergency personnel transported the 66-year-old to Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre to be treated for her serious injuries. Johannsen was then airlifted to University Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, on December 21. Her family said that the brutal attack left the victim with a fractured jaw, several broken bones, and a massive head injury, according to the Independent. Doctors put her on life support and told her loved ones that Johannsen would not recover her neurological function. She was pronounced dead on December 26, one week after she was attacked. A homicide investigation was launched, and officials said that the unnamed male suspect was in police custody. Karen Johannsen, 66, died after she was struck in the back of the head during a brutal attack as she was leading a horseback-riding tour in Antigua and Barbuda Officials said Johannsen was attacked at Runaway Beach in Dickenson Bay Johannsens sister, Lyn, told WMTV that the suspect is a former boyfriend. According to the victim's social media, she lived in Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda, and frequently advertised her horseback-riding tours along the beach. Her parents owned Johannsens Greenhouse, a staple in Madison for 50 years, which closed in 2013, according to the outlet. Lyn also told Antigua News that Johannsen was a registered organ donor and was scheduled for a procedure shortly after her passing. She thanked everyone for all of their support during the tough time. 'The police administration expresses condolences to the family and loved ones of Karen Johannsen on her tragic passing,' wrote the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda. She needed to be put on life support and doctors told her loved ones that she would never regain neurological function She was pronounced dead at University Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, a week after she was attacked on December 26 Several online users were shocked by the Wisconsin woman's death. One user wrote: 'A stellar lady. Devastating to think she came to Antigua in her next chapterto thriveand was murdered.' An acquaintance posted: 'Karen Johannsen was one of my special friends. We shared many crazy adventures and ski trips. Her death is so very sad in so many ways.' A third added: 'I couldn't believe it when I heard it. We always went to their greenhouse for plants, etc. She was always so helpful & kind. Sympathies to her family & friends.' Madison, Wisconsin, is approximately 2,400 miles away from Antigua and Barbuda. A sparkler in a champagne bottle is believed to have caused a Swiss ski bar inferno that killed at least 47 revellers yesterday. Families face an agonising wait to find out whether loved ones died in the early hours at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana, south-west Switzerland. Officials warned it could take days to identify badly burned victims. The Foreign Office is on standby to help any British nationals after rescue chiefs said international citizens were among the dead. The blaze tore through the basement bar at 1.30am in the elegant resort - once home to James Bond star Sir Roger Moore. Witnesses said a waitress waved a sparkler in a champagne bottle while sitting on a colleague's shoulders, igniting the ceiling and setting the wood-panelled basement alight. The blaze spread in seconds, forcing a stampede as more than 100 partygoers, mostly teens and young adults, fought to get up a single, narrow staircase that was the only way out and then get out of the ground floor, which was also engulfed. Rescuers said that more than 115 survivors were being treated in hospital, many with appalling burns. Swiss president Guy Parmelin said yesterday it was 'one of the worst tragedies our country has experienced'. A photo appears to show the moment champagne sparklers set the nightclub on fire People gathered at the site of the party on New Years Day as part of a vigil Police officers inspect the area where the fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge Flowers have been laid out on the street in tribute to those who died New footage shows the deadly flashover, when extreme heat caused everything inside the enclosed space to ignite almost at once, that left people little chance to flee People console one another near the Le Constellation bar King Charles wrote to Mr Parmelin to offer his condolences, saying he and the Queen 'were appalled, and greatly saddened'. He added: 'It is utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy.' Questions were asked last night as to how the inferno could have happened, with locals claiming sparklers were banned in many venues because of the fire risk. Jessica Moretti, 40, who owns Le Constellation with her husband Jacques, 49, was inside at the time but escaped with only an injury to her arm. Mr Moretti was in another of the couple's venues. The couple were said to be 'completely in shock' as investigators determine whether the bar was 'a disaster waiting to happen'. Locals gave horrifying accounts of victims burning 'from head to foot' and bodies in the snow 'shirtless, disfigured, burned'. The 22 victims with the worst injuries identified so far are aged 16 to 26, with most of those in the bar reportedly aged under 20. Survivors have been taken to hospitals and burns clinics in Switzerland, France and Italy. In Switzerland, it is legal to buy beer and wine from 16, and spirits from 18. Police commander Frederic Gisler confirmed the fire 'started in the basement' and there was a crush as people tried to flee up the single staircase. Rescuers and fire-fighters work at the site of an explosion that ripped through a bar in Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026 Dramatic footage shows enormous flames rapidly spreading over the ceiling of the cramped bar, as heavy music blares out of the speakers While authorities refused to speculate on the exact cause, witnesses and video footage suggest it was started by the sparkler Families face an agonising wait to find out whether loved ones died in the early hours While authorities refused to speculate on the exact cause, witnesses and video footage suggest it was started by the sparkler. Survivors said a table of customers made a large drinks order, prompting a waitress to get on her colleague's shoulders and wave the sparkler for them. One told local journalists that the candle 'was very close to the ceiling' which caught fire 'in a matter of seconds'. Named only as Emma, she said: 'Everything was made of wood. The whole ceiling was in flames and the fire spread really fast. It happened in seconds. We ran outside screaming.' Images of the bar also show soundproofing foam fitted on the ceiling - a potentially flammable material. Video footage shows the ceiling catch fire rapidly before the blaze spread through the mostly wooden building. Social media pages for the venue were quickly taken down, but an old video shows sparklers being used liberally at Le Constellation, which has a capacity of up to300 customers. A local bus driver said the 'firecrackers' are 'banned in a lot of clubs'. 'They should never be allowed anywhere near crowded places,' he said. 'This is an absolute tragedy.' The authorities said the blaze became a 'flashover' - a rapidly growing fire in an enclosed space that causes all flammable surfaces to ignite instantly - which could explain explosions reported by witnesses. Passengers aboard a Queensland cruise ship have slammed the cruise liner as 'disappointing' and 'disgraceful' after they were left stranded at sea off the coast of Papua New Guinea. The Coral Adventurer, which was carrying 123 people including 80 Aussies, departed Cairns on December 18. Passengers had paid more than $13,000 each to board the 12-day luxury trip. However the voyage unravelled when the ship ran aground on a reef off the Finschaffen Coast, east of Lae and about 30km north of Port Moresby, on December 27. According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the collision left the ship tilted six degrees to the left (port side), with passengers left stranded for the final four days of the journey. No injuries were reported. After taking a chartered flight which landed in Cairns on Tuesday night, passengers told the waiting media of their frustration. 'Disappointed, disillusioned and it's disgraceful,' one traveller told 7News. The Coral Adventurer has been detained by authorities following the latest incident Ursula Daus said she feared for her safety after becoming stranded at sea The boat ran aground on a reef off the Finschaffen Coast in Papua New Guinea Passenger Ursula Daus, who is from Berlin, said she felt like she was 'in danger.' 'And then they said we are safe for another four days. And it was horrible,' she said. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has now detained the Coral ship as it examines what went wrong during the latest voyage. The ship's operators told Daily Mail initial inspections by divers found no significant damage to the vessel's hull. 'Coral Expeditions regrets the grounding of its vessel and apologises to our passengers,' the company said in a statement. Travellers have been offered refunds or discounts to sail again with the company. It's believed the Coral Adventurer was 'refloated' on New Year's Eve following a coordinated multi-agency operation, including 'Pacific Towing Tugboats' and the Lae Water Police. After the passengers disembarked, they were transported by buses arranged by the Australian High Commission to Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport. Suzanne Rees died after being left behind on Lizard Island during a Coral Adventurer cruise It's understood advanced customs clearance had been granted earlier in the day, allowing the passengers to proceed directly to check-in and onward boarding. The vessel is expected to return to Cairns once clearance is granted. The latest crisis comes just two months after a NSW grandmother died after being left behind on a stopover on a remote island. Suzanne Rees, 80, was left behind on Lizard Island during a stopover during the $80,000-a-ticket circumnavigation of Australia in October. Ms Rees had been hiking to the summit of the Great Barrier Reef island's highest peak but turned back after becoming too tired to continue. She failed to reboard the ship, with serious questions raised about the five-hour delay in launching a search for the missing grandmother. Investigations into Ms Rees's death continue. Denmark's prime minister has warned President Donald Trump that the country is ramping up its military force as he continues to threaten a takeover of Greenland. Trump has repeatedly revived his push to seize control of Greenland - Denmark's semi-autonomous territory and a NATO ally - most recently just weeks ago with the appointment of a special envoy. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry was appointed to the role, with Trump declaring the goal of 'making Greenland part of the US,' which he has targeted for years because of its strategic position in the Arctic. The president doubled down the following day, calling Greenland vital to 'national protection' and claiming that the US had explored the island three centuries ago. On Thursday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of the ruling Social Democrats blasted Trump's ongoing threats during her annual New Year's speech, insisting that Denmark will 'stand firm on what is right and wrong.' 'In this past year, we have had to pay attention to a lot. Threats. Pressure. Derogatory language. From our closest ally for a lifetime,' Frederiksen said, according to Danish daily newspaper Berlingske. 'Wanting to take over another country, other people. As if it were something you could buy and own,' she added. 'It doesn't belong anywhere.' Frederiksen said in the televised speech that Denmark is quickly ramping up its military force and reinforcing stronger security in the Arctic amid the president's escalating pressure. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (pictured) of the ruling Social Democrats warned President Trump that the country is ramping up its military force amid his ongoing threats during her annual New Year's speech Trump has repeatedly pushed to seize control of Greenland - Denmark's semi-autonomous territory and a NATO ally - because of its strategic position in the Arctic In December, Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (pictured) as special envoy to Greenland with the goal of 'making Greenland part of the US' 'My speech tonight has not been about foreign policy. It could well have been that. You know where I - where the government stands,' the prime minister said. 'We are in full swing strengthening Danish defense and preparedness,' she added. 'Never before have we increased our military strength so significantly. So quickly.' 'We are not the ones seeking conflict. But let no one be in any doubt: No matter what happens, we will stand firm on what is right and wrong.' The prime minister reiterated that the country is working to strengthen security in the Arctic, and described the kingdom as vast in territory but small in population. 'We are taking on our responsibilities in the world. If we let one country fall first, then the way is paved for Russia to advance further into Europe,' she said, according to the Danish outlet. King Frederik X of Denmark shared similar views in his annual New Year's address, highlighting the new military training programs and praising the 'strength and pride' of Greenlanders during this 'turbulent time.' Trump has renewed his desire to annex Greenland since his 2025 return to the White House, and in May, even declared that he wasn't ruling out 'force' to seize the resource-rich island. In December, outrage among Danish leaders flared again when Trump appointed Gov. Landry as special envoy to Greenland, a territory that, while part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is largely self-governing. Trump only doubled down when he called Greenland vital to 'national protection' and claimed that the US had explored the island three centuries ago King Frederik X of Denmark (right) highlighted the new military training programs and praised the 'strength and pride' of Greenlanders during this 'turbulent time' in his New Year's address In May, Trump declared that he wasn't ruling out 'force' to seize the resource-rich island of Greenland 'Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country's Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World,' he stated in a Truth Social post. Landry, who became Louisiana's governor in 2024, thanked the president on X, calling it '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,' he added. Responding to the appointment in a joint statement, PM Frederiksen and her counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen said: 'We have said it before. Now, we say it again: national borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law,' according to The Independent. 'They are fundamental principals,' the statement added. 'You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.' 'Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the US shall not take over Greenland. We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity.' In a post on Facebook, Prime Minister Nielsen wrote: '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.' Just a day after Landry's appointment, Trump returned to the topic of 'national security' at a Florida press conference, insisting the US is not seeking to exploit Greenland's vast mineral wealth. Denmark's prime minister reiterated that the country is working to strengthen security in the Arctic, and described the kingdom as vast in territory but small in population Trump returned to the topic of 'national security' at a recent Florida press conference and insisted that the US is not seeking to exploit Greenland's vast mineral wealth The president said he wanted to use the island to curb Russian and Chinese influence - two nations he accused of having ships in the region Instead, the president said he wanted to use the island to curb Russian and Chinese influence- two nations he accused of having ships in the region, according to The Independent. 'They say that Denmark was there 300 years ago or something with a boat. Well, we were there with boats too, I'm sure. So we'll have to work it all out,' Trump said. However, the Inuit - often referred to as Eskimos - are Indigenous peoples who live primarily in the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, Alaska and parts of Siberia - and have inhabited Greenland for thousands of years. Furthermore, Europeans first made contact with Greenland in the late 10th century, meaning that the US only became involved in exploration of the island in the late 1900s. Polls across Greenland have also revealed that residents overwhelmingly oppose becoming part of the US, as reported by The Independent. In early December, for the first time in history, Denmarks military intelligence service labeled the US a security risk. The Danish Defense Intelligence Service released a report warning that shifts in American policy have raised new concerns, specifically citing Trumps use of reciprocal tariffs against US allies and his actions in the Arctic. 'The United States uses economic power, including threats of high tariffs, to enforce its will and no longer rules out the use of military force, even against allies,' the report read, according to The New York Times. In early December, for the first time in history, Denmarks military intelligence service labeled the US a security risk In March, Vice President JD Vance his and his wife visited the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland where it was -3 degrees Fahrenheit when they landed During the visit, Vance said that the US was no longer willing to 'pick up the tab' for Europe to keep the region safe The annual report also argued that the Trump administration's growing focus on competition with China 'creates uncertainty about its role as the primary guarantor of security in Europe.' In a worst-case scenario, Danish intelligence predicted that NATO allies could face simultaneous conflicts, with China and Russia prepared to engage in regional wars in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea, respectively. The report came just one week after the Trump administration released its own national security report, calling on European nations to take 'primary responsibility' for their own defense. In March, Vice President JD Vance blasted Denmark during a visit with his wife, pushing for Greenland to become independent in his most aggressive rhetoric yet. He and his wife Usha visited the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland where it was -3 degrees Fahrenheit when they landed. During the visit, Vance said that the United States was no longer willing to 'pick up the tab' for Europe to keep the region safe. 'If the people of Greenland are willing to partner with United States, and I think they ultimately will, we could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection, and I think they would fare a lot better economically as well,' he said. Meanwhile, in Nuuk - Greenland's capital - the US consulate is still recruiting unpaid interns to support the presidents Greenland annexation efforts and potentially placing costs on local taxpayers. An Australian travel start-up which helped people perform the difficult task of purchasing an international train ticket has gone out of business. Metro 1 Travel and Technology Pty Ltd which ran little-known train booking platform 'Rail Online' has gone under with $2.7million in debt. Administrators put the company into liquidation on New Year's Eve while it still owed about $879,000 to employees who worked remotely at the defunct Sydney-based international rail booking company. An estimated $603,304 is owed in wages, according to an administrator's report. Metro 1 Travel and Technology Pty Ltd director James Dunne had hoped a $12million capital raise would come through last month so the company could repay debt and fund 'future growth' but the dream went kaput. The company facilitated travellers by helping them book international rail tickets for trains in the United Kingdom, Europe and Japan before it ran out of money. The first nail in the coffin for Metro 1 Travel and Technology Pty Ltd was after it failed to repay train travel giant Eurail which last October issued a 'statutory demand' for money it was owed. Eurail is an easy-to-use website which allows overseas travellers to book European train passes online with the click of a button. Metro 1 Travel and Technology Pty Ltd which ran little known train booking platform 'Rail Online' has gone under with $2.7million in debt Rail Online helped travellers purchase international train tickets This warning page is what remains of Rail Online Aussie travellers can easily use Eurail and other popular services including BritRail, which offers train passes for the UK. It's also relatively easy to obtain a Japan Rail Pass by purchasing one online via the official website. The pass for non-Japanese residents offers enormous ease jumping on and off Shinkansen bullet trains. It's unclear why anyone would use an online third-party to book train travel, however, according to a statement on the last remaining page of the Rail Online website, rail tickets that have already been purchased and issued remain 'valid for travel'. A document filed with ASIC last week showed the company owed about $2.7million in estimated debts, including about $1.8million owed to unsecured creditors. It's been reported, some senior staff previously agreed to the company accruing a portion of their salary and wages to help with its capital requirements'. These staff agreed to the deal with the 'understanding they would be paid their accrued wages once the company had enough liquidity'. The administrators were investigating the accrued amounts further, according to the report filed to ASIC last week. Rail Online sold tickets for trains in Japan. A Shinkansen bullet train zooms past Mount Fuji (above). Travellers can easily use Eurail and other popular services including BritRail, which offers train passes for the UK Metro 1 Travel and Technology Pty Ltd failed to repay train travel giant Eurail which last October issued a 'statutory demand' for money it was owed Prior to the company's liquidation, senior Metro 1 Travel and Technology staff terminated the employment of one employee and stood down three others before they were also made redundant last month. The report states Metro 1 Travel and Technology had been 'unable to repay legacy debts to major creditors' and it 'could not scale the business'. 'As the company was not able to achieve revenue growth, it did not have the financial means to support its cost base, which was already relatively lean,' the administrators wrote. 'This resulted in the company accruing significant legacy debts in which it was ultimately unable to repay as and when they fell due.' Mr Dunne told administrators the intended $12million capital raise was unsuccessful due to 'external factors'. The administrators are looking for potential buyers of the Rail Online business and reported they were in discussions with interested parties. Creditors were expected to receive an estimated total of up to $366,382 if the Rail Online sale was successful. The administrators are also investigating a potential tax refund between $120,000 to $200,000 for 'costs incurred developing the intellectual property for the Rail Online platform', the report states. The Japan Rail Pass offers enormous ease jumping on-and-off Shinkansen bullet trains (above) Metro 1 Travel and Technology Pty Ltd is also waiting on $73,000 from debtors which, if collected, could boost the payout for creditors. The administrators also found $120,288.99 left in the companys bank and PayPal accounts but a further $134,000 in bank guarantees provided to rail operators would be tricky to recover as the company owes major debt to these rail companies. Mr Dunne was contacted for comment. They were rushed to hospital by paramedics Paramedics have saved the life of a tourist who narrowly avoided drowning at a popular water park. Emergency services were called to WhiteWater World, in the Gold Coast, after receiving reports of a 'post-immersion incident' around 2pm on Friday. There they found the tourist, who has not been identified, in a life-threatening condition before being pulled out of the park's Cave of Waves pool. The patient, aged in their 30s, was initially assessed at the scene before being rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital for further testing. Dreamworld, which owns WhiteWater World, thanked its lifeguards for helping to save the park guest. 'Our highly trained lifeguards responded immediately, and Queensland Ambulance Service attended the scene promptly,' the statement said. 'The safety and wellbeing of our guests and team members is our highest priority, and we are assisting emergency services as required.' An Australian who died while scuba diving on holiday in Bali was a senior executive at a major United Arab Emirates company. Nathan John Scott, 50, had been diving off the Indonesian holiday island's east coast at Segara Beach in Tulamben around 11.30am on Tuesday. Another nearby diver, from South Africa, recalled seeing Mr Scott appear panicked while at a depth of 15 metres and around 150 metres off the coast. He said Mr Scott took off his diving regulator before swimming towards the surface which may have triggered a panic attack. The South African man immediately swam over to Mr Scott, who was just a month shy of his 51st birthday, and once above the water began yelling for help. A fisherman in a boat nearby tried to help but despite his efforts the Balinese man said Mr Scott was already unconscious in the water by the time he reached them. The two bystanders bundled Mr Scott into the fishing boat and rushed him to shore but by the time paramedics arrived he could not be revived. Mr Scott was a senior executive at Tristar Group which is a 'fully integrated Energy Logistics business serving the oil and gas industry', according to its website. Nathan John Scott drowned while scuba diving in Bali on Tuesday Mr Scott was a senior executive of Dubai-based Tristar which operates across more than 30 countries globally The 50-year-old is understood to have suffered a panic attack after he removed his diving regulator, according to witnesses Kubu Police chief, I Nyoman Sukarma, said police were investigating the incident. 'Based on witnesses, the victim had a panic attack while diving and suddenly removed his diving regulator,' Mr Sukarma said. A diving regulator is used to reduce high pressure gas from oxygen tanks into breathable air. Suddenly removing the device can cause hyperventilation, inhalation of water and drowning. Mr Scott was staying at the Teratai Boutique Resort in nearby Amed. He was the Group Head of Systems and Projects at Tristar Group which was founded in 1998. The company, and Mr Scott, are headquartered in Dubai and operates in more than 30 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Americas and Europe. Mr Scott had more than 20 years of experience in IT Management across Europe, Middle East and Africa, according to Tristar's website. He gained his Diploma in Project Management from George Washington University in 2008. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment. A brand new 5 coin to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II's life is among five new coins revealed by the Royal Mint. Each of the coins will commemorate a different anniversary milestone in 2026. They include two new 50p coins to mark the 100th anniversary of the Grand Prix in Britain, and 50 years of The King's Trust as well as new 2 coins to celebrate 200 years of the Zoological Society London (ZSL) and the 200th anniversary of HMS Beagle. The 5 coin to mark what would Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday is the first to be released by the Royal Mint since 2024. Its design features Elizabeth II's cypher as well as depicting St Edward's Crown, surrounded by foliage based on the ironwork of the East Door of St George's Chapel where the late Queen is buried. There is also a Latin inscription which reads: 'Exaltabitur in gloria,' which translates to 'She will be exalted in glory.' One hundred beads surround the design, representing the centenary since the queen's birth. Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint said: 'This is an exciting moment for the nation to discover some of the anniversaries that will be celebrated on UK coins in 2026. 'Whether you're a royal enthusiast, a motor racing fan, or passionate about conservation, there's something for everyone in this collection. The new 5 coin will mark what would Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday is the first to be released by the Royal Mint since 2024 Pictured: The five new coins which mark the 100th anniversary of the Grand Prix in Britain, and 50 years of The King's Trust as well as new 2 coins to celebrate 200 years of the Zoological Society London(ZSL) and the 200th anniversary of HMS Beagle 'Coins have a unique ability to mark a variety of themes that resonate across different communities and interests, creating lasting reminders of the moments and institutions that shape our shared heritage.' In a first for the Royal Mint, 52 gold commemorative versions of the 2026 collection have been produced using recycled gold from old jewellery and coins. The Royal Mint said it aims to produce all gold commemorative coins from recycled gold by the end of 2026. Ms Morgan said: 'We are also delighted to be introducing recycled gold into a limited number of commemorative coins. This move demonstrates our commitment to a more sustainable future for The Royal Mint, preserving finite precious metal resources and supporting a circular economy.' The 2 coins commemorate the 200th anniversaries of ZSL and the HMS Beagle. Founded by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1826 for 'the advancement of zoological science', the ZSL now supports wildlife in more than 70 countries across the world. The UK 2 coin celebrating 200 years features three key animals - the Sumatran tiger, Socorro dove and partula snail. The coin's inscription reads: 'Restoring wildlife together.' HMS Beagle was used for exploration and discovery and during its years of active service the ship's passengers included naturalist Charles Darwin. The new 5 coin features Elizabeth II's cypher as well as depicting St Edward's Crown, surrounded by foliage based on the ironwork of the East Door of St George's Chapel where the late Queen is buried The King's Assay Master Dan Thomas holds a 100 Years of the Grand Prix in Britain 50p (left) and a 200 Years of ZSL (Zoological Society London) 2 coin Beagle was launched in 1820. It was was refitted as a surveying vessel and undertook its first commission in 1826. The design of the coin displays the ship and has an edge inscription that reads 'The voyage of the Beagle'. One of the 50p coins marks the 100th anniversary of the Grand Prix in Britain. The coin shows how the vehicles used at the British Grand Prix have evolved over the time, featuring a historic racing car that was used in the earlier races alongside a 2026 Formula 1 car. And the other 50p coin marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the King's Trust. In 1976, King Charles III used his Navy severance pay to fund several community initiatives that became the foundations of what is now known as The King's Trust (formerly The Prince's Trust). Since then the charity has helped more than 1.2 million young people across the UK, supporting them to develop confidence and skills to get ready for work, secure a job or start a business. The coin's reverse features a design by Jessica Gregorio, a graphic designer and former trust beneficiary, reflecting the journey and aspirations of young people supported by the charity. The obverse side of each commemorative coin in the set features the official coinage portrait of the King A flowing stream references the Royal Navy origin story, the sun represents optimism and the light the trust brings to young lives, while clouds symbolise dreams and ambitions. In 2024, a reformation metals facility was launched at the Mint's manufacturing site in south Wales, where gold is recovered from end-of-life technology such as laptops, TVs and mobile phones, and used in jewellery and lifestyle products. Working with Betts Metals, the Mint also uses silver from industrial and medical X-ray films in products such as the silver sixpence. The 2026 commemorative sets will be available to buy in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, from January 2 from The Royal Mint's website, with prices starting from 39.50. The limited edition 22 carat gold coin set is priced at 14,500. Each of the coins will be available individually throughout 2026, except for The King's Trust 50p which is available only as part of the Mint's annual set. The coins are only available to buy, rather than being released into general circulation. The obverse side of each commemorative coin in the set features the official coinage portrait of the King. Since Ikea arrived in Britain nearly 40 years ago, the furniture retailer has focused on attracting customers to megastores where they can buy just about anything. But the Swedish business has found success in recent years with smaller city centre stores and has now revealed its plans to shift further towards these. Peter Jelkeby, the outgoing chief executive of Ikea's UK and Ireland arm, said the company will stop new 'big box' openings as property taxes continue to rise. Bosses are looking at opening more compact shops after being impressed by strong openings of such sites in Brighton and London's Hammersmith, reported The Times. Ikea also wants to expand to retail parks with scaled-down stores that are bigger than the city centre shops but smaller than the classic out-of-town warehouse stores. Three such 'city stores' were opened in Harlow, Norwich and Chester last year giving Ikea a total of 26 sites in the UK, 20 of which are defined as major stores. Mr Jelkeby was asked whether the shift was partly designed to ease Ikea's exposure to business rates, and replied: 'We of course want to have lower business rates.' It comes as thousands of supermarkets and department stores are expected to be hit hardest by changes to property taxes which come into force in three months' time. Ikea Hammersmith was opened in the Livat shopping centre in West London in February 2022 The Ikea in Hammersmith features a cafe, which became its first ever UK high street restaurant Bigger stores have suffered a significantly bigger tax bill for years because of their size and location attracting far higher rateable values than faced by smaller premises. This divide is expected to widen from April, when a new business rates surcharge of up to 10p on properties with a rateable value (RV) of 500,000 or more is brought in. The Government has previously said it wants 'to level the playing field for the high street', but the burden will rise on supermarkets and department stores. Mr Jelkeby, who is now set to take charge of Ikea in Germany, called for reforms to 'come sooner rather than later [so] the climate for retail can be positive'. It comes after Ikea closed a megastore in Tottenham, North London, in 2022 after 17 years amid a switch to smaller, more central locations including the three-floor Oxford Street store which opened last May. The first customers enter the new Ikea on Oxford Street in London as it opens in May 2025 The Ikea in Lakeside, Essex, is one of the Swedish furniture retailer's out-of-town megastores Mr Jelkeby said Ikea does not plan to close any further 'big box' stores, but is also not planning to open any as it sees 'more potential in opening more smaller stores like Oxford Street and Hammersmith'. Speaking about the Oxford Street store, he added: 'We are learning that we need to increase the capacity of check-outs, and we have increased the capacity of the food [offering] to cater for the traffic.' Oxford Street was the second UK high street store for Ikea after the first opened in Hammersmith in 2022. Another city centre store in Brighton opened in August 2025. The Harlow store opened in July, followed by the Norwich store in August then the Chester store in October. The retailer first entered the UK in 1987, opening a site in Warrington, Cheshire. This is the second drowning in NSW of 2026 The horror start to 2026 on the water has continued after another Aussie drowned after being pulled into the ocean by strong currents. The man, believed to be in his 50s, was pulled from Lobster Bay in the Beecroft Peninsula, 200km south of Sydney, about 12.40pm on Friday. Emergency services rushed to the area after receiving reports of a concern for welfare. NSW Police arrived first where they found the man unconscious along the shore after bystanders pulled him from the water. Paramedics attempted to treat the man but he was ultimately declared dead at the scene. Officers have since declared a crime scene while the circumstances surrounding the man's death are investigated. A report will be prepared for the coroner. It's the second drowning along the state's coast this year after a 45-year-old woman was pulled from the water on January 1. A man, believed to be aged in his 50s, has become the second drowning in NSW of 2026 Acting Inspector Teneille Keith said bad weather can make the ocean deadly, even for experienced divers. 'While we have welcomed a beautiful summer, it is also the peak season of drowning incidents," Acting Inspector Keith said. 'Please stay alert to the weather conditions and decide whether you should go into the water. 'Severe weather conditions are a big challenge even to experienced divers.' Lobster Bay is a popular location for swimming and snorkelling but can only be accessed by foot. On Thursday, emergency services at Dunbogan Beach, 38km south of Port Macquarie, responded and found an unconscious woman at about 2.55pm. NSW Ambulance paramedics and police attempted CPR but the woman, 45, could not be revived. Police are now investigating the circumstances around her death as well, while a report is being prepared for the coroner. On New Year's Day a different woman also drowned after she was pulled into the ocean at Dunbogan Beach near Port Macquarie Late in 2024, a private school student also vanished during an early morning swim along the Mid North Coast during Schoolies week. Astin Gerstl, 18, was last seen struggling to swim after he became caught in a rip at Little Bay Beach at 4.30pm on November 30. His friends and locals tried their best to rescue the teenager but he disappeared beneath the water before they could reach him. The search for Astin was then suspended the following day due to deteriorating offshore conditions, which forced authorities back to land. Five days later NSW Police confirmed that human remains had been located by a member of the public at the same beach. Astin's disappearance followed similar tragedies on the Mid North Coast within a week after a 59-year-old man drowned near Crescent Head days earlier. Two Albanian men removed and dumped number plates of a car involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed an 89-year-old man, a court has heard. Thomas Wallace was struck by a grey Mercedes estate car on the A289 Gads Hill in Gillingham, Kent, just after 12pm on Monday. His body was then carried on the roof of the car and was later found on the ground more than a mile away from the crash, according to Kent Police. A postman and a nearby resident came to his aid, but the ambulance pronounced Mr Wallace dead at the scene. The car was located nearby and the two occupants fled on foot, police added. Albert Matraxhiu, 28, of Edgware, north London, has been charged with death by dangerous driving, intention to pervert the course of justice, driving with no insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, failure to stop after an accident, and failure to report an accident. Erald Paci, 29, of Chatham, Kent, has been charged with intention to pervert the course of justice. Both defendants have been remanded in custody and they are due to appear before Maidstone Crown Court on January 30. Emergency services rushed to the incident on the A289 Gads Hill at around 12.10pm as paramedics treated the man at the scene, who was later pronouced dead Pictured: Police cordoned off the junction in Gillingham following the fatal collision The two men have pending immigration status Paci has previously been deported from the UK and has been awaiting a decision from the Home Office while Matraxhiu is subject to failed immigration status, which would likely result in deportation if he is found guilty. Emergency services rushed to the incident at around 12.10pm as paramedics treated the man at the scene. However, he was later pronounced dead. The incident sparked a major emergency services response with more than 20 police, fire and ambulance vehicles sent to the scene, as well as the air ambulance and police helicopter. Resident Ralph Belmonte said the man was found by a postman outside his home, more than a mile away from the collision. 'The air ambulance landed in the field nearby, and they had drones and police dogs searching,' Mr Belmonte said. 'This lane has always been isolated, and there has been some incidents, but nothing to this scale. 'The police and ambulance crews were so quick. There were around 20 cars here. The emergency response was well coordinated.' A resident of Gads Hill, close to where the man was hit, said the roads were closed off until 6pm on the day of the incident.She added: 'They were cordoned off for hours. I was driving home and saw they had shut the carriageway on the other side. It is horrendous.' Labour is facing fury today after an Islamist double-killer used European human rights laws to claim 240,000 of taxpayers money. In what has been branded a 'sick joke' Fuad Awale was given the cash in compensation and costs by the High Court after he complained that a decision to place him in solitary confinement as punishment for taking a prison guard hostage left him 'severely depressed'. Awale is serving a life sentence for the 'execution' style killing of two men in 2011. He was transferred to a special separation unit for dangerous convicts two years later after he and another convict ambushed a jail worker and threatened to kill him. He later used Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) to claim his segregation - designed to prevent him harming officers and radicalising inmates - had breached his right to life. David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, has now agreed to pay 7,500 compensation and 234,000 legal costs after a High Court judge said there had been a 'significant degree of interference with the claimant's private life'. Robert Jenrick, the Conservative shadow justice secretary, who obtained details of the payout in a letter from Mr Lammy, branded the decision a 'sick joke'. He said: 'Labour are cowing to terrorists and the human rights brigade. They must introduce emergency legislation to carve these monsters out of the ECHR immediately. If they don't, we will as soon as Parliament returns.' Fuad Awale was transferred to a special separation unit for dangerous convicts after he and another convict ambushed a jail worker and threatened to kill him Mohammed Abdi Farah and Amin Ahmed Ismail (pictured) were shot and killed by Fuad Awale in 2011 The double murderer, who took a prison officer hostage and demanded the release of hate preacher Abu Qatada (pictured), has been awarded a 240k taxpayer-funded payout The court heard Awale previously asked to associate with one of the Islamic extremist killers of Fusilier Lee Rigby - but was denied the request due to 'counter-terrorism concerns'. He and an accomplice also demanded the release of Qatada, a hate preacher who had been facing deportation to Jordan to face terror charges, as well as Roshonara Choudhry, who stabbed Labour MP Stephen Timms in 2010. The judge added: 'The degree of interference with the claimant's private life which has resulted from his removal from association has been of some significance and duration.' Mr Lammy, who revealed the payout to Awale in a letter today, suggested ministers were considering changes in the law to prevent extremist criminals from using the ECHR as a 'barrier to us protecting national security'. Awale was sentenced to a minimum of 38 years in prison in January 2013 aged 25 after shooting Mohammed Abdi Farah, 19, and Amin Ahmed Ismail, 18, in the head in a Milton Keynes alleyway over a drugs dispute. He was handed a further six-year jail sentence after taking a prison officer hostage in 2013 and making threats to kill him. The extremist had pointed a sharp implement at the throat of the officer, pinning him to a chair, and said: 'Stop struggling, I've killed two people - I'll kill you.' Awale was subsequently assessed as having 'extremist beliefs' and held in 'close supervision centres' - where up to four officers with body-worn cameras 'unlock' inmates each time they leave their cells. Awale was kept in HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes, from 2021 onwards and did not associate with any other inmates since March 17, 2023, spending as little as one hour a day outside his cell. Join the debate Should convicted extremists be allowed to use human rights laws to claim payouts from the taxpayer? The court heard Awale previously asked to associate with one of the Islamic extremist killers of Fusilier Lee Rigby (pictured) - but was denied the request due to 'counter-terrorism concerns' Lee Rigby's killers Michael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale are pictured His lawyers have now successfully argued the decisions to deny access were 'opaque', adding Awale had been denied the chance to argue his case as prison managers were failing to regularly review his segregated conditions, as required by law. Awale also argued the Ministry of Justice had failed to consider the high number of 'racist' and 'Islamophobic' prisoners in the supervision centre - further limiting the number of people he could associate with. The claim was allowed by the High Court on all grounds. Revealing the payout, Mr Lammy had noted to Mr Jenrick that the 7,500 compensation sum was a 'modest proportion' of the overall settlement - after it was contested by the Ministry of Justice, as is standard practice for 'all litigation by prisoners convicted of terrorist offences'. He pointed to improvements in the decision-making process to address the findings of similar judgements. Mr Lammy is currently considering a review by terror watchdog Jonathan Hall on how prison security can be improved following an alleged knife attack against three officers by Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi. It is believed the review has recommended the Government appeals the Awale ruling and consider changing the law to stop extremist prisoners from exploiting the ECHR. Mr Lammy told Mr Jenrick: 'I can assure you that significant policy and operational changes are under active consideration to ensure that the legal framework regarding the placement in separation remains robust, relevant and trusted.' After surviving cancer, the Princess of Wales knows life's 'far too short to get hung up' on Prince Harry's transatlantic potshots and she and William would 'rather focus on raising their own family', it was claimed today. A new intimate profile of Kate reveals that she is in good health at the start of 2026 and there is still zero contact at all with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. With no plans for that to change, there was also said to be a 'weary inevitability' at the Palace when Harry announced a pseudo-royal visit to Canada just as his older brother landed in Brazil for a key visit late last year. Friends and insiders have today given a picture of what Kate is really like in private, including her jokes about how 'feral' her three children can be - and her habit of losing her phone. Giovanna Fletcher, the celebrity podcaster and author who has known her for five years, believes that she will be a brilliant queen, who with William will bring about 'welcome change'. Ms Fletcher, the wife of musician Tom Fletcher, said that the Princess of Wales is unfairly characterised as the 'aloof' and glamorous unofficial 'head girl of the royal family'. 'She's full of heart. I think she'll be a queen who really listens, who leans in, who's very aware of what's going on', she said. 'I don't feel like it's 'us v them'. I think [the Prince and Princess of Wales] are going into it with their eyes completely open. We have to work together as a society to make that change happen [and] I think they get it. They understand things. And so, for that reason, I think it will be a welcome change'. The Princess of Wales is much more interested in raising her own family than what Prince Harry and his wife are up to, it has been claimed Despite overtures from Harry about reconciliation, there has still been no contact at all between the Sussexes (pictured in their Christmas card) and the Prince and Princess of Wales The Princess of Wales and Giovanna Fletcher, who share a bond over parenting and children's health. Giovanna has spoken about what kind of queen she will be and how funny Kate is in remission and there are claims that she and William will jet to the US to mark on July 4, 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. The rumoured foreign trip is a sign that her health continues to improve but also she enjoys a very good relationship with Melania Trump, whose husband President Trump is a vocal fan of her and her husband publicly and privately. But although the spectre of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle looms large - especially with Harry wishing to spend more time in the UK and a public plea for reconciliation - Kate is not overly bothered, it has been claimed. There is no contact between the Wales' and the Sussexes at all - and the future king and queen appear happy to have it that way, especially after the turmoil and grief of Kate's cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy. In her long read on the Princess of Wales, published today, The Times' senior royal writer Kate Mansey said: 'Prince Harry is not in contact with William. After repeatedly taking aim at his brother and sister-in-law, it's hardly surprising that William and Kate would rather focus on raising their own family'. She added: 'If Kate has learnt anything from her cancer ordeal... she'll know that life's far too short to get hung up on Harry'. The Princess of Wales and the President clink glasses following a toast to their two nations at September's state visit There are claims that she and William will jet to the US to mark on July 4, 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. A bond and friendship with First Lady Melania Trump has formed Last month it emerged that the Duke of Sussex's security in the UK, including taxpayer-funded armed police bodyguards, will be considered by committee in January - a key barrier to him returning more regularly with his children. But any visits with Archie and Lilibet are highly unlikely to involve Meghan coming too - or any plans to see William, Kate and their three children. It came after Prince Harry denied deliberately trying to overshadow his older brother's trip to Brazil with his own pseudo-royal visit to Canada. The Duke of Sussex released a defiant statement on November 5 claiming that the royal household was informed in advance, 'as a courtesy', that he was going to Toronto when his brother was in Rio. But multiple sources in the UK insisted his announcement caught royal aides completely by surprise. The row began when Harry revealed he was going to Toronto to mark 'remembrancetide' in an announcement released just as his older brother set foot on Sugarloaf Mountain. The Prince of Wales had just landed in Brazil for a five-day visit to promote his Earthshot Prize when his younger brother revealed a trip of his own. Kate Mansey said today: 'There was a sense of weary inevitability in William's camp when Harry decided to announce a trip to Canada for 'remembrancetide' at the start of his brother's official visit to Brazil'. Ms Mansey has spoken to Giovanna Fletcher about what the Princess of Wales is like, having recorded an episode of her 'Happy Mum, Happy Baby' podcast with the royal. She said that Kate is passionate about helping children in early life and considers it her life's work to improve life-chances and outcomes. The Prince of Wales during a 'Welcome to Rio' event at Sugarloaf Mountain around the time Harry announced his own pseudo-royal tour to Canada in November Prince Harry delivers remarks at the True Patriot Love's National Tribute Dinner in Toronto on a trip his spokesman said was shared in advance with the Palace, which was denied by some sources But off air they spoke with a laugh about 'feral' children and how Kate frequently loses her belongings. 'She told me that she was notoriously bad at keeping an eye on her phone. She always loses her phone. All of her Christmas presents that year were related to her keeping track of her phone It was all about her not losing her phone', Giovanna said. She said that Kate is passionate about helping children in early life and considers it her life's work to improve life-chances and outcomes. Kate is shy and was nervous to speak on the podcast, she explained. 'What I think surprised me was how nervous we both were at the top of the chat,' Fletcher said. 'I think there's no denying, when you talk to Catherine, you know what she means to the country, what influence she will have on life going forward and can have with her early years campaigning. So I think I was nervous because of that. She was nervous because she knew that she was about to speak in a way that she'd never spoken before'. The Princess of Wales launches a series of animated films through The Royal Foundation's Centre for Early Childhood in August, which remains her passion The Prince and Princess of Wales commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day - and remain one another's rocks But her husband popped up to reassure her. Giovanna said: 'Thankfully, Prince William came into the room and he said, "Just talk",' - and Kate spoke for 90 minutes instead of 45. It is clear how much support she gets from William. A source told The Times: 'While it may seem a completely ridiculous comparison, it reminds me a bit of dear old David and Victoria Beckham. 'I think the public can spot a genuine relationship and a genuinely strong marriage and two people who fit well together. How strong they are individually, but also as a couple. And I think that's probably a great asset'. One thing the couple have also had to deal with is the former Duke of York. Andrew, 64, has lost all of his titles and is being kicked out of his Royal Lodge home. Multiple sources have said that William took a very hard line on Andrew, harder than his father the King. But The Times claims differently. Kate Mansey writes: 'William was often painted as the tough guy urging his father to put his foot down. This image of ruthless William was, Im told, wide of the mark. 'If anything, William was deeply concerned for his uncles mental health and how Andrew would cope after everything was taken away. Nevertheless, William realised that while Andrew had always denied any wrongdoing, he supported his fathers decision to strip Andrew of his royal titles. Kate, in turn, supported her husband in the matter'. A Bulgarian gang who carried out the UK's largest ever benefits fraud - costing the taxpayer 53million - will only have to pay back 2million, it has been revealed. Galina Nikolova, Tsvetka Todorova, Gyunesh Ali, Patritsia Paneva and Stoyan Stoyanov were jailed for a total of 25 years at Wood Green Crown Court in north London in May 2024. Now all of them other than Ali have been freed from prison and are on immigration bail awaiting deportation. The gang were convicted after exploiting the UK's welfare system to the tune of at least 53million. They hijacked 6,000 identities to make claims for Universal Credit and even used the names of children living in Bulgaria as part of the five-year scam. The fraudsters set up three 'benefit factories' across London churning out bogus tenancy agreements, counterfeit payslips and forged letters from landlords, employers and GPs to trick the Department for Work and Pensions. The group was only uncovered after a Bulgarian police officer notified UK officials about a trend of criminals in the city of Sliven who had come into large sums of cash. Officials are now said to have recouped about 1million but had tried to get more, with a potential reported seize of just 2million. Galina Nikolova (above, right) was sent to prison alongside her boyfriend Stoyan Stoyanov (above, left) and three other gang members following their UK benefits fraud Galina Nikolova (pictured), Tsvetka Todorova, Gyunesh Ali, Patritsia Paneva and Stoyan Stoyanov were jailed for a total of 25 years at Wood Green Crown Court in May 2024 Prosecutor Gareth Munday told a hearing of attempts by the Crown Prosecution Service and the Department for Work and Pensions to recover the money. He said: 'The criminality that backs this offending was substantial, sustained and business-like fraud committed against the DWP. 'It resulted in a loss to the public purse of many millions of pounds. The Crown has taken every effort to regain as much money as we could.' Prosecutors wanted to recover about 4million from Nikolova, while saying they could prove she made 2.8million from the scam and had available assets of 942,183. Prosecutor Mr Munday said the money was gathered across five years, while the 'difference has been spent' and there was no realistic prospect Nikolova could pay it back. Her partner Stoyanov, working as her assistant, made at least 162,950 and was told to pay back 7,654, while Pavena - who made 225,919 and had more than 80,000 in her bank account and 20,000 at her home - was ordered to hand over 99,235. Mr Munday added that sums being sought were what prosecutors could 'realistically trace', as he told of Nikolova admitting she had moved 'money in cash overseas'. Judge David Aaronberg ruled that the confiscation amounts were 'appropriate' if that was the total able to be recovered from each defendant. The group hijacked 6,000 identities to make claims for Universal Credit and even used the names of children living in Bulgaria as part of the five-year scam Galina Nikolova and Stoyan Stoyanov are seen cuddling up together in a snap taken in Palmers Green, north London The gang raked in the eye-watering sum from Britain's biggest ever benefit fraud The enormous haul of money gained from the claims was laundered through a number of accounts then withdrawn in cash Nikolova was quoted by the Telegraph as saying after the confiscation hearing: 'I can't believe it. I get to go home. I am very excited.' A DWP spokesman said: 'We take all fraud seriously and last year we saved an estimated 25billion through our prevention and detection activities. 'In this case, action is ongoing to recover further money.' Operating from three 'benefits factories' across London, the gang had offered a bespoke range of services. As well as creating multiple false identities to allow them to claim Universal Credit for themselves, they offered fake documents to enable others to make bogus claims. These included fictitious tenancy agreements, counterfeit payslips and forged letters from landlords, employers and GPs. Operating between 2016 and 2021, by the time investigators smashed the ring it is estimated some 6,000 fake claims were submitted at a cost to the taxpayer of 54million - the biggest benefits con in British history. A video recovered by police from gang member Gyunesh Ali's phones showed him holding a wad of 20 notes then hurled into the air. Gang member Gyunesh Ali is detained by Bulgarian police for his part in the biggest benefits con in British history Patritsia Paneva, 27, (left) and Tsvetka Todorova, 53, (right) were also arrested When police arrested Nikolova's toyboy lover Stoyan Stoyanov - with the pair nicknamed The Bosses Of London by friends - they recovered more than 750,000. Smaller sums were also seized from Tsvetka Todorova, Patritsia Paneva and Ali. A high-end Audi and designer goods including watches, jackets and glasses were also recovered. Following his initial arrest, Ali fled the UK to dodge justice - and the Daily Mail then revealed that while there, he set up a company to invest in property in the country's second largest city Plovdiv. It was also reported last March that Nikolova, who became eligible for deportation in October 2024 under the early removal scheme, could soon be kicked out of Britain. The accelerated process to remove her was in part due to the length of time she served on remand while awaiting formal sentencing. Another factor was Government policy allowing foreign criminals to be deported 18 months before their earliest release date. In this instance, she only had to serve half of her sentence, after being arrested on May 5 2021. Labour is treating Troubles veterans 'worse than terrorists' with its new law allowing investigations into decades-old incidents in Northern Ireland, according to a commissioner it appointed. David Johnstone said the new Troubles Bill was 'imbalanced' and was 'eating at the very fabric of the Armed Forces' amid a major campaign to get it halted. The Bill will end an immunity scheme introduced in 2023 for former and serving members of the Armed Forces and and restore some inquests related to the conflict in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. A commission to investigate Troubles-related killings is also due to be set up under the much maligned legislation. In an interview with the Times today Mr Johnstone, 55, as former British Army soldier who was appointed by Northern Ireland secretary just over a year ago, said: 'Veterans hope and request and having put their lives on the line they demand they are not treated worse than terrorists. 'The current legislation does just that. It treats them worse than terrorists because under the bill they will be exposed to the full force of the law, for in many cases following orders. 'Whereas in 1998, and the years following, terrorists were allowed out of prison, given pardons, comfort letters.' He added: 'It is hard to overplay how serious this is. It is eating at the very fabric of the armed forces and trust in government.' David Johnstone said the new Troubles Bill was 'imbalanced' and was 'eating at the very fabric of the Armed Forces' amid a major campaign to get it halted. The Bill will end an immunity scheme introduced in 2023 for former and serving members of the Armed Forces and and restore some inquests related to the conflict in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Sir Keirs administration aims to replace aspects of the Conservative governments Legacy Act, which shut down all UK police investigations into Troubles-related killings in May last year. It also included a contentious conditional offer of immunity for the perpetrators of Troubles crimes in exchange for co-operation with a truth recovery body. Labours Bill was agreed as part of a framework with the Irish Government and will put in place a reformed Legacy Commission with enhanced powers. But the SAS Regimental Association, which represents the SAS and its veterans, argued in a letter threatening legal action that it could lead to prosecutions for former soldiers. The veterans said the Bill as it stands now contains barely any protections for them beyond those that already exist for criminal investigations and inquests. They said the lack of safeguards could breach veterans protections under Article 6 (right to a fair trial), and Article 8 (right to private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Meghan Markle's jam has been included in a US TV round-up of pop culture moments in 2025 'to say goodbye to' along with Labubu dolls, the 6-7 meme and Katy Perry's much-mocked space flight. Viewers were split over whether the mention of Meghan's fruit spread by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen on their CNN 'New Years Eve Live' show in Times Square was high-praise or a devastating burn. Cooper, 58, and Cohen, 57, were hosting the show for the ninth year straight and as always enjoyed a few drinks while they saw in 2026 together in New York. In one comical part of the show, the friends again read their own version of the childrens book Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, just before midnight. Each year it contains a number of pop culture references - some good and bad - and invariably the hosts burst out laughing. As they said goodbye to 2025, the Duchess of Sussex got a mention in the first few lines. 'Goodnight Labubu, clipped to a Birkin, goodnight Kim Kardashian's shapewear, complete with a merkin', Cooper said after comically mispronouncing Labubu. 'Good night Coldplay kisscam. Goodnight Meghan Markle jam', Andy Cohen continued before he took a gulp of his tequila. Viewers were split over whether the mention of Meghan's fruit spread by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen on their CNN'New Years Eve Live' show in Times Square was high-praise or a devastating burn. Meghan's fans were delighted with the mention of her As Ever jam, which launched in 2025 Cooper and Cohen then said their goodbyes to KPop Demon Hunters, Coldplays kisscam, Katy Perry in space, Nicole Kidmans post break-up hair and the brotherly love in White Lotus. There were also good wishes for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce ahead of their marriage and praise for the reunion of Destiny's Child at a Beyonce gig over the summer. The Goodnight Moon skit, which takes place every year, has split viewers. Meghan supporter's, known as the Sussex Squad, claimed that the mention of her As Ever jam was a sign that she is 'centre stage' in the US. One fan tweeted: 'The relevance that is Meghan Sussex - she matters. #WeLoveYouMeghan'. Another wrote: 'Starting the new year with love and appreciation. May she feel that love all year round'. But others were less impressed. A critic of Meghan said: 'It really is fascinating to watch her fans twist anything around to give the appearance of success'. Another said: 'No more free jam for Anderson Cooper' - a nod to the fact that he interviewed Harry after he released Spare. A third wrote: 'This was not flattering at all'. Cohen took a gulp of booze after he read the line about the Duchess of Sussex Cooper and Cohen's show has a cult following in the US - especially as they always appear to get tipsy In the same show Andy Cohen unleashed a wild rant about outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams that left Anderson Cooper visibly cringing live on CNN. Cohen and Cooper were putting away drinks for hours and bantering live during the network's coverage of the celebrations in New York City. Soon after the ball dropped in Times Square, Cohen, with a drink in his hand, said: 'Watching the final moments of Mayor Adams's chaotic...' Before he could finish his thought, Cooper interrupted and said: 'Oh no. I'm out.' Cohen continued, 'I just want to say...' before Cooper interrupted him again. 'Don't,' he said while attempting to walk out of frame. But the camera panned out to keep the co-host in frame. 'He got his pardons,' Cohen continued with a slight slur, before Cooper said 'I'm out' once again. 'I'm just saying, great, you got your pardons. Go off into the sunset,' Cohen said. 'We'll fiddle with what we have, with what you've left us with.' 'He can't help himself,' Cooper then said. A man is feared to be trapped deep underground following a roof collapse at a mine site in Queensland. Emergency crews were called to the Curragh mine site near Blackwater, in Central Queensland, around 3pm on Friday. Rescue teams are understood to still be at the site, which is about 800km north-west of Brisbane. The man is believed to have been in the mine when its roof collapsed and could be stuck as far as 1km underground. A second worker, also initially thought to have been trapped, was found above ground with non-life-threatening injuries. They have since been rushed to hospital, a Queensland Police Service spokesman confirmed. A third worker was also found safe at the site and was taken to hospital. The person feared to still be stuck in the mine is understood to be trapped in a confined space and paramedics remain on standby at the scene. A man is feared to be stuck underground in a confined space following a roof collapse at the Curragh mine site, in Central Queensland, on Friday Acting Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Tony Perrett has been briefed on the collapse. 'Emergency crews, including the Queensland Mines and Rescue Service, are on site and doing everything possible,' he said in a statement. Resources Health and Safety Queensland also said it is aware of the incident. 'RSHQ, along with emergency services and mines rescue, is responding to the incident,' a spokesperson for the mine safety watchdog told the Courier Mail. 'Our current focus is on supporting efforts to recover a worker involved in the incident.' Police are now organising and assisting partner agencies in their investigations of what went wrong while rescue operations remain underway. Ministers are set to clash over plans to scale down the rights of children with less severe special needs. Currently families of children with any additional needs are able to obtain a legal document from councils guaranteeing them expensive extra support. A rise in diagnoses of mild ADHD and autism has clogged up the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system, meaning those with severe issues such as blindness are facing long wait times for education, health and care plans (EHCPs). EHCPs were only intended for severe circumstances, but now children with more moderate needs are also on waiting lists because parents do not feel support is available at schools. Government sources say in future only those with severe needs will be able to attain EHCPs and milder cases will be dealt with at school level, with an extra 3billion allocated to provide support including classroom assistants. The plans, anticipated to be unveiled by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in a white paper, are likely to prompt a rebellion from backbench Labour MPs. But what do you think about the reforms? Have your say in the Daily Mails latest poll. In yesterday's poll, Mail readers were asked: 'Do you agree with Sir Keir Starmer's claim that "things can and will get better" in 2026?' Out of more than 39,000 votes, 97 per cent of you said 'no' and 3 per cent said 'yes'. Russia is preparing to stage a major atrocity with significant human casualties which it will blame on Ukraine, Kyiv's foreign intelligence service has claimed. The aim is to disrupt Donald Trump's peace drive and carry on the war, it is alleged. The feared massacre could come as Russians mark Orthodox Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on 6 and 7 January, according to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine [FISU]. 'With a high degree of probability, we predict a shift from manipulative influence to an armed provocation by Russia's security services, with significant loss of life,' said the agency which is headed by Lt-Gen Oleh Ivashchenko. 'The expected timing is immediately before or during the celebration of Christmas according to the Julian calendar. 'The site of the provocation could be a place of worship or another object with high symbolic value, both in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. 'To fabricate "evidence" of Ukraine's involvement, it is planned to use fragments of Western-made strike [drones], which would be delivered to the location of the provocation from the line of contact.' Russia is preparing to stage a major atrocity with significant human casualties which it will blame on Ukraine, warned Kyiv's foreign intelligence service. A building in Kyiv on fire following a Russian combined drone and ballistic missile attack The aim is to disrupt Donald Trump's peace drive and carry on the war, it is alleged. Pictured: People stand on balconies of a damaged residential building following an attack, in Odesa, on December 31, 2025 The feared massacre could come as Russians mark Orthodox Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on 6 and 7 January, according to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine [FISU] The FISU warned: 'Exploiting fear and carrying out terrorist acts with casualties "under a false flag" fully corresponds to the working style of Russia's security services. 'Putin's regime has repeatedly used this tactic inside the Russian Federation, and now the same model is being exported abroad, which is indirectly confirmed by public statements from senior Russian officials.' The statement said another recent 'false flag' was an alleged Ukrainian drone surge on a Vladimir Putin palace in Russia's Novgorod region. 'After the so-called 'attack on Putin's residence', we have recorded the Kremlin spreading new fabricated information pretexts to prepare Russian and foreign audiences for further escalation,' said the Ukrainian foreign intelligence statement. 'The Kremlin is continuing a special operation aimed at derailing peace talks mediated by the United States. 'This operation is comprehensive in nature.' Earlier this week, the Kremlin has claimed that Ukraine attempted to attack Vladimir Putin 's residence in a long-range drone attack hours after Donald Trump hailed progress in peace talks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Kyiv had attempted to attack President Putin's remote retreat in the Novgorod region and so Moscow's negotiating position would change, Interfax reported. 'The expected timing is immediately before or during the celebration of Christmas according to the Julian calendar.' Pictured: A destroyed house in the direction of Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, 31 December 2025 Trump on Sunday celebrated the success of his highly anticipated peace talks with Zelensky, revealing they are 'very close' to striking an agreement on all but 'one or two thorny issues' 'Such reckless actions will not go unanswered,' Lavrov was quoted as saying, adding that the attack involved 91 long-range drones. Zelensky has denied the claims, calling them 'lies'. It was not immediately clear if Putin was in the residence at the time. The attempted attack came as the warring countries edge closer to signing a peace deal after almost four years of conflict. Trump on Sunday celebrated the success of his highly anticipated peace talks with Zelensky, revealing they are 'very close' to striking an agreement on all but 'one or two thorny issues'. The President had earlier welcomed the Ukrainian leader to his Mar-a-Lago estate with open arms when he arrived in Florida to discuss a 20-point plan aimed at ending the war with Russia. Kyiv's foreign intelligence service's false-flag warning comes after the US State Department has renewed its 'do not travel' advisory for Russia. There are a myriad of high risks related to terrorism, wrongful detention and 'arbitrary enforcement of local laws'. 'US citizens in Russia should leave immediately,' it states. 'Russian officials have questioned, threatened, and detained U.S. citizens without reason.' He held the boy captive for three hours A man who kidnapped a child while attempting to take another will now spend close to 10 years in jail. Jonathan Richard Anthony was wearing a balaclava when he took an eight-year-old from his bed in the early hours of March 31, 2023. The boy had been sleeping next to his brother, 12, who Anthony also unsuccessfully attempted to take from their Moora home in Western Australia. Anthony lost grip of the older boy while leading him out of the house but still managed to walk off with his younger brother. Anthony took the boy to his own home where he threatened to kill the child if he did not stay in the house where he was drinking beer. He held the child against his will for three hours, a court has heard. Perth's District Court was told that Anthony had schizophrenia at the time and was under the impression that he was saving children from aliens. Judge Seamus Rafferty sentenced Anthony to eight years in jail, which was backdated to 2023 this week. Jonathan Richard Anthony kidnapped an eight-year-old child from his Moora home in Western Australia in 2023 Anthony was under the effects of illicit drugs at the time and was convinced he needed to save children from aliens Hours before kidnapping the child Anthony sniffed two 600-millilitre cans of butane, court documents showed, as seen by the ABC. He described the effects of butane as being similar to 'a bad batch of psychedelics'. This made him think 'the TV was talking to me and stuff', the court heard. These delusions also convinced Anthony there were 'aliens everywhere' which required him to 'save the kids'. The entire kidnapping was captured on CCTV in Anthony's home and footage showed him grabbing at the child every time they tried getting up to leave. Friends and family of the boy eventually heard his cries for help however, and were able to alert emergency services who rescued him. The entire ordeal had 'absolutely terrified' the boy, Judge Rafferty said, noting that Anthony's offending was extremely serious. Children should always feel safe in their own beds and Anthony violated that trust 'in the most egregious way', he added. Anthony has been sentenced to eight years in prison Anthony was suffering from severe psychosis at the time, which had been deteriorating ever since he stopped taking medication for schizophrenia in 2022. Previously, Anthony had been sentenced for arson due to his 'heavy drug use' in 2020. He first started using cannabis at the age of 10 and methylamphetamine from the age of 15, Judge Rafferty said. Anthony's defence lawyer, Frances Veltman, said he had been hearing voices for '10 to 15 years'. Judge Rafferty conceded that Anthony was remorseful and 'horrified' over what had happened and he pleaded guilty to multiple charges. Anthony will be eligible for parole after serving six years. An award-winning NHS nurse has been struck off after sharing anti-immigrant posts online saying that 'foreigners' who come to Britain will end up 'being your rulers'. Roberta Batchelor was stripped of her licence after a disciplinary panel concluded a series of her social media posts 'sought to cause offence to immigrants...and those of Muslim faith'. She bizarrely claimed to have been acting out of anger over the Labour government's cuts to winter fuel allowance and was 'caught up in all the unrest in the country'. It proved an ignominious end to a career spanning 40 years at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which had seen Mrs Batchelor work her way up from a cleaner to managing a ward. In 2015, she won a 'pride of nursing' award in Birmingham. The senior nurse was also regularly trotted out by the hospital to speak about her work in interviews, including a 13-minute Instagram video posted on the trust's account in which she celebrated diversity. It has since been deleted. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard Mrs Batchelor's anti-immigrant posts began in August 2024 and included sharing an image of Arab men chasing a child with a knife. Its caption said: 'Next time when you pay your taxes, remember that some of your money goes to the "protection of Mosques".' Another post included a split image showing a boat filled with people arriving at the beach captioned 'these give nothing and get everything' and a homeless veteran captioned 'these give everything and get nothing'. A third post claimed to highlight a section of the Bible, stating: 'Foreigners who live in your land will gain more and more power, while you gradually lose yours.' It continued: 'They will have money to lend you, but you will have none to lend them. In the end they will be your rulers.' Her final social media post had a split image showing a security inspection captioned 'YOU AT THE AIRPORT' and a man departing from a boat captioned 'MUHAMMAD AT DOVER'. In the same month, the Trust received a complaint from a member of the public about Mrs Batchelor's social media, alleging that the posts were racially abusive. An investigation was launched, and the posts on her Facebook account which targeted Muslims and immigrants to the United Kingdom were found. During the investigation, the nurse admitted to making the posts and apologised. Roberta Batchelor was stripped of her licence after a disciplinary panel concluded a series of her social media posts 'sought to cause offence to immigrants...and those of Muslim faith' Mrs Batchelor won a 'pride of nursing' award in 2015 in Birmingham The senior nurse was regularly trotted out by the hospital to speak about her work, including a 13-minute Instagram video posted by the trust in which she celebrated diversity Mrs Batchelor said she was 'disgusted' with her own comments because she had relatives from ethnic minority backgrounds Mrs Batchelor was found to have breached several rules in the NMC's code, including treating people with kindness, respect and compassion, as well as avoiding expressing personal beliefs in an 'inappropriate' way. The nurse agreed with the NMC that her social media posts amounted to serious misconduct. She told the NMC that she was 'disgusted' with her own comments because she had relatives from ethnic minority backgrounds - and even asked them to remove her from nursing because she 'shouldn't have that privilege'. The nurse said: 'I was posting horrible stuff on Facebook I was angry because at the time the government was going to take away the elderly's TV licence and winter fuel - I allowed myself to get caught up in all the unrest in the country. 'I cannot forgive myself for doing this as all my family are black and ethnic minority.' She added: 'For my sanity I wish to be removed from nursing as I don't feel I should have that privilege.' In her interview with the trust which was posted on Instagram, Mrs Batchelor revealed her mother was born in Pakistan while her father came from Smethwick in Birmingham and she spent her early life living on military barracks around the world. She continued: 'I never heard any form of prejudice in my childhood, so I found it very difficult when I came to Birmingham to understand why people were the way they were towards other people and their cultures...people weren't always accepting of who you were.' The video ended with her saying: 'Sometimes you can meet people in this trust that inspire you, regardless of colour or culture.' In another previous interview about her work in 2016, Mrs Batchelor claimed to be 'a member of Team GB during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid' when she 'was in the speed-skating team, but came in last'. Yet records from the 1980 Winter Olympics show no mention of anyone with her name participating in the competition, with Kim Ferran and Mandy Horsepool listed as the only women to represent Great Britain in speed-skating. The NMC found that nurse's apology did not constitute 'serious reflection' for her 'racially motivated and discriminatory actions', and agreed with Mrs Batchelor's wish to be removed from nursing. The NMC panel said: 'This happened on several occasions and is evidence of deep-seated attitudinal issues. 'Mrs Batchelor's actions were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse, and are fundamentally incompatible with her remaining on the register. 'The panel was of the view that the findings in this particular case demonstrate that Mrs Batchelor's actions were serious and to allow her to continue practising would give rise to a real risk of harm to the public and undermine public confidence in the profession and in the NMC as a regulatory body.' Warehouse giant Bunnings has been scammed out of almost $20,000 by a cunning career criminal who once escaped prison. Mark Edward Tazelaar, 44, allegedly used the hardware giant's 'full refund' policy on recalled items against it to return near-identical items that cost half the price from Kmart in 2022. An international safety recall prompted Bunnings to request its customers return all Mill Electrical Convection Panel heaters, each which cost $200. Tazelaar allegedly noticed Kmart's standard convection heaters looked remarkably similar to Mill's while only retailing for $69. Police will allege Tazelaar capitalised on this coincidence in order to return $19,000 worth of the heaters Bunnings was seeking. Tazelaar allegedly delivered these lookalikes to several Bunnings stores for a full refund during the buy-back period, according to court documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court and seen by the Daily Telegraph. He allegedly carted Kmart's heaters into Bunnings by the trolley-load before asking for his money back. Officers claim the scheme was in effect across 16 Bunnings stores across Sydney, including Penrith, Narellan, Ashfield, Thornleigh and Gladesville. Mark Edward Tazelaar allegedly conned Bunnings out of $19,000 in 2022 Bunnings had recalled Mill Electrical Convection Panel heaters which cost $200 but Tazelaar allegedly took the opportunity to return a $69 look-alike from Kmart Tazelaar was allegedly able to 'return' 69 heaters before being caught. On April 4, 2022, Tazelaar allegedly began his scam at Bunnings Smithfield where staff failed to notice the two heaters he bought in were from Kmart, police allege. Following this, Tazelaar allegedly continued returning the faux heaters in larger and larger quantities. This culminated in two returns at Bonnyrigg and Casula where Tazelaar allegedly provided the stores with eight heaters each on April 12. On the same day he also returned another six to the Narellan store which allegedly netted him $6,700 in a single day. Court documents allege Tazelaar was given differing refund amounts between the stores he visited. It is also not clear based on the documents whether or not Bunnings staff inspected any of the heaters in order to confirm their authenticity. Staff allegedly failed to request any proof of purchase from Tazelaar as well. Court documents revealed Tazelaar allegedly returned the near-identical heaters to 16 Bunnings stores across Sydney before anyone noticed Tazelaar's last heater refund was allegedly recorded at Bunnings Valley Heights on April 15. He has since been charged with 16 counts of obtaining a financial deception by advantage and has been in custody since July 2025. Any plea has yet to be entered but Tazelaar did unsuccessfully apply for bail. The application was refused by Justice Desmond Fagan who found there was a high risk of Tazelaar reoffending. Despite Tazelaar's promise to abide by stringent conditions if released on bail, his prior criminal history hindered any chance that this request would be accepted. This history included him having successfully escaped from Goulburn jail in 2018 where he had been serving his time as a minimum-security inmate. The case will return to court in the new year. A wealthy town is furious after officials approved an affordable housing project that will bring an enormous apartment complex to their ritzy enclave. Woodbridge is one of the richest areas in Connecticut, with an average household income of nearly $160,000, as of 2022. The charming town is filled with single-family properties and is home to one of the state's best elementary schools. Officials have approved the plan for a 96-unit apartment complex on six acres of land, located at 804 Fountain Street, which will be the largest of its type in the area. Roughly 15 percent of the building's units will be set aside as affordable housing, with half of those being leased to people making under 80 percent of Woodbridge's average income, the Hartford Courant reported. The other half will be reserved for people making less than 60 percent. Wealthy residents claim the new building will cause excessive traffic in the area located near the Woodbridge-New Haven line. They also worry that the influx of new residents will increase enrollment in the public schools, including in the town's only elementary, Beecher Road School. Just 1.4 per cent of Woodbridge's accommodation is affordable housing, according to the Courant, well shy of the 10 percent mandated for cities and towns by the state of Connecticut. Woodbridge is one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut, with an average household income of nearly $160,000, as of 2022 Officials have approved the plan for a 96-unit apartment complex to be built on six acres of land, located at 804 Fountain Street, but residents aren't happy with it The average home price in Woodbridge is around $665,000, according to Zillow, making it unaffordable to many who work in the town, such as teachers and retail workers. Residents have also voiced concerns that it could cause environmental problems, such as stormwater runoff. Deb Lovely told the commission last year that she worried about the 'runoff and drainage problems coming down the steep Fountain Street Hill' and how it could cause damage to the foundation of her home. 'This is a terrible location for such a project,' she said, according to the New Haven Independent. Rob Rosasco said he is concerned the builders would have to remove a large rock right near the highway in order to construct the property. 'There are 3,900 three-axel dump trucks that will have to pull the rock out of this property in order to execute the applicant's plan,' he told News 12 Connecticut in October. 'It's a significant amount of traffic,' he said, referring to the roadway behind it. 'You can see why there are some environmental concerns.' However, the zoning commission said: 'There is not substantial evidence within the record to support that construction of this project is reasonably likely to have the effect of unreasonably polluting, impairing or destroying the public trust in the air, water or other natural resources of the state.' A rendering of the 96-unit building. Locals worry the building could cause storm runoff, excessive traffic, and an influx of students into their public schools Officials said there is no environmental concerns where the project is set to be built Rob Rosasco is one of the many residents with concerns about the new housing project The project does follow all the Woodbridge Zoning Regulations, the commission said. The four-story Fountain Street apartment building will contain 16 studio units, 55 one-bedrooms, and 25 two-bedrooms, according to the New Haven Register. Lowest priced studios will start from $969 per month, with rent around $1,132 a month for two-bedroom apartments. Fountain Ridge LLC, which will own the building, said the new housing will bring in much-needed multifamily options to Woodbridge. Democrats have argued the town of 9,000 has been reluctant to change for too long. State law recently changed to allow more affordable housing to be built in the Constitution State, which Woodbridge residents worry will change the landscape of their town. The law, known as 8-30g, allows developers to bypass local zoning laws in towns that have less than 10 percent affordable housing. However, the Fountain Street property does not qualify under 8-30g as less than 13 percent of its units will be priced at affordable rates. The law requires projects to have a minimum of 30 percent affordable units to qualify. Another proposal, 27 Beecher Road, located near the elementary school, does fall under the law. Another plan suggests converting the town's old country club, which sits on 155 acres, into housing after Woodbridge purchased it for $7 million in 2009. The family of a mentally ill man who died after entering a jet engine at the Salt Lake City airport is suing, alleging a 'wild goose chase' by police delayed the search and contributed to the tragedy. Kyler Efinger, 30, died on January 1, 2024, when he climbed into the engine of a plane that was running after breaching airport security. His parents Judd and Lisa sued Salt Lake City on Tuesday, roughly two years after the tragedy. They claimed that Efinger's gruesome death was caused by an 'obvious mental health episode' and could have been avoided, according to ABC4. The parents alleged that the search for their son was 'wholly ineffective' - and that Efinger would still be alive if police had found him 30 seconds earlier. City workers allegedly did not find 'a ticketed passenger known to be in distress and seen walking outside onto the tarmac on a freezing night,' per the suit. Meanwhile, police officers were allegedly given incorrect information about Efinger's whereabouts and communication breakdowns led to 'wasted valuable time just trying to make sense of each other.' Efinger's parents are seeking $300,000 and a jury trial. Kyler Efinger is seen entering a closed area of Salt Lake City Airport shortly before he killed himself by climbing into the jet engine of a running aircraft in January 2024 The parents of Efinger, pictured, are now suing Salt Lake City and its airport over the tragedy Efinger died at the Salt Lake City airport about two years ago as he was scheduled to fly to Denver, Colorado, to visit his sick grandfather. The lawsuit says Efinger was diagnosed with bipolar disorder roughly ten years ago and could have episodes where he became 'visibly disoriented.' Around 9pm, he experienced an episode and left his gate to pace up and down the moving walkways, occasionally against the flow. The lawsuit filed by his parents described Efinger's behavior as 'objectively unusual for an adult.' 'Kyler's medical distress was sufficiently patent, and it was clear that he was in the throes of a mental health episode,' the legal filing added. Thirty minutes later, Efinger entered a store in the airport's concourse. He was acting erratically while purchasing a jersey and forgot his bag as he left. The store manager called airport staff, which made announcements for the bag's owner to return. At that point, Efinger 'went running down the terminal toward the store, this time with no shoes on and his shirt half unzipped.' A thermal imaging camera showed Efinger approaching a slowly taxiing plane before his death in Salt Lake City Efinger was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and could have episodes where he became 'visibly disoriented' The lawsuit filed by Efinger's parents described his behavior at the airport as 'objectively unusual for an adult' He allegedly lashed out at the manager for 'holding his bag hostage' and then ran away again. Efinger then tried to pull open two locked jet-bridge doors - which was also captured on surveillance footage. When he couldn't, he fell dramatically and started beating one of his shoes against a window. The lawsuit claims that Efinger's episode happened in view of a janitorial staff member, who even spoke to him. Around 9.54pm, Efinger went through an emergency exit that led from the terminal onto the apron. The door lacked a delayed egress system, per the suit, allowing him to exit immediately instead of waiting up to 30 seconds. Nothing could stop a 'visibly disoriented person from freely accessing the tarmac,' Efinger's parents alleged. Salt Lake City should have known when and where Efinger was, but they allegedly did not know 'or were unable to communicate the information clearly.' The search for the missing man was allegedly described as a 'wild goose chase' by one police officer. One police officer described the chaotic search around the airport for Efinger as a 'wild goose chase' Police officers were given the wrong location regarding Efinger's location twice while looking for him, according to the suit. By 10.04 pm, a pilot spotted him near the runway, and three minutes later, he reached the deicing area about a mile from the terminal. Efinger ran toward a plane that had just begun taxiing and climbed into the plane's engine. He suffered blunt-force head trauma as the pilot stopped the engines. Police and airport staff pulled Efinger from the engine, handcuffed him and attempted resuscitation to no avail. The lawsuit claimed Efinger might still be alive if he was found 30 seconds earlier if not for the 'wholly ineffective' first seven minutes of the search. The Salt Lake City Police Department published its findings about Efinger's death the day after his death in 2024. Surveillance footage showed Efinger running towards a locked gate door, trying to pry it open and then beating his shoes on a nearby window Police said a store manager inside the Salt Lake City airport reported a 'disturbance' involving Efinger around 9.52pm. As officers responded, they were told four minutes later that Efinger had passed through an emergency exit leading directly onto the airfield. At 10.04pm, a pilot reported seeing Efinger, prompting authorities to notify the FAA's air traffic control tower. About three minutes later, Efinger's shoes and clothing were discovered on a runway and his location was given as a nearby deicing pad. Moments later, police were told he was underneath an aircraft and had accessed its engine. Officers asked air traffic controllers to alert the pilot and shut down the engines - but at 10.08pm, officers found Efinger unconscious inside the engine while it was still rotating. Efforts to revive him - including CPR and naloxone - continued around 10.15pm, but were unsuccessful. When asked for comment on the suit, the Salt Lake City mayor's office told the Daily Mail: 'We have no comment at this time due to pending litigation.' For help and support contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988 The number of pet dogs outnumbers children in one in three English neighbourhoods as young couple increasingly choose pets over starting a family. They are affectionately known as man's best friend but for many couples under 35 their pet pooches are increasingly part of the family. This has led to the rise of the so-called dinkwad phenomenon - an acronym for dual income, no kids, with a dog - among Gen Z and Millenials. Indeed, surprising data reveals that 34 per cent of postcode areas in England have more dogs than children. Darlington, in the North East of England, saw the biggest difference in population with 72,134 more dogs than children calling the area home. This was closely followed by Shrewsbury where the difference stands at 51,706. It is in England's cities where children continue outnumber dogs. Birmingham has the largest disparity with a whopping 323,335 more children followed by east London where the figure stands at just over 205,000. Liverpool is an outlier among England's cities where there are 17,786 more pet pooches than children. Meanwhile, the population gap between dogs and children is only closing. Millennial and Gen Z couples are increasingly choosing pet dogs over raising a family with pooches outnumbering children in one in three English neighbourhoods Your browser does not support iframes. The estimated dog population in 2026 stands at about 13 million up from nine million in 2019. While the population of children stands at 15 million, yearly growth has largely flatlined in recent years. Rowena Packer, senior lecturer in companion animal behaviour and welfare science at the Royal Veterinary College, told The Times that dinkwads are celebrating their dogs' birthdays with parties and dressing them up, emulating life with a child. 'Influencer culture should not be underestimated. There is a whole identity around [dinkwads] and people are actively choosing to remain child-free and the dog forms the central source of love,' she said. Dr Katrina Holland, social research manager at Dogs Trust, said younger owners were more likely to see their dog as a companion and a member of the family. Dr Holland said: 'Almost a quarter of new puppy owners are aged 25 to 34. 'Within this age bracket, two thirds of dog owners are more likely to see themselves as their dog's parent, a higher proportion than any other age group.' In July last year, the Daily Mail reported that fertility rates had sunk to their lowest levels since records began in the 1930s. The trend of ditching the dummy for the dog collar has been attributed to the rise of the so-called dinkwad phenomenon - an acronym for dual income, no kids, with a dog - among young couples Your browser does not support iframes. Women in England and Wales, on average, now only have 1.44 children. Yet, in parts of the country, this is as low as 0.1 the equivalent of one child for every ten women of childbearing age. Experts fear the freefalling trend will leave the country reliant on immigration to prop up the economy, with Britain otherwise left with too few younger people to work, pay tax and look after the elderly. And the plunging fertility rates mean nine in ten neighbourhoods face the terrifying threat of 'underpopulation'. Staggering analysis shows only 5,000 out of 36,000 communities are having enough babies. A mother-of-four dismissed a New Year's Day sniffle as a flu - but was horrified to wake up in hospital days later missing all four of her limbs. Cassandra Marshall, 35, came down with the flu at the end of 2023, which quickly escalated to a case of septic shock. Septic shock is the last step of sepsis and occurs when the immune system overreacts to an infection, causing organ failure and dangerously low blood pressure. Marshall's husband called 911 when she woke up unable to breathe. She was airlifted to a hospital in North Carolina and was resuscitated twice before she was put on life support. She later learned that the shock was a result of strep and the flu, Marshall told local Fox affiliate, WGHP. Marshall was put on an ECMO machine, which helped her regain respiratory function, but she lost blood supply in all four limbs and required a quadruple amputation. The mother's health took a drastic turn for the worse when doctors were forced to amputate. Marshall recalled in an interview with WGHP last year that her legs went first, and she suffered a major medical emergency before doctors could amputate her arms. Cassandra Marshall, pictured in a North Carolina hospital in January 2024, was placed on life support after a strep and flu infection turned into septic shock Marshall, pictured with family after a quadruple amputation, said she coded during her operation, and the amputations had saved her life Marshall is adapting to her new life as a quadruple amputee and hopes to afford robotic arms and legs, as she has pictured above. She has one prosthetic arm and is raising money for a second one so she can care for her children independently and drive A few days later, she was strong enough for surgery, and both of her lower arms were removed. Marshall told WGHP that it was easier to lose her legs because she mourned being able to hold her children. 'I wanna be there I missed my eldests graduation, and that hurt, but my kids are my motivation,' she added at the time. Two years later, she's beginning to adapt to her new life with a prosthetic arm. However, she doesn't qualify for Medicaid anymore and has been denied disability four times. Marshall's community is raising funds through a GoFundMe to help her purchase another prosthetic arm and, eventually, legs. Since her operation, Marshall has learned to use a robotic arm and can leave her home in a wheelchair Marshall's legs were amputated first after she lost blood flow, but she coded during the operation. Days later, doctors amputated the lower half of her arms, and she survived the septic shock A family friend has started a fundraiser for Marshall's second arm so she can care for her children independently and drive. Marshall told WGHP that each robotic prosthetic costs $19,000. Without Medicaid and disability, she's responsible for paying out of pocket. Despite the last few years, she said she was 'blessed' to be alive and has a support system rallying around her. 'You feel like youre in a dream, but when you wake up, its your reality. There is nothing I can change. I am learning to accept it,' she told the publication. Donald Trump has threatened Iran with war amid a violent crackdown on anti-regime protesters and just hours after he met with Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu. The President posted on Truth Social warning that if Tehran 'violently kills peaceful protesters,' the United States 'will come to their rescue.' Anti-regime protests have sparked throughout the country following the collapse of Iran's rial currency. So far, at least seven individuals have been killed in the demonstrations as regime seeks to maintain power. 'We are locked and loaded and ready to go,' Trump added. Regime spokesman Ali Larijani, who serves as the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, responded to the President's threat on X by blaming Israel and the US for encouraging the protests. Iran and Israel have been engaged in a 40-year proxy war that escalated in 2024 as the two Middle East countries launched missiles directly at each other. Trump in June backed Israel by launching Operation Midnight Hammer, involving a raid by B-2 bombers dropping bunker-buster bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the only world leader to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Eve shortly before the president's threat. President Donald Trump threatened to unleash war with Iran following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Anti-regime protests in Tehran have turned deadly following the collapse of the country's currency Trump vowed to rescue protesters if the Iranian regime 'violently' kills them Iranian officials have repeatedly blamed Western countries for stoking anti-regime protests amid economic slowdown in the country. Trump's latest threats to unleash on Iran come amid increasing divide within the Republican Party over support for Israel. Hardline MAGA loyalists such as Marjorie Taylor Greene have broken away from the president for continuing to support Israel against Iran in the Middle East via economic and military aide. These developments could enflame those sensitive tensions as Republicans prepare for mid-term elections later this year. 'Trump should know that intervention by the U.S. in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests,' Larijani wrote on X, which the Iranian government blocks. 'The people of the U.S. should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers.' After the US bombed three Iranian uranium enrichment facilities, the regime in June launched ballistic missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Alj Shamkhani, a close adviser to Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also warned that 'any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut.' Protests in Tehran have continued for nearly a week as the regime blames Israel and the US for stoking the tensions 'The people of Iran properly know the experience of being rescued by Americans: from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza.' The current protests, now in their sixth day, have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations. Demonstrations have not yet broken out nationwide as they did following the death of Amini, who was detained over not wearing her hijab, or headscarf. A distraught Cape Cod widow will see her home of more than 24 years demolished to make way for a new bridge. Joyce Michaud, 80, is among 13 unlucky residents who will have their properties flattened by Massachusetts officials as part of the $2.1 billion project to replace the Sagamore Bridge. Her three-bedroom home will be bulldozed to make room for workers' equipment, and will eventually become a basin to catch stormwater rolling off the bridge, The Boston Globe reported. '[I thought:] "Im all set. My kids dont have to worry. Im all set",' Michaud told The Globe. 'And now, I'm not. 'Its really hard to lose something that you thought was yours.' The residence is being seized through eminent domain, which allows the state to take property for public use. An additional 17 homes will be partially acquired. Seven vacant properties will also be seized. Meanwhile, neighbors who have been spared demolition say they are dreading the onslaught of traffic and noisy works which will take place for the next ten years during construction of the replacement bridge, which connects Cape Cod to the mainland. Joyce Michaud, 80, of Sagamore (second right), thought she had her retirement set and a great place to live with views of the water and the Sagamore Bridge. But next week, the retiree will be forced out of her Cecilia Terrace home to make way for the construction of a new bridge She has to move out of her home, which she's lived in since 2002, as part of the State of Massachusetts' $2.1billion project to replace the 90-year-old bridge The Commonwealth State is paying homeowners an above-market rate for their properties. Luisa Paiewonsky, the executive director of MassDOT's project, said homeowners could also rent their properties from the state if they needed extra time to move, but many of those affected balked at the idea of having to do this. She also said the government agency started the process early to avoid rushing residents out of their houses. Paiewonsky told The Globe: 'We want to make sure the bridge project is not slowed down in any way - and make sure homeowners are not hustled out of their homes.' The state has not said how much it would spend on the acquisitions, nor how many properties they believe they will have to seize to fix the Bourne Bridge, the next project. Both projects are projected to cost the state a total $4.5 billion, The Globe reported. Joan and Marc Hendel were notified in March that their home would be seized, they told the Daily Mail in August. The couple purchased a vacant 0.64-acre land parcel in Bourne's Round Hill neighborhood sight unseen for $165,000 in December 2023. They spent another $460,000 to build their dream 1,700-square-foot home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms on the lot. Joan and Marc Hendel were notified in March that their home would be seized, they told the Daily Mail in August When they bought the home, they were not made aware of the bridge project and put thousands of dollars into the renovations But they won't get to reap the benefits of their dream home, as they are among the 13 getting the boot. The Hendels say they feel 'blindsided' by the construction plan, claiming that neither their realtor nor the city of Bourne, which issued their building permit, warned them that they would likely be pushed out of the cul-de-sac. They fear that anything they'll be able to buy with the cash given to them by the government will be older and of a much lower quality. 'They are 900 square feet. They are from 1970. They're in disrepair,' Marc told the Daily Mail. 'And then the next thing we're seeing are houses in the $1.5 million to $2 million range.' Even if the state did buy them a $1.5 million home, which it could do, the Hendels say they could not afford the 'additional expenses', such as increased property taxes. But even for those who get to stay in their properties, they are not any more excited about the project, which will bring loud equipment and crews into their quaint spaces. Dave Collins lives down the road from Michaud and doesn't have to lose his home, but he's wondering if it would be a better idea to leave anyway. Those who get to stay in their homes are worried about the loud equipment and crews which will be present for the next ten years (pictured: the Sagamore Bridge) 'Theyre taking the whole neighborhood,' Collins, 82, told The Globe. He's lived there since the 1960s, and his father-in-law developed the area, naming the streets after his children, he told the outlet. He is not only worried about the incoming noise, but that his property value will tumble once the project is underway. 'Im going to die here watching them build that bridge in my front yard, and theres not a thing I can do about it,' he told the outlet. Massachusetts received a $933 million grant from the federal government in July 2024 for the Cape Bridges Replacement Project. The remaining costs of the project are expected to be covered by the US Department of Transportation's Bridge Investment Program. Built in 1935, the Cape Cod crossings are old and in desperate need of repair. They were designed to last 50 years, so both have been operating for almost double the recommended time. Although both the Sagamore Bridge and its sister, the Bourne Bridge, need to be replaced, officials are first focusing their efforts on the former because of its heavy traffic. When the crossings opened, they saw a combined one million vehicles travel along them each year. The Daily Mail has contacted MassDOT for comment. A convicted murderer who served jail time for killing a teenage girl is fighting backlash over his reappointment to a review board in a 'woke' Oregon city. Kyle Hedquist, 47, whose life sentence for murder was cut short in 2022, has been appointed to serve on the Community Police Review Board and the Civil Service Commission of Salem. 'I have spent the last well over 30 years now trying to evaluate how did I get there,' Kyle Hedquist, 47, told KOIN 6 News. 'I think about it every day and it's tough.' 'I have been on ride-alongs. I have interacted with the police department on multiple occasions. I've been to briefings. There's never been a problem,' Hedquist said. Hedquist was sentenced to life without parole for murdering Nikki Thrasher in 1994. Prosecutors said he lured the teen down a remote road and shot her in the back of the head to stop her from revealing his burglary spree. He was released in 2022 after former Oregon Governor Kate Brown commuted his sentence, arguing Hedquist was 17 at the time of the crime and 'shouldn't be locked up for life.' In 2023, while adjusting to life after prison, Hedquist was elected by the Salem City Council to serve as a volunteer on a police oversight group - a role he applied for. The board reviews police conduct complaints and makes policy recommendations. Despite his 27-year sentence for the execution-style killing, the council reinstated Hedquist in a 54 vote on December 8. He has also been appointed to the Citizens Advisory Traffic Commission and the Civil Service Commission, which oversees local fire departments. Following Brown's controversial decision, Hedquist said he wants to take accountability and prove he is reformed. Kyle Hedquist, 47, is facing scrutiny after he was reappointed to Salem's police oversight board Nikki Thrasher was born in Oregon in March 1975 and died in 1994 Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson has voiced strong opposition to Hedquist, claiming that little to no background check was done before his appointment. 'Mr. Hedquist's crimes make him an inappropriate person to oversee anything that police officers do,' Clarkson told KOIN 6. 'We wouldn't put a bank robber as the president of another bank. We wouldn't give a child molester the ability to run a daycare. There are things that we do in our past that are going to make us ineligible, unqualified or inappropriate, to do things in our future.' Clarkson is not the only official raising concerns about Hedquist as the Salem Police Employee's Union and other council members have also spoken out. 'To think that we're providing education on kind of how we do what we do to someone with that criminal history, it just doesn't seem too smart,' the association's president Scotty Nowning told KATU2. Nowning emphasized that the concerns stem from fixing the city's oversight structure and are not necessarily about Hedquist. 'If you move him off there, if you don't change your guardrails or what the requirements are to be on there, you could just put someone else on there with you know equal criminal history or worse,' he told the outlet. Past governor Kate Brown granted clemency to dozens of people, including Hedquist Hedquist killed Nikki Thrasher when he was 17 in 1994. He led the teenager down a remote logging road, then shot her in the back of the head because he feared she might tell police about burglaries he committed Salem Professional Fire Fighters Local 314 even created a website to slam the decision. 'As police and fire professionals in the Salem community, we are asking Salem residents to stand with us,' the site read in part. 'Tell [the council] to reconsider this decision and fix the mess that they created.' While other committee members opposed Hedquist's reappointment, Councilor Mai Vang approved it. Vang said the 47-year-old 'brings a perspective that most of us don't have' and can bring a unique angle to the community. Vang defended Hedquist's prior year of service, saying he has fulfilled his duties without issue and offers a perspective not represented elsewhere on the board. 'As someone who's been through the criminal justice system, he understands community safety from a different angle. He's one voice among nine he's not running the show, but his experience matters,' her Facebook post read. Vang also said the city can waive the rule about the police ride-along requirement since he is ineligible because of his murder felony. Ward 6 City Councilor Mai Vang, left, said she believes Hedquist deserves a second chance and will override the recommendation to leave the seat vacant The Salem city council hosts a meeting in Loucks Auditorium at the Salem Public Library Emphasizing that she 'believes people can change,' Vang said, 'Kyle's recent work shows he's genuine about turning his life around and using his experience to help others. 'And honestly? If any of us needed a second chance, we'd want the same consideration.' Hedquist attended the meeting with his wife Kate Strathdee, according to the Statesman Journal, and expressed his gratitude for the council's decision. 'I felt like the things that some of the councilors said were just as important or more important than reappointing me,' he is reported to have said. 'It does point to who's on these boards. How are people getting vetted ... and are they balanced? I think that was a good conversation for them to have.' Hedquist told KATU2 that his vote was 'just a routine reappointment' for a volunteer role he's held for two years without incident. He argues the fuss over his return ignores his rehabilitation and the fact that the Community Police Review Board has only limited authority. 'I've already been on the board for two years. I've already been on two ride-alongs. Nobody batted an eyelash,' Hedquist told the outlet. The former convict added that the board is purely advisory, telling the outlet, 'All it is, is just recommendations. 'You review somebody's complaint, and you know, it's all confidential.' He pointed out that his past crimes are only now under scrutiny, noting that police unions raised no concerns during his previous tenure. Supporters have commended Hedquist for his work and involvement with the Oregon Justice Resource Center, where he works as a policy advocate. The organization highlighted his rehabilitation and told Fox News Digital that Hedquist is 'driven to help improve Salem and contribute any way he can to his city.' Past governor Brown infuriated Thrasher's mother, as well as local police and prosecutors, when she freed Hedquist in 2022. The Democrat was also accused of undermining public safety. Holly Thrasher, who wasn't even aware of Hedquist's clemency, told KOIN 6 at the time: 'He took the life of my daughter in cold blood. It was a cold-blooded murder. He planned it. 'I am upset. I wasn't even told.' She also said she was never asked her opinion on his release, despite Brown's statement about 'always' reaching out to families so that the 'victim can have a voice.' Local law enforcement officers called the early release decision at the time 'shocking and irresponsible.' Harrowing new video has emerged showing flames spreading across the ceiling of a Swiss bar with young revellers losing crucial seconds by filming the blaze instead of fleeing. The footage, taken by French economics student Ferdinand Du Beaudiez, shows flames ripping through the Crans-Montana club as revellers below continue singing, dancing and shouting, oblivious to the danger building above them. The inferno killed at least 40 people and another 119 were injured, authorities confirmed today - most of them in their teens and twenties with severe third-degree burns. While Swiss authorities today said there were 40 victims, Italian authorities said 47 were dead. Moments before the fire, a waitress had been seen dancing and waving a lit sparkler beneath foam soundproofing panels on the ceiling, which then caught light. Several people can be seen holding up their phones as the fire grows overhead, apparently unaware they are capturing the moments before disaster strikes. Some can be seen frantically trying to extinguish the inferno, but within seconds it took hold, erupting into a deadly fireball that engulfs the packed bar. As the horror unfolded, Ferdinand escaped - then made the extraordinary decision to go back inside. The brave student has now told how he re-entered the burning Le Constellation basement bar twice in a desperate attempt to save his brother and girlfriend, trying to pull bodies from the flames as chaos and smoke filled the venue. He told how he found a badly burned person lying on the stairs and couldn't even tell if it was a man or woman: 'Their clothes were burned, I could only make out teeth.' He recalled: 'I tried to grab this person who was really heavy, but there was no tension in their arm. I just slid him on the ground, then the police and firemen took over from me.' Images show the moment before a deadly New Year's Eve blaze a Swiss ski resort bar killed at least 40 people. A waitress had been seen dancing and waving a lit sparkler beneath foam soundproofing panels on the ceiling, which then caught light A dramatic video captured the moment the ceiling of a Swiss ski bar caught fire The footage, taken by French economics student Ferdinand Du Beaudiez, shows flames ripping through the Crans-Montana club as revellers continue singing, dancing and shouting - unaware they are already trapped in extreme danger In the video footage someone can be seen trying desperately to extinguish the fire, but within seconds it takes hold, erupting into a deadly fireball that engulfs the packed bar Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, confirmed in a press conference today that the blaze was likely caused when sparklers in champagne bottles made the ceiling catch fire. All bar six of the 119 injured have been formally identified, but the severity of the burn wounds means many survivors and victims are unrecognisable. Ferdinand, 19, said the New Year's party had begun joyfully for him and his friends. He told the Daily Mail: 'We were in a group of seven, sitting on the veranda at first, on the first floor. We were having a nice party, and we went back and forth between the first floor and the cave (basement). 'At one moment I saw someone order these champagne bottles and I saw the waitresses take the bottles on their shoulders with sparklers on top. 'Then one of the sparklers set light to the roof, which was made of insulating foam. I saw the roof catch fire and I went under the bar. 'And I found some water in the mini fridge. I tried throwing the water on the fire, but the fire had already spread on the whole roof, and it had no effect.' Ferdinand added that after throwing water on the fire: 'I went back down, I took my girlfriend's arm and I screamed to everyone, get out. I pushed my girlfriend as hard as I could up the stairs. Pictured: Partygoers standing below the ceiling as it catches fire Pictured: Revellers celebrating New Year before realising the building was ablaze This image shows a crowd of revellers standing in the club as the fire takes hold As the horror unfolded, Ferdinand (pictured) escaped - then made the extraordinary decision to go back inside 'There were so many people in the stairs that I lost her arm. 'I fell on the ground. I could reach the top of the stairs and I fell on my stomach. My first reflex was to cover my face with my arms and I closed my eyes. At this moment I suppose someone opened the front door. 'This brought lots of air inside, which also fuelled the fire. And the fire turned into a fireball. I felt this fireball over my head, it slightly burned my neck. 'At this moment the fire took all the breathable air and I couldn't breathe anymore. 'So in a last hope I took the foot of the table and grabbed myself out. At this moment I couldn't find anyone. I got out near the cinema. I couldn't find anyone.' Then the young man took the courageous decision to return inside the inferno, hoping to save his brother and his girlfriend. 'I went back inside. I found someone, I suppose, I hope he was just unconscious. But my prayers are that he's still alive. I grabbed him in the stairs and I took him out. Ferdinand has now told how he re-entered the burning Le Constellation basement bar, twice in a desperate attempt to save his brother and girlfriend, trying to pull bodies from the flames as chaos and smoke filled the venue He told how he found a badly burned person lying on the stairs and couldn't even tell if it was a man or woman: 'Their clothes were burned, I could only make out teeth' 'The firemen took him. And I still couldn't find anyone. I went back inside but I couldn't breathe anymore. 'There was too much smoke and I couldn't breathe. So I went back out. I found a friend of mine who was really burned. He asked me, where is your girlfriend? 'I found my girlfriend completely in shock. She told me my brother and his friends were near the bank over there.' Ferdinand's brother is in a coma in hospital, among the injured, but is expected to make a recovery, he said. A grieving husband has paid tribute to his mother-of-four wife killed in a road crash - as a 19-year-old van driver was arrested. Five people were taken to hospital after a collision between a car and a van on the A4119 bypass at Williamstown, near Tonypandy in the Rhondda, south Wales, on Monday morning this week. The driver of the car, 48-year-old Donna Ball, suffered life-threatening injuries before dying in hospital the following day. Her young daughter has also been hospitalised. Now Mrs Ball's husband has told of how the family were left 'devastated by the sudden, tragic and needless death of our beloved Donna'. A 19-year-old from Newport has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, as well as two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has been bailed for further enquiries until March 30. Paying tribute to Donna, her husband said: 'We, as a family, are devastated by the sudden, tragic, and needless death of our beloved Donna. Donna Ball, 48, suffered life-threatening injuries before dying in hospital on Tuesday Five people were taken to hospital after a collision between a car and a van on the A4119 bypass at Williamstown, near Tonypandy in the Rhondda, south Wales, on December 29 2025 Mrs Ball's husband has told of how the family were left 'devastated by the sudden, tragic and needless death of our beloved Donna' Donna Ball (pictured), 48, died following the collision near Tonypandy on Monday morning 'We would like to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to all the emergency services who attended, including the air ambulance, Accident and Emergency, and the critical care teams at the University Hospital of Wales. 'Ongoing, I cannot express my thanks enough to the staff and doctors of Owl Ward and Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales for their care of our daughter. 'Donna's passing has left a huge void that can never be filled. Our old lives have ended - our lives without her begin now.' In the statement issued via South Wales Police, he described feeling 'overwhelmed by the messages of love and condolence we have received'. He added: 'We take great solace in the high regard in which she was held by so many. Rest easy, my love, until I see you again.' South Wales Police is continuing to appeal for witnesses to the collision or anyone with dashcam footage of the incident to come forward. Officers are also interested in any information regarding the motoring behaviour of the driver of the van leading up to the collision. Anyone with information is urged to get in touch, quoting reference number 2500409628, calling 101 or going online at https://bit.ly/SWPProvideInfo. An alternative is to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. President Donald Trump spent time Friday morning picking out materials for his ongoing White House ballroom project. 'President Trump is purchasing marble and onyx, at his own expense, for the White House Ballroom,' a White House official said, as his motorcade stopped at Arc Stone & Tile in Lake Worth, Florida, four miles down the road from Mar-a-Lago. The project is at the center of a legal battle with preservation groups after Trump demolished the White House's East Wing without any government oversight. So far, a judge has allowed the project to go on, but the White House was supposed to submit plans to the National Capital Planning Commission by Wednesday. A White House official told the Daily Mail that a formal application for the ballroom was submitted to the NCPC and the Commission of Fine Arts, the two oversight panels, on December 22. Up next are two public meetings in January, with each of the entities, and a final submission of plans will take place on January 30. Final presentations to the CFA and NCPC would happen on February 19 and March 5, respectively. During a court hearing last month, lawyers for the Department of Justice said that the ballroom plans were still in flux, also arguing that construction needed to continue, citing national security concerns. The White House's bunker is underneath where the East Wing stood. President Donald Trump holds up images of his proposed White House ballroom. Friday morning in Florida he was shopping for marble and onyx at his own expense, the White House said President Donald Trump's limousine, 'The Beast,' is parked in front of Arc Stone & Tile in Lake Worth, Florida Friday morning as the president shopped for marble and onyx for his White House ballroom project Trump is a marble fanatic. At the White House, he has already added it to the Lincoln Bedroom's renovated bathroom and had it installed on the Palm Room floor. During his trip to the Middle East in mid-May, he gushed about the use of marble in the palaces of Doha, Qatar. 'This room is the real deal. That's called white marble. It's very hard to buy, believe me, I know very well, because you try to buy it and you can't buy it,' Trump said as he signed business agreements alongside Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. 'And you just take a look at what you have here. It's been incredible - what you've been able to build as a nation,' he added. Later, while visiting Qatar's Amiri Diwan, Trump brought up marble again. 'As a construction person, I'm seeing perfect marble. This is what they call - perfecto,' the president said. Last week, Trump floated the idea of using marble on the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center's armrests. Arc Stone and Tile owner Michael Coiro (right) watches as President Donald Trump's motorcade departs his store. Trump was shopping for marble and onyx for his proposed White House ballroom President Donald Trump shopped at Arc Stone & Tile in Lake Worth, Florida, where there were piles of tiles stacked outside President Donald Trump spent Friday morning in Florida shopping for marble and onyx for his White House ballroom President Donald Trump's ballroom project is at the center of a lawsuit after he ordered the demolition of the White House's East Wing without any government oversight Last week President Donald Trump floated that marble could be used for the armrests at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center Friday morning before he went marble shopping, the president again teased painting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white, something historic preservation groups are also suing him over 'Potential Marble armrests for the seating at The Trump Kennedy Center. Unlike anything ever done or seen before!' he posted to Truth Social on December 26. Trump has several projects up his sleeve that he argues will beautify Washington, D.C. Earlier this week, he told Politico that construction of the 'Triumphant Arch,' which has been nicknamed the 'Arc de Trump,' will likely begin by the end of February. The Arch, which will be built across the river from the Lincoln Memorial, is supposed to mark the country's 250th anniversary. On Friday morning, before motorcading to the marble store, Trump also teased that he still planned to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white. Preservationist groups have filed a lawsuit over this change as well, as the building, which dates back to 1888, is slate gray. A surfer was taken into ICE custody after accidentally wandering into a US military base in Southern California while looking to enjoy his favorite pastime. Hagop Chirinian - originally from Lebanon - was arrested on August 24 when he crossed about 100 yards into Camp Pendleton, according to KBPS. He said he had arrived at the beach before sunrise with friends when the early-morning surfing trip turned his life upside down. Chirinian claimed ICE had previously tried to deport him in 2005 after he lost his legal permanent residency following a felony drug conviction. However, he was allowed to stay and work in the US after Lebanese authorities supposedly could not come up with his passport or birth certificate. Chirinian was placed in a supervision program and allegedly complied with its conditions, but he said that made no difference to the arresting officers. Four months later, he remains in custody at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego. 'ICE did not talk to me for the first two months,' Chirinian told KBPS. 'Nobody came and said a word to me.' Hagop Chirinian, from Lebanon, was arrested on August 24 after wandering about 100 yards into Camp Pendleton while on an early morning surf trip His girlfriend, Tambra Sanders-Kirk, said that Chirinian was 'getting really depressed' as he waited for his future to be resolved Chirinian recalled how a planned surfing expedition in Oceanside went awry after he and his friends set up a tent near the shore. 'The military police pulled up in their Jeep with their lights on and told us we are on a military base,' he said. The group was issued trespassing tickets - and asked if they were American citizens. Chirinian informed the officers that he was not, which he claimed prompted them to call ICE. The Lebanese national arrived in the US more than 50 years ago and was a legal permanent resident until 2005. A drug conviction nearly got him deported then, but the effort was sidelined when his native government could not provide travel documents. Chirinian allegedly explained that he was already enrolled in a supervision program with ICE that included two decades of regular check-ins and regularly updated personal information. Chirinian said ICE tried to deport him in 2005 when he lost his legal permanent residency after a felony drug conviction (File photo of ICE agents) Chirinian remains in custody at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego roughly four months after his arrest However, he claimed that was not enough for an ICE agent on the scene. 'He goes, 'I know you've been reporting for 20 years, I know you reported three weeks ago, I'm still going to take you in',' Chirinian alleged the agent said. One of the first people to learn about Chirinian's arrest was Tambra Sanders-Kirk, his girlfriend of 18 years. She initially ignored a call from a San Diego area code telephone number, thinking it was spam. But she listened to her voicemail, Sanders-Kirk immediately identified Chirinian's voice. 'I got picked up by ICE,' she recalled him saying. He pleaded: 'I need to talk to you. Answer the phone when I call.' Sanders-Kirk called the number back to check whether it was actually the agency. 'It was,' she said. 'I waited and waited by the phone all night. He didn't call back until the next day.' Chirinian was arrested on August 24 after he crossed about 100 yards into Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton Now, the couple is desperate for a resolution on Chirinian's status. Sanders-Kirk described his mindset as 'getting really depressed.' She said: 'He has no court hearing, he's just sitting there doing nothing. There's no resolution in the future.' Sanders-Kirk added that hundreds of dollars had been personally spent on Chirinian's detention to fund his meals and phone calls, which cost between $10 and $20 per week. 'He had $500 when he first got there,' she said. 'That's all gone, obviously.' Chirinian's girlfriend also spoke out against CoreCivic, the Tennessee-based private prison operator of the Otay Mesa Detention Center. Sanders-Kirk said: 'It's ridiculous. They're holding him for whatever reason and it's costing everybody - every taxpayer money to hold him there.' On December 19, Chirinian filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention, naming 'acting or current' ICE and Department of Homeland Security officials. That included Attorney General Pam Bondi, ICE Director Todd Lyons and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. A coroner has raised concerns over circumcisions being carried out 'without any prior training' after a six-month-old boy died days after undergoing a procedure. Mohamed Abdisamad underwent a non-therapeutic male circumcision on February 12 in 2023, performed by a circumciser recommended to his parents upon their request, the west London coroner's report read. But the baby began showing symptoms of illness three to four days after the procedure and was taken to Hillingdon Hospital by ambulance a week later, on February 19. But Mohamed tragically went into cardiorespiratory arrest and was pronounced dead on the same day at 11.55pm. A jury inquest, which concluded on October 8 2025, found the medical cause of death to be an 'invasive streptococcus pyogenes infection following male circumcision'. Assistant coroner Anton van Dellen wrote a prevention of future deaths report in which he called for action over the lack of safety and regulatory measures surrounding non-therapeutic male circumcisions. 'During the inquest, the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern,' Dr van Dellen wrote in the report dated December 28, 2025. 'In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. A coroner has raised concerns about future deaths unless action is taken around circumcisions done without prior training 'The matters of concern are as follows: any individual may conduct a non-therapeutic male circumcision without any prior training or any Continuing Professional Development (CDP). 'There is no system of external accreditation and/or registration for individuals who conduct a non-therapeutic male circumcision. 'There is no requirement for any record keeping for individuals who undergo a non-therapeutic male circumcision. 'There is no requirement for any infection control measures for a non-therapeutic male circumcision. 'There are no requirements for any aftercare for a non-therapeutic male circumcision (NTMC), including but not limited to dressing the wound, analgesia and/or worsening care advice,' he said. The coroner also pointed to the lack of a system for obtaining consent prior to the procedure being carried out. The report is being sent to the Department of Health and Social Care, and to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. They will have 56 days from the date of the report being issued to respond, the coroner said. Copies of the report are also being sent to Mohamed's mother and father, his maternal grandmother, his uncle, and the London Ambulance Service. A missing Kentucky teenager was found alive two states away months after she disappeared. Wynter Wagoner, 13, was last seen at her foster parents' home in Orlando on October 14. Two months later on December 26, she was found with a 37-year-old man at a Maryland home 560 miles away after investigators received a tip about her location. Maryland police arrested and charged the man, Christian Alexander Delgado, with kidnapping. During an initial court appearance in Maryland, Delgado claimed the whole situation was a 'misunderstanding'. Court documents obtained by WKYT revealed that Delgado told police he met the girl online. He claimed to have driven from Florida to Kentucky to get her, before driving her back to Florida and going to Maryland. Wynter allegedly told friends and family that she was planning on running away before she went missing, according to the court documents. Wynter Wagoner (pictured), 13, was found alive in Maryland two months after she was last seen at her foster parents' home in Kentucky Christian Alexander Delgado (pictured), 37, was arrested and charged with her kidnapping, but claims the situation is a 'misunderstanding' The teen was finally found after she called her aunt and gave her the address of the Maryland home where she was staying. Delgado was transferred to the Rockcastle County Detention Center in Kentucky on Friday, according to jail records. He is being held on $1 million bond, and his next court date is scheduled for January 5. He is yet to enter a plea. Wynter's family has expressed their relief that she was found alive and is finally home. 'We are incredibly grateful that Wynter has been found. Our focus now is on her wellbeing, her healing, and surrounding her with love, stability, and privacy as she takes the next steps forward,' Wagoner's cousin, John Miller, told the Daily Mail in a statement. 'What she has been through is deeply personal, and she deserves compassion and protection as she recovers. 'We want to thank the countless people across communities and state lines who shared her story, prayed for her, and refused to let her be forgotten. The awareness, the vigilance, and the persistence truly mattered.' Her father, Dusty Wagoner, told WKTY that the teen is blaming herself for the situation. Delgado allegedly told police he met the girl online, and claimed to have driven from Florida to Kentucky to get her, then drove her back to Florida before going to Maryland 'She's blaming herself for a lot of the stuff that she doesn't understand. She is a child. She doesn't understand,' her said. 'Other than that, I think she's doing okay. She's ready to come home. She's ready to come home, she told me. 'I know nine out of ten kids in her situation never would have made it out of it. I feel so overwhelmed and so relieved, and Im so thankful to God.' The FBI announced it had stopped an ISIS 'potential terrorist attack' on New Year's Eve in North Carolina. Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The suspect allegedly planned to attack civilians with hammers and knives inside a grocery store and a fast food restaurant on New Year's Eve as an act of support for the Islamic State terrorist group. Sturdivant, from Mint Hill, a town just outside Charlotte, previously expressed hatred for Christians on social media, according to the FBI, which announced his arrest on social media. The heinous terrorist plot was foiled after the 18-year-old began communicating online with an undercover government employee he allegedly believed to be affiliated with ISIS, according to Russ Ferguson, US attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The individual is referred to in a criminal complaint as 'OC.' FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News: 'The FBI and our partners continued working 24/7 over the holidays protecting the American people, and this case out of Charlotte foiling another alleged New Year's Eve attacker is the latest example of their tremendous work. 'Our teams quickly identified the threat and acted decisively no doubt saving American lives in the process. Thanks to our Joint Terrorism Task Force and regional partners both in New York and Western North Carolina for their efforts.' The FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack inspired by ISIS on New Year's Eve Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to provide material support to ISIS A note allegedly written by the suspect for the New Year's Eve attack 'During his online communications with the OC, Sturdivant said, "I will do jihad soon," and proclaimed he was "a soldier of the state," meaning ISIS,' the US Attorneys Office said in a statement. Sturdivant provided 'OC' with an image of two hammers and a knife on December 14. Moreover, law enforcement uncovered various handwritten documents by Sturdivant during a December 29 search of his residence. One handwritten note read 'New years Attack 2026' along with a written list of items for the potential attack, including a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and two knives. 'It also listed a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible and [the] total number of victims as 20 to 21. The note also included a section listed as "martyrdom Op," with a plan to attack police that arrived at the site of the attack so the defendant would die a martyr,' the Attorneys Office noted. 'In addition, law enforcement seized from Sturdivants bedroom a blue hammer, a wooden handled hammer, and two butcher knives hidden underneath the defendants bed.' The weapons the suspect allegedly planned to use for his ISIS-inspired terror attack The FBI field office in Charlotte was tipped off on December 18 that an individual, who was later identified as Sturdivant, was posting support for ISIS on social media. 'In one social post in early December 2025, Sturdivant posted an image depicting two miniature figurines of Jesus with the on-screen text that included "May Allah curse the cross worshipers,"' according to the US Attorney's Office. 'The post is allegedly consistent with ISIS historic practice calling for the extermination of all non-believers, including Christians and other Muslims who do not agree with the terrorist organizations extreme ideology.' This was the second known New Year's Eve terror plot disrupted by the FBI this holiday season. Agents also arrested four people connected to a pro-Palestinian anti-law enforcement group for plotting attacks around Los Angeles last month. Sturdivant, who appeared in court in Charlotte today, remains in custody. A hearing is set for January 7. A BBC correspondent reported from the bombed-out home of victims of the October 7 attacks without consent. The BBC has apologised after a crew, led by senior correspondent Jeremy Bowen, filmed inside the destroyed property in Netiv HaAsara, a small village on the Gaza border, without their knowledge. The filming took place just days after the Hamas attack on October 7. Footage was captured inside the property, which included photographs of the children of the Horenstein family, who lived in the home. According to reports, the broadcaster has issued an apology to the family and provided compensation of NIS 120,000 (28,000) in a legal settlement. Joaquin Floto, Middle East bureau chief for BBC News, issued a written apology in Hebrew, which read: 'We wish to express our understanding of the distress you had following the filming of your home after the 7 October attack. 'We are of course sorry for this. Our entry into your home resulted from a good-faith mistake, as we believed consent had been given The BBC had no intention to harm you or cause you discomfort.' Speaking to Jewish News, a member of the family, Tzeela Horenstein, said: 'Not only did terrorists break into our home and try to murder us, but then the BBC crew entered again, this time with a camera as a weapon, without permission or consent'. Pictured: The BBC's Jeremy Bowen reporting from inside the Horenstein family home Pictured: Images from inside the Horenstein family home after the Hamas attack According to reports, the broadcaster has issued an apology to the family and provided compensation of NIS 120,000 (28,000) in a legal settlement She added that she had found the BBC report 'by chance' after they were able to escape the home by crawling through a window and running barefoot to their car. 'We were already heartbroken, and this was yet another intrusion into our lives,' she said. The family reached out to the BBC, but Ori Eldar, the lawyer who represented the family in this case, said the organisation failed to apologise. He added that had the BBC apologised initially, the case may not have reached court. 'The media does very important work, but it must also show sensitivity, especially in areas stricken by trauma', he told Jewish News. A BBC spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'While we do not generally comment on specific legal issues we are pleased to have reached an agreement in this case.' A man was slashed in the face and robbed when he stepped in to help an elderly passenger who was being threatened by a gang on a London Tube train, according to police. British Transport Police (BTP) have released images of five men they want to speak to in relation to the incident, and want the public's help in tracking them down. A gang began threatening elderly passenger riding a Metropolitan Line train to Northwick Park just before 11pm on Monday, BTP said. A fellow passenger bravely stepped in, but they assaulted him with a knife - leaving him with a slash wound above his eyebrow. The group then fled from Northwick Park Underground station in Kenton with the man's bag. BTP is urging anyone who recognises the men in the pictures, or who has any further information, to get in contact with them. Anyone with information can text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 607 of 29 December. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A former pupil at a British school is among the missing after a deadly inferno ripped through a Swiss ski bar on New Year's Eve. Charlotte Niddam, who previously attended Immanuel College - a private Jewish school in Hertfordshire - is one of the two named people confirmed as missing. The schoolgirl, believed to be 15, has not been heard from since a fire tore through a packed bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, leaving nearly 50 people dead and another 115 injured. A statement issued by Immanuel College confirmed Charlotte was missing. 'We are reaching out with an urgent request for our school community to come together in support of Charlotte Niddam', the statement read. 'Charlotte was a student at Immanuel College, and her family have now moved back to France. 'The families have asked that we all keep them in our thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time. We are all praying for a miracle for Charlotte and the others, and want the families to feel the full strength of the Immanuel College community's support'. Images of the missing teen were shared in a post on the Instagram account, @cransmontana.avisderecherche, set up to help locate survivors. British-educated Charlotte Niddam is among the missing after a deadly fire tore through a bar in the Swiss Alps The schoolgirl, believed to be 15, has not been heard from since a fire tore through a packed bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland People embrace each other outside the 'Le Constellation' bar, after a fire and explosion during a New Year's Eve party where several people died and others were injured, in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland, January 2, 2026 High quality photographs show the very first moments of the Swiss Constellation Bar fire in Crans-Montana, where dozens died on New Year's Eve The Instagram account said the teen was a babysitter, and that she visits the Alpine ski resort very often. Friends at her former UK school posted a series of pictures of Charlotte on TikTok. One friend called Mia wrote on the social platform: 'My sweet sweet special Lottie I love you more than the meaning of life. I need my best friend I miss you.' Another friend, Summer, posted a compilation of videos of the two pals together, captioning the post: 'I miss my best friend @Charlotte niddam #CransMontana.' Charlotte and her family lived in an affluent area close to Watford, Hertfordshire, before leaving the UK. The teenager was described by a former neighbour as 'kind' and 'so clever'. Forty people were killed and another 119 injured in the blaze early Thursday as it ripped through the busy Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said. It was one of the worst tragedies in Switzerland's history. Many of the wounded were in their teens to mid-20s, police said. The injured included 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French and 11 Italians, along with citizens of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal and Poland, according to Frederic Gisler, police commander of the Valais region. The nationalities of 14 people were still unclear. Investigators said on Friday that they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire at a Swiss ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling of a bar crowded with New Year's Eve revelers. Authorities planned to look into whether the sound-dampening material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether sparklers were permitted for use in the bar. The candles, which give off a stream of upward-shooting sparks, were the same type that is commonly available for parties, officials said. Officials said they would also look at other safety measures on the premises, including fire extinguishers and escape routes. Beatrice Pilloud, the attorney general for the Valais region, warned of possible prosecutions if any criminal liability is found. Harrowing new video has emerged showing flames spreading across the ceiling of the Swiss bar with young revellers losing crucial seconds by filming the blaze instead of fleeing. Footage shows the deadly flashover, when extreme heat caused everything inside the enclosed space to ignite almost at once, leaving people little chance to flee The footage, taken by French economics student Ferdinand Du Beaudiez, shows flames ripping through the Crans-Montana club as revellers below continue singing, dancing and shouting, oblivious to the danger building above them. Moments before the fire, a waitress had been seen dancing and waving a lit sparkler beneath foam soundproofing panels on the ceiling, which then caught light. Several people can be seen holding up their phones as the fire grows overhead, apparently unaware they are capturing the moments before disaster strikes. Some can be seen frantically trying to extinguish the inferno, but within seconds it took hold, erupting into a deadly fireball that engulfs the packed bar. As the horror unfolded, Ferdinand escaped - then made the extraordinary decision to go back inside. The brave student has now told how he re-entered the burning Le Constellation basement bar twice in a desperate attempt to save his brother and girlfriend, trying to pull bodies from the flames as chaos and smoke filled the venue. He told how he found a badly burned person lying on the stairs and couldn't even tell if it was a man or woman: 'Their clothes were burned, I could only make out teeth.' He recalled: 'I tried to grab this person who was really heavy, but there was no tension in their arm. I just slid him on the ground, then the police and firemen took over from me.' Ferdinand, 19, said the New Year's party had begun joyfully for him and his friends. A dramatic video captured the moment the ceiling of a Swiss ski bar caught fire The footage, taken by French economics student Ferdinand Du Beaudiez, shows flames ripping through the Crans-Montana club as revellers continue singing, dancing and shouting - unaware they are already trapped in extreme danger In the video footage someone can be seen trying desperately to extinguish the fire, but within seconds it takes hold, erupting into a deadly fireball that engulfs the packed bar He told the Daily Mail: 'We were in a group of seven, sitting on the veranda at first, on the first floor. We were having a nice party, and we went back and forth between the first floor and the cave (basement). 'At one moment I saw someone order these champagne bottles and I saw the waitresses take the bottles on their shoulders with sparklers on top. 'Then one of the sparklers set light to the roof, which was made of insulating foam. I saw the roof catch fire and I went under the bar. 'And I found some water in the mini fridge. I tried throwing the water on the fire, but the fire had already spread on the whole roof, and it had no effect.' Ferdinand added that after throwing water on the fire: 'I went back down, I took my girlfriend's arm and I screamed to everyone, get out. I pushed my girlfriend as hard as I could up the stairs. 'There were so many people in the stairs that I lost her arm. 'I fell on the ground. I could reach the top of the stairs and I fell on my stomach. My first reflex was to cover my face with my arms and I closed my eyes. At this moment I suppose someone opened the front door. 'This brought lots of air inside, which also fuelled the fire. And the fire turned into a fireball. I felt this fireball over my head, it slightly burned my neck. 'At this moment the fire took all the breathable air and I couldn't breathe anymore. 'So in a last hope I took the foot of the table and grabbed myself out. At this moment I couldn't find anyone. I got out near the cinema. I couldn't find anyone.' Then the young man took the courageous decision to return inside the inferno, hoping to save his brother and his girlfriend. 'I went back inside. I found someone, I suppose, I hope he was just unconscious. But my prayers are that he's still alive. I grabbed him in the stairs and I took him out. Ferdinand has now told how he re-entered the burning Le Constellation basement bar, twice in a desperate attempt to save his brother and girlfriend, trying to pull bodies from the flames as chaos and smoke filled the venue He told how he found a badly burned person lying on the stairs and couldn't even tell if it was a man or woman: 'Their clothes were burned, I could only make out teeth' 'The firemen took him. And I still couldn't find anyone. I went back inside but I couldn't breathe anymore. 'There was too much smoke and I couldn't breathe. So I went back out. I found a friend of mine who was really burned. He asked me, where is your girlfriend? 'I found my girlfriend completely in shock. She told me my brother and his friends were near the bank over there.' Ferdinand's brother is in a coma in hospital, among the injured, but is expected to make a recovery, he said. While brave British soldiers are being chased through the courts, a female IRA commander escaped justice over the bomb attack in Enniskillen on Remembrance Sunday, according to reports. The woman was identified by police as a key suspect for the 1987 attack which killed 12 people and injured more than 60. Nobody was brought to justice after the Enniskillen attack which was one of the bloodiest of the conflict in the province. According to new developments, the woman was the leader of an IRA cell. She is thought to have moved abroad following the sickening incident 37 years ago before returning home. Details emerged in a Times podcast, The Poppy Day Bomb. The device was set off using a timer. The woman was seen wearing a green dress and carrying a brown paper bag outside a community centre where the bomb was planted. She is understood to have returned to the province after a period living in the United States and was reportedly seen in Enniskillen in recent months. The IRA eventually admitted responsibility for the blast suggesting it deeply regretted what had occurred. Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin lays a wreath at a Remembrance Sunday service in Enniskillen on 9th November 2025. Wreaths laid during a Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Enniskillen on 9th November 2025. Families of those killed have spent approaching 40 years searching for justice, truth and accountability. Over the years, 13 people have been arrested and but cases have fallen apart. Many suspects are thought to live locally. The Royal Ulster Constabulary and its successor the Police Service of Northern Ireland have conducted several reviews without charging any suspects. The UK government has repeatedly turned down calls for a public enquiry into what it knew about the attack beforehand and whether the fatal blast could have been prevented. The revelations come amid mounting anger about Labours removal of the Legacy Act which offered police officers and British soldiers qualified protections against prosecution. The actions of Royal Ulster Constabulary and Army personnel are being assessed today based on the application of the 1998 Human Rights Act. The Mail has led the campaign for the threat of retrospective legal action to be lifted from military and police officers. As many as 100 SAS soldiers who fought terrorists from both sides of the provinces religious divide are facing legal action. The threat of persecution returned after Labour replaced the Legacy Act with its own legislation, the Troubles Bill, which does not include the same protections. More than 210,000 people signed an online petition against Labours ripping up of protections for Northern Ireland veterans. The government claims its commitment to Northern Ireland veterans is unshakeable. A spokesperson said: The previous governments Legacy Act was ruled unlawful. Therefore it did not deliver real protections to veterans in the legacy process. The new NI Bill and its associated elements delivers six lawful and deliverable protections designed in consultation with veterans so the legislation works for them. New York City's new socialist mayor disturbed onlookers at his inauguration speech by using a phrase that appeared to hail the benefits of communism. Zohran Mamdani, 34, declared Thursday: Mamdani declared: 'We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.' But the charismatic hardline leftist's words set alarm bells ringing among many conservatives, who said they fly in the face of the capitalist ideals that created the Big Apple and turned it into a global economic powerhouse. Collectivism is a social organization in which individuals identify with a group. In this worldview, the collective takes priority over one's identity. The philosophy serves as the basic framework for economic systems such as communism and socialism. Mamdani has previously denied that he supports communism and identifies as a Democratic Socialist, a relatively new political theory that opposes capitalism. During his inauguration, the newly minted mayor pledged to govern the city as a Democratic Socialist. Democratic Socialism doesn't have a significant following in the US, but it has risen in prominence since Senator Bernie Sanders began using the term. Zohran Mamdani, pictured above speaking at his inauguration on Thursday, praised collectivism and condemned individualism Conservatives likened collectivism to socialist and communist regimes, including the oppressive Soviet Union rule. Those living under Soviet control were often forced to wait in bread lines for food, as pictured above Mamdani has maintained that he isn't a communist and instead believes in Democratic Socialism, a philosophy that progressives Senator Bernie Sanders (left), and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (right), also subscribe to. The two supported Mamdani's run and attended a campaign event in October (pictured above) Collectivism can be contrasted with individualism, which characterizes a social contract emphasizing personal goals and self-reliance. Individualism is the basic philosophy of economic systems such as capitalism, in which individuals control the means of production and a competitive market exists. Crucially, individualism is said to encourage competition, which supporters say breeds the type of innovation that helps drive societies forward. Critics like Mamdani say individualism also incentivizes greed, leads to obscene gaps between rich and poor and rises costs of living to the point where ordinary people struggle. Mamdani went on to say that his campaign demonstrated that New Yorkers yearned for solidarity and, regardless of their socioeconomic background, shared a defining characteristic: living in the Big Apple. He referenced New Yorkers who voted for him after supporting President Donald Trump, saying he recognized their seemingly opposing votes were both motivated by concerns about the cost of living. 'And if for too long these communities have existed as distinct from one another, we will draw this city closer together,' Mamdani said. Mamdani's quote went viral on social media, prompting some conservatives to question why he would encourage collectivist ideology. Prominent conservatives argued that Mamdani's call to collectivism echoed socialist and communist countries, many of which have violent regimes. 'The warmth of collectivism that always requires coercion and force,' Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X. 'How many dead over the past 100 years due to collectivist ideologies?' Utah Senator Mike Lee condemned Mamdani's message on X, writing, 'Collectivism isnt warm. 'Its as cold as ice and locks the poor into perpetual poverty. Free markets have elevated more people out of poverty than any government program ever could.' The Libertarian Party, which advocates for free markets and small government, wrote: 'Collectivism is a disease, not a cure.' 'No, actually, we are Americans and we dont believe in that s**t,' Conservative journalist Megyn Kelly wrote on X. Others also criticized Mamdani's call for collectivism on social media, with one writing: 'Russian immigrants in America hearing about the "warmth of collectivism. This stuff just had to follow us here, didn't it?' 'Mamdanis comments are antithetical to Americas values. Were a country built on rugged individualism,' another tweeted. 'Huddled in the bread lines might be warm, I suppose,' a third sarcastically added. However, others defended Mamdani's position, with one writing: 'It seems a lot of people don't know that collectivism and communism are two different things.' Mamdani's progressive and Democratic Socialist platforms generated mass media attention during New York's mayoral race. During his campaign, Mamdani told CNN that he had 'many critiques' of capitalism and believed that it wasn't essential to achieving the American Dream. Prominent conservatives including Mike Lee (left) and Ron DeSantis (right) criticized Mamdani's message on social media Ocasio-Cortez introduced Mamdani before his inauguration speech while Sanders swore him in. The two are pictured above at Inauguration Day in NYC President Donald Trump has continually referred to Mamdani as a 'communist' and previously threatened to pull federal funding if he were elected. Since Mamdani's win, Trump has seemingly softened his threats and even praised the young mayor after the two met at the White House. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also followed in Sanders' footsteps as a Democratic Socialist as well and member of the Democratic Party's progressive caucus. Ocasio-Cortez introduced Mamdani at his inauguration, and Sanders held a Quran while he was sworn in. The Daily Mail has reached out to Mamdani's office for comment. Soaring numbers of illegal e-scooters and e-bikes are being seized by police leading to calls for officers to get strengthened powers to quickly crush them. In the first nine months of last year, 452 e-bikes and 115 e-scooters were seized by police, up from 272 e-bikes and 82 e-scooter seizures in the whole of 2024. It follows concerns about the scourge of the vehicles, which are commonly used in crime and antisocial behaviour, leading to communities being blighted by off-road biking in public parks and intimidating street racing. Now Scottish Labour is demanding strengthened powers for police to seize unlicensed vehicles and quickly crush them. Reforms were introduced in England last year, with perpetrators of antisocial driving facing having their e-scooters or off-road bikes seized and destroyed after 48 hours rather than the previous 14-day delay which made it easier to reclaim them. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: Communities across Scotland are being plagued by the scourge of illegal e-bikes. Scottish Labour will crackdown on e-bikes as a policy priority. We will support the police to seize and destroy unlicensed illegal e-bikes and e-scooters. The Police Scotland figures show seizures of e-bikes soared from 29 in 2022 to 69 in 2023, 272 in 2024 and 452 last year up to September 25. There were 27 e-scooter seizures in 2022, rising to 30 in 2023, 82 in 2024 and 115 up to last September. Most seizures related to them being uninsured and/or unlicensed. 452 e-bikes and 115 e-scooters were seized by police in the first nine months of last year Police said that whenever 'non-compliant' e-bikes are identified, they are seized The risks of illegally driving electric vehicles were laid bare last July, when 18-year-old Kendal John Donaldson died in Ayrshire after colliding with an ambulance while riding an e-scooter around 2am. Currently Police Scotland can only seize them for being in breach of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the driver not having a driving licence or insurance, or for breaching the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act. A Police Scotland spokesman said: We are aware of concerns regarding the issue of non-compliant e-bikes and illegal e-scooters and whenever these vehicles are identified they are seized. A Scottish Government spokesman said: Ministers and officials regularly meet Police Scotland and others to consider how best to deal with the illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters. We also continue to engage with the United Kingdom Government... to consider what else can be done. Ahead of the final term at Holyrood before the election, Mr Sarwar added: In just four months we have a chance to call time on the SNPs soft-touch approach to justice, restore community policing and make our streets safer. Free bus travel could be extended to cover more than half the population under SNP proposals that would cost the taxpayer 127million a year. Already, 42 per cent of Scots have their trips paid for by the state, generating a bill to the public purse of around 430million annually. But now ministers are being urged to hand the perk to a further 680,000 adults in relative poverty, which covers everyone earning less than around 23,000. The plan by Transport Scotland (TS) and Public Health Scotland (PHS) would mean almost three million people using the network for nothing. Last night, critics warned that, with barely any paying customers left, others would have to pick up the tab. Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: An expansion on this scale of the free bus pass scheme would undoubtedly result in more punishing tax rises for hard-pressed Scots or savage cuts to other public services. Free bus travel could be extended to cover more than half the Scots population Given the SNPs gross mismanagement of the public finances, any such proposals are completely unaffordable and unrealistic at this time. Ministers should focus on delivering affordable and reliable public transport across the country, including to rural areas. The latest policy intervention comes from a team of senior figures at Scottish Government agencies, including Dr Margaret Douglas, a leading consultant at PHS part of the NHS and Paul Sloan, TSs head of research. Their assessment of effective policies concludes: We identified bus concessionary schemes as particularly important to improve affordability, but some low-income populations who could most benefit are not eligible. Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy says SNP should focus on delivering 'affordable and reliable public transport' Currently, people under 22 or aged 60 and over, plus those claiming disability benefits, can travel free, with 2.3million Scots holding a card. But the study published in the journal Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives claims the policy is not reaching many who would most benefit from free bus travel. It adds the bus concessionary schemes should be expanded, with priority given to these populations, specifying the 20 per cent of working-age people (680,000) who are living in relative poverty. Based on the 430million cost of the current scheme, the extension would see the bill balloon by 127million per year. Ministers have also spent an estimated 12million on schemes that will run until April one for asylum seekers, the other a trial capping fares at 2 across the Highlands and Islands, Moray, and Argyll and Bute. The Scottish Government declined to comment on the latest recommendation. But as part of negotiations around the forthcoming Scottish Budget, ministers have admitted they are already discussing a Greens proposal that all under-30s get free bus travel. A spokesman said: Engagement with parties is ongoing. The Trump administration has suspended 6,900 borrowers over suspected Covid loan fraud involving roughly $400 million of taxpayer funds in Minnesota. 'These individuals will be banned from all Small Business Administration loan programs, including disaster loans, going forward,' SBA boss Kelly Loeffler announced Thursday night on X. The suspensions cover 7,900 Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster loans approved during the pandemic. The crackdown stems from a sprawling investigation into the Feeding Our Future program - a nonprofit accused of billing for millions of phony meals for kids during COVID. The vast majority of the 57 people convicted in the case are Somali. Prosecutors say defendants used the stolen $250 million to buy Lamborghinis, Porsche SUVs, beachfront property in Kenya and private villas in the Maldives. Loeffler's move escalates pressure on Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, whose administration is facing scrutiny over billions in suspected social services fraud. 'The volume and concentration of potential fraud is staggering, matched in its egregiousness only by your response to those who attempted to stop it,' Loeffler wrote in a separate letter to the governor last week. At least $2.5 million in pandemic-era loans were tied to a Somali fraud scheme in Minneapolis, the SBA said. Small Business Administration administrator Kelly Loeffler walks outside the West Wing of the White House after President Donald Trump spoke about investing in America in the Cross Hall of the White House, Wednesday A viral video posted by independent journalist Nick Shirley last Friday showed empty Somali-owned daycare centers allegedly receiving hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds A viral video posted by independent journalist Nick Shirley last Friday showed empty Somali-owned daycare centers allegedly receiving hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds. The shocking film sparked an immediate federal response including by FBI Director Kash Patel and Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem who announced investigations earlier this week. The widening crackdown is the direct result of the initial Feeding Our Future scandal which investigators warned was 'ground zero' for a much wider fraud network. While that first probe uncovered $250 million in stolen meal funds, it exposed a blueprint for exploitation that prosecutors say has permeated almost every facet of Minnesota's welfare system. Around $9 billion in federal Medicaid funds supporting 14 Minnesota programs since 2018 may have been stolen, US Attorney Joe Thompson announced on December 18. Eighty-two of the 92 defendants in the child nutrition, housing services and autism program scams are Somali, according to Thompson. Walz rejects Thompson's $9 billion estimate, calling it 'sensationalism' and saying state audits peg confirmed fraud closer to $300 million, or roughly 1 percent of the $18 billion in total program spending since 2018. Trump called Minnesota's Somali community 'garbage' in December and ended Temporary Protected Status for roughly 700 Somali residents nationwide. The House Oversight Committee has scheduled hearings for January 7, with Walz set to testify February 10. Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the US, with roughly 84,000 Somali Americans concentrated in the Twin Cities, the vast majority of whom are in the country legally. Community leaders have stressed that the defendants represent a tiny fraction of the diaspora and have condemned the fraud while warning against collective blame. Rhode Island firefighters rescued a yellow Labrador who fell into icy waters on New Year's Day. First responders were called to the Little Masachaug Pond just before 9am on Thursday for a water rescue, according to the Misquamicut Fire Department. 'A dog out for a morning walk with his owner wandered onto the pond and fell through a thin layer of ice near the center,' the fire department wrote in a social media post. Once on the scene, volunteer firefighters saw the pup, named Phoenix, struggling in the water and unable to move while his owner was on the shore. Dramatic footage captured the crews jumping into the icy pond, then swimming to shore while carrying the dog out of the frigid waters. 'Members from both fire departments quickly donned ice rescue suits and entered the pond, making a swift and successful rescue,' the fire department said. 'Phoenix and the rescuers were safely brought back to shore and were all doing well when on scene.' Back on land, the rescuers were evaluated for hypothermia by EMS and all were cleared. A yellow Labrador named Phoenix who fell into an icy pond on New Year's Day was rescued by heroic firefighters Dramatic footage captured the crews jumping into the icy pond, then swimming to shore while carrying the dog out of the frigid waters 'It was the chillest dog I've ever seen in my life,' said Deputy chief of the Misquamicut Fire Department Steve Howard told ABC news. 'The dog never made a sound. He was pretty chill.' He revealed that after an evaluation Phoenix was also cleated. 'He got a little bit of extra food last night,' Howard said. 'And he took a little nap.' The Misquamicut Fire Department also issued a warning to residents that icy surfaces are not safe. 'Reminder: No ice is ever safe. Our firefighters train extensively for cold water and ice rescues, but these situations are extremely dangerous,' the department said. On social media, the firefighters were celebrated for making their first rescue of the new year. 'Heroes! It was icy cold and windy but you persevered and rescued this sweet scared pup. Thank You!' one person wrote on Facebook. 'Wow. Great job saving that dog's life while risking yours!' added another. The dog was out for a walk with when he fell through a thin layer of ice near the center of the pond Phoenix and rescuers made it back to safety. The rescuers were evaluated by EMS of hypothermia, but were both cleared 'This is what the train for! Good job by all! Glad this story had a happy ending!' a third person wrote. 'Omg I'm so glad the training and willingness to save this dog, what a great outcome. God bless all the first responders,' wrote a fourth. Others said that the incident is a reminder of the importance of keeping dogs on leashes. 'Thank you to all first responders for saving Phoenix!! And may Phoenix's owner be more responsible from now on by leashing Phoenix for safety reasons,' one person wrote. 'Amazing what a six foot leash can prevent. Glad for a happy ending though,' added a second person. Shocking surveillance footage reveals how a Missouri police chief's cigarette butt accidentally started a huge fire at a care home. Vienna Police Chief Shannon Thompson ignited the blaze at the Vienna Point Residential Care Center after he tossed his stub into a plastic planter. Thompson was responding to a false 911 call which on August 7 when he stopped to smoke a cigarette. Surveillance footage obtained by Wave 3 News showed him snuffing it out in a planter in the entryway before returning to the planter to stomp on it before leaving the care facility after determining there was no emergency. But less than two hours later, the plant ignited and a blaze spread to the building. Within 30 minutes, the entire front entrance was covered in bright flames that began seeping through the door cracks into the home. No one was injured in the fire, but the building was deemed a total loss. The initial report by the Missouri State Fire Marshall ruled the fire an undetermined and said strong winds and limited water supply restricted crews from being able to stop the fire. Vienna Point Residential Care Center caught fire on August 7 after Police Chief Shannon Thompson smoked a cigarette on the porch after responding to a false 911 call Thompson stopped to smoke a cigarette and snuffed it out in a planter in the entryway However, the insurer later submitted the surveillance footage to the agency, showing Thompson's involvement. Investigators still concluded the fire was accidental as the cigarette did not show smoldering embers. Thompson allegedly told the agency he didn't think he started the fire. Maries County Prosecutor Anthony Skouby said in August he would consider pressing charges against Thompson, but has not yet done so. 'The prosecuting attorney is still investigating and gathering evidence,' a spokesperson for the Skouby told the Daily Mail. 'He has not made a decision yet.' In August, he told the Maries County Advocate: 'A cigarette butt can was just 10 feet away, and he put his lit cigarette out in a plastic potted plant,' he told the at the time. 'I believe that listing the fire as accidental is insulting to my intelligence,' he said. 'The video shows him coming back out, seeing that [the planters] on fire. He was seen stomping in the plastic planter before leaving the grounds Roughly 90 minutes later, the planter was on fire and set the building ablaze shortly after. The fire was ruled an accident 'He messes with the potted plant for a second and then gets back in his car and drives away without making sure it was put out. 'So he left, knowing he started a fire, before making sure it was out.' Skouby said he was 'not impressed with the Marshal's investigation at all.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Thompson for comment. A man who was allegedly stabbed to death just minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve has been pictured. Joe Burton, 23, died at a property in Bury, Greater Manchester, at 11.55pm on New Years Eve. Emergency services weren't able to save him despite their best efforts. Specially trained officers are supporting Burton's family. Police have now charged Anthony Junior Murray, 25, with murder and possession of a bladed article. He is set to appear at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on January 5. A woman in her 20s who was also arrested has been bailed as investigations continue. Police are asking witnesses to come forward and are requesting any CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage from around the area. Joe Burton, 23 was allegedly stabbed to death on New Year's Eve just minutes before midnight Police & forensic officers on Tarn Drive, Bury, Greater Manchester on New Year's Day A GMP spokesperson said: 'If you have any information about the incident, please contact police via 101 or our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 3529 of December 31, 2025. The troubled daughter of Tommy Lee Jones was pictured looking shame-faced in a mugshot months before her death in a San Francisco hotel room. Victoria Jones, 34, was arrested twice in summer 2025 - and appeared puffy-faced, with an apparent bruise below one of her eyes in an exclusive booking photo from June obtained by the Daily Mail. The former child actress had endured a troubled existence in recent months, with a neighbor in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood complaining about her behavior. Jones, who was found dead in San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel in the early hours of New Year's Day, had her initial brush with the law in April last year. Officers from Napa Valley Police Department were called out to perform a welfare check on an address in the city, which is famed for its vineyards. Once there, the situation quickly escalated and Jones was charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. Less than two months later, in June 2025, Jones found herself back in jail over an incident of domestic violence. The incident happened at the Carneros Resort and Spa, just off the Sonoma Highway in Napa. Tommy Lee Jones's daughter is pictured in a June 2025 mugshot. She was arrested in Napa, California, on suspicion of domestic violence Jones and her father are pictured together in 2017. She was previously a child actress but did not make the transition to adult stardom Rooms at the smart hotel cost a minimum of $500-a-night. Further details about that incident have not been shared, but separate court filings seen by the Daily Mail on Friday said Jones had also been accused of elder abuse. Jones pleaded not guilty to all charges and had been due back in court for a settlement hearing later this month. Sadly, she passed away before the case could be resolved. Emergency responders were called to the Fairmont just before 3am local time on January 1 to reports of a suspected overdose. On arrival, they began lifesaving measures, but Jones could not be revived and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency audio revealed that Jones's death was being treated as a suspected overdose. No drug paraphernalia was found near her body. A source told the Daily Mail that there was no indication she'd died by suicide or as a result of foul play. An autopsy will be held to determine her cause of death. Jones's body was found in a room at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel (pictured) in the early hours of Thursday Tommy Lee Jones has yet to comment on his daughter's death. They starred together in Men in Black 2 but Victoria did not pursue an acting career as an adult. Victoria's mother is Tommy Lee's second wife Kimberlea Cloughley, who he was married to between 1981 and 1996. Tommy Lee and Kimberlea also have a son, Austin, who is Jones's older brother. Tommy Lee has been married to third wife Dawn Laurel-Jones since 2001. The couple live in Texas. A beloved Martha's Vineyard fisherman and his wife have drowned after their boat capsized on New Year's Day. Roy Scheffer, 77, and Patricia Bergeron, 69, were found on an overturned vessel approximately a half mile off the coast of Edgartown on Thursday, according to the Cape & Islands District Attorney's Office. The married couple was out scalloping in a 47-foot skiff when they capsized, The Vineyard Gazette reported. Scheffer and Bergeron were both unresponsive and not breathing when first responders arrived. They were taken to Martha's Vineyard Hospital where, 'extensive lifesaving efforts were performed' but both tragically succumbed to their injuries. The District Attorney's office determined that the tragedy occurred after a fishing line became tangled in the boat's mechanism during challenging weather conditions. 'The boat was secured for the overnight, and today investigators returned wherein they observed that the propeller was entangled by a polypropylene style line,' the DA's office said in a statement. 'Based on this initial information available, the incident appears to be a horrible accident with no signs of foul play.' Roy Scheffer (right), 77, and Patricia Bergeron (left), 69, were found on an overturned vessel on New Year's Day Scheffer was a longtime commercial fisherman in Edgartown and graduated from the Island High School in 1966 The DA's office also noted that the area was experiencing severe weather before the 911 call was made. 'A significant weather system suddenly came through Martha's Vineyard that produced high winds and snow/sleet throughout the area,' the statement said. 'Reported abrupt worsening sea conditions also occurred at this time, which created sea swells of six feet and 20 knots.' The DA's office added, 'Martha's Vineyard has lost two pillars of their community which, will be deeply felt. 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the families and loved ones during this difficult time.' Bergeron was a retired emergency room coordinator and the former president of the Portuguese-American (PA) Club of Martha's Vineyard for over 20 years, according to the Gazette. She served as the longtime chief organizer of the club's Feast of the Holy Ghost, an annual celebration of the Island's Portuguese roots. Bergeron won the Spirit of the Vineyard award in 2025, an honor given to someone who has made meaningful contributions to Martha's Vineyard. The couple was out scalloping in a 47-foot skiff when the district attorney's office said severe weather swept through the area Bergeron was a retired emergency room coordinator and the former president of the Portuguese-American (PA) Club of Martha's Vineyard 'She is the heart and the soul of the PA Club,' Jack Law, the then vice president of the club, said at the time, the Gazette reported. Bergeron was also at the Massachusetts State House in Boston with the Heritage Day of Portugal award in 2023. According to the Gazette, Scheffer was a longtime commercial fisherman in Edgartown and graduated from the Island High School in 1966. He started fishing for scallops in 1966 and became a fishing captain in 1975. Scheffer eventually became one of Martha's Vineyard's first oyster farmers and passed down his love of fishing to his three sons. A man has been killed and a gunman remains on the run after a fatal shooting in Melbourne's inner north overnight. Police and paramedics rushed to the intersection of Brunswick St and King William Street in Fitzroy just after midnight on Saturday. A man was found with critical injuries. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene. The man has not yet been identified. A manhunt has been launched for the shooter, who is believed to have fled in a getaway car. Officers were seen taking statements from people at the scene later on Saturday. The cordoned off area is just 100metres from Fitzroy police station. A man has been killed and a gunman remains on the run after a fatal shooting in Melbourne's inner north overnight (the scene is pictured) Rescuers will today continue searching for a missing person off the East Yorkshire coast after two people were pulled from the water during a major search operation yesterday. Police confirmed a 67-year-old man and a second victim tragically lost their lives after getting into difficulty in the freezing water, near Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, on Friday afternoon as an Arctic chill grips Britain. Rescue crews launched a dramatic rescue mission following reports of a 'number of people in difficulty in the water'. Witnesses claim a teenage girl was caught by a large wave, near Pier Towers, before she was overwhelmed by the sea, sparking scenes of panic as people tried to rescue her. Humberside Police last night confirmed two deaths and that they were still attempting to rescue one person from the water. The double tragedy came just hours after a man in his 50s died after getting into difficulty at Brighton beach on New Year's Day. HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Humberside Police, and Humberside Fire and Rescue all scrambled crews to Withernsea at around 3.15pm to try and rescue those in the freezing sea. Rescuers stood down their search for the third person at 12.30am on Saturday morning and will resume at first light. HM Coastguard deployed a helicopter to the scene following reports of people getting into difficulty in the water Eyewitnesses reported seeing flashing blue lights across the promenade HM Coastguard and Humberside Police were among the services called to the scene A spokesperson for Humberside Police said last night: 'During the initial searches, emergency services recovered an unconscious man from the water. Despite the best efforts we can confirm a 67-year-old man died a short time later at the scene. 'The circumstances around his death are not thought to be suspicious. Searches are still ongoing. Residents will continue to see an increased police presence in and around the area as the search continues. 'We would ask people to please avoid the area to allow emergency services to work efficiently and safely.' They later added: 'We can now confirm that earlier this evening (Friday, 2 January 2026) a second body was recovered from the sea. The circumstances are not believed to be suspicious. 'Humberside Police officers along with HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire & Rescue, remain in the area as searches continue for one more person who entered the water this afternoon.' A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: 'HM Coastguard has been searching for two missing people in the water off Withernsea this afternoon and evening (2 January). 'First alerted to reports of people in difficulty in the water at around 3.10pm, assets sent to the scene included an HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, Coastguard Rescue Teams, the RNLI and Hornsea Inshore Rescue, alongside Humberside Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire and Rescue. 'After extensive shoreline and offshore searches, the search was stood down at around half past midnight (12.30am, 3 January). Efforts will resume at first light, when coastguard rescue teams along with partner agencies will be sent to conduct additional searches of the area.' It comes just one day after people were not allowed to enter the sea for the annual New Year's Day swim event due to large breaking waves, and amid a yellow weather warning for snow and ice on the Yorkshire coast. Snow showers are expected overnight, with the Met Office reporting a likelihood of around one to three cm of snow, with up to eight cm possible in places. It's due to an Arctic chill, with the Met Office expecting daytime temperatures across the UK to struggle to breach 0C (32F) and could even fall into the minus double digits over the coming days. The search has been ongoing for much of the afternoon and into Friday evening. Resident Darrin Stevens told the BBC he had seen lots of emergency crews near the beach on Friday, adding: 'It's just blue lights, wall-to-wall from one side to the other'. Another eyewitness, Karen Higgs, claimed a teenage girl had fallen into the sea. Crews remain on the promenade and have urged residents to avoid the area The major rescue operation has pulled together all emergency services in the area She told The Telegraph people had attempted to pull her back to safety with a safety ring, but that she 'never tried to catch it'. 'We were all shouting at her to catch it, catch it', she said. 'She just didn't. Then she was going out further. Every time she went out she came in harder. Paul Whitehead, the owner of Castle Cafe on the promenade, told The Telegraph the sea was so rough that the girl, who he estimated to be around 15 years old, 'got washed away'. He added that four men who were on the promenade went to help, along with the girl's parents. 'The young girl had hold of the ring but was hit by a wave and couldn't hold on and went under,' he said. The V&A's latest exhibition, Marie Antoinette Style, offers a fascinating dive into the fashion and mythology surrounding the 18th-century French queen. As the UK's first showcase devoted to the monarch - and the third to be staged outside France - it sets out to move beyond her infamous reputation and reconsider whether her villainous image was ever truly deserved. A welcome bonus for design enthusiasts: the exhibition is sponsored by luxury footwear label Manolo Blahnik, which immediately piqued my interest. Visitors first encounter the monarch in a powder-pink room, with chequered floors inspired by Versailles, through a portrait of Marie Antoinette aged 22. Draped in silks and bows, the painting is by her favoured artist, Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun. A grand, mirrored gallery bathed in sparkling light, draws you into the world of the 14-year-old Marie as she arrived at the French court in 1770. This room is filled with whimsical gowns, their exaggerated skirts adorned with florals, embroidery and cascading ruffles. It is worth noting that these dresses did not belong to Marie herself. Rather, they represent the styles she popularised and helped define during her time at court. The standout is a detailed brocaded silk wedding gown, threaded with silver, worn by Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp. Hedwig married the future Charles XIII of Sweden in 1774, just four years after Marie's own marriage. Her Parisian gown, crafted from silver cloth and tissue, represents the height of royal bridalwear at the time. Marie's original wedding dress, also made from cloth of silver and adorned with diamonds, no longer survives - making this the closest existing comparison. Like many visitors, I was struck by the tiny waist - estimated at just 23 inches - dramatically emphasised by the vast skirt supported by panniers. But there is a lesser-known story behind Marie's marriage - and her wedding attire. The V&A's latest exhibition, Marie Antoinette Style, offers a fascinating deep dive into the fashion and mythology surrounding the 18th-century French queen Aged 14, Marie Antoinette married Louis Auguste, who was just a year older than her, at the Royal Chapel of Versailles - unaware of the turmoil that would later define her life Born Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria, she technically married the Dauphin of France before ever meeting him. In 1770, at the age of 14, Marie took part in a proxy wedding ceremony in Austria, with her brother Archduke Ferdinand standing in for the groom. This ensured that when she crossed into France, she did so as a married woman. However, her formal wedding dress, made in advance in Paris, proved problematic. Constructed to estimated measurements, it was too small when she tried it on at the Palace of Versailles. With no fabric to adjust it, Marie walked down the aisle in a gown that could not fully close, revealing her corsetry beneath. Nevertheless, she married Louis Auguste, who was just a year older than her, at the Royal Chapel - unaware of the turmoil that would later define her life. The last Queen of France before the French Revolution, which ultimately overthrew her husband, King Louis XVI, Marie was deeply unpopular with many of her contemporaries. She became synonymous with excess, criticised for lavish spending at a time when France was gripped by severe financial hardship. This reputation earned her the unflattering nickname, Madame Deficit. In 1793, as revolutionary fervour reached its peak, Marie and Louis were executed by guillotine, bringing a brutal end to the monarchy's reign. Marie became synonymous with excess, criticised for lavish spending at a time when France was gripped by severe financial hardship. This reputation earned her the unflattering nickname Madame Deficit While Marie's personal jewellery was smuggled out of France and held by her only surviving child, Marie Therese, many pieces are on display for the first time since her death The exhibition culminates in a breathtaking gown-filled room showcasing Marie's lasting influence on fashion Galleries exploring Marie's iconic hairstyles, created by her hairdresser Monsieur Leonard and stylist Rose Bertin, are displayed alongside fabric and lace swatches and fans The exhibition, running until March 22, 2026, delivers everything you might expect: breathtaking gowns, glittering jewels, elegant furnishings and portraiture, alongside rare objects that have never before left Versailles The exhibition is sponsored by luxury footwear designer Manolo Blahnik, who created an exquisite collection on display One particularly poignant room features sketches of Marie's imprisonment and execution, a guillotine blade, depictions of a wax bust of her severed head, and a medallion containing locks of her hair Marie Antoinette's enduring appeal is shaped by her style, youth and notoriety. She sparked trends, such as towering hairstyles reaching up to three feet high, adorned with feathers and embellishments that reflected her bold personality. The exhibition, running until March 22, 2026, delivers everything you might expect: breathtaking gowns, glittering jewels, elegant furnishings and portraiture, alongside rare objects that have never before left Versailles. My inner magpie was on high alert after visiting the Cartier exhibition, and I was captivated by the dazzling diamond necklaces and brooches on display. Indeed, while Marie's personal jewellery was smuggled out of France and held by her only surviving child, Marie Therese, many pieces are being shown for the first time since her death. I was also captivated by the galleries exploring Marie's iconic hairstyles, created by her hairdresser Monsieur Leonard and stylist Rose Bertin, presented alongside fabric swatches, lace trimmings and decorative fans. Then comes a chilling shift: booming music and an eerie red corridor lead to the final chapter of Marie's life in 1793, aged just 37. This room is particularly poignant, featuring sketches of her imprisonment and execution, her final prayer book note pleading for mercy while thinking of her children, a guillotine blade, depictions of a wax bust of her severed head, and a medallion containing locks of her hair. The centrepiece is her white linen prison chemise - the only complete garment of the queen on display. Its stains make the scene hauntingly real. The exhibition culminates in a breathtaking gown-filled room showcasing Marie's lasting influence on fashion, complete with an exquisite Manolo Blahnik shoe collection - a fitting and unforgettable finale. The Prince of Wales has three, potentially four, godchildren Prince William has been a godfather for most of his life, long before he became a husband, a father or the Prince of Wales. The Prince is known to be the godfather three, potentially four, times over, with multiple friends bestowing the honour on the future king. His first turn came at just 16, when he stood proudly at the christening of Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece with his arm in a sling after a rugby injury. William was one of many royals in Constantine's list of high-profile godparents, sharing the position with the King of Spain and Denmark and the future queen of Sweden. Today, Constantine is grown up, glamorous and firmly part of high society, with William quietly watching from afar. William later became godfather again, this time to Tom Pettifer, the son of his beloved childhood nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke. Unlike the Greek prince, Tom grew up far from royal palaces, although he once stole hearts as a cheeky pageboy at William and Kate's wedding. Another familiar face in William's godparent circle is Grace van Cutsem, forever remembered as the little girl who covered her ears on the Buckingham Palace balcony in 2011. The Prince of Wales is known to be the godfather three, potentially four, times over, with multiple friends bestowing the honour on the future king His first turn came at just 16, when he stood proudly at the christening of Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece with his arm in a sling after a rugby injury The daughter of one of William's closest childhood friends, Grace returned to a quiet life after her moment in the spotlight. Now a teenager, she remains part of the trusted inner circle that has followed William from boyhood to future king. And the list may not be finished yet. Royal watchers are buzzing with rumours that William could soon become godfather once more, this time to Cosima Grosvenor, the baby daughter of his close friend Hugh Grosvenor. If confirmed, it would underline a pattern that has followed William since his teens, with godchildren chosen not for show, but for deep family ties and lifelong bonds. CONSTANTINE ALEXIOS OF GREECE The Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark has been making a name for himself as one of Europe's most eligible bachelors thanks to his dashing looks, dating history, title and ties to high society. The 27-year-old is the grandson of the late King Constantine II, and the eldest son and second child of Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. Constantine is related to the British Royal Family through the late Prince Philip, who was born a Prince of Greece and Denmark, and his grandfather, the late King Constantine, was William's godfather. The Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark has been making a name for himself as one of Europe's most eligible bachelors thanks to his dashing looks, dating history, title and ties to high society He was christened in London in 1999, six months after he was born, with a fresh-faced 16-year-old William standing proudly as his godfather In adulthood, Constantine, who goes by the nickname Tino, forged a career as a model, painter and sculptor (Pictured: The Prince's most recent Instagram post from July 2025) He was christened in London in 1999, six months after he was born, with a fresh-faced 16-year-old William standing proudly as his godfather. At the ceremony, the future king had his arm wrapped in a sling after he broke his finger during a rugby match, acting as an endearing reminder that, regardless of status, boys will be boys. The teenage William was sitting next to Denmark's King Frederik, who is the nephew of Constantine's grandmother, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece. Prince Constantine's other godparents include current kings, King Felipe of Spain and King Frederik, as well as future queen Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. The Greek royal family no longer have a claim to the throne as the country's monarchy was abolished in 1973, but the descendants of King Constantine II have maintained courtesy titles, represent the nation, and remain a part of royal circles. The prince enjoyed a quiet childhood out of the limelight between London and New York with his older sister, Princess Maria-Olympia, and three younger brothers. In adulthood, Constantine, who goes by the nickname Tino, forged a career as a model, painter and sculptor, much like his American socialite mother, who once interned with Andy Warhol and studied art at university. The young royal even modelled for Christian Dior and has been tied to a series of models and actresses, including Poppy Delevingne, Brooks Nader and Madelyn Cline. TOM PETTIFER Little is known of William's godson Tom Pettifer, who has spent much of his life away from the public eye; however, royal fans might recognise his face. Tom is the son of Harry and William's beloved childhood nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke, and her husband, security consultant Charles Pettifer. Tiggy was nanny to Prince William and Harry between 1993 and 1999 and has maintained a close relationship with both brothers. William was made godfather to the now-23-year-old, while Harry's godson is Tom's older brother, Fred, 24. When he was eight years old, Tom charmed onlookers at the Prince and Princess of Wales's 2011 wedding, where he was a pageboy. The youngster cheekily giggled and grinned with fellow pageboy William Lowther-Pinkerton and bridesmaids Lady Louise Windsor and Margarita Armstrong-Jones. When he was eight years old, Tom (centre) charmed onlookers at the Prince and Princess of Wales 2011 wedding, where he was a pageboy Tiggy Pettifer and her son Tom Pettifer attending the wedding of Prince Harry He arrived in one of the official carriages with Harry and beamed as he waved, unbothered, to the huge crowds that surrounded Westminster Abbey. Tom was snapped years later looking much more grown up when he attended the wedding of Harry and Meghan Markle alongside Tiggy in 2018. Like his mother, Tom spent much of his youth in Wales, where he went to school and learnt to speak Welsh. GRACE VAN CUTSEM Another familiar face is that of Grace van Cutsem, who became the unlikely star of William and Kate's 2011 wedding. The then-three-year-old famously stole the show during the Prince and Princess's balcony kiss when she scowled as she covered her ears to protect them from the roaring crowds and noisy RAF flypast. Grace is the daughter of William's childhood friend Hugh van Cutsem, whose family has been close with the royals for decades, and Lady Rose Astor. The van Cutsems have long forged close friendships within the Palace; Hugh's late father was one of King Charles's oldest pals, and his grandfather, Bernard van Cutsem, trained horses for Queen Elizabeth II as a horse breeder and racehorse trainer. Despite her early brush with worldwide attention, Grace returned to anonymity shortly after the wedding, and now, at 17, she lives a normal life in Oxfordshire with her parents and two younger brothers. She appears to be close with her mother, Rose, who wrote a piece for The Times about the pair's luxurious 'mother-daughter detox' at an Austrian health retreat to escape their 'boy-heavy home'. Grace van Cutsem famously stole the show during the Prince and Princess of Wales's balcony kiss Grace is the daughter of William's childhood friend Hugh van Cutsem, whose family has been close with the royals for decades, and Lady Rose Astor Despite her early brush with worldwide attention, Grace returned to anonymity shortly after the wedding, and now, at 17, she lives a normal life with her parents and two younger brothers Rose is part of the Astor dynasty whose fortune was founded in 18th century America, when John Jacob Astor - the first multi-millionaire in the US - traded otter and beaver pelts. The Astors moved to the UK in the early 1890s and shortly afterwards snapped up Cliveden, now run as a five-star hotel, and Hever Castle, which was sold to a private property company and is now run as a visitor attraction, wedding venue and B&B. The Astors' property portfolio is even more impressive in New York, where the Astor name is seen on Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Astor Place, and Astor Avenue in the Bronx, where the family used to stable horses. The neighbourhood of Astoria, Queens, is also named after the family, and Rose said that she feels 'lucky' to have such a richly-textured family history. COSIMA GROSVENOR British aristocrat Hugh Grosvenor welcomed his first child, Cosima, with wife Olivia Henson in July this year. There has not been any word of who the girl's godparents will be, but many royal fans suspect she could become William's fourth godchild. On July 27, the Duke and Duchess of Westminster released an official statement announcing the birth of Cosima Florence. 'Both the Duchess and Cosima are doing well. The Duke and Duchess now look forward to spending this special time together as a family,' it read. Hugh is one of the world's youngest billionaires, with an estimated net worth close to 10billion, and is a friend to both William and Harry. He is not only the godson of King Charles but also the godfather to William's firstborn, Prince George, and Harry's son, Archie. The long line of godfathers between the families suggests to royal watchers that William may be given the role for five-month-old Cosima. Hugh Grosvenor and Olivia Grosvenor leaving Chester Cathedral after their wedding Prince William attended the wedding of The Duke of Westminster to Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral Friends of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster say they haven't made a final decision on who will be Cosima's godparents, but it is understood that William will be a godfather, according to the Sunday Times. However, it was reported that the new father is still considering whether to also ask Prince Harry, amid ongoing tensions between him and the Royal Family since the Sussexes upped sticks to California, leaving their position as senior royals in 2020. It is believed that both brothers sent their congratulations to the couple after their daughter was born on July 27. A date has not currently been set for the christening. The Danish royal family celebrated the start of 2026 with a New Year's Day Parade, hosted by King Frederik X and Queen Mary, followed by a lavish banquet attended by government officials. The festivities saw the couple, alongside other senior members of the royal household, arrive at Christian VII's Palace in Copenhagen for the annual event, which celebrates the Danish government, the Royal Court, and other close associates of the royal family. While Crown Prince Christian, 20, attended, his sister, Princess Isabella, 18, was notably absent. Danish journalist Natasja Crone told Danish news outlet TV2 the decision was made because they have not yet decided whether she will be a working royal. Isabella hit headlines in August last year after she was spotted at a Danish music festival Smukfest in Skanderborg wearing a suggestive top with the words 'f***ed him yesterday' in Danish. The message was accompanied by an arrow pointing off to the side. Christian and Isabella's younger siblings, 14-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, weren't present, as the invitation was for over-18s only. Meanwhile, Queen Margrethe II, who abdicated the throne in January last year in favour of her son Frederik following her 52-year reign, beamed as she arrived while dressed in all her finery. Margrethe announced her shock abdication in her New Year's Eve address to the nation in 2024, marking the end of her era as Europe's longest-serving monarch. Queen Mary and King Frederik X of Denmark put on glittering displays at the annual New Year's dinner in Copenhagen yesterday She hosted that year's gala before her son succeeded her as the country's monarch on January 14, 2024. Mary looked the part yesterday in a gold Jasper Hovring dress, adorned with the Collar and Star of the Order of the Elephant, as well as Rose-Cut Bandeau Tiara and earrings from Danish Crown Diamond Prairie, 9 Honey reported. Others in attendance included Margrethe's younger sister, Princess Benedikte, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. The New Year celebrations will continue into next week, when Mary and Frederik will hold a celebration for judges of the Supreme Court, the Royal Life Guards, and the Guard Hussar Regiment's Officer Corps on 5 January. Tuesday will also see a New Year's party for Armed Forces officers, members of the Emergency Management Agency, and groups with noble and honorary titles or those connected with Frederik and Mary's royal patronages. It comes after an opinion poll conducted by Danish broadcaster DR underscored Margrethe's enduring popularity following her abdication - while Frederik and Mary each received an 85 per cent approval rating, Margrethe surpassed them with an approval score of 88 per cent. It's a testament to the deep affection the Danish people still hold for their former queen, who, even in retirement, remains a towering figure in the country's history. Celebrated for her hands-on approach, attending government meetings and writing her own speeches, Queen Margarethe is among the few sovereigns of her generation who hold multiple university diplomas. Mary looked dashing in a Jasper Hovring dress, Rose-Cut Bandeau Tiara and earrings from Danish Crown Diamond Prairie Crown Prince Christian beamed as he arrived at the banquet at Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg in Copenhagen Queen Margrethe, who abdicated the throne in 2024, attended the celebrations on Thursday evening After graduating, she challenged social norms by studying at five European universities between 1960 and 1965. Considering disciplines to assist in her future role as head of state, Margrethe enrolled in a political science programme, which she carried out in three institutions: Aarhus University in Denmark, the Sorbonne University in Paris, and the London School of Economics. It was at the latter that Margrethe met her husband, French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat. She also studied philosophy at Copenhagen University and earned a diploma in prehistoric archaeology from Cambridge University. Margrethe re-vitalised the monarchy - not least with a new era of fashion. Thanks to her knack for colour and prints, she carries off eccentric looks both during official engagements and at leisure. The royal's fascination with ornate clothing was ignited during her childhood as she observed her father, King Frederik IX, and his passion for the theatre. At the age of eight, attending August Bournonville's ballet Napoli with her parents, she was entranced by the set and costumes. Pictured: Princess Benedikte at the annual New Year's dinner at Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg in Copenhagen Pictured: Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attending the annual New Year's dinner yesterday Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark beamed as they arrived in matching navy ensembles Similar to her third cousin, Queen Elizabeth, Margrethe valued a vibrant colour palette and remained loyal to her nation's design talents. She showcased sleek velvet dresses, silk taffeta gowns, luxurious brocades, patterns and an abundance of furs, embodying her authoritative and adventurous nature. Margrethe shared a close relationship with Elizabeth - they are both great granddaughters of Queen Victoria. The pair shared such a strong bond that they would begin all correspondence with 'Dear sister and cousin'. In public, Elizabeth and Margrethe addressed each other as 'Your Majesty', but in private, the Danish Queen was affectionately known to her cousin as 'Daisy'. This nickname originated from Margrethe being named after her British-born grandmother Princess Margaret 'Daisy' of Connaught. Meanwhile, Margrethe called Elizabeth 'Lilibet'. She once explained: 'That's the way we have known each other always. That is what we call each other when we see and speak to one another. We are definitely affectionate, but I don't want to splash it all over the place!' Stepping away from the throne has given Queen Margrethe the freedom to devote more time to her passion for the arts. Despite having no formal training in visual arts, she has created an impressive body of work across various mediums, including watercolour, oil chalk pastels and acrylic painting. Ever the keen observer, Margrethe carries small sketchpads during her travels, capturing intriguing motifs and fresh ideas in the moment. Her artistic talents continue to flourish, as seen in her recent design for a limited-edition anniversary mug for Royal Copenhagen, featuring two hand-painted fish to mark the brand's 250th anniversary. In his first New Year's speech, Frederik reassured the Danish people that 'my mother enjoys her new life,' embracing her new-found independence while maintaining a connection to the royal family. Though she retains the title of queen, Margrethe now ranks after King Frederik, Queen Mary, and their four children. Her royal household has been reduced in scale, with fewer ladies-in-waiting and a smaller state-provided income. Despite these changes, Margrethe remains at Fredensborg Palace, where she has lived for years. From 'vibecoding' to 'clanker', several slang words and phrases rose to prominence in 2025. But with the new year now well and truly here, experts have had enough and are calling for 10 terms to be banished entirely. Experts from Lake Superior State University have released their 50th Banished Words List. 'For half a century, the Banished Words List has served as a reminder that language is always evolving,' they said. Topping the list is '6,7' a phrase that is particularly popular with Gen Alpha, and originates from a song called 'Doot Doot (6,7)' by American rapper Skrilla. 'Demure' is next, having gained popularity in the 'very demure, very mindful' TikTok trend in 2024. It's also time to wave goodbye to 'cooked', 'my bad' and 'reach out', according to the experts. 'The entries continue a tongueincheek commentary on language, catchphrases, and corporate jargon,' they explained. Experts from Lake Superior State University have released their 50th Banished Words List - including '6,7' and 'demure' The Banished Words List has been created by Lake Superior State University (LSSU) every year since 1976. 'What began as a whimsical New Year's Eve party idea in 1976, has grown into a global reflection on the words that wear out their welcome,' the team explained. 'Since former public relations director W.T. (Bill) Rabe showcased the first "List of Words Banished from the Queen's English because of mis, mal, overuse, or general uselessness," LSSU has carried the torch.' This year, the university received over 1,400 submissions from around the world, which it whittled down to just 10. Teachers will be relieved to hear that '6,7' is the top banishment this year. It simply means 'nothing', yet quickly gained traction online with thousands of people making videos using a clip from Skrilla's song. Since then, the expression has dominated classrooms, so much so that some teachers have actually had to 'ban' the phrase. 'Demure' is next on the list, having surged in popularity in a 2024 trend sparked by a viral TikTok video by American content creator Jools Lebron (@joolieannie). Your browser does not support iframes. The 2026 banished words list 6,7 Demure Cooked Massive Incentivize Full stop Perfect Gift/Gifted My bad Reach out Advertisement In the clip, the selfdescribed 'fierce diva' encouraged women to dress in a way that was 'demure and mindful'. Gen Z ran with the idea, and began describing almost anything as 'demure and mindful' including 'bed rotting' (where individuals spend a long period of time in bed scrolling on their phones), eating chocolate cake, and going for a walk. 'Cooked' slang to describe someone or something as being in a state of possibly irreversible misfortune and hardship is third on the list, followed by 'massive', 'incentivize', and 'full stop'. One of the more surprising terms on the list is 'perfect', which received several submissions. 'There are very few instances when the word actually applies,' one submitter vented, while another added: 'How do they know it's perfectwhat does that mean?' Eighth on the list is 'gifted', while 'my bad' a casual phrase used to admit fault is ninth. Finally, 'reach out' rounds out the top 10, although this isn't the first time it's been on the Banished Words List. The LSSU team said: 'First banished in 1994, this saying has strayed from the positive message it once intended to deliver.' If you think there's a word or phrase missing from the list, you'll be happy to hear that submissions for the 2027 list are now open. 'What do you want our judges to consider for banishment for 2027?' LSSU asked. 'The deadline to turn in your entry is 8 AM Eastern Standard Time on Nov. 1, 2026.' It's official 2025 was Britain's hottest year on record. The Met Office has confirmed that the average temperature in the UK last year was a balmy 10.09C, which is 0.96C above the longterm average. 2025 now joins 2022 and 2023 in the top three warmest years since 1884. According to the Met Office, this is a 'clear demonstration of the impacts of climate change'. Dr Mark McCarthy, head of climate attribution at the Met Office, said: 'We're increasingly seeing UK temperatures break new ground in our changing climate, as demonstrated by a new highest UK mean temperature record just three years after the last record. 'This very warm year is in line with expected consequences of humaninduced climate change. 'Although it doesn't mean every year will be the warmest on record, it is clear from our weather observations and climate models that humaninduced global warming is impacting the UK's climate.' While Britain has a reputation for its miserable weather, the Met Office has also confirmed that 2025 was the sunniest year on record. The Met Officehas confirmed that the average temperature in the UK last year was a balmy 10.09C, which is 0.96C above the longterm average While Britain has a reputation for its miserable weather, the Met Office has also confirmed that 2025 was the sunniest year on record Last year, the average temperature across the entire UK was 10.09C. Breaking this down by country, the average was 10.94C in England, 8.63C in Scotland, 10.29C in Wales, and 10.09C in Northern Ireland. Both Spring and Summer 2025 were also the UK's warmest on record. 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 many will remember the long warm spring and summer of 2025, what has been noteworthy this year has been the consistent heat throughout the year, with every month except January and September warmer than average,' said Dr Emily Carlisle, a Met Office scientist. 'In the six months from March to August, every month was at least 1C above the 19912020 average. This chart shows periods during 2025 where the mean temperature for the UK was above average (orange) or below average (blue) The UK's 5 warmest years on record 2025 - 10.09C 2022 - 10.03C 2023 - 9.97C 2014 - 9.88C 2024 - 9.79C Advertisement 'This resulted in the warmest spring and the warmest summer we have seen in this series. 'Meteorologically, the warmth has been driven largely by persistent highpressure systems bringing prolonged dry, sunny conditions, alongside aboveaverage sea temperatures around the UK. 'These factors have combined to keep temperatures consistently higher than normal for much of the year.' Overall, four of the UK's last five years now appear in the top five warmest years since 1884. What's more, all of the top 10 warmest years have now occurred in the last two decades. Last year also goes down as the sunniest year since the series began in 1910. In total, there were 1,648.5 hours of sunshine across the UK 61.4 hours more than the previous record, set in 2003. At a global level, we're still waiting for confirmation from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) on 2025's temperatures. Last year also goes down as the sunniest year since the series began in 1910. In total, there were 1,648.5 hours of sunshine across the UK 61.4 hours more than the previous record, set in 2003 However, at the start of December, the team said that they were 'virtually certain' 2025 would be the second-warmest year on record, tied with 2023. Dr Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, agreed with the Met Office that climate change is largely to blame. 'These milestones are not abstract they reflect the accelerating pace of climate change,' she said. 'The only way to mitigate future rising temperatures is to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.' An American medium that's been called one of the best psychics in the US has revealed a series of dire warnings for the new year. Jill M Jackson said she has seen economic turmoil, natural disasters, and more war on the horizon over the next 12 months, with many Americans losing their jobs and moving from their long-term homes. Jackson, who is also a spiritual teacher and author from Mississippi, also predicted that 2026 would see more Americans gathering 'undeniable' proof of extraterrestrial contact, including capturing video UFOs and alien beings. However, the psychic's forecast for the new year focused on three major warnings, including a plea for Americans to prepare for significant instability in the US economy, leading to many job losses. 'I do see a lot of polarity... A lot of ups and downs. It's going to feel like a roller coaster. Sadly, I do see a lot more people losing their jobs in 2026,' Jackson predicted. The psychic also warned of increased earthquakes this year, especially along the West Coast and in Asia, with 'major water events' being amplified by the quakes and causing dangerous floods. Jackson said ongoing wars, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, would continue for several more years with no quick end in sight, though some conflicts like in Venezuela might fade by mid-2026. 'There's a lot of changes coming. There's a lot of earth changes coming. I see land shifting... And it's important for us to be in a place of preparation. Pay attention to water and things like that,' she warned. Jill M Jackson (Pictured) issued several predictions for 2026, including an economic downturn that would cost many people their jobs Jackson warned that she saw earthquakes intensifying in 2026, especially along the US West Coast (Stock image) Jackson was twice named 'Psychic of the Year' and has studied communicating with spirits of the deceased extensively. She claimed during an interview with the Jeff Mara Podcast on December 26 that her psychic gifts have been present all her life, seeing spirits since birth. Jackson added that she began hearing these spirits talk at age 12 after her grandmother, who had passed away, appeared to her and communicated telepathically. As for what's coming in 2026, the award-winning medium predicted that the stock market would feel very volatile, while cryptocurrency could see big growth among some coins but major drops in others. While Jackson warned that many Americans could end up unemployed this year, the dramatic turn in the economy would actually benefit these workers, claiming the layoffs will force people to reflect inwardly and leave careers they were not spiritually aligned with. 'I do see a lot of people doing complete 180s and leaving jobs and careers that they have been in for years and years and starting over, starting something new. I also see a lot of new businesses being created, but it feels more local,' Jackson told the podcast. 'Once they go through that, they are going to have an opportunity to go within and realize that they were not on their soul's path anyway.' Jackson added that these major shifts in the US will cause many to feel a sudden, unexplained urge to move away from homes they've lived in for 10, 15, or even 20 years. Jackson (Pictured) has said she began seeing spirited at birth and was able to communicate with them since the age of 12 She explained that this is due to gradual shifts in the Earth's energy grids, what some call ley lines or chakras, causing certain locations to fall out of alignment with people's personal energy. Natural disasters may also play a role in forcing people to move, with Jackson warning that people need to be prepared for major seismic events on the West Coast, although she did not give specifics about which states were in danger. The psychic predicted that, overall, Earth would see an 'amplification' in the intensity of earthquakes, including in Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand, alongside stronger flooding risks for islands in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific. In November 2025, Jackson accurately predicted the major 7.6 magnitude quake striking off Japan's Aomori Prefecture on December 8, 2025, causing injuries, damage, and tsunami alerts. As for the tensions continuing to rise worldwide, Jackson said Americans should be prepared for ongoing wars to sadly continue beyond 2026, including the Russia-Ukraine war. She described these conflicts as being driven by 'the powers that be' for money and control, and noted that some, like the situation in Venezuela, might 'fizzle out' around mid-2026. However, Jackson said she saw Americans increasingly 'waking up' in 2026 and 2027 to the true manipulated nature of these wars, leading more people to disconnect from supporting or participating in them. A forensic psychologist has told the Daily Mail there's now 'conclusive proof' the true circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death have been covered up. Dr John Paul Garrison examined new surveillance footage from New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center in the latest batch of Epstein files, showing clear views of areas near the convicted sex offender's cell that were previously unreleased. He called the videos proof of a cover-up because they came from cameras officially reported as non-functional, yet the footage exists and provides angles that could have seen the events on the night of Epstein's death. However, the footage from the prison hallway camera skipped over several critical hours, specifically jumping from around 11pm ET on August 9, 2019 to 1am on August 10, and again from 2am to 9am on August 10, meaning the entire period surrounding Epstein's death is completely missing. The pedophile was found unresponsive in his cell at 6.30am. The federal government officially concluded Epstein died by suicide after hanging himself, with no evidence of foul play, according to the 2019 medical examiner's ruling and follow-up DOJ reviews last year. Garrison claimed that the videos also do not match the Department of Justice Inspector General's report and FBI emails, which detailed that the DVR2 system at the prison was not working and could not make recordings on those nights. He added that this mismatch means the released surveillance videos from August 11 should not exist according to government documents, suggesting the DVR system was secretly working and clips were deleted, or the maps showing the working cameras were falsified to hide evidence. 'Either way, if you look at all of the information reported, this camera cannot have captured this and saved it to a DVR according to everything that we're being told,' Garrison declared in a video breakdown on YouTube. Jeffrey Epstein after an alleged suicide attempt in July 2019. He died the following month Dr John Paul Garrison claimed in a viral YouTube video that there is evidence in the Epstein files that points to a cover-up surrounding his death Garrison, a clinical and forensic psychologist at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology, has gained a large online following for his true-crime analysis and in-depth explorations of high-profile crime cases. The forensic expert also revealed the notes from Epstein's autopsy suggested he could not have committed suicide, based on the lack of bruising the fatal incident should have caused and medical records from a previous incident on July 28, 2019. Specifically, Epstein had complained of numbness in his right arm and neck, stating that his arm felt numb and he could not make a fist with that hand, which Garrison explained would make it unlikely for him to have shredded the tough anti-tear prison linens by hand to create a noose just days later. 'This case is highly unusual. While I cannot say that the autopsy describes something that is literally impossible from a physical standpoint, it presents a biomechanical scenario that defies straightforward logic, given the forces and conditions described,' Garrison told the Daily Mail on Friday. Garrison's YouTube breakdown on December 29 also highlighted the confusing details allegedly written by the medical examiner, who described Epstein's genitalia as looking 'normal.' That statement directly contradicted testimony from an alleged Epstein victim who portrayed it as small, extremely deformed, and shaped like a lemon. 'It is difficult to believe it would not have been documented by the medical examiner, given how meticulous and detail-oriented autopsy reports typically are,' Garrison explained. 'I personally believe Jeffrey Epstein was murdered, but there are others who argue that the body examined may not have been Epstein's at all, and inconsistencies like this only add fuel to that speculation,' he said. Garrison examined hours of new prison footage, which he claimed should not exist, based on the documents claiming the prison surveillance cameras were not working Epstein's jail cell at Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center after his death The Daily Mail has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment regarding Garrison's analysis and is awaiting a response. Garrison revealed that his review came from spending hours examining Data Set 8, which was released on December 19, along with thousands of documents and pictures showing Epstein with high-profile celebrities and politicians. The forensic psychologist noted that he regularly reviews autopsy reports, medical examiner findings, and large volumes of investigative records for both forensic and legal purposes, but cannot provide a definitive medical opinion on Epstein's death. 'What I am trained to do is identify inconsistencies, contextual red flags, and areas where facts do not align cleanly with the reported circumstances,' he said. In this case, the new footage also included a mysterious clip of J Tier, a nearby prison wing at the Metropolitan Correctional Center which held Epstein for only a brief time in July, weeks before his death. In the video, guards could be seen speaking with prisoners and even passing what appeared to be a note or piece of paper to an inmate. The DOJ has not provided any context for the photos or videos included in the Epstein file releases, including the video from J Tier. What those inmates and that prison wing have to do with the Epstein death investigation remains a mystery. 'If the J Tier footage is unrelated to Epstein's brief housing there, then its inclusion is even more difficult to explain. The only observable event of note is a correctional officer handing what appears to be a note or object from the floor to an inmate,' Garrison said. 'That does not reasonably justify why this footage would be preserved and released while footage from Epstein's tier is missing and no additional footage from any tier is included.' 'I am confident that additional footage was recorded on the night of Epstein's death, at least to one DVR system that was known to be functional. In my opinion, the explanation that the footage simply has never existed is not credible,' the forensic expert concluded. A young woman whose body was shattered during a climbing accident says she discovered the human soul never ends during a shocking out-of-body experience. Erica Tait was just 22 when she fell off the Palisades Cliffs in New Jersey in 2015 during a daredevil hiking trip alone and without safety equipment. Tait ended up falling 60feet while attempting to climb down the rockface, breaking her spinal cord, pelvis, arms, and ribs, and puncturing both lungs. Although she managed to miraculously call for help on her phone, Tait wasn't able to give her location and waited seven hours for rescue. During that time, she left her physical body behind and entered a realm where her consciousness no longer existed as an individual anymore. Erica said her near-death experience (NDE) began with a deep sense of peace as her consciousness floated away from the pain and damage on the ground, instantly understanding that the real 'her' was something eternal and separate from the body. While encountering a brilliant white light that she could only describe as God or a universal consciousness, Erica said she learned that everything in the universe was one connected being, made of the same energy vibrating at different speeds. This revelation filled her with overwhelming love and showed her that our real purpose on Earth was to remember this oneness and live with compassion, because hurting anyone else would be like hurting ourselves. At age 22, Erica Tait (Pictured) had a near-death experience after falling 60feet off a cliff in New Jersey Tait said she left her body and encountered a being of light known as God or Source (Stock Image) Like other near-death experiences, Tait told the YouTube channel NDE Journey she actually saw herself leave her physical body as she slowly died while waiting for rescue. At that point, she then went through a life review, where her entire life flashed before her like a movie, and she clearly saw how her past traumas and choices had caused harm to herself and others. 'The only person judging it was the most objective version of me. So, there was no outside being telling me you're going to hell or you're going to heaven. It wasn't really that experience,' Tait said during the December 2 interview. After that, she was pulled into what could only be described as a bright light that felt like pure unconditional love and the source of everything in the universe, which many near-death experiencers have called God. Although Tait did not meet specific beings like angels or deceased relatives, she said the light itself felt alive and communicated with her directly, like a loving presence that knew her completely. 'It was almost like information was being downloaded into my cells, and that was where I learned a lot about our inherent oneness, about how we are actually just this one thing. In this dimension that we call Earth, there's an illusion of separation,' Tait explained. The biggest realization was that we are all truly one being, so hurting anyone else would be like hurting yourself, and our real purpose on Earth is to remember this oneness and live with love and awareness. 'To awaken, to remember why we're actually here, what we actually are. That's been my sole focus ever since for myself to continue to remember and to continue to awaken to deeper and deeper remembrances of what reality is and to help the collective do the same,' she added. Tait said she learned from Source that her soul continues beyond the physical world on Earth, but was also part of one universal being Tait's experience was similar to other seriously injured people who claim they met a being that has been called 'Source.' Nanci Danison, a scientist and devout Catholic from Ohio, previously told the Daily Mail this energy source also told her human life was an illusion, created so that Source could learn from observing human experiences. 'The most compelling thing was the information that I am not a human. I'm not a human being, that humans are animals that are indigenous to planet Earth and that what I am is a spiritual being that inhabited the human,' Danison explained last year. It was a remarkably similar message to the one 'downloaded' into Tait's consciousness, in which she learned her soul was part of a great whole and no longer belonged to anyone named Erica Tait once it left the physical realm on Earth. Tait's 2015 accident also shared similarities which testimonies from other near-death experiencers, who claimed they received an extraordinary message while journeying through the afterlife, saying that what we consider the real world is a dream. Tait said the NDE completely transformed her. She went from being an atheist who only believed in what her senses could prove to someone with unshakable knowledge of a spiritual dimension. Now 33, she's become runs a psychotherapy business in New Jersey, offering therapy that blends psychology, body-based healing, and spiritual practices. The very first supermoon of the year will light up the sky tomorrow night and it's going to be even more spectacular than normal. In an astonishingly rare alignment of events, tomorrow's Wolf supermoon will be getting a triple brightness boost. That could make it the biggest and brightest full moon of the year, and one of the brightest appearances our moon is capable of. With the next supermoon not making an appearance until November, you won't want to miss this weekend's celestial show. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, known as the perigee. During tomorrow's perigee, the moon will be 225,130 miles (362,312 km) from Earth, over 20,000 miles (32,000 km) closer than its furthest point. That will make the moon appear 14 per cent bigger and up to 30 per cent brighter as it rises tomorrow evening. However, astronomers say that there will be two more factors that will boost the supermoon's brightness even further. The first supermoon of the year, known as the wolf moon, will light up the skies over the UK tomorrow evening. Pictured: The last wolf supermoon over Huddersfield in 2019 In an unusual coincidence, tomorrow's supermoon occurs within hours as an event known as a perihelion, during which the Earth is at its smallest distance from the sun. Like the moon's orbit around Earth, the Earth's passage around the sun is slightly elliptical rather than perfectly round. That means the distance between our planet and the sun varies by about 3.4 per cent over the course of a year. According to NASA, the sunlight reaching Earth will be about 6.5 per cent brighter during perihelion tomorrow than it would be at the most distant point. Since the moon reflects light from the sun, this could make the lunar glow even stronger than normal. Finally, the third brightness boost will be the excellent stargazing conditions found in the northern hemisphere during the winter. Cold, dry air allows more light to penetrate the atmosphere and causes less disturbance. As highpressure weather moves over Europe and the UK, bringing cold, clear conditions, the moon will appear even brighter and clearer. A supermoon occurs when a full moon nearly coincides with perigee the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the Earth. However, tomorrow's supermoon will be even brighter due to two extra factors Tips for viewing a supermoon A supermoon occurs when the moon's orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the moon is full. To get the best view, get up high! The further up you are, the better your chance of a clear sky to see the stars, plus you'll be able to see low down to the horizon to watch the moon rise. Also try to be situated in a region that's far away from light pollution that can dim the spectacle in other words, away from towns and cities. For those stargazing from the comfort of their homes, turning off the lights indoors can improve the visibility of the night sky. SOURCE: Parkdean Resorts Advertisement Those at higher altitudes will benefit even more, because they'll be above the dense air at low altitudes that contains haze, fog and smoke that mask your view of the sky. Good examples include Primrose Hill in London, Snowdonia National Park in South Wales, Exmoor National Park in Devon, and South Downs National Park in Sussex and Hampshire. Overall, this triple boost will make tomorrow night one of the best opportunities to see a supermoon this year. Luckily, seeing the moon tomorrow evening is exceptionally easy. Jess Lee, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told the Daily Mail: 'You don't need any special equipment to view a supermoon, and you don't need to travel outside of lightpolluted areas. 'It's a lovely sight even from a city or a town.' Ms Lee adds: 'The supermoon will be visible from around 16:00 on December 3 until 09:00 the following day, so you've got plenty of time to catch a glimpse of our nearest celestial neighbour.' The moon will be at its most spectacular shortly after it rises or sets, while it is still low on the horizon. Not only will the moon be at its closest point to Earth, but the Earth will also be at its closest point to the sun. This could make the light reflected off the moon even brighter. Pictured: A Wolf moon over Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire Supermoons in 2026 Wolf Moon: January 3 Moon's distance from Earth: 225,130 miles (362,312 km) Beaver Moon: November 24 Moon's distance from Earth: 224,170 miles (360,768 km) Cold Moon: December 24 Moon's distance from Earth: 221,667 miles (356,740 km) Advertisement Due to an effect called the 'moon illusion', our lunar satellite appears to be significantly larger when it is near the horizon. Psychologists aren't yet entirely sure why this effect takes place or what makes it so strong, but some suggest it could be due to the moon's comparison with recognisable objects like buildings and trees. The exact timing of moonrise will vary slightly depending on your latitude, but the moon should start to be visible from about 15:15 in the UK. In another rare winter treat, British moon watchers can also look forward to largely clear skies tomorrow evening. The Met Office forecasts only patchy cloud over most of England and Wales, with some light cloud cover in Scotland and the northeast of England. However, be aware that yellow and amber snow and ice warnings are in place over parts of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. If you are heading out to see the supermoon tomorrow, be sure to check your local forecast and dress appropriately in warm clothing. Tomorrow's full moon is rare because not every full moon is a supermoon, and there may be only three or four supermoons in a typical year. Although cold, dry weather over the UK will deliver clear skies and great viewing conditions, be aware that snow and ice warnings are in effect Whenever the full moon appears, it is given a nickname depending on the month of the year a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Ms Lee says: 'One name for the January Full moon is the "Wolf Moon" named after the wolves that might have been roaming the dark winter nights.' After tomorrow's Wolf supermoon, there will be only two more chances to catch a supermoon in 2026. Those are the Beaver supermoon on November 24 and the Cold supermoon on December 24. As 2026 begins, many keen travellers might be looking for new destinations to jet off to for their next getaway. Europe's most popular airline, Ryanair, has revealed the top locations for the coming year. The budget carrier recommends Bratislava, Slovakia, for its 'rich history and modern charm'. Holidaymakers who opt to visit the eastern European spot can tour its medieval Old Town and take in the local culture. According to Ryanair, which will offer 33 routes to Bratislava in the summer, the Slovakian capital 'is quickly becoming one of Europes most exciting city break destinations'. Tirana, the capital of Albania in the Balkans, made the airline's list too. It's bursting with restaurants, intriguing architecture and is good value - the city was named Europe's best-value city for British holidaymakers by the Post Office in 2021. Ryanair says the destination offers an 'unforgettable travel experience' with its impressive 'mountain backdrops' and from April will run 450 flights per week from the Tirana's airport. Budget carrier Ryanair recommends Bratislava, Slovakia, for its 'rich history and modern charm' as a top destination for 2026 Tirana, the capital of Albania in the Balkans, made the airline's list too Italian city Pescara was also recommended by Ryanair for its dreamy coastlines and historic cities to explore Ryanair also recommends Pescara, Italy, describing it as 'one of Europes most captivating destinations' - and it's not surprising. Located on the Adriatic Sea, the Italian city boasts dreamy coastlines and historic cities to explore. Another capital city, Rabat, Morocco, is name-checked by Ryanair. The airline says it's 'an unmissable destination for affordable travel and authentic experiences in 2026. Rabat was listed as one of the top 10 trending destinations in Skyscanner's 2026 Travel Trends Report and has seen an 87 per cent surge in searches. Gdansk made Ryanair's list too and is described as 'the jewel of Polands Baltic coast'. It has a picturesque Old Town and rich maritime history for visitors to delve into during their stay. Miley Adison, who works as cabin crew for Wizz Air, previously revealed her top festive destinations and Gdansk made the cut as a real hidden gem. Join the debate Which European destination is at the top of your travel list for 2026? Another capital city, Rabat, Morocco, has been labelled 'an unmissable destination for affordable travel and authentic experiences in 2026' by Ryanair Gdansk made Ryanair's list too and is described as 'the jewel of Polands Baltic coast' Another impressive destination that has recently been recommended for holidaymakers looking to get away this year is Guimaraes. Located in northern Portugal, the city boasts characterful cobbled streets and a lively culture. It recently made the BBC's '20 best places to travel in 2026' list, alongside destinations including Abu Dhabi and Montenegro. The city is widely considered as the 'birthplace of Portugal' and was the country's first capital. The broadcaster praised Guimaraes for its 'beautifully preserved medieval core' and range of restaurants and bars. British Airways is set to cut back offers of hot breakfast in business class on some of its shortest flights - claiming the aim is to offer 'better service'. The airline will alter its breakfast offering onboard certain flights starting from January 7, 2026. The changes will affect passengers travelling in the carrier's Club Europe business class. Until now, BA has offered two or three hot options, such as a full British breakfast. But this will soon no longer be the case, with the new policy offering just one breakfast option: a fruit plate, yoghurt and pastry. The aim is to give cabin crew 'more time in the cabin with customers' to offer a 'better service', and to make it easier to deliver meals to passengers, Live and Let's Fly reported. This will apply on flights to and from airports including Amsterdam, Belfast, Brussels, Dublin, Jersey, Manchester, Newcastle, and Paris. These are some of the airline's shortest and highest-frequency European services, with several having flight times of just an hour - and spending as little as 35 minutes in the air. British Airways is set to axe its offers of hot breakfast in Club Europe All other routes will continue to receive a full hot breakfast. A statement from British Airways said: 'Following successful trials in September, were updating the meal options on our shortest flights. 'Due to the limited time available on these journeys, serving and enjoying a hot breakfast has become challenging. 'To ensure a more comfortable experience, well now offer a continental breakfast on these routes. 'Hot breakfast will continue to be available on the vast majority of our short-haul flights, as our crew has sufficient time to prepare and customers can enjoy their meal comfortably.' These changes only affect eight of the airline's express flights. The Full English breakfast will remain unchanged on the majority of other short-haul destinations. The continental breakfast has been trialled on a small number of BA's shortest flights (around 60 minutes in the air) and received positive feedback from crew and customers, the airline explained. BA added that customer and crew feedback suggested cabin crew are unable to deliver the best possible service in this time when factoring in the time it takes to heat up and serve a hot breakfast. BA said it is not a cost-cutting measure. The airline says it has made alterations in order to improve its overall service Offering a continental option allows more time to focus on consistent customer service. BA trialled the removal of hot breakfasts from some of its morning flights in Club Europe earlier this year, when it stopped serving traditional eggs, bacon and sausages on domestic routes. It comes after BA fared well in a recent ranking of the best and worst plane food on various airlines. According to a survey by YouGov: Self-serve, BA was the fourth best airline for food, and the top UK-based airline on the list. Bulgaria has launched its first-ever digital nomad visa, creating a formal route for remote professionals to live and work in the country. The Balkan nation officially began accepting applications on 30 December, 2025. The new permit is open to foreign nationals from outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who work remotely for employers or run businesses abroad. There are a number of eligibility requirements for those looking to apply, with applicants first required to obtain a multi-entry visa before requesting residence in Bulgaria - a process that can take between four and eight weeks. After arriving in the country, applicants must resubmit their documents to the Bulgarian government, a step that takes two to four weeks for processing before the final identification card application, which takes up to 30 calendar days to process. Applicants must also prove they receive an average annual income of at least 31,000 (around 27,000) - 50 times the minimum monthly salary of 620 (540) as of January 2025. Resident permits are valid for one year and are renewable once for another year, indicating this particular visa is not a direct route to settlement in Bulgaria unless holders shift to alternative residency status. According to legislation, there are three categories of eligibility for a digital nomad visa. Bulgaria has launched its first-ever digital nomad visa for remote workers from outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland (Pictured: Sofia, Bulgaria) There are a number of requirements, such as applicants being able to prove they receive an average annual income of at least 31,000 (around 27,000) The first covers non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens working remotely for companies outside these regions and earn the minimum required salary, according to Travel + Leisure Asia. The second category covers foreign individuals who hold management positions or have significant ownership (over 25 per cent) in companies based outside the specified regions, but only if their company doesn't serve clients inside Bulgaria. The third category is for self-employed digital nomads who have worked remotely for over a year using technology for clients outside Bulgaria, have earned income from abroad, and are not engaged in freelance work or employment for Bulgarian companies. Remote professionals must be able to show employment contracts to their employer, and those providing remote services must provide service and recommendation contracts from clients. Through the permit, holders are also able to sponsor dependents through a family reunification process, as reported by Savory & Partners. Meanwhile, New Zealand has drastically relaxed its visa requirements in a bid to lure digital nomads to the country as it attempts to revitalise its tourism sector. Under the new rules, visitors can carry out remote work for up to 90 days without breaching visa conditions. However, those staying longer could face potential tax implications. After arriving in Bulgaria, applicants must resubmit their documents to the government, a process that can take between two to four weeks The policy is designed to attract 'digital nomads' - individuals who combine work and travel, according to Immigration Minister Erica Stanford. 'The change will enable many visitors to extend their stays, which will lead to more money being spent in the country,' Stanford said, highlighting the economic benefits of the move. The relaxed rules apply to all visitor visas, including those for tourists and individuals visiting family, partners, or guardians on longer-term visas. However, only remote work for overseas employers is permitted. Red Eye viewers all had the same complaint as the highly-anticipated ITV thriller returned for series two on New Year's Day. The series, which first hit screens in 2024, starred Richard Armitage as a doctor accused of a horrifying crime overseas, and Jing Lusi as the police officer tasked with returning him to the UK. The tense six-part series, which took place almost entirely on a plane, saw the duo uncovering a quickly escalating conspiracy and growing number of murders. Last month ITV confirmed it was back for more, this time taking a new direction as DS Hana Li this time investigates a new case. Line Of Duty star Martin Compston, 41, stars as the Head of Embassy Security, Clay Brody, a former colleague of DS Hana's who once 'screwed her over'. However some watching on Thursday night claimed there was a glaring error just minutes into the first episode. Red Eye viewers all had the same complaint as the highly-anticipated ITV thriller returned for series two on New Year's Day Last month ITV confirmed it was back for more, this time taking a new direction as DS Hana Li this time investigates a new case Initial scenes saw a diplomatic courier murdered at Heathrow Airport and important documents be stolen, while a Russian threat is received on board a UK Government jet. DS Hana's investigation takes her to London's US Embassy where the new American Ambassador is throwing a party. After realising that the killer has got into the building, Hana and Brody set out to track them down. However eagle-eyed viewers spotted Ryanair branding at Heathrow Airport during the airport scenes even though the budget airline don't operate there. One penned on X: 'Hmm, Ryanair at Heathrow?' Another viewer replied: 'Glad I'm not the only one who spotted that.' A different fan added: 'Did anyone else just spot Ryanair on #RedEye at Heathrow? That's not accurate - they don't operate there!' Red Eye series one reached an impressive 29 million streams on ITVX after eight million fans tuned in to watch its debut, and was one of the broadcaster's top dramas of 2024. The series two synopsis teases: 'Inside the US Embassy, the celebrations for a newly-appointed US Ambassador to London are shattered when a call, threatening to blow a British plane out of the sky if anyone leaves, triggers an immediate embassy lockdown, trapping guests and staff inside. Initial scenes saw a diplomatic courier murdered at Heathrow Airport and important documents be stolen, while a Russian threat is received on board a UK Government jet 'That's when the murders begin, landing Hana Li, as a British cop, in a political and jurisdictional nightmare. 'Compelled to join forces with the Head of Embassy Security, Clay Brody, played by Martin Compston, a former colleague who once screwed her over, Hana has to see her way past her distrust of him and focus on the investigation. 'Because this time it's personal. 'The plane that will be blown up is a government jet and Director General Madeline Delaney is onboard. 'With a killer wreaking havoc inside the Embassy and evading them at every turn, Hana and Brody must discover who is behind the treacherous plot before time runs out for the hostages within the Embassy and the passengers on board Delaney's plane.' Martin and Jing, 40, are joined by Lesley Sharp, back in her role as Head of MI5 Madeline Delaney, and Jemma Moore as journalist Jess Li. The new series will feature six new episodes, written by Flightplan's Peter A Dowling and directed by Fortitude's Kieron Hawkes and The Suspect's Strm Henriksen. Last year, ITV confirmed that Red Eye would be making a return, this time without leading star Richard, 54, to follow a new plot line. However eagle-eyed viewers spotted Ryanair branding at Heathrow Airport during the airport scenes even though the budget airline don't operate there One penned: 'Hmm, Ryanair at Heathrow?' Another viewer replied: 'Glad I'm not the only one who spotted that' The plot of the first season followed Dr Matthew Nolan (Richard) - a British surgeon who's arrested at Heathrow Airport after returning from a medical conference in China, where he almost died in a car crash in Beijing before boarding his flight. Soon, it becomes apparent that the people on board are not as they seem and the duo starts to work together to solve the mystery. But eagle-eyed viewers were quick to point out inconsistencies in the show and even called it 'ridiculous'. Some noted that while the airport chase scene in the first episode is meant to take place in London Heathrow, it was actually filmed in Stansted instead. While the six-part drama was dubbed as one of the channel's top ten dramas with nearly 30 million streams, its score on Rotten Tomatoes is a mere 45 per cent. Viewers dubbed the show 'utter nonsense, totally predictable, and yet weirdly watchable.' On Rotten Tomatoes, reviews read: 'Utter nonsense, totally predictable, and yet weirdly watchable. The script is pure drivel, the premise is awful, the execution is bumbling at best...' Others took issue with the legal storylines in the show, pointing out 'loopholes': 'Enjoying #RedEye, but completely unreal. Extradition - in every case - requires a judge (at least) to pass it, there is an appeals process - and it can take a long, long time'. A third inconsistency seemed to be how long the characters actually spent on the plane, because the majority of the six-episode show takes place in the air. Line Of Duty star Martin Compston, 41, stars as the Head of Embassy Security, Clay Brody, a former colleague of DS Hana's who once 'screwed her over' Jemma Moore (left) has returned to her role as journalist Jess Li Others spotted that a 'red-eye' flight is supposed to be a short-haul flight that takes off in the evening and arrives in the morning, leaving passengers tired and red-eyed from a lack of sleep. Nonetheless, ITV's Head of Drama, Polly Hill said: 'I am so delighted to see the success of Red Eye. It's incredible to get an audience of over 8 million and a huge thank you to everyone involved for making such a brilliant and addictive thriller. 'I can't wait for audiences to see where Pete takes series 2. It's another exciting ride!' Red Eye's is available to stream on ITVX now. A beloved member of This Morning bid an emotional farewell to the team after being made redundant in unexpected circumstances. In a new schedule shake-up for 2026, Abi Ann Davis - who has been working for the Art Department for well over two years - announced her shock exit on Instagram. She joined the daytime show back in 2023 and has been a key member of the team ever since. An emotional Abi took to the social media platform to share the news, posting snaps with hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd, as well as Brummie babe Alison Hammond. Rounding up her 2.5 years at ITV, she began: 'While being made redundant was not the ending to my 2025 that I expected at the start of this year, I can honestly say I have LOVED my time working within the Art Department for the past 2.5 years - its truly been jaw dropping, hilarious and full to the brim of pinch me moments.' She continued: 'From early mornings and big builds to live TV chaos and those brilliant, blink-and-you-miss-them on-set moments - being part of this show was something really special, and Im so proud of what we all created.' A beloved member of This Morning bid an emotional farewell to the team after being made redundant in unexpected circumstances An emotional Abi took to the social media platform to share the news, posting snaps with hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd, as well as Brummie babe Alison Hammond Abi shared how the 'true heroes' are those behind the cameras. She added: 'The true heroes are the people behind the camera, who make this show what it is, they are completely irreplaceable and truly the heart of the show - endlessly talented, supportive, and always pulling together to make the magic happen. 'I feel incredibly lucky to have worked alongside such an amazing team of on-screen and off screen talent and have the privilege to call many of them friends.' Concluding her paragraph, Abi said: 'Its never Goodbye - its always "See ya later Bab".' She was met with comments by friends and colleagues who wished her the best in her next chapter. It comes amid ITV bosses making decisions to slash shows going into the New Year. Lorraine Kelly previously shared how she hopes her audiences will 'stay with her' after ITV's decision to brutally slash and overhaul her show. She faced the brunt of the broadcaster's huge cost cutting measures, with GMB now taking her 9-10am slot for 22 weeks of the year. She joined the daytime show back in 2023 and has been a key member of the team ever since Concluding her paragraph, Abi said: 'Its never Goodbye - its always "See ya later Bab". She was met with comments by friends and colleagues who wished her the best in her next chapter For the remaining 30 weeks of the year, she will present five days a week, meaning her Friday stand-in presenters Ranvir Singh and Christine Lampard are no longer needed for the show. Lorraine, who previously branded the changes as 'heartbreaking' but still refused to quit, said she 'never takes her viewers for granted' and hope they will weather the storm with her. 'Hopefully the audience will still stay with us, because that's the most important thing to me, is you know, that the audience are still enjoying what I do and the fact that people are so kind and they still watch after all these years,'. She went on to reveal how her decades on TV has resulted in fans considering her a friend: 'It's something that I never, ever take for granted and I never take any, any of this for granted. I really don't, because it's, it's an honour'. Lorraine Kelly, 65, has said she hopes audiences will 'stay with her' after ITV's decision to brutally slash and overhaul her show Before going on to tell The Standard: 'The show continues and obviously it's only going to be the half hour but you know what, we're still here. We're still here.' Loose Women was also be axed for half the year, as ITV Daytime bosses announced huge cuts earlier this year with job losses in excess of 220. ITV sources told Daily Mail that they have decided to cut resources on their daytime schedule so that the network can invest in more drama programmes. One said: There is a need to cost save but also so that the right money can go to the right shows and with everything getting more expensive these things have to be looked at. The source added: 'Christine and Ranvir remain part of the ITV daytime family.' This Morning, whose presenters include Alison Hammond, Ben Shepherd, and Cat Deeley, remains untouched. The Weakest Link fans were left distracted by Charlotte Crosby's 'shouting' during a celebrity special episode which aired on New Year's Eve. On Wednesday evening, the 35-year-old former Geordie Shore star put her knowledge to the test, with host Romesh Ranganathan, 47, returning. But viewers watching from home couldn't help point out that she was speaking rather loudly throughout the episode - which was putting them off. Romesh joked to her: 'You know your mic is on, don't you?' 'How far away do you think I am?' In response, a giddy Charlotte said she became 'excited like a seagull' which left the comedian confused. On Wednesday evening, 35-year-old former Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby put her knowledge to the test, with host Romesh Ranganathan, 47, returning The Weakest Link fans were left distracted by Charlotte's 'shouting' during a celebrity special episode which aired on New Year's Eve He asked: 'Like a seagull?' as she clarified: 'They do it when they want a chip.' Taking to X, fans shared their thoughts on the special, with many agreeing on the same thing. One commented: 'Just started watching The Weakest Link and can the shouty person stop shouting?!' Another penned: 'Seriously is Charlotte Crosby high or drunk? Slurring Les Miserables and shouting out constantly #theweakestlink #bbc.' A third added: 'Not even finished the first round of Celebrity #WeakestLink and I swear Im gonna turn it off if they dont vote Charlotte Crosby off first. SO annoying. STOP SHOUTING???' In a recent episode of the series, Helen Flanagan was left red faced as she failed to identify a huge TV star in one of the rounds. The actress, 35, left her fellow contestants baffled as Romesh asked her to identify which month matched the surname of a legendary Top Gear presenter. Helen was shown an image of James May, whose surname is of course the correct answer, but she took her time to figure out who the huge star was, leaving everyone baffled. Taking to X, fans shared their thoughts on the special, with many agreeing on the same thing Helen Flanagan was left red faced as she failed to identify a huge TV star in an excruciating The Weakest Link round Romesh asked Helen: 'Look at your screen, this TV presenter shares his surname with which month of the year?' The Coronation Street star took a long pause as she thought about her answer as her fellow guests looked around in confusion. South London rapper Konan, from duo Krept & Konan, looked stunned as Helen continued to think about her answer. After a pause of over 20 seconds, the star finally landed at the answer, May. Romesh confirmed she was correct, prompting Helen to squeal in excitement and say, 'Yes!' The awkward moment left Konan in stitches and Helen was left in shock as she eventually received the most votes following the blunder. Helen said: 'Wow that is so bad, I am so shocked. I got the main question right.' Comedian Tim Vine, who voted for her, said: 'The thing that made me do it was just before a correct answer when you waited for, I think, six minutes. It was quite a long time.' The actress responded: 'But did I get that answer right?' 'Yes, but the clock was going down,' Tim said. Romesh added: 'If it makes you feel any better she seems pretty chilled about it.' The Weakest Link is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. Chevy Chase's third wife Jayni has defended her husband's explosive behaviour throughout his career and given a new insight into the star's alcohol and cocaine addiction. The actor, 82, who is perhaps best known for his inimitable role as Clark Griswold in the National Lampoon films, rose to fame on Saturday Night Live back in the 1970s, but he became a Hollywood outcast by the mid-eighties. Now, a new documentary, I'm Chevy Chase And You're Not, attempts to fix his clouded image by providing a new insight into the struggles that prompted his explosive behaviour and clashes with his colleagues on-set. Defending her husband in the documentary, Jayni, who married Chevy in 1982, said: 'If Chevy says something and you're offended, it's a little more on you than him.' Opening up further about her husband's controversial behaviour, Jayni described him as a risk-taker and said: 'You can't get where he got without being a risk-taker, so dial it back and get a sense of humour. 'He's not an a**hole and neither are you.' Chevy Chase's third wife Jayni Chase has defended her husband's explosive behaviour throughout his career and given a new insight into the star's alcohol and cocaine addiction The actor, 82, who is perhaps best known for his inimitable role as Clark Griswold in the National Lampoon films, rose to fame on Saturday Night Live back in the 1970s, but he became a Hollywood outcast by the mid-eighties Jayni explained that his issues go back to a difficult childhood that left him traumatised. She said: 'The first time we stayed together, the first time I went to wake him up, he shuddered. 'He explained, "Well, my mother would wake me up slapping me." From the time he was a little guy: Wham!" Chevy, who also appears in the documentary, admitted to PEOPLE: 'Not a lot of people knew about [the abuse]. Some did, and some came close. But it was my true life.' Jayni said that while she initially didn't realise how much Chevy was struggling with addiction to cocaine and alcohol, she stressed that he isn't the same man he was 30 years ago. 'I realised he was getting a six-pack of organic red wine, and after about four days, it was gone. 'I pointed it out to Chevy, probably five different times, and he would roll it back. And then he didn't like me pointing it out to him because the beast of addiction starts taking over." She added: 'People grow. No one is the same person they were 30 years ago.' Defending her husband in the documentary, Jayni, who married Chevy in 1982, said: 'If Chevy says something and you're offended, it's a little more on you than him' Jayni explained that his issues go back to a difficult childhood that left him traumatised after he was abused by both his mother and father But even during his early success, colleagues say Chase - pictured in National Lampoon's European Vacation - was rubbing people the wrong way and a whispering campaign began against him Chevy's wife was not the only person to defend the star in the documentary, so too did Goldie Hawn, who co-starred with Chase in the 1978 comedy Foul Play. She said Chevy has a 'deep heart' and showed her kindness when she was raising her two children alone. The actress stressed: 'He cared. And that's the other part of the wild man, the man who fell over everything, the man who had faux pas. The really funny, wacky, crazy guy also has a deep heart." Born Cornelius Crane Chase in New York to a concert pianist mother and a magazine editor father, Chase rose to fame as part of the original cast of Saturday Night Live when the show launched in 1975. He became the first anchor of Weekend Update and won two Emmys in 1976 for writing and performing. But even during his early success, colleagues say Chase was rubbing people the wrong way and a whispering campaign began against him. In the documentary, the actor reflect on his personal life and momentarily forgets the name of his first wife Susan. 'How could I forget?' Chase says, then with typical bluntness, he added: 'Because I want to' In a rare show of emotion, Chase - pictured here in Advanced Dungeons and Dragons - admits that it 'hurt' to be excluded from SNL's 50th anniversary special this year SNL cast members joke that they had so little faith that Chase's second marriage to wife Jacqueline would last, that they even wrote down dates for when the divorce would happen: it turned out to be nine months later. In the documentary, the actor reflect on his personal life and momentarily forgets the name of his first wife Susan. 'How could I forget?' Chase says, then with typical bluntness, he added: 'Because I want to'. Despite having been the breakout cast member in SNL's first season in 1975, Chase was not invited to perform in the 50th anniversary special earlier this year, though he was in the audience. In a rare show of emotion, Chase admits that it 'hurt' to be excluded and that somebody made a 'big mistake' by not letting him on stage. One of his most troubling episodes occurred when he returned to host the show in 1985, and clashed with Terry Sweeney, the first openly gay cast member on the show. The abuse culminated in Chase suggesting a sketch about Sweeney having AIDS and being weighed, during the height of the AIDS crisis. Asked about the incident in the film, Chase initially laughs and says: 'That's the worst.' Elsewhere in the documentary, Chase and his family try to explain away his penchant for rudeness as a 'coping mechanism' for the 'abuse' he suffered at the hands of his mother and father. As well as detailing abuse from his mother, in the documentary Chevy described how his stepfather John Cederquist used to force him to go into the basement as punishment and beat him while he had breakfast. I'm Chevy Chase And You're Not is available to stream on CNN. Denise Richards' estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, his elderly parents and his brother may start the new year on the streets after a judge ruled they must evict the Los Angeles mansion the former couple once shared. A Los Angeles Court ruled last week that landlord John Karan was granted possession of the $3.3 million six-bedroom, five-bathroom, 6,985 sq ft mansion in Calabasas, California, due to non-payment. He may also be owed $84,000 in back rent pending an additional ruling. The Daily Mail has now exclusively learned that in a last-ditch effort to raise money, the Phypers' mother, Patricia Phypers, has launched a GoFund Me, titled, 'Please Help My Son Aaron A Grandmother's Cry for Justice.' The fundraiser, which was launched on December 4, has a goal of $110,000 but has only raised $1,308 to date from seven donors as of Wednesday afternoon. In the description, Patricia pleas: 'I am a mother and a grandmother begging the public for help,' before alleging, 'My son, Aaron Phypers, has been destroyed by false allegations, Hollywood power, and a system determined to silence him.' The post goes on to claim that she and her immediate family allegedly looked after Richards' multiple animals, including several dogs and cats. Denise Richards' estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, is broke and at risk of living on the streets after a judge ruled to evict him and his family, a source exclusively told Daily Mail Phypers' mother, Patricia Phypers, has launched a GoFundMe to try and help her son, calling it a 'cry for justice' 'Now my son the man who carried this entire household has been cut off, slandered, starved, wrongfully arrested, and left with nothing,' Patricia alleges. 'No income. No home. No ability to fight back,' she wrote before detailing just how dire their circumstances are, adding, 'Our utilities are being shut off. My pension is gone. We are out of options.' Aaron - who filed for divorce from Richards in July 2025 after six years of marriage - has been living at the LA mansion with his folks in recent years. In September, they gave a televised tour of the filthy property, for which they blamed Richards. Richards, however, claimed she had not lived in the home for two years and that same month moved out all of her personal belongings and 15 dogs. Since they were allegedly left behind with the financial burden of the estate, the Phypers are now desperate. A source close to the family exclusively told the Daily Mail Wednesday, 'Aaron Phypers' 83-year-old parents will be put on the streets.' '[Aaron] is broke. He has no money. He hasn't had a dime,' the insider added, sharing that the former holistic healer has not been able to get a new job because he allegedly does not have access to the proper documentation he needs. Aaron and his parents lived in the mansion but were evicted due to non-payment. The Phypers gave a tour of the filthy home last fall, claiming Richards was to blame for the mess A source claimed to the Daily Mail that Patricia, seen here, and Steven spent their 'lives savings' taking care of Richards' dogs and so they feel they are owed money for their time Aaron's brother, Brett Phypers, also lived in the mansion Aaron closed his wellness business Quantum 360 Club a year ago and has allegedly not been able to find employment since. The source also claimed that because the Phypers are Canadian citizens, they do not receive any government aid during this difficult time. 'The motorcycle that he has, he can't even sell it because [Richards] has the title on it,' the insider further claimed. 'He has no transportation. The truck - they're trying to repossess it. He has nothing left - he has nothing!' It's unclear why Aaron's brother, Brett, has not found employment. As a result of Aaron's severe money woes, we're told he is hoping to recoup any funds he and his parents feel they are owed at an upcoming court hearing January 7. Aaron has previously claimed that he owns and has copyrights to all the content of Richards' OnlyFans account, which accrues about $250,000 month. Richards has not publicly responded to that particular claim but reportedly asked a judge to grant her spousal support instead last September. The Phypers allegedly also plan to argue to the judge that they are owed thousands of dollars because they 'spent their lives' savings' taking care of Richards' dogs. Aaron, seen here with Richards and her adoptive daughter Eloise, allegedly can't find work because he does not have access to the proper documentation he needs, per a source Aaron and Richards were married for six years but he filed for divorce in July, citing irreconcilable differences The source claimed that despite the financial issues, the 'most painful part' has been that the Phypers have allegedly not been granted access to Eloise. Richards, 54, has two biological daughters with ex-husband Charlie Sheen, Sami, 20, and Lola, 19, and adopted 14-year-old Eloise, who has special needs. Aaron, 53, previously claimed to People magazine that throughout his marriage to Richards, he believed he had adopted Eloise as he had allegedly signed paperwork, but claimed Richards never filed it. Richards did not respond to that claim at the time. Amid her separation, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum had been granted a five-year restraining order against Aaron after he was charged with two felony counts for injuring a spouse. Aaron has always adamantly denied any domestic violence claims. His criminal case is ongoing. The Daily Mail's source claimed the Phypers moved into Aaron and Richards' LA mansion because they allegedly saw it 'as chance to bond with their new special needs granddaughter Eloise and be a loving grand parents to Denise's other two beautiful girls.' Aaron faces an uphill battle, however, in getting the court to grant him the money he is seeking from his estranged wife, as he has already been denied past requests for emergency hearings to discuss the money matters. We're also told Aaron does not have legal representation anymore, as he can't afford a lawyer due to his financial strain. Richards is reportedly furious over her ex's demands and previously filed a request with the judge to not have her give Aaron any money. Her representative did not immediately return the Daily Mail's request for comment. Many fans furiously defended a 2000s TV icon after he was trolled for his 'below average' looks at age 48. Actor Tom Welling was the subject of online debate after a post about his appearance went viral on X, formerly Twitter, in late December. In the post, an anonymous 4Chan user shared a photo of the TV star in his early 20s versus him now in his 40s as they discussed how his appearance has changed. Many of Welling's fans claimed that it was unfair to use unflattering photos in the comparison and slammed the troll for calling him 'below average.' Social media users criticized the comparison between a professional photo from his Smallville days and a low-quality snapshot in poor lighting. This comes nearly a year after the actor made headlines for his DUI arrest as fans condemned the usage of what some believed was his mugshot to comment on his looks. Many fans furiously defended a 2000s TV icon after he was trolled for his 'below average' looks at age 48; pictured in December 2024 Welling first rose to fame after starring as Clark Kent in the superhero drama series Smallville from 2001 to 2011; pictured in May 2001 Welling first rose to fame after starring as Clark Kent in the superhero drama series Smallville from 2001 to 2011. Another one of his most well-known roles is as Lieutenant Marcus Pierce/Cain in season three of Fox's Lucifer. One social media user defended Welling and tweeted that the actor is 'still a gorgeous man' in a response to the post. Another person tweeted confused question marks alongside one of Welling's recent selfies. 'The guy still looks amazing lmao,' the X user wrote. One fan added that Welling 'still looks good for his age' and added, 'Idk why they expected him to look 23 forever.' 'What are you talking about?! He can still get it,' another person tweeted in response to the original post. The post has gone viral with 6.4 million views at the time of reporting and received 490 replies many of which were fans defending the star and criticizing those who claimed he 'became below average' after aging naturally and now looking different after two decades has passed. 'He's literally so sexy,' another fan tweeted. 'Leave him alone fr.' Actor Tom Welling was the subject of online debate after a post about his appearance went viral on X, formerly Twitter, in late December. In the post, an anonymous 4Chan user shared a photo of the TV star in his early 20s versus him now in his 40s as they discussed how his appearance has changed Another one of his most well-known roles is as Lieutenant Marcus Pierce/Cain in season three of Fox's Lucifer; pictured in October 2017 The post has gone viral with 6.4 million views at the time of reporting and received 490 replies many of which were fans defending the star and calling him 'still gorgeous'; pictured with his wife Jessica Rose Lee in November 2019 Welling is known for his portrayal of Superman a.k.a. Clark Kent on Smallville He starred on the CW television series for 10 seasons from 2001 until 2011 alongside costars John Schneider and Annette O'Toole; pictured in 2001 portrait One X user tweeted in disbelief at the previous claims and incredulously questioned the post, writing: 'Brother lol that's a below average man?' 'That's just a bad photo of him from 2022,' one fan tweeted in strong defense of Welling. 'He probably just put on weight and let himself go a bit through the pandemic, a lot of us did,' the X user tweeted before sharing more recent photos of Welling in better lighting and camera angles. 'Bruh he is a handsome dude, what y'all on about,' another person added in agreement. One fan called the post 'nonsense' and said they shared a 'bad photo' of the 'still handsome' actor. 'Below average' and it's the hottest picture of a man you've ever seen,' an X user chimed in. 'He looks great for his age,' one person tweeted. 'This is how most 47 year old white guys age without surgical enhancements.' 'Y'all are weird. Choosing a bad photo of a man nearly 50 to 'prove he aged poorly' is weird,' another person tweeted as they criticized the trolls. 'Tom Welling is still very fine.' Join the debate Why are we so quick to judge celebrities' aging, and does it reflect on how we see ourselves? One social media user defended Welling and tweeted that the actor is 'still a gorgeous man' in a response to the post Another person tweeted confused question marks alongside one of Welling's recent selfies. 'The guy still looks amazing lmao,' the X user wrote One fan added that Welling 'still looks good for his age' and added, 'Idk why they expected him to look 23 forever' 'What are you talking about?! He can still get it,' another person tweeted in response to the original post 'He's literally so sexy,' another fan tweeted. 'Leave him alone fr' One X user tweeted in disbelief at the previous claims and incredulously questioned the post, writing: 'Brother lol that's a below average man?' 'That's just a bad photo of him from 2022,' one fan tweeted in strong defense of Welling. 'He probably just put on weight and let himself go a bit through the pandemic, a lot of us did,' the X user tweeted before sharing more recent photos of Welling in better lighting and camera angles 'Bruh he is a handsome dude, what y'all on about,' another person added in agreement One fan called the post 'nonsense' and said they shared a 'bad photo' of the 'still handsome' actor 'Below average' and it's the hottest picture of a man you've ever seen,' an X user chimed in 'He looks great for his age,' one person tweeted. 'This is how most 47 year old white guys age without surgical enhancements' 'Y'all are weird. Choosing a bad photo of a man nearly 50 to 'prove he aged poorly' is weird,' another person tweeted as they criticized the trolls. 'Tom Welling is still very fine' This comes just under a year after he made his first public appearance, joining a panel in front of an audience full of fans, since he was arrested in connection to driving under the influence. Back in February 2025, he attended MegaCon in Orlando to participate in a Superman panel alongside the many actors who have also portrayed the superhero over the years. In late January in 2025, Welling was arrested for a DUI in a fast food restaurant parking lot in Yreka, California shortly after midnight. The police reported that his blood alcohol level was measured at or above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, per TMZ. Welling nor his family did not immediately publicly comment on his arrest. The actor and his wife, equestrian Jessica Rose Lee, are parents to two sons: Thomson Wylde, seven, and Rocklin Von, four. Will Smith has been sued for sexual harassment and wrongful termination by violinist Brian King Joseph, who played on the movie star's Based on a True Story: 2025 tour - as the A-lister denies all allegations. Joseph, 32, rose to prominence as a top-three finalist on America's Got Talent in 2018, and was hired for Smith's concerts in 2024 after playing for him at his home, according to his court documents, which were reviewed by the Daily Mail. Joseph claimed that during a tour stop in Las Vegas last March, he came back to his hotel room at 11pm and found that it had been 'unlawfully entered' by an 'unknown person' who left a handwritten note that read: 'Brian, I'll be back no later [sic] 5:30 juts us,' with a heart and the sign-off: 'Stone F.' The plaintiff alleged the note was accompanied by 'wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another individuals name, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to a person unbeknownst to' him. According to Joseph, he was scared someone would 'return to his room to engage in sexual acts' with him, so he reported the incident to hotel security, a non-emergency police line and Smith's management team. However he alleges he was then 'shamed' by tour management, fired from the concerts and replaced, leading to 'severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages' as well as 'PTSD and other mental illness.' He added in his lawsuit that the 'facts suggest' Smith was 'deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation.' Smith's attorney Allen B. Grodsky has denied these allegations in a statement to Daily Mail that read: 'Mr. Josephs allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless. Will Smith (pictured 2022) has been sued for sexual harassment and wrongful termination by violinist Brian King Joseph, who played on the movie star's Based on a True Story: 2025 tour, as the A-lister has denied all allegations Joseph, 32, rose to prominence as a top-three finalist on America's Got Talent in 2018, and was hired for Smith's concerts in 2024; pictured in October 2025 'They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light.' Joseph said that in November 2024, he was invited to Smith's home to play for him, and that during this meeting he was enlisted to play at Smith's concert that December in San Diego, as well as on the subsequent Based on a True Story: 2025 tour. Over the course of their working relationship - which included Joseph performing on Smith's latest album Based on a True Story - the two men allegedly became close and spent 'additional alone time' with one another. Smith is said to have told Joseph at one stage: 'You and I have such a special connection, that I don't share with anyone else.' However according to Joseph's version of events, matters took a turn on March 20, when the first leg of the tour was in progress in Las Vegas. The band and crew had hotel accommodations booked for them and received their room numbers and confirmation codes on a spreadsheet, such that nobody but 'crew and hotel staff would have had access to Plaintiff's hotel room,' the suit insists. Joseph alleges that he came back to his hotel room around 11pm on March 20, 2025 and discovered it had been 'unlawfully entered' by an 'unknown person' - though hotel security did not detect any signs of 'forced entry.' When Joseph entered the room, he says, he was confronted with the sight of a note that read: 'Brian, I'll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F.' According to the lawsuit: 'Among the remaining belongings were wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another individuals name, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to a person unbeknownst to Plaintiff.' Smith is pictured this past July playing a date of his Based on a True Story: 2025 tour at the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany Joseph, pictured October 2025 at the Media Access Awards, said his firing from Smith's tour led to 'severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages' Joseph's court documents say he at that point 'feared that an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts with Plaintiff.' He instantly told hotel security and Smith's representatives and took photos of what he had seen, as well as requesting a room change and reporting the alleged incident to a non-emergency police line, he claimed. Joseph added further that he 'made clear that his only concern was safety and that he did not wish to receive any special treatment or compensation.' Days later, according to his lawsuit, a member of tour management 'shamed' him, to the point of 'blaming Plaintiff for the incident that transpired on March 20, 2025.' Per his court documents, that same member of tour management said to Joseph that 'everyone is telling me that what happened to you is a lie, nothing happened, and you made the whole thing up. So, tell me, why did you lie and make this up?' Joseph insists he was fired in retaliation for reporting the alleged hotel incident - the culmination of an imbroglio that, according to the plaintiff, caused him 'severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages.' According to his court filing, the 'stress' of getting fired precipitated a health decline that led to 'major physiological damage,' on top of which he 'suffered from PTSD and other mental illness as a result of the termination.' Joseph filed suit against Smith this Tuesday at the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, and is demanding a jury trial. Kourtney Kardashian was active on Instagram on New Year's Day, sharing photos with her rarely seen daughter Penelope. The 46-year-old mother-of-four whose stepdaughter Alabama Barker, 20, just went on a rant spent quality time with her only daughter, 13, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. The duo visited the Gilmore Girls set, where the television drama is currently hosting a 25th anniversary display of the fictional town. Penelope is already taller than her petite, 5 feet 0 inch mother, who was wearing heeled black boots in the photos. The teen wore black flats, jeans, and a black zip-up hoodie layered over a short-sleeved black shirt. She carried a small Fendi purse, flaunted long, nude nails, and her dark hair was parted down the middle and pulled into a carefree bun. Kourtney Kardashian was active on Instagram on New Year's Day, sharing photos with her rarely seen daughter Penelope The 46-year-old mother-of-four spent quality time with her only daughter, 13, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick Joining the ladies on the excursion was a friend who wasn't tagged in the carousel post Kardashian also bragged in a Stories post, 'My daughter is a chef,' as she shared a photo of a cast iron skillet with what appeared to be dough topped with tomatoes. In addition to Penelope, the TV personality also shares sons Mason, 16, and Reign, 11, with Disick. In November 2023 she welcomed son Rocky, two, with husband Travis Barker. This past June the Poosh lifestyle brand founder got emotional as her daughter reached a milestone. She shared a photo with her hands over his eyes and wrote, 'Me crying bc my baby girl is done with 6th grade (she's taking pic of me).' Then in July, Kardashian treated Penelope to a lavish birthday celebration in Italy as she became a teenager. She took to Instagram to reflect on the special occasion. 'My daughter is 13 today,' she wrote over a photo of a floor covered in balloons. 'My heart is exploding with gratitude and love for her.' They visited the Gilmore Girls set, where the television drama is currently hosting a 25th anniversary display of the fictional town Kardashian also bragged in a Stories post, 'My daughter is a chef' Kardashian and her daughter pictured in July 2022 'I am so indescribably grateful for my sweet girl,' she gushed while sharing a photo of a balcony view. 'She inspires me every day to be a better person.' The proud mother also noted the trip was extra special for a sentimental reason. 'My parents spent their honeymoon here 47 years ago, so special to get to bring my daughter here,' she typed over another image featuring a Riviera. The previous year, in 2024, Penelope celebrated her birthday by going on a three-day getaway with her friends. Taking to Instagram afterward, her mom posted photos from the soiree and wrote in the caption, '9 girls (and a baby), 2 moms (shoutout @natalie5382), 3 days of casual, perfectly slowed down beach days to celebrate my little lady. 'Toe rings, sound baths, night swims, painting bikini boxes, frozen bananas, mamma mia and lots of frank ocean forever.' She has wrestled sheep on windswept hillsides and raised nine children in one of Britains remotest corners. And Amanda Owen has now revealed she didnt even bother calling for an ambulance when going into labour with her eighth child as she could not be arsed. Instead, the Yorkshire Shepherdess gave birth at home surrounded by cushions, a rug and a terrier. Owen, 51, said daughter Clemmy was born on the floor of her farmhouse after she failed to go to the hospital a 69-mile journey from the familys Yorkshire Dales home. Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast, she said: Right here, this is where Clemmy was born. A few cushions and a rug and a terrier over there under the settle. Best birth partner ever. I put my hand down, when I felt there was a head coming, I knew it was all systems go. Amanda Owenhas now revealed she didnt even bother calling for an ambulance when going into labour with her eighth child as she could not be arsed Owen said daughter Clemmy was born on the floor of her farmhouse after she failed to go to the hospital a 69-mile journey from the familys Yorkshire Dales home She admitted that repeated attempts to reach the hospital during earlier labours had become increasingly pointless. I was frequenting all the lay-bys of the North East, she added. The hospital would get further and further away. And rather than any grand rejection of medical intervention, the decision came down to sheer exhaustion. It is literally the fact that I could not be arsed, she revealed. I could not be bothered to set off the whole thing of ring the labour ward, ring for an ambulance, paramedics turn up. I just wanted to go back to bed. It comes after Owen told the Daily Mail last month she suffered from an eating disorder after splitting from her husband of 22 years. She and Clive Owen, 70, went their separate ways in June 2022 after becoming household names on Channel 5s Our Yorkshire Farm. But Owen has said the two remain close. They also still co-parent and work the farm together, although they no longer share the same home, with Amanda living in their nearby cottage and the children aged nine to 22 (only 24-year-old Raven having flown the nest) shuttling between them as they choose. She admitted that repeated attempts to reach the hospital during earlier labours had become increasingly pointless It comes after Owen told the Daily Mail last month she suffered from an eating disorder after splitting from Clive Owen (pictured), her husband of 22 years But if it seems they have now achieved a comfortable equanimity as a family and former couple, for Owen, the past few years have been especially tough after struggling with an eating disorder. It was part of a cataclysmic breakdown she endured after she began a short-lived new relationship with web designer Rob Davies, 72, which ended when intense media interest became overwhelming. I just shut down, she says. Physical and mental health are intertwined and anxiety, depression, paranoia, agoraphobia and an eating disorder were all smooshed into one. I remember sitting in the sheep pens in the dark, just hiding. Its the price you pay for living your life in the open, for being observed. 'Its like having a post mortem before youre dead. She's known for her incredible figure and impeccable style. And Julie Bishop, 69, put both on display as she stepped out for a phone call in Perth on Wednesday, hours before ushering in New Year's Eve with her boyfriend Stephen Gray. The former politician who was Australia's foreign minister from 2013 to 2018 was dressed to impress, showcasing her toned arms and taut midriff in a white linen button-down crop top and matching high-waisted trousers. Julie completed her look with a pair of show-stopping bejewelled wedges, a gold watch and sassy round-framed sunglasses. She also added a touch of sparkle with diamond and pearl jewellery, while wearing her cropped blonde hair in a bouffant style. Hours later, Julie took to Instagram with a cosy photo of herself celebrating New Year's Eve with Stephen. Julie Bishop, 69, showed off her toned arms and taut midriff on Wednesday, hours before ushering in New Year's Eve with her boyfriend Stephen Gray The former politician who was Australia's foreign minister from 2013 to 2018 was dressed to impress in a white linen button-down crop top and matching high-waisted trousers In the image, Julie donned a white tee with the words 'Wake me for Champagne' across the front in gold. The outfit was met with appreciation from her social media followers, who flooded the comments section with compliments. 'Great shirt!!!' posted one person, while another said, 'Best shirt ever!' One more chimed in: 'Love that T-shirt' with someone else commenting, 'The top! THE SKIRT!' Julie and Stephen appeared to have a quiet night indoors to ring in the new year together, sharing a glass of champagne. The pair, who have been dating for over two years, looked very relaxed in each other's company. Julie and Stephen have gone from strength to strength since they went public with their relationship in July, 2023. At that time, Julie 'soft-launched' Stephen on her social media accounts. Julie completed her look with a pair of showstopping bejewelled wedges, a gold watch and sassy round-framed sunglasses Hours later, Julie took to Instagram with a cosy photo of herself celebrating New Year's Eve with Stephen The news of her new romance came two years after David Panton (left) allegedly dumped Bishop over dinner in Sydney in July 2022,putting an end to their eightyear relationship Last year, they travelled to South Australia for a 'fabulous Outback adventure'. In a video shared to her Instagram page, Bishop put together a montage of images and video clips from their holiday and tagged her partner. They were also pictured having dinner with friends together in December 2023. While little is known about Gray, his Facebook profile shows him proudly standing behind a cafe racer style motorcycle, clad in a black leather jacket. The Perth man also shared photos of a yellow Ducati bike parked along the harbour. The news of her new romance came two years after David Panton allegedly dumped Bishop over dinner in Sydney in July 2022, putting an end to their eight-year relationship. During their partnership, Bishop took Panton to the United Nations to meet world leaders, Buckingham Palace to hobnob with British royalty and to the White House where he met Donald Trump. The pair first stepped out publicly in 2014, and were pictured at countless celebrity events over the years including the 2018 wedding of Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough. Bishop was understood to have been 'blindsided' by the sudden breakdown of her relationship, sources close to the former politician said. Julie recently rang in her 69th birthday in style in July, soaking up the sun and glamour of Dubai. Last year was anything but ideal thanks to her shock split from husband Keith Urban. But Nicole Kidman is determined to remain optimistic as she heads into the new year a single woman. Posting to Instagram Stories on Friday, the Australian actress shared a photo of herself cosying up to daughters Faith Margaret, 15, and Sunday Rose, 17, as they watched the New Year's Eve fireworks. She accompanied this with an uplifting message, writing: 'Looking forward into 2026 xx'. It is believed the image was taken on Sydney Harbour, as the actress has been spotted in the New South Wales capital for the past few weeks. According to People, Nicole was more than happy to be back in Australia for the holiday season. Nicole Kidman, 58, shared an optimistic message about 2026 alongside this photo of herself with daughters Faith Margaret, 15, and Sunday Rose, 17, watching the New Years Eve fireworks Nicole returned to Australia for the holiday season this year without Keith 'This is all she wanted after a tumultuous fall,' a source told the publication. 'She just wanted to celebrate Christmas at home. She's very excited,' they added. The insider also said that Nicole is feeling 'very blessed' despite the end of her 20-year marriage. 'She's been super positive and focused on things that she's grateful for,' they said. It follows reports that reality may be starting to sink in for Keith following his divorce from Nicole. The country star, who parted ways with his Hollywood star wife in September after 19 years of marriage, is allegedly 'wondering if he's made a huge mistake' following their split. After recently performing private shows for members of Donald Trump's inner circle, the 58-year-old is reportedly feeling more isolated than ever. 'He's got to pay the bills and divorce lawyers don't come cheap,' a source told Woman's Day magazine of the couple's settlement. It follows reports that reality may be starting to sink in for Keith following his divorce from Nicole Keith has forked out for the couple's daughter Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret's private school tuition and, according to the publication, needs to make a living in any way he can. 'It's a lonely existence for Keith right now he's exhausted, isolated and looking at a future he never imagined,' the source added. 'He's also lost his best friend, Nicole, who was also his greatest supporter in life. He's wondering if he's made a huge mistake.' Keith made headlines in November after he performed at an Australian billionaire's party at Mar-a-Lago. The private gig, hosted by Anthony Pratt, was attended by Donald Trump, who received $10million from the Visy executive chairman for his election campaign. Nicole and Keith's breakup shocked fans earlier this year and the Oscarwinning actress had reportedly been dreading the public's response for months prior. 'She's been stressed because she knew the separation would eventually become public and she was dreading it,' a source told People in early October. The country star, who parted ways with his Hollywood star wife in September after 19 years of marriage, is allegedly 'wondering if he's made a huge mistake' following their split 'But she's surprisingly level-headed now that it's out, she's just focused on what's ahead and her girls,' the insider said of the couple's daughters. The actress and musician's separation was confirmed by Daily Mail on September 29, and Nicole filed for divorce on September 30, citing irreconcilable differences. Their marriage began to fall apart at the beginning of summer 2025. The split was reportedly a long-term development, stemming from months of quiet separation and diverging paths due to work commitments, according to Daily Mail sources. Nicole has requested to be the primary residential parent in the custody arrangement. Tommy Lee Jones' daughter Victoria was found dead in an upscale San Francisco hotel aged 34, in the small hours of the morning on New Year's Day. The San Francisco Fire Department told the Daily Mail that they responded to a call for medical aid at 2:52am Thursday at the address of the Fairmont San Francisco. Emergency personnel performed an assessment and pronounced one person dead at the scene. The San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Medical Examiner also responded, but at present the cause of death is unknown. 'A white female around her mid-30s was found unresponsive and the hotel staff was alerted,' a source informed the Daily Mail. 'CPR was done, but she was pronounced deceased by the emergency/ambulance crew that responded to the scene.' The Daily Mail has confirmed the woman was Victoria. The news was first reported by TMZ, which said that the scene was turned over to the police department once she was pronounced dead. Jones welcomed Victoria and his son Austin, 42, with his second wife Kimberlea Cloughley, whom he was married to from 1981 to 1996. The Daily Mail has contacted Tommy Lee Jones' representatives for comment, as well as the Fairmont San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department. Tommy Lee Jones' daughter Victoria was found dead in an upscale San Francisco hotel room aged 34, in the small hours of the morning on New Year's Day; they are pictured in 2017 Jones shared Victoria as well as his son Austin, 42, with his second wife Kimberlea Cloughley, whom he was married to from 1981 to 1996; Jones, Cloughley and Victoria pictured in 2002 A spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department told the Daily Mail: 'On 1/1/26 at approximately 3:14 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to a hotel located on the 900 block of Mason street regarding a report of a deceased person.' The statement continued: 'At the scene, officers met with medics, who declared the adult female deceased. The Medical Examiner arrived on scene and conducted an investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.' Several people took to social media to express their condolences to Tommy and his family following the news of Victoria's death. Taking to X, they wrote: 'This is horrible. Prayers to the Jones' family. ' 'Every parent's nightmare. Lord, be with her family.' 'Heartbreaking. 34 is far too young. Condolences to the family.' 'Devastating news when a parent loses their child. My heart goes out to Tommy Lee Jones. Prayers for him and his family for strength and comfort.' 'This is so sad. A parent should never have to bury their children. Rest in peace.' Victoria Kafka Jones was born on September 3, 1991, and by 2002 she had made her movie debut with a small part in her father's picture Men in Black II. The San Francisco Fire Department told the Daily Mail that they responded to a call for medical aid at 2:52am Thursday at the address of the Fairmont San Francisco (pictured) Victoria (left) is pictured with Barry Sonnenfeld (center) and Stephanie Kemp (right) in her movie debut Men in Black II, starring her father with Will Smith She appeared in a handful of acting projects as a child, and is pictured with her father attending the 2003 premiere of his movie The Missing Jones is pictured with his third and current wife Dawn Laurel-Jones (right), as well as with Victoria, at the Cannes premiere of the 2014 movie The Homesman, which he directed Jones and Victoria are pictured in October 2017 at the opening of that year's Tokyo International Film Festival, where he was serving as president of the international competition Several people took to social media to express their condolences to Tommy and his family following the news of Victoria's death She appeared in a handful of acting projects as a child, including a 2005 episode of One Tree Hill and a role that same year a Western called The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which was directed by her father. Although she has not acted onscreen since she played a cheerleader on One Tree Hill, she has attended the occasional red carpet with Jones as an adult. In 2017, she posed proudly at his side at the ArcLight Hollywood for the premiere of his movie Just Getting Started, also starring Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo. That October, she made an appearance with her father at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival, where he was serving as president of the international competition jury. After directing his daughter in The Three Burials of Melquiades, Jones showered praise on Victoria in an interview promoting the film. 'Shes a good actress, has her SAG card, speaks impeccable Spanish,' he said. 'When she was a baby, I told Leticia, her nurse, to speak to her in Spanish.' He also related a charming anecdote about having to acclimatize his then 14-year-old daughter to the rigors of working on a Hollywood movie set. 'She had to get up at 5am for her part. One morning, she wouldnt get out of bed. I said: "Honey, this is work." But she wouldnt budge,' he told the New Yorker. 'So I fired her. Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time,' he recalled. Kim Kardashian dressed up in a head-to-toe leather look paired with a dramatic fur coat while shopping in Aspen on Thursday. The 45-year-old reality TV personality turned heads as she stepped out in a sexy, suede corset paired with deep purple, leather bellbottoms for her outing. For her winter season excursion in the celebrity-frequented Colorado ski town, she bundled up in a long fur coat with a leopard-pattern lining and a oversize fur scarf to match. The Kardashians star was spotted strutting out of a luxury designer store wearing chocolate brown, crocodile-embossed leather booties beside her bodyguards carrying her shopping bags. Her shopping trip in Aspen comes after she recently reunited with her ex-husband Kanye West so their children could spend time with him for the holidays. Shortly after their tense reunion, an insider close to the star told Daily Mail about how the past year might have been her 'worst one yet.' Kim Kardashian dressed up in a head-to-toe leather look paired with a dramatic fur coat while shopping in Aspen on Thursday The SKIMS founder left her long, raven black hair down in a sleek and straight hairstyle, and she was spotted adjusting her scarf around her hair at one point. She showcased her radiant beauty with a sultry, glam makeup look paired with a bronze smoky eye, peachy pink blush and a plump mauve pink pout. She was seen browsing the Prada store in Aspen before walking out with a large bag full of newly obtained goodies. Her solo shopping trip comes after she put on a rare show of unity with her ex-husband to spend time with their four children together for the holidays. The exes reportedly put aside their long-running differences to celebrate the holidays as a family, with sources describing the atmosphere as cordial and focused on their children, North, 12, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, five. Sources with direct knowledge told the outlet that the former couple were respectful toward one another and are actively working on improving their co-parenting relationship, marking a notable shift after years of estrangement and public conflict. The reconciliation comes after what TMZ described as a sustained effort by West to reflect on his past behavior. Insiders said the rapper has been 'working on himself' and has spent considerable time reassessing his actions earlier this year, including his widely condemned antisemitic remarks and praise of Adolf Hitler. TMZ also reported that West has become more supportive of daughter North's growing social media presence. The 45-year-old reality TV personality turned heads as she stepped out in a sexy, suede corset paired with deep purple, leather bellbottoms for her outing For her winter season excursion in the celebrity-frequented Colorado ski town, she bundled up in a long fur coat with a leopard-pattern lining and a oversize fur scarf to match. The Kardashians star was spotted strutting out of a luxury designer store wearing chocolate brown, crocodile-embossed leather booties beside her bodyguards carrying her shopping bags The SKIMS founder left her long, raven black hair down in a sleek and straight hairstyle, and she was spotted adjusting her scarf around her hair at one point Her dramatic and glamorous shopping trip comes shortly after she celebrated the holidays with her children and reunited with her ex-husband late last month She was seen making a stylish arrival at the Prada store in Aspen, with her extravagant coat on full display Kim looked chic in a pair of brown woven flared trousers and a fitted corset The holiday reunion stands in sharp contrast to Kardashian's recent public admissions about the strain of co-parenting with West. In November, Kardashian spoke candidly about their challenges on an episode of The Kardashians, admitting the relationship sometimes pushes her to the brink. Kardashian emphasized that her priority remains providing stability for their children, saying her 'only focus and job' is to stay 'strong' as the more consistent and present parent. The billionaire mogul previously broke down in tears while discussing co-parenting during a 2022 appearance on the Angie Martinez IRL podcast, explaining that she has tried to shield her children from 'all of the crazy s***' surrounding West's public outbursts. Her solo shopping trip comes after she put on a rare show of unity with her ex-husband Kanye West to spend time with their four children together for the holidays; pictured in February 2020 The exes reportedly put aside their long-running differences to celebrate the holidays as a family, with sources describing the atmosphere as cordial and focused on their children, North, 12, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, five 'I had the best dad,' Kardashian said emotionally, referencing her late father Robert Kardashian. 'S*** like co-parenting it's really f***ing hard.' Kardashian and West married in Italy in 2014, less than a year after welcoming their eldest child, North. Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021, and the split was finalized the following year. West has since married Australian model and architect Bianca Censori. After Kardashian and West's reunion for the winter holidays, the controversial rapper heaped on the praise for his current wife. He took to social media to share a post about her recent art installation in Seoul and said the eyebrow-raising performance made him 'so proud.' The daughter of Hollywood icon Tommy Lee Jones was found dead by a guest at an upscale San Francisco hotel early on New Year's Day. Victoria Jones, 34, was lying on the ground of the 14th floor of the Fairmont hotel in San Francisco when a guest who thought she might be drunk alerted hotel staff, a source told the Daily Mail. The staffers quickly realized Victoria was unresponsive and immediately started CPR and called for an ambulance. The San Francisco Fire Department said they responded to a call for medical aid at 2.52am, at which point first responders tried to revive Victoria before she was pronounced dead at the scene. The source said there were no signs of foul play, such as trauma to the body, and police did not find any drug paraphernalia on the scene. There were also no signs that Victoria may have taken her own life. It remains unclear whether Victoria was a guest at the hotel or how she came to be on the 14th floor, according to the Daily Mail's insider. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department is now asking anyone with information about Victoria's untimely death to contact the department. Victoria - the daughter of Jones and his second wife Kimberlea Cloughley, whom he was married to from 1981 to 1996 - performed in her first acting role as a child. Tommy Lee Jones' daughter, Victoria, was found dead inside an upscale San Francisco hotel on New Year's Day. They are pictured together at the opening ceremony for the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2017 Victoria was born on September 3, 1991 to Jones and his second wife Kimberlea Cloughley, whom he was married to from 1981 to 1996. Jones, Cloughley and Victoria pictured in 2002 Victoria has attended occasional red carpets alongside her father. She is pictured with Jones, his third wife Dawn Laurel-Jones and Hilary Swank at the premiere of The Homesman The Fairmont hotel in San Francisco on New Year's Day, just hours after Victoria Jones was found dead Victoria was discovered on the floor of a hallway, just like the one above, on hotel's 14th floor. It was unclear whether Victoria was a guest at the hotel By 2002, she made her movie debut with a small part in her father's picture Men in Black II. She would go on to appear in a handful of acting projects as a child, including a 2005 episode of One Tree Hill and a role that same year the Western picture The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which was directed by her father. Although she has not acted onscreen since her role as a cheerleader on One Tree Hill, she has attended the occasional red carpet alongside Jones as an adult. In 2017, she posed proudly at his side at the ArcLight Hollywood for the premiere of his movie Just Getting Started, also starring Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo. She also made an appearance with her father in October 2017 at the opening of that year's Tokyo International Film Festival, where he was serving as president of the international competition jury. After directing his daughter in The Three Burials of Melquiades, Jones showered praise on Victoria in an interview promoting the film. 'Shes a good actress, has her SAG card, speaks impeccable Spanish,' he said. 'When she was a baby, I told Leticia, her nurse, to speak to her in Spanish.' He also related a charming anecdote about having to acclimatize his then 14-year-old daughter to the rigors of working on a Hollywood movie set. In 2017, she posed proudly at his side at the ArcLight Hollywood for the premiere of his movie Just Getting Started, also starring Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo The Fairmont hotel claims it has the best panoramic views of the city of San Francisco A map shows luxury Fairmont San Francisco sits atop Nob Hill The lobby of the luxury hotel was decorated for Christmas The hotel is located in the heart of San Francisco 'She had to get up at 5am for her part. One morning, she wouldnt get out of bed. I said: "Honey, this is work." But she wouldnt budge,' he told the New Yorker. 'So I fired her. Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time,' he recalled. Victoria is survived by Jones, Cloughley and her brother, Austin. The Daily Mail has contacted Tommy Lee Jones's representatives for comment, as well as the Fairmont San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department. Natalie Portman looked absolutely stunning as she rang in the New Year with a beach day in St. Barts. The 44-year-old mother-of-two showed off her slim figure in a plunging black one-piece swimsuit. She was a bare-faced beauty while soaking in the ocean and emerging with her light brown hair drenched. It comes after she finalized her divorce from ex-husband Benjamin Millepied in February 2024. Missing from the scene were the former couple's two children, son Aleph, 14, and daughter Amalia, eight. Millepied quickly moved on from the relationship, and it was revealed that Portman was 'not surprised.' Natalie Portman looked absolutely stunning as she rang in the New Year with a beach day in St. Barts The two were married for 11 years before Portman filed for divorce in July 2023. Their split followed reports that Millepied had allegedly cheated on his wife with a woman 21 years his junior. He was spotted kissing a woman on October 15, 2024 in Paris, according to Us Weekly, with the outlet's source revealing Portman's feelings about his swift return to the dating scene. 'Natalie isn't surprised that Benjamin has moved on because of how their relationship ended,' the person said. It was added: 'She thought he'd move on pretty quickly.' At the time it was reported that the Lady in the Lake star hoped her ex-husband was 'happy' and that his 'dating life doesn't really have any bearing on Natalie.' 'She's super happy in her life right now and has been prioritizing family and friends,' the source said. In 2023 the French outlet Voici released an explosive report claiming Millepied had an affair with then-25-year-old climate activist Camille Etienne. The 44-year-old mother-of-two showed off her slim figure in a plunging black one-piece swimsuit She was a bare-faced beauty while soaking in the ocean and emerging with her light brown hair drenched The longtime entertainer flashed a red manicure Her deep-cut swimsuit teased her modest cleavage Portman relocated to Paris nearly a decade ago. In May 2025, the Israel-born performer spoke with Net-a-Porter on the topic of cultural differences. 'I find the people here are actually incredibly friendly you just have to know how to interact, so that were not the ones being rude,' she explained. She added: 'Now, when I go back to the U.S., Im like, Oh, I would go into a store and not say hello to everyone there? Its weird.' Portman was married to her ex -husbandfor 11 years before she filed for divorce in July 2023; pictured February 9, 2020 'I think we have an ASSUMPTION that western cultures are all the same and kind of evened out by all this pop culture that everyone consumes. Its not true,' the star mused. She said of the Parisian lifestyle: 'It's extremely specific here, and the culture is very different in both deep and surface ways.' Portman elaborated, 'All the kids that come to my house are, like, "Bonjour Madame," and give me the bise (a cheek-to-cheek kiss). 'Before they leave, they are, like, "Thank you for having me," and if I'm not nearby, they'll come and find me to say it.' Finding Prince Charming star Jasen Kaplan has died at the age of 46 - only weeks after the 'sudden' passing of his former castmate Chad Spodick. Kaplan passed away at a hospital in New York City on December 31, Page Six reported on Thursday. The NYPD also told the outlet that an investigation is currently underway in regards to the death of a 46-year-old male at the late star's apartment building while the chief medical examiner will determine Kaplan's cause of death. The TV personality had appeared on season one of the reality dating series when it first aired in 2016 - but was eliminated during week two. He was also a celebrity makeup artist, working with stars such as Eva Longoria, Lynda Carter, Kelly Osbourne, Bethenny Frankel, Sonja Morgan and Cyndi Lauper. Kaplan had been a proud owner of his beloved dog Coco - who would make occasional appearances on his Instagram page. Finding Prince Charming star Jasen Kaplan has died at the age of 46 - only weeks after the 'sudden' passing of his former castmate Chad Spodick Kaplan passed away at a hospital in New York City on December 31, Page Six reported on Thursday; seen in 2014 in NYC The media personality - who had nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram - also developed a close friendship with some A-list celebrities, including Frankel and Osbourne who paid special tributes upon learning of his death. The Real Housewives Of New York alum shared a series of photos and clips of the late star from over the years. 'Jasen Kaplan had a positive energy that was truly infectious. He was fun, vibrant, and always brought his A game,' she wrote in an emotional message in the caption. 'The world lost a one-of-a-kind gem on New Year's Eve, which still doesn't feel real,' she added, while also reflecting on his 'generous' personality and how he had 'a genuine interest in everyone around him.' Frankel shared that Kaplan 'made people feel seen, celebrated, and better about themselves.' The pair also communicated with each other often, with the star adding that, 'He sent me weekly messages with his finds. His most recent was a fancy Hello Kitty cookie jar that reminded him of me.' Kaplan had been more than a makeup artist, but also 'also my friend and a constant part of my team.' He was also close to her teenage daughter Bryn, 15. 'He always showed up and cheered me on - in life, work, and online. He's seen me in every form, from fixing broken zippers to making me feel like a supermodel. If you were around him, you were happier. He always had a story.' Bethenny Frankel paid tribute to Kaplan by sharing a series of photos and clips of the late star from over the years 'Jasen Kaplan had a positive energy that was truly infectious. He was fun, vibrant, and always brought his A game,' she wrote in an emotional message in the caption 'The world lost a one-of-a-kind gem on New Year's Eve, which still doesn't feel real,' she added, while also reflecting on his 'generous' personality and how he had 'a genuine interest in everyone around him' Kaplan had been more than a makeup artist, but also 'also my friend and a constant part of my team.' He was also close to her teenage daughter Bryn, 15 Frankel further reflected on his talent as a makeup artist before encouraging her followers to 'tell someone you love them today' Frankel further reflected on his talent as a makeup artist before encouraging her followers to 'tell someone you love them today. 'I'm holding my beautiful girl extra close - Jasen loved and adored her. You will always be on the B Team, for life and the afterlife. No one is going to have better glam than I do in heaven. Rest in peace, and enjoy all the caviar and coconut cake.' Osbourne also shared slides to her Instagram stories as she paid tribute to Kaplan - giving insight into their friendship as well. She shared throwback photos and wrote, 'I'm devastated I love you so much @jasenkaplan thank you for all the love, laughter and joy you brought into my life. 'I hope you are at peace now. Life will never be the same without you! RIP my dear friend!' She also ensured that his dog Coco will 'always be looked after' before adding that she will 'miss' their 'late night FaceTimes.' Osbourne - who lost her father Ozzy in July 2025 - then shared a selfie she had taken with Kaplan. 'You were the best Wing man a girl could ask for. 25 years of friendship and every second was worth it! @jasenkaplan.' 'I'm holding my beautiful girl extra close - Jasen loved and adored her. You will always be on the B Team, for life and the afterlife,' she added Osbourne also shared slides to her Instagram stories as she paid tribute to Kaplan - giving insight into their friendship as well She also ensured that his dog Coco will 'always be looked after' before adding that she will 'miss' their 'late night FaceTimes' Osbourne - who lost her father Ozzy in July 2025 - then shared a selfie she had taken with Kaplan Osbourne also included other lighthearted moments they had shared in the past, such as when Kaplan dressed up as her one time. The late star had been active on social media leading up to his death, often showing his makeup looks on celebrities he collaborated with. Last month in December, fellow Finding Prince Charming star Chad Spodick died of suicide at age 42. A spokesperson for the Boca Raton Police Department confirmed the death was a suicide, according to People. He also appeared on season one of the reality dating series in 2016 - which had been hosted by NSYNC member Lance Bass. However, he quit the show during week six - before rejoining the contestants during a reunion episode. The 'devastating' news of his death had been confirmed on a GoFundMe page which was created on December 4. A friend of the late star set up the page to help raise $20,000 for funeral costs while his mother Felice Harwood is listed as a beneficiary. Kaplan had worked in the industry for years; seen above with model Lydia Hearst back in 2008 in NYC Kaplan seen sixth from left in cast photo for season one of Finding Prince Charming in 2016 - which had been hosted by NSYNC member Lance Bass Last month in December, fellow Finding Prince Charming star Chad Spodick died of suicide at age 42 'Our hearts are shattered as we share the devastating news of the loss of our beautiful, kind, and generous son, brother and friend Chad,' the message read. 'His passing was sudden and heartbreaking, and we are still struggling to comprehend a world without his light.' He was described as someone 'who poured himself into others' and also 'lifted up his friends.' Chad also had a 'love for animals' and 'cared deeply for every creature, especially his four beloved dogs and his bird, Cosmo. The emotional message concluded as his friend opened up about the 'weight' of trying to 'navigate this loss.' 'Thank you for helping us honor Chad's memory and support the people - and animals - he loved most.' Upon hearing the shock news of his passing, social media users mourned the loss in the comment section of his recent Instagram posts. 'Our hearts are shattered as we share the devastating news of the loss of our beautiful, kind, and generous son, brother and friend Chad,' the message read Upon hearing the shock news of his passing, social media users mourned the loss in the comment section of his recent Instagram posts; Spodick seen in 2010 in L.A. Spodick had been last active on the social media site when he uploaded a selfie under the sun on November 21. His niece commented, 'my beautiful uncle fly high uncle chad love you forever please donate if you can to support our family any contributions are appreciated.' Spodick also had a passion for aviation and had years of pilot experience and additionally co-founded the luxurious charter company Goldsuite Jets in 2020. Before his death, Chad had celebrated his 42nd birthday on November 26, 2025. If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org. George Clooney fired back at Donald Trump after he mocked the actor for obtaining French citizenship. The Oscar winner, 64, shared his response after the President penned a lengthy post on New Year's Eve about the actor and his wife, human rights attorney Amal Clooney. Trump previously called Clooney an 'average guy' who 'complained constantly about common sense in politics' after the longtime Democrat and his wife secured French citizenship. In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney said: 'I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. 'We'll start in November.' The actor was apparently referring to the US midterm elections on November 3. The couple were seen looking smiley and smitten during a romantic outing in the South of France at the start of last month. George Clooney fired back at President Donald Trump after he mocked the actor for obtaining French citizenship; pictured in November 2025 Trump previously called Clooney an 'average guy' who 'complained constantly about common sense in politics' after the From Dusk Till Dawn star and his wife secured French citizenship; pictured in December 2025 In his original New Year's Eve post, Trump slammed the couple for becoming French citizens. 'Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden,' he wrote. 'Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat,' he continued. Then, Trump referred to Clooney as 'average' and said the actor makes 'totally mediocre' films. 'Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies,' he wrote. 'He wasn't a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics. In late December, it was revealed that Clooney and his British-Lebanese wife received their French passports, joining their eight-year-old twins Alexander and Ella, in officially becoming French citizens. Clooney, a politically outspoken liberal, previously cited the country's privacy laws as one of the reasons why he and his wife decided to raise their children in France. On December 30, 2025 just one day before Trump's New Year's Eve rant while hosting a gala at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida Clooney discussed his past relationship with Trump in an interview with Variety. Trump's lengthy post about Clooney's new citizenship on Truth Social on New Year's Eve The award-winning actor, 64, shared his response after the president's comments about Clooney and his wife, human rights attorney Amal Clooney; pictured in December 2023 In his original New Year's Eve post, Trump slammed Clooney and his wife Amal for becoming citizens of France; pictured in October 2024 In his statement, Clooney said: 'I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We'll start in November'; pictured in October 2025 Trump had referred to Clooney as 'average' and said the actor makes 'totally mediocre' films in his rant; pictured in December 2025 'I knew him very well. He used to call me a lot, and he tried to help me get into a hospital once to see a back surgeon. I'd see him out at clubs and at restaurants. He's a big goofball. Well, he was. That all changed.' At one point during the interview, he shared his thoughts about TV networks ABC and CBS settling the lawsuits Trump had filed against them. 'If CBS and ABC had challenged those lawsuits and said, "Go f*** yourself," we wouldn't be where we are in the country. That's simply the truth.' In July 2025, Paramount, the corporate parent of CBS News, agreed to pay Trump $16 million after the President sued the network over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. Six months earlier, ABC had opted to hand over $15 million to Trump's foundation to settle the lawsuit over how George Stephanopoulos characterized the President's alleged sexual assault of E Jean Carroll. The networks were largely criticized for settling in Trump's lawsuits, which some have called 'meritless,' in what appeared to be an attempt to curry favor with the current administration rather than stand up for press freedom. He also expressed concern over how CBS News coverage has changed since David Ellison became Paramount's new owner and installed conservative commentator Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief last year. On December 30, 2025 just one day before Trump's New Year's Eve rant while hosting a gala at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida Clooney discussed his past relationship with Trump in an interview with Variety; pictured in October 2025 At one point during the interview, he shared his thoughts about TV networks ABC and CBS settling in the lawsuits Trump had filed against them. 'If CBS and ABC had challenged those lawsuits and said, "Go f*** yourself," we wouldn't be where we are in the country. That's simply the truth'; pictured in October 2025 'Bari Weiss is dismantling CBS News as we speak,' he told Variety. 'I'm worried about how we inform ourselves and how we're going to discern reality without a functioning press.' About the current state of affairs in the US, he drew parallels to his 2005 historical drama film and play, Good Night, and Good Luck, which is set in the 1950s and follows CBS News anchor Edward R Murrow (David Strathairn) and his longtime friend-producer Fred Friendly (Clooney). He recited something Murrow said: '"Let's not confuse dissent with disloyalty." I mean, what a beautiful statement about who we are at our best. But all too often we fall short.' 'It's a very trying time,' he said. 'It can depress you or make you very angry. But you have to find the most positive way through it. You have to put your head down and keep moving forward because quitting isn't an option.' He co-wrote the screenplay with Grant Haslov and directed the film, making his Broadway debut last summer. Delta Goodrem kicked off 2026 in fine style, enjoying a day on the high seas with husband Matthew Copley. The pair were spotted preparing to board a boat in Sydney on New Year's Day, joining a party of friends for a day of waterborne fun. The Aussie hitmaker, 41, cut a very chic figure in a $800 velvet-trimmed tweed jacket from French label Sandro. She appeared keen to take a dip as well, wearing an eye-catching one-piece swimsuit under the chic blazer. The $695 swimwear from another French fashion house, Livy, featured a unique wavy cut at the decolletage and braided gold chain stitching. Delta kept the noir theme going with a pair of dark-coloured, loose-fitting pants, while the Francophile adorned her feet with a pair of black leather $2,700 Chanel sandals. Delta Goodremkicked off 2026 in fine style, enjoying a day on the high seas with husband Matthew Copley. The pair were spotted preparing to board a boat in Sydney on New Year's Day, joining a party of friends for a day of waterborne fun The newlyweds looked chuffed to be in each other's company, putting on a loved-up display as they romantically cuddled on deck Her love of French haute couture didn't stop there, with the Born To Try hitmaker carrying a $4,450 Louis Vuitton canvas duffle bag. The luxe carry-all appeared to be filled to the brim with belated Christmas presents Delta planned to give out once on board. Leaving her blonde locks down for the occasion, Delta accessorised with a raft of gold bling around her neck and on her wrists and fingers. She finished the look with a pair of black sunglasses from Italian label Celine. Husband Matthew, 44, meanwhile, went for a much more casual, albeit similarly stylish, approach. He wore an eye-catching $890 swim shirt from Casablanca that he unbuttoned to expose a hint of chest hair. The shirt boasted a unique geometric pattern and he also wore a pair of matching $569 shorts. Wearing his long, wet locks down, Matthew accessorised with a pair of black Tom Ford sunglasses. The Aussie hitmaker, 41, cut a very chic figure in a $800 velvet trimmed tweed jacket from French label Sandro She appeared keen to take a dip, as well, wearing an eye-catching one-piece swimsuit under the chic blazer. The $695 swimwear from another French fashion house, Livy, featured a unique wavy cut at the decolletage and braided gold chain stitching Delta kept the noir theme going with a pair of dark-coloured, loose-fitting pants, while the Francophile adorned her feet with a pair of black leather $2,700 Chanel sandals Her love of French haute couture didn't stop there, with the Born To Try hitmaker carrying a $4,450 Louis Vuitton canvas duffle bag The newlyweds looked chuffed to be in each other's company, putting on a loved-up display as they romantically cuddled on deck. It looked to be a celebratory affair, too, with Matthew spotted carrying a box of Croser champagne. And Delta looked to be having a great start to 2026, happily mingling with guests as the boat prepared to depart. Delta and Matthew have spent the past few months basking in newlywed bliss after marrying in a lavish Maltese ceremony in June. The pair exchanged vows at the historic St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina before moving celebrations to the opulent Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar. Delta previously revealed she had no plans to sing at her own wedding. 'I had no intention of singing,' she told the Herald Sun. 'We are blessed to get to do what we love on stage and sharing that is the best ever, so I didn't feel the need to do that at the wedding.' Husband Matthew, meanwhile, went for a much more casual, albeit similarly stylish approach. He wore an eye-catching $890 swim shirt from Casablanca that he unbuttoned to expose a hint of chest hair The shirt boasted a unique geometric pattern and he also wore a pair of matching $569 shorts. Wearing his long, wet locks down, Matthew accessorised with a pair of black Tom Ford sunglasses It looked to be a celebratory affair, too, with Matthew spotted carrying a box of Croser champagne And Delta looked to be having a great start to 2026, happily mingling with guests as the boat prepared to depart 'All my family and friends, I ask them to come to shows all the time, they don't need that for my wedding,' she added. In July, the couple shared a breathtaking first look at their big day in a Vogue Australia spread shot by photographers Matt Porteous and Becky Lee. Delta stunned in an off-the-shoulder couture gown by South Australian designer Paul Vasileff, complete with French tulle, intricate lattice detailing and a dramatic two-and-a-half-metre train. She completed the look with sparkling diamonds from ANTON Jewellery. 'June 2025, Husband and Wife. It was more magical than we both could have dreamed,' Delta wrote emotionally on Instagram at the time. 'We said I do under the Maltese skies in a family fairytale wedding brought to life by so many angels surrounding us. 'We are holding on to every memory from that moment the love, the laughter, the happy tears and dancing till the sun came up.' Lily Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell wrapped up warm as they kick started their new year together. The Emily In Paris star, 36, and her director-screenwriter husband, 42, welcomed their first child last year through surrogacy and last week spent their first Christmas as a family of three. Now the couple are looking forward to the year ahead and Lily marked the New Year with a series of loved-up snaps. Wrapping up warm, the pair stepped out for a walk through the park and were seen laughing with each other. 'The best way to enter 2026 laughing and walking through life with you @charliemcdowell. Happy New Year, everyone!...,' Lily wrote on Instagram on Thursday. Lily looked chic for the outing in a brown bomber leather jacket featuring a white fluffy collar with a hooded brown sweater with cream linen trousers and wellington boots. Lily Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell wrapped up warm as they kick started their new year together in snaps shared on Instagram on Thursday The pair stepped out for a walk through the park and were seen laughing with each other in sweet snaps Meanwhile Charlie wore a black and cream jacket with a cable knit cardigan, flared blue jeans, a pair of burgundy Adidas trainers and a cap. It comes after Lily shared a series of rare snaps of her baby girl Tove on Instagram last week as she and her husband Charlie celebrated their daughter's first Christmas. The actress welcomed Tove via surrogate earlier this year - and she gave fans a glimpse into the festive celebrations as she wished followers a Merry Christmas. In one heartwarming snap, Lily was seen sitting by a roaring log fire as she watched the tot play with one of her new toys. Another adorable photo showed Lily beaming as she held her daughter up for a festive selfie alongside her husband, Charlie, on Christmas Day. Tove looked adorable in a green and red dress adorned with a gold star print, while other snaps captured her opening presents from a personalised red stocking and reading a children's book in matching red pyjamas. Lily also treated fans to a loved-up snap with Charlie, a picture of a homemade wreath filled with lush green foliage, and sweet photos of their daughter at home during her first Christmas. She captioned the festive photo dump: 'Our lil Tove's first Christmas and we're feeling all the magic of the holidays. Soaking in these moments in every way. Lily looked chic for the outing in a brown bomber leather jacket featuring a white fluffy collar with a hooded brown sweater with cream linen trousers and wellington boots The Emily In Paris star, 36, and her director-screenwriter husband, 42, welcomed their first child last year through surrogacy and last week spent their first Christmas as a family of three It comes after Lily shared a series of rare snaps of her baby girl Tove on Instagram last week 'Wishing you and yours the merriest Christmas and happiest holiday season...' Lily recently said she's 'feeling the love' as she celebrates Emily In Paris topping the Netflix charts and shared her 'favourite look' from season five on Monday. Lily, who stars as marketing executive Emily Cooper in the series, took to Instagram to share a series of behind-the-scenes snaps from set. The Netflix star looked sensational dressed in a bright red dress which boasted mesh patterned sleeves, matching tights and a ruffled skirt. Lily's character is known for her over the top colourful outfits and revealed her favourite look this season was the 'lady in red', which she wore to a lunch in Venice thinking boyfriend Marcello Muratori (Eugenio Franceschini) was going to propose. Lily also treated fans to a loved-up snap with Charlie as they enjoyed a walk outdoors After finding a ring earlier in the series, Emily assumed Marcello was going to purpose during lunch as dessert was served. However, after not getting down on one knee, her Italian boyfriend later pulled the engagement ring out during a gondala ride with her BFF Mindy and her partner where Marcello informs Emily the ring is for Mindy and not her. Lily wrote: 'Lady in red one of my favorite looks. Thank you for making @emilyinparis #1 on @netflix for a whole week! 'We're feeling the love and couldn't do this without you...' Jeremy Clarkson has dropped a whopping 3st thanks to 'astonishing' weight loss drug Mounjaro but has shared insight into the medication's side effects. The former Top Gear presenter, 65, admitted that as well as being not quite as 'quick-witted', girlfriend Lisa Hogan, 51, had noticed he had become 'grumpier'. But while missing out on more common side effects like constipation, Jeremy said he was suffering from a diminished libido, but admitted that could be down to age. 'I find myself doing Hot Seat [Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?], thinking: "Oh f***, I should have said that, but too late now" But who's to say I wouldn't have thought that when I wasn't on [Mounjaro]?'. 'Constipation? No, I don't have that. Diminished libido? I'm 65, it's hard to know what's causing that. I'll ask Lisa when I get back home: "You were never funny and you were never horny, Jeremy"'. The TV personality confirmed he'd shed the weight in just six months thanks to the medication, though thinks he has now 'plateaued'. Jeremy Clarkson, 65, has dropped a whopping 3st thanks to 'astonishing' weight loss drug Mounjaro but has shared insight into the medication's side effects (pictured last month) The former Top Gear presenter , admitted that as well as being not quite as 'quick-witted', girlfriend Lisa Hogan, 51, had noticed he had become 'grumpier' (Pictured 2024) He told The Sun newspapers Sun Club: 'I'm still on it, but not losing any more weight, but nor am I putting any on, because it keeps my appetite level down. It really is an astonishing drug.' While Lisa is a fan of his new svelte physique, Jeremy admitted that he was still a long way off being male model Davdi Gandy. 'I'm nearer to Gandy now than I was a year ago, in the same way that tectonic activity means that South America is moving closer to Australia not by much. 'But I can go much further, I can take the dogs out for longer now, so it keeps her happy. I'm much healthier.' As well as having to buy new outfits to fit his smaller frame, Jeremy's also needed new shoes after noticing his feet had also shrunk. 'The shoes I was wearing last year are falling off me as I'm walking around. I think I might be the first person in the world to lose weight on my feet'. Last month Jeremy celebrated his ninth anniversary with his girlfriend Lisa as he took to Instagram to mark the celebrations and uploaded a selfie from their cosy dinner date. Jeremy was in his signature black blazer and partially undone white shirt, while Lisa, wore sparkly earrings for their fancy evening out. Jeremy said he had a diminished libido, but admitted that problem could be down to age (pictured with girlfriend Lisa in 2017) The TV personality confirmed he'd shed the weight in just six months thanks to the medication, though thinks he has now 'plateaued' (pictured left last month, right in 2022) He captioned the post: 'Nine years!', which prompted Lisa to joke on her Insta stories it feels like she has been with Jeremy for 900. Jeremy's showbiz pals took to the comment section. Carole Bamford wrote: 'Congratulations', while actor Richard E Grant posted love heart emojis. Others typed: 'Punching Mr Clarkson but can't fault you in any way... The lady is amazing, best wishes to you both'; 'Lucky boy' and 'congratulations to you both!(Prayers for @thetallirish tho!)' The couple, who work together on Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm, first began dating back in 2017 after being set up by friends at a Christmas party. But far from falling in love at first sight, Lisa previously told how the TV star had to work hard to win her affections. She told The Sun: 'I thought, "Ok, you've got a bit of a rep" - so he had to really court me!" She added: 'He courted me for a solid three months!... he does make an effort to make me laugh a lot, which I really appreciate. And we do get on.' Last month Jeremycelebrated his ninth anniversary with his girlfriend Lisa as he took to Instagram to mark the celebrations and uploaded a selfie from their cosy dinner date The couple are fan favourites on his hit show, Clarkson's Farm Last year, Lisa discussed her hopes of getting engaged to the outspoken presenter. And the pair chatted to The Sunday Times about how the topic of proposing was brought up while the couple were out on a walk. At the time Jeremy said he had a 'big surprise' for her and after she asked if it was a proposal, he pretended not to hear and instead showed her a fallen willow tree bursting back into life. After she followed up about the proposal, he said: 'I'll think about the proposal, OK? I'm not ready yet.' Discussing the exchange, Lisa has now said: 'I just thought I might surprise him.' Jeremy has been married twice before. He wed his first wife Alexandra James in 1989. The couple were married for six months before they split the following year in 1990. Jeremy went on to remarry as he found love with his second wife Frances Cain. The couple were married for more than two decades before they separated and welcomed three children together including, daughters Emily and Katya as well as son Finlo. Lisa, meanwhile, was married for 30 years to Baron Steven Bentinck before she met Jeremy. Their marriage ended in 2011 and they have three children together. Myleene Klass has left her fans hot under the collar with sexy bikini snaps as she enjoys a post Christmas getaway. The presenter, 47, stunned her followers on Friday as she shared a selection of pictures by the pool whilst soaking up the winter sun. Myleene posed up a storm in a two-piece animal print bikini as she went make-up free with her bronzed complexion on full display. In one capture, Myleene enjoyed the jacuzzi, while in another she showed off her long legs whilst sunbathing. The mum-of-three stopped short of revealing exactly where she is but captioned the snaps: 'Back in the jungle'. Fans flooded her with compliments, with one commenting: 'Omg Myleene u Stunner'; Myleene Klass has left her fans hot under the collar with sexy bikini snaps as she enjoys a post Christmas getaway The presenter, 47, stunned her followers on Friday as she shared a selection of pictures by the pool whilst soaking up the winter sun Myleene posed up a storm in a two-piece animal print bikini as she went make-up free with her bronzed complexion on display 'Trying to give us all a heart attack early into the New Year'; 'How gorgeous are You'; 'You really are perfection. Enjoy your break'; 'Such a beautiful sexy saasy lady multi talented physically perfect'. Mylenne had brought in the New Year with her rarely-seen lookalike sister Jessie as they celebrated together. She shared a look at their midnight celebrations as she posted a clip of fireworks exploding in the sky, with the caption: 'Hey 2026'. The sisters reunite on holidays and spent the beginning of the year in Thailand on a holiday, before Myleene joined Jessie's wedding celebrations in the summer. They were back together again for the festive period, as they rung in 2026 in glamorous style during a night out together. Myleene has become synonymous with white bikinis ever since her appearance on I'm A Celeb in 2006. The nation's attention was grabbed when she went for a shower in the jungle while sporting a tiny two-piece, which showcased her incredible frame. Fans flooded her with compliments, with one commenting: 'Omg Myleene u Stunner' In one capture, Myleene enjoyed the jacuzzi, while in another she showed off her long legs whilst sunbathing The mum-of-three stopped short of revealing exactly where she is but, captioned the snaps: 'Back in the jungle' Myleene has become synonymous with white bikinis ever since her appearance on I'm A Celebrity back in 2006 Myleene Klass had brought in the New Year with her rarely-seen sister Jessie as they celebrated together with their families in Asia And in 2023, the TV personality went on to recreate the iconic scene as she returned to the jungle for the all-star series I'm A Celebrity South Africa. Myleene previously revealed that the first white bikini she wore in 2006 sold for a whopping 7,500 after the show - after she bought it for just 40. 'I bought that white bikini for 40. After the show I sold it off - for 7,500!' she said ahead of entering the jungle for the all-stars edition in 2023. Before Christmas, Myleene had turned heads when she donned hot pants as she left ITV studios in West London. She paired the look with black leggings as she headed for a waiting car after coming off air following an appearance on Loose Women. Holly Ramsay has revealed she had an incredible four wedding dresses for her nuptials to Adam Peaty as she opened up on the big day. The daughter of chef Gordon Ramsay married Olympic swimmer Adam last Saturday during a lavish ceremony in Bath. While the Ramsay clan turned out in their droves to watch the couple say 'I do', Adam's mother and father Caroline and Mark were not present amid a spiralling family feud. Now, as Holly, 26, and Adam, 31, enjoy their honeymoon, it has been revealed the bride actually had four wedding dresses. She had two outfit changes on the day, and admitted how her parents 'would love it if I did one look'. Her dress for the ceremony in Bath Abbey was concealed underneath an ivory cloak as her father Gordon, 59, walked her inside. Holly Ramsay has revealed she had an incredible four wedding dresses for her nuptials to Adam Peaty as she opened up on the big day The daughter of chef Gordon Ramsay married Olympic swimmer Adam last Saturday during a lavish ceremony in Bath Speaking to British Vogue, Holly said: 'I will never get over this dress,' adding: 'It makes me feel very princess-like' Holly has shared how it was designed to emulate the Princess Of Wales' dress from her 2011 wedding. It featured long lace sleeves with a Queen Anne neckline, attention-grabbing train and a dramatic veil. Speaking to British Vogue, Holly said: 'I will never get over this dress,' adding: 'It makes me feel very princess-like.' For her reception at the swanky Kin House, Holly changed into her mother Tana's wedding gown that she wore in 1996. The slick dress boasts a V-neckline and pearls, with Holly saying: 'I tried it on, and it fit me perfectly it didnt need any altering.' Holly wore this dress for her romantic first dance with new husband Adam and she admitted her mother Tana cried when she first showed her. As the celebrations continued into the evening, Holly had yet another outfit change, slipping into a dazzling sequined number. The frock was designed by Elie Saab that was a bandeau mini dress and boasted a sequined bodice, paired with fluffy slipper heels. For her reception at the swanky Kin House, Holly changed into her mother Tana's wedding gown that she wore in 1996 Holly's bridal party included her sisters Megan, 27, and Tilly, 24, and her sister-in-law Bethany, 32, with the group arriving carrying bouquets of calla lilies Join the debate Should brides feel free to wear multiple dresses, or does it take away from the tradition of one special look? Adam also changed at this point, donning a white jacket as the night progressed and the cocktails flowed. He was also wearing a snazzy Patek Philippe watch, worth approximately 75,000. The following day which was also Adam's birthday, Holly wore a silk dress designed by Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini that feature a low back for a brunch with close family and friends. Meanwhile, Holly also disclosed how family friend Victoria Beckham had designed a pre-wedding silk dress for her. In the same interview with British Vogue, Holly defended her father Gordon's speech, saying she felt 'overwhelmed with happiness' during it. Gordon had said how his wife Tana would be 'a good mum to them both' in an apparent dig at Adam's mother Caroline, who was uninvited after a row over her not being invited to Holly's hen do. The Sun reported that in his father of the bride speech Gordon commented on how beautiful Holly looked and told Adam he was a 'lucky man', adding: 'Look at Tana and that's what you have to look forward to.' The publication went on to claim that Gordon couldn't resist a sly dig at Adam's absent parents he told his daughter Holly: 'Shame you don't have the same.' Victoria Beckham (pictured with David at the ceremony) had designed the bridesmaid dresses as well as a silk pre-wedding frock for Holly While the Ramsay turned out in their droves to watch the couple say 'I do', Adam's mother and father Caroline and Mark were not present amid a spiraling family feud Adam's mother Caroline, pictured with Holly and Adam, was uninvited after a row broke out over her not being invited to Holly's hen do. Romeo Beckham, who attended the wedding along with his siblings and parents - excluding Brooklyn - pictured with girlfriend Kim Turnbull Holly shared a photo of herself and Adam smiling and laughing during Gordon's speech with Vogue. The photo was captioned: 'Listening to dad's speech, looking around the room and feeling overwhelmed with the love and the happiness on our guests' faces.' In a jibe at the estranged Peaty family, Holly revealed that her parents paid for her and Adam's luxurious Honeymoon to Mauritius, saying it was their 'wedding present'. She said: 'We're going to Mauritius to just lie by the sea that was our wedding present from my parents. I had to tell Adam we weren't basing our honeymoon around a 25-metre pool' Holly shared numerous snaps of the wedding with the fashion publication, including a rather awkward one of Holly and Adam posing with her parents and David and Victoria Beckham. She also divulged several details about the wedding, revealing she and Adam had their first dance to George Michael's A Different Corner, saying they had the song picked when they first began dating. She also described her father-daughter dance with Gordon as 'so special'. Ruth Jones has appeared to take her former martial home in Cardiff off the market, months after slashing the asking price by 50K. The Gavin And Stacey star, 59, who wrote some of the BBC sitcom in the plush six-bedroom house, first put it up for sale in September 2025 for 1,150,000 following her split from husband David Peet, 72. The mock Tudor house overlooking leafy Roath Park, just 10 miles from Barry Island, was then reduced to 1,099,950 in October. However it now appears to have been taken off the estate agent's website after failing to sell. The furniture has been cleared out and what was once a cosy home, which the former couple purchased for 325K in 2001, is now an empty shell. A neighbour said: 'It is clear they just want to sell it and move on with their lives. It is a lovely house but that was always a very full price to be honest. 'It is not nice to see it empty so we wish them all the best. Everyone around here knows Ruth and we miss seeing her walk around the park.' Ruth Jones has appeared to take her former martial home in Cardiff off the market, months after slashing the asking price by 50K The Gavin and Stacey star, 59, first put it up for sale in September 2025 for 1,150,000 following her split from husband David Peet, 72 The furniture has been cleared out and what was once a cosy home, which the former couple purchased for 325K in 2001, is now an empty shell Neighbours said fellow star James Corden was a regular visitor as the pair - then relatively unknown - struck gold by writing the beloved comedy series after they first began writing the show in her Cardiff home. One said: 'James was often here even though many people didn't know who he was. Ruth absolutely loved that house and it will be difficult to leave - although she clearly wants a new start. 'She and James would wander just down the road to the Jubarah restaurant for a curry - and even based some of their scenes on their experiences around here. 'Ruth was a lovely neighbour no matter how famous she became. She always asked about the children. David, however, was very much more stand-offish.' Estate agent Kelvin Francis described it as a 'handsome, three-storey bay-fronted Edwardian style residence, retaining charm and character, sympathetically extended, choice position overlooking Roath Park recreation fields.' Since their split Ruth is said to living in a flat near Hyde Park, London, while David has moved to Vancouver, Canada, to be with his new partner Jayne Charity Cook, 46. The former couple announced in June that their 26-year marriage was over, claiming they split 18 months ago and are now 'legally separated'. Ruth was stepmother to David's three children from a previous relationship - Fiona, 35, Louise, 33 and Alex, 31 - and the former couple split their time between their two properties in Cardiff and the Scottish Highlands, where they own a holiday home. The mock Tudor house overlooking leafy Roath Park, just 10 miles from Barry Island, was reduced to 1,099,950 in October (Ruth and David pictured) James Corden, Ruth's Gavin and Stacey co-writer and co-star (Seen together) was regularly spotted paying his pal Ruth a visit at the sprawling home A neighbour said: 'It is not nice to see it empty so we wish them all the best. Everyone around here knows Ruth and we miss seeing her walk around the park' Announcing their break-up, they wrote a joint statement, saying: 'We amicably went our separate ways 18 months ago and are now legally separated. We remain good friends. 'Since our separation, Ruth is living in London and David is living in Canada, where he is in a new relationship.' The split had come as a surprise to her industry friends who believed their marriage was one of the safest in showbiz. An insider told Daily Mail: 'This has come as a huge shock to people in the industry. 'They have always been incredibly private, nobody has an indication there were issues between them.' They added: 'The fact David has already moved on suggests the marriage may have been over for some time. 'You cant help but feel for Ruth - shes had such a great year as well professionally.' Angelina Jolie travelled to the Egypt-Gaza border to visit injured Palestinians and humanitarian workers ferrying aid. The Hollywood star, 50, is former special envoy and goodwill ambassador for the UN refugee agency. She flew to Egypt on Friday to visit the Rafah crossing, which connects the country to Gaza, and spoke with members of the Red Crescent and truck drivers ferrying humanitarian aid. According to local media, Jolie made the trip to visit injured Palestinians who have been medically evacuated from Gaza and transferred to Egypt. She is also said to be there to look into aid deliveries into the devastated territory and spoke to local media at the border. It comes just two months after she was spotted in the embattled city of Kherson, Ukraine, reportedly on a humanitarian mission. Angelina Jolie travelled to the Egypt-Gaza border on Friday to visit injured Palestinians and humanitarian workers ferrying aid The Hollywood star is former special envoy and goodwill ambassador for the UN refugee agency Kherson has been a frontline target of Russian forces since 2022, and locals say Jolie visited several hospitals, including a maternity ward and a childrens hospital, bringing attention to civilians caught in the crossfire. Former city council member Vitaliy Bohdanov shared photos of Jolie in a body armour vest bearing the Legacy of War Foundation patch, a charity assisting those affected by the conflict. Another local outlet posted images of Jolie playing with children in a toy-strewn playroom, all while donning the protective gear. Daily Mail has not received a response to its request for comment from reps for Jolie. Russian forces continue near-daily strikes on Kherson, including an October 29 attack on a children's hospital that injured nine, highlighting the perilous conditions Jolie faced during her visit. Jolie served as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador from 2001 to 2012 and as Special Envoy until 2022, carrying out more than 60 field missions to aid refugees and displaced families. She stepped down from the role to focus on broader humanitarian and human rights issues, but has returned to Ukraine multiple times. In 2022, she visited Lviv, meeting children injured in the Kramatorsk train station missile strike. She flew to Egypt on Friday to visit the Rafah crossing, which connects the country to Gaza, and spoke with members of the Red Crescent and truck drivers ferrying humanitarian aid According to local media, Jolie made the trip to visit injured Palestinians who have been medically evacuated from Gaza and transferred to Egypt She is also said to be there to look into aid deliveries into the devastated territory and spoke to local media at the border She warmly greeted members near the Rafah border crossing In another photo, the actress appeared touched as she interacted with members of the public at the border crossing The actress appeared in great spirits during her visit Accompanied by an American delegation and greeted by former and current officials, Jolie said she was 'honoured' to meet aid volunteers at the crossing The Rafah border crossing was set to be reopened under the cease-fire that has been in effect in Gaza since October, but it has so far remained closed She spoke with displaced families at the citys railway station, taking shelter under air raid sirens. The Malificent star also paid a visit to Ukrainian child refugees in Rome that same year. That same year, she visited Ukrainian child refugees in Rome at Bambino Gesu paediatric hospital just outside Vatican City. Here she met Ukrainian children who had arrived in Italy after fleeing the war in their home country. These children were among the more than two million estimated by UNICEF who have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, with another 2.5 million displaced internally. In February 2022, Jolie spoke about the war in Ukraine in a post to her Instagram followers. She wrote: 'Like many of you, I'm praying for the people in Ukraine. Jolie was spotted in November in the embattled city of Kherson, Ukraine, wearing body armor and reportedly on a humanitarian mission A local outlet posted images of Jolie playing with children in a toy-strewn playroom, all while donning protective gear 'My focus along with my @refugees colleagues is that everything possible is done to ensure the protection and basic human rights of those displaced, and refugees in the region. 'We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety. 'It is too soon to know what will happen, but the significance of this moment - for the people of Ukraine, and for the international rule of law - cannot be overstated.' Jolie's decades-long humanitarian work earned her a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2013. Tommy Lee Jones' late daughter Victoria had also pursued acting during her life - even making her film debut in a movie starring her famous father. Victoria was tragically found dead at age 34 in an upscale San Francisco hotel, in the small hours of the morning on New Year's Day. A source has told The Daily Mail that there were no signs of foul play, such as trauma to the body, and police did not find any drug paraphernalia on the scene. There were also no signs that Victoria may have taken her own life. It's been more than 10 years since she last appeared on camera, but as a child and young adult, Victoria was building an acting career which included a brief role in the 2002 film starring her father, Men In Black II. Victoria made her film debut in the comedy, playing a member of a family whose home was being used as a weapons storage by the secret agents. Her brief yet memorable scene saw her watching television with her on-screen father and mother when the agents abruptly walk in to gather weapons that were secretly being stashed in the living room. Tommy Lee Jones' daughter Victoria appeared in several productions during her life, including this scene in Men In Black II She is pictured with her father attending the 2003 premiere of his movie The Missing Victoria and her stunned on-screen family watched as the group picked up their items before their memory was wiped by the secret agents. It would not be the first time Victoria would appear in a production featuring her father. Victoria's next role was in another film starring and directed by her father, the 2005 drama The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. She played an 'immigrant girl', according to her IMDb. That same year Victoria appeared in two other projects - she played a mugging victim in Sorry, Haters, a drama starring Robin Wright, as well as a cheerleader in an episode of One Tree Hill. Victoria's last role was in the 2014 film The Homesman, which starred and was directed by her dad. According to her IMDb, her role was that of 'Woman (Hebron).' After directing his daughter in The Three Burials of Melquiades, Jones showered praise on Victoria in an interview promoting the film. 'Shes a good actress, has her SAG card, speaks impeccable Spanish,' he said. 'When she was a baby, I told Leticia, her nurse, to speak to her in Spanish.' He also related a charming anecdote about having to acclimatize his then 14-year-old daughter to the rigors of working on a Hollywood movie set. 'She had to get up at 5am for her part. One morning, she wouldnt get out of bed. I said: "Honey, this is work." But she wouldnt budge,' he told the New Yorker. 'So I fired her. Then, without telling me, the production staff went over and woke her and rushed her out to the set just in time,' he recalled. Victoria was found dead in an upscale San Francisco hotel room aged 34, in the small hours of the morning on New Year's Day; they are pictured at the premiere of Just Getting Started in 2017 Jones and Victoria are pictured in October 2017 at the opening of that year's Tokyo International Film Festival, where he was serving as president of the international competition Although she has not acted onscreen since The Homesman, she has attended the occasional red carpet with Jones as an adult. In 2017, she posed proudly at his side at the ArcLight Hollywood for the premiere of his movie Just Getting Started, also starring Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo. That October, she made an appearance with her father at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival, where he was serving as president of the international competition jury. Heartbreakingly, Victoria was found dead on New Year's Day at just age 34. The San Francisco Fire Department told the Daily Mail that they responded to a call for medical aid at 2:52am Thursday at the address of the Fairmont San Francisco. Jones is pictured with his third and current wife Dawn Laurel-Jones (right), as well as with Victoria, at the Cannes premiere of the 2014 movie The Homesman, which he directed Emergency personnel performed an assessment and pronounced one person dead at the scene. The San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Medical Examiner also responded, but at present the cause of death is unknown. 'A white female around her mid-30s was found unresponsive and the hotel staff was alerted,' a source informed the Daily Mail. 'CPR was done, but she was pronounced deceased by the emergency/ambulance crew that responded to the scene.' The Daily Mail has confirmed the woman was Victoria. The news was first reported by TMZ, which said that the scene was turned over to the police department once she was pronounced dead. Jones welcomed Victoria and his son Austin, 42, with his second wife Kimberlea Cloughley, whom he was married to from 1981 to 1996. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department told the Daily Mail: 'On 1/1/26 at approximately 3:14 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to a hotel located on the 900 block of Mason street regarding a report of a deceased person.' The San Francisco Fire Department told the Daily Mail that they responded to a call for medical aid at 2:52am Thursday at the address of the Fairmont San Francisco (pictured) The statement continued: 'At the scene, officers met with medics, who declared the adult female deceased. The Medical Examiner arrived on scene and conducted an investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.' A source has since told The Daily Mail that Victoria was lying on the ground of the 14th floor of the Fairmont hotel in San Francisco when a guest who thought she might be drunk alerted hotel staff. The staffers quickly realized Victoria was unresponsive and immediately started CPR and called for an ambulance. The San Francisco Fire Department said they responded to a call for medical aid at 2.52am, at which point first responders tried to revive Victoria before she was pronounced dead at the scene. The source said there were no signs of foul play, such as trauma to the body, and police did not find any drug paraphernalia on the scene. There were also no signs that Victoria may have taken her own life. It remains unclear whether Victoria was a guest at the hotel or how she came to be on the 14th floor, according to the Daily Mail's insider. Tommy Lee Jones's late daughter Victoria was feared to have suffered a fatal overdose at a San Francisco hotel, according to a 911 audio recording. Jones, 34, was called in as a 'code 3 for the overdose, color change', according to SF Fire and EMS dispatch from Broadcastify obtained by the Daily Mail after the former actress's death at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel on New Year's Day. A code 3 denotes an emergency that requires immediate action with flashing lights and sirens. The 911 call was made just before 3am PT on January 1. First responders tried unsuccessfully to revive Jones, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Despite the 911 call raising the possibility of a drug overdose, there was no drug paraphernalia found close by. Police sources also told the Daily Mail that there were no signs of foul play or trauma to Jones's body. Investigators have refused to speculate on a possible cause of death with an autopsy now set to determine how Jones died. Jones was lying on the ground of the 14th floor of the Fairmont hotel in San Francisco when a guest who thought she might be drunk alerted hotel staff, a source told the Daily Mail. A 911 call reporting the death of Victoria Jones (furthest left beside father Tommy and stepmother Dawn) described her as having suffered a possible overdose The former actress was found at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel (pictured) on New Year's Day Despite the 911 call raising the possibility of a drug overdose, there was no drug paraphernalia found close to her body The staffers quickly realized Victoria was unresponsive and immediately started CPR and called for an ambulance. It remains unclear whether Victoria was a guest at the hotel or how she came to be on the 14th floor, according to the Daily Mail's insider. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department is now asking anyone with information about Victoria's untimely death to contact the department. 'On 1/1/26 at approximately 3:14 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to a hotel located on the 900 block of Mason street regarding a report of a deceased person,' the spokesperson said. 'At the scene, officers met with medics, who declared the adult female deceased. The Medical Examiner arrived on scene and conducted an investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.' Victoria - the daughter of Jones and his second wife Kimberlea Cloughley, whom he was married to from 1981 to 1996 - performed in her first acting role as a child. By 2002, she made her movie debut with a small part in her father's picture Men in Black II. She would go on to appear in a handful of acting projects as a child, including a 2005 episode of One Tree Hill and a role that same year the Western picture The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which was directed by her father. Tommy Lee Jones's daughter is pictured in a June 2025 mugshot. She was arrested in Napa, California, on suspicion of domestic violence Victoria was allegedly discovered on the floor of the 14th floor hallway, just like the one above Victoria was the daughter of Jones and his second wife Kimberlea Cloughley, whom he was married to from 1981 to 1996 Although she has not acted onscreen since her role as a cheerleader on One Tree Hill, she has attended the occasional red carpet alongside Jones as an adult. In 2017, she posed proudly at his side at the ArcLight Hollywood for the premiere of his movie Just Getting Started, also starring Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo. She also made an appearance with her father in October 2017 at the opening of that year's Tokyo International Film Festival, where he was serving as president of the international competition jury. Victoria is survived by Jones, Cloughley and her brother, Austin. The Daily Mail has contacted Tommy Lee Jones's representatives for comment, as well as the Fairmont San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department. Breaking story, check back for updates... Tommy Lee Jones's late daughter Victoria Jones had a drinking problem and loved starting boozed up fights, neighbors said - with court records showing she had multiple brushes with the law in the months before her death. The 34-year-old former child star's New Year's Day death in San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel came after a slew of arrests for disorderly behavior in the Bay Area. They will come as little surprise to Jones's neighbors, who say she was frequently a public nuisance in the upscale North Beach neighborhood. In May 2025, prosecutors in Napa charged Jones with obstructing a peace officer and two counts related to drug use and possession. She denied those charges in July and a settlement conference was due to take place later this month. In June 2025, Jones was in trouble with Napa prosecutors again. She was charged with domestic battery and accused of domestic violence involving elder abuse. The troubled Hollywood heiress denied those allegations too, with the charges also scheduled to be discussed at a settlement hearing in late January. No further details of Jones's alleged criminal behavior emerged and the identity of the elderly victim she's said to have attacked has not been disclosed. One San Francisco local told the Daily Mail that Jones was a notorious boozer known to be easy with her fists. Victoria Jones is pictured with her father Tommy Lee Jones at a 2017 movie premiere in Hollywood. The former child star had multiple run-ins with the law, with neighbors saying she'd suffered severe alcohol issues in her final months Tommy Lee Jones's daughter is pictured in a June 2025 mugshot. She was arrested in Napa, California, on suspicion of domestic violence Jones was found dead in a room at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel (pictured) in the early hours of New Year's Day. A 911 call reported her death as a possible overdose, but investigators say there was no drug paraphernalia close to her body She had a reputation in North Beach, said the source, who did not want to be named. She spent a lot of time palling around getting drunk in all sorts of confrontations at bars and restaurants. 'A lot of people say she just got into drunken fights, commotions over the course of time there.' North Beach is a historic Italian neighborhood a short distance from the Fairmont Hotel, where she was found dead. Jones's 79-year-old father has yet to comment on his daughter's tragic death. The veteran star, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for The Fugitive in 1994, resides in Texas with third wife Dawn Laurel, who he married in 2001. Jones's mother was Kimberlea Cloughley, who was married to the actor between 1981 and 1996. Tommy Lee and Cloughley also have a son, musician Austin Jones, who is Victoria's brother. Victoria is pictured with her father and his third wife Dawn Laurel-Jones during a trip to London in 2002 A corridor inside San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel on Thursday night. Attempts to revive Jones were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead without being taken to hospital Tommy Lee has yet to comment on the tragic death of his daughter. He has a son called Austin, who is Victoria's older brother Jones previously worked as a child actress and appeared alongside her father in Men in Black 2. Little is known about what, if anything, she had been doing for work in recent years. Emergency audio obtained by TMZ on Friday morning revealed that a 911 dispatcher was treating Jones's death as a possible overdose. Broadcastify audio of the call made just before 3am PT on January 1 described the discovery of Jones's body as 'a code 3 for the overdose, color change.' A code 3 denotes an emergency that requires urgent action with flashing lights and sirens. First responders tried to save Jones on arriving at the hotel but were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Jones's cause of death has yet to be established, despite her troubled past and 911 audio. An autopsy is now likely to take place. Sources told the Daily Mail that there was no drug paraphernalia near Jones's body. They added that there was no indication she'd met foul play or died by suicide. Love Island's Grace Jackson displayed her incredible figure in a latex dress as she partied with her boyfriend Luca Bish. The loved-up couple spent their first festive period together after meeting on the hit ITV2 dating series in January. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Grace shared an array of sultry snaps, taken by Luca, from their New Year's Eve celebrations. Grace turned heads for the evening in a skintight black latex midi dress from House of CB featuring a sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps. She lounged on a velvet sofa with her Chanel flap bag sat matching her ensemble, which was complete with stilettos. Grace's blonde locks were styled in bouffant waves and she was seen sipping on a glass of wine. Love Island's Grace Jackson displayed her incredible figure in a latex dress as she partied with her boyfriend Luca Bish in snaps seen on Instagram on Thursday Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Grace shared an array of sultry snaps, taken by Luca, from their New Year's Eve celebrations She captioned the snaps: 'Fun fact: ate my grapes at midnight last year, met the loml a month later. now we're spending ny together & he's my personal photographer.' It comes just days after parked marriage rumours as they shared a sweet Christmas post on Instagram on Sunday. The loved-up couple spent their first festive period together after meeting on the hit ITV2 dating series in January. Grace and Luca cosied up in matching white outfits as they posed by their Christmas tree before enjoying a winter walk together. However, in the carousel of photos a picture of a padlock with 'Luca and Grace Paris January 2026' engraved on it caught the eye of fans. This picture had many fans wondering what was happening in Paris, with some speculating that it signals a proposal while others urged Luca to 'put a ring' on Grace's finger. 'Paris 2026 [several ring emojis]', wrote one. Another added: 'Merry 1st Christmas together Luca & Grace, .. hmm whats happening in Paris in Jan? teasing us'. Grace turned heads for the evening in a skintight black latex midi dress from House of CB featuring a sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps She lounged on a velvet sofa with her Chanel flap bag sat matching her ensemble, which was complete with stilettos Grace's blonde locks were styled in bouffant waves and she was seen sipping on a glass of wine Last year Luca was slammed by fans for his over-the-top method of asking her to be his girlfriend, which bore a striking similarity to the way he asked his ex-girlfriend Gemma Owen to be 'official'. The Love Island stars found love on the latest series of All Stars earlier this year and came runners-up to winner Gabby Allen and Casey O'Gorman. As Luca took things to the next level with the blonde bombshell, eagle-eyed fans spotted several similarities between his latest OTT gesture to the one he did for ex Gemma after meeting on the ITV2 show the first time around. Luca and Grace enjoyed a lavish getaway to Abu Dhabi, and during the trip, he hired someone to set up a stunning, floral beach private dinner, which looked nearly identical to the red roses date he prepared for Gemma. The arrangement featured a pathway of roses on the beach and a neon sign at the end of the walkway with the question: 'Will you be my gf?' Luca also arranged a romantic candlelight dinner for his new girlfriend overlooking the ocean as the sun set. Love Island All Stars couple Grace Jackson and Luca Bish have sparked marriage rumours as they shared a sweet Christmas post on Instagram on Sunday This picture had many fans wondering what was happening in Paris, with some speculating that it signals a proposal while others urged Luca to 'put a ring' on Grace's finger During their first stints on Love Island, Luca coupled up with Gemma and made her his girlfriend shortly after leaving the villa. However, the couple called it quits shortly after. While Grace coupled up with her ex Joey Essex during the show in 2024, but ultimately left the villa with Rueben Collins. The pair split after the show, citing their long distance relationship as the reason for their split. Since August, much ink has been spilled about a tech-induced AI bubble that could crush the economy. Big-name investors like Michael Burry and Jim Chanos bet that today's high-flying AI stocks will tumble. Steve Eisman has warned the US could be headed for a 2008-style collapse. Ray Dalio, meanwhile, recommends investors pile some money into gold. But Tom Hulick, an investment veteran with 25 years of experience, says those fears may be missing where AI's real payoff is likely to show up. Hulick, the CEO of Strategy Asset Managers, a $1 billion wealth management firm, argues that skeptics are too fixated on the companies building AI and are overlooking the businesses quietly using it to make their operations leaner, faster and more profitable. 'Ray Dalio has a point of view,' he told the Daily Mail during a sit-down interview. 'But I am much more optimistic.' This year, major indexes have focused heavily on those tech leaders. Nearly 30 percent of the S&P 500 is concentrated in five companies: Google parent Alphabet, Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon, according to CNBC. Many of those firms are also pouring billions into AI infrastructure players with massive debt loads and limited revenue, including OpenAI and CoreWeave, further crowding cash into a small corner of the market. That focus, Hulick says, has distracted investors from how AI could quietly supercharge more ordinary, consumer-facing businesses by cutting costs and boosting efficiency. Wall Street investors have been fretting a potential AI bubble 'We are entering a phase where AI adoption is expected to generate measurable productivity gains across multiple industries,' he said. These gains may not be sexy, but to investors, they're hiding a potential cash bonanza. Take Walmart. Hulick said the retailer is utilizing AI to rethink the steel used in the cargo areas of its delivery vans. By optimizing materials and design, the company can fit more packages per vehicle, cut costs and improve efficiency gains that could directly boost its bottom line. And that could increase returns for investors. Those kinds of changes may not carry the excitement of betting on AI behemoths, like Nvidia or Palantir. But they can deliver steadier, more durable returns, especially for long-term investors. And for anyone with a 401(k), Hulick says AI is going to be transformative for company efficiency and, thus, for your investment. And for anyone with a 401(k), Hulick says AI is going to be transformative for company efficiency and, thus, for your investment Tom Hulick, CEO of Strategy Asset Managers, told the Daily Mail that AI's investment is paying off for companies that aren't on the front lines of the potential boom or bust He sees several sectors that could quickly become more profitable because of AI: firms with self-driving vehicles, medical robotics and customer delivery platforms. In particular, he's optimistic about Walmart, Waymo and Disney. 'When you are at an intersection, you will see Waymo cars communicating with delivery robots that operate on sidewalks,' Hulick said. 'This provides a cheaper, zero-emission and efficient service.' Hulick's advice mirrors that of other investment experts who have recently spoken to the Daily Mail. Eisman, a former portfolio manager at Oppenheimer & Co and Neuberger Berman, who was made famous when Steve Carell portrayed him in The Big Short, also remains bullish on AI. 'Look at the speed of adoption of ChatGPT, which reached 800 million users in only three years,' he previously told the Daily Mail. 'The internet took 13. AI is already delivering.' If 401(k) holders need to make any moves at all, Georgia Lord, head of financial planning at Corbett Road Wealth Management, said any future AI dips are the perfect time to add diverse stocks to investment portfolios. 'It's a little harder for those that maybe have just retired and are getting hit with this downfall now,' she said. 'But for those that are looking to stop working in the next few years, I really encourage them if they are not already working with a professional, to at least have an introductory conversation and get some advice.' Still, you may want to avoid the headline-grabbing tech investments with massive stock prices, Hulick argues. The real winners of the AI era may not be the companies making the loudest bets but the ones quietly using the technology to do everyday business better. Shares of Airtel Africa Plc (LON:AAF Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 359 and last traded at GBX 355.40, with a volume of 2345314 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 344.20. Airtel Africa Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 275.30, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 0.47. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 308.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 243.62. The company has a market capitalization of 12.95 billion, a PE ratio of 26.31, a P/E/G ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 1.04. Get Airtel Africa alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider Liisa Annika Poutiainen sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 278, for a total value of 8,340. Company insiders own 24.89% of the companys stock. Airtel Africa Company Profile Airtel Africa is a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries in Africa, primarily in East Africa and Central and West Africa. Airtel Africa offers an integrated suite of telecommunications solutions to its subscribers, including mobile voice and data services as well as mobile money services both nationally and internationally. The Group aims to continue providing a simple and intuitive customer experience through streamlined customer journeys. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Airtel Africa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Airtel Africa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:ABR Get Free Report) and Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends. Risk and Volatility Arbor Realty Trust has a beta of 1.39, suggesting that its stock price is 39% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Annaly Capital Management has a beta of 1.25, suggesting that its stock price is 25% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Arbor Realty Trust alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Arbor Realty Trust and Annaly Capital Management, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Arbor Realty Trust 4 2 1 0 1.57 Annaly Capital Management 1 4 5 0 2.40 Earnings and Valuation Arbor Realty Trust presently has a consensus target price of $9.63, suggesting a potential upside of 23.87%. Annaly Capital Management has a consensus target price of $21.86, suggesting a potential downside of 2.29%. Given Arbor Realty Trusts higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Arbor Realty Trust is more favorable than Annaly Capital Management. This table compares Arbor Realty Trust and Annaly Capital Managements gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Arbor Realty Trust $1.17 billion 1.30 $264.64 million $0.80 9.71 Annaly Capital Management $4.84 billion 3.16 $1.00 billion $2.16 10.36 Annaly Capital Management has higher revenue and earnings than Arbor Realty Trust. Arbor Realty Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Annaly Capital Management, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Arbor Realty Trust and Annaly Capital Managements net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Arbor Realty Trust 20.07% 11.63% 2.13% Annaly Capital Management 26.68% 15.96% 1.71% Dividends Arbor Realty Trust pays an annual dividend of $1.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 15.4%. Annaly Capital Management pays an annual dividend of $2.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 12.5%. Arbor Realty Trust pays out 150.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Annaly Capital Management pays out 129.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Annaly Capital Management has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. Institutional and Insider Ownership 57.3% of Arbor Realty Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 51.6% of Annaly Capital Management shares are held by institutional investors. 3.8% of Arbor Realty Trust shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Annaly Capital Management shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Annaly Capital Management beats Arbor Realty Trust on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks. About Arbor Realty Trust (Get Free Report) Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. invests in a diversified portfolio of structured finance assets in the multifamily, single-family rental, and commercial real estate markets in the United States. The company operates through Structured Business and Agency Business segments. It primarily invests in bridge and mezzanine loans, including junior participating interests in first mortgages, and preferred and direct equity, as well as real estate-related joint ventures, real estate-related notes, and various mortgage-related securities. In addition, the company offers bridge financing products to borrowers who seek short-term capital to be used in an acquisition of property; financing by making preferred equity investments in entities that directly or indirectly own real property; mezzanine financing in the form of loans that are subordinate to a conventional first mortgage loan and senior to the borrowers equity in a transaction; junior participation financing in the form of a junior participating interest in the senior debt; and financing products to borrowers who are looking to acquire conventional, workforce, and affordable single-family housing. Further, it underwrites, originates, sells, and services multifamily mortgage loans through conduit/commercial mortgage-backed securities programs. 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. Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Uniondale, New York. About Annaly Capital Management (Get Free Report) Annaly Capital Management, Inc., a diversified capital manager, engages in mortgage finance. The company invests in agency mortgage-backed securities collateralized by residential mortgages; non-agency residential whole loans and securitized products within the residential and commercial markets; mortgage servicing rights; agency commercial mortgage-backed securities; to-be-announced forward contracts; residential mortgage loans; and agency or private label credit risk transfer securities. It has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (REIT). As a REIT, it is not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is based in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for Arbor Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arbor Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Extra Space Storage Inc (NYSE:EXR Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Hold from the seventeen brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $147.00. A number of brokerages have issued reports on EXR. Wall Street Zen lowered Extra Space Storage from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. Truist Financial decreased their target price on Extra Space Storage from $150.00 to $142.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Extra Space Storage from $155.00 to $152.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 5th. Evercore ISI reissued a cautious rating on shares of Extra Space Storage in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $148.00 to $146.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Extra Space Storage Hedge Funds Weigh In On Extra Space Storage Extra Space Storage Stock Performance A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage in the 1st quarter valued at $534,000. Magnetar Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Extra Space Storage during the first quarter valued at about $517,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 2.9% in the first quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 137,057 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $20,352,000 after buying an additional 3,822 shares during the period. Vident Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 22.8% in the first quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 17,498 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,598,000 after acquiring an additional 3,244 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 67.1% during the first quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 52,798 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $7,840,000 after acquiring an additional 21,206 shares during the period. 99.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. EXR stock opened at $130.32 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $132.68 and a 200 day simple moving average of $140.49. The company has a market capitalization of $27.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.09, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. Extra Space Storage has a fifty-two week low of $121.03 and a fifty-two week high of $162.77. Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.08 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.06 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $858.46 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $736.26 million. Extra Space Storage had a net margin of 28.40% and a return on equity of 6.56%. Extra Space Storages revenue was up 4.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.07 EPS. Extra Space Storage has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.120-8.20 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Extra Space Storage will post 8.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Extra Space Storage Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th were issued a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.0%. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio is currently 144.64%. Extra Space Storage Company Profile (Get Free Report) Extra Space Storage (NYSE: EXR) is a real estate investment trust that specializes in the ownership, development and operation of self-storage properties. The company provides storage solutions for residential and commercial customers, offering a range of unit sizes, climate-controlled units and specialized options such as vehicle and boat storage. Extra Space Storage markets itself as a customer-focused operator, with online rentals, contactless move-in options and ancillary retail products like packing supplies and insurance to support tenant needs. Its business model combines property ownership with third-party management and development activities. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the eighteen ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $24.5313. Several research analysts have weighed in on IVZ shares. Bank of America increased their price objective on Invesco from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Invesco from $26.50 to $25.50 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Invesco from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Zacks Research cut shares of Invesco from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their target price on shares of Invesco from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Get Invesco alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on IVZ Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other Invesco news, Director Douglas J. Sharp sold 160,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.56, for a total transaction of $3,769,600.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 192 shares in the company, valued at $4,523.52. This trade represents a 99.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . 1.21% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in Invesco by 99.6% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 7,026,920 shares of the asset managers stock worth $106,598,000 after buying an additional 3,507,150 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco by 5,065.4% during the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,380,933 shares of the asset managers stock worth $53,317,000 after acquiring an additional 3,315,480 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Invesco during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $51,838,000. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Invesco by 35.4% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 11,028,524 shares of the asset managers stock worth $165,262,000 after acquiring an additional 2,882,928 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP bought a new position in Invesco in the third quarter valued at approximately $55,719,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.09% of the companys stock. Invesco Price Performance NYSE:IVZ opened at $26.30 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $11.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.89, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.65. The firms fifty day moving average price is $24.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $22.05. Invesco has a one year low of $11.60 and a one year high of $27.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 1.23. Invesco (NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The asset manager reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.17. Invesco had a net margin of 14.15% and a return on equity of 9.11%. The company had revenue of $1.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.17 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.44 EPS. Invescos quarterly revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Invesco will post 1.87 earnings per share for the current year. Invesco Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. Invescos payout ratio is 57.14%. About Invesco (Get Free Report) Invesco Ltd. is an independent global investment management firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IVZ). With origins dating back to 1935, the company is dedicated to offering a wide array of investment strategies and solutions to both individual and institutional clients worldwide. The firms product suite encompasses actively managed equity and fixed income funds, passive index funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closed-end funds, and unit investment trusts, alongside specialized offerings such as private markets, real estate, and structured products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twelve ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, three have given a buy recommendation and three have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $88.5455. A number of research analysts have recently commented on SR shares. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Spire from $93.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Bank of America raised shares of Spire from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the company from $76.00 to $89.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. BTIG Research upgraded Spire to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group raised Spire to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on Spire from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Get Spire alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on SR Hedge Funds Weigh In On Spire Spire Trading Down 0.4% Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Spire in the first quarter valued at about $415,000. Walleye Capital LLC raised its holdings in Spire by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Walleye Capital LLC now owns 4,352 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $341,000 after acquiring an additional 214 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in Spire in the 1st quarter valued at about $9,636,000. Ieq Capital LLC lifted its position in Spire by 9.6% during the first quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 6,354 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $497,000 after acquiring an additional 555 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Spire by 0.6% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 118,811 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $9,297,000 after acquiring an additional 691 shares during the period. 87.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Shares of NYSE:SR opened at $82.75 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $4.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.81, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 0.68. Spire has a 12 month low of $65.15 and a 12 month high of $91.11. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $85.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $80.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. Spire (NYSE:SR Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, November 14th. The utilities provider reported ($0.47) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.46) by ($0.01). Spire had a net margin of 10.96% and a return on equity of 8.78%. The firm had revenue of $334.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $439.56 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.54) EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Spire has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.650-5.850 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.250-5.450 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Spire will post 4.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. Spire Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 11th will be paid a $0.825 dividend. This is a boost from Spires previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 11th. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.0%. Spires dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 75.00%. About Spire (Get Free Report) Spire Inc (NYSE: SR), formerly known as The Laclede Group, is a regulated natural gas distribution company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Through its three operating divisionsSpire Missouri, Spire Alabama and Spire Mississippithe company delivers natural gas to more than 1.7 million residential, commercial and industrial customers. Spires service territory spans key markets in the central and southern United States, including metropolitan St. Louis, central Alabama and central Mississippi. Founded in 1857 as the Laclede Gas Light Company, the business has grown through strategic acquisitions, notably Alabama Gas Corporation in 2013 and Mississippi Gas in 2016. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Spire Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spire and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance High Yield ETF (NYSEARCA:EVHY Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 3,874 shares, a growth of 28.9% from the November 30th total of 3,006 shares. Approximately 1.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 23,341 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 23,341 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days. Approximately 1.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Eaton Vance High Yield ETF Price Performance Shares of Eaton Vance High Yield ETF stock opened at $53.00 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $53.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $53.22. Eaton Vance High Yield ETF has a 12-month low of $50.26 and a 12-month high of $53.63. Get Eaton Vance High Yield ETF alerts: Eaton Vance High Yield ETF Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Stories The Eaton Vance High Yield ETF (EVHY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund is actively managed, investing in a broad portfolio of US corporate high yield debt securities with varying maturities. The fund aims for high levels of income and capital growth EVHY was launched on Oct 16, 2023 and is issued by Eaton Vance. Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance High Yield ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance High Yield ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Getty Realty Corporation (NYSE:GTY Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the six analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $31.80. A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott began coverage on shares of Getty Realty in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. They issued a buy rating and a $30.00 target price for the company. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Getty Realty in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Getty Realty from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, September 13th. Get Getty Realty alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Getty Realty Getty Realty Stock Up 0.0% Shares of Getty Realty stock opened at $27.34 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $1.58 billion, a PE ratio of 21.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.85. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $27.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $27.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 2.00 and a current ratio of 2.00. Getty Realty has a 52-week low of $25.39 and a 52-week high of $32.17. Getty Realty (NYSE:GTY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.61 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $55.59 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $53.19 million. Getty Realty had a net margin of 34.76% and a return on equity of 7.60%. Getty Realty has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.420-2.430 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Getty Realty will post 2.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Getty Realty Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th will be given a dividend of $0.485 per share. This is a positive change from Getty Realtys previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 26th. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.1%. Getty Realtys payout ratio is presently 151.56%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Getty Realty Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in shares of Getty Realty by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 17,382 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $542,000 after purchasing an additional 1,145 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its position in Getty Realty by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 753,057 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $23,480,000 after buying an additional 30,403 shares during the period. Ieq Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Getty Realty in the 1st quarter worth about $203,000. Quarry LP raised its position in shares of Getty Realty by 32.1% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,706 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $116,000 after buying an additional 900 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Getty Realty during the 1st quarter valued at $2,543,000. 85.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Getty Realty (Get Free Report) Getty Realty Corp is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the acquisition, ownership and leasing of service station and convenience retail properties. The companys portfolio consists primarily of fee-simple and ground-leased sites, which are leased to major national and regional fuel and convenience store operators under long-term, triple-net leases. This structure provides Getty Realty with a stable stream of contractual rental income and limited operational responsibilities. Founded in 1981, Getty Realty became a publicly listed company in 2005 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTY. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Getty Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Getty Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ranpak (NYSE:PACK Get Free Report) and Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, risk and dividends. Insider & Institutional Ownership 85.9% of Ranpak shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.7% of Sonoco Products shares are owned by institutional investors. 8.7% of Ranpak shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Sonoco Products shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get Ranpak alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares Ranpak and Sonoco Productss revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ranpak $368.90 million 1.24 -$21.50 million ($0.44) -12.36 Sonoco Products $5.31 billion 0.81 $163.95 million $6.30 6.93 Sonoco Products has higher revenue and earnings than Ranpak. Ranpak is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sonoco Products, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Volatility & Risk Ranpak has a beta of 2.8, indicating that its share price is 180% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sonoco Products has a beta of 0.55, indicating that its share price is 45% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Ranpak and Sonoco Products net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ranpak -9.48% -6.79% -3.28% Sonoco Products 8.82% 20.49% 4.74% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Ranpak and Sonoco Products, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ranpak 1 1 2 0 2.25 Sonoco Products 1 4 4 0 2.33 Ranpak currently has a consensus price target of $7.50, indicating a potential upside of 37.87%. Sonoco Products has a consensus price target of $54.43, indicating a potential upside of 24.72%. Given Ranpaks higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Ranpak is more favorable than Sonoco Products. Summary Sonoco Products beats Ranpak on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Ranpak (Get Free Report) Ranpak Holdings Corp., together with its subsidiaries, provides product protection solutions and end-of-line automation solutions for e-commerce and industrial supply chains in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company offers protective packaging solutions, such as void-fill protective systems that convert paper to fill empty spaces in secondary packages and protect objects under the FillPak brand; cushioning protective systems, which convert paper into cushioning pads under the PadPak brand; and wrapping protective systems that create pads or paper mesh to wrap and protect fragile items, as well as to line boxes and provide separation when shipping various objects under the WrapPak, Geami, and ReadyRoll brands, as well as cold chain products, which are used to provide insulation for goods. It also offers end-of-line packaging automation products, which help end users automate the void filling and box closure processes after product packing is complete. The company sells its products to end users primarily through a distributor network, and directly to select end-users. Ranpak Holdings Corp. was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Concord Township, Ohio. About Sonoco Products (Get Free Report) Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging segments. The Consumer Packaging segment offers round and shaped rigid paper, steel, and plastic containers; metal and peelable membrane ends, closures, and components; thermoformed plastic trays and enclosures; and high-barrier flexible packaging products. The Industrial Paper Packaging segment provides paperboard tubes, cones, and cores; paper-based protective packaging products; and uncoated recycled paperboard products. It also offers various packaging materials, including plastic, paper, foam, and other specialty materials. Sonoco Products Company sells its products in various markets, which include paper, textile, film, food, packaging, construction, and wire and cable. The company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina. Receive News & Ratings for Ranpak Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ranpak and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (NYSEARCA:UUP Get Free Report) passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $27.93 and traded as low as $27.03. Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund shares last traded at $27.03, with a volume of 575,871 shares changing hands. Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund Stock Down 0.1% The company has a fifty day moving average of $27.93 and a two-hundred day moving average of $27.60. Get Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund alerts: Institutional Trading of Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund by 225.0% in the 3rd quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 975 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 675 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its holdings in Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund by 809.9% during the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 1,283 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,142 shares during the period. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund by 18.7% in the third quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 3,259 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 514 shares during the last quarter. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund in the second quarter worth about $100,000. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund in the third quarter worth about $176,000. Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund Company Profile PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (the Fund) is a separate series of PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Trust (the Trust). The Fund establishes long positions in certain futures contracts (the DX Contracts) with a view to tracking the changcBank Long US Dollar Index (USDX) Futures Index Excess Return (the Index), over time. The Fund seeks to track the Index by establishing long positions in DX Contracts accordingly. The Fund offers common units of beneficial interest (the Shares) only to certain eligible financial institutions (the Authorized Participants) in one or more blocks of 200,000 Shares, called a Basket. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the twenty-five brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $450.0952. Several equities research analysts have recently commented on PWR shares. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Quanta Services from $472.00 to $521.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Quanta Services from $469.00 to $517.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Roth Capital set a $500.00 price objective on shares of Quanta Services and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Quanta Services from $517.00 to $526.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on shares of Quanta Services from $432.00 to $428.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Get Quanta Services alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Quanta Services Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Trading of Quanta Services In other Quanta Services news, EVP Donald Wayne sold 14,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $443.81, for a total transaction of $6,213,340.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 34,575 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,344,730.75. This trade represents a 28.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, Director Bernard Fried sold 4,000 shares of Quanta Services stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $452.19, for a total transaction of $1,808,760.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 12,493 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,649,209.67. This trade represents a 24.25% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 32,002 shares of company stock valued at $14,295,857. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Activest Wealth Management raised its holdings in Quanta Services by 94.1% in the 3rd quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 66 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the period. Copia Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Quanta Services by 509.1% in the second quarter. Copia Wealth Management now owns 67 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Quanta Services during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. lifted its holdings in Quanta Services by 159.3% during the 2nd quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 70 shares of the construction companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its stake in Quanta Services by 213.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 72 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.49% of the companys stock. Quanta Services Trading Down 1.7% Quanta Services stock opened at $421.58 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $62.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 62.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.16. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $442.88 and a 200-day moving average of $410.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.34 and a quick ratio of 1.30. Quanta Services has a one year low of $227.08 and a one year high of $473.99. Quanta Services (NYSE:PWR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The construction company reported $3.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.24 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $7.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.41 billion. Quanta Services had a return on equity of 18.74% and a net margin of 3.74%.Quanta Servicess revenue was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.72 earnings per share. Quanta Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.330-10.830 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Quanta Services will post 9.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Quanta Services (Get Free Report) Quanta Services, Inc is a leading specialty contractor that provides comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the electric power, pipeline and energy, and communications markets. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company delivers engineering, procurement, construction, installation, maintenance and repair services that support the development, modernization and ongoing operation of critical energy and communications networks. In the electric power sector, Quanta works on transmission and distribution systems, substation construction and grid modernization projects that include integration of renewable generation and energy storage. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Quanta Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quanta Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Veolia Environnement SA (EPA:VIE Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of 29.46 and traded as high as 29.75. Veolia Environnement shares last traded at 29.72, with a volume of 467,813 shares trading hands. Veolia Environnement Trading Down 0.1% The firm has a fifty day moving average of 29.20 and a 200-day moving average of 29.46. About Veolia Environnement (Get Free Report) Veolia Environnement SA designs and provides water, waste, and energy management solutions worldwide. It operates through France and Special Waste Europe; Europe excluding France; Rest of the World; Water Technologies; and Other segments. The company is involved in resource management; customer relationship management; drinking water treatment and distribution; wastewater treatment; design and construction of treatment and network infrastructure; and sale of water treatment equipment, technologies, and facilities. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Veolia Environnement Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Veolia Environnement and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Wynnstay Group Plc (LON:WYN Get Free Report) passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 336.01 and traded as low as GBX 330. Wynnstay Group shares last traded at GBX 338.75, with a volume of 85,280 shares trading hands. Wynnstay Group Trading Up 1.9% The companys 50-day moving average is GBX 336.01 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 353.93. The company has a current ratio of 2.00, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.53. The firm has a market cap of 78.15 million, a PE ratio of 20.99 and a beta of 0.58. Get Wynnstay Group alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Wynnstay Group In other Wynnstay Group news, insider Rob Thomas purchased 2,891 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 345 per share, for a total transaction of 9,973.95. Also, insider David Christensen purchased 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 6th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 360 per share, for a total transaction of 10,800. Insiders have bought a total of 8,863 shares of company stock valued at $3,102,816 in the last three months. 4.14% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wynnstay Group Company Profile Wynnstay is a leading UK provider of agricultural supplies and services to farmers and rural communities, mainly in England and Wales. It manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of agricultural inputs for both livestock and arable farmers, including feed, seed and fertiliser. Through its crop marketing arm, GrainLink, it also provides a channel for arable farmers to sell their grain, and its specialist teams provide advice on the latest farming techniques, including environmental measures, and animal health and nutrition. Wynnstay supplies both direct-to-farm and via its extensive network of depots. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Wynnstay Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wynnstay Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Admiral Group plc (LON:ADM Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the six brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is GBX 2,851.67. A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ADM. UBS Group cut Admiral Group to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from GBX 3,950 to GBX 3,350 in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Peel Hunt cut shares of Admiral Group to a sell rating and lifted their price target for the company from GBX 2,270 to GBX 2,350 in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Get Admiral Group alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on ADM Admiral Group Price Performance Admiral Group Company Profile ADM stock opened at GBX 3,182.27 on Friday. The company has a market cap of 9.51 billion, a PE ratio of 11.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.18. The company has a current ratio of 7.57, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 115.01. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 3,179.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 3,302.40. Admiral Group has a 12-month low of GBX 2,486 and a 12-month high of GBX 3,686. (Get Free Report) Admiral Group plc is an established financial services provider offering motor, household, travel and pet insurance, as well as personal lending products, trading in five countries, namely the UK, France, Italy, Spain and the US. Founded in 1993, Admiral has grown to become an established multinational and multi-product insurer and is proud to be Wales only FTSE 100 Company. As the leading personal motor insurance provider in the UK, Admiral continues to focus on technology and agility, diversifying the businesses, and progressing with the evolution of motor. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Admiral Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Admiral Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ANA Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:ALNPY Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 8,890 shares, a decrease of 20.0% from the November 30th total of 11,116 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 11,241 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.8 days. Based on an average daily volume of 11,241 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.8 days. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are short sold. ANA Stock Performance Shares of ALNPY stock opened at $3.89 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $3.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.90. The stock has a market cap of $9.14 billion, a PE ratio of 9.97 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. ANA has a 12 month low of $3.40 and a 12 month high of $4.20. Get ANA alerts: ANA (OTCMKTS:ALNPY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The transportation company reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.14. ANA had a net margin of 6.30% and a return on equity of 12.88%. The company had revenue of $4.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. About ANA All Nippon Airways Co, Ltd. (OTCMKTS: ALNPY) is a Tokyo-based airline offering passenger and cargo air transportation services. Founded in 1952, the company operates scheduled flights under its ANA brand, providing a network of domestic and international routes. In addition to core flight operations, ANA delivers ancillary services including in-flight catering, ground handling and aircraft maintenance. ANAs diversified business model encompasses several subsidiaries such as ANA Wings and Air Japan for regional operations, and ANA Cargo for freight services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ANA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ANA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Volatility and Risk Debenhams has a beta of -0.62, suggesting that its stock price is 162% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Davide Campari-Milano has a beta of 0.95, suggesting that its stock price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Debenhams and Davide Campari-Milanos revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Debenhams alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Debenhams $3.07 billion 0.00 -$621.24 million ($2.02) 0.00 Davide Campari-Milano $2.06 billion 5.50 $345.41 million $0.26 37.88 Dividends Davide Campari-Milano has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Debenhams. Debenhams is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Davide Campari-Milano, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Debenhams pays an annual dividend of $0.02 per share and has a dividend yield of 200.0%. Davide Campari-Milano pays an annual dividend of $0.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. Debenhams pays out -1.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Davide Campari-Milano pays out 15.4% 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. Debenhams is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Profitability This table compares Debenhams and Davide Campari-Milanos net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Debenhams N/A N/A N/A Davide Campari-Milano N/A N/A N/A Summary Davide Campari-Milano beats Debenhams on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Debenhams (Get Free Report) Debenhams plc, through its subsidiaries, operates and franchises a range of department stores in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Denmark, and internationally. It provides women's wear, men's wear, kids wear, and lingerie, as well as beauty, home, furniture, gift and toy, electrical, Christmas, and others products. The company's brands primarily include The Collection, Mantaray, Maine New England, and Red Herring. It is also involved in online retailing business; and the operation of in-store cafes and restaurants. The company owns and operates 240 department stores in approximately 90 countries. Debenhams plc was founded in 1778 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. About Davide Campari-Milano (Get Free Report) Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and trades in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. Its product portfolio includes aperitifs, vodka, whisky, tequila, rum, gin, liqueurs, sparkling and still wines, and ready to drink products under approximately 50 brands. The company was founded in 1860 and is headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy. Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. is a subsidiary of Alicros S.p.A. Receive News & Ratings for Debenhams Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Debenhams and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Andritz (OTCMKTS:ADRZY Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $15.07, but opened at $16.1260. Andritz shares last traded at $16.1260, with a volume of 336 shares trading hands. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Zacks Research upgraded Andritz from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, September 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Andritz presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Andritz alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on ADRZY Andritz Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.11. The company has a market capitalization of $8.39 billion, a PE ratio of 15.66 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $15.05 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.80. Andritz (OTCMKTS:ADRZY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.27. Andritz had a net margin of 5.84% and a return on equity of 20.50%. The firm had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.24 billion. Equities analysts forecast that Andritz will post 1.1 EPS for the current year. Andritz Company Profile (Get Free Report) Andritz AG is a global technology group based in Graz, Austria, with a history dating back to its founding in 1852. The company specializes in providing equipment, systems, and services for industrial processes across four key business areas: Hydropower, Pulp & Paper, Metals, and Separation. Through a combination of engineering expertise and in-house manufacturing, Andritz develops tailored solutions that meet the demands of energy efficiency, resource optimization, and environmental sustainability. In its Hydropower division, Andritz designs and installs turbines, generators, and automation systems for run-of-river, reservoir and pumped storage plants. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Andritz Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Andritz and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BigBear.ai, Hut 8, Tempus AI, SoundHound AI, and Upstart are the five Artificial Intelligence stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Artificial intelligence stocks are shares of companies that develop AI algorithms, models, infrastructure (like AI chips and cloud services), or derive a significant portion of their revenue from AI-driven products and services. Investors view them as a thematic growth categoryoffering potential for strong long-term gains but typically accompanied by higher valuation sensitivity and technology- and execution-related risk. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Artificial Intelligence stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: BigBear.ai (BBAI) BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. provides artificial intelligence-powered decision intelligence solutions. It offers national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. The company also provides data ingestion, data enrichment, data processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, and predictive visualization solutions and services. Hut 8 (HUT) Hut 8 Corp., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, builds, manages, and operates data centers for digital assets mining, computing, and artificial intelligence in the United States. It operates in four segments: Digital Assets Mining, Managed Services, High Performance Computing Colocation and Cloud, and Other. Read Our Latest Research Report on HUT Tempus AI (TEM) Tempus AI Inc. is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence principally in healthcare. The company provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians to deliver personalized patient care and in parallel facilitates discovery, development and delivery of optimal therapeutics. Read Our Latest Research Report on TEM 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. Read Our Latest Research Report on SOUN 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 Featured Stories Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria S.A. (NYSE:BBVA Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $23.82 and last traded at $23.89, with a volume of 58201 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $23.31. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BBVA has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Zacks Research lowered shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. They issued an equal weight rating on the stock. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b+) rating on shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in a research report on Monday. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, December 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria alerts: View Our Latest Report on Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Stock Up 2.4% The business has a fifty day moving average of $21.63 and a 200 day moving average of $18.92. The firm has a market cap of $139.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.49, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.82. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The bank reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.01. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria had a net margin of 28.58% and a return on equity of 17.07%. The firm had revenue of $10.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.47 billion. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria S.A. will post 1.59 EPS for the current fiscal year. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 6th were given a $0.3736 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 361.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 6th. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentarias dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.41%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BBVA. Navigoe LLC acquired a new stake in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria during the third quarter worth about $26,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its stake in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 183.2% in the third quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 1,597 shares of the banks stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 1,033 shares during the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its position in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 105.9% during the second quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 1,845 shares of the banks stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 949 shares in the last quarter. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Westside Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,316 shares of the banks stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 1,158 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.96% of the companys stock. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Company Profile (Get Free Report) Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA) is a Spanish multinational financial services group headquartered in Bilbao, Spain. The bank traces its roots to several historic regional banks and was formed through a series of mergers that consolidated its position as one of Spains largest banking groups. BBVA operates as a universal bank offering a broad range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. BBVAs core businesses include retail and commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, private banking and wealth management, asset management, and insurance. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. reduced its holdings in Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) by 57.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 28,137 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 38,215 shares during the period. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S.s holdings in Bank of America were worth $1,451,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Albion Financial Group UT grew its position in Bank of America by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 13,031 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $672,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the period. Motive Wealth Advisors raised its position in Bank of America by 3.6% during the third quarter. Motive Wealth Advisors now owns 5,910 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $305,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares in the last quarter. Wynn Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Bank of America by 0.4% in the third quarter. Wynn Capital LLC now owns 47,063 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,428,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares during the period. Accelerate Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Bank of America by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Accelerate Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,637 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $239,000 after purchasing an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norris Perne & French LLP MI grew its stake in shares of Bank of America by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Norris Perne & French LLP MI now owns 5,278 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $272,000 after purchasing an additional 211 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.71% of the companys stock. Get Bank of America alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Bank of America from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Seaport Global Securities raised their target price on Bank of America from $59.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Bank of America from $58.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target 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. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on Bank of America from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Twenty-three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $58.59. Bank of America Price Performance NYSE:BAC opened at $54.98 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $53.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of $50.51. Bank of America Corporation has a 12 month low of $33.06 and a 12 month high of $56.54. The firm has a market cap of $401.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.98 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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. Bank of America had a return on equity of 10.76% and a net margin of 15.70%.The firm had revenue of $5.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $27.05 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.81 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bank of America Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th were issued a dividend of $0.28 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was 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%. About Bank of America (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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UnitedHealth Group, Johnson & Johnson, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic, Hims & Hers Health, and Tempus AI are the seven Healthcare stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Healthcare stocks are shares of companies involved in delivering medical products and servicessuch as pharmaceutical and biotech firms, medical device manufacturers, hospitals and clinics, and health insurerswhose revenues depend on clinical results, regulatory approvals, patents, and reimbursement policies. For investors, these stocks provide exposure to long-term healthcare demand and innovation but can be volatile due to scientific uncertainty, regulatory risk, and policy or pricing changes. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Healthcare stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: 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 Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (IRWD) Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a healthcare company, focuses on the development and commercialization of gastrointestinal (GI) products. It markets linaclotide, a guanylate cyclase type-C (GC-C) agonist for the treatment of adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation under the LINZESS name in the United States, Mexico, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and China, as well as under the CONSTELLA name in the Canada and European countries. Read Our Latest Research Report on IRWD 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 Medtronic (MDT) Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software. Read Our Latest Research Report on MDT 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 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 Featured Articles Shares of Bluebird Merchant Ventures Limited (LON:BMV Get Free Report) traded up 25% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as GBX 0.20 and last traded at GBX 0.20. 9,344,910 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 26% from the average session volume of 12,600,410 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.16. Bluebird Merchant Ventures Trading Up 18.8% The company has a current ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29. The firm has a market cap of 1.64 million, a PE ratio of -0.58 and a beta of 0.62. The business has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 0.31 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 0.80. Bluebird Merchant Ventures Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bluebird Merchant Ventures Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and developing of mineral properties. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It holds interests in the Gubong project and Kochang project located in South Korea. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Road Town, the British Virgin Islands. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bluebird Merchant Ventures Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bluebird Merchant Ventures and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF (NYSEARCA:CGDG Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 1,853,245 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 247% from the previous sessions volume of 534,032 shares.The stock last traded at $35.9260 and had previously closed at $35.64. Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF Stock Up 0.7% The company has a market capitalization of $4.02 billion, a PE ratio of 20.18 and a beta of 0.56. The companys 50 day moving average is $35.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $34.53. Get Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF alerts: Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 26th were given a dividend of $0.1841 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 26th. This is a positive change from Capital Group Dividend Growers ETFs previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF About Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CGDG. Trust Co. of Vermont purchased a new position in Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC purchased a new position in shares of Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF in the second quarter valued at $34,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc increased its position in Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF by 483.6% in the second quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 1,313 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 1,088 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF during the third quarter valued at $48,000. (Get Free Report) The Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF (CGDG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund actively selects dividend-paying companies globally that are attractively valued and believed to provide dividend growth. It employs a multi-manager approach to portfolio management. CGDG was launched on Sep 26, 2023 and is issued by Capital Group. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Free Report) had its target price increased by Mizuho from $34.00 to $36.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a neutral rating on the restaurant operators stock. Mizuhos target price would indicate a potential downside of 3.99% from the companys current price. Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $59.00 to $50.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $40.00 price objective (down previously from $60.00) on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Evercore ISI reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $45.00 target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a report on Friday, December 19th. Stephens reduced their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $48.00 to $35.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $58.00 to $40.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Chipotle Mexican Grill currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $49.87. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 1.3% NYSE:CMG traded up $0.50 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $37.50. 5,307,521 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,453,586. The company has a market capitalization of $49.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.19, a P/E/G ratio of 3.78 and a beta of 0.97. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a one year low of $29.75 and a one year high of $60.20. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $34.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $41.63. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The restaurant operator reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.29. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 45.39% and a net margin of 13.04%.The company had revenue of $3 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.06 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.27 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 1.29 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Chipotle Mexican Grill Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Triumph Capital Management acquired a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 9.4% during the 3rd quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 280,593 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $10,996,000 after acquiring an additional 24,050 shares in the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the third quarter worth $66,000. Maple Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.9% during the third quarter. Maple Capital Management Inc. now owns 365,616 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $14,328,000 after acquiring an additional 10,280 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Fin Capital Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.8% during the third quarter. Blue Fin Capital Inc. now owns 16,311 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $639,000 after acquiring an additional 449 shares in the last quarter. 91.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Chipotle Mexican Grill Company Profile (Get Free Report) Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast-casual restaurant company known for its Mexican-inspired menu of burritos, bowls, tacos and salads. Founded in 1993 by Steve Ells, the chain emphasizes fresh, customizable meals made from a limited menu of core ingredients and a focus on ingredient quality. Chipotle operates primarily company-owned restaurants and offers dine-in, takeout, catering and delivery through its own digital platforms and third-party partners. The company is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and traces its roots to Denver, Colorado. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clipper Realty Inc. (NYSE:CLPR Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 173,631 shares, a decrease of 15.8% from the November 30th total of 206,193 shares. Currently, 2.3% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 80,725 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.2 days. Based on an average trading volume of 80,725 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.2 days. Currently, 2.3% of the companys shares are short sold. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Zacks Research cut shares of Clipper Realty from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold. Get Clipper Realty alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Clipper Realty Clipper Realty Stock Up 1.1% CLPR stock opened at $3.83 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $3.65 and a 200 day moving average of $3.86. The firm has a market cap of $61.85 million, a PE ratio of -3.42 and a beta of 0.98. Clipper Realty has a twelve month low of $3.31 and a twelve month high of $5.16. Clipper Realty (NYSE:CLPR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.10 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $37.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $37.90 million. On average, research analysts expect that Clipper Realty will post 0.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Clipper Realty Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 26th were given a dividend of $0.095 per share. This represents a $0.38 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 26th. Clipper Realtys dividend payout ratio is -33.93%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Sam Levinson purchased 19,558 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 30th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $3.70 per share, for a total transaction of $72,364.60. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 79,410 shares in the company, valued at approximately $293,817. The trade was a 32.68% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders acquired a total of 58,263 shares of company stock valued at $216,184 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 53.01% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Clipper Realty by 35.5% during the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 11,194 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 2,930 shares during the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Clipper Realty in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Abel Hall LLC purchased a new stake in Clipper Realty during the 3rd quarter valued at $52,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Clipper Realty during the 2nd quarter valued at $70,000. Finally, Harpswell Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Clipper Realty in the 3rd quarter worth $72,000. Institutional investors own 37.57% of the companys stock. Clipper Realty Company Profile (Get Free Report) Clipper Realty Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and manages multifamily residential and mixeduse properties in the Greater New York metropolitan area. Since its initial public offering in early 2017, the company has focused on strategically sourcing apartment buildings and retail space in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with an emphasis on valueadd opportunities that can benefit from inhouse leasing, renovation and operational efficiencies. The companys primary activities include property acquisition, selective repositioning and asset management. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Clipper Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clipper Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBAPJ Get Free Report) announced a interim dividend on Thursday, January 1st, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Investors of record on Sunday, March 15th will be given a dividend of 1.115 per share on Sunday, March 15th. This represents a dividend yield of 110.0%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 4th. This is a 0.9% increase from Commonwealth Bank of Australias previous interim dividend of $1.11. Commonwealth Bank of Australia Stock Performance Commonwealth Bank of Australia Company Profile (Get Free Report) Commonwealth Bank of Australia provides financial services in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking Services, Business Banking, Institutional Banking and Markets, and New Zealand segments. The company offers transaction, savings, and foreign currency accounts; term deposits; personal and business loans; overdrafts; equipment finance; credit cards; international payment and trade; and private banking services, as well as home and car loans. It also provides retail, premium, business, offshore, and institutional banking services; and funds management, superannuation, and share broking products and services, as well as car, health, life, income protection, and travel insurance. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Commonwealth Bank of Australia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Commonwealth Bank of Australia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tristar Wellness Solutions (OTCMKTS:TWSI Get Free Report) and Shiseido (OTCMKTS:SSDOY Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, earnings, profitability and analyst recommendations. Insider and Institutional Ownership 0.0% of Shiseido shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Get Tristar Wellness Solutions alerts: Earnings & Valuation This table compares Tristar Wellness Solutions and Shiseidos top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Tristar Wellness Solutions N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Shiseido $6.55 billion 0.89 -$68.94 million ($0.94) -15.53 Tristar Wellness Solutions has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Shiseido. Risk & Volatility Tristar Wellness Solutions has a beta of 14.41, suggesting that its stock price is 1,341% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Shiseido has a beta of 0.36, suggesting that its stock price is 64% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent recommendations for Tristar Wellness Solutions and Shiseido, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Tristar Wellness Solutions 0 0 0 0 0.00 Shiseido 0 1 1 0 2.50 Profitability This table compares Tristar Wellness Solutions and Shiseidos net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Tristar Wellness Solutions N/A N/A N/A Shiseido -5.80% -1.36% -0.67% About Tristar Wellness Solutions (Get Free Report) TriStar Wellness Solutions, Inc. develops, markets, and sells wound care products. The company also offers skincare and other products under the Beaute de Maman name for pregnant and nursing women; bleeding and wound management products for surgical, health care, consumer, and military markets; and develops and markets Delivery Devise with Invertible Diaphragm, which is a medical applicator for delivering medicants and internal devices within the body without producing injury or damage. In addition, it develops over-the-counter itch suppression products; and develops, manufactures, and markets wound care and infection control medical devices. The company was formerly known as BioPack Environmental Solutions, Inc. and changed its name to TriStar Wellness Solutions, Inc. in January 2013. TriStar Wellness Solutions, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Portland, Oregon. On January 15, 2016, TriStar Wellness Solutions, Inc. filed a voluntary petition for liquidation under Chapter 7 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon. About Shiseido (Get Free Report) Shiseido Company, Limited engages in the production and sale of cosmetics in Japan and internationally. The company offers fragrances; and skincare and makeup products. It also engages in the restaurant and food, and retail businesses; and operates beauty salons. In addition, the company operates and supports SABFA, a professional hair makeup training school. Further, it offers childcare facilities. The company sells its products through department, specialized cosmetic, drug, and general merchandise stores. Shiseido Company, Limited was founded in 1872 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for Tristar Wellness Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tristar Wellness Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al raised its stake in Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP Free Report) by 52.3% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 9,900 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 3,400 shares during the period. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Als holdings in Credicorp were worth $2,636,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Credicorp during the 2nd quarter worth $110,945,000. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Credicorp by 853.1% during the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 319,076 shares of the banks stock valued at $59,399,000 after purchasing an additional 285,597 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Credicorp by 125.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 491,046 shares of the banks stock valued at $109,759,000 after purchasing an additional 273,305 shares during the period. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Credicorp by 125.8% in the 2nd quarter. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC now owns 474,565 shares of the banks stock valued at $106,075,000 after purchasing an additional 264,358 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in Credicorp by 67.9% in the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 528,259 shares of the banks stock worth $118,076,000 after purchasing an additional 213,651 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.81% of the companys stock. Get Credicorp alerts: Credicorp Stock Performance BAP stock opened at $285.67 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $267.62 and a 200 day simple moving average of $253.38. Credicorp Ltd. has a 52 week low of $165.51 and a 52 week high of $292.00. The stock has a market cap of $22.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.87, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.07. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Credicorp ( NYSE:BAP Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 13th. The bank reported $6.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.05 by $0.12. Credicorp had a net margin of 23.59% and a return on equity of 19.50%. The firm had revenue of $1.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.71 billion. Research analysts anticipate that Credicorp Ltd. will post 21.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. A number of research firms have commented on BAP. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Credicorp in a research note on Monday. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Credicorp from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, December 20th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Credicorp from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Credicorp from $242.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, November 21st. Finally, Hsbc Global Res raised shares of Credicorp to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $276.60. Read Our Latest Stock Report on BAP Credicorp Profile (Free Report) Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE: BAP) is a Lima-based financial services holding company that operates a diversified group of banking, insurance, and investment businesses. Established in the mid-1990s, Credicorps principal subsidiaries include Banco de Credito del Peru (BCP), Mibanco (microfinance), Credicorp Capital (investment banking and asset management) and Pacifico Seguros (insurance). The company serves retail, commercial and corporate clients and is one of the largest financial conglomerates in Peru. Through Banco de Credito del Peru and its retail network, Credicorp provides a full suite of banking products including deposit accounts, consumer and commercial loans, mortgages, payment and transaction services, and digital banking solutions. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Credicorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credicorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 7.9% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 19,766 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,447 shares during the period. Miracle Mile Advisors LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $15,081,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 114.3% during the 2nd quarter. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. now owns 77,295 shares of the companys stock worth $60,253,000 after acquiring an additional 41,222 shares in the last quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 15.3% during the second quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 294 shares of the companys stock worth $229,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 25.8% in the third quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 8,990 shares of the companys stock worth $6,859,000 after purchasing an additional 1,843 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 6.8% in the second quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 6,747 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,260,000 after buying an additional 429 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Family CFO Inc acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $54,000. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance Shares of LLY opened at $1,075.00 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $1,008.08 and a 200-day moving average of $848.52. The company has a market cap of $1.02 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.55. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $623.78 and a 1 year high of $1,111.99. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.42 by $0.60. The firm had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 109.52%. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 53.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.18 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a dividend of $1.73 per share. This is a boost from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is presently 33.86%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently commented on LLY shares. BMO Capital Markets set a $1,200.00 target price on Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They issued a sector outperform rating and a $1,165.00 price target for the company. Finally, HSBC reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $1,070.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,155.36. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LLY Eli Lilly and Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Endeavour Mining plc (OTCMKTS:EDVMF Get Free Report) shares were down 0.5% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $51.18 and last traded at $51.63. Approximately 10,344 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 64% from the average daily volume of 28,962 shares. The stock had previously closed at $51.87. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently weighed in on EDVMF. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating on shares of Endeavour Mining in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Endeavour Mining in a report on Sunday, December 7th. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Endeavour Mining in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Endeavour Mining in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Endeavour Mining presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Endeavour Mining alerts: View Our Latest Report on Endeavour Mining Endeavour Mining Stock Down 0.5% About Endeavour Mining The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $45.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $38.89. (Get Free Report) Endeavour Mining is a gold production company with primary operations across West Africa. The company focuses on the exploration, development and extraction of gold resources, operating a portfolio of mines and development projects in Cote dIvoire, Burkina Faso and Mali. Production is complemented by regional exploration programs designed to identify additional gold deposits and extend mine life across its project portfolio. Key operating assets include the Ity and Agbaou mines in Cote dIvoire, the Hounde mine in Burkina Faso and the Kalana project in Mali. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Endeavour Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Endeavour Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First National Bank Alaska (OTCMKTS:FBAK Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 1,095 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 265% from the previous sessions volume of 300 shares.The stock last traded at $292.00 and had previously closed at $299.75. First National Bank Alaska Trading Down 2.6% The company has a market cap of $925.64 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.95 and a beta of 0.18. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $286.98 and its 200-day moving average price is $273.71. Get First National Bank Alaska alerts: First National Bank Alaska (OTCMKTS:FBAK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The financial services provider reported $6.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. First National Bank Alaska had a return on equity of 14.98% and a net margin of 29.11%.The business had revenue of $56.17 million during the quarter. First National Bank Alaska Dividend Announcement About First National Bank Alaska The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 2nd were given a dividend of $4.00 per share. This represents a yield of 561.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. First National Bank Alaskas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 65.47%. (Get Free Report) First National Bank Alaska is a communityoriented financial institution headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. Established in 1922, the bank has grown to serve individuals, businesses and institutions across Alaska through a network of branch offices and digital channels. As an OTCtraded company, it offers broad commercial and consumer banking services tailored to the unique economic and geographic needs of the state. The banks consumer banking operations include checking and savings accounts, personal loans, mortgages and online banking solutions. Read More Receive News & Ratings for First National Bank Alaska Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First National Bank Alaska and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:FCPT Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as $22.78 and last traded at $23.1860, with a volume of 67922 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $23.06. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades FCPT has been the subject of a number of research reports. Evercore ISI lowered their target price on Four Corners Property Trust from $29.00 to $26.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Robert W. Baird set a $29.00 price target on shares of Four Corners Property Trust in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Four Corners Property Trust from $29.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Four Corners Property Trust from $27.00 to $25.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Four Corners Property Trust in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Four Corners Property Trust presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $28.00. Get Four Corners Property Trust alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on FCPT Four Corners Property Trust Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $23.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $25.01. The stock has a market cap of $2.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.34 and a beta of 0.85. Four Corners Property Trust (NYSE:FCPT Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The financial services provider reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $74.15 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $71.86 million. Four Corners Property Trust had a return on equity of 7.39% and a net margin of 38.04%.Four Corners Property Trusts quarterly revenue was up 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.43 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. will post 1.68 EPS for the current year. Four Corners Property Trust Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a $0.3665 dividend. This is a positive change from Four Corners Property Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.36. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.47 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.3%. Four Corners Property Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently 134.86%. Insider Activity at Four Corners Property Trust In related news, Director Douglas B. Hansen bought 1,984 shares of Four Corners Property Trust stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $23.64 per share, with a total value of $46,901.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 78,247 shares in the company, valued at $1,849,759.08. The trade was a 2.60% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Inspire Investing LLC raised its holdings in shares of Four Corners Property Trust by 2.2% in the second quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 17,495 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $471,000 after acquiring an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its position in Four Corners Property Trust by 80.1% during the 3rd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,041 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 463 shares during the period. Rye Brook Capital LLC increased its position in Four Corners Property Trust by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Rye Brook Capital LLC now owns 123,100 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,004,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of Four Corners Property Trust by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 29,730 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $725,000 after purchasing an additional 554 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in shares of Four Corners Property Trust by 3.1% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 18,912 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $509,000 after purchasing an additional 568 shares in the last quarter. 98.66% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Four Corners Property Trust (Get Free Report) Four Corners Property Trust is a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on acquiring and managing single-tenant commercial properties subject to long-term, triple-net leases. The company targets industrial, manufacturing, distribution, office and retail facilities leased to creditworthy tenants. By concentrating on net-lease structures, Four Corners seeks to generate stable, predictable income streams and mitigate operating cost variability. The firms core activities include sourcing off-market and broker-sourced acquisition opportunities, conducting rigorous credit and property due diligence, and structuring lease agreements that shift property taxes, insurance and maintenance expenses to tenants. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Four Corners Property Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Four Corners Property Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $3.80 and last traded at $3.7950, with a volume of 3247691 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $3.69. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GGB has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $4.60 price target (up previously from $4.00) on shares of Gerdau in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Gerdau in a research note on Monday. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Gerdau from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $4.60. Get Gerdau alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Gerdau Gerdau Stock Up 2.6% The companys fifty day simple moving average is $3.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $3.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a current ratio of 2.70, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Gerdau (NYSE:GGB Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.11 by ($0.01). Gerdau had a return on equity of 5.92% and a net margin of 4.38%.The company had revenue of $3.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.81 billion. Research analysts expect that Gerdau S.A. will post 0.46 EPS for the current year. Gerdau Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 12th were issued a dividend of $0.0521 per share. This represents a $0.21 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 12th. This is a boost from Gerdaus previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. Gerdaus payout ratio is 74.07%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gerdau in the first quarter valued at about $30,134,000. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Gerdau by 162.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 12,984,389 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $37,914,000 after purchasing an additional 8,039,814 shares during the last quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. purchased a new stake in Gerdau in the 2nd quarter worth about $17,440,000. Causeway Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Gerdau by 169.2% in the third quarter. Causeway Capital Management LLC now owns 7,189,270 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $22,287,000 after buying an additional 4,519,092 shares during the period. Finally, Kawa Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Gerdau during the 1st quarter worth approximately $6,011,000. Institutional investors own 1.49% of the companys stock. Gerdau Company Profile (Get Free Report) Gerdau SA is a Brazilian-based steel producer engaged in the manufacture and distribution of long steel products for the construction, industrial and agricultural sectors. Established in 1901, the company operates an integrated network of electric-arc furnaces and rolling mills, producing reinforcement bars, wire rod, merchant bars and structural shapes. Gerdaus product portfolio also includes specialty long steel, high-yield reinforcement, rail, beams and steel coils, as well as value-added processing services such as cutting, bending and coating. The company has expanded its footprint beyond Brazil, with significant operations in North America, South America and a presence in select European markets. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Gerdau Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gerdau and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD (OTCMKTS:GOVB Get Free Report) shares passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $15.91 and traded as high as $17.50. Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD shares last traded at $17.50, with a volume of 3,200 shares changing hands. Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD Stock Performance The companys fifty day simple moving average is $15.98 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.76. The company has a market capitalization of $18.38 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.31 and a beta of 0.56. Get Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD alerts: Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD (OTCMKTS:GOVB Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $2.17 million during the quarter. About Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc operates as the holding company for Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association that provides various banking products and services to individuals and businesses in New York. It accepts passbook savings, NOW, money market deposit, and checking accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company's loan products include mortgage loans, one- to four-family residential loans, commercial real estate loans, and multi-family residential real estate loans, residential and commercial construction loans, commercial land loans, home equity loans, lines of credit, commercial loans, automobiles, motorcycles, campers, boats, and other recreational vehicles, as well as personal secured and unsecured loans. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gouverneur Bancorp Inc./MD and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nazrin Abdul The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) will take place in Antalya, Turkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, according to an announcement by Turkiyes Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. As reported by Azernews, Australia has transferred the hosting rights to Turkiye and withdrawn from the co-chair role, paving the way for Antalya to host the global climate summit in 2026. In a statement, the Ministry said: COP31 will be held in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026. Turkiye will become a hub of climate diplomacy. The conference is expected to bring together world leaders, policymakers, climate experts, and civil society representatives to advance global action on climate change and sustainability. Guyasuta Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 1.5% 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 262,452 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 3,853 shares during the period. Chevron makes up 2.3% of Guyasuta Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Guyasuta Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Chevron were worth $40,756,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Wealth Management Associates Inc. raised its holdings in Chevron by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter. Wealth Management Associates Inc. now owns 7,880 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,224,000 after acquiring an additional 547 shares during the last quarter. Financial Consulate Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Chevron during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $573,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC grew its position in shares of Chevron by 23.8% in the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 3,579 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $550,000 after purchasing an additional 687 shares in the last quarter. Pine Haven Investment Counsel Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Chevron in the third quarter valued at approximately $201,000. Finally, West Branch Capital LLC lifted its position in Chevron by 6.9% during the third quarter. West Branch Capital LLC now owns 15,177 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,357,000 after buying an additional 982 shares in the last quarter. 72.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Chevron alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Chevron In related news, Director John B. Hess sold 275,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 20th. The shares were 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 of the companys stock, valued at $170,052,783.75. This trade represents a 19.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CVX has been the subject of several analyst reports. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating and issued a $160.00 target price (down from $170.00) on shares of Chevron in a report on Friday, October 17th. HSBC set a $169.00 price target on shares of Chevron and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Chevron from $190.00 to $196.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Chevron from $160.00 to $158.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Chevron from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Chevron has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $166.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CVX Chevron Stock Performance NYSE:CVX opened at $152.44 on Friday. Chevron Corporation has a 52 week low of $132.04 and a 52 week high of $168.96. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $151.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $152.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The company has a market cap of $306.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 9.15 and a beta of 0.70. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $1.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.14. Chevron had a return on equity of 8.74% and a net margin of 6.57%.The firm had revenue of $48.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $46.99 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.48 earnings per share. Chevrons revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Chevron Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 18th were paid a dividend of $1.71 per share. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 18th. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is presently 96.20%. Chevron 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Hannover Ruck SE (OTCMKTS:HVRRY Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $52.28, but opened at $50.88. Hannover Ruck shares last traded at $50.88, with a volume of 1,969 shares traded. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently commented on HVRRY. UBS Group upgraded shares of Hannover Ruck from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, September 12th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of Hannover Ruck from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Hannover Ruck from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Hannover Ruck alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Hannover Ruck Hannover Ruck Stock Down 2.8% The company has a current ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The firm has a market cap of $36.63 billion, a PE ratio of 13.32 and a beta of 0.35. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $50.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $50.32. Hannover Ruck (OTCMKTS:HVRRY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 10th. The financial services provider reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.07 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $8.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.27 billion. Hannover Ruck had a return on equity of 19.35% and a net margin of 9.44%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Hannover Ruck SE will post 3.42 earnings per share for the current year. Hannover Ruck Company Profile (Get Free Report) Hannover Ruck (OTCMKTS: HVRRY), commonly known as Hannover Re, is a global reinsurance group headquartered in Hannover, Germany. The company underwrites treaty and facultative reinsurance across a broad spectrum of risks, including property & casualty and life & health lines. Its product suite encompasses traditional proportional and nonproportional treaty contracts, facultative placements, structured reinsurance, retrocession, and capital marketlinked solutions such as insurancelinked securities, tailored to transfer and manage insurance risk for primary insurers and other reinsurers. Founded in the 1960s, Hannover Re has developed into one of the major international reinsurers, building a presence across Europe, the Americas, AsiaPacific and other global markets. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hannover Ruck Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hannover Ruck and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AAC Technologies (OTCMKTS:AACAY Get Free Report) and Vishay Precision Group (NYSE:VPG Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and risk. Volatility and Risk AAC Technologies has a beta of 1.33, indicating that its share price is 33% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Vishay Precision Group has a beta of 0.83, indicating that its share price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get AAC Technologies alerts: Valuation and Earnings This table compares AAC Technologies and Vishay Precision Groups revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio AAC Technologies $3.80 billion 1.60 $249.99 million $0.06 86.50 Vishay Precision Group $306.52 million 1.68 $9.91 million $0.60 64.45 AAC Technologies has higher revenue and earnings than Vishay Precision Group. Vishay Precision Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than AAC Technologies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for AAC Technologies and Vishay Precision Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score AAC Technologies 0 0 0 0 0.00 Vishay Precision Group 0 2 2 0 2.50 Vishay Precision Group has a consensus target price of $38.83, indicating a potential upside of 0.42%. Given Vishay Precision Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Vishay Precision Group is more favorable than AAC Technologies. Institutional and Insider Ownership 87.6% of Vishay Precision Group shares are held by institutional investors. 7.7% of Vishay Precision Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares AAC Technologies and Vishay Precision Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets AAC Technologies N/A N/A N/A Vishay Precision Group 2.65% 2.02% 1.45% Summary Vishay Precision Group beats AAC Technologies on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About AAC Technologies (Get Free Report) AAC Technologies Holdings Inc., an investment holding company, provides solutions for smart devices in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, other Asian countries, the United States, and Europe. The company operates through Acoustics Product, Electromagnetic Drives and Precision Mechanics, Optics Products, Sensor and Semiconductor Products, and other products segments. It provides acoustics products for smartphones, laptops, mid-range tablets, and smart glasses; and manufactures and sells haptic motors that are used in smartphones, smart watches, tablets, intelligent automobiles, game controllers, and virtual reality/augmented reality controllers. The company also offers precision mechanics comprising metal casing products; optical lenses, camera modules, and optical actuators, as well as voice coil motor products; and micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and ASIC chips design, packaging, and testing services for consumer electronics, automotive, smart wearables, robotics, IoT, and other sectors. In addition, it provides research and development services; manufactures and sells tooling and precision components, electronic components, and related accessories; and provides electroplating services, as well as engages in investment activities. The company was formerly known as AAC Acoustic Technologies Holdings Inc. and changed its name to AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. in May 2011. AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, the People's Republic of China. About Vishay Precision Group (Get Free Report) Vishay Precision Group, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets specialized sensors, weighing solutions, and measurement systems in the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, and Canada. It operates through three segments: Sensors, Weighing Solutions, and Measurement Systems. Its product portfolio includes precision resistors, strain gages, load cells and force measurement transducers, on-board weighing systems, and process weighing products; rolling force measuring load cell systems and pressure transmitters; web tension measurement load cells and systems; and optical strip width gages; and laser velocimeters for speed and length measurements and closed-loop crop optimization control systems for optimal strip cuts. The company also offers data acquisition systems and sensors for product safety testing; thermal-mechanical simulation systems for metallurgical research; and conditioning, data acquisition and control systems, as well as electronic displays, signal processors, microelectromechanical system sensors, cabling, system software, and communications software/hardware. Its products are used in industrial comprising waste management, bulk hauling, logging, scales manufacturing, engineering systems, pharmaceutical, oil, chemical, steel, paper, and food industries, as well as test and measurement, steel, medical, construction, agricultural, and consumer markets. The company offers its products under the Alpha Electronics, Powertron, Vishay Foil Resistors, Micro-Measurements, APR, Celtron, Revere, Sensortronics, Tedea-Huntleigh, Stress-tek, Vulcan, BLH Nobel, KELK, and DTS brands. Vishay Precision Group, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Receive News & Ratings for AAC Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AAC Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Heidelberg Materials (OTCMKTS:HDLMY Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $52.54, but opened at $51.31. Heidelberg Materials shares last traded at $53.24, with a volume of 791 shares. Analyst Ratings Changes HDLMY has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays upgraded shares of Heidelberg Materials from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of Heidelberg Materials from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Heidelberg Materials from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Friday, December 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold. Get Heidelberg Materials alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on HDLMY Heidelberg Materials Stock Up 0.2% About Heidelberg Materials Heidelberg Materials (OTCMKTS: HDLMY) is a Germanybased multinational building materials company with a core focus on cement production, aggregates, readymixed concrete, asphalt, and other construction solutions. As one of the worlds leading cement producers, the company supplies essential raw and processed materials used in infrastructure, commercial, and residential construction projects. Its product portfolio also encompasses specialty cement, mineral additives, and tailored concrete technologies designed to meet diverse engineering and environmental requirements. Operating in more than 50 countries across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, Heidelberg Materials maintains an extensive network of production facilities and distribution channels. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Heidelberg Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Heidelberg Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hugo Boss (OTCMKTS:BOSSY Get Free Report)s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $8.05, but opened at $8.61. Hugo Boss shares last traded at $8.61, with a volume of 101 shares changing hands. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Kepler Capital Markets upgraded Hugo Boss to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Hugo Boss currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Hugo Boss alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Hugo Boss Hugo Boss Stock Up 5.6% The stock has a market capitalization of $2.93 billion, a PE ratio of 11.81 and a beta of 0.63. The stocks 50-day moving average is $8.67 and its 200 day moving average is $9.30. Hugo Boss (OTCMKTS:BOSSY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.01. Hugo Boss had a net margin of 5.31% and a return on equity of 15.59%. The company had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.01 billion. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Hugo Boss will post 0.63 EPS for the current year. Hugo Boss Company Profile (Get Free Report) Hugo Boss AG is a German luxury fashion group that designs, produces and distributes a broad range of apparel, accessories and footwear under its two core brands, BOSS and HUGO. The companys product portfolio spans mens and womens business wear, casual collections and athleisure, as well as fragrances, eyewear and leather goods. Hugo Boss operates through a multi-channel network that includes directly operated retail stores, e-commerce platforms and wholesale partnerships with department stores and specialty retailers. Founded in 1924 by Hugo Ferdinand Boss and headquartered in Metzingen, Germany, the company originally produced workwear and uniforms before pivoting to high-end fashion in the latter half of the 20th century. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hugo Boss Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hugo Boss and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust (NYSEARCA:FXB Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of 0.2389 per share by the exchange traded fund on Thursday, January 8th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. This is a 1.2% increase from Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.24. Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust Stock Up 0.2% NYSEARCA FXB opened at $129.75 on Friday. Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust has a 1-year low of $116.74 and a 1-year high of $132.44. The company has a 50 day moving average of $127.66 and a 200-day moving average of $128.92. Get Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust by 578.2% during the 2nd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 23,737 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,137,000 after purchasing an additional 20,237 shares during the period. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust during the third quarter worth approximately $2,048,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,537,000. Focus Partners Wealth boosted its stake in Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust by 195.2% in the third quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 8,649 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,119,000 after acquiring an additional 5,719 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust in the second quarter valued at approximately $607,000. About Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust Guggenheim CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust, formerly CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust, is a grantor trust. The Trust issues shares (the Shares) in blocks of 50,000 (a Basket) in exchange for deposits of British Pound Sterling and distributes British Pound Sterling in connection with the redemption of Baskets. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price of British Pound Sterling plus accrued interest. The Shares are intended to offer investors an opportunity to participate in the market for the British Pound Sterling through an investment in securities. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF (TSE:XEU Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$38.02 and last traded at C$37.80, with a volume of 1562 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$37.62. iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF Trading Up 0.6% The businesss 50 day moving average is C$37.17 and its 200 day moving average is C$36.04. iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF Company Profile (Get Free Report) The investment objective of the Fund is to provide long-term capital growth by replicating, to the extent possible, the performance of the MSCI Europe Investable Market Index (the Index), net of expenses. To achieve its investment objective the Fund uses an indexing strategy. Under this strategy, the Fund seeks to replicate the performance of the Index, net of expenses, by employing, directly or indirectly, through investment in one or more iShares ETFs and/or through the use of derivatives, a replicating strategy or sampling strategy. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report) by 114.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,692 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,855 shares during the quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporateds holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $2,858,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in QUAL. Keener Financial Planning LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the second quarter worth $29,000. CoreFirst Bank & Trust acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 1st quarter worth $37,000. CX Institutional increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 151.9% in the 2nd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 204 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $40,000. Get iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Stock Performance Shares of QUAL stock opened at $198.73 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.59 and a beta of 1.05. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a one year low of $148.34 and a one year high of $187.26. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $197.17 and its 200-day simple moving average is $191.11. About iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector. QUAL was launched on Jul 18, 2013 and is managed by BlackRock. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QUAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Block (NYSE:XYZ Get Free Report) had its price objective decreased by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $90.00 to $85.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the technology companys stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods price objective would suggest a potential upside of 31.46% from the companys current price. XYZ has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Block in a research report on Monday. Citigroup upgraded Block to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Block to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $80.00 target price on shares of Block in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Finally, BTIG Research reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $90.00 price target on shares of Block in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have given a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Block currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $83.12. Get Block alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Block Block Trading Down 0.7% NYSE XYZ traded down $0.43 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $64.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,263,160 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,185,367. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $66.08 and a 200 day moving average of $71.26. The company has a quick ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.02, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 2.66. Block has a twelve month low of $44.27 and a twelve month high of $94.25. Block (NYSE:XYZ Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The technology company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $6.11 billion during the quarter. Block had a return on equity of 5.54% and a net margin of 12.99%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.53 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Block will post 2.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at Block In other Block news, insider Chrysty Esperanza sold 3,608 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.40, for a total transaction of $221,531.20. Following the transaction, the insider owned 123,198 shares in the company, valued at $7,564,357.20. This represents a 2.85% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Brian Grassadonia sold 8,085 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.96, for a total value of $500,946.60. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 521,352 shares in the company, valued at $32,302,969.92. This represents a 1.53% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 84,243 shares of company stock valued at $5,844,695. Insiders own 10.85% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC grew its position in shares of Block by 12.4% in the 4th quarter. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 65,930 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $4,291,000 after buying an additional 7,287 shares during the last quarter. Finivi Inc. boosted its position in Block by 3.2% during the third quarter. Finivi Inc. now owns 10,877 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $786,000 after acquiring an additional 341 shares during the last quarter. AIA Group Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Block during the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,058,000. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board acquired a new stake in shares of Block during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,814,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in shares of Block during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.44% of the companys stock. About Block (Get Free Report) Block (NYSE:XYZ) is a financial technology company that builds products and services to facilitate electronic payments, commerce, and consumer finance. Its principal business lines include a seller-focused ecosystem that provides point-of-sale hardware and software, payment processing, invoicing, payroll and lending services, and a consumer-facing platform that offers peer-to-peer payments, banking-like features, and investing. Blocks portfolio also encompasses music streaming and buy-now-pay-later capabilities through businesses acquired to broaden its reach beyond core payments. The company was founded as Square in 2009 by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey and later rebranded to Block to reflect a diversified set of businesses across payments, consumer finance, and emerging technologies. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Block Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Block and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of LiveWire Group, Inc. (NYSE:LVWR Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $4.61, but opened at $4.48. LiveWire Group shares last traded at $4.57, with a volume of 221 shares. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (e+) rating on shares of LiveWire Group in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to data from MarketBeat, LiveWire Group has a consensus rating of Sell. Get LiveWire Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LVWR LiveWire Group Trading Up 1.7% The businesss fifty day moving average price is $4.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.50. The company has a market capitalization of $917.14 million, a P/E ratio of -11.56 and a beta of 1.77. LiveWire Group (NYSE:LVWR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $5.70 million during the quarter. LiveWire Group had a negative return on equity of 90.76% and a negative net margin of 320.10%. Institutional Trading of LiveWire Group Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its stake in LiveWire Group by 82.0% during the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 6,751 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 3,042 shares in the last quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey bought a new stake in shares of LiveWire Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in shares of LiveWire Group by 117.6% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 9,363 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 5,060 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in LiveWire Group by 119.5% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 10,676 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 5,812 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new position in LiveWire Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $55,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.88% of the companys stock. LiveWire Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) LiveWire Group Inc (NYSE: LVWR) is an independent electric vehicle manufacturer specializing in high-performance two-wheelers and innovative urban mobility solutions. Established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson Inc in 2018, the company was spun off in September 2022 following a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company, commencing trading as LiveWire Group. Since then, LiveWire has focused on scaling its core electric motorcycle business and developing a new generation of connected, battery-powered vehicles. LiveWires product lineup is anchored by its first production model, the LiveWire One, known for its rapid acceleration, long-range battery architecture and integrated connectivity features. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for LiveWire Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LiveWire Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mattern Capital Management LLC raised its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 35.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 12,502 shares of the credit services providers stock after buying an additional 3,243 shares during the period. Mattern Capital Management LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $7,111,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MA. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC bought a new position in Mastercard in the second quarter valued at about $11,421,213,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Mastercard by 55,868.1% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,421,148 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $7,541,880,000 after purchasing an additional 13,397,168 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Mastercard during the 2nd quarter valued at about $6,725,317,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 25.6% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,372,404 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $3,580,909,000 after purchasing an additional 1,299,977 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 78,475,807 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $44,098,695,000 after purchasing an additional 931,132 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MA has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Compass Point set a $620.00 price target on shares of Mastercard and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $713.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Citigroup raised shares of Mastercard to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $657.48. Mastercard Stock Down 1.1% Shares of Mastercard stock opened at $570.96 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $512.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.40, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 1.12. The business has a 50-day moving average of $555.91 and a two-hundred day moving average of $565.60. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $465.59 and a 1 year high of $601.77. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.31 by $0.07. Mastercard had a return on equity of 202.03% and a net margin of 45.28%.The business had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.89 EPS. Mastercards quarterly revenue was up 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current year. Mastercard Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 9th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This is a positive change from Mastercards previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 9th. Mastercards payout ratio is currently 19.44%. Mastercard Company Profile (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated is a global payments technology company that operates a network connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories. The company facilitates electronic payments and transaction processing for credit, debit and prepaid card products carrying the Mastercard brand, while also providing a range of payment-related services to issuers, acquirers and merchants. Its technology and network enable authorization, clearing and settlement of payments and support a broad set of use cases including point-of-sale, e-commerce and mobile payments. Beyond core transaction processing, Mastercard offers a suite of value-added services such as fraud and risk management, identity and authentication tools, tokenization and digital wallet support, cross-border and commercial payment solutions, and data analytics and consulting services for merchants and financial partners. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC boosted its stake in McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report) by 14.8% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 28,888 shares of the fast-food giants stock after acquiring an additional 3,725 shares during the quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $8,779,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MCD. Retirement Guys Formula LLC grew its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Retirement Guys Formula LLC now owns 4,505 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $1,369,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Relyea Zuckerberg Hanson LLC boosted its position in McDonalds by 4.4% during the third quarter. Relyea Zuckerberg Hanson LLC now owns 6,440 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $1,957,000 after purchasing an additional 273 shares during the last quarter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC grew its stake in McDonalds by 70.8% in the third quarter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC now owns 3,827 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $1,163,000 after purchasing an additional 1,586 shares in the last quarter. Three Magnolias Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in McDonalds by 27.2% in the 3rd quarter. Three Magnolias Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,403 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $426,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Braun Stacey Associates Inc. raised its stake in shares of McDonalds by 10.4% during the 3rd quarter. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. now owns 11,505 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $3,496,000 after purchasing an additional 1,080 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get McDonald's alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently weighed in on MCD shares. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $381.00 to $375.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Barclays cut their price target on shares of McDonalds from $362.00 to $358.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $360.00 to $350.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Piper Sandler restated a neutral rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of McDonalds in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $335.00 price target on McDonalds in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $324.57. McDonalds Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:MCD opened at $305.65 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $307.93 and its 200-day moving average is $304.21. The company has a market cap of $217.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 0.53. McDonalds Corporation has a 52-week low of $276.53 and a 52-week high of $326.32. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly 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 negative return on equity of 280.89% and a net margin of 32.04%.The business had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.23 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current year. McDonalds Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a $1.86 dividend. This is a boost from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. McDonaldss payout ratio is currently 63.48%. Insider Activity at McDonalds In other news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total transaction of $795,520.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,005,760. This trade represents a 28.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 3,195 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.82, for a total value of $977,094.90. Following the sale, the insider owned 6,088 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,861,832.16. This represents a 34.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 42,516 shares of company stock worth $13,036,090. 0.25% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About McDonalds (Free Report) McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is a global quick-service restaurant company best known for its hamburgers, French fries and breakfast offerings. The company develops, operates and franchises a system of restaurants that sell a range of food and beverage items, including signature products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, McCafe coffee beverages and a variety of salads, desserts and seasonal menu items. McDonalds serves customers through company-operated restaurants and franchised locations, and it supports sales via dine-in, drive-thru, digital ordering platforms and third-party delivery partnerships. Founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a single San Bernardino, California restaurant, the business was transformed into a franchising model after Ray Kroc joined in the mid-1950s and led the brands national and international expansion. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Merit Financial Group LLC increased its position in General Motors Company (NYSE:GM Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) by 8.4% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 93,508 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after acquiring an additional 7,217 shares during the quarter. Merit Financial Group LLCs holdings in General Motors were worth $5,701,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Sowell Financial Services LLC grew its position in shares of General Motors by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 6,834 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $336,000 after buying an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of General Motors by 4.1% in the second quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,163 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $254,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares in the last quarter. Certuity LLC lifted its stake in General Motors by 3.6% in the second quarter. Certuity LLC now owns 6,043 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $297,000 after acquiring an additional 209 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its stake in General Motors by 4.8% in the second quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 5,519 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $272,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the period. Finally, Cromwell Holdings LLC grew its holdings in General Motors by 7.7% during the 2nd quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 3,591 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $177,000 after acquiring an additional 256 shares in the last quarter. 92.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get General Motors alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other General Motors news, CAO Christopher Hatto sold 7,724 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.00, for a total value of $556,128.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 12,007 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $864,504. This trade represents a 39.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, President Mark L. Reuss sold 260,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.45, for a total transaction of $17,316,870.00. Following the sale, the president directly owned 98,006 shares in the company, valued at $6,512,498.70. This trade represents a 72.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 284,021 shares of company stock valued at $18,971,788 over the last quarter. 0.54% of the stock is owned by company insiders. General Motors Stock Performance Shares of GM stock opened at $81.37 on Friday. General Motors Company has a 12-month low of $41.60 and a 12-month high of $83.68. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $74.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $62.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The company has a market cap of $75.91 billion, a PE ratio of 16.37, a PEG ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.31. General Motors (NYSE:GM Get Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The auto manufacturer reported $2.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.32 by $0.48. General Motors had a return on equity of 12.29% and a net margin of 1.62%.The firm had revenue of $48.59 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $44.60 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.96 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. General Motors has set its FY 2025 guidance at 9.750-10.500 EPS. Analysts expect that General Motors Company will post 11.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. General Motors Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th were given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 5th. General Motorss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.07%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently commented on GM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of General Motors from $60.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, September 30th. Tigress Financial boosted their price objective on shares of General Motors from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on General Motors from $81.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Benchmark reissued a buy rating on shares of General Motors in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on General Motors from $77.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $75.76. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on GM General Motors Profile (Free Report) 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Motors Company (NYSE:GM Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U). Receive News & Ratings for General Motors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Motors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Merit Financial Group LLC lowered its position in John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF (NYSEARCA:JHMD Free Report) by 18.4% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 131,305 shares of the companys stock after selling 29,608 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLCs holdings in John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF were worth $5,250,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF by 49.2% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 144,236 shares of the companys stock worth $5,041,000 after purchasing an additional 47,538 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF by 449.7% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 96,092 shares of the companys stock worth $3,684,000 after buying an additional 78,612 shares during the last quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF by 1.1% during the second quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC now owns 320,286 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,257,000 after acquiring an additional 3,537 shares during the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC bought a new stake in John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF during the second quarter worth $293,000. Finally, Institute for Wealth Management LLC. lifted its holdings in John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF by 1.6% during the second quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. now owns 22,668 shares of the companys stock worth $868,000 after acquiring an additional 365 shares during the period. Get John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF alerts: John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF Trading Down 0.3% JHMD stock opened at $41.53 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $40.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $39.76. John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF has a 1-year low of $30.98 and a 1-year high of $42.27. The stock has a market cap of $843.06 million, a P/E ratio of 14.46 and a beta of 0.81. John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF Company Profile The John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF (JHMD) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks an index of stocks from developed markets ex-US and Canada, covering 85% of the market capitalization. Holdings are weighted based on fundamental and technical factors JHMD was launched on Dec 15, 2016 and is managed by John Hancock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JHMD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF (NYSEARCA:JHMD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC raised its holdings in RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX Free Report) by 11.7% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 32,726 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 3,436 shares during the quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLCs holdings in RTX were worth $5,476,000 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. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of RTX by 1.9% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 122,074,734 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,825,353,000 after purchasing an additional 2,238,247 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in RTX by 0.5% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 112,706,833 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,457,452,000 after buying an additional 552,009 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of RTX by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 20,599,190 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,007,894,000 after acquiring an additional 837,268 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of RTX during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,359,602,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in shares of RTX by 9.3% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 15,958,191 shares of the companys stock worth $2,330,215,000 after acquiring an additional 1,361,071 shares during the period. 86.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get RTX alerts: RTX News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting RTX this week: Insiders Place Their Bets Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth In other RTX news, EVP Neil G. Mitchill, Jr. sold 4,849 shares of the 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 59,556 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,729,013.40. This represents a 7.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . Company insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock. Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $190.00 price objective on shares of RTX in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Morgan Stanley set a $215.00 price target on RTX and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of RTX in a research note on Monday. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of RTX from $175.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on shares of RTX from $157.00 to $181.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $184.18. Get Our Latest Stock Report on RTX RTX Trading Down 0.2% Shares of RTX stock opened at $183.60 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $246.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.70, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.44. 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 firm has a 50-day moving average price of $177.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $163.17. RTX Corporation has a twelve month low of $112.27 and a twelve month high of $188.00. RTX (NYSE:RTX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $22.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.26 billion. RTX had a net margin of 7.67% and a return on equity of 13.28%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.45 EPS. RTX has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.100-6.200 EPS. Research analysts forecast that RTX Corporation will post 6.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. RTX Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 21st were paid a $0.68 dividend. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 21st. RTXs payout ratio is presently 55.85%. RTX Company Profile (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RTX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for RTX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RTX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Molina Healthcare, Inc (NYSE:MOH Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 3,621,816 shares, a decline of 17.4% from the November 30th total of 4,386,502 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,419,977 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.6 days. Currently, 6.8% of the companys stock are sold short. Currently, 6.8% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 1,419,977 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.6 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In MOH has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded Molina Healthcare from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, October 25th. Barclays restated an underweight rating and issued a $144.00 price objective (down from $185.00) on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Truist Financial set a $175.00 target price on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $231.00 to $165.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $158.00 price target on Molina Healthcare in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Molina Healthcare has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $196.33. Get Molina Healthcare alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Molina Healthcare Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Investors Weigh In On Molina Healthcare In other news, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 357 shares of Molina Healthcare stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.02, for a total transaction of $51,058.14. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 11,352 shares in the company, valued at $1,623,563.04. The trade was a 3.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MOH. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its position in Molina Healthcare by 2,140.0% in the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 112 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $45,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. boosted its stake in Molina Healthcare by 6,225.0% in the 3rd quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 253 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new stake in Molina Healthcare in the second quarter valued at $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.50% of the companys stock. Molina Healthcare Price Performance Shares of Molina Healthcare stock opened at $173.74 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.68. The company has a market cap of $9.42 billion, a PE ratio of 10.76 and a beta of 0.49. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $154.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $183.60. Molina Healthcare has a fifty-two week low of $133.40 and a fifty-two week high of $359.97. Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The company reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.97 by ($2.13). Molina Healthcare had a net margin of 1.98% and a return on equity of 22.95%. The firm had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.99 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.01 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. Molina Healthcare has set its FY 2025 guidance at 14.000-14.000 EPS. Analysts expect that Molina Healthcare will post 24.4 EPS for the current year. Molina Healthcare Company Profile (Get Free Report) Molina Healthcare, Inc is a managed care company specializing in government-sponsored health insurance programs. The company offers Medicaid managed care plans, Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, and individual Marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act. Through an integrated care model, Molina emphasizes preventive and primary care services, care coordination, and disease management to improve health outcomes for its members. The company traces its roots to the early 1980s, when Dr. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Molina Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molina Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Peoples Financial Corporation (OTCMKTS:PFBX Get Free Report)s share price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $20.13 and traded as high as $20.36. Peoples Financial shares last traded at $20.36, with a volume of 124 shares. Peoples Financial Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of $94.06 million, a P/E ratio of 19.96 and a beta of 0.26. The firms fifty day moving average is $20.32 and its 200 day moving average is $20.13. Get Peoples Financial alerts: Peoples Financial (OTCMKTS:PFBX Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The financial services provider reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Peoples Financial had a return on equity of 4.96% and a net margin of 12.85%.The business had revenue of $6.50 million during the quarter. Peoples Financial Company Profile Peoples Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for The Peoples Bank that provides banking, financial, and trust services to government entities, individuals, and small and commercial businesses in Mississippi. The company accepts various deposits, such as interest and non-interest-bearing checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). It offers business, commercial, real estate, construction, personal, and installment loans; and personal trust, agencies, and estate services, including living and testamentary trusts, executorships, guardianships, and conservatorships. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Peoples Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Peoples Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wealth Management Associates Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:RKT Free Report) by 74.0% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 83,992 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 35,732 shares during the period. Wealth Management Associates Inc.s holdings in Rocket Companies were worth $1,628,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. North Capital Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Rocket Companies by 287.2% in the second quarter. North Capital Inc. now owns 1,820 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,350 shares during the period. SouthState Corp grew its position in Rocket Companies by 2,044.8% in the 2nd quarter. SouthState Corp now owns 2,059 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 1,963 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in Rocket Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at $50,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its stake in Rocket Companies by 18.4% in the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,890 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 605 shares during the period. Finally, TFC Financial Management Inc. purchased a new position in Rocket Companies during the 2nd quarter worth $57,000. 4.59% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Rocket Companies alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Matthew Rizik sold 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.25, for a total transaction of $48,125.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 1,061,036 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,424,943. This represents a 0.24% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In the last three months, insiders sold 32,500 shares of company stock valued at $611,850. 92.64% of the stock is owned by insiders. Rocket Companies Trading Down 3.4% Rocket Companies stock opened at $19.37 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $18.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $17.42. Rocket Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $10.06 and a 52 week high of $22.56. The stock has a market cap of $40.76 billion, a PE ratio of 242.16 and a beta of 2.29. The company has a current ratio of 19.68, a quick ratio of 19.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16. Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.07 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.07. The firm had revenue of $1.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.65 billion. Rocket Companies had a negative net margin of 1.77% and a positive return on equity of 2.83%. Rocket Companiess revenue for the quarter was up 148.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.08 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Rocket Companies, Inc. will post 0.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Rocket Companies from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Barclays set a $19.00 target price on Rocket Companies and gave the stock a cautious rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on Rocket Companies from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Rocket Companies from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Rocket Companies in a research report on Friday, December 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $25.00 price objective for the company. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $19.32. Read Our Latest Research Report on Rocket Companies About Rocket Companies (Free Report) Rocket Companies, Inc is a Detroit-based holding company whose businesses are centered on digital mortgage origination and related consumer finance and real estate services. The company grew out of the Quicken Loans franchise and completed an initial public offering in 2020. Founder Dan Gilbert remains a prominent figure associated with the firm, which operates a suite of brands that aim to simplify the home financing and buying experience through technology and scale. The companys core activity is mortgage lending through its Rocket Mortgage platform, which offers online application, underwriting and servicing for home purchase and refinance loans. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RKT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:RKT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Rocket Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rocket Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sabine Royalty Trust (NYSE:SBR Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $70.12, but opened at $68.56. Sabine Royalty Trust shares last traded at $68.7110, with a volume of 3,539 shares. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Sabine Royalty Trust in a research report on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Sabine Royalty Trust has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Sabine Royalty Trust alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on SBR Sabine Royalty Trust Stock Up 1.0% The firm has a market cap of $1.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.75 and a beta of 0.28. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $73.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $71.57. Sabine Royalty Trust (NYSE:SBR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The energy company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Sabine Royalty Trust had a return on equity of 961.65% and a net margin of 95.30%.The firm had revenue of $25.52 million during the quarter. Sabine Royalty Trust Cuts Dividend The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th were given a $0.1967 dividend. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. Sabine Royalty Trusts dividend payout ratio is 43.46%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Allworth Financial LP lifted its position in Sabine Royalty Trust by 51.8% in the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 586 shares of the energy companys stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its holdings in shares of Sabine Royalty Trust by 79.2% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 708 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $47,000 after acquiring an additional 313 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its stake in shares of Sabine Royalty Trust by 85.6% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 659 shares of the energy companys stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 304 shares during the last quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sabine Royalty Trust by 200.0% during the second quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the energy companys stock worth $66,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in Sabine Royalty Trust by 92.6% during the third quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,040 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.81% of the companys stock. Sabine Royalty Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sabine Royalty Trust is a Delaware statutory trust that owns a non-operating royalty interest in a portfolio of oil and gas properties. Rather than engaging in exploration or production activities directly, the trust receives a share of net proceeds from hydrocarbon production on the underlying properties and distributes those proceeds to unitholders on a monthly basis. The trust was established in 1982 through a transaction with Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation, which transferred its overriding royalty interests in numerous wells and acreage to the trust. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Sabine Royalty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sabine Royalty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Scor SE (OTCMKTS:SCRYY Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $3.4125, but opened at $3.27. Scor shares last traded at $3.27, with a volume of 1,958 shares trading hands. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating on shares of Scor in a research note on Monday, October 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Scor in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Scor from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Scor has an average rating of Buy. Get Scor alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Scor Scor Trading Down 0.3% The stock has a market capitalization of $6.05 billion, a PE ratio of 6.24 and a beta of 0.59. The businesss 50-day moving average is $3.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.32. Scor (OTCMKTS:SCRYY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 31st. The financial services provider reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.14. The company had revenue of $4.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.75 billion. Scor had a return on equity of 20.01% and a net margin of 5.63%. On average, analysts predict that Scor SE will post -0.01 EPS for the current year. About Scor (Get Free Report) SCOR SE, trading over-the-counter as SCRYY, is a leading global reinsurer headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1970, the company specializes in providing property & casualty and life & health reinsurance solutions to insurance companies worldwide. By pooling and diversifying risk, SCOR enables its clients to underwrite larger exposures, stabilize loss experience and safeguard their balance sheets against extreme events. The companys main business activities encompass risk underwriting, claims management and portfolio solutions designed to address evolving market needs. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Scor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 25,775,997 shares, a decrease of 19.6% from the November 30th total of 32,079,035 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 13,333,618 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.9 days. Approximately 5.0% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Approximately 5.0% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 13,333,618 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.9 days. Institutional Trading of Southwest Airlines Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 43.7% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 12,335,167 shares of the airlines stock valued at $393,615,000 after purchasing an additional 3,753,183 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 13.6% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 12,218,086 shares of the airlines stock valued at $389,879,000 after buying an additional 1,459,235 shares during the period. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership boosted its stake in Southwest Airlines by 0.9% in the second quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 10,763,935 shares of the airlines stock valued at $349,182,000 after acquiring an additional 98,290 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in Southwest Airlines by 2,403.8% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 10,120,368 shares of the airlines stock valued at $328,305,000 after acquiring an additional 9,716,160 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 9.2% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,837,197 shares of the airlines stock worth $218,175,000 after acquiring an additional 577,326 shares during the period. 80.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Southwest Airlines alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In LUV has been the subject of several analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Southwest Airlines from $38.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. They issued a neutral rating and a $38.00 target price for the company. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Southwest Airlines from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Southwest Airlines from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a hold rating and issued a $43.00 price objective (up previously from $33.00) on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.44. Southwest Airlines Price Performance LUV opened at $41.34 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.49 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 63.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.16. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $35.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $33.78. Southwest Airlines has a one year low of $23.82 and a one year high of $43.54. Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The airline reported ($0.38) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $6.17 billion for the quarter. Southwest Airlines had a return on equity of 6.39% and a net margin of 1.38%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Southwest Airlines will post 1.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th will be issued a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 26th. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 110.77%. Southwest Airlines Company Profile (Get Free Report) Southwest Airlines Co is a U.S.-based low-cost carrier that operates a point-to-point domestic and near-international airline network. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company primarily flies Boeing 737 aircraft and offers no-frills, single-class service designed to keep fares competitive. Southwests operating model emphasizes high aircraft utilization, quick turnaround times and an open seating policy, allowing customers to board and select seats on a first-come, first-served basis. Founded in 1967 by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King as Air Southwest Company, Southwest began commercial service in 1971, initially connecting Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Southwest Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southwest Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 47,637 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,835,000. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC lifted its position in shares of Citigroup by 190.2% during the 3rd quarter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC now owns 9,613 shares of the companys stock valued at $976,000 after acquiring an additional 6,301 shares during the period. Schear Investment Advisers LLC lifted its position in Citigroup by 0.8% during the third quarter. Schear Investment Advisers LLC now owns 37,722 shares of the companys stock worth $3,829,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the period. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated grew its stake in Citigroup by 29.2% during the third quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 10,930 shares of the companys stock worth $1,109,000 after buying an additional 2,472 shares in the last quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC grew its stake in Citigroup by 5.4% during the third quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC now owns 2,648 shares of the companys stock worth $269,000 after buying an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC increased its holdings in Citigroup by 10.1% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 2,409 shares of the companys stock valued at $245,000 after buying an additional 220 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.72% of the companys stock. Get Citigroup alerts: Key Citigroup News Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently issued reports on C. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Citigroup from $112.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an overweight rating on shares of Citigroup in a research report on Wednesday. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Citigroup from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Citigroup from $129.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Citigroup in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $115.25. Get Our Latest Report on C Citigroup Stock Performance Citigroup stock opened at $116.67 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $106.64 and a 200-day moving average of $98.14. The company has a market capitalization of $208.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 1.18. Citigroup Inc. has a 1 year low of $55.51 and a 1 year high of $122.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The company reported $2.24 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.35. Citigroup had a net margin of 8.73% and a return on equity of 7.91%. The business had revenue of $22.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.92 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.51 EPS. The firms revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current year. Citigroup Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Investors of record on Monday, November 3rd were issued a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 3rd. Citigroups dividend payout ratio is presently 33.71%. Citigroup Profile (Free Report) Citigroup Inc is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City with roots tracing back to the City Bank of New York, founded in 1812. The modern Citigroup was created through the 1998 merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group and has since operated as a diversified bank holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments and institutions worldwide. Citis principal businesses include retail and commercial banking, credit card and consumer lending products, wealth management and private banking, and a full suite of institutional services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding C? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS Get Free Report) (NYSE:BNS) has been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the twelve research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$93.85. BNS has been the topic of a number of research reports. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$95.00 to C$97.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. National Bankshares set a C$81.00 price target on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$93.00 to C$98.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price objective on Bank of Nova Scotia from C$98.00 to C$100.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Desjardins lifted their target price 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. Get Bank of Nova Scotia alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Bank of Nova Scotia Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Performance Shares of Bank of Nova Scotia stock opened at C$101.23 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is C$96.72 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$87.11. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 52-week low of C$62.57 and a 52-week high of C$102.02. The firm has a market cap of C$126.09 billion, a PE ratio of 17.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.35. Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS Get Free Report) (NYSE:BNS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, December 2nd. The bank reported C$1.93 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$9.77 billion during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia had a return on equity of 9.64% and a net margin of 17.68%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Bank of Nova Scotia will post 7.1286267 EPS for the current year. Bank of Nova Scotia Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 29th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 29th were given a dividend of $1.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 7th. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.3%. Bank of Nova Scotias payout ratio is 76.19%. Insider Activity In other news, insider Julie Walsh sold 3,716 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$100.62, for a total value of C$373,903.92. Following the completion of 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. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About Bank of Nova Scotia (Get Free Report) 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU Get Free Report) (TSE:SU) had its target price boosted by investment analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from $46.00 to $48.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the oil and gas producers stock. The Goldman Sachs Groups price objective would suggest a potential upside of 5.69% from the stocks previous close. SU has been the topic of several other reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Suncor Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, December 28th. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Suncor Energy from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Suncor Energy in a research note on Friday, October 17th. They issued an equal weight rating for the company. Zacks Research upgraded Suncor Energy from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $65.00 price objective on shares of Suncor Energy in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $56.50. Get Suncor Energy alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Suncor Energy Suncor Energy Trading Up 2.4% Shares of Suncor Energy stock traded up $1.06 on Friday, hitting $45.42. 1,447,706 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,891,701. The firms 50-day moving average price is $43.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $41.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.42 billion, a PE ratio of 14.88 and a beta of 0.46. Suncor Energy has a one year low of $30.79 and a one year high of $45.60. Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU Get Free Report) (TSE:SU) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $9.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.82 billion. Suncor Energy had a net margin of 10.61% and a return on equity of 13.01%. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.48 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Suncor Energy will post 3.42 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Richardson Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in Suncor Energy by 64.1% during the third quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 704 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Suncor Energy during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Maseco LLP bought a new stake in Suncor Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management raised its stake in shares of Suncor Energy by 143.5% during the third quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 789 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 465 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Suncor Energy by 95.8% during the third quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 793 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 388 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 67.37% of the companys stock. Suncor Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Suncor Energy Inc is a Canadian integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. The companys operations span the full oil and gas value chain, with principal activities in oil sands development and production, conventional exploration and production, refining, distribution and retail marketing of petroleum products. Suncor supplies crude, synthetic crude and refined fuels as well as related products and services to commercial and consumer markets. Upstream, Suncor is a major developer and operator of oil sands projects in Alberta, using both mining and in situ technologies to produce bitumen and synthetic crude. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Suncor Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suncor Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ThyssenKrupp AG Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:TKAMY Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 87,284 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 274% from the previous sessions volume of 23,352 shares.The stock last traded at $11.4530 and had previously closed at $10.80. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. DZ Bank upgraded ThyssenKrupp from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 16th. Zacks Research raised ThyssenKrupp to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of ThyssenKrupp in a report on Friday, December 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold. Get ThyssenKrupp alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on ThyssenKrupp ThyssenKrupp Stock Up 5.4% The company has a market capitalization of $7.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.90 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The stocks fifty day moving average is $12.06 and its 200 day moving average is $12.17. ThyssenKrupp (OTCMKTS:TKAMY Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, December 9th. The company reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $9.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.60 billion. ThyssenKrupp had a return on equity of 9.15% and a net margin of 2.80%. ThyssenKrupp Company Profile (Get Free Report) ThyssenKrupp AG (OTCMKTS: TKAMY) is a diversified German industrial conglomerate headquartered in Essen and Dusseldorf. Formed in 1999 through the merger of Thyssen AG and Friedrich Krupp GmbH, the company operates across multiple segments, including steel production, materials distribution, industrial engineering, elevator technology and automotive components. In its Materials Services division, ThyssenKrupp supplies processed and semi-finished steel products and high-performance materials to industries such as automotive, construction and machinery manufacturing. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ThyssenKrupp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ThyssenKrupp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Watershed Private Wealth LLC lessened its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 72.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 22,118 shares of the companys stock after selling 57,010 shares during the period. Watershed Private Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $2,519,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. boosted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 5.4% during the 2nd quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 433,332 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,533,000 after purchasing an additional 22,283 shares during the last quarter. FLP Wealth Management LLC raised its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 121.9% in the 3rd quarter. FLP Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,804 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,686,000 after buying an additional 8,132 shares during the last quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. bought a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,034,000. AMG National Trust Bank lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. AMG National Trust Bank now owns 12,378 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,386,000 after acquiring an additional 648 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 23.4% during the 2nd quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 553,717 shares of the companys stock worth $62,016,000 after acquiring an additional 104,980 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Price Performance BATS EFG opened at $114.05 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $114.22 and a 200-day moving average price of $112.77. The firm has a market cap of $13.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.98 and a beta of 0.96. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 1 year low of $88.66 and a 1 year high of $113.16. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. The Fund invests in sectors, such as consumer staples, industrials, consumer discretionary, materials, healthcare, financials, information technology, energy, telecommunication services and utilities. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W Get Free Report) shares gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $100.41, but opened at $106.01. Wayfair shares last traded at $105.4780, with a volume of 450,128 shares. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have recently weighed in on W. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Wayfair from $70.00 to $104.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Wayfair from $105.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Wayfair from $102.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Zacks Research lowered Wayfair from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, Guggenheim increased their price objective on Wayfair from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Wayfair has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $105.29. Get Wayfair alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Wayfair Wayfair Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of $13.63 billion, a PE ratio of -40.44 and a beta of 3.31. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $101.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is $82.20. Wayfair (NYSE:W Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.44 by $0.26. The company had revenue of $3.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.01 billion. Wayfairs revenue for the quarter was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.22 EPS. Analysts expect that Wayfair Inc. will post -2.54 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity at Wayfair In other Wayfair news, CTO Fiona Tan sold 6,347 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.54, for a total transaction of $638,127.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief technology officer directly owned 198,860 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,993,384.40. This trade represents a 3.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Steven Conine sold 30,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.33, for a total value of $3,069,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 439,073 shares in the company, valued at approximately $44,930,340.09. The trade was a 6.40% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 1,085,959 shares of company stock worth $103,711,474 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 21.91% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Wayfair Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in W. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in Wayfair by 111.7% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 524,072 shares of the companys stock worth $16,786,000 after purchasing an additional 276,471 shares in the last quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Wayfair during the 1st quarter worth about $452,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Wayfair by 29.0% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 67,023 shares of the companys stock worth $2,147,000 after buying an additional 15,084 shares in the last quarter. Scientech Research LLC raised its position in shares of Wayfair by 33.1% in the first quarter. Scientech Research LLC now owns 36,187 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,159,000 after buying an additional 9,003 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Wayfair by 40.1% during the first quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 88,264 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,827,000 after buying an additional 25,260 shares during the period. 89.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wayfair Company Profile (Get Free Report) Wayfair Inc (NYSE: W) is an e-commerce company focused on home furnishings and decor. Through its platform, Wayfair offers a broad assortment of furniture, lighting, home textiles, kitchenware and decorative accessories. The companys portfolio includes flagship sites such as Wayfair.com, as well as specialty retail brands like Joss & Main, AllModern, Birch Lane and Perigold, each catering to distinct design styles and price points. Founded in 2002 by Niraj Shah and Steve Conine under the name CSN Stores, the business rebranded as Wayfair in 2011 and went public in 2014. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wayfair Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wayfair and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Telenor Group, a leading telecommunications and technology company in the Nordic countries and Asia, has successfully completed the sale of its Telenor Pakistan business to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), a part of the global technology group (and UAE-headquartered) e&. The sale was originally announced on 14 December 2023, when Telenor Pakistan was valued at NOK5.3 billion (about US$527.4 million) on a cash-and-debt-free basis. With adjustments, this valuation is now NOK5.4 billion (about US$537.2 million) Telenor has also received NOK 0.9 billion (about US$89.5 million) in cash flow from Telenor Pakistan since the transaction was announced. Telenor Pakistan launched 20 years ago. Its mobile division is better known as Ufone. Telenor points out that since its launch the operator has provided essential connectivity and digital services to over 40 million customers. It has also introduced 4G technology to underserved areas. Explaining the purpose behind the sale, Benedicte Schilbred Fasmer, Telenor Group CEO, says: The completion of this transaction reflects Telenor Groups strategy to focus on being an active owner of market-leading positions in Asia, while enabling consolidation and innovation in Pakistans telecom sector. In an interview with this publication in July, Telenor Asia head Jon Omund Revhaug put this slightly differently, saying: Pakistan has some of the lowest average revenue per user (ARPU) rates in the world, high spectrum costs, low service profitability, and no regulatory outlook to support in-market consolidation. The reality for the business and the industry at large simply didnt support continued investment. It has taken a long time to get here, involving a number of regulatory hurdles. However, as we noted in early December, the newly merged entity will certainly have a more powerful presence in the market, boasting around 70 million subscribers, making it the second-largest operator behind Jazz (which is estimated to have 74 million), and well ahead of Zongs 52 million subscribers. Hisense announced new flagship display products at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, led by the 116UXS RGB Mini LED TV and the XR10 TriChroma laser projector. The company positioned the launches as part of a broader shift toward human-centric display technology, rather than simple hardware spec upgrades. The focus is clearer picture quality, greater comfort for long viewing sessions, and more advanced smart-TV experiences. Survey Thank you for completing the survey! Hisense TV and projector announcements at CES 2026 The headline technology this year is RGB Mini LED evo. Hisense calls it a system-level evolution of its existing RGB MiniLED architecture. Instead of relying on higher brightness or more dimming zones alone, the company has redesigned the backlight. Alongside the traditional red, green, and blue LEDs, the new platform adds a Sky BlueCyan fourth LED. According to Hisense, this helps fill an area of the light spectrum that standard backlights often miss, improving colour realism in skies, water, and other cyan-green tones. Colour control now reaches 134-bit precision, while colour coverage is said to exceed 110% of the BT.2020 colour space. Hisense also claims professional-grade colour accuracy at around Delta E 0.6. The company says the revised light-source design can reduce potentially harmful blue-light output by up to 80%, which should make large-screen viewing easier on the eyes. The first product built on this platform is the new 116-inch 116UXS TV. Hisense describes the TV as a move toward structure-driven innovation that prioritises colour fidelity, visual comfort, and everyday usability on ultra-large screens. Also Read: LG G6, C6, B6 unveiled at CES 2026 along with LG W6 wallpaper OLED TV: Details Alongside TVs, Hisense also expanded its TriChroma laser lineup. The new XR10 laser projector makes its global debut at CES 2026. It delivers up to 6,000 ANSI lumens and supports projection sizes of up to 300 inches, targeting dedicated home-cinema environments where brightness, colour stability, and long-term performance matter. Together, the company says RGB Mini LED TVs for the living room and TriChroma laser projectors for theatre rooms form its large-screen strategy for premium households. Software evolution Beyond hardware, Hisense also detailed changes to its software ecosystem. From 1 January 2026, the VIDAA platform will be renamed simply V, while VIDAA OS becomes HomeOS. Through a strategic partnership with Microsoft, Hisense plans to integrate Copilots generative AI into HomeOS. The goal is to improve search, recommendations, and TV interactions. The collaboration also extends to Xbox cloud gaming, allowing users to access console-quality games directly on compatible Hisense TVs without buying a separate console. We will update this story with pricing, availability, and regional launch plans once Hisense confirms details for specific markets. Keep reading Digit.in for similar CES stories. Also Read: Amazon updates Fire TV UI, unveils Ember Artline TV as Samsungs The Frame rival Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Reach a Highly Targeted Global Geospatial Audience Advertising with Directions Magazine connects your organization with an engaged worldwide community of GIS specialists, mapping professionals, technology leaders, and decision-makers across government, business, academia, and research. As one of the most trusted platforms in the geospatial industry, Directions Magazine delivers visibility where it matters most among professionals who rely on credible news, innovation updates, and expert insights to drive their projects and business strategies. Flexible Advertising Solutions to Match Your Marketing Goals Whether your objective is brand awareness, lead generation, event promotion, or product launches, Directions Magazine offers a broad portfolio of advertising opportunities. Options typically include website display banners, newsletter placements, sponsored articles, press release exposure, webinar promotion, and custom digital campaigns. 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Partnering with Directions Magazine means gaining a professional platform backed by editorial integrity and a strong industry reputation. If you are looking to elevate visibility, engage qualified audiences, and enhance your marketing impact within the geospatial sector, this is the ideal place to promote your solutions. The Government has defended its approach to reforming legislation to deal with the legacy of the Troubles, after criticism from its own Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner. David Johnstone said that the Governments proposed legislation treats veterans worse than terrorists. A commission to investigate Troubles-related killings and a separate information recovery body will be established under the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. All UK police investigations into Troubles-related killings were shut down in May 2024 under the previous Conservative governments Legacy Act, and a new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was established. Labours Bill, agreed as part of a framework with the Irish Government, will put in place a reformed Legacy Commission with enhanced powers. In an interview published in The Times on Friday, Mr Johnstone said: It treats them worse than terrorists because under the Bill they will be exposed to the full force of the law, for in many cases following orders. Whereas in 1998, and the years following, terrorists were allowed out of prison, given pardons, comfort letters. Asked about the comments, a UK Government spokesperson said: The vast majority of those killed during the Troubles were murdered by terrorists. Many families still do not know how their loved ones died and have approached the independent commission for information and answers. The Troubles Bill is about enabling more victims and families, including a great many armed forces families, to do the same through a reformed commission. The last governments proposal to give immunity to terrorists was wrong. It was rejected by the courts, and indeed by victims and many veterans alike. Any government would have had to replace it. The Troubles Bill will put in place six new and effective protections for our veterans. We will never equate the actions of terrorists with those of our brave armed forces. This piece originally appeared in Louth Life Magazine in September Elizabeth Redmond is a comic and author from Houston, Texas, who now calls Dundalk her home. After moving back to Ireland she jumped back into the comedy scene after years of doing stand up across the pond, and has been making people all over Ireland laugh ever since. She is also the brains behind Dundalks El Paso Comedy Club, which regularly hosts Comedy nights in Toales Rock Bar and Music Venue. If you enjoy dark humour, impressions, silly accents, getting yelled at in foreign languages, maternal trauma, bitter ex husbands, and thinly veiled murder threats, her act is for you. She has also written a self-published novel set during the Mexican Revolution, and runs a coffee truck on the Dublin-Dundalk Road. LUST: Who or what do you find yourself lusting after today and why? This is such a boring vanilla answer but, my fiance. Hes my catnip. Isnt that disgusting? GREED: What should you be cutting down on (non-food or drink) and why? Definitely screen time. Its awful. Its become a necessity for so many of us, if you ever want to promote anything, you have to have an online social media presence and sure enough that means staring at your phone. I cant handle another app. I cant!! GLUTTONY: What one thing could you happily eat or drink until you burst, and why? Cheese. I could eat it at every meal. Im a cheesatarian. SLOTH: What should you be putting your back into now and why? I put my back into everything, especially lately. Between the novel I wrote (The Final Resting Place of a Butterfly, available on Amazon), running El Paso Comedy, stand up comedy and the businesses I run ...people are slightly worried. I could use some sloth actually. Im very good at relaxing when I stop. Its getting me to stop, that's the issue. WRATH: Who or what makes you angry and why? Less and less makes me angry because I recognise most people who act badly just cant help themselves and as long as they stay the hell away from me fine. That being said, entitled people, who act like actual tantrum throwing spoiled brats.. oooof. People who cause trouble, try to start things, pick fights etc. Thats my big one. I wont start anything. But I will damn sure finish it. ENVY: Who are you jealous of and why? I dont envy anyone. except for my 21 year old selfs body and metabolismoh well, it was nice while it lasted. I can wipe my tears on the pictures. Read Next: Dundalk comedian Shinanne Higgins explores the seven deadly sins PRIDE: Whats your proudest achievement and why? Anti-Semitic graffiti on two roads in Louth are being treated as a hate crime by An Garda Siochana. The graffiti was painted on the R165 and L1260 in Ardee. Gardai said they received report of criminal damage to the road surface of the R165 at Shanliss near Ardee, and confirmed they are investigating the incident as a hate crime. The Gardai said they take hate crime very seriously and encouraged any victims to report it. "Gardai from the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau have a good relationship and engage with the Jewish community throughout Ireland on an ongoing basis and continue to liaise with the Jewish community at this time. "An Garda Siochana also actively engages with representative and advocacy groups to support minority and diverse communities in Ireland." Read Next: Local historian Seamus Cassidy posthumously honoured as co-founder of the Patrick Kavanagh Centre Louth County Council have condemned the vandalism and confirmed its operations team investigated both locations on 31 December and arrangements have been made to remove the graffiti as quickly as possible. "The Council strongly condemns the use of antisemitic language or imagery in any form. Such acts are unacceptable and stand against our core values of equality and inclusiveness, and our commitment to fostering a respectful and welcoming community for all throughout County Louth." Holocaust Awareness Ireland said the graffiti "repeats one of the most disturbing antisemitic caricatures deployed by the Nazis in pre war Germany" It said there has been an obvious rising trend of antisemitic sentiment across Irish society including "all levels of Government and media." Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme December 9th St Louis student Carla McDonnell told how she was over the moon to have been crowned the first Irish winner of the World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. The talented 16-year-old, who was selected to represent Ireland at the prestigious competition in New York after winning an award for innovation at the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Youth Entrepreneurship Awards earlier this year, beat stiff competition from 13 other countries to win the top global award. Carla from Darver, was inspired to come up with her invention from working on her family farm and started working on her product in TY with the support of business teacher Roisin Mallon. ***** An independent review into the States dealings with the family of missing Dundalk schoolboy Kyran Durnin found that what happened could not have been anticipated. Childrens Minister Norma Foley said that the report pointed to policy and practice weaknesses in relation to the child and family agency Tusla and other departments and state agencies. She said the report could not be published in full due to legal advice from the Attorney General that it may prejudice any potential or future prosecutions that might take place. Gardai launched a murder investigation last October into the disappearance of Kyran, who was potentially missing for two years unknown to authorities. Gardai suspect that Kyran may have died in 2022 when he was six. Tusla said it raised a significant concern about the missing child to police last August and launched an internal review about its engagement with Kyran and his family. The outcome of that review, completed last November, prompted then childrens minister Roderic OGorman to say there were elements that are of concern in terms of the overall state response. The case was then referred to the independent National Review Panel (NRP), which conducts reviews of child deaths and serious incidents with the aim of improving services. December 16th Louth bore the brunt of Storm Bram as strong winds and unusually high tides battered Dundalk, Blackrock, and the Cooley Peninsula. Forecasters described the event as a multi-hazard storm, combining tidal surges with heavy coastal winds that caused widespread flooding and disruption. In anticipation of the storm, Louth County Council distributed sandbags and activated flood barriers along vulnerable coastal areas. Despite these measures, flood levels exceeded predictions by roughly 200mm, leading to road closures and significant damage in parts of the county. Residents and businesses were forced to contend with sudden surges of water, leaving some roads submerged and homes and shops at risk. Blackrock Main Street was also badly affected, seawalls overtopped, and Christmas decorations were toppled by the storm. Meanwhile, roads across Cooley and Omeath were rendered impassable, while out-of-hours council crews worked to clear debris and restore access. ***** Dundalk Municipal District has voted to send a request for clarification to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and have also requested a meeting with senior government figures regarding the proposed Dundalk BayCarlingford Greenway, following a lengthy and sometimes tense debate at its December meeting. The amended motion passed only after Cathaoirleach Cllr Robert Nash (FG) exercised his casting vote, bringing a close to a sitting that saw councillors adjourn for twenty minutes in an attempt to agree amended wording. Read Next: INTERVIEW: Dundalk author Jaki McCarrick finds power in place The original motion, brought jointly by Fianna Fails Cllr Andrea McKevitt and Fine Gaels Cllr John Reilly, sought to pause the Greenway project pending both the review of the County Development Plan and TIIs national review of the Code of Best Practice for Greenways. In a written response to councillors, David Jones, Director of Services for Major Capital Projects, stated: The project is being developed in accordance with TII's Code of Best Practice for Greenways, inclusive of public consultation, landowner engagement and land acquisition, TII's funding approval process, and within the overarching context of the Council's County Development Plan 2021-2027. Nearly 900 people in Cork are on a waiting list for home support, which is the longest home help waiting list in Ireland. This is a result of retirements outstripping recruitment in the sector, because in 2024, more than 160 home support staff in Cork and Kerry resigned or retired but there were only a little more than 100 new staff recruited. A Cork advocate for the elderly says people are being forced into nursing homes against their wishes due to these ongoing shortages. New data shows that 890 clients in Cork city and county are awaiting home support. This comprises 543 people awaiting a new service and 347 existing clients waiting for additional hours. The shortage came about because, in 2024, a total of 161 home support staff in Cork and Kerry resigned or retired. However, just 105 new staff were recruited during this time. A new report from Home Care and Community Ireland shows that Cork has the highest amount of people waiting for home support in Ireland, more than double the next highest county Galway where 362 people were waiting. The report also notes that the highest local waiting list in Ireland is in the South Lee area of Cork City, accounting for about 60% of Corks waiting list. Cork advocate for the elderly Paddy OBrien told The Echo that the figures were absolutely deplorable. Home support provide a wonderful service, and only for them youd have far more people in nursing homes, including those banished out to the country where theyve never been before, tearing husbands and wives apart, he said. Often the home support is the only person an elderly person will talk to all day. People waiting for this service shows a lack of care and compassion, and its driving people into nursing homes, he said, adding that many are also spending a long time in hospital after being discharged as they cant return home without support. Mr OBrien said recently that many older people are unable to visit their partners due to their being transferred to a nursing home as many as 30 miles from the city, with one woman saying she hasnt seen her husband in seven months as she is unable to travel that far. These are elderly people who can no longer care for themselves, cook for themselves. It seems like nobody cares about the elderly the services are deplorable, they have a pension they cant live on, their electricity bills are enormous and some of them are in debt just from buying food. We dont have a senior minister for elderly people, and the junior minister doesnt sit around the table when important decisions are made, so the elderly have no voice, he said. A HSE spokesperson said: There are challenges in the sector, particularly on the workforce side. Progress has been made; we are delivering more support hours than ever and we currently have sufficient funding for home support hours but do not have the carers to deliver it. The spokesperson added that the most recent recruitment campaign identified 64 potential candidates for Cork and Kerry positions, with the recruitment clearance process ongoing. The waiting list figures were provided to Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, Deputy John Paul OShea, who told The Echo: These numbers are shocking and unacceptable. It is outrageous that despite having the funding in place, the HSE is unable to deliver care because of workforce shortages. Public realm One big project was the opening of the Marina Promenade, after a project which cost around 7.5m. The council opened the extended area of Marina Park to include the tree walkway and restored Barringtons folly, and in December opened the final area of Marina Park the revamped area around Atlantic Pond, with around 14.5m spent to date on the park. The council also opened a new pedestrian and cycle bridge from Lambleys Lane off South Main St, over the southern channel of the river Lee to Wandesford Quay. The council also opened a new pedestrian and cycle bridge from Lambleys Lane off South Main St, over the southern channel of the river Lee to Wandesford Quay. This, and the other bridge where work is ongoing, represent an investment of about 8.5m. Funding for the bridges came from the governments urban regeneration and development fund and the National Transport Authority (NTA). In November, the council opened the revamped Bishop Lucey Park, an investment of around 7m to date. A substantial amount of funding for this also came from the fund. Works are ongoing on public realm improvements to South Main St and Tuckey St, and along Frenchs Quay and Probys Quay, representing an investment of around 10m. Roads and active travel A vast new network of bike lanes opened in Mahon, alongside investment in roads, footpaths, and streetscape creating a real 15-minute suburb. It represents an investment of about 15m, provided by the NTA. The work includes 5km of new streetscape including wider footpaths, seating, public realm and upgraded public lighting; 12 new bus stops with bus shelters; 8km of safe cycle infrastructure, including segregated cycle tracks, greenways, and cycle parking; upgrades to six existing pedestrian crossings and two new crossings providing access to new 1km quiet-way; enhanced public open spaces with extensive landscaping including trees, shrubs, and plants to enhance biodiversity; and new signalised junctions with safe crossing facilities for vulnerable road users. Work started on Lehanaghmore Rd improvement scheme to deliver safer roads, new footpaths, upgraded cycle lanes, and better public transport links. The project, expected to take up to 18 months to complete, represents a 17m investment. The preferred route for the proposed northern distributor road a 14km multi-modal route that will run from Carrigrohane to Glanmire was announced, with the project now moving to design phase. The National Development Plan review announced in late November puts the cost of the road between 200m and 500m. There are also projects awaiting tender, which will see further tens of millions invested. Plans to transform Horgans Quay into a pedestrian friendly space, with new parks, promenade, and bike lanes were unveiled by Cork City Council this year for public consultation, and approved by council in October. Additionally, the council published regeneration plans for the Douglas St and Mary St area earlier this year, designed to transform this historic city centre area into a more vibrant, accessible, and people-focused space. Plans were approved by council in October. Cork City Council is also working on road improvements in Ballyvolane, around 11m, and on the Knockpogue and Knockfree Ave roads, around 2.5m. Public realm upgrades combined with flood defence works continue on Morissons Island, and flood protection works in Glanmire, an Office of Public Works project, are ongoing. Work has started on the new Glanmire greenway, which will connect Hazelwood to Dunkettle Rd. The works include the installation of two pedestrian and cycle bridges. This phase represents an investment of about 5m. Work is about to start on the Monahan Rd extension project, which will see around 8m invested. Work is also due to start soon on the docklands to city centre road improvement scheme, from Albert Quay to Centre Park Rd, an estimated 17m project. Housing About 3,500 homes are currently under construction in Cork either directly by Cork City Council or in collaboration with the Land Development Agency and approved housing bodies representing an investment of well in excess of 1bn. The council have delivered just over 400 affordable homes for the people of Cork, highlighting a commitment to delivering high quality housing in Cork city to meet housing demand. Ten schemes have been delivered citywide in estates like Danesfort in Whites Cross, Heathfield in Ballincollig, Seaberry in Grange, and Kileens, with more projects such as Glenmore Heights in Lehenaghmore nearing completion. More schemes are on the way in 2026/2027, such as a 155-house scheme in Lehenaghmore, with 88 affordable homes and the balance social homes, 48 homes at Glenbride on the Old Mallow Rd, with more schemes to be announced. Cork City Council had a target this year to build 592 new social homes and this target will be achieved, the council say. Working with partners like Cluid, Respond, and Tuath, they have delivered several cost rental schemes, including 51 at Newton Heights, Lotamore in Mayfield. In terms of regeneration, 28 units in Errigal View in The Glen was completed in June on a site that had been vacant since 2010, after the old flats were demolished. Further projects are in the pipeline for 2026 including 147 apartments at Anglesea Terrace, featuring a mix of 72 one-bedroom and 75 two-bedroom cost rental and social apartments; 217 new homes in the citys docklands at Railyard Apartments on Albert Quay, including 118 cost rental, 77 social/affordable, and 22 age-friendly units; 300 cost rental apartments set to be completed overlooking the River Lee at Horgans Quay; 606 new homes at the Creamfields site on the Kinsale Rd, with 225 social and 381 cost-rental apartments; and 330 apartments at the former Ford Depot site in the south docklands. Event Centre In September 2025, after a decision by Government that the long-awaited event centre project would have to be re-tendered, interested developers, operators, and promoters were invited to express interest via the eTenders platform with the intent that one-to-one bilateral discussions would follow. This new procurement process is being overseen by global project management experts, Aecom, which has an office in Cork, and which has vast experience globally in developing event and conference centres, especially in the US. Aecom has been engaged to oversee the entire project, from procurement through to planning, development, and delivery, and is providing expertise on cost management, procurement, the development of a business case, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. The process to assess the expressions of interest is currently ongoing, and this phase of the process is confidential, the council said. Work is continuing on the preparation of a preliminary business case which, once approved, will enable the project to go back out to tender. It is expected that the pre-qualification tender process will be ready to begin early in the new year. Chief executive optimistic Valerie OSullivan, the chief executive of Cork City Council, told The Echo: In 2026, we will build on the momentum that has begun in the city centre, focused on decluttering, presentation, streetscapes, and bringing projects forward for renewal and regeneration. We will drive catalyst projects, like the event centre and a new city library headquarters, toward delivery. We will sustain and build on our excellent track record of housing delivery 3,500 units are underway or delivered, representing an investment of 1.2bn for all those who need homes and to the Cork economy. But we will also focus on creating the conditions, including a seamless planning process, to deliver housing in the private rental and private ownership areas. We will drive on with our ambitious regeneration plans for the Docklands, the Albert Quay public realm enhancement scheme and the transformative Horgans Quay project. We will also keep the Cork Luas, Cork BusConnects, and the Cork commuter rail programmes high on the national agenda. I want to empower the city councils local area offices and the communities they serve to get things delivered and improved, one process and project at a time, by giving them greater autonomy. I will also strive to win more focus and funding for Cork because when Cork succeeds, Ireland succeeds. Main Street Carrigaline was filled with colour, music, singing and dancing for the annual Wrenboys Street festival on St Stephens Day morning. More than 50 Wrenboys dressed in colourful costumes and straw suits created great fun and excitement for the huge crowd that gathered for the event. George Evangelou, Richelle Clancy, Cleopatra Evangelou and Niamh Clancy dressed as astronauts at the Wren Boys Street Festival The Gig Rig provided by Griffins Potatoes was set up by Phelans Pharmacy and the Main Street from the Bank of Ireland to the Corner House was closed to through traffic from 10am to 2pm. The Wren boys approached from the south and the Strawboys arrived from the north led by a piper to the delight of the crowd. The colourful wren boys arrive down Main Street. The ceol and the craic was mighty as the crowds sang and danced to the best of traditional music and singing. It was great to see three generations involved not alone in the Wren but also in the action in the Ceili for a couple of hours on the street. Wren Boys pose for the camera at the Wren Boys Street Festival that was held on St. Stephen's day in Carrigaline. It was a study to see so many locals and visitors with their phones and cameras recording the event The Strawboys visited the pubs singing and dancing as they travelled. A collection was taken up by the Wren in aid of Marymount Hospice and Cork Simon. The colourful wren boys arrive down Main Street to take part at the Street Festival that was held on St. Stephen's day in Carrigaline, Co. Cork. Comhaltas wish to thank all who helped and supported the event in any way including the gardai, Order of Malta and the members of the GAA, Macra and the Mens Shed who helped with the barriers and the stewarding and of course the public who turned up in such great numbers. Carers and people with disabilities in Cork are to receive further support in 2026, as part of social protection increases that came into effect from January 1 announced by the minister for social protection. Among the measures coming into effect from this January include a 10 increase in the maximum rate of all core weekly payments, with proportionate increases for qualified adult dependents The weekly rates of the child support payment are increasing by 26% to 78 for children aged 12 and over, and by 16% to 58 for under 12s. This is the largest ever increase to the weekly child support payments, which will help alleviate child poverty by supporting over 330,000 children. There will be an increase of 15% in the fuel allowance to 38 per week, with the working family payment thresholds to increase by 60 per week for all family sizes. There will be an increase of 20 in the monthly rate of domiciliary care allowance, bringing the payment to 380 per month. The increase is to support parents or guardians who look after a child with a severe disability. BUDGET 2026 The increases, which were secured as part of Budget 2026, aim to tackle child poverty and support pensioners, families, carers, and people with disabilities. Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul OShea said that the measures represent a strong start to 2026 for the people with disabilities and for carers in Cork. Families will see higher child payments, carers will benefit from increased supports, and those returning to work will be better assisted. "Budget 2026 delivers practical improvements that will be felt immediately in households around Cork. These increases reflect that balance by helping households in Cork, while also encouraging participation in the workforce. Overnight temperatures are expected to plummet on Saturday evening, with Met Eireann issuing a status yellow low temperature and ice warning for Cork and 16 other counties. Icy stretches are expected across Cork city and county, with the national forecaster predicting that temperatures are likely to drop as low as -4 degrees in many areas, causing sharp or severe frost. Met Eireann has warned of likely hazardous travel conditions in affected areas. Cork County Council has said it will treat priority routes, but warned that due to the low temperatures, widespread icy patches could be expected even on treated roads, and urged all road users to take extreme care if travelling. The council said its severe weather assessment team would continue to monitor the situation. The counties covered by Met Eireanns status yellow weather warning are: Carlow, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow. Temperatures are expected to drop from 6pm on Saturday evening onward, with the warning remaining in place until 11am on Sunday. Meanwhile, Met Eireann has issued a separate status yellow snow and ice warning for Donegal, which will come into effect at 8pm on Friday night and will remain in place until 11am on Saturday morning. Wintry showers are expected in affected areas, with some snow accumulations likely, and sharp or severe frost and ice also. Hazardous travel conditions and poor visibility are likely throughout the period of the status yellow warning. That warning coincides with a UK Met Office status yellow snow and ice warning for the six counties, which comes into effect at 3pm on Friday for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry, and remains in place until midday on Saturday. Met Eireanns snow and ice warning will extend to eight other counties in the northern half of the country on Saturday evening, covering Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon, and Sligo. That status yellow weather alert comes into effect at 6pm on Saturday and will remain in place until 11am on Sunday. With northwest to north winds expected to reach force 6 or higher, a small craft warning from Slyne Head to Belfast Lough to Dungarvan will remain in place until 9pm on Saturday. Cork County Council said all road users were advised to take extreme care if travelling. If your journey is essential, please slow down, drive with caution, and be aware of other road users, a spokesperson said. Allow extra time for your journey. If a road has been treated, do not assume that the road is safe to travel. There may still be conditions which would make the road hazardous. A father-of-two who appeared in court in Cork today, charged in connection with an 800,000 drugs and cash seizure, allegedly told gardai that he had made around three drugs runs from Dublin to Cork since October, transporting around 1m of drugs per trip. Christopher McCudden of Robin Hill, Sandyford Road in Dublin 14 appeared before Cork District Court where he was charged with eight offences. He faces three charges of possession of drugs for sale or supply, three charges involving simple possession of drugs and two charges of money laundering. Mr McCudden (38) and Michael Pineda (35) of Douglas in Cork were arrested on December 30th at Maryborough Ridge in Cork city. They were taken to garda stations for questioning after gardai allegedly observed a drugs transaction between the pair. Gardai seized 700,000 of cocaine, 60,000 of cannabis and 40,000 in cash. Follow-up searches in Dublin led to the seizure of an additional 10,000 of cannabis and 4,000 in cash. Det Garda Eoghan OMahony said that Mr McCudden was caught red handed with the drugs in a van by gardai. Five kilos of cocaine were found in his Ford Transit van and an additional three kilos of cannabis were located in a tyre alignment machine in the vehicle. A total of 40,000 in cash was also in the van. He stated Mr McCudden was dressed in high vis clothes and driving a work van with a logo for a company which does not exist. Gardai also maintain that the van was modified to allow for the concealment of drugs. Det Garda OMahony told Judge Catherine Ryan that Mr McCudden made certain admissions during his garda interviews. He said that the accused claimed that he had brought 10-15 kilos of cocaine in a van to Cork every month since October last and that "each van contained 1m in drugs. Det OMahony said gardai believed it was a sophisticated operation and that Mr McCudden was a trusted member of an organised crime group. An objection to bail was made in the case of Mr McCudden arising out of the "nature and seriousness of the charges and the possibility of further charges. Det Garda OMahony said that Mr McCudden represented a flight risk. He cited the ties of the accused to Northern Ireland. He also said that Mr McCudden had booked a holiday to Spain. He was set to fly to Alicante next week. However, defence solicitor Donal Daly said that his client had booked a five-day break to Alicante to stay with a friend who now lives there. He further stated that his client was a big man who made no effort to flee when arrested by gardai. He added that Mr McCudden was prepared to abide by all of the bail conditions set down by the court. Mr McCudden refuted suggestions by gardai that he would leave the jurisdiction if he was granted bail. He insisted that he wanted to be there for his family in order to make things right. MODIFIED He denied that the van had been modified. He said that he made the drugs run from Dublin to Cork three or four times. Mr McCudden accepted that he was up to no good when he was arrested by gardai. He claimed that he only got involved in the drugs runs because of debts. Free legal aid was assigned because Mr McCudden is a recipient of social welfare. Judge Ryan granted bail in the case, with an independent surety of 10,000 and a cash lodgement of 5,000. Mr McCudden also has to surrender his passport, sign on daily at Dundrum Garda Station and reside at the address of his mother in Sandyford Road. CURFEW He also has to obey a curfew and provide a mobile phone number to gardai on which he can be contacted 24/7. Mr McCudden was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear before Cork District Court again on January 8th next. Meanwhile, Det Garda Robert Kennedy gave evidence in relation to Michael Pineda of Castletreasure Grove, Douglas in Cork. He said that Mr Pineda made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution at the Togher Garda station in Cork city. There was no objection to bail in the case once Mr Pineda abides bail conditions set down by the court. This includes that he sign on at his local garda station, provide a mobile number to gardai on which he can be contacted on 24/7, and resides at his home address. Mr Pineda is charged with six offences. He is charged with two counts of sale and supply of drugs, two counts of possession of drugs and two counts of money laundering. It was claimed that Mr Pineda had fled the scene at Maryborough Ridge in Cork by foot on December 30th. However, he was apprehended by gardai. The court heard that gardai had observed Mr McCudden hand over a SuperValu plastic bag containing five kilos of cocaine to Mr Pineda. Mr Pineda was remanded on bail to appear before Cork District Court on April 2nd for DPP directions. When I recently visited the Cork City Library and viewed the exhibition of Cork Opera House memorabilia currently on display there, my eye was immediately caught by a poster. My name was on it, as an actor. This plunged me back to over 40 years ago and my first appearance in a pantomime at the Opera House. When Harp lager mounted a TV advertising campaign in 1982 and enlisted a then unknown 33-year-old London model to appear in it, they had no idea they were launching a phenomenon. In the ad, a voiceover establishes an Irish expat writing a letter home from some scorching tropical location and yearning for the rain and the greenness and the pint of Harp. Meanwhile, we see the interior of a pub, which happened to be The Blackman Bar in Dublin Pike, and regulars arriving, but suddenly among them is a smiling, sylph-like presence which the voiceover explains as being: Sally OBrien, and the way she might look at you. This tag-line about Sally OBrien became a national catchphrase and a milestone in pinning down the early 1980s in Ireland. The country was sailing into choppy economic waters and there was a nostalgic yearning to the ad which perhaps evoked more innocent times. Vicki Michelle was the model who became this iconic Sally OBrien. She would eventually find international stardom in the BBC comedy series Allo Allo! in which she played the character Yvette in all 85 episodes. Remembering Sally OBrien in an interview many years later, Vicki described her as sweet and shy as well as sexy, the type of girl men would like to marry. Amen to all that, say those of us who may have forgotten about those things! There was a little bit of controversy when then Taoiseach Charles Haughey declared his surprise that Sally OBrien was being played by an English lady. When presented with this, Vicki Michelle quickly asserted that her grandmother was Irish. In 1983, the Cork Opera House had the brilliant idea of casting Vicki Michelle as the female lead in Jack And The Beanstalk. She played Jill opposite a Jack played by the American performer Roger Kugler, who was well known to Cork audiences through his appearances in many musicals produced by Eileen Nolan and The Montforts. Billa OConnell played The Dame of course and the show also featured Paddy Comerford, Jim Queally, Noel Barret and Pat Sullivan. I played The Giant in that production. Despite my 6ft 5in height, I had to master wearing a form of stilts which added another 3ft or more to me. The Giant kidnaps Jill in an attempt to lure Jack to The Giants Castle and eliminate him and the goodness and virtue he represents. My scenes with Vicki Michelle were quite fraught with tension to say the least, aided and abetted by hundreds of screaming children at every performance who would try and bring the Opera House roof down in trying to help Jill escape The Giant. Vicki had very little stage experience at that time. But she was determined to develop her acting craft and she threw herself into the show with enthusiasm. Even then, her flair for comedy, showcased so brilliantly later on in Allo Allo!, was evident. With her sultry looks and flirty eyes, the qualities that defined her as Sally OBrien, she could beguile with a smile and find laughs with the lightest touch. I remember her being exceptionally down to earth and generous and she was liked enormously by everybody on and off stage, not to mention by the many thousands who attended the show. After her massive success with Allo Allo!, Vicki went on to make appearances in Emmerdale and EastEnders. She had a very long run on tour in the UK and Ireland in the farce Dont Dress For Dinner. In 2012, she began to produce films and she was instrumental in getting the Ray Cooney stage farce Run For Your Wife adapted to the big screen. In the 1980s, pantomimes usually started their runs on St Stephens Day with matinee and evening performances and would run often until the end of January. Jack And The Beanstalk played to.capacity audiences with the entire run sold out. For me, it was a huge thrill to appear in panto on the vast Opera House stage for the first time alongside the likes of Billa and Paddy Comerford. But it was also an immense pleasure to work alongside Vicki Michelle and the way she might look UP at me! Pope Leo IV urged humanity at his first Angelus greeting of 2026, to "build a year of peace, by disarming our hearts and refraining from every form of violence" after closing last year out condemning what he said were hypocritical and "armed" strategies that go against God's plan of mercy for the world. (Photo: Vatican News) Pope Leo XIV at his inauguration mass in St. Peter's at the Vatican on May 18, 2025. Greeting around 40,000 people assembled in Saint Peter's Square on the first day of 2026, Pope Leo extended his heartfelt wishes for peace and every good to them, and, while referring to violence and armed strategies, the pontiff did not mention any specifically. "Let us all pray together for peace: first, among nations bloodied by conflict and suffering, but also within our homes, in families wounded by violence or pain," said Leo. Following the recitation of the Angelus prayer, the Pope pointed out that for the last 58 yearsat the wish of Pope Saint Paul VI in 1968January 1st has been celebrated as the World Day of Peace. In his own message for that day, Pope Leo recalled the greeting "the Lord suggested" to him after being elected to the papacy: "Peace be with you all!" This peace, he continued, "is unarmed and disarming, which comes from God, a gift of his unconditional love, and is entrusted to our responsibility." With this responsibility, the pontiff challenged everyone, with Christ's grace, to start today to "build a year of peace, disarming our hearts and refraining from all violence." He acknowledged that many people and organizations around the world already dedicate themselves to ending violence and have created countless initiatives for building peace. Specifically, the Pope highlighted a national march which took place on the evening of Dec, 31 in Catania, Italy, as well as a march to be held by members of the Community of Sant'Egidio. The Pope had closed the year 2025 denouncing what he said were hypocritical and "armed" strategies that go against God's plan of mercy for the world, pointing to the Virgin Mary's humility as a source of hope. Speaking to attendees of his Dec. 31 Vespers service for the vigil of the solemnity of the Mother of God on New Year's Eve, the pope said the circumstances of Jesus's incarnation point to "a design, a grand design for human history." It is "a mysterious plan, but with a clear center, like a high mountain illuminated by the sun in the midst of a dense forest: This center is the 'fullness of time,'" he said. "Sisters, brothers, in our time we feel the need of a wise, benevolent, and merciful design. May it be a free and liberating plan, peaceful, faithful," and ultimately merciful, he said. Leo lamented that there are other, contrary designs being drawn up in the world, which he described as "strategies aimed at conquering markets, territories and spheres of influence. Armed strategies, cloaked in hypocritical discourse, ideological proclamations, and false religious motives Instagrams top exec Adam Mosseri expects AI content to overtake non-AI imagery and discussed the implications for the platform and users. Mosseri shared his thoughts on broader trends he expects to shape Instagram in 2026. Everything that made creators matter the ability to be real, to connect, to have a voice that couldnt be faked is now suddenly accessible to anyone with the right tools, he wrote. The feeds are starting to fill up with synthetic everything. He added: There is already a growing number of people who believe, as I do, that it will be more practical to fingerprint real media than fake media. Mosseri doesnt address the risk that this will alienate many photographers and other creators who have already grown frustrated with the app it looks like Instagram is leaning into the AI firehose. And hey: whatever keeps its users using it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mosseri suggests many complaints stem from an outdated vision of what Instagram even is. The feed of polished square images, he says, is dead. Instead of trying to make everyone look like a professional photographer, Mosseri says that more raw and unflattering images will be how creators can prove they are real not AI. Or you could leave Instagram ? Mat Smith The other big stories (and deals) this morning First up, Samsung. LG CES kicks off this weekend. Weve got a full preview that well update in the run-up to the full show, but the major tech announcements will likely center on chips (ah, AI) and new TV tech (ah, CES). Intel is finally taking the wraps off its Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) chips the first to debut on the companys 18A process. With a promised 50 percent performance boost, Intel needs to prove it can still compete with NVIDIA and AMD. Meanwhile, NVIDIAs Jensen Huang will deliver a keynote at the Las Vegas show, while AMDs Lisa Su teases Ryzen 9000-series refreshes and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years TV obsession is Micro RGB. Samsung is going big literally with a Micro RGB lineup spanning 55 to 115 inches. LG, meanwhile, has its own Micro RGB Evo panels, boasting over a thousand dimming zones for that elusive perfect contrast. Well be on the ground in Vegas to separate the legitimate, exciting new tech from the marketing fluff and AI assistant tchotchkes. And remember me mentioning the celebrity CES parade? Well, will.i.am is back at CES, this time curiously involved with LGs portable speakers . Check it off your CES bingo card. Continue reading. OneXSugar Wallet has a 4:3 foldable screen and a terrible name. OneXSugar OneXPlayer is quickly establishing itself as a company unafraid to get weird as hell. (Take, for example, its pseudo-foldable dual-screen console ). This time, while it initially appears to be another standard dual-screen model, the Android-powered OneXSugar Wallet instead uses a single foldable screen. The OneXSugar Wallet was teased in a 54-second video on the Chinese video-sharing platform Bilibili. Retro Handhelds reports the Wallet uses an 8.01-inch OLED with a 2,480 x 1,860 resolution. Thats a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded, making it very retro-gaming friendly. Given the foldable screen tech, the price might not be. OneXSugar hasnt shared that detail yet. Continue reading. Samsung has upgraded its Freestyle portable projector for 2026. The company announced a new model, the Freestyle+, ahead of CES, touting twice the brightness of its predecessor at 430 ISO lumens, and AI-powered screen optimization features. As with Freestyles past, the Freestyle+ offers 180-degree rotation and 360-degree audio. This one also supports Q-Symphony so it'll work with some Samsung soundbars. Samsung hasn't revealed much else in the way of specs or pricing, but it'll be showing off the Freestyle+ at CES 2026, so we're likely to learn more details soon. While previous iterations of Samsung's compact projector offered automatic screen adjustment features, like auto focus and auto leveling, the Freestyle+ uses AI to take optimization a step further. With AI OptiScreen, as the company is calling it, the projector offers 3D auto keystone to fix distortion on uneven or non-flat surfaces, real-time focus when the projector is moved, automatic screen fit for compatible accessories and wall calibration to reduce visual distractions from the projection surface. It'll also support Samsung's Vision AI Companion. The company hasn't announced a specific release date yet for the new projector, but says it's targeting the first half of the year. It'll be released in phases globally. CES 2026 is winding down in Las Vegas, and Team Engadget is finishing a week that saw hundreds of announcements from major brands including Lenovo, Samsung, LG, NVIDIA and more. See what we named as the Best of CES 2026, then scroll back on our CES 2026 liveblog to see how events progressed throughout the week. Prefer quick summaries? See recaps of all the cool tech we saw Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Are you ready for CES 2026? While the show floor doesn't open until Tuesday, things are effectively kicking off this evening with the first big press event of the show. Samsung is taking the stage to set the agenda for the new year and share an overview of its latest and greatest advances. Instead of its longtime midday Monday press conference, the Korean giant will take the lead of the show with a Sunday night presentation. Over the past few weeks, Samsung has been dropping press releases left and right, so we know at least some of what to expect in Vegas this year. Of course, we're holding out hope that we get to hear an update on the Ballie robot a star of previous CES presentations that ostensibly missed its previously promised 2025 release date. How to watch Samsung's "The First Look" presentation at CES 2026 The event will stream live from the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas tonight Sunday, January 4 at 10PM ET (7PM PT). There are several ways to tune in: you can watch via Samsung Electronic' official YouTube channel (which we've embedded below), Samsung Newsroom or via Samsung TV Plus. Engadget is on-site at the event, and we'll be running a Samsung CES 2026 liveblog as well. Tune in for real-time updates and commentary. What to expect from Samsung at CES 2026 Keynote speaker TM Roh, the CEO of Samsung's Device eXperience (DX) Division, will discuss the company's plans for the new year and beyond, which will (of course) include "new AI-driven customer experiences," the company said in a press release. In addition, we'll hear from the President and Head of the Visual Display Business, SW Yong and Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Appliances Business, Cheolgi Kim. Those two will "share their respective business directions for the upcoming year." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if you're looking for more specifics, Samsung has been following its "Advent calendar" approach to early CES announcements, with new press releases dropping nearly every day in late December and early January. So far, we know that like competitors LG and Hisense the company will be offering details on a line of micro RGB TVs (replete with confirmed screen sizes of 55 to 115 inches). Also confirmed: a full line of appliances infused with what Samsung calls Bespoke AI. Samsung will also display its two newest speakers, Music Studio 5 and 7, at CES this year. Additionally, it'll debut its latest Freestyle+ portable projector. Just before the holidays, Samsung also unveiled a slew of new gaming monitors, but most impressive is the Odyssey gaming monitor. It boasts a 32-inch 6K screen and has glasses-free 3D. It's likely we could see this at CES, along with other models like the 27-inch Odyssey G6 and the Odyssey G8 models. It's possible that Samsung will share even more early CES announcements in the hours preceding its presentation. If that happens, we'll add them here! Update, January 4 2026, 11:15AM ET: This story has been updated to include the embedded YouTube viewer for the Samsung event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Update, January 4 2026, 7:25PM ET: This story has been updated to include a link to the Engadget liveblog of this event. CES 2026 is winding down in Las Vegas, and Team Engadget is finishing a week that saw hundreds of announcements from major brands including Lenovo, Samsung, LG, NVIDIA and more. See what we named as the Best of CES 2026, then scroll back on our CES 2026 liveblog to see how events progressed throughout the week. Prefer quick summaries? See recaps of all the cool tech we saw Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Swiss minimal phone pioneer Punkt is back with another model, the MC03. The new handset continues Punkt's focus on privacy, security and digital minimalism. If you've never seen Punkt's MP01 and MP02, the company's gorgeously minimal dumb phone line, they're something to behold. (The MP01 is quite literally a museum piece, in New Yorks Museum of Modern Art.) Meanwhile, this new MC03 is the company's second stab at a more practical touchscreen smartphone, following 2023s MC02. What you lose in physical beauty and tactile buttons, you gain in flexibility. As before, the smartphone runs the privacy- and security-focused AphyOS, based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The fork on the MC03 appears to borrow a page from the Light Phone line. Its UI includes a Light Phone-adjacent row of text for the most common shortcuts, like mail, contacts and calendar. Punkt MC03 (Punkt) The MC03 splits data into two sections. There's The Vault, a secure enclave for apps Punkt has vetted for privacy and security. The second, Wild Web, gives you the freedom to install any Android app. To protect you while using that section, there's Ledger, which Punkt describes as "strict, visible safeguards that allow easy privacy controls." Much like Android's Permission Manager, Ledger lets you define which data, sensors and background resources each app can access. In exchange for the tediousness of approving and denying permissions, you get more gradual control over your data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the apps from another Swiss company, Proton, are available in The Vault. (That includes Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, Proton VPN, and Proton Pass.) Proton founder and CEO Andy Yen said he hopes the collaboration can "inject a little more choice into the marketplace, giving users more ways to take control of their data and regain their privacy." Folks buying the MC03 aren't doing so to get cutting-edge hardware. The phone has an OLED display with a high (120Hz) frame rate, great for showing off that clean, black UI. The MC03 has a removable 5,200mAh battery and a 64MP camera. The device is rated IP68 for water and dust resistance. Shipments for the Punkt MC03 begin this month in the European market. The phone costs 699 / CHF699 / 610. As with its previous models, the MC03 requires a subscription. (Punkt frames this as paying to retain your data, rather than paying with your data.) One year of the subscription is included with your purchase. After that, you'll have to pay 9.99 / CHF9.99 / 8.99 monthly. However, paying ahead for a long-term subscription lets you save up to 60 percent. You can learn more on the companys website. CES 2026 is winding down in Las Vegas, and Team Engadget is finishing a week that saw hundreds of announcements from major brands including Lenovo, Samsung, LG, NVIDIA and more. See what we named as the Best of CES 2026, then scroll back on our CES 2026 liveblog to see how events progressed throughout the week. Prefer quick summaries? See recaps of all the cool tech we saw Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. You Might Also Like Eric Bonvin, general director of the regional hospital in Sion that took in several dozen injured people, said those with severe burns face months of treatment but expressed hope that their youth will speed their recovery. UK beef exporters will enter 2026 with guaranteed access to the US market after a 13,000-tonne reciprocal beef quota officially came into force on 1 January. Confirmation published in the US Federal Register has formalised the tariff rate quota, giving British producers ringfenced access for high-quality beef exports to the United States each year. The move provides long-sought certainty for UK exporters targeting the US market. The quota stems from the UK-USA Economic Prosperity Deal agreed in May 2025, which set out reciprocal market access alongside wider trade measures. While the agreement delivers new opportunities for British beef, it also sits within ongoing negotiations over agricultural access on both sides of the Atlantic. NFU president Tom Bradshaw welcomed the confirmation but warned that pressure from the US remains. While this is undoubtedly good news, trade talks continue with the US pushing for even greater access to our market for their agricultural produce, he said. He said the sectors position had been clear throughout negotiations. We have been clear that British agriculture has nothing left to give, Bradshaw said, adding that the government had so far stood firm, safeguarding our most sensitive farming sectors and upholding our high animal welfare, environmental and food safety standards. Bradshaw also cautioned against future concessions as domestic policy moves towards higher regulation. With the recently published Animal Health and Welfare Strategy looking to implement ever higher domestic standards, it would be irresponsible if the government does not take agriculture off the negotiating table, he said. Under the deal, the UK agreed to new ringfenced access for 13,000 tonnes of hormone-free US beef, alongside improved terms for an existing 1,000-tonne quota by cutting the in-quota tariff from 20% to zero, and a new duty-free quota of 1.4 billion litres of US ethanol. In return, the US agreed to remove 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium, introduce a quota of 100,000 cars subject to a 10% duty, and provide ringfenced access for UK beef through the 13,000-tonne quota, subject to an in-quota duty of between 4% and 10%. However, broader US tariffs remain in place, including an additional 10% reciprocal tariff that continues to apply to all UK exports to the United States. These were announced by President Donald Trump in April, who said they were intended to address trade imbalances. As the quota takes effect, exporters and policymakers will be watching closely to see how quickly UK beef can capitalise on the access secured, and whether agriculture remains protected as wider trade talks with the US continue. Veterinary shortages in rural Britain could deepen sharply after the NFU warned that plans to close the University of Cambridges veterinary school would deal a serious blow to animal health and farm businesses. The union has urged the university to rethink proposals that would see veterinary teaching end in 2032, ahead of a key meeting of Cambridges general board in January that could determine the programmes future. If the plans proceed, the final intake of undergraduate veterinary students would begin in October, marking the start of a phased closure. Writing to vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice, the NFU said the loss of the school would come at a time when the UK is already facing acute shortages of vets, particularly in farm animal and public sector roles. The impact is already being felt most severely in rural, remote and island communities, where limited access to veterinary services can have direct consequences for animal welfare, disease surveillance and farm viability. Cambridge Veterinary School has a century-long legacy shaping the profession and British agriculture, the NFU said in its letter. Its closure would undermine efforts to train future farm vets and maintain academic excellence. The union also pointed to the universitys longstanding links with the farming sector, adding: The university is a valued NFU member and we trust it recognises the critical need for accessible veterinary services and expertise. Beyond education, the proposed closure could have wide-ranging effects on jobs and infrastructure. Around 150 staff could be affected, while the future of the universitys flagship farm would also be put at risk. The farm is a centre for sustainable farming research and practical training, as well as wider public engagement. Beyond higher education, the farm supports school-age learners as a LEAF demonstration site, fostering agricultural awareness in consumers, the NFU said. Its loss would significantly reduce opportunities for future veterinary professionals and undermine efforts to promote sustainability and public engagement in agriculture. The letter was signed by NFU East regional director Dr Zoe Leach, National Livestock Board chair David Barton and National Dairy Board chair Paul Tompkins, who urged the university to maintain the teaching programme to ensure continued leadership in veterinary science and resilience in animal health systems. Campaigners have also mobilised in opposition to the proposals, with a website, Save the Vet School, launched to support efforts to keep the teaching programme in place as pressure on the university continues to grow. Two sheep stranded on a steep cliff in north Wales were rescued after a local farmer raised the alarm, prompting an unusual callout for mountain rescue volunteers. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation said it was contacted by the farmer after he spotted the animals stuck on cliffs above his land and unable to move safely. A small team was sent to assess the situation and carry out the rescue. In a tongue-in-cheek account shared later, the team said they had been alerted to 2 walkers (believed to be from Baaath) stuck on the cliffs by his farm. They added that the pair were without mobile phones, meaning rescuers were unable to pinpoint their exact location, describing it as a bit wooly. (Photo: Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation) Rescuers said the sheep were positioned on exposed ground where a direct approach could have caused them to panic. Instead, ropes were lowered and a rescuer was raised carefully towards them to guide them off the cliff. The youngest casualty did indeed jump some 2 metres into Jed's arms and it was shear luck they were caught, the team said, adding that the second sheep stayed put and was brought to safety shortly afterwards. Once back on safe ground, the animals wasted no time making their escape. Once on safe ground they unbelievably ran away without even a thank ewe, the rescue team added. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation is a volunteer-run service that regularly responds to emergencies involving walkers and climbers in the Ogwen Valley, with this rescue standing out as one of the more unusual callouts it has handled. Farmers and rural communities will gather beneath the vaulted ceiling of Ripon Cathedral this month to mark the start of a new farming year and celebrate the vital role agriculture plays in feeding the nation. The Plough Sunday Service, supported by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, will take place on Sunday 11 January 2026 and is open to all. Thanks will be offered to farming families, with an address from the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, as the sector looks ahead to the months of work to come. Allister Nixon, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said the start of the year was a natural moment for reflection and renewal. Bringing people together at the start of a new year, as horizons are reset for the months ahead, is a useful reminder of community strength and support, he said. It is a chance to celebrate what farmers deliver for us all, to take pride in the hard work that shapes the countryside, and to look forward as one, with refreshed energy and focus. Plough Sunday is an ancient festival, revived by the Victorians, and traditionally observed on the first Sunday after Epiphany. In medieval times, the village plough was brought into church for a blessing before ploughing began on Plough Monday. In an era when winter work was scarce, the ritual looked forward to sowing and the promise of harvest a message that continues to resonate for farming families today. The Archbishop of York said the tradition remains deeply relevant. Plough Sunday reminds us that before there can be harvest, there must first be hope, hard work and faith, he said. At a time when farming families face many challenges, this service offers a moment to pray together, to recognise their contribution, and to mark the beginning of the sowing season with gratitude and hope. The service will be led by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson, who will bless a ploughshare presented by the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. We celebrate the efforts and contributions of farmers and all who work in rural businesses in caring for the land and livestock, producing the food which is essential to the wellbeing of us all, he said. Outside the cathedral, a tractor supplied by Ripon Farm Services will be on display, while members of the Societys Future Farmers of Yorkshire network will give readings during the service. Representatives from farming charities will also attend, with a share of the collection going to the Addington Fund, which provides housing and disaster relief to farmers across England and Wales. The service also marks the start of a busy January programme bringing people across farming together. It will lead into the Yorkshire Agricultural Societys first-ever Yorkshire Farming Conference at the Great Yorkshire Showground on 28 January. More broadly, the service signals the beginning of a full year of support from the society, including events, training, bursaries and grants designed to boost professional development, knowledge exchange and wellbeing.